GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – The defense is on hold.
The Green Bay Packers defense turned into a dominant summer. They dominated Aaron Rodgers. They dominated Jordan Love. They ruled the saints. They dominated in the trenches. They dominated at the edge.
On Tuesday, coach Matt LaFleur said he would rest most of his starters for Thursday’s preseason finals against the Kansas City Chiefs. The only defensive starter to play in the first two preseason games, rookie linebacker Quay Walker, did not attend the scout team reps at the end of practice. Assuming he doesn’t play, Green Bay’s starting 12 (including base and nickel personnel) will start looking forward to Week 1 against the Vikings.
In any case, the defense of Green Bay lived up to the hype with 20 exercises.
“We as defenders touch the field and we know our standard,” said outside linebacker Rashan Gary on Tuesday. “We know what we need to put on tape. We know the different techniques, the different terminologies. We all know how things have to be played. Everyone is having fun and making plays when they come up to them. I’m not surprised by everything we’ve seen.”
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This is a group that is sensing its potential for greatness. On Monday, Rasul Douglas was talking trash at a mile a minute and Rashan Gary was jumping up and down Aaron Rodgers after “sacking” the quarterback. This kind of boasting has been missing for years.
“Absolutely, but it’s practice at the end of the day,” Gary said. “We have a big chance: regular season, first game against the Vikings. We’re just trying to make sure we’re taking the right steps by getting better (and) listening to each other on the little things. I feel like this is the standard we hold for each other and understand what it means to play defense for the Green Bay Packers.
What’s important for Gary and everyone else is that they know hype isn’t sacks. Words are not takeaways. Bravado is not three-and-out punts. Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson will present a tremendous challenge in about two and a half weeks.
Eventually, the Rodgers-led offense may be able to take some of the load. But for now it could be up to the defense to take the lead. A unit with no weaknesses in the starting eleven seems more than up to the task.
“Man, we have talent everywhere. Talent everywhere,” Gary repeated. “Green Bay as an organization we are doing a great job fielding parts of the defense and calling up guys. You see the potential. Like I said, get back to our standard and understand what it means to be a Green Bay Packer. Past postseasons we ended how we didn’t want them to end. We need to turn it up on defense. Defense wins championships. That is our way of thinking.”
player of the day
Tyler Davis (USA Today Sports Pictures)
Tyler Davis’ downfall against San Francisco turned into an interception. Davis’ catch against New Orleans turned into a fumble. Both turnovers resulted in potential 14-point swings.
Two tremendous mishaps notwithstanding, general manager Brian Gutekunst and the coaches like the advantage of Davis, a former college quarterback who is relatively new to tight end. And that’s why he’s likely to make the 53-man squad.
Davis had a productive Tuesday. During a third down drill, he made a nice catch for a big win. Later, in third place and scoring on the 4, Davis beat Rasul Douglas for an Aaron Rodgers touchdown. Eventually, he beat Tariq Carpenter for a Jordan Love touchdown.
Talking to Rodgers and fellow tight ends, Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan, helped Davis work through his mistakes. Still, nothing beats production.
“Any time you have a day like this, it’s definitely a good thing to push you forward. So I was excited to have today,” Davis said. “You play this game for fun, you know what I mean? Of course, you never want these bad games to happen to you, but you know they will come. I’ll just take her with a grain of salt and carry on and remember why you play this game, [which] it’s supposed to be fun. I started playing this game when I was 6 because I enjoyed it. So, you really just have to go back to it and play like you’re 6 years old and have fun.”
game of the day
Kabion Ento (USA Today Sports Pictures)
Cornerback Kabion Ento joined the Packers in 2019 as an undrafted free agent. Ento has just completed his fourth training camp, which is four more than his snapping career in the regular season. Why was Ento given so many chances? Because of plays like the one he did on Tuesday. Jordan Love tried to hit Samori Toure in the back of the end zone, but Ento moon-dived for an incredible interception.
Ento is unlikely to make the 53-man list. He was stuck in the third unit for the whole camp. But he’s 6-foot-1 3/8 with a 41 1/2-inch vertical jump. Do those skills and the occasional flash of brilliance warrant a longer look at the practice team?
