Dein erstes Forum » Packers right tackle Jason Spriggs saw no need to keep

GREEN BAY Zach Brown Jersey , Wis. (AP) — going on and on about Bears linebacker Khalil Mack.There’s plenty of film to watch. The rest of that Chicago defense is pretty good, too.Now Green Bay must face the NFC’s top-ranked unit on the road on Sunday, a week after Chicago tripped up the high-octane Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field.“You don’t have to go on and rant about how good Khalil is and all that stuff. Everybody knows who Khalil Mack is for a reason,” said Spriggs, who started last week for veteran Bryan Bulaga. “I think he brings a level of confidence to everybody on the defense, and we just have to key on that and make hay when we get the chances.”The right side of the Packers’ line could especially be a pressure point if Spriggs, a third-year player, starts again. Bulaga missed practice again Wednesday with a knee injury.Justin McCray appears to have taken over the right guard spot after starter Byron Bell (knee) went on injured reserveWednesday. McCray started last week. Another backup, Lucas Patrick, started at left guard for Lane Taylor, who has a foot injury.The results for Green Bay’s backup-littered line were encouraging last week against Atlanta in a victory that snapped a three-game losing streak and kept slim playoff hopes alive.After allowing four sacks in the first half, the Packers (5-7-1) didn’t allow one the rest of the game. Aaron Rodgers and the offense were effective throwing quick, short passes in winning Joe Philbin’s debut as interim head coach and offensive play caller.“I wouldn’t say the concepts were basic, but I thought the flow was really good,” Rodgers said. “Joe did a great job. The communication was great on the sideline and the flow was good and kind of got into a rhythm.”Philbin has made it a point to mostly stick to the same routines the Packers had under fired predecessor Mike McCarthy. While it’s difficult to go through a coaching change, players have said that they appreciate the relatively smooth transition.“I mean, he kind of fit into the role pretty seamlessly,” left tackle David Bakhtiari said. “He’s done a great job adding his spin to it, yet keeping kind of the integrity of the schedule, so it’s not completely different after having guys who were used to something for so long.“So overall it’s been pretty fluid, even in the first week,” he added.There is no sense changing things up so dramatically when it will be a tough enough task to hold off the Bears.The Packers, though Kyler Murray Jersey , do have an intangible going into Sunday that the Rams lacked: Green Bay has won eight straight at Soldier Field. The run started with Green Bay’s victory in the NFC title game on Jan. 23, 2011.There’s also a confidence boost that comes with the Packers’ stirring rally in the season opener in September, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter for a 24-23 win over Chicago. The game marked Mack’s debut with the Bears following his trade from the Oakland Raiders.Rodgers returned at halftime from a left knee injury to add to the drama The Packers went no-huddle in the second half of that game, though Rodgers stayed primarily in the pocket. It was the Packers’ offense at its best.“I mean getting into a rhythm, not only just as an offensive line, but just as an offense in general,” Bakhtiari said about the key takeaway from that night.Rodgers is healthier now with the ability to scramble out of trouble again. Mack, who has 10 sacks and six forced fumbles, has the benefit playing nearly an entire season in the Bears’ scheme. The linebacker has been mainly lining up on the right side of the defense in recent weeks, though he can easily switch sides.Respect Mack and be prepared. But don’t get caught up in the star power, Spriggs said.“You can’t go out there and be like you’re blocking God,” Spriggs said. “But at the same time, you give respect where respect’s due.”NOTES: Taylor was limited in practice Wednesday. … DL Kenny Clark (elbow) and CB Bashaud Breeland (groin/not injury related) missed practice. EAGAN, Minn. — Long snappers are the afterthoughts of the NFL draft. Players from the service academies, on track to join the military and not pro sports, are largely ignored.Still, here was Austin Cutting, a seventh-round pick out of the Air Force Academy, sharpening his specialist skills in rookie minicamp on Friday with the Minnesota Vikings and taking the first step toward what would be an unlikely, complicated and potentially inspiring career in the league.More Vikings coveragePhotos of the Week: 7/21/19 – 7/27/19Rookie Bradbury is central figure to Vikings’ overhauled offensive lineVikings depth at cornerback being tested, Hughes still not clearedPlayers to watch at Minnesota Vikings 2019 training campTop Tweets: Vikings WR Diggs makes push for All-NFL Style Team“It was just good to be out here for the first time,” Cutting said, “so I loved it.”Continuing further into the NFL calendar will depend on a plan for fulfillment of the minimum of two years of active duty for all cadets upon graduation Byron Murphy Jersey , which is on May 30. Two years ago, the Defense Department rescinded a policy that previously allowed service academy athletes to delay their active duty to pursue a pro sports career. That undoubtedly steered teams away from drafting Jalen Robinette, the all-time leading receiver for Air Force.“Going to the academy, serving comes first,” Cutting said.Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has been speaking with academy officials about options Cutting might have to meet his requirement while simultaneously trying to make the team.“It’s not, ‘OK, the Air Force was done, and now it’s time for the NFL,'” Cutting said, adding: “It’s decisions that are made above my pay grade, and they’ll help me along the way.”Cutting, who picked up his long snapping trade at Central High School in Keller, Texas, in the Dallas area, has been majoring in management. He’s an acquisitions officer, the personnel designated to serve as the government’s business managers and technical experts in buying everything from computers to helicopters for forces around the world.“I’ve heard everybody who does it loves it,” Cutting said.The chosen few who make it to the NFL usually do, too. Even simply taking the call from the Vikings last weekend, at home with family and friends, was one of those moments Cutting will always remember no matter where his career winds up taking him.14<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:How NFL draft affected Vikings’ 2019 opponents“When it actually happens, you can’t really describe it,” Cutting said. “It’s a great feeling.”The Vikings have signed nine of their draft picks, with first round center Garrett Bradbury Andy Isabella Jersey , sixth round cornerback Kris Boyd and Cutting the only ones still without a finalized contract. Unsigned players are typically given a special injury waiver to participate in offseason workouts until their deals are done.In addition to the 12 draft picks and 10 rookie free agents the Vikings acquired last weekend, seven other players on the 90-man roster, whether a practice squad member last season or a recent signing from the defunct Alliance of American Football, were eligible to participate in the practices at team headquarters.Then there’s a group of 37 players who were invited on a tryout basis, seeking to become the next Marcus Sherels or Adam Thielen.Sherels became the franchise’s all-time leading punt returner before signing with the New Orleans Saints this year. Thielen recently signed a $64 million contract after a second Pro Bowl selection. Both Sherels (2010) and Thielen (2013) needed a successful rookie minicamp to even make the summer roster.“We’re looking for guys that, number one, are good people, and number two, they have to have athletic ability,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “Come out and do what they’re being coached to do.”Among the tryout players this weekend are former UAB safety Mar’Sean Diggs, the brother of Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs.“That’s all I ever wanted, was to play in the NFL. Having the opportunity now means the world to me, so hopefully, and God willing, I make the team,” said the younger Diggs, who has been training with his older sibling for the last three months.He’s been listening, too, whatever advice big bro has.“Just to keep my head down and work and stay quiet,” Diggs said. “Take heed to everything that’s going on. Take coaching. Keep my playbook with me at all times, and just do what you do.”