By Tom Silverstein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel –
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Of the two positions still up for grabs on the Green Bay Packers’ defensive unit, the one that is further away from being settled is nickel safety.
The player who will replace Charles Woodson when Woodson moves to a slot corner position in the nickel defense could be one of three guys: M.D. Jennings, Jerron McMillian or Anthony Levine .
The coaches are no closer to picking which one will play the position than they were when training camp opened. Given the nickel safety probably will play about 75 percent of the snaps this year, it’s important that the right decision is made.
Top to bottom, those involved in the process knew it was going to take some time.
“We’ve accepted that,” safeties coach Darren Perry said. “We know those guys are battling for that spot and it’s open. Hopefully, a guy will surface in the next week or two and we’ll feel good about who we have going in there.
“We have some guys competing; we just don’t have it solidified yet.”
On Thursday night against Cincinnati, all three are going to play. The No. 1 defense will be on the field for about a half, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers will make a decision Wednesday how he wants to split the playing time.
Making the decision difficult is that none of the three has much experience. Jennings played mostly special teams last year, Levine was on the practice squad and McMillian is a fourth-round draft choice. Next in line is Sean Richardson, an undrafted free agent who is fighting to make the team.
At least at cornerback, where Davon House appeared to have wrapped up the starting spot opposite Tramon Williams until injuring his shoulder, there’s plenty of experience with Jarrett Bush and Sam Shields, plus second-round pick Casey Hayward, competing for the spot.
But this safety situation is critical because starter Morgan Burnett has only one season as a starter under his belt and can’t be expected to lead the way Nick Collins did in his latter years. Perry not only has to help pick the right player, he has to get him prepared for the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.
“Interestingly enough, we’ve gotten younger,” he said. “We were a young team last year and it seems like we’ve gotten even younger. Normally that doesn’t happen when you’ve had — I don’t know if it’s that — but an experienced team. You go from winning a Super Bowl and you just keep getting younger.
“It’s kind of strange. “
McMillian appears to be the riser among the group, having put together a solid performance against Cleveland. But that game was built for him because the Browns like to run the ball and McMillian is at his best when he’s at the line of scrimmage supporting the run.
The Bengals have a dynamic receiver in A.J. Green and a talented tight end in Jermaine Gresham, but they’ve been pounding the ball on the ground to help second-year quarterback Andy Dalton. So, McMillian should have a chance to shine again. Jennings and Levine aren’t quite as stout as McMillian, but they’re better deep in coverage.
The bottom line is this race is far from over.
“It’s really the same answer whether you’re talking about the corners, the safeties, a number of different positions,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s important for us to try to play those guys as much as we can to make sure they have a full opportunity to make our team or to compete for positions.”
No harm, no foul? Defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove was adamant there was no issue between him and defensive line coach Mike Trgovac during practice Tuesday.
Trgovac could be heard yelling for Hargrove during a team drill in which the defense was serving as the scout team. Presumably, he wanted him to go in and take some snaps. Afterward, Trgovac appeared to be upset with Hargrove, but Hargrove said that was not the case.
“He’s always calling out my name,” Hargrove said. “He was just looking for me. He might not have saw me. No, everything’s cool.”
Hargrove did not play another snap after that but said he is not frustrated with the lack of practice time he’s getting. By most accounts this camp, Hargrove has been high energy and well-liked by his teammates.
Because of the eight-game suspension he’s facing to start the season, he has not gotten a lot of quality practice or game snaps and the number has been declining the closer the regular season gets.
Injury report: Tight ends D.J. Williams (ankle) and DeMarco Cosby (hamstring) sat out the non-pads workout Tuesday afternoon.
Williams said the injury was minor and that he expected to play Thursday.
A total of nine players are out: Du’ane Bennett (knee), Desmond Bishop (hamstring), Andrew Datko (concussion), Ray Dominguez (ankle), Jon Hoese (hamstring), Brandon Saine (hamstring), Shaky Smithson (ankle), James Starks (toe) and House (shoulder).
Three others — Derek Sherrod, Andrew Quarless and Frank Zombo — remain on the physically unable to perform list.
First-class section: Running back Cedric Benson has gotten between McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers — literally.
According to McCarthy, Benson has started attending quarterback meetings so he can learn the offense more quickly and he usually takes the seat next to Rodgers.
“He’s taken my seat in the meeting room,” McCarthy said. “I’ve been bumped back a row. I think that’s a good thing. He’s really into trying to learn this offense. He’s trying to learn a different language.”
On deck hitter: Benson appears to be positioned well to be the team’s starting running back opening day, but second-year pro Alex Green might have a say in how much Benson sees the ball.
Green is coming off major knee reconstruction and has been on a so-called “pitch count” to make sure his knee isn’t overworked and suffers a setback. He is close to being full-go and McCarthy is eager to see him play more Thursday.
“He hasn’t had a big flare-up or anything, so the numbers have been correct,” McCarthy said. “Hopefully, he can take a little more this week than he’s taken the last two weeks and we can continue to grow with him because I like everything I’ve seen with Alex.
“He needs to play. He’s a young guy who needs reps.”
