Packers will have to do more 
with less in 2008 training camp

May 30, 2008

 

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy watches the NFL football team's voluntary practice inside the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay on May 21.


GREEN BAY - When it comes to their 2008 training camp, the Green Bay Packers will have to do more with less.

The Packers' camp, which kicks off July 28, will include just 23 practices — not including the team's annual intrasquad scrimmage — in part because the team plays four preseason games in an 18-day span.

Even though Mike McCarthy said Thursday that he's "comfortable" with the schedule, the third-year coach readily admitted it will be "different."

In 2006, McCarthy's first year, there were 30 practices plus the scrimmage; last year, when McCarthy gave the players Wednesdays off from full practices, the team had 24 practices, including one at old City Stadium, plus the scrimmage.

"We won't have as many practices, but we're at the point with our football team — and we're fortunate (that) we are in year three — that we can get things done in walk-throughs and jog-throughs," McCarthy said following Thursday's organized team activity practice.

Two Thursdays — July 31 and Aug. 7 — will be "rest and recovery" days, as Wednesdays were last year. And, being limited to an 80-man also lessens the number of practice repetitions needed, McCarthy said.

advertisement

 

 

Because the Packers don't open up exhibition play until Aug. 11 on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals, the rest of the league will start before them. That makes the OTA practices and the June 17-19 minicamp work that much more valuable, McCarthy said.

"That factors into what we do in training camp," said McCarthy, whose team opens up regular-season play Sept. 8 at home against Minnesota, again on Monday Night Football. "With the workload that we have accomplished so far — and the workload that we're going to accomplish by the third week in June — paired with the training camp schedule, I feel very confident our football team will be ready to go on Monday Night Football against the Vikings."

GBAJA-BIAMILA'S SURGERY: Pass-rushing defensive Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday that McCarthy termed "minor."

"It was something that's been bothering him throughout the offseason," McCarthy said. "We probably won't get him back until training camp."

Gbaja-Biamila suffered knee and ankle injuries in a Nov. 22 game at Detroit and missed the following week's game at Dallas. But when asked if Gbaja-Biamila's injury happened during the offseason, McCarthy replied, "Pretty much. It's something that, he's not a young puppy anymore, and it's something that's kind of been bothering him of late. (Team physician) Pat McKenzie thought it was best to do it now."

NOTEBOOK: Veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, who had missed OTAs his first two years with the club, is attending this week's practices and participating fully. "I think Charles is a lot more comfortable here (now), and it's great to have him back here working," McCarthy said. McCarthy isn't sure if fellow veteran corner Al Harris will make an appearance, although the coach said he talked to Harris last week. ... General manager Ted Thompson confirmed that the team "is talking" with Alan Herman, the agent for unsigned halfback Ryan Grant, who's an exclusive-rights free agent and is attending OTAs but not participating. ... Starting middle linebacker Nick Barnett, who attended the first week of OTAs, is absent this week. McCarthy wouldn't say why Barnett was missing but confirmed that he is not injured.

 

Associated Press