The learning curve is being accelerated for Derek Sherrod, the team's first-round pick (No. 32 overall) in the April draft.
With no rookie orientation camp, organized team activities and minicamp to fall back on after all of those were wiped out by the lockout, Sherrod will be relying on sheer ability and a high intellect at the start of training camp as he runs with the starting unit. Sherrod, a natural left tackle, had the No. 1 gig at left guard for the first two practices Saturday and Sunday.
"We thought we'd give him a chance," head coach Mike McCarthy said.
The early vote of confidence in Sherrod is telling as the Packers set out to find a successor for Daryn Colledge. The sixth-year veteran, who logged 83 starts in Green Bay, signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent.
The Packers presumably took the 6-foot-5, 321-pound Sherrod to be 35-year-old Chad Clifton's heir at left tackle, but Sherrod's run-blocking prowess at Mississippi State should serve him well as he auditions inside in camp with Clifton still going strong. Sherrod will be up against T.J. Lang and possibly second-year Nick McDonald for the job.
Sherrod, who excelled in the classroom in college with a 3.5 grade-point average, hasn't been overwhelmed by the playbook after reporting to camp on time. He signed a four-year, $6.6 million deal with guarantees amounting to $5.3 million.
"Just looking at the playbook, I feel very confident in myself and feel confident in my teammates knowing that each one of us depends on each other," said Sherrod, who committed a false-start penalty and was promptly pulled off the line in Saturday's practice.