NFC North Training Camp Thread

[Bucman 891]

If Shields get cut, Bucs need to sign him.

[Turry 755]

Two sources tell ESPN 1500 Twin Cities that Vikings rookie WR Greg Childs is "almost surely" done for the year after suffering a "significant" injury to both knees during Saturday's camp practice.

The Vikings fear Childs tore both patellar tendons. It's a devastating, career-threatening blow for a player who labored through a patellar tendon tear as a senior in college and fell at least two rounds in the draft because of it. The Vikings were hoping Childs would secure the first-team split end job in suspended starter Jerome Simpson's three-game absence, but they'll have to turn elsewhere now. They may explore the free agent or trade market at receiver. The organization has soured on Michael Jenkins, and remains desperate for a wideout capable of stretching the field.

Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[RazorStar 4,025]

I saw him make a really sick catch in Vikings camp, where he basically caught it through the DB.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Wow. Both knees? Division rival blah blah blah. That sucks...

[Turry 755]

Ya no kidding. Division rival or not, it really blows to see a rookie get injured and may not play ever again. I hope he can recover and come back to full strength.

 

Other Update

 

Packers OT Derek Sherrod still has no timetable to return from his fractured right tibia and fibula.

Sherrod suffered a setback in the spring and has yet to practice in training camp. "My goal is just to get back as quick as possible," said the 2011 first-round pick. Sherrod is a strong candidate to open the season on reserve/PUP.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Avril's back to camp...

 

Not sure what the point of the holdout was, but oh well...

[Smell My Face 13]

Yes, Ponder does look improved

August 4, 2012 - 10:14 PM

 

MANKATO - The first full week of training camp ended Saturday night with a two-hour controlled scrimmage at Blakeslee Stadium. Today we report what we've learned so far about the offense. Monday we'll reveal what we've seen in the defense and special teams:

Quarterbacks

 

What we've learned: After being asked 15,679 times whether having a true offseason made a difference in the progress from his rookie season, starting quarterback Christian Ponder should be allowed to smack the 15,680th person who asks the question. Said receiver Percy Harvin: "The difference is huge. His progressions, reading defenses and confidence level has been like night and day. He believes in himself this year."

 

What needs to happen: Coming off a shaky week, at best, Joe Webb needs to restore the confidence around him that's expected of the unquestioned No. 2 quarterback. When asked about Webb's inconsistency and inaccuracy, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said: "Joe is always going to look better in games than he will in practice at this stage in his career."

Running backs

 

What we've learned: Toby Gerhart's added upper-body mass makes him an even bigger load in short-yardage situations. As cornerback Chris Cook said on the field seconds after trying and failing to stop Gerhart in a goal-line drill: "Man, you gotta get low if you want to stop Toby's big" um, butt.

 

What needs to happen: Second-year pro Jordan Todman needs to return from an ankle injury that's knocked him out the past two practices. He's the ideal change-of-pace back with speed and quickness that no other back on the roster, except Adrian Peterson, possesses. But each missed practice helps kill Todman's chances of closing the gap on veteran Lex Hilliard in the battle for the No. 3 running back job.

Offensive line

 

What we've learned: A sports hernia suffered by Geoff Schwartz essentially ended the right guard competition before it had a chance to start. Schwartz declined to comment after Saturday's walk-through, citing the team's policy on injured players talking to the media, but he could be out four to six weeks or longer. With injuries mounting on the offensive line, the Vikings added another undrafted rookie, Bridger Buche of Eastern Michigan, on Saturday. Receiver A.J. Love was released to make room on the roster.

 

What needs to happen: Someone other than Chris DeGeare needs to step up as the No. 2 right guard. DeGeare and veteran Joe Berger can play the position, but it's better if DeGeare focuses on backing up the left guard position. Longshot to watch: Undrafted rookie free-agent center/guard Quentin Saulsberry.

Tight ends/receivers

 

What we've learned: Kyle Rudolph will be a popular target for Ponder in this offense. The second-year tight end has had an excellent camp and will benefit underneath if receiver Jerome Simpson lives up to his potential as a deep threat. Simpson was the camp star of Week 1. "He's just fast," said left guard Charlie Johnson.

 

What needs to happen: Someone other than Simpson and Harvin has to start standing out at receiver ASAP, especially with Simpson having to start the regular season with a three-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Rookie Greg Childs has shown the most raw talent but has been inconsistent and suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury near the end of Saturday night's scrimmage. The extent of the injury was to be determined.

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/165024736.html

[Smell My Face 13]

Avril's back to camp...

 

Not sure what the point of the holdout was, but oh well...

