Heard the strumming of John Denver’s “Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Coal)” tune watching practice number two of the Packers mandatory mini camp today. It certainly applied to Jordan Love. With nearly every movement of every snap documented from snap to decision to throw to whistle, Love played well beyond the glare in team drills of the nearly two hour session.
As rough as the edges looked on Tuesday with overthrows and the like, the second year pro getting first team reps delivered a flurry of pretty passes today. It even included a hard count freebie (learned from the Jedi master) and deep ball to Allen Lazard. With each deep wheel route on target to Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon to hooking up with MVS and the rest, the enthusiasm kept building from teammates and coaches alike when at one point, a couple of assistants playfully waved at Love to cool him off.
Had to be fun for Jordan and welcome to the eyes of General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
Jordan Love zooms in.
And for the first time since early last training camp, Love went front and center before the zoom cameras post practice to talk about the potentially stunning fortunes in his career. From a number 3 rookie to perhaps the opening day starter amidst the drama Aaron Rodgers has created. How’s he handling it? How’s he muting the noise?
Love handled the questioning well, especially the one that asked if he’ll be prepared to start September 12th if he has to? “That’s why I was drafted was to play quarterback,” he said, “I will definitely be ready week 1.”
Love also said he spoke with Rodgers the week before the off-season on field work began but declined to share what was discusses although he said the potential holdout didn’t come up. “We’ve got a good relationship,” he said.
The Coach and the Quarterbacks
Head Coach Matt LaFleur was pleased to see plays being made but took today’s Love work just like he did yesterday’s struggle, as another day in the process:
LaFleur mentioned the other 10, guys like Lazard, with a leaping back of the end zone grab to cap a two minute drive, to Juwann Winfree making chain moving grabs, Love had help but there were plenty of throws and results that produced one of, if not the most enjoyable practice as a Packer.
There’s a new linebacker in town. Veteran De’Vondre Campbell arrived today.
De’Vondre Campbell arrives at camp
The 6th year veteran out of Minnesota passed a physical and signed a free agent deal today. He’s started 70 games in his NFL career, most of it with Atlanta where he was a 4th round pick, all 16 games with the Arizona Cardinals last season. He’ll wear number 59.
To make room, the Packers waived running back Mike Weber, the former Ohio State Buckeye. That leaves Dexter Williams, Patrick Taylor and draft pick Kylin Hill to battle for that number three spot behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Za’Darius Smith cleared his Covid protocol and was on the practice field. Preston Smith, Dean Lowry and Elgton Jenkins have not yet been cleared.
Without Jenkins, and David Bakhtiari still on the side, there have been a lot of combinations along the offensive line. Billy Turner took reps at left tackle today, Ben Braden played some on the right side. Josh Myers continues to handle reps with the ones at center. The musical chairs up front is a constant and Turner even said after practice that line coach Adam Stenavich will tell players which position they’ll be working at for the day, while they’re on their way to Clarke Hinkle Field. Turner said that forces all of the linemen, the young ones in particular, to learn the offensive system, rather than the sole job of a left guard, or right tackle.
It was another warm workout with temperatures in the upper 80’s and they’ll have one more day of this to wrap up the camp on Thursday.
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