The following is a summary of coach Mike McCarthy's pre-practice press conference:
(On moving on without Jordy Nelson) I think first off you have to recognize the fact that Jordy is, he is what you look for as far as a Green Bay Packer. When you have the opportunity to build a program, a championship program, and you talk about what you want your players to look like, act like, he’s a prime example of that. He’s a great husband, great teammate, obviously an outstanding football player, but these things happen. You don’t know why. It’s part of it. It’s part of our game. From a personal standpoint, you feel bad for Jordy, particularly his case of coming off surgery last year. I just think back to February, March, April when no one’s here and he’s in here every day. It’s tough. It’s a tough blow to our football, but as we spoke in the team meeting: Nothing’s changed. Our goal hasn’t changed. When things like this happen, a good system with a good football team, adjustments are made. So we will adjust and keep moving.
(On grooming the young WRs) Well, I would think after the corrections that were made today that everybody on our team [understands] we need to pick it up some. We had areas of our team that played very well. We had areas of our team that didn’t play very well. The receiver group in particular, they need to pick it up. So the younger guys in that group, it’s a training camp of opportunity that they need to take more advantage of.
(On T.J. Lang and Scott Tolzien) They're both in the concussion protocol.
(On Jared Abbrederis) Jared is still going through the concussion protocol. I knew on the field when he fell that it was serious. I was hoping it was his back, so he's still working his way through it.
(On Morgan Burnett) Morgan, he has returned from Atlanta.
(On David Bakhtiari) David Bakhtiari, just spoke to him earlier, he's improving and based on the path and the plan for him this week, if he gets to the point, I wouldn't be comfortable playing him without practice, so I think tomorrow's practice will be important. Friday will be the shorter practice, so he needs to get on the practice field.
(On backup LT) We'll see. We don't ahve a lot of work today. Don Barclay needs to work today. We'll continue to work these guys.
(On Nelson's attitude) He's doing better. Obviously, Sunday was a tough day for him. Any time you're thinking the worst and go through testing and it's confirmed it was a tough 24 hours.
(On Aaron Rodgers wrist) He's doing OK. I anticipate he'll practice today.
(On Nelson's presence) Knowing him he'll still be here. He'll do everything he possibly can to help us as a football team.
(On playing starters in preseason) The injury occurred first series of the game. You go back and look at it. it's one of those things. If you're asking how many preseason games, that's for the off-season discussion.
(On figuring out playing time) Trust me, I completely understand Aaron’s opinion. We talk about a lot of things. This is the game of football. You have to play, whether it’s two games or three games and things like that. Those are all discussions that I’m a part of with Mark Murphy and we try to have a better understanding of philosophy moving forward. You’re getting the team ready to play. We hit our target in New England, even more so, frankly, as far as the number of plays. The medical report does factor into your path through training camp. You’re aware of that and it will affect the way we play the game Saturday.
(On taking Rodgers out) Aaron’s hand and Josh Sitton has an ankle. Just felt it was time. And frankly, Scott Tolzien, that’s exactly what he needs. We talked about it in the locker room, myself and a couple of the other coaches, to make sure I got Matt (Blanchard) another opportunity in the fourth quarter.
(On No. 1s) Game continuity. You look for those long drives. Our offense has had three established long drives. We've only played two games. Look for tempo and execution. You can get that in four quarters of work, sometimes three quarters of work. Sometimes it's six quarters of work.
(On QBs Brett Hundley and Matt Blanchard) Huge work for them. They may be playing against Philadelphia's No. 1s potentially. They'll be playing against top competition.
(On facing read-option this week) We have a period we work in practice. You look at football, it's a game of numbers. Offense is playing 10 on 11 and you put a fake in with the quarterback with the ball in his hands then it's 11 on 11. It's different. It's been in the league for awhile. You have to practice against it. If another team has a guy with the ball we're going to hit him.
