Packers Mini Camp Update

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy spoke on Thursday about the team and the recent offeseason work that they have been through.  

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy spoke on Thursday about the team and the recent offeseason work that they have been through.  He specifically mentioned linebacker Adrian Hubbard and defensive back Micah Hyde as players who have had a good spring.  Often times, the spring is the catalyst for players to have a good training camp and make a big impression on the coaching staff.  With the linebacker group a bit short on experience after the loss of A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones in the offseason, an emergence by Hubbard would be a welcome thing.

The last practice session saw more time on the field by the team's younger players.  Most veterans with seven or more years in were given a day off.  Packers analyst Larry McCarren called the cornerback position "a work in progress" and singled out the work of first rounder Damarious Randall and second rounder Quinten Rollins.  Rollins received praise for continuing to be in the right place at the right time.  Rollins himself credited that to preparation, something that younger players often have to learn as they break into the NFL.  Receiver Ty Montgomery reportedly showed some explosiveness after the catch and showcased why the Packers are looking to him to add more to the return game than they have had in recent years.

Training camp is just six weeks away and the team will then put the pads on and begin the grunt work portion of their preparation for the 2015 season.  McCarthy has exuded confidence in this year's team and expects a lot of success.  As I've said before, this year's crop of rookies seems to have a little something special to it.  We haven't seen any of these guys in pads or in game action yet so it's hard to peg exactly why I get that feeling, but Randall, Rollins and linebacker Jake Ryan all seem to be doing and saying the right things at this early stage.  

On a recent Pulse of the Pack podcast, I mentioned Ryan as a rookie that I think will become most important for the team as the season wears on.  His development and continued ability to get on the field will allow the team to do more with Clay Matthews and also give Carl Bradford some more time to develop.  Bradford is an intriguing story as a fourth rounder from a year ago.  From media reports, he still has a ways to go before grabbing a starting spot or more playing time, but he has been saying that he expects to push hard for a roster spot and get on the field on game day.  

Back at cornerback, the team has to be eagerly awaiting Casey Hayward's return to the field at training camp.  Hayward has been dealing with an foot injury and has not participated in any offseason work as of yet.  He's expected to push for a starting outside corner spot and if he is unable to play or performs poorly, the spotlight on Randall and Rollins gets immensely brighter.  It's not unrealistic that a first or second rounder can earn a starting spot, but corner is one of the tougher positions for young players to learn at the pro level.  It's asking a lot and there would be many questions about how the Packers would fare in that scenario.

Stick to CheeseheadTV for more Packers chatter and analysis between now and training camp and let us know what your take on the team is so far.

 

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (18)

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Lphill's picture

June 19, 2015 at 01:56 pm

I think Hubbard will be a welcome surprise , maybe another Wally pip story .

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

June 19, 2015 at 11:41 pm

I hope your right, but we've seen OLB's having great off-seasons disappear once the pads went on quite a few times. Hubbard is a prime candidate for this to me because when I have seen him in pads he looks quick but is not explosive or violent with his hands. Again, I hope that changes.

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Idiot Fan's picture

June 19, 2015 at 02:18 pm

"We haven't seen any of these guys in pads or in game action yet so it's hard to peg exactly why I get that feeling, but Randall, Rollins and linebacker Jake Ryan all seem to be doing and saying the right things at this early stage."

Totally agree, and I would throw Montgomery in there too. I don't know yet if these guys can play, but I love their attitude so far. And I guess it's at least a good sign that they're not struggling already, even before the pads come on.

Now, time for bold and crazy predictions. I'll kick it off with: Elliott and Hubbard both perform well enough at OLB that a veteran who has trouble staying on the field - Neal, Perry, I'm looking at you - gets cut.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 19, 2015 at 02:57 pm

I was thinking along the same lines at one point. IIRC GB paid a $1 million roster bonus to Neal back in March, though overthecap is not reflecting this payment. Cutting Neal saves $2 mill according to me, and $3 million according to overthecap. Cutting Perry saves $1.4 million. That not so much that I think money will factor in. Elliott and Hubbard would have to win a roster spot pretty much on the merits.

BTW (aimed at the author, not Idiot Fan) "TC is just 6 weeks away" sounds like an eternity to me.