 

Yeah seems pretty pointless. I guess he just didn't feel like going to the first week of camp.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Nick Perry is in a heated position battle with Erik Walden.... Oh boy. That's not good.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Yeah seems pretty pointless. I guess he just didn't feel like going to the first week of camp.

 

Yea, i thought he had already signed his tender, apparently he just did. Oh well, he better hope for his sake that he has a pro bowl season. lol.

 

Btw, welcome to TGP!

[Smell My Face 13]

Yea, i thought he had already signed his tender, apparently he just did. Oh well, he better hope for his sake that he has a pro bowl season. lol.

 

Btw, welcome to TGP!

 

Thanks bro!

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/06/leshoure-delmas-remain-out-for-lions/

 

The Lions started practice Monday thin at running back and they ended it looking downright svelte.

 

 

Stephfon Green hurt his knee in a drill, forcing him out of practice on a day when the team was already without Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. Best still hasn’t been cleared for full practice and Leshoure sat out once again with a hamstring injury. He’s resumed running, but his return date is still unknown and coach Jim Schwartz intimated that there might be a change at the position coming soon.

 

“Our numbers are dropping there,” Schwartz said, via Tim Twentymen of the team’s website. “We’ll have to see with Green how he bounces back from this, but our numbers are a little light there right now. But that could change in the next 24 or 48 hours.”

 

That could mean Leshoure’s return or a good diagnosis on Green, but it could also mean that the Lions, who finished practice with five healthy backs, look outside the organization. Ryan Grant has been linked with the team during the offseason, although there hasn’t been much heat on that front for a while.

 

The Lions also don’t know when they’ll get safety Louis Delmas back on the field. Schwartz remains adamant that Delmas’ sore left knee won’t cost him any time during the regular season.

 

“We’re worried about short-term and how that approach is,” Schwartz said. “We’re not worried about regular season; I’ve said that a lot of times.”

 

Delmas might not see much time in the preseason, but the approach will be worth it for the Lions if it improves his chances of being healthy through the regular season.

 

 

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Those waiting for that moment when first-round draft pick Nick Perry looked like, well, a first-round pick, should have seen the one-on-one pass rushing/pass blocking drill on Sunday night.

 

As he has for most of camp, Perry took his first rep against right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who just happened to come into the night without a loss in 10 snaps this summer.

 

This time, however, it went much differently.

 

At the snap of the ball, Perry fired out of his stance and hit Bulaga with a burst of power. The bull rush steamrolled Bulaga, who ended up on his back, giving Perry his first victory in their seven head-to-head matchups. Perry had been 0-6 against Bulaga, but was a respectable 3-2 in his other reps during the drill that favors the offensive lineman.

Phew. MORE.

 

If Andrew Datko keeps playing like this, the rookie tackle is going to get someone killed.

 

That someone on Sunday almost was backup quarterback B.J. Coleman.

 

It’s hard to believe this is the same guy who allowed just one sack in 11 starts as a junior at Florida State. So far, he has been one of the worst pass protectors in camp. Maybe he should be given the benefit of the doubt because he missed all but four games of his senior season last year because of a shoulder injury.

 

During a no-huddle team period on Sunday, outside linebacker Erik Walden bull rushed Dakto and pushed him right into Coleman, who appeared to get undercut at the legs. Quarterbacks are never supposed to get hit in practice, which is why they wear the red jerseys, but this time he got hit by his own lineman.

 

Lol Andrew Datko. I was kind of excited when we drafted him... Yikes. To be fair, I doubt he is even fully healthy. Doubt he is going to be around much longer.

[Smell My Face 13]

What we've learned about defense, special teams

Updated: August 5, 2012 - 11:06 PM

 

MANKATO - After the first full week of training camp this is what we've learned about defense and special teams:

 

Defensive line

 

What we've learned: The team, as usual the past few years, has some impressive depth. That includes some classic edge rushers such as D'Aundre Reed showing that they can also rush from the tackle position.

 

What needs to happen: Letroy Guion needs some preseason action to prove he can handle the move from under tackle to nose tackle at a relatively light 303 pounds. Can he make up for it with quickness? Said Jared Allen: "Letroy has feet like no other."

 

Linebackers

 

What we've learned: Griffen is wildly talented and can play multiple defensive positions as well as stand out on special teams. However, the switch to linebacker won't be successful after just a week or two of focusing on the position. He's flashed in camp, but he's also been inconsistent while running with the third team.

 

What needs to happen: Like Guion, middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley just needs some actual game experience to show that he's ready to assume former Viking E.J. Henderson's old position. For what it's worth, Brinkley has not shown signs of the injuries that have plagued him for most of the past year. He missed all of last season because of hip surgery and then missed a lot of OTA and minicamp time because of a combination of hip and groin issues.

