Quick observations from Packers second 2023 minicamp practice
The final minicamp practice has taken place on Wednesday for the Green Bay Packers. The next time that they will be on the practice field together will be July 26th for training camp, according to Matt LaFleur.
The team was back outside today after spending Tuesday in the Don Hutson Center due to rain. However, the practice format was similar, with no full-speed 11-on-11 drills like we saw during OTAs, although there were once again a few 7-on-7 sessions and two-minute drills with the defensive front rushing at only about half speed.
As always, here are my takeaways and observations from what I saw on Wednesday: (Observations from Tuesday’s first minicamp practice can be found here)
— According to Ryan Wood, who did the attendance accounting, Dallin Leavitt, Eric Stokes, Tarvarius Moore, Rashan Gary, Jake Hanson, Tyler Davis, Grant DuBose, and Chris Slayton did not practice. Jonathan Garvin was participating today.
— A few notable players on the first team kick return unit included Justin Hollins, Patrick Taylor, Corey Ballantine, Lukas Van Ness, JJ Enagbare, and Tariq Carpenter. Along with continuing to take starter snaps at edge rusher, Hollins is also contributing on special teams. Running backs coach Ben Sirmans said that special teams would play a key role in deciding who the third back is. And with Ballantine, he was a core special teams player from Week 10 and on last season and someone who I would consider a favorite for one of the final cornerback roster spots.
— The Packers punt coverage and return units got some work today. Returning punts were either Keisean Nixon or Jayden Reed, who had 37 career punt return attempts at Michigan State, averaging an impressive 15.0 yards per return.
— Green Bay has two punters on the roster, with Daniel Whelan joining Pat O’Donnell this offseason. O’Donnell is still handing the bulk of the punt reps, but both took turns holding on field goals for Anders Carlson. Today was my first time seeing Whelan, and he does pack some power.
— The players are still in shorts, but Lukas Van Ness’ initial burst coming off the snap and Luke Musgrave’s ability to stretch the field with his speed and size are still impressive. Carrington Valentine also looks smooth out there as well. Matt LaFleur said last week that he has done an “unbelievable job” through OTAs.
Rookie Carrington Valentine. LaFleur said last week that he has done an “unbelievable job” through OTAs. pic.twitter.com/XmMd1RRRdo
— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) June 14, 2023
— Jordan Love, and the other quarterbacks, were working through progression drills today. This, along with footwork and movement drills, were key points of emphasis for Love over the last year under quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.
— The Packers did walkthrough speed for 11-on-11 drills, and the starting offensive line included David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, and Yosh Nijman. Zach Tom and Nijman continue to take turns getting reps at right tackle. The skill position players were Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Luke Musgrave, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs. The second team offensive line was made up of Rasheed Walker at left tackle, with Caleb Jones taking snaps there as well, Sean Rhyan, Tom, Jean Delance, and Luke Tenuta.
— The starting defense was the same as Tuesday, with Hollins and Preston Smith at edge rusher, Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton inside, De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker at linebacker, and the secondary made up of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Darnell Savage, and Rudy Ford.
— Up until this point, the only time that Tom has been at center was during individual offensive line drills. But today, with the second and third team offenses during the two-minute drill, he was lined up at center. Most of his practice time has been at right tackle, but he’s also spent second-team snaps at right guard as well.
— An interesting defensive lineup I saw featured just Walker at linebacker with five defenders up front and five defenders in the secondary. In Moore’s absence at safety, Jonathan Owens was the clear third option the last two days.
— Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but you guessed it, undrafted rookie receiver Malik Heath made two more plays. One came during the 7-on-7 session, where again, he was working with primarily the starters, and the other during a two-minute drill on an in-route against Rasul Douglas. Heath is an undrafted rookie, but there is something to be said about a receiver who puts up close to 1,000 yards in the SEC, averaging 16.0 yards per catch, which Heath did at Ole Miss in 2022.
— I wrote an article earlier this offseason pontificating on how the Packers would defend the run with their interior defensive line configuration. In short, they have a lot of pass-rush options inside, and Kenny Clark can’t play every snap. Today may have provided that glimpse with Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton, and Colbe Wooden together on several rush attempts by the offense. This, of course, is just one combination that we will see.
— In the 7-on-7 session, Love completed a crosser to Musgrave, who was able to get past Campbell. On the next play, Alexander broke up a pass to Doubs, and then Love connected with Josiah Deguara in the flat and Heath over the middle as he worked from left to right through his professions. On the next two plays, Love through behind Samori Toure and then connected with him on strike down the seam.
— Again, during the 7-on-7 session, there were two groups on opposite ends of the field. Some noteworthy names competing with the starters included Heath, Bo Melton, Patrick Taylor, La’Darius Hamilton, and Corey Ballantine.
— The practice ended with each quarterback going through a two-minute drill, and in all three instances, the defense won. Danny Etling’s drive ended with three straight incompletions, two of which were overthrown. Love’s drive ended after a few quick incompletions, followed by Alexander picking him off. It appeared that Love and Watson weren’t on the same page. Clifford’s drive also ended in an interception after only two plays. He tried to fit a pass into a tight window over the middle, but it was deflected and picked off by Innis Gaines.
— Anders Carlson was 6-for-6 on the day, with the longest being from 42 yards. He ended up 11-for-12 over the last two days with a long of 54 from inside the Hutson Center.
