GREEN BAY – Rookie Kenny Clark should be ready to play in Week 1.

Fellow Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels plans to make sure of it.

In Tuesday’s first practice of training camp, Daniels could be seen – and certainly heard – getting on Clark for messing up in an 11-on-11 period. There was no first-day grace period for the first-round draft pick from UCLA.

Discussing it after practice on Wednesday, Clark sounded like a player who wouldn’t have it any other way. He not only wants to earn the veterans’ respect, but he understands how important it is that he be all systems go when the first regular-season game rolls around.

“Just from yesterday, I get that sense,” Clark said. “They’re not putting any kind of pressure on me, they’re just making sure that, ‘You need to be solid. We want you to be good.’“I’m taking all that in, and I’m excited for it. I’ve been around people like that all my life, been around hard coaching all my life, so I love it. I’m only going to get better.”

The urgency comes from the defensive line’s need to replace B.J. Raji, and from the four-game suspension for third-year pro Mike Pennel to start the season.

Clark, fourth-round pick Dean Lowry, practice-squad holdover Ringo, and anyone else that can help in Week 1 will be needed. With Datone now working more with the outside linebackers, Daniels and Guion are the Packers’ only pure down linemen with NFL experience.

Daniels’ outburst was a loud reminder that every practice matters for the unit to develop as quickly as it must.

“Sometimes you need to do that,” Daniels said. “With a guy like (Clark), I didn’t even have to do it. He’s already humming, but still, it’s my duty to set the tone.

“Every day is important. We need you to be a vet … in about three weeks.”

By the end of Tuesday’s practice, the defensive line was celebrating a few dominant reps by Clark. The rookie views consistency as his primary goal in training camp, so his teammates and coaches know they can count on him.

If that means taking an earful from Daniels or Guion once in a while, so be it.

“He was just being Mike Daniels and got fired up, and he got me going,” Clark said.

“Those guys are doing everything in their power to make sure I’m straight, make sure I’m doing my job. We have to count on everybody. They don’t want anybody slacking, and they want everybody to be on the same page.”It’s only been two non-padded practices and a few head-to-head snaps, but Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton is impressed with what he’s seen from Clark so far. The two may have more one-on-one battles in pass-rush drills later in camp, but Sitton already knows he won’t feel like he’s facing a 20-year-old rookie during those reps.

“I would say the way he’s able to use his hands already, he seems a little older, more mature I guess,” Sitton said. “A lot of young guys kind of just play into you and don’t really keep using their hands, and that’s something I’ve noticed over the two days. He’s really good with his hands.”

Beginning Thursday morning, Clark will start to show what he brings in full pads. He can’t wait.

Neither can Daniels.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “we’re really going to see what these guys are made of.”

To book Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark or LeTroy Guion for an upcoming event, contact www.MayfieldSports.com or 262.366.8188.

Article Credit Mike Spofford

Started from the bottom : Mike Daniels, not Clay Matthews, Will Lead Packers’ Defense

NFL, Green Bay Packers, Mike Daniels, Packers defense, 2014 Packers defense, Dom capers, 2014 Packers Training Camp, 2014 Packers preseason

Green Bay Packers fans have been screaming for what seems like forever about how the team needs a new attitude on defense. They’re understandably frustrated with seeing Green Bay’s defense get shredded year after year.

Some have called (loudly) for the firing of defensive coordinator Dom Capers but head coach Mike McCarthy apparently saw things differently and Capers is back again for 2014. Don’t let the return of the coordinator fool you, however. This is not the Packers defense fans have come to know and love/loathe from the past three seasons.

With the addition of Julius Peppers and first round pick HaHa Clinton-Dix, the defense seems prime for a rebound and if training camp and half the preseason are any indication, there is reason for optimism about the Packers defense in 2014.

Does it help that Clay Matthews will be healthy again? Of course. It’s never a bad thing when a player of his caliber is at full strength after two consecutive seasons battling various injuries including a hamstring and a (twice) broken thumb.

Another big reason to be excited about the Green Bay defense in 2014, even more than the return to health of Matthews, is defensive end Mike Daniels. Last year while Matthews was either out or limited with the thumb injury, Daniels broke out and showed signs of becoming the second fearsome pass rusher the Packers have been so desperately seeking. Daniels tallied 6.5 sacks and had 23 combined tackles while playing in all 16 games.

