GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mike McCarthy has never been afraid to play rookies. But at cornerback? Not if the Green Bay Packers coach can help it.
So it should have come as no surprise that when training camp opened Thursday morning, cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt called Casey Hayward's number to take the field along with Sam Shields as the starters with the No. 1 defense.
"Give me 37 and 29," Whitt called out, referring to Shields and Hayward by their jersey numbers.
That Hayward missed all the offseason practices because of a foot injury not only didn't seem to matter but also was a clear indication that the fourth-year pro is going to get the first crack at replacing veteran Tramon Williams, who left for the Cleveland Browns in free agency.
Whether it's Hayward, who has started just two games in the last two years, or one of the rookies -- first-round pick Damarious Randall, second-round pick Quinten Rollins or the undrafted LaDarius Gunter -- the Packers' experience level at perhaps the most important position on defense won't be what it once was.
"Very young at corner," McCarthy said when asked to describe the position on the eve of training camp.
For Whitt, one of the most highly respected members of McCarthy's staff, this might be his toughest coaching job. He's charged with preparing a replacement for Williams, who played in 140 of the last 141 games (including playoffs) for the Packers.
"Joe Whitt is outstanding," McCarthy said. "He'll do a great job like he always has. I have a ton of confidence in Joe and a ton of confidence in our young guys."
Technically, the Packers started a rookie at cornerback to open the 2010 season, but that was only because defensive coordinator Dom Capers began the Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in a nickel package with Shields as the No. 3 corner in his first career game.
At some point over the next month, perhaps the Packers will become comfortable with Randall, the 30th overall pick this past spring. At one time during Thursday's practice, Shields left with an equipment problem and Whitt went with Randall and Hayward as his two corners.
"There's a lot of guys battling for spots," Randall said. "He [Whitt] just wants to see who can jell more better with certain guys. We're just getting in a rhythm out there."
Rollins could get into that mix, too, but he'll need to come back sooner rather than later from the hamstring injury that landed him on the non-football injury list to start camp.
"Obviously, I want to be out there competing," Rollins said. "But at the same time whenever it's time for me to get back, then that's when I'll be able to perform the way I want to.
"Every day counts. Every second counts of every day. At the same time, there's nothing I can do about that right now. So I've still got to prepare like I'm out there, even though I'm not."
And then there's Gunter, the ultimate longshot who made perhaps the biggest play of Thursday's practice when he picked off an Aaron Rodgers' pass during an 11-on-11 period.
At this point, though, the Packers appear to be taking the safe route with Hayward, the most experienced of the contenders. But even with Hayward, there are questions. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 81.5 percent of his coverage snaps against slot receivers last season. As a starter in the base 3-4 defense, he would play almost exclusively on the outside.
Hayward wasn't seen in the locker room after Thursday's practice, but he has long maintained that playing on the perimeter would be nothing new for him.
"I don't think it's a transition; it's corner," Hayward said this offseason. "I've been playing outside since I've been playing corner, from college and all. I've been a starter outside. It's nothing new. It's going to be a little transition mentally wise, but I think it's going to be smooth sailing and I'll be fine."
