The Packers’ Saturday practice felt crisp and effective, as they fit 17 periods into a 1 hour and 25-minute outdoor session during practice number six (h/t to Rob Demovsky on the timing).
Packers crammed 17 periods into an hour and 25 minutes outside for practice No. 6. https://t.co/FiYtY8mHgI pic.twitter.com/FIOQSt3dZw
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 22, 2020
Those 17 periods featured plenty of one-on-one’s and team activities which allowed us to get a great glimpse at different matchups and the progress that certain players have made throughout the offseason and through the first week plus of practice.
With the crisp but effective practice in the books, here were my three key takeaways from today’s practice:
A Crisp Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers had arguably his best day of training camp. Matt LaFleur after practice said, “I thought he was extremely sharp, and I also thought the guys around him were a lot better.” I think that was a very astute observation from LaFleur as it seemed his weapons did a much better job of finding open space in practice six than they had in previous days.
It also seemed like Rodgers had better protection from his offensive line, and Rodgers made the defense pay. He was consistently on target with his throws and ended the day with an absolute laser to Marquez Valdes-Scantling over the middle of the field.
It was one of those virtuoso performances from Rodgers that often get taken for granted, but he was having fun out on the field, scrambling for first downs, firing lasers, and it made it a long day for the defense.
David Bakhtiari Dominates
Speaking of players who can often get overlooked because they make the game look so simple – David Bakhtiari also had a fantastic day today. With Kenny Clark’s contract in the books, it would seem to reason that the Packers should pivot their efforts to their long-time left tackle.
Bakhtiari has been in and out of the lineup a bit with a minor injury, but he was back in full force today and he looked fantastic. Bakhtiari often looks unbothered by the pass rush and seems like he’s just going through the motions. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but he makes it look so simple that it seems almost effortless.
Bakhtiari is in line for another fantastic season and a massive pay day sometime in the near future.
Rashan Gary
There’s a moment in The Matrix where Neo goes to see The Oracle to find out if he’s “The One.” She tells him that he has the gift, but that he’s waiting for something, maybe his next life. Neo leaves with a cookie in hand to contemplate whether or not he’s really “The One.”
This is a lame analogy, but it seems appropriate to almost discuss Rashan Gary in the same terms as Neo speaking to The Oracle. Gary has the gift. His athleticism and talent are off the charts. He’s in absolutely phenomenal shape, and his work ethic by all accounts is second to none. But there are times where it seems like he’s waiting for something and still hasn’t been able to translate those gifts into results.
On Saturday Gary was frustrated at the end of one period and channeled those frustrations into a nice speed rush against Billy Turner. It was a nice blend of speed and strength that forced Aaron Rodgers off his spot. In real play, he may have been able to convert it into a sack.
But those moments have been few and far between for Gary, who stands to be in line for a massive playing time increase per Mike Pettine’s comments from his presser yesterday. Of course, in The Matrix, Neo was in fact The One, and finally found how to utilize his gifts. Hopefully the same will happen to Rashan Gary and he realizes that there’s nothing stopping him from becoming an absolute force as a run stuffer and pass rusher.
"six" - Google News
August 23, 2020 at 04:02AM
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Practice Report - Day Six - 247Sports
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