Defensive tackle B.J. Raji works out during Family Night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday. Credit: Gary Porter

By of the

THUMBS UP

The Green Bay Packers say they want many more big plays this season from a safety position that didn't have a single interception last season. If they're serious about that, they need to really start thinking about Sean Richardson in a different light. In the first seven practices of training camp, the seven safeties have intercepted just two passes in 11-on-11 work. Both were by Richardson, the third-year man from Vanderbilt. On Saturday night at Lambeau Field, Richardson further enhanced his strong first week by making what probably was the most impressive play by anyone in the secondary. On a second-down play, Richardson was lined up deep in a two-shell look. WR Alex Gillett was open tight to the sideline 25 yards downfield, and Matt Flynn's well-thrown pass was right on target. Then Richardson, an imposing physical presence at 6 feet 2½ inches and 219 pounds, swooped over, timed his leap perfectly and batted it away. "You need a safety to get off the hash (mark)," said CB Casey Hayward, his former college teammate. "Then you can play Cover 2 more." Morgan Burnett and Micah Hyde have started the first week. Rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has had the third most playing time, with Richardson and Chris Banjo falling in next. So far, the only one of the five making flash plays has been Richardson.

THUMBS DOWN

Ever since offensive linemen were allowed to extend their arms and open their hands as pass blockers in a momentous rule change in 1978, the NFL has given every break in the book to the offense. The latest outrage for the defense is the 2014 point of emphasis that makes it tougher and tougher for cornerbacks to slow down the increasing number of big, phenomenal athletes playing wide receiver. On Thursday, referee EdHochuli and four members of his crew officiated the one-on-one drill matching wide receivers and cornerbacks. Flags flew every other play. For two days, CB coach Joe Whitt and his players spent hours with the officials going over what's legal and what isn't. "As long as it's being called both ways equally, we're not going to have an issue with it," Whitt said Friday. He was referring to another point of emphasis this season cracking down on offensive pass interference. But then, in the same drill Saturday night, penalties were called on nine of the 18 individual matchups. Of course, eight were against the defense, one against the offense. Jarrett Bush and rookie Ryan White each had two fouls. Yes, the defense will adjust. Yes, officials will slow down their pace of penalties. The result will be more cheap yardage, more offensive records and more scoring. We'll need asterisks all over the record book. Instead of improving the game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the owners that he serves are hurting it. Give me a 13-10 defensive struggle rather than another one of those 45-42 jobs that have become so commonplace.

INJURY REPORT

WR Jared Abbrederis (knee) is out for the season. C Corey Linsley returned. NT B.J. Raji (ankle) was injured. Last year, nine players from the active roster didn't dress on this night due to injury, and two more got hurt. Despite the loss of Abbrederis, injuries are down substantially this year.

BITS AND PIECES

■ At times, the pass rush was heavy. "This is the best I've seen it," said DE Mike Daniels, referring to the first week. If play had been live, there probably would have been five sacks. LB Jayrone Elliott beat T Derek Sherrod and T Jeremy Vujnovich for sacks. Daniels notched one against G John Fullington and another against T David Bakhtiari. LB Adrian Hubbard beat T Don Barclay.

■TimMasthay's average hang time was 4.36 seconds in 12 punts. Mason Crosby averaged 70.7 yards and 4.0 hang time in three kickoffs. Masthay's three kickoffs averaged 69.0 and 3.89.

■ Last year, Crosby put himself on notice by making just three of eight field-goal attempts on this night. This time, he was perfect from 28, 33, 38, 43, 48 and 50 yards.

■ The offense collapsed in a move-the-ball period. In the span of four plays, Scott Tolzien held the ball for a sack, RB Michael Hill had the first of his two fumbles, there was an apparent holding penalty and Matt Flynn had to call timeout because there were only 10 men on the field. Play resumed after TE Colt Lyerla trotted into the huddle.

■Davon House blanketed Jarrett Boykin for about five seconds covering multiple moves in one-on-ones, prompting Aaron Rodgers just to eat the ball.

■ WR Chris Harper's hands have been far too erratic. He dropped a 55-yard bomb from Tolzien behind the defense.

■ There were about 50 plays in 11-on-11 and another 20 in seven-on-seven. The coaches have so little confidence in rookie QB Chase Rettig that they didn't give him even one snap.

■ The old intrasquad game at Lambeau Field debuted in 1958 before a crowd of 9,381. In 1996, with the Packers pegged as Super Bowl favorite, the intrasquad scrimmage drew 40,000. The event had been free of charge until 1999 when the Packers added some bells and whistles and began charging $6. It went to $8 in 2004 and to its current ticket price of $10 in 2008.

SCHEDULE

The next practice is Monday at 5:30 p.m. in pads.