 

Defensive backs

 

What we've learned: These aren't your 2011 Vikings. This outfit looks NFL-worthy and then some so far. Chris Carr has looked like a solid third corner, if not a capable No. 2 if the Vikings want to limit 35-year-old Antoine Winfield to nickel back.

 

What needs to happen: Defensive coordinator Alan Williams said the team is likely to keep either five or six corners. If veteran Zack Bowman makes the team as the fifth corner, as expected, the pressure mounts on the lower-tier guys such as Brandon Burton, Marcus Sherels and Reggie Jones.

 

Special teams

 

What we've learned: As advertised, rookie kicker Blair Walsh has a giant leg. He's been booming kickoffs out of the end zone.

 

What needs to happen: Walsh needs to face the pressure of a field goal attempt that means more than ending a training camp practice. So far, he's handled that minimal pressure well.

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/165090456.html

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

The reports that Packers receiver Greg Jennings has been ruled out for Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers. Jennings suffered a concussion during Friday's scrimmage.

Source: The Redzone

Edited August 7, 2012 by GoodellFTL

[Smell My Face 13]

Kevin Smith - RB - Lions

Aug 7 - 6:50 PM

 

Kevin Smith is listed as the starting running back on the Lions' first depth chart of training camp.

 

It's out of sight, out of mind for Jahvid Best (concussion). We suspect the veteran Smith would have gotten the nod over Mikel Leshoure, though, had the latter not missed the past nine days with a hamstring injury. While this news is less than surprising, it's still noteworthy for fantasy purposes. Smith continues to climb the cheat sheets.

 

Source: MLive.com

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Mikel Leshoure needs to get healthy for realz.

[Smell My Face 13]

Jordy Nelson - WR - Packers

Aug 8 - 8:58 AM

 

Jordy Nelson has been among the best players at Packers camp through two weeks.

 

Now entering his fifth season, Nelson is picking up right where he left off in 2011. "Wow!" receivers coach Edgar Bennett said. "This guy just continues to improve. He is an elite receiver. ... He has those three 'S' words: size strength and speed. This guy is a difference-maker." Offensive coordinator Tom Clements raved similarly: "He's a great player." While a repeat of last year's efficiency is highly unlikely, Nelson is locked into an every-down role in the game's best passing offense. Last year wasn't a fluke.

 

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football-player-news/?rw=1

 

 

James Starks - RB - Packers

Aug 7 - 11:18 PM

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Packers RB James Starks "really needs to show up in the (preseason) games."

 

Per the Journal-Sentinel's Tom Silverstein, Starks' practices "aren't as good as they could be, and he seems to have regressed as a receiver." Silverstein's rough assessment comes four days after colleague Bob McGinn opined Starks "hasn't made strides as a pass blocker or ball carrier." Starks appears in for a full-fledged battle with Alex Green.

 

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football-player-news/?rw=1

[Smell My Face 13]

Mikel Leshoure needs to get healthy for realz.

 

Yeah it seems like none of the Lions RBs have been able to stay healthy for a few years now. Well maybe Stefan Logan.

[BLUE 1,026]

Per Rotoworld.com:

 

In addition to a knee sprain, Packers ILB Desmond Bishop also suffered a potential hamstring injury in Thursday's preseason opener.

"Desmond's injury didn't look very good," acknowledged coach Mike McCarthy. "Hopefully we'll get some good news but it's up in the air." Bishop will have to undergo testing to determine the severity of the sprain. He was projected to be a top-15 IDP linebacker for the 2012 season. Aug 10 - 12:00 AM

 

Source: Jason Wilde on Twitter

[badgers 380]

If it's only a sprain then it's better than I thought. The way his knee bent looked like a half-season injury. Maybe I'm exaggerating though.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Ya, I thought it was going to some kind of ligament tear. Legg extended and then it got like a 230 lb dude just shoved down onto it. Looked worse than it was, apparently.

[Bucman 891]

Best needs to retire. Way too many concussions already.

[BLUE 1,026]

Per Rotoworld.com:

 

The Packers fear ILB Desmond Bishop will miss "a good portion, if not all" of the upcoming season due to a severe right hamstring injury.

It sounds like a rupture of the muscle. Coach Mike McCarthy conceded after the preseason opener that Bishop's injury "didn't look very good," and he underwent testing Friday morning. Although Bishop initially appeared to suffer injuries to both his knee and hamstring, the knee checked out fine. It sounds like he may be sidelined for months with the hamstring injury, though. Aug 10 - 3:52 PM

 

Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Well... Fuck me in the ass.

 

DJ Smith is ready though, so we will be fine.