Packers invite two QBs to rookie camp
By Rob Demovsky April 27, 2009
Theres a decent chance that neither one will end up sticking around, but the Green Bay Packers plan to look at a pair of intriguing quarterback prospects this weekend.
They have invited Utahs Brian Johnson and Tulsas David Johnson to take part in this weekends rookie orientation camp.
The Packers didnt draft a quarterback last weekend, and there wasnt one among the 10 rookie free agents they signed shortly after the draft. So, as coach Mike McCarthy put it, unless were going to run the ball all day, the Packers needed a couple of arms for the three-day session.
Neither player was invited to the NFLs scouting combine despite highly successful senior seasons.
Utahs Johnson (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) helped his team to a 13-0 season. Along the way, he threw for 27 touchdowns and only nine interceptions, completed 68.0 percent of his passes and was named Mountain West conference player of the year.
A backup to eventual No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith in 2004, he became a starter the next season but blew out a knee in the 10th game of the season. He missed all of the 2006 season and the first two games of 2007 before returning as the starter. He went 21-2 in his final two seasons as the starter.
Upon hearing the Packers were giving his quarterback a tryout, Utah offensive coordinator Dave Schramm said: Theyd be crazy not to sign him.
That might be unlikely unless the Packers plan to bring four quarterbacks to training camp. Last year, with Aaron Rodgers and then rookies Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn, they had only three.
Schramm described Johnson as smart, tough and accurate.
I wouldnt be surprised if he played 10 years in the NFL, Schramm said. Hes just one of those guys, I compare him to Jeff Garcia, thats so competitive.
He described Johnsons arm strength as good, but not great, which is probably the reason he has gone unsigned. Also, NFL teams have become leery of quarterbacks who come from the so-called spread offense systems.
Tulsas Johnson (6-2, 217) also ran a version of the spread, often employing the no-huddle offense, but offensive coordinator Herb Hand said it was more like a West Coast offense.
Our deal requires a quarterback to be a coach on the field, Hand said. He understands the game, has great knowledge of the game and knows what were trying to accomplish.
At Tulsa, he was a three-year backup behind Paul Smith (currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars) before getting his shot to start last season. He threw for 4,059 yards with 46 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, including five in the Conference USA title game against East Carolina.
For a while, he was leading the country in passing efficiency until he fell off a little late in the season, Hand said. Hes got a strong arm, a very strong arm, and I think hes got a good shot to catch on, but its got to be the right situation.
Among the other players expected to be at the rookie camp on a tryout basis are: center Scott Witte of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, defensive end Rhyan Anderson of New Mexico State and tight end Brandon Ledbetter of Western Michigan.
They will join the eight players the Packers drafted last week and the class of undrafted free agents, which includes five receivers.
Contrary to a published report and a statement from his school, Union College (Ky.) linebacker Willie Williams has not signed with the Packers, nor is it believed the team will sign him.
A look at the 10 undrafted free agents:
Andy Brodell (6-3, 202), WR, Iowa: Sustained a torn hamstring as a junior against Wisconsin and missed the rest of the season. Before that, was a budding star who as a sophomore had six catches for 159 yards in the Alamo Bowl against Texas.
JaRon Harris (6-1, 200), WR, South Dakota State: Caught 70 passes for 966 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior at SDSU.
Kole Heckendorf (6-2, 191), WR, North Dakota State: Mosinee native who finished his career as NDSUs leader in receptions (178) and receiving yards (2,732).
Jamarko Simmons (6-2, 241), WR, Western Michigan: Originally recruited as a running back but converted to receiver as sophomore and had a big senior year (104 catches, 1,276 yards, seven touchdowns).
Patrick Williams (6-2, 915), WR, Colorado: Part-time starter who caught 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.
Tyrell Sutton (5-8, 211), RB, Northwestern: Made a big splash as a freshman (1,474 yards, 16 touchdowns) but production dropped as injuries (shoulder, leg, ankle, wrist) mounted.
Carson Butler (6-5, 250), TE/DE, Michigan: Switched from tight end to defensive end midway through last season.
Andy Hartline (6-4, 290), T, Central Michigan: Four-year starter who spent the first two seasons at right tackle and last two at left tackle.
Ron Talley (6-3, 282), DE, Delaware: Transferred after two seasons at Notre Dame.
Evan Dietrich-Smith, C, Idaho State: Three-year starter has played right tackle, left tackle and left guard.
Also, the Packers waived center Brennen Carvalho, an undrafted free agent in 2008 who spent all of last season on the practice squad.