Monday, October 6, 2008
McCarthy's day-after media conference
Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to address the media within minutes. We'll have anything newsworthy here as it happens.
* Here's the injury update: LT Chad Clifton (hamstring strain, will miss practice time this week), LB A.J. Hawk (groin strain, same as last week), DE Michael Montgomery (ankle sprain), DT Ryan Pickett (knee tendinitis, deal with this week), QB Aaron Rodgers (similar to last week, maybe improved), WR Donald Driver (thumb contusion).
* Hawk was affected by his injury Sunday, didn't have same burst. Will see how feels Wednesday, want to get him practice time this week.
* Rodgers won't practice Wednesday, maybe limited Thursday. Will go into this week planning on him playing. Doctors think he's ahead of where he was last week. Will limit throws in practice throughout week. Had "excellent" performance given pain he was dealing with. Worst play was the interception.
* On run defense: Biggest factor was guys trying to do too much. Try to guard against that. All about gap control and playing to guy next to you. Guys weren't in gap a number of times -- pulling out trying to make plays. Players took turns as guilty parties.
* Only three DTs impact on that poor run defense? "It's a challenge." Need to get it fixed in general.
* On S Atari Bigby (hamstring): Will be tested. Didn't go well last week. He's champing at the bit.
* If no Clifton, go with same lineup as used Sunday? It's an option. Will discuss tonight.
* Why not go after QB Matt Ryan more? Did have number of five-man pressures. Didn't win one-on-one matchups. Didn't do good job pressuring receivers.
* Puzzled by defensive struggles? Not at all. Younger players making mistakes. Those guys didn't take advantage of opportunities on Sunday.
* Go with same preparation, emphasizing fundamentals? Liked it last week. Improved in some, not in others. Will go with same this week.
* On Montgomery, Thompson: Montgomery undergoing more testing. Tough guy, thinks he'll be back "sooner than later" unless something serious. Thompson did "OK" but was tentative. "Tryouts are over. He needs to be more aggressive with his opportunities."
* Anyone who can give more than KGB at right rush end? Stronger and stronger each week after injury. Think Jason Hunter was flashing before got hurt. Montgomery in certain situations did. Will talk about line today, make sure using rotation that can help.
* Trickle-down effect of KGB not being same guy? Both KGB and Kampman are getting chipped by backs. Just need to pressure QB.
* Knee impacting KGB? Yes, that and ankle. Fighting through. Done great job with extra work put in.
* More success running with Colledge/Barbre? Didn't notice that. Must beat second reaction of defense. Had some opportunities that will get better at. Have to get attempts up. Clifton "didn't have a very good day."
* On penalties: Holding ones bother -- sloppy. Bush's hold was unnecessary. When defender extends, need to let go. Same with Barbre's. Promotes physical play, but have to have better judgment.
* Get anything from Pettway? "I thought Pettway played well" especially on special teams.
* Why not able to get stop on Atlanta's final drive? Perfect example of gap control problems. Wasn't very clean. Need to play at higher level of execution.
* Why the onside kick instead of kicking deep? Two timeouts, time in game. Would have had only 40 seconds.
* What could CB Pat Lee have done differently on pass interference? Thought he was fine. Tight call. Wasn't graded down for it. Had a lot every week on DVD team sends to league.
* Most challenging point in tenure so far? Don't look at it that way. Ask after season. "This is Week 6. ... I'm disappointed that we lost the game because it was at home" and a game they should have one. Team didn't play to its capability. "You don't lose games at Lambeau Field. ... We had opportunities, and we didn't take advantage of them."
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com