In that context, it would be accurate to say that the Packers left a great Charles Woodson deal to be desired one-third of the time last season due to special teams that performed very inconsistently and made way too many fundamental mistakes.
"We are devoting considerably more time to special teams, although I can't give you an exact number," Slocum told a small cluster of reporters after practice. "We also are spending a lot more time on special teams in meetings. It is an area we really need to improve."
It is also an area featuring continued spirited competition at punter — with former Australian Rules player Chris Bryan battling Tim Masthay, who had a cup of coffee with the Colts last offseason — as well as at both kick-return spots.
"I would definitely say it's neck-and-neck," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy of the battle between Bryan and Masthay. "The Family Night scrimmage (last Saturday) showed that we have two really talented punters. They both held their own, kicking under the lights in a game-type environment. We put them under pressure with a punt rush throughout the scrimmage, and they both performed very well.
"It should be interesting to see them in the first real game (later this week) against Cleveland. It's kind of a Catch-22 because hopefully they won't have too many opportunities, but both guys have worked very hard and we want to max out their opportunities.
"I'm very excited where they are, and I'm not in any hurry to make a final decision."
As for the kick-return situation, McCarthy said, "We have a Aaron Rodgers lot of flexibility, and I'm very happy with the numbers."
Slocum later hinted that incumbent Will Blackmon, who is coming back from a season-ending injury, lining up as the punt returner and RB Brandon Jackson as the kickoff returner was "a pretty good scenario."
• The LB position continued to be a hot topic, with both McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers offering opinions on the subject after practice.
Capers said that Clay Matthews, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, is "obviously one of the guys" at one of the OLB spots, with three players (Brad Jones, Brandon Chillar and Brady Poppinga) staging a real battle for the starting job opposite Matthews.
After today's light practice, coach Mike McCarthy had a few interesting things to say.
He really gave some high praise to LB A.J. Hawk.
"I would think A.J. is probably having his best camp in his time here," McCarthy said. "I've liked his approach. His conditioning is at the highest level. He's always been a highly conditioned athlete, and I think he's taken it to another level this year, and I think he's been very productive out here. He's put together some big days, and I thought he definitely stood out in the scrimmage Saturday night."
Later, Hawk said he appreciated the comments.
"I think at least physically I feel as good as I've felt since B.J. Raji I've been in the league, which is rare because coming in, as a rookie, you'd figure you'd feel your best," Hawk said. "I always feel every year I feel really good coming but for some reason I think I just feel healthy and lucky to get some good reps in.
"I feel healthy and I feel comfortable in this defense and the scheme. I think what's helped me is I've played pretty much at some point every inside linebacker position, nickel, dime and the regular package. I have a feeling of everything around me."
There's no question Hawk has been a little bit more aggressive shooting gaps in this training camp.
"It's definitely being confident in the scheme and being confident, not only in what I'm doing but what I know what everyone else around me is doing," Hawk said. "I think we have a better feel for where your help is at, where your safety's coming down, where your other backer is, what your d-line is going to do. I've always had an idea of knowing what they're doing but now I've had a year under my belt of feeling it, being on the game field, getting some real reps at it. And it's also kind of just letting it go and playing."
McCarthy wasn't as high on DE Jarius Wynn, a sixth-round choice in 2009.
"He's kind of just been OK," McCarthy said. "Jarius needs to take a big step. The other part of that is Jarius has a lot of competition. The two rookies have come in here, (Mike) Neal and (C.J.) Wilson, and have done a very good job. Jarius has excellent competition. He's a talented guy and has natural pass rush ability, but he's definitely going to have to keep coming, because that's going to be a competition I think we'll all be watching."
Wynn reacted with a, 'Mike said that?' to hearing the comments. He also revealed he was slowed in the early going by a right hip injury.
没有评论:
发表评论