(On Clay Matthews) Hoping he can do more. He's progressing.
(On moving on without Jordy Nelson) I think first off you have to recognize the fact that Jordy is, he is what you look for as far as a Green Bay Packer. When you have the opportunity to build a program, a championship program, and you talk about what you want your players to look like, act like, he’s a prime example of that. He’s a great husband, great teammate, obviously an outstanding football player, but these things happen. You don’t know why. It’s part of it. It’s part of our game. From a personal standpoint, you feel bad for Jordy, particularly his case of coming off surgery last year. I just think back to February, March, April when no one’s here and he’s in here every day. It’s tough. It’s a tough blow to our football, but as we spoke in the team meeting: Nothing’s changed. Our goal hasn’t changed. When things like this happen, a good system with a good football team, adjustments are made. So we will adjust and keep moving.
(On grooming the young WRs) Well, I would think after the corrections that were made today that everybody on our team [understands] we need to pick it up some. We had areas of our team that played very well. We had areas of our team that didn’t play very well. The receiver group in particular, they need to pick it up. So the younger guys in that group, it’s a training camp of opportunity that they need to take more advantage of.
(On T.J. Lang and Scott Tolzien) They're both in the concussion protocol.
(On Jared Abbrederis) Jared is still going through the concussion protocol. I knew on the field when he fell that it was serious. I was hoping it was his back, so he's still working his way through it.
(On Morgan Burnett) Morgan, he has returned from Atlanta.
(On David Bakhtiari) David Bakhtiari, just spoke to him earlier, he's improving and based on the path and the plan for him this week, if he gets to the point, I wouldn't be comfortable playing him without practice, so I think tomorrow's practice will be important. Friday will be the shorter practice, so he needs to get on the practice field.
(On backup LT) We'll see. We don't ahve a lot of work today. Don Barclay needs to work today. We'll continue to work these guys.
(On Nelson's attitude) He's doing better. Obviously, Sunday was a tough day for him. Any time you're thinking the worst and go through testing and it's confirmed it was a tough 24 hours.
(On Aaron Rodgers wrist) He's doing OK. I anticipate he'll practice today.
(On Nelson's presence) Knowing him he'll still be here. He'll do everything he possibly can to help us as a football team.
(On playing starters in preseason) The injury occurred first series of the game. You go back and look at it. it's one of those things. If you're asking how many preseason games, that's for the off-season discussion.
(On figuring out playing time) Trust me, I completely understand Aaron’s opinion. We talk about a lot of things. This is the game of football. You have to play, whether it’s two games or three games and things like that. Those are all discussions that I’m a part of with Mark Murphy and we try to have a better understanding of philosophy moving forward. You’re getting the team ready to play. We hit our target in New England, even more so, frankly, as far as the number of plays. The medical report does factor into your path through training camp. You’re aware of that and it will affect the way we play the game Saturday.
(On taking Rodgers out) Aaron’s hand and Josh Sitton has an ankle. Just felt it was time. And frankly, Scott Tolzien, that’s exactly what he needs. We talked about it in the locker room, myself and a couple of the other coaches, to make sure I got Matt (Blanchard) another opportunity in the fourth quarter.
(On No. 1s) Game continuity. You look for those long drives. Our offense has had three established long drives. We've only played two games. Look for tempo and execution. You can get that in four quarters of work, sometimes three quarters of work. Sometimes it's six quarters of work.
(On QBs Brett Hundley and Matt Blanchard) Huge work for them. They may be playing against Philadelphia's No. 1s potentially. They'll be playing against top competition.
(On facing read-option this week) We have a period we work in practice. You look at football, it's a game of numbers. Offense is playing 10 on 11 and you put a fake in with the quarterback with the ball in his hands then it's 11 on 11. It's different. It's been in the league for awhile. You have to practice against it. If another team has a guy with the ball we're going to hit him.
(On Clay Matthews) Hoping he can do more. He's progressing.
