Green Bay Packers: Quick Observations From Day 3 of Training Camp

The buzz in Titletown for football is back. Even with no pads on and what head coach Matt LaFleur called a “light day,” Ray Nitschke Field was packed with spectators, eager to catch a glimpse of this 2021 Green Bay Packers squad.

I was lucky enough to be one of those in attendance, and it felt amazing to not only see training camp but NFL football in person again. Similar to Paul’s article from Day 1 of training camp, I have some quick observations on what stood out to me in my perspective.

– Aaron Rodgers seems to be having fun and living in the moment during this season. He was constantly coaching up both Jordan Love and Kurt Benkert and seemed to be happy to be back to football. From spraying coaches with water bottles to throwing touchdowns to Davante Adams and Robert Tonyan, Rodgers seems to be ready to dominate again in 2021.

-The offense looked scary good in the red zone against the starting defensive unit. In a non-padded, early training camp 11-on-11 session, it is important to take all results with a grain of salt, but the offense seems to be on fire out of the gates. With a top-tier offensive attack returning from last season, this should not be a surprise.

-Jaire Alexander seems to be even better than last season. Jaire “Ja Money” Alexander is already recognized as one of the league’s best coverage corners; however, after watching him and Adrian Amos work together on ball skills, I am even more sold on him. He not only looks quick as ever, but the ball-hawking skills seem to have been drastically improved–so look for more interceptions on Alexander Island this year.

-Amari Rodgers is going to be a problem for opposing defenses. The rookie from Clemson looks incredibly shifty and smart in his routes and as a ball carrier. While he did have a fumble in a live session, his play outside of that prompts extreme optimism for his future in the Green and Gold. With Randall Cobb back in the building, he has a great mentor to ensure his future is bright.

-Joe Barry brings new energy to the defensive unit. There seems to be a new buzz and sense of urgency amongst the Packers’ defense. This is not only evident through play on the field and the eagerness to learn the new scheme and concepts, but all the players rave about Barry in their press conferences. With plenty of talent to work with, Barry has all the pieces to call the shots for one of the premier defenses in the NFL.

-Jordan Love is still a work in progress but shows a lot of potential. The second-year quarterback will have at least one more season to develop, and he will benefit greatly from this opportunity to learn from the great Aaron Rodgers for another campaign. While the young gunslinger did throw an interception in the endzone, he also showed flashes of extreme efficiency and the ability to make any throw on the field. Achieving consistency and adjusting to the speed of an NFL game will be things to monitor the rest of training camp and in his preseason reps.

These are just a few of my observations from being in attendance, and I am sure there are plenty of other noteworthy tidbits from the action today, but these are some of the highlights. If you have the opportunity to go watch a day of camp, I highly recommend it as there is nothing like it, and the behind-the-scenes look into an NFL practice is a truly unique experience.