Take what he’s shown so far this preseason and one thing is becoming clear: it could be Daniels, not Matthews, that emerges as the leader of the 2014 Green Bay defense.

This is by no means any kind of a slight against the Claymaker, who has earned all the accolades he has received so far in his career. Matthews is a terrific pass rusher, but at times seems to lack that killer “I’m coming at you and I want to rip your head off”-type instinct that so many all-time great linebackers have. Take Dick Butkus or Ray Lewis, for example.

That is where Daniels comes into play. His repeated statements about being sick of seeing the defense pushed around and his willingness to “slap someone” are injections of fire and attitude the defense badly needs. The Packers have been accused in recent years of being “soft” and while things on the offense have improved with the arrival of running back Eddie Lacy, the criticism is definitely still valid.

Not if Daniels has his way. His combination of speed, power and hunger have him on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s best defensive ends. If you combine his emergence and assume Julius Peppers still has something left in the tank plus a healthy Matthews, then suddenly the Packers have quite a ferocious pass rush. That in turn would take some pressure off the secondary where they have one rookie safety and another who is converting from playing cornerback last season (Micah Hyde).

Daniels may not run up a terribly high sack total thanks to linebackers being primary blitzers in a base 3-4, but his presence is going to be felt. If he opens up gaps for Peppers, Matthews and the rest of the linebackers, that’s fantastic. If Daniels can consistently get into the backfield however, then the Packers have one more weapon on their hands and all signs right now point to this being the case.
With the preseason only half complete, so many people are still solely focused on what Peppers will bring to the Green Bay defense or when it will “click” for Datone Jones. Even after the game he played in St. Louis where he was as disruptive as ever, not many national writers and analysts are focusing on Daniels.

By the end of the 2014 season, they will be. The Packers have a budding star on the defensive line and he’s flying under the radar.

Just how Mike Daniels wants it. Kris Burke is a sports writer covering the Green Bay Packers for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WTMJ in Milwaukee

Mayfield Sports Marketing www.MAYFIELDSPORTS.COM is a booking and marketing agency for off the field marketing for Green Bay Packers players such as MIKE DANIELS. If your company, association or charity may be interested in booking a Green Bay Packers player for a community event or private event, contact us today at www.MayfieldSports.com or 262.366.8188

Packers Mike Daniels and Datone Jones Revamped

MCT

Packers cornerback Davon House breaks up a pass intended for Rams receiver Stedman Bailey on Saturday.

By Tom Silverstein and Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 18, 2014

Green Bay

— Getting up in the face of opposing wide receivers and jamming them at the line of scrimmage is what Green Bay Packers cornerback

Davon House

likes doing best.

At 6 feet and 195 pounds, he's got the arm length and the strength to press bigger receivers, and since the coaches give the cornerbacks some freedom whether to press or play off, House usually chooses press.

However, this training camp House is choosing to play off receivers more for what might be the most practical reason a player can think of. He wants to be on the field more.

"For me to, let me say, see more playing time, I need to get picks," House said. "In press, they don't like to throw the ball as much and if they do it's usually a comeback or a fade or sometimes it's a slant.

"Slants are really hard to pick off (in press). Comebacks are hard to pick off and fade balls the quarterback is going to throw it to where only he (the receiver) can catch it or incomplete."

When he's playing 5 or 6 yards off the receiver, House said, it is easier to track the ball.

"Playing off, you can see the ball thrown," he said. "You're encouraging slants where you can actually jump in front of it. You can run with a fade and locate the ball and pick off a comeback. So, for me to get to more balls I'm going to have to play off more."

Competition for playing time in the secondary is fierce withTramon Williams and Sam Shields locked into starting spots and House, Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde all in the mix to play in the nickel and dime personnel groups.

Lately, Hayward has been playing in the slot in the nickel and Hyde and Williams have been playing in the slot in the dime with House taking over Williams' usual spot on the outside. House and Hayward are completely different kinds of cornerbacks, so their playing time could depend on matchups.

Hayward led the team in interceptions his rookie season two years ago and made it so the coaches felt they had to have him on the field. House would like to force his way onto the field with similar game-changing production.

He had his first interception last year against Cleveland'sBrandon Weeden.

