GREEN BAY -- As Mike McCarthy determines which of his rookie running backs can play all three downs, the blitz pickup drill against the linebackers that began in the first padded practice on Saturday is crucial teaching time.
In the drill, the blitzing linebacker and protecting running back are isolated one-on-one. It's sink or swim. But it's not a haphazard, all-out exercise. There's a way to execute the drill that helps both players hone their skills in a useful manner. McCarthy was watching the drill closely on Saturday.
"It’s a good drill, and you want to make sure it gets off on the right foot," McCarthy said on Monday morning, suggesting there's plenty more of it coming.