MintBaconDrivel
12 years ago

GREEN BAY — May the best man win.

Less than two weeks from the start of training camp, that's still the Green Bay Packers' mentality at safety, where third-year man M.D. Jennings and second-year man Jerron McMillian are set to duel for the starting spot opposite Morgan Burnett.

"I'm just enjoying watching them compete and seeing who steps up and becomes that guy," safeties coach Darren Perry said as the offseason organized team activity practices came to an end. "I think both of them realize this is a great opportunity for them to shine. It's already started, but they know the final analysis is going to come with the pads on and when we get into the games and so forth.

"Not that OTAs and training camp won't be just as important, but obviously it's going to come down to how you conduct yourself and how you perform on the field when we get into those games. So it'll be fun to watch."

It'll also be vital to the defense that one of them makes a significant leap forward and proves worthy of the starting job. A year ago, the Packers cut ties with reliable veteran safety Charlie Peprah on the eve of training camp, even though Peprah had been a solid starter on the 2010 Super Bowl XLV-winning team after Burnett suffered a season-ending knee injury, and in 2011 when three-time Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins suffered what turned out to be a career-ending neck injury.

General manager Ted Thompson and the coaching staff felt that Jennings, who'd made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2011, and McMillian, whom the team had picked in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, could handle being a spot-starter if something happened to Burnett or veteran Charles Woodson, who was converting to safety. As it turned out, Woodson suffered a fractured collarbone on Oct. 21 in St. Louis and wound up missing the remainder of the regular season, forcing Jennings and McMillian into the lineup both in the base defense and in the dime package.

Although Jennings started all nine games Woodson missed, the two young safeties ended up playing almost the same number of snaps. Jennings played 616 snaps in 18 games (including playoffs) and finished with 51 tackles, one interception (which he returned 72 yards for a touchdown) and eight passes broken up. McMillian didn't start a game but played 614 snaps in 18 games and finished with 31 tackles, one interception and 13 pass breakups.

"I think right now there's excellent competition between those two guys," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said.

The Packers must think one or both of them can handle the job because this year's draft was especially deep at the safety position, and the Packers not only didn't pick one in the first round, they didn't pick one at all. Although it's conceivable that there were safeties they liked who didn't have high enough draft grades to be selected when they were on the clock, the reality is that if Thompson was genuinely worried about Jennings or McMillian, he'd have maneuvered to add one. And he didn't.

"Those guys, they got better as the year went on. They have another year under their belt, so they understand the defense," Burnett said. "Those guys are athletic and they're very smart players."

In the Packers' scheme, they want their safeties to be interchangeable. But after Woodson, who was playing the strong safety spot, went down, the sturdier 6-foot-1, 209-pound Burnett spent more time at strong safety while the slight Jennings (who is listed at 6-0, 195 pounds). The 5-11, 203-pound McMillian brought a physicality that the defense at times lacked last season, so if he can prove worthy of a starting spot, it would allow Burnett to spend more time in centerfield.

When the season began and Woodson was healthy, it was Jennings who came in at safety in sub packages as Woodson shifted to cover the slot. But after struggling in the opener against San Francisco, Jennings was benched in favor of McMillian, who held the role for the next four weeks also the issue of the two inside spots in the dime defense, where fellow rookie Casey Hayward and McMillian spent time last season. Before Woodson's injury, McMillian came in at safety as Woodson would move to cover the slot.

With Woodson having been released Feb. 15, McMillian worked at both safety and inside in the nickel and dime during OTAs and minicamp while Jennings worked only at safety. The Packers also have Hayward and rookie Micah Hyde who can play inside, and Capers was working various other combinations during the offseason as well.

But the primary job opening is at safety, where barring an unexpected street free-agent signing by the veteran-averse Thompson, it'll be McMillian vs. Jennings starting July 26.

"Right now, they want us to compete and push each other, and make each other better," McMillian said. "If they did bring another safety in or they didn't, you still have to compete with the guys who are here."

About The 20 Most Important Packers of 2013 series presented by West Bend
The 20 Most Important Packers of 2013 list is not a list of the 20 best players on the team's roster. Rather, the primary factors are the individual player's talent, the inherent importance of the position he plays and the team's depth at the position. Think of it as a list of the 20 players the team can least afford to lose if it wants to return to the Super Bowl. The list was formulated through offseason conversations with players and coaches, as well as statistical reviews and player evaluations by ProFootballFocus.com and others.
Agree? Disagree? Comment below, or chime in via social media at the ESPNMilwaukee Facebook page  or on Twitter to @jasonjwilde , @ESPNMilwaukee  or @ESPNMadison .

Jason Wilde  wrote:


Delivering the latest and most important updates on the Green Bay Packers for your convenience.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
wpr (5h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (19h) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (21h) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (21h) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (23h) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Kuhn is a former player who works for the team, if somethings going down, he would be close to it
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : @kuhnj30 Micah Freaking Parsons
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : A LOT of buzz on the Bird App regarding Parsons; even Schefter is saying it's serious
dfosterf (26-Aug) : *Orzech*
dfosterf (26-Aug) : Orzich long snapper 3 yr extension
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : Packers signed someone for three year deal
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : lol i know it's insane ... sign up for the waiver wire then you'll know
wpr (26-Aug) : YES!!!!!!
Mucky Tundra (26-Aug) : WE WANT THE LIST! WE WANT THE LIST!
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : @JJLahey · 2m Holy crap, Packers, where the heck is the list?
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : haha folks on Tweeter every year this time ... 'where is list Packers!!" hahaha
wpr (26-Aug) : He played pretty good.
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : NAZIR STACKHOUSE HAS MADE THE 53
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : NOOOOO KALEN IS GONE
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : Kalen King and Kamal Hadden making it. me thinks
schroeder84 (26-Aug) : @dfosterf I suspect Elgersma WILL be hard to hide. Raw, but talented
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : pp.com is broken, halt testing, gotta go do work things for a bit
hardrocker950 (26-Aug) : Mecole Hardman was released, to the surprise of few
Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : PP.com updated. Reset Password works, and now User Profile pages are a thing
Zero2Cool (25-Aug) : Soft hope plan is having fantasy football weekly on-site that i build. cannot do that with this setup.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
2h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

5h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19h / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

19h / Fantasy Sports Talk / Zero2Cool

20h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

27-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Cheesey

26-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

26-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

25-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

24-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

24-Aug / Around The NFL / beast

23-Aug / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

22-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

21-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.