The Packers held their 13th practice of training camp earlier today. Here are the five most newsworthy items from August 10:
1) It’s actually fun to watch special teams at practice. After years of semi-competent coaches sending out uninspired veterans and undisciplined youngsters, new coordinator Rich Bisaccia and his longtime assistant Byron Storer have been a giant breath of fresh air. It’s only been a few weeks, but there’s no missing how different things are from past summers. The amount of teaching is way up, and so is the level of accountability. That’s a credit to Bisaccia and Boyer. Having Keisean Nixon and Dallin Leavitt around is another plus. The hard-nosed former Raiders are still collecting paychecks in large part due to their work on special teams, and the energy they bring to every drill is contagious. For the first time this century, Packers fans won’t have to hold their breath on every punt and kickoff – assuming Mason Crosby’s right knee is OK and general manager Brian Gutekunst finds somebody who can snap the ball with some consistency.
2) Royce Newman had another shaky day at right tackle, so it’s fair to question once again Gutekunst’s decision not to re-sign Dennis Kelly. With All-Pro David Bakhtiari still rehabbing from a knee injury suffered in 2020 and Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins unlikely to be ready for Week 1, it would be nice to have a steady veteran like Kelly around. The 32-year-old journeyman did a capable job last season and signed a 1-year deal with the Colts for just over the league minimum. Hopefully, Bakhtiari will be ready for the opener in Minnesota, and steady Yosh Nijman can switch sides to right tackle. Otherwise, 38-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers better pray that either Newman gets a heck of a lot better or rookie Zach Tom develops in a hurry because you can be darn sure a highly motivated Za’Darius Smith is already licking his chops.
3) Amidst all the missed run blocks and whiffs in pass protection, it’s easy to overlook just how solid center Josh Myers has been day in and day out this summer. The former Ohio State star was playing decently before going on injured reserve with a knee injury last October, but he seems poised for a much better sophomore season. It’s still strange seeing such a big player (6-5, 310) at that position after watching Scott Wells (6-2, 302), Evan Dietrich-Smith (6-2, 305), and Corey Linsley (6-3, 300) for the better part of the past 20 years. The more I study Myers, the more he reminds me of Mike Flanagan, another tall pivotman who started 64 games for the Packers from 2000 through 2005 and made one Pro Bowl.
4) Shawn Davis picked both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love early in practice. That’s a good way for the second-year safety to head into the preseason. There have never been any questions about the former Florida star’s physical ability. He’s blessed with above-average size (5-11 1/2, 203) and speed (4.55), and he’s as tough as a $2 steak. That’s why he was selected in the fifth round by the Colts in 2021. The problem with Davis has always been consistency, even in college. He laid some hellacious hits on receivers and tight ends, but he missed too many tackles due to poor fundamentals. He also allowed himself to be manipulated by QBs and wasn’t always a reliable last line of defense. And while none of these issues has been a noticeable problem thus far in training camp, much better tests will come starting Friday night in San Francisco.
5) Running back Dexter Williams re-signed with the team this morning and was on the practice field a few hours later. The former Notre Dame star spent time with four teams after being cut by the Packers at the end of training camp last August. This reunion makes perfect sense. With A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones not expected to play much – if at all – in the preseason, another body was needed to share the load with Patrick Taylor and undrafted rookies Tyler Goodson and B.J. Baylor. Since Williams already knows the offense, he’ll be able to contribute right away. And while his chances of making the final 53-man roster certainly aren’t great, the odds are a lot better in Green Bay than they’d be someplace else.
*Thanks to Michael Posh for contributing to this report.
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If the Packers are are planning on starting Royce Newman and Jake Hanson on week 1 – a big “if,” for sure – then they’re in serious trouble. Hard to believe they’re going to let that happen and hopefully it means they know Bakh will be back. But if the right side of the line is Newman/Hanson, the Packers will be trotting out the worst offensive line and wide receiver units in a very long time.
It’s amazing it took more than 20 years for the Packers to finally hire a respected and proven special teams coordinator. I’m glad it’s happened. I just wish it didn’t take costing us a playoff game.
Rich Bisaccia should check out Sgambati’s Pizza in De Pere. I read he was a Yonkers native. I grew up in Brooklyn, and Sgambati’s is a taste of home.
I wish Gutey would’ve signed a veteran long snapper and a veteran returner in the offseason, but I agree about how things should be much better this season. After Stock, Slocum, Zook, Mennenga, and Drayton, it feels great to finally have a respected and successful special teams coordinator.