The Workouts Pay Off
Brett Favre spent the offseason strengthening his core muscles and improving his fitness to become more elusive in and out of the pocket. His workouts have left him resembling the young, mobile quarterback of years ago.
He scrambled away from Buffalo Bills linebacker Jeff Posey to deliver a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back Ahman Green during Saturday's preseason game.
"It's just one play," Favre said, "but I don't know if I would've made that play last year or the year before."
During the last few weeks of training camps, the fitter Favre has looked as sharp as ever. He has completed 13-of-16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, earning a preseason quarterback rating of 140.6.
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Grady Nears Return To Action
The extra rest has helped 32-year-old defensive tackle Grady Jackson and his achy knees.
"I feel a whole lot better," Jackson said. "My body's not as beat up."
The run stuffer underwent offseason knee surgery and has yet to participate in any organized team activities or training camp practices. He remains on the physically-unable-to perform list. Jackson, however, said he has a 50-50 chance of playing in the final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Sept. 1.
"It's up to the doctors and the head coach," he said.
The coaching staff had hoped he would return to practice on Tuesday. Instead, while the rest of the team practiced, he went inside the Don Huston Center. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates worked with him, instructing him on how to take on blocks. Jackson also rehabilitated his knee there.
"He did a good job today," head coach Mike Sherman said. "He moved around pretty good."
Sherman hopes that Jackson will practice on Sunday.
Since Jackson will not play on Friday versus the New England Patriots, the head coach decided to leave him on the PUP list.
"There's no sense at taking him off PUP at this time," he said. "We'll continue to work with him inside and get him ready to come out here."
Jackson sounded happy about the role in the new Packers defense and eager to return to the field.
"I've got to come out and play ball and have a great year and help this team get to the playoffs and the Super Bowl," he said.
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The Tape Never Lies
Special teams led to the Packers' 27-7 loss. Gaffes helped the Bills score two touchdowns on Saturday night.
Bills running back ReShard Lee returned a kickoff 66 yards to set up a J.P. Losman touchdown run in the first quarter, and wide receiver Drew Haddad returned a punt 37 yards to set up a Willis McGahee touchdown run in the second quarter.
"It was embarrassing," wide receiver Robert Ferguson said.
After examining the errors in tape, the coaching staff found a silver lining. The miscues were a result of poor technique, not a lack of desire.
"The first thing (Mike Sherman) said was that it wasn't a lack of effort," fullback William Henderson said.
Instead, players did not fill their lanes, leaving large gaps for the Bills' returners to glide through.
"Those things are very correctable, very trainable and very teachable," Henderson said.
Quick Hits:The newly-installed Desso DLW Sports Systems playing surface combining grass with artificial stitching on Clarke Hinkle Field drains water very well. As a result, the Packers did not have to go inside the Don Hutson Center, and 2,000 fans could watch Tuesday's practice despite a brief rainstorm. ... Tight end Ben Steele (back, neck) and offensive tackle Brad Bedell (hamstring) participated in team drills on Tuesday. ... Matt O'Dwyer started at right guard while Adrian Klemm started at left guard during Tuesday's practice. ... Cornerback Joey Thomas picked off a Brett Favre pass intended for wide receiver Donald Driver. ... If the team drills were a live game, cornerback Al Harris would have returned an interception for a touchdown. He picked off a J.T. O'Sullivan pass intended for wide receiver Vince Butler. ... Wide receiver Robert Ferguson did not practice because of a heart murmur. Sherman called his absence a precautionary measure. "If you have that, you can't go out and practice," he said. "We were very cautious with him today."... The Packers reported three new injuries: wide receiver Jamal Jones (shin), defensive tackle A.J. Lindsay (shoulder) and tight end Steve Fleming (ankle). ... Wide receiver Antonio Chatman looked very sharp, catching several balls including a 50-yard touchdown pass from Favre. ... Running back Ahman Green threw a touchdown pass to Andrae Thurman. Cornerback Patrick Dendy had the coverage on the play. ... The secondary's play against the Buffalo Bills impressed Sherman. "I thought they held up pretty well against a good group of receivers," he said.
