GREEN BAY --- “Iron sharpens iron.”
It’s an oft-repeated mantra of the Packers coaches and players through the first several days of training camp.
The Green Bay offense, thin at experienced wide receivers and healthy offensive linemen, have been more successful in competitive drills against the team’s lauded-for-potential defense through the first three full practices.
Then Monday happened.
The defense showed out with several stout plays, including Darnell Savage’s diving pass breakup in the end zone, De’Vondre Campbell stuffing Aaron Jones in the hole, and Rashan Gary, Dean Lowry, and Jarran Reed all making tackles for loss during the competitive drill portion of the workout.
In addition, previously sure-handed rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs dropped his first pass this summer in the red zone drill. Also, Sammy Watkins had a case of the butterfingers, too.
The Packers are hitting the ground hard during the first full week of camp, with a moderate practice on Monday, followed by what is promised to be hard-hitting sets of full-padded drills on Tuesday and Thursday, sandwiched by Wednesday’s light jog-through.
“I think we’ve got to be very careful about how hard we’re going each and every day,” head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters prior to Monday morning’s practice. “It is going to be a little bit of a grind on our guys, but that’s why it’s so important for these guys to take care of their bodies and do whatever they can, whether it’s the cold tubs, whether it’s getting massages and our guys, we’ve got a pretty good crew in terms of guys being responsible like that.”
Tuesday and Thursday’s drills are open to the public at Ray Nitschke Field (weather permitting). Wednesday’s workout is closed to the public.