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Tundraboy's picture

June 19, 2015 at 03:12 pm

I have had the same feeling about Hubbard and Elliot. Let's hope we are right. Bold but not crazy at all.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 19, 2015 at 03:14 pm

I remember Carl Bradford's description was "plays like his hair is on fire". I like the sound of that. And if it includes being assignment sure AND making the occasional impact play, all the better. He's a guy I have sort of randomly picked as one I hope steps forward this year. Time will tell. It always does.

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Mojo's picture

June 19, 2015 at 04:04 pm

For some reason Ryan looks so much larger than the other ILB's, cept Clay who's really an OLB.

I had Hubbard as my sleeper to watch for this year. Haven't heard much at all about how he's doing this camp so far, but actually that's the case for most of the players who aren't QB's, WR's or secondary guys.

During these OTA's and minicamp they seem to run a lot of pass plays and not much else. Very little hitting. So who can tell. But it would be nice, when the time comes, to replace Peppers with someone with similar size.

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Clay Zombo's picture

June 19, 2015 at 08:11 pm

Hubbard got noticeably bigger and stronger this offseason and according to MM is really dialed in. While we wont know how much hes improved until TC, he was working hard on his technique this offseason and it showed throughout the practices.

UDFA CB LaDarius Gunther is another guy Joe Whitt praised for his play this offseason. At 6'1.5" hes got the size we lack at the CB position so im really hoping he can beat out Goodson for that 5th spot (6th if you count Hyde as a CB). Despite his super slow 40 time he plays fast and has been very sticky in coverage. Ill take that.

Would love to see both of those guys make the team.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

June 19, 2015 at 11:42 pm

"Hubbard got noticeably bigger and stronger" - that's good news, he needs it to have a real chance.

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tm_inter's picture

June 20, 2015 at 06:29 pm

Gunter ran 4.69 at the combine but improved to 4.66 and 4.64 at his pro day. Seattle's Richard Sherman ran only 4.56 in the 40-yard dash.

I think Gunter will do just fine for the Packers.

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porupack's picture

June 20, 2015 at 12:02 am

The cool thing about this time of year is that all of the hype of draft board, draft grades and big name acquisitions are over, and now fans focus on skill and fit to schemes regardless of what round a rookie was picked (almost) and even undrafted rooks are recognized as legit contenders for the team (even if long shot). From now till the final 53 roster, its great hearing from fans on bold and not-bold predictions. I like the competition at ILB and OLB positions, and the stage set up by the release of BJones and AHawk. I'm disappointed we didn't draft Kendricks, but let these lesser-knowns rise up with a chip on their shoulder; prove me as a dumb fan doped by draft boards. But may these 6 weeks speed by a little.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

June 20, 2015 at 04:56 am

If you want the six weeks to go by quickly, schedule a dentist appointment for around then. Signed. Time Trickster

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croatpackfan's picture

June 20, 2015 at 05:46 am

Well there is quite some of the young players with physical attributes that looks like they would be good at their position. I did not like attitude from Khyri and Adrian last summer. When they were on the field it looks like they makes plays only when they decide to make them. One year on IR and PS obviously change some things in the heads of most players...

Lets hope that all those fogs disappears from the heads of the young players and that we got perfect TC with possibility to pick up players who showed the best abilities on the positions Packers need...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 20, 2015 at 01:02 pm

12not4then7,then16?

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

June 20, 2015 at 01:12 pm

I watched some replay of Hubbard and I know it was only preseason last year but he really got after the QB and ran right thru guys. Maybe its wishful thinking but we do have some talent on the team.

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NickPerry's picture

June 20, 2015 at 10:00 pm

I think Hubbard sticks this year. He's been in green Bay since February working out, training, and eating right was what I had read. The kid was penciled in as a 4th round prospect in last years draft but there was the medical issue that made him drop. I'd like to see him really take a jump and make the 53 man roster.

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Oppy's picture

June 21, 2015 at 03:51 pm

Hubbard gets PT this year; Dantzler gets the apparently-now-famous "TT Redhsirt" designation.

Dantzler does start to make his presence felt starting around game 5-7 on STs, however.

BTW, Rollins will be the star of this year's draft. We'll start to get an idea that may be the case by mid-season '16, and we'll know it for sure by '17.

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