It's time for Matt LaFleur to put his feet up, literally. At least his left leg.
Hired as the Green Bay Packers 15th Head Coach in January, LaFleur assembled his staff in February, attended league meetings in March, helped scout college talent for the draft in April, conducted a couple of mini-camps and organized team activities in May and finally snapped his left Achilles tendon and wrapped up the mandatory mini-camp in June.
That's a pretty eventful first off-season program that will conclude with a private team building event on Thursday.
The final camp practice was moved inside the Don Hutson Center today because of a steady rain.
(Matt LaFleur chats with tight ends during Wednesday's practice)
When it was over, LaFleur hobbled out of his golf cart and rolled over to the media on a scooter to offer an evaluation of his first six months in charge.
(Audio: Matt LaFleur)
It's awfully difficult to evaluate players until they're really playing football but here's a list of impressions from observing all of the open OTA and mini-camp practices.
Passing Fancies
Aaron Rodgers and the quarterbacks got in an awful lot of throwing to receivers cutting out of bunch formations and to running backs flaring out of the backfield. It wasn't always clean as LaFleur alluded to but it's apparent the passing game will have plenty of movement and options.
The top three receivers are Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Next in line are Jake Kumerow and Equamineous St. Brown. I saw more disconcerting drops from J'Mon Moore again this spring.
(Quarterbacks get ready to run another drill)
Who's Number 2?
It's become obvious, Tim Boyle throws a far better ball than DeShone Kizer and young Manny Wilkins.
Plug And Play
All four veteran free agents signed by General Manager Brian Gutekunst this off-season are running with the ones. Billy Turner is the starting right guard heading into training camp, Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos have given the defense a fresh, new look.
Gosh Josh
Josh Jones didn't do himself any favors by taking a powder on the OTA's, voluntary or not. The third year safety's wish to get traded probably won't be granted. Not that Gutekunst will let phone queries go to voicemail, there's only late round value in return for a player who's athletic ability gets him on the field but for one reason or another, he can't stay on the field. Amos, first rounder Darnell Savage and even Raven Greene are already slotted ahead of Jones who only watched this week's practices because of a hamstring injury. He's hamstrung alright and Jones better have a massive training camp.
Numbers To Remember Come July
29, 54,
Two players that caught my eye and will really interest me when the pads go on are sixth round draft choice Ka'Dar Hollman and linebacker James Crawford. Hollman is a defensive back from Toledo who more than held his own against the Pack's front line receivers. Crawford was a special teams demon last season and appears ready to become a factor in the defensive rotation. Stay tuned.
With that, LaFleur will cut the boys loose after tomorrow's team event until July 24, the day they check in at St. Norbert College.
(Matt LaFleur addresses team after final off-season practice)