Packers T Bryan Bulaga talked about the transition process to the NFL and his own status as a work in progress.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he's happy with the talent level he's seen from Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan, the two punters at this weekend's minicamp.

Marshall Newhouse mostly lined up next to Bulaga as a left guard but the Packers did take a short look at him at his college position of left tackle.

The Packers think rookie defensive linemen Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson will provide a boost to the pass rush.

Undrafted rookie LB John Russell had teams looking at him as a defensive lineman and fullback as well during the pre-draft scouting season.

Frank Zombo, another undrafted player, is also making the transition to linebacker after having his hand on the ground as a college lineman.

Aleric Mullins has the right build for a nose tackle but he'll have to prove to the Packers that it was a mistake to overlook him in the draft.

Packers announce three tryout signings
By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

May 3, 2010 5:33 p.m. |(9) Comments

North Carolina nose tackle Aleric Mullins and Tennessee State safety Anthony Levine joined Bishops University wide receiver Shawn Gore as tryout players who signed contracts after the Packers' rookie orientation camp.

The 6-1, 319-pound Mullins went undrafted because most teams were afraid of a recently discovered heart murmur, but the Packers examined test results and passed him on his physical. He ran the 40 in 4.95 seconds and did 35 reps on the bench press at his pro day.

The 5-11, 195-pound Levine played in 40 games and had 129 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Gore was profiled in the previous blog post.

The Packers have the rights to 88 players, but they are not over the 80-man limit because all seven draft choices are unsigned as are restricted free agents Daryn Colledge, Atari Bigby, Tramon Williams and Johnny Jolly. Only signed players count against the 80.

College coach on safety Anthony Levine
By Brian Carriveau

May 7, 2010 1:11 p.m. |(0) Comments

The Green Bay Packers announced the signing of safety Anthony Levine on Monday. He was one of three players who earned a contract with the Packers after a tryout at last weekend's rookie orientation minicamp. Railbird Central had the opportunity to do a brief Q&A with Roderick Reed, Levine's head coach at Tennessee State University.

Railbird Central: Levine put up as good of workout numbers as nearly any safety at the NFL Combine. Could you describe what makes him such a good overall athlete?

Coach Roderick Reed: Levine is a hard worker and has the and had the ability to play corner. We needed him at safety for his knowledge of the defense and ability to put us in the right coverage and sometimes change the defense. He has great return skills, but I could not risk getting him hurt back there because of his value to our defense. He works very hard at his craft, often organizing 7-on-7 compitions with local colleges in the summer. He has fun with what he does and loves to play football, and he is also graduating tomorrow.

RC: What would you say is the best part of Levine's game?

RR: The best part of his game is knowing angles and mental preparation. He is physical enough to roll down in the box, and athletic enough to play centerfield or cover man-to-man.

RC: To go from a tryout to an NFL roster, players in Levine's position will most likely have to contribute heavily to special teams. What can Levine do on special teams?

RR: To me, for him to have to try out was a joke. I think someone should have drafted him. Everyone saw his numbers. He had good stats, but I am truly thankful to Green Bay for giving him an opportunity. Although, he should have been in the East West. Now that I have that off of my chest, he is a great special teams player. He was on our kick-off and kick-off return teams and he also returned a couple of punts.

RC: What was one of Levine's best games as a collegiate athlete? What did he do?

RR: Pick any game his senior year. He was big in Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illiniois, allso Jackson State. The biggest thing about him is his consistency week in and week out.