Camp Insider: Rookie Spriggs on a roll
Thumbs up
On Tuesday night rookie T Jason Spriggs extended his winning streak in the one-on-one pass-blocking drill to eight. In a 4-0 night, he handled LB Jayrone Elliott’s inside charge, stopped LB Kyler Fackrell’s tepid power rush, blunted LB Nick Perry’s up-field charge and turned back a bull rush by LB Lerentee McCray. A second-round draft choice, Spriggs owns a 16-3-2 record in the drill. “I think that’s really where his strength is now,” said G T.J. Lang said, referring to Spriggs’ ability to pass block one-on-one. “He understands he’s a little light but he goes out there and he plays physical. Looks like he can be a good player.” Because of injuries, Lang estimated that Spriggs has played 90 to 95 percent of the reps, primarily at left tackle. “You can tell, it wears him out a little bit,” Lang said. “All of us have been there at one point. But he comes back every day and keeps fighting. He’s smart and pays attention.”
Thumbs down
Rookie WR Trevor Davis, a fifth-round draft choice, has come back down to earth after flashing with several big plays the first two days of camp when the practices were conducted without pads. On Wednesday afternoon, Davis committed the cardinal sin of not getting his face in front of the defender on a quick slant from QB Marquise Williams. Thus, CB Quinten Rollins was able to get inside and make what should have been an interception (he dropped it). It’s a mistake that Davis cannot afford to make, at least in a game. In 77 plays of 11-on-11 work Tuesday night, he didn’t have a catch. On the one ball thrown to Davis, he was covered deep step-for-step by CB Robertson Daniel and Aaron Rodgers’ pass was overthrown. Davis (6-1, 188) is thin and needs work escaping the jam. Of the four rookie free-agent wide receivers in camp, Geronimo Allison of Illinois easily has been the most productive.
Injury report
Returning to practice Wednesday were T Bryan Bulaga and NT Demetris Anderson.
Added to the did-not-practice list were WR Randall Cobb (calf), C Jacob Flores (knee), LB Clay Matthews (ankle) and LS Jesse Schmitt (broken hand).
Thirteen players on the 90-man roster, including five offensive linemen, didn’t practice Wednesday because of injury.
Bits and pieces
» CB Damarious Randall, who likes playing the slot partly because it gives him a chance to blitz, exploded off the right slot Wednesday for what would have been an easy sack.
» WR Jeff Janis jammed the fingers of his right hand trying to force a fumble from a ball carrier in the daily ball-security drill. He continued practicing but was hurting later.
» The longest gain of the 41 plays Wednesday was an estimated 30-yard TD pass from Williams to Jared Abbrederis, who beat LaDarius Gunter on a deep corner route. “I just threw it to a location and ‘Abby’ got open and I think he adjusted well to it,” Williams said.
» Practice began on a sour note when WR Ty Montgomery dropped a slant pass.
Quote of the day
“So far, I think he’s been unbelievable in this camp. His accuracy. His decision-making. He’s ready to roll.” – QB coach Alex Van Pelt on Aaron Rodgers.
Schedule
Next open practice is Sunday at 12:15 p.m.