Hollman discovers good coverage can be beaten

GREEN BAY - News and views from the Green Bay Packers' training camp practice Sunday:

Sunday's takeaways

Rookie cornerback Ka'Dar Hollman, a sixth-round draft pick, is getting an early education on the precision and sophistication of veteran NFL quarterbacks and receivers. Twice Sunday, Hollman played good coverage only to get beaten for sizable gains on excellent back-shoulder throws by Aaron Rodgers to receivers Davante Adams and Jake Kumerow. On Adams' catch, the throw was basically right at the back of Hollman's head rather than the back shoulder, and Adams jumped over Hollman and snagged the ball almost off the cornerback's helmet. “That was a real tough catch and a real tough throw,” Hollman said. “There are little detail things I know I can fix.” Kumerow's was more of a traditional backshoulder catch, but he deked Hollman by waiting to lift his arms until the ball was almost on him and then got both feet down in-bounds with a quick double-toe tap. “(Hollman) played great defense,” Kumerow said, “actually got me at the line and kinda rode me wide to the sideline, which is not a good route by me – I have to save more space, because if I save more space on that sideline I'll be able to turn up after the catch and get more yards. He did a good job, but it was just a better ball. Sometimes you can't defend a great ball.” Hollman later had tight coverage on Trevor Davis on a deep out route that caused an incompletion on a throw by Tim Boyle.

Matt LaFleur definitely is a proponent of relatively short practices to help keep his players healthy. Sunday was the team's first day in full pads, and the workout lasted about 1 hour, 50 minutes. That was after going about 1:40 the previous day in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts. The first two practices of camp, not in pads, were in the 2:15 range, which is still on the shorter side for early training camp. LaFleur's predecessor as coach, Mike McCarthy, traditionally conducted several practices each camp that topped 2 hours, including the first day in pads. NFL rules allow for teams to practice in pads up to three hours per day in training camp, and up to a maximum of four hours including a walk-through conducted apart from the regular practice. LaFleur sounds like he doesn't plan on holding any long practices. “The places I've been – I think we can get the work that needs to be done in a shorter period of time,” LaFleur said. “We take advantage of our walk-throughs in the evening to make sure that we're getting adequate reps, because a lot of this stuff is mental. If you can take some wear and tear off the body, I think that's a good thing – especially early on.”

QB watch

Neither Boyle nor DeShone Kizer has separated himself for the No. 2 job in the very early stages of camp. Kizer missed a chance for a big play in an early team period Sunday when he overshot an open Davis on a go route. But in a third-down period Kizer converted the first down on all three of his snaps with completions to Darrius Shepard (third-and-5), J'Mon Moore (third-and-6) and Kumerow (thirdand-9). Undrafted rookie Manny Wilkins has been scattershot early in camp but showed good touch completing a medium-deep out route to Davis in an early team period.

Bits and pieces

It appears to be a given that LaFleur will keep a fullback on the roster – many teams in the league, including the Packers last season, no longer carry a fullback. Danny Vitale and Malcolm Johnson are getting plenty of snaps in team drills, including occasionally in oneback sets. Early signs suggest Vitale is the better receiver of the two. Blocking will be a big part of the job as well, and right after Johnson was called for a false start penalty Sunday, he came back the next snap and put a good block on linebacker Oren Burks on a zone run that opened the way for a nice gain by halfback Dexter Williams.

Cole Madison, who sat out all of his rookie season last year for mental health reasons, has been working as the center with the No. 3 offense, though he rates fourth on the depth chart behind Corey Linsley, Lucas Patrick and Justin McCray. Patrick and McCray have been flip-flopping at right guard and right center with the No. 2 line. McCray also took a couple snaps with the No. 1 offense Sunday. Madison had a decent day in one-on-one pass rushing drills. He twice held stout against Tyler Lancaster, though Lancaster is primarily a run-stopping defensive tackle, not a pass rusher.

Former Packers cornerback Demitri Goodson is a scouting intern with the team this summer.

Injury report

T Bryan Bulaga (veteran day off) and Boyle (personal) returned to practice. New to the injury list was T Jason Spriggs (trapezius).

Also out were Mason Crosby (calf), S Darnell Savage Jr. (teeth), RB Jamaal Williams (hamstring), CB Josh Jackson (foot), OLB Kendall Donnerson (hamstring), LB Greg Roberts (core muscle injury, PUP), and DT Fadol Brown (calf). Recently claimed RB Darrin Hall did not arrive in Green Bay in time to practice Saturday.

Quote of the day

"Dexter's starting to learn what this league's all about because early on he was really struggling at pressing things and was looking to cut back. If you pitter-patter in the hole at this level, you're hit in the backfield, and that's something we're going to continue to harp on him. He has improved, but he's still got a ways to go." – Matt LaFleur, on running back Dexter Williams, a sixthround draft pick.

Practice schedule

The next practice is 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field.