Preseason starts with search for answers
by Jason Wilde / Wisconsin State Journal
GREEN BAY -- John Bonamego was willing to give rookie punter B.J. Sander the benefit of the doubt after his inauspicious debut in the Green Bay Packers' intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 7.
But Bonamego, the Packers' special teams coordinator, isn't going to give Sander another mulligan if he falters in tonight's preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. After Sander's solid week of practice, Bonamego wants to see the third-round draft pick show marked improvement in game conditions.
"Now it's time for him to start showing why we drafted him," Bonamego said of Sander, who averaged 27.3 yards on three punts in the scrimmage. "If he's going to be our punter, he's got to be held to the same standard as everyone else in the organization.
"These preseason games are important for everybody. He's in a position, because he was a draft pick and because it's pretty easy for anybody to look out there and have an idea of whether he does good or bad, that he's got to perform. But that's no different than any other player on our team. They all, anybody who's trying to make this team is under the same pressure, the same scrutiny as he is."
Punter won't be the only position being scrutinized tonight.
Asked which positions he would monitor most closely, coach Mike Sherman rattled off: No. 4 and No. 5 receiver; backup center/guard; defensive line; safety; and cornerback. The No. 3 tight end job is also an area to watch.
"So there is a lot to look at," Sherman said.
Here's a look at each of those positions entering tonight's game:
No. 4 receiver
Antonio Chatman, who was only a returner last year, is clearly ahead of Carl Ford, Scottie Vines, Shockmain Davis and Sam Breeden. With Chatman not playing receiver, the team went with only four receivers last season. If Chatman shows he can handle being No.4, the extra roster spot could be used elsewhere.
"We're going to give all of them a lot of reps and a lot of opportunities and see who plays when it counts," offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said.
Backup guard/center
Grey Ruegamer will start at center in place of Mike Flanagan, and Steve Morley will fill in at left guard for Mike Wahle. Ruegamer can play guard and center and is battling rookie Scott Wells, who played center in college. Ruegamer played 28 non-special teams snaps last season as a backup, so he appreciates the extra work with Flanagan out.
"I haven't actually played in awhile, so every rep helps," Ruegamer said. "There's a lot of competition."
No. 3 tight end
Veteran Steve Bush is ahead of youngsters Tony Donald and Keith Willis, neither of whom has caught the ball particularly well. Donald and Willis have potential, but Bush appears more game-ready -- important given how many two- and three-tight end sets the Packers use. Perpetual tease David Martin has been in and out of practice with a knee injury.
"There's good competition there, and whoever does win that spot, I think we'll be better (than last year)," Rossley said.
Strong safety
Marques Anderson and Mark Roman have alternated days with the No. 1 unit. While Roman is the presumptive starter, his practice time has been limited by injuries, allowing Anderson extra work. Anderson lost a similar competition to Antuan Edwards last year.
"I've been in this defense for three years now, and I think they trust me that I know this stuff frontward and backward," Anderson said. "Last year, with the competition with Antuan, I think I thought about it too much. This year, I just focused on Marques and getting Marques better."
Defensive line
Donnell Washington (foot) won't play, and fellow rookie Corey Williams will play with a cast protecting his sprained thumb. No lineman has emerged behind the starting four. Second-year men Kenny Peterson and James Lee and veterans Larry Smith and Tyrone Rogers figure to get long looks.
"Obviously some of those guys are going to have to be more than just stop-gap guys -- some of those guys are going to have to develop," line coach Jethro Franklin said.
Cornerback
Michael Hawthorne remains the replacement for holdout Mike McKenzie, but rookie first-round pick Ahmad Carroll will get plenty of playing time after a rough debut in the intrasquad scrimmage, especially if fellow rookie Joey Thomas (knee) sits out. This will be a good test for Hawthorne, who started two games in McKenzie's place at the end of last season.
"(The rookies) can have the press. They can have it," Hawthorne said. "I prefer to just let my game speak for itself. The coaches will play who they deem suited for the job. My perspective has always been the same: Get on the field and show your worth."
Couch will play
Tim Couch will make his Green Bay Packers debut tonight after all.
Even though Couch, the Packers' presumptive No. 2 quarterback, didn't take a single snap during the team's Sunday walkthrough, marking the third straight day he has rested his sore throwing arm, offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said afterward that Couch will play in tonight's preseason opener against Seattle at Lambeau Field.
"We'll get him in there some," said Rossley, who admitted Couch will play less than the coaches had planned before his arm problems. "We feel like resting him has been good. We just didn't want him to throw at all (Sunday). He said he feels good, he said he could (have participated), but we said, 'Let's give it one more day.'"
Couch, whose pain has been in his right biceps, has been inconsistent in practice as he learns the Packers offense. He said he's not worried about the missed practice time and arm soreness preventing him from playing well.
"It's frustrating because you want to be 100 percent, especially when you're coming to a new team and you have a little pressure on you," said Couch, who went through similar minor arm problems during his five training camps with Cleveland. "But I do want to be out there. I want to play and just get the opportunity to run this offense in a game atmosphere. I may not be at 100 percent, but I still think I can go out there and execute and play well."
Ferguson out
Wide receiver Robert Ferguson, who left practice Saturday with a hyperextended left knee, also sat out the walkthrough. He is listed as questionable, but Rossley said he won't play.
"It's nothing serious, but he doesn't need to go," Rossley said. Ferguson, who claimed he would be a game-time decision, said Sunday that he planted awkwardly during a run play but that this hyperextension isn't as serious as the one he sustained in the regular-season opener vs. Minnesota last September.
"If I'm out, it will be (for) precautionary reasons," Ferguson said.
Extra points
Rossley said he would like to get starting quarterback Brett Favre 10 to 12 snaps tonight, whether that comes in one series or means Favre plays into the early-second quarter. "A lot depends on how many snaps," Rossley said. "You can go the first quarter and only have three snaps."
Marques Anderson worked with the No. 1 defense during the walkthrough and likely will start at safety tonight.
With Ferguson out, Najeh Davenport and rookie Ahmad Carroll will likely handle kickoff returns.
