Monday, August 02, 2010

2010 Training Camp — Day 3 Afternoon

There was one 2:00 p.m. practice today in Green Bay, and the faithful lined up in the hot sun over 2-1/2 hours before it began (the gates of Ray Nitschke Field open 90 mins. before practice starts).

The players start to arrive about 20 minutes before it was to begin.

Another good crowd was on hand in the burning sun.

Mason Crosby (#2) kicks a field goal as part of a special teams drill.

It’s a battle of strength between the linemen.

More time spent on special teams and punt returns.

In the punting drills, Crosby operated the jugs machine to simulate the kicks. With two punters in camp (who were doing nothing at the time), we find this a bit strange.

It’s always a great battle with the “gunners” trying to get downfield on the punts, with seemingly everything just short of killing the guy being legal.

CB Will Blackmon (#27) races back with a punt return.

The helmets of a couple of players resting on the sideline.

CB Tramon Williams (#38) runs on a punt return as well.

WR Chastin West (#11) confers with an official about what he can and can’t do on the punt returns. The same official was later knocked down by players, but didn’t appear hurt.

The QBs again do the drill of throwing a ball 40 yards or so into a circular net. Graham Harrell (#7) made one today.

Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers (in white) watches the linebackers.

LB Nick Barnett (#56) wraps up a player in a drill designed just for that technique.

This is new drill, in which a player runs through some tackling dummies, then through two coaches with pads, and dives onto a pad in the end zone for a “touchdown.”

WR Greg Jennings (#85) shows good form.

Head coach Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers (#12) confer on matters.

Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin (in white shirt) monitors what’s going on in the huddle.

WR Jordy Nelson (#87) is run out of bounds on the sideline by the stands.

Some good scrimmage action.

RB Quinn Porter (#40) breaks off a good run.

Offensive linemen battle each other in the afternoon heat.

John Dorsey, former Packer LB (1984-1988) and current Director of College Scouting, has a discussion with an official.

A high level meeting on the field with Coach McCarthy (in green) and GM Ted Thompson (right).

Offensive linemen and FB John Kuhn (#30) run a drill to pick up blitzing linebackers.

Rodgers leads the offense in a red zone drill.

TE Jermichael Finley (#88) scores a touchdown in the red zone.

The lonely life of an N.F.L. punter in Training Camp (Chris Bryan — #9).

First round draft pick Bryan Bulaga (#75) takes a water break.

WR Donald Driver (#80) is engrossed in a story on the sideline.

An “exhausted” James Jones (#89) lies on the ground after another punt return coverage drill.

Also new today were two carts with loud speakers which pumped up crowd noise during the red zone drills.

Finley asks for an interference flag following a pass that was not caught.

Practice is over with all the players gathered around McCarthy.

For those who didn’t leave immediately, Aaron Rodgers came over and signed some autographs for the 15 or so people left in the stands.

Having been summoned back with the team, he gives the “sorry, I’ve got to go” gesture as he heads towards the Don Hutson Center.