For a young quarterback sitting at No. 3 on the depth chart, there may be nothing more valuable, yet harder to come by, than getting snaps in practice.
The only way to improve, develop and catch up to the speed of the pro game is to get as many live snaps as possible. But in the regular season, with only three practices per week and two quarterbacks higher in the pecking order, practice snaps are at a premium.
That's why a week like this could be a prime opportunity for the Packers' No. 3 QB, Ingle Martin, to get some serious work.
With starter Brett Favre possibly limited in practice while he rests his injured elbow and newly signed No. 2 Todd Bouman learning the offense on the fly, Martin might be called upon to handle more of the repetitions. And whether those reps come with the regular offense or the scout team offense, Martin wants to make the most of them.
"I definitely look at it as an opportunity," said Martin, a rookie fifth-round draft choice out of Furman. "If the coaches say they need me to take 10 reps at practice on Wednesday, I have to look at those 10 as everything for me. It gives me a chance to prove myself and show them how far I've come and show them what I'm able to do.
"Obviously it's completely different than how it's going to be in the game, because practice is not as fast. But to show them I understand what they're trying to do on offense is the important part."
In his limited work thus far, Martin has shown improvement since appearing in two preseason games and completing 8 of 12 passes for 58 yards with one interception.
Most of Martin's practice time has come with the scout team, where he simulates as best he can the opposing quarterback the Packers will face that week. He, along with the No. 2 quarterback most weeks, runs those plays against the Packers' first- and second-string defenses to give them the "look" they're going to see on Sunday.
"They want it to look as much like the opponent's offense as possible," Martin said. "It's really not anything we might be doing on our offense. But if this quarterback likes to sit in pocket and slide and throw, or this quarterback likes to scramble to the numbers, you try to emulate him.
"But you also need to improve on what you're working on with your own game, and for me that's getting out from center quicker, speeding up my drop, making decisions quicker, getting the ball out of my hand quicker. Just trying to play up to the speed of the game."
The coaching staff has noted that's coming along for Martin, even though he hasn't taken any game snaps since the preseason finale on Sept. 1.
{sportsad300}"The game is slowing down for him," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "That's normal. You see that in young quarterbacks. The speed of the game is always usually too much for them at first. He's doing a better job with his limited opportunities."
If only slightly, Martin's development should accelerate if the team's quarterback situation calls for him to handle a larger workload in practice. A lot will depend on Favre's health and how quickly Bouman, who knows what Martin is going through having spent the first four years of his career as a No. 3, will be prepared to execute plays in practice.
"I don't know what the coaches are planning on doing, but I just think I have to keep my same attitude," Martin said. "If I do get more reps, I have to be ready for it and hope to continue with my improvement and help the team.
"I think with a young quarterback such as myself, the biggest thing is doing the best you can learning the offense. Most of that learning comes doing reps in mini-camps, OTAs, and the preseason, and I felt I was making strides every week. Now it's more along the lines of fundamentals, and getting things to happen quicker at this level, so that's what I continue to work on."
