The Green Bay Packers have had a few stars emerge out of training camp this season. As the team wraps up the preseason and begins to focus on Week 1, head coach Mike McCarthy is singing the praises of a few players who impressed in recent weeks. After having trade rumors surround him in the offseason, Jermichael Finley has proven to be a viable weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Finley began his offseason by wondering if he would be asked to restructure his contract. Finley had a rather disappointing 2012 season and is set to make $8.25 million in the final year of his contract. The Packers did not ask him to restructure, instead opting to not give him an extension at all. Finley has clearly used that as motivation.
McCarthy told media that Finley was having his best training camp to date with the team and really exceling in the offense. Offensive coordinator Tom Clements believes Finley really put in the work during the offseason before reporting to camp.
"It's not just this camp, the whole spring," Clements said, PackersNews.com. "He's been outstanding. He's been working hard. I think he's improved his blocking tremendously. He's become a more detailed route runner. He's finishing plays. It showed up in the game. He caught some short routes and got big gains off of them. He's practicing well and he's playing well."
Finley has been playing with the first-team offense thanks to injuries to Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson. He has gotten more reps that are paying off. Not only is he making key catches, but his blocking skills are also drawing rave reviews.
Finley is not the only one really standing out at the end of camp. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy is looking more and more like the team's starting running back for the upcoming season. He started his NFL campaign in controversial fashion after a picture was posted of him looking very out of shape, but all of that criticism went quiet when he pounded his way through an impressive preseason debut.
In his first start last week against St. Louis, Lacy totaled up 40 yards on eight carriers, showing he is perfectly capable of being an elite running in the league. Numerous NFL scouts at the game believe Lacy will be a huge help for Rodgers throughout the season. The Packers made the run game a focus in the draft getting Lacy and Johnathan Franklin. Lacy has emerged as the better player.