Though he'll be playing off more this season, House probably will still be called upon to go toe-to-toe with big, physical outside receivers like the New York Jets' Eric Decker, Chicago's Alshon Jeffery, Detroit's Golden Tate and Minnesota's Cordarrelle Patterson.

"I feel like I can," House said of shutting down that type of receiver. "I feel like I did a good job against (Michael) Crabtree, who's a bigger guy. I did a good job against Josh Gordon, who's a bigger guy. I personally feel like I can play against the bigger receivers."

Raji's move: The exhibition games mean different things to different veterans. For B.J. Raji, it's about relearning nose tackle. After inking Raji to a one-year, prove-it deal, the Packers slid him back inside in their 3-4 base defense.

The Packers are hoping the Raji of 2010 returns in the process.

On Monday, Raji indicated it's a process. Playing a different team helps.

"In practice in training camp, I'm used to seeing one scheme," Raji said. "But through the season, we practice one way but our opponent plays another way. So I think it's been good to play against teams who do different things up front, as far as blocking schemes to get my instincts and my thinking back into mode."

That revamped front of Raji, Mike Daniels and Datone Jones held Zac Stacy — the St. Louis Rams' 2013 leading rusher who had 973 yards and seven touchdowns — to 6 yards on six carries. Raji mostly occupied blockers, at times redirecting Stacy's path.

"It feels like everything is starting to slowly come back to me," Raji said. "Because when you're down inside, everything happens so much faster. So you have to keep your head up, eyes up and your pads down. The more games I play, the more comfortable I'll get."

Possibly, Raji's 6-2, 337-pound frame can clog the lanes and the athletic Daniels and Jones will work off that.

Of course, Raji also will be wanting to make more plays himself at the position he held during the Super Bowl run. Last season, he had a career-low 17 tackles (12 solo) and no sacks. At defensive end, his numbers dipped, yet as Raji said in May he didn't see a need to speak up since the Packers were winning the NFC North three straight years.

Now, he'll be working against a smaller offensive lineman more often.

"By design, centers typically have to be more athletic because they have to step in, snap the ball, so you really don't have a lot of big, big guys at center," Raji said. "Some guys are bigger than others. But typically, centers are quicker, smarter guys who just have a sense for the offense calling protections. They're generally not the biggest guys."

And that's good for him, right?

"Hopefully, hopefully," he said.

Thumb's up: In his first extensive game action since finishing 2013 on injured reserve with a broken thumb, outside linebacker Clay Matthews passed his first test. He stayed healthy. He's not worrying about the thumb.

Matthews used a spin move to beat No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson onone play and tried not to think about the digit that gave him so much trouble last season.

"Definitely took a step in the right direction," Matthews said. "As I've said before, this preseason has been a little more integral as far as my play, just because getting the mental confidence to go back out there, throw my hand around, throw my body around and feel good about that.

"The football, it'll fall into place exactly how I anticipated, just making steps from the first step to this week, I anticipated going into this next week.

"I feel good about it. I think by the time the season rolls around, I'll be flying out there and making plays and having fun. That's what I'm doing now, but just a little more crisp."

Not panicking: If Tennessee was a major step forward for tackle Derek Sherrod, St. Louis was a major step back. The former first-round pick struggled mightily on the Rams' fast surface, raising concerns about the contingency plan behind starters Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari.

But if the sky's falling in fans' views, it's not with the team, coach Mike McCarthy said.

"Well, the sky's not falling," McCarthy said. "We have two more weeks to get ready for the season. Derek Sherrod did a lot of good things. He had a couple plays that he obviously wished he could have back but, nah, I think we're progressing fine there."

Mayfield Sports Marketing www.MAYFIELDSPORTS.COM is a booking and marketing agency for off the field marketing for Green Bay Packers players. If your company, association or charity may be interested in booking a Green Bay Packers player for a community event or private event, contact us today at www.MayfieldSports.com or 262.366.8188

Packers' veteran D-lineman Mike Daniels conveying urgency to first-round rookie

Started from the bottom : Mike Daniels, not Clay Matthews, Will Lead Packers’ Defense

Packers Mike Daniels and Datone Jones Revamped

MCT

Packers cornerback Davon House breaks up a pass intended for Rams receiver Stedman Bailey on Saturday.

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