NFL training camp is in full swing. On Saturday night, the
Packers had their annual “Family Night” at Lambeau Field, which is basically a
cross between a full practice and inter-squad scrimmage. It’s a great time for
children and adults. Fireworks follow the event.
Aaron Rodgers looked sharp all night, hitting Malachi Dupree to
DeAngelo Yancey to Randall Cobb right in the numbers. This might very well be
the longest “look” we will get of Rodgers until week one of the regular season,
as nobody is expecting him to play much during the preseason. He will not play
the first preseason game on Thursday against the Eagles, we know that’s for
sure. Speaking of those two rookie receivers, Yancey and Dupree, they both
looked very good Saturday night. Dupree ran very good routes and Yancey caught
several key third and fourth down conversion passes during live drills. Backup quarterback
Brett Hundley looked solid as well. Late in simulated live play, he threw a
touchdown pass during the two minute drill to tight end Aaron Peck, who is not
expected to make this team. So it was nice to see Peck get in perhaps the lone
Lambeau Leap of his career.
Joe Callahan Struggles on Family Night
Third-string quarterback Joe Callahan did not look good, at
all. He missed several open targets throughout live drills, and bobbled several
snaps out of the shotgun. He also was way off during the drill where they throw
the ball into the net. Joe Callahan's roster spot is far from guaranteed, so
stay tuned. No, it is not a competition between Callahan and undrafted free
agent rookie quarterback Taysom Hill from BYU, Hill will be cut at some point
this month. It's a competition between Callahan and somebody else on the
roster, say cornerback LaDarius Gunter. Kicker Mason Crosby did not look too
great as well. He had several misses during kicking drills, including a very bad
shank from about 45 yards away. Hopefully that is not a sign of things to come.
Family night is good fun, but it's just practice.
Green Bay will get its first test on Thursday night against
the Eagles. As stated before, Rodgers will not play, and we don't expect Hill
to play either. It will be Hundley and Callahan getting every snap, much like
last preseason, with Hundley probably getting 60% of them. Hundley has been in
this system for two years now, and it will be time to see how good he really is
in year three. If he is the “real deal,” Ted Thompson (or whoever the Packers
GM is next offseason,) could fetch several high ranking draft choices for Hundley
in a trade. Callahan is going to have to shake off a rough family night and get
back on track if he wants to make this roster.
