Blogs

Final minicamp practice notes

The Packers wrapped up their offseason program on Thursday with their final minicamp practice at Ray Nitschke Field. Here are some notes as to what transpired.

–Specialists Mason Crosby and Tim Masthay were once again impressive, as they have been for quite some time now. With a stiff wind at his back, Crosby hit two field goals from 70 yards out during warmups, and he had another attempt from that distance hit the crossbar. Then he made one from 56 yards with plenty to spare during an actual practice period. Later, Masthay executed another perfect end-over-end pooch punt that the coverage unit downed inside the 5-yard line.

–QB Aaron Rodgers had a few pinpoint throws to some of his favorite targets. On one fourth-down play, he zipped a pass to TE Jermichael Finley through a tight window with defenders Nick Perry and Tramon Williams closing from both sides. Later, in the first snap of a red-zone period, Rodgers lofted a perfect 20-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings. Practice wrapped up with the two-minute drill, and Rodgers fired a bullet on a slant route to Jennings that just slipped past LB Desmond Bishop and sent Jennings into the clear for a long TD.

–LBs Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore, who had been working at inside linebacker throughout spring workouts, were back to taking some snaps at outside linebacker. It appears they’re being cross-trained at both positions and it will be worth watching how they’re used during training camp.

–Not practicing Thursday: WR Randall Cobb, RB Alex Green, S Charlie Peprah, S Anthony Levine, S Morgan Burnett, LB Frank Zombo, DL Johnny Jones, G Jaymes Brooks, G T.J. Lang, DT Mike Daniels, T Derek Sherrod, and TE Andrew Quarless.

–With Lang out, C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith took the snaps with the No. 1 offensive line at left guard. With Burnett and Peprah out, the safeties with the first unit were M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian. Clay Matthews did not take team (11-on-11) snaps, so undrafted rookie Dezman Moses was paired with Perry at OLB with the No. 1 group.

“That kid is good,” Bishop said of Moses, who played in college at Tulane. “Run-stopping, rushing the passer, getting his calls in, everything. He’s smart. He’s a good player.

“He definitely impressed a lot of people, obviously. It’s going to be fun to see him out there (in training camp).”

–The players are now off for nearly six full weeks. They will report to training camp on Wednesday, July 25, with their first practice the next day at 8:15 a.m.

“You definitely need a little mental break because the season is a long haul,” Bishop said. “Once we’re in it from training camp, it’s full bore from then on. I think it’s very important to take this time to let it go a little bit.”

RELATED LINKS

• Inside Minicamp: Another one in the books
• Packers close minicamp with eye on youth
• McCarthy press conference video
• Locker room interviews