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Training Camp Report: Drops Have Got To Stop
by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 08/19/2008
The Packers' receivers will be the first to say they've dropped too many passes during training camp and the preseason games thus far.
But they're also the first to know there's no sense in dwelling on the miscues, because then they'll compound themselves.
"You just move on," said veteran receiver Donald Driver, talking about his own dropped third-down conversions in each of the first two games. "You have to put it out of your mind, because after that, you're not going to be able to focus if you're constantly focusing on the ones you did drop."
There's been no receiver more or less guilty than another of the occasional drop. Driver isn't shy about mentioning his two in the games, both on strong throws by Aaron Rodgers. Chris Francies had one that turned into a deflection and interception for Cincinnati back on Aug. 11.
Even Greg Jennings can't plead innocence despite missing the first two preseason games. He had one or two drops during the Family Night scrimmage, before his knee soreness sidelined him.
"It's a lack of concentration," Jennings said. "When you're dealing with guys who like to run after the catch, sometimes that run after the catch gets before the actual catch, and you take your eyes off that ball for that split second right before it touches your hand, and that's when the drops occur.
"But we'll correct that, I promise you."
Hopefully Jennings and his receiving mates make good on that promise. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is well aware the pass-catching hasn't been as reliable as it should be thus far, but he's willing to wait for his accomplished group to regain its form.
McCarthy also knows the receivers weren't the only problem when the offense struggled mightily last Saturday in San Francisco, so he's not going to overweigh their share of the blame.
"It falls under the category we talked about yesterday about fundamentals," McCarthy said. "We didn't have a very good night in fundamentals, whether it was our pad level, footwork, dropping the ball, throwing the ball, so those are all things we work on every day. We need to do a better job of it.
"I think we have a perimeter group that catches the ball very well, illustrated by what we have done in the past, but that doesn't carry over obviously to the present. We work on it every day. I'm not concerned as we move forward, but we need to catch the ball better."
Perhaps Jennings' return will spark the unit somewhat. Through two full-pads practices this week, Jennings has shown no ill effects from the bothersome knee, and he's looking forward to taking the field Friday night in Denver and continuing to develop his rapport with Rodgers.
"Having never really been in a game with him for an extensive period of time, especially this week, it's imperative I got out there and got some work done, try to see how he's seeing the game, how he's viewing the defense, things like that," Jennings said. "All that's vital to getting out there and playing games."
As for whether he feels he and Rodgers have some catching up to do (pun intended), Jennings is confident he and Rodgers, along with the other receivers, will be on the same page very soon.
"I'm really a firm believer it doesn't take that long," Jennings said. "If you're dealing with a group of guys that are competitive and want to win, they kind of seem to gel together pretty quickly. I think you'll see that."
First roster cut looming
Following Friday night's third preseason game, the Packers will have to trim five players from the 80-man roster by Tuesday, Aug. 26, to get to the NFL-mandated limit of 75.
General Manager Ted Thompson said Tuesday during his morning press conference that it's possible the team would go below the 75-player limit if there are other players the coaching and personnel staffs need to get a better look at in the final preseason contest.
"If we get to the point where we feel like a player, even though he's in the top 75, but wouldn't contribute in the final game, then sometimes we go ahead and (let him go)," Thompson said. "Cut days are the toughest days for all of us in this business, because you get attached to people and you have to tell them they can't make your team. It's a tough time."
Bad karma?
Thompson also talked about watching the San Francisco game from the sidelines last Saturday, because he likes to see in the preseason how the players interact with one another on the bench and as they come on and off the field. A big believer in team chemistry and camaraderie, Thompson said it's hard to get a feel for that during a game if he's watching from the press box.
But considering the team's poor performance against the 49ers, Thompson wondered aloud whether he should hang around the sidelines during the games.
"I don't think I'm going to do it anymore," he joked. "I think maybe I brought bad luck to us or something."
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New player
The Packers signed defensive tackle Rodney Allen and placed tight end Evan Moore (knee) on injured reserve.
Allen is an indoor football player who played collegiately at Kansas. Listed at 6-foot-2, 315 pounds, Allen was thrown right into the mix at practice Tuesday. He has just four practices and two games to earn a spot on the final roster, but with the team's injuries on the defensive line, he should get plenty of reps in the short time remaining in training camp.
Injury/participation update
With center Scott Wells (trunk) and left tackle Chad Clifton (sore) out again, the offensive line continued to shuffle players around within the top unit. Both Daryn Colledge and Allen Barbre played left tackle and left guard, while Tony Moll also played some left tackle and took some snaps at right tackle to give Mark Tauscher a breather.
Tight end Tory Humphrey (Achilles) and defensive tackle Daniel Muir (groin) returned to practice, while running backs Ryan Grant (hamstring) and DeShawn Wynn (ankle) were out on the field for the jog-through portion of practice but then went into the Don Hutson Center for continued rehab.
Others remaining out were safety Charlie Peprah (hamstring), cornerbacks Al Harris (unspecified) and Joe Porter (personal), linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest), defensive tackles Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and Justin Harrell (back) and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee). |
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