Notes on the Packers depth map
Rasul Douglas (USA Today Sports Pictures)
– With Darnell Savage still out with a hamstring injury, the Packers debuted a new runner-up. Instead of Adrian Amos and backup Shawn Davis as the No. 1 duo to safety, the Packers rolled with Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes as cornerbacks and Amos and Rasul Douglas as safeties. This is how you get your 11 best defenders on the field. At Nickel, it was Keisean Nixon rather than Douglas as the slot cornerback.
Of course, once Savage is healthy it will be Savage and Amos again as Safeties, Alexander and Stokes as Corners and Douglas as Nickel. However, with Douglas’ ability to play slot, corner and safety, it could free up a roster spot elsewhere.
– The daily outside linebacker rotation has continued. This time Jonathan Garvin was joined by rookie Kingsley Enagbare as the No. 2 pair. If Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Garvin are the top three then it’s a free-for-all behind them. On Monday, Enagbare was the last man on the depth chart.
– After the Cole Van Lanen trade, the No. 2 offensive line consisted of Caleb Jones at left tackle, Zach Tom at left guard, Michal Menet at center, Sean Rhyan at right guard and Rasheed Walker at right tackle. Tom, Rhyan and Walker are newbies; Rhyan and Walker didn’t have good camps.
Packer Transactions
Cole Van Lanen (USA Today Sports Images)
The Packers traded offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, who hails from nearby Suamico, to the Jaguars for a seventh-round pick. He finished the offseason as a first-team right tackle but had fallen on the depth chart. Three more transactions brought the Packers to 79 players, one below the NFL limit.
Packers Tuesday injury report
Kicker Mason Crosby said Tuesday he is on track to be on the field in Week 1 with the Vikings.
New injuries: CB Rico Gafford (Ankle), LT David Bakhtiari (Rest/Knee), TE Sal Cannella (Knee).
Returning from injury: TE Marcedes Lewis (rest).
Released: WR Danny Davis (ankle), S Vernon Scott (shoulder).
Old injuries: S Dallin Leavitt (shoulder), S Darnell Savage (hamstring), DT Akial Byers (ankle).
Physically unable to perform list: K Mason Crosby (knee), RB Kylin Hill (knee).
The practice highlights from Tuesday
– Kicker Ramiz Ahmed continued his tremendous training camp. Added last week after struggling Gabe Brkic, who picked up a hamstring injury in San Francisco, Ahmed just shared the posts. He was 6-for-6 with 52 yards on Tuesday, taking his practice success rate to 23 of 25. He also made all four kicks against the Saints.
– Veteran receiver Randall Cobb has put on strong performances in a row. On a free game, he made an excellent catch for an 18 win to convert a third and 9. He later made a jump catch for a big win against Keisean Nixon.
– The defense beat the No. 1 offense in a third-down drill on Monday, but Aaron Rodgers and co. converted 3 of 5 on Tuesday, the last of which was a no-look pass to Romeo Doubs while he was under Defensive tackle TJ Slaton was under pressure. Maybe it was a “sack” from Slaton. Either way, it was an exhilarating game from Doubs, who learned to expect the unexpected from Rodgers.
– The two victories of defense? A well-timed blitz from inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and a tackle from rookie inside linebacker Quay Walker to stop Aaron Jones short of the mark.
– Cornerback Kiondre Thomas, who was excellent against the Saints, interrupted a pass to Samori Toure.
– Outside linebackers Preston Smith (vs. Aaron Jones) and Kingsley Enagbare (vs. AJ Dillon) blew up a few perimeter runs.
– A play after Kabion Ento’s interception had the defense dancing, Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass to Marcedes Lewis that had Big Dog barking from everyone.
– In the final game of training camp, Aaron Rodgers completed a 15-yard pass to Josiah Deguara’s tight end against Rasul Douglas to convert a fourth and fourth. After that, it was the first scout team reps of the summer getting the youngsters ready for Thursday night at the Chiefs. Aaron Rodgers lined up at the slot corner; He wasn’t good at cover or as a speed camera. One of the coaches played the role of who will start as quarterback for the Chiefs. Adrian Amos was the running back.
– After completing practice, coach Matt LaFleur pushed the team together. Then he called Larry McCarren. Drafted by the Packers in 1973, McCarren started in 10 seasons in 153 games and was a two-time Pro Bowler. The team’s esteemed radio analyst, this is his 50th season with and around the team. McCarren said he had no idea what was coming when an associate told him LaFleur wanted to speak to him. LaFleur gave him a soccer ball and asked him to disband the team.