Packers Training Camp Preview

Ok, it's been a while, and it's about to be the best time of the year. So I'm going to give a preview of the Green Bay Packers training camp, and who are some names to watch out for. Some of these players will sound familiar, and some not so familiar. With the losses of Greg Jennings (No description necessary), Bryan Bulaga (Torn ACL), Donald Driver (Retirement), Charles Woodson (Released, then signed by Raiders), Desmond Bishop (Again, no description necessary), and DJ Smith (Released), the team is going to look fairly different this year. Draft guru Ted Thompson did what he does every year and stocked the team with young talent in the draft, and there is a lot to look forward to.

First, I'm going to start with rookies that we can look forward to getting some potential playing time this season, because there are more than usual.

Datone Jones - For a guy who was a first round draft pick from UCLA, he seems to have not gotten the attention that a usual first round pick would warrant. Early on though, he has received rave reviews, and Dom Capers is hoping he can fill the void of a 3-4 Defensive End that hasn't been the same since Cullen Jenkins left in Free Agency. Jones was one of the stars (along with Eddie Lacy) of the "Family Night Scrimmage", and has received praise from Aaron Rodgers. 

“Datone’s a talented guy,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “It’s fun having him on our side. He’s a difference-maker. He’s a different type of body that we’ve had at that position. It’s exciting seeing those guys in action.”

Eddie Lacy - He's the rookie that everyone knows about. He's the star running back from the NCAA National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. The Packers' second round pick in this years draft also had a successful family night, with eight carries for 65 yards. Amid questions of his conditioning, Ted Thompson had this to say,

"Eddie Lacy looks a lot like he does at Alabama. Big, decisive, when he gets on the edge he's a lot to handle. So far so good."

Micah Hyde - Hyde was drafted in the fifth round, as a player who was viewed as somewhat of a "tweener" at DB. Due to the recent success Thompson has had in picking up young Defensive Backs and the current strength at the position, the pick was somewhat puzzling. Now it looks like a vintage Thompson pick. With Tramon Williams aging and Davon House not playing the way he was last preseason, Hyde could be in competition for the Dime back. James Jones this to say when asked who has stood out so far among DB's, 

"Man, I like the rookie 33, (Micah) Hyde," Jones said. "He's going to be good. He's patient. He's not 4.3, 4.4, but he doesn't let you get by him. He doesn't get beat deep. And he's a smart player. He kind of reminds me of Casey (Hayward) last year coming in. Those players are rare when they come in and they're smart and they understand the game as quick as they do."

David Bakhtiari - With the injury to Bryan Bulaga, there was a lot of panic and concern (rightfully so) about who was going to then play Left Tackle and protect A-Rod's blind side. Since then, the Packers coaching staff and players have shown nothing but faith in Bakhtiari, a fourth round pick this year. Besides, when Bulaga went down last year, the Packers finished the season 7-2 without him. Beat writer for the Journal Sentinel Bob Mcginn, said that he has performed as if he was drafted in the first or second round, and not the fourth.

As far as the non-rookies go, some of these players are returning from injury, and some were players who were not starters last year, but are competing for starting jobs now.

Brad Jones - When the Packers lost Desmond Bishop in the preseason last year, and then DJ Smith during the season, they were left to scramble for a replacement alongside AJ Hawk. Brad Jones originally started his career as a promising OLB, but after experimenting inside, he has come to be one of the more highly rated 3-4 inside linebackers in the league. Pro Football Focus, an analytically based NFL website, gave Jones a grade of +4.6, which ranked fourth among ILB's for last season. No complaints here.

Nick Perry - Perry is a player returning from injury this year, looking to build off of the progress he made going into the middle of his rookie season. His size, speed, and USC OLB roots led people to have high expectations for him last year, and his injury curbed those momentarily. Perry is still not practicing, but is expected to be back in time for the opener, and I can't help but be excited when reminiscing about this wrongly called penalty.

Vince Young - OK, I know you know who he is, but his story is a rare one, and he isn't anywhere near the type of guy that we've seen Ted Thompson sign. Thompson has loved him since the NFL combine in 2006, and has reportedly been interested in acquiring him multiple times. It's just odd because there is so much attention around a big signing like this, that Packer fans are not used to. I will say that if he can revive his career anywhere, it's under the tutelage of Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy. His chances of making the team? They seem to be looking better with the underwhelming performances of Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman. Here's what former Packers Executive Andrew Brandt had to say about Young.

" Ted Thompson came back from Young’s workout at Texas raving (by Ted’s standard, anyway) about him....  A lot has changed in seven years, but I’m sure Ted still has a soft spot for Young, which is why I give him a decent chance of making the team."

So as we come within a month of the season opener against the 49ers, some things to keep an eye on include the development of a rookie Left Tackle, battles for the starting Running Back and QB2 positions, and a potential star in the making at ILB. Three weeks seems like a long time for those of us who are just trying to get through the preseason without any more injuries, but my advice to you is to cross your fingers and buckle up. We're almost there, and there's plenty to be excited about.