5 Things We've Learned from the Green Bay Packers' OTAs
The Green Bay Packers began OTAs on Wednesday, later than many NFL teams. The first practice open to the public was held on Thursday, and while we haven't seen a whole lot from the Packers so far this offseason, we've learned a few things early into the workouts.
The Packers had an extensive list of players who did not practice on Thursday, which ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy compiled:
"#Packers DNPs: QB B. Hundley CB C. Hayward LB J. Vaughters LB N. Perry LB J. Peppers WR J. Nelson WR T. Montgomery DE J. Boyd LB M. Neal
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) May 28, 2015"
Some players, like quarterback Brett Hundley and wide receiver Ty Montgomery, had to miss the start of OTAs to attend the NFL Players Association rookie premiere in Los Angeles, while rookie linebacker James Vaughters is finishing up classes at Stanford, per Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin.
Others are recovering from injuries.
Still, the players who did participate in individual and 11-on-11 drills did on Thursday revealed some things that could prove to be important throughout training camp and into the regular season.
B.J. Raji Is Back to Full Strength
1 of 5
When the news broke that defensive tackle B.J. Raji tore his bicep in the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders on August 22, the initial timeline was that Raji would need six to nine months of rehab. That would have put his full recovery around June.
Though he was going to become a free agent, Raji remained in Green Bay throughout the season, underlining his commitment to the team and hoping to strengthen his position to re-sign this offseason. It undoubtedly helped him earn another one-year deal with Green Bay through 2015, as did his successful rehab.
Raji's trainer, Joe Carini, told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Raji's post-surgery strength is "phenomenal."
"He’s actually better now than he’s ever been," said Carini, per Dunne. "He has to have a monster year. He knows it. And he’s just looking forward to the opportunity."
That was evident at OTAs on Thursday. Per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, the players who tore ACLs last season were held out of 11-on-11 drills. Raji, however, was a participant.
"Is B.J. Raji (torn bicep tendon) back to full strength? "Yeah, I am. I’m able to do everything.”
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) May 28, 2015"
Raji also told Dunne Thursday that he's back to full strength. That will be essential as he competes with Letroy Guion, who is also on a one-year deal, for the starting nose tackle spot during training camp.
Clay Matthews Will Continue to Play Multiple Positions
2 of 5
It's been long suspected and now, confirmed: Clay Matthews will continue to line up on the inside, the outside and, well, wherever head coach Mike McCarthy wants him to.
"Clay Matthews is a great pass-rusher. He's going to continue to play as many different positions as we can get out of him," McCarthy said in a press conference Thursday, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"We need to utilize him as much as we can. ... Talked to Clay a couple times early in offseason program and meetings he's been through. He's moving around."
OTAs were a reflection of that on Thursday, as Matthews worked with the inside linebackers.
"#Packers @ClayMatthews52 working with ILB's in practice pic.twitter.com/hdX4BgcUKO
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) May 28, 2015"
As Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette confirmed, as expected, Matthews and Sam Barrington worked as the Packers' starting inside 'backers. Rookie Jake Ryan and second-year player and outside-linebacker convert Carl Bradford were the second-team inside linebackers.
Now, where Matthews lined up early in OTAs isn't entirely an indication of where he'll line up come September, and clearly the Packers will at a minimum use him off the edge on passing downs.
Still, it was telling that despite the fact that Julius Peppers, Nick Perry and Mike Neal were not practicing on Thursday, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, Matthews still worked on the inside, not the outside.
Damarious Randall Practices Despite Ankle Injury
3 of 5
First-round pick Damarious Randall was extremely limited in participation in the rookie minicamp after the NFL draft due to what he called at the time a "minor" ankle injury, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Randall isn't back to 100 percent quite yet, as he sat out of 11-on-11 drills, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. However, Randall took the field in individual drills and seems well on his way to being able to showcase the skills that earned him a first-round selection:
"#Packers first-round DB Damarious Randall did individual drills, his first time on the field. No team reps though. pic.twitter.com/CKJQ1naZU8
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) May 28, 2015"
Wood also reported that in the team defense jog through, the Packers gave Randall some looks at perimeter corner.
With Casey Hayward also not practicing, per Wood, Thursday would have been a great opportunity for the rookie to start opposite Sam Shields in 11-on-11 drills. However, second-year player Demetri Goodson earned that spot instead, and Randall will just continue doing what he can until he's back to full strength.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Mike McCarthy Happy with Opportunity to Spend Time with Defense, Special Teams
4 of 5
Head coach Mike McCarthy made the surprising decision in February to hand off play-calling to former offensive coordinator, now associate head coach (offense) Tom Clements.
"This is the time to do it," McCarthy said at the time, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "I think our staff's ready. I think it's an opportunity for guys to grow. ... I know I have a lot more to offer to our football team. We're going to get that."
Play-calling is an all-consuming affair on game day. A head coach calling offensive plays can be out of sync with what is going on with the defense or, especially important in Green Bay, special teams.
Now McCarthy will be able to take a bigger-picture approach to all three aspects of the game. He can communicate in real time with his assistant coaches and with Aaron Rodgers and help Clements make appropriate in-game adjustments.
And, of course, he can keep a more watchful eye on the units that need more attention than offense: defense and special teams.
As OTAs begin, it sounds like McCarthy is already enjoying the freedom to be more involved in every aspect of Packers football.
"I enjoy coaching. Coaching is still coaching, regardless of what position," McCarthy said in a press conference Thursday after OTAs, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"As long as you're around the players, coaching, that's where I want to be. This has been a fun year for me, to be in there with the defense, be in there with the special teams. It's been great."
Jordy Nelson Is Still Recovering from Offseason Hip Surgery
5 of 5
Jordy Nelson, who had hip surgery this offseason, stretched and threw the ball around at practice on Thursday, per Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but did not participate.
"Jordy Nelson, who had hip surgery this offseason, is stretching with receivers during warm-ups pic.twitter.com/ehf5VdYNtN
— Weston Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) May 28, 2015"
When asked about that surgery after practice on Thursday, Nelson kept things light and downplayed the surgery. However, there is no clear timetable for his return.
“Not necessarily,” Nelson said Thursday when asked about a time frame, per Nickel. “We’re just going to continue to progress going forward. Like I said, we’re excited where we’re at and don’t have any worries about anything that’s of importance down the road.”
Nelson clarified that the surgery was just to "get some things cleaned up."
Head coach Mike McCarthy had indicated in late March that it could be six to eight weeks before Nelson could participate, per Nickel, but deferred to Nelson, who has declined to give specifics.
Most likely, Nelson will be at 100 percent for training camp, if not the mandatory workouts in June. While he was out Thursday, practice squad holdover Myles White earned most of the snaps at wide receiver with the No. 1 offense alongside Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, per Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
