Packers' Woodson praises Vick, Eagles receivers
By Marc Narducci
Inquirer Staff Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers' defensive leader is ageless cornerback Charles Woodson, who earned his seventh Pro Bowl selection this year. According to the statistics kept by the Packers coaches, the 34-year-old Woodson had a career high in two categories, with 105 tackles and five forced fumbles. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.
He figures to be a central figure in Sunday's playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field against the Eagles.
Now in his 13th season, Woodson said with all the talk about Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, he is highly impressed with the Birds' receiving corps led by DeSean Jackson.
"They have got big-play guys, especially Jackson," said Woodson, who started all 16 games for the third year in a row. "He is probably one of the fastest guys in the NFL."
So the game plan is simple, but executing it is more difficult.
"We have to do our job in the back end - and as far as rushing, we have to stay in our lanes, not get too far upfield and let Vick escape out there on the field," Woodson said.
Woodson could be one of those players rushing Vick. He had just two sacks this season, but one came in Sunday's 10-3 playoff-clinching win over Chicago. Woodson also had a quarterback hurry as the Packers weren't afraid to utilize the former Heisman Trophy winner in their blitz packages.
"He's a future Hall of Fame player," Eagles coach Andy Reid said about Woodson during his Monday news conference. "He's a good player and they play him in the nickel position, that's how they played us last time."
Mutual Respect
There will be no bulletin board material traveling from Green Bay to Philadelphia, at least from Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
The fifth-year head coach had nothing but praise when speaking of the Eagles during his Monday news conference. Most of all, he lauded his counterpart, saying that Reid has done a "fantastic" job this season.
"[Reid] has been able to ride through the challenges of an NFL season, playing two different quarterbacks and Michael Vick is playing his best football of his career," said McCarthy, who has guided Green Bay to the playoffs in three of his five seasons. "They went with some younger guys on defense and they really challenge you schematically."
Checking tape
Even though so much has changed since the Packers beat the Eagles, 27-20, on opening day, Sept. 12, McCarthy said he will definitely be able to take a lot from scouting the tape of that game.
"You want to look at the personnel matchups," McCarthy said. "I know they have had some injuries, we have had some injuries, but we will definitely go back. That will be the first game I'll start with."
Injury update
The Packers, who have 15 players on the injured reserve list, came out of Sunday's game against Chicago with no further injuries, according to McCarthy. He said that four players who were deactivated on Sunday - safety Atari Bigby (groin), fullback Korey Hall (knee), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) and defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf) will go through testing and be evaluated on Wednesday.
"They're making progress and we're hopeful that maybe they can have a trial return for Wednesday," McCarthy said.
Prophetic statement
Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop, who had six tackles in Sunday's win over the Bears, recalled a conversation with Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel after Green Bay's opening win this year.
"We beat them and were celebrating, and as they were walking off the field Asante Samuel was angry and said, 'We'll see you in the playoffs,' " Bishop recalled. "That was Game One and I took it as he was angry - but it has come to pass."