Zero2Cool
15 years ago

Jermichael Finley and Jeremy Thompson two relatively high draft picks came to the Green Bay Packers in April at positions with ample room to make an immediate impact.[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080825&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=80825151&Ref=V2&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]


Unless they make giant gains in the final week of the preseason, it doesnt look like either one will be impact players when the season opens on Sept. 8 against the Minnesota Vikings.

One or both could make strides during the season and become regular contributors, but at this point their contributions seem likely to be minimal.

Finley, a third-round draft pick (No. 91 overall) from Texas, looks like the No. 3 tight end at best. He played behind starter Donald Lee and third-year pro Tory Humphrey in last Fridays preseason game at Denver.

Some days in practice, it has been difficult to tell whether Finley is ahead of fellow rookie Joey Haynos, an undrafted free agent from Maryland.

When the light bulb does go on, you never know, tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said. But youre going to get that light bulb on. When it does click on, you work on refining the skills. Thats where were at. Were plugging away. Im not concerned about playing time or anything. Im concerned about getting better each day.

Thompson, a fourth-round pick (No. 102 overall) from Wake Forest, looks like the No. 6 defensive end at best behind starters Cullen Jenkins and Aaron Kampman, pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Michael Montgomery and Jason Hunter. Last season, Montgomery and Hunter made little impact.[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080825&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=80825151&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]

Last season, the Packers only carried five defensive ends so theres a chance that Thompson, as the sixth defensive end, could be an early-season inactive even though he is on the No. 1 punt return team.

Im not sure about that yet, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston said. Weve got another couple of weeks to go before the season opener, and you never know what could happen. (Thompson) might find himself and turn it on. Hes got the ability to do that.

For Finley, the strides need to come at the line of scrimmage, where he has struggled as a blocker. His ability to catch passes he posted 76 receptions, a 12.8-yard average and five touchdowns in two seasons at Texas has never been in question. In limited snaps in the first three preseason games, he has three catches for 27 yards. In practice, he has displayed good hands.

The catching part is there, Finley said. Im just trying to get my weight up and maintain my weight so I can handle these big defensive ends Im going against.

Thats where Finley has struggled. At 250 pounds, the 6-foot-5 Finley feels like he needs to bulk up in order to be an effective blocker. He has added 10 pounds since he reported for training camp in late July and wants to get up to 260. In coach Mike McCarthys zone-blocking scheme, the tight end is at times charged with sealing off or cut blocking much larger defensive ends.

Finley missed a key block against the Broncos on a second-and-goal play from the 1-yard line in the third quarter. Out of a three-tight-end formation, Finley showed poor technique and missed a block that played a part in running back Brandon Jackson being stopped for no gain.

My feet and my hand placement were wrong, Finley said of that play. So the guy shot inside of me.

Asked how far away he is from being where he wants to be as a blocker, Finley said: Im pretty far away.

Ive made a lot of progress blocking, for sure, he added. The passing game is going to be there, but every day Ive practiced blocking to get my pad level down. Im 6-5, so Ive got to get down low. Thats where I think Ive made the most progress.

With Thompson, the problem has been inconsistency, and thinking too much, according to Hairston.

Mondays one-on-one pass rushing drill was a perfect example. He took two reps and lost them both. On the first, fellow rookie Breno Giacomini used his strength to push Thompson to the ground. On the second, against left tackle Daryn Colledge, Thompson danced too much and by the time he made his move, Colledge had grabbed onto him.

In college, those (offensive linemen) are not as fine tuned as these guys are, Hairston said. So hes got to learn how to study guys. Its just going to take a little time.

Hairston feels Thompson has the tools to be an effective pass rusher because of his speed and massive wingspan yet also can be strong at the point of attack against the run. But Thompson knows hes not there yet. He wants to add 10 pounds to his 6-4 frame and play at about 270 pounds.

Im preparing like Ill have a chance (to play this season), but were so deep at the ends that theres kind of the realization that I wont have the reps that I want to, Thompson said.

But Im still going to work hard. Im still going to contribute on special teams, and its going to be a learning process regardless of whether Im playing a lot or not playing a lot.


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Zero2Cool (10h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (10h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
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