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So while Friday’s opening day of the Packers’ post-draft rookie orientation camp saw 36 rookies — nine draft picks, 11 undrafted free-agent signees and 16 of the 19 tryout invitees — getting their first taste of an NFL practice, Finley and Lee could end up seeing more action from scrimmage than any of them in 2008.
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Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley blocks during rookie minicamp football inside the Don Hutson Center Friday, May 2, 2008, ini Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Press-Gazette, Corey Wilson) |
Finley, a third-round pick from Texas, joins a tight end corps that previously consisted of just two: Starter Donald Lee, and Tory Humphrey, who’s yet to catch a pass in the eight regular-season games he’s played in three years and missed all of 2007 with a broken ankle.
And Lee, the third of the Packers’ three second-round picks, joins a cornerback group that has Pro Bowl veterans Charles Woodson and Al Harris entrenched as the starters but a free-for-all for the No. 3 cornerback job — a position that is used on about 50 percent of the defensive snaps because of how often the nickel defense is employed.
Finley admitted before practice to keeping an eye on the tight ends on the Packers’ roster after the team expressed an interest in him at the scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. Although the Packers added two undrafted tight ends after the draft, Finley could be the team’s No. 2 tight end in September.
While the Packers haven’t told Finley about his odds of playing right away, they didn’t have to.
“They’re not really telling me anything. They’re just telling me to go out and work hard,” said Finley, who came out of Texas following his redshirt sophomore season, during which he caught 45 passes for 575 yards and two touchdowns. “(But) looking at the tight end position, I’ve got a big chance of coming in and playing.”
Lee, meanwhile, knows about Woodson and Harris, but when asked about his competition for the third corner spot — holdovers Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush and Will Blackmon all held the job at different times last season — Lee said he’s yet to call up Packers.com and peek at the depth chart.
“I never looked at that. I still haven’t looked at that,” said Lee, who started five games as a sophomore in 2005, then played only in sub defenses before regaining his job and starting all 13 of Auburn’s games as a senior last year. “I’d love to contribute in any way — special teams, anything and everything. I’m going to be ready. I want to be actually on the field and make plays.”
Even though there would appear to be more urgency to getting Finley and Lee ready to play compared to wide receiver Jordy Nelson, quarterback Brian Brohm or offensive linemen Josh Sitton and Breno Giacomini, coach Mike McCarthy said Finley and Lee’s learning curves won’t be accelerated.
“I think the opportunities for any young player usually come through special teams (first),” McCarthy said. “They probably won’t be treated any differently. But the progression of how they’re taught and the opportunities that will come to them first, we just have to get them ready for that.”
Lee, who’s wearing No. 22, was given the previously-empty locker next to Harris, who had used it foradditional storage. He said he played “95 percent” bump-’n’-run coverage at Auburn, so he should fit in with the Packers’ style immediately. Asked if he would’ve preferred to go to a team with an opening in the starting lineup, Lee said no.
“This is a great way to get in (to the NFL),” Lee said. “Learn from Woodson and Harris? Those guys are great. This is the best way.”
Finley was given former Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks’ No. 88 jersey — and looked like a vastly different (read: quicker) player than Franks during practice.
“The speed of the game is going to be a lot faster than in college, so I’m going to have to adjust to that,” Finley said. “But if I bust my butt and get the playbook down, I’ve got a real, real good chance of playing. I can’t wait for that chance.”
