Mike McCarthy: We've Named Our Six Playoff Captains
Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Julius Peppers, Morgan Burnett, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Bush received the honor, according to McCarthy.
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy met with the media on Wednesday, following the first day of practice this week in preparation for the upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The following are select comments from McCarthy's press conference:
- On Bryan Bulaga on practicing: Bryan Bulaga's in the concussion protocol. Looks great. I saw him in the weight room this morning. Making progress.
- On Eddie Lacy and Clay Matthews being listed on the injury report: Eddie's just a situation that's going on with his eye, not game related. I don't think Clay's is of a serious nature.
- On Mike Neal's abdomen injury: I think it's part wear and tear of the season and being proactive with some treatment.
- On Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith: Evan Dietrich-Smith did an excellent job for us. … I think he's doing a good job, and he's well coached. … It looks like he's a key communicator.
- On emphasizing ball security after drops in Bills game: We do a lot of ball drills and that was no different today and will be again tomorrow. … Definitely handling the ball will be an emphasis this week.
- On if he watches film from Lovie Smith with the Bears: Definitely the offense has. We have a history going against Lovie Smith. … At the end of the day, we're reallly focusing on their personnel. … There are definitely some similarities.
- On his respect for Smith: I've always had a lot of respect for Lovie, going back to New Orleans when I was an offensive coordinator and he was in St. Louis as the defensive coordinator.
- On avoiding back-to-back losses this season: That's a good stat I guess, right? … We're really looking at this game as the start of our playoff approach, our playoff mindset. … We feel like we need to take it up a notch as a football team. This is a playoff type of preparation. We even went ahead and voted for the six playoff captains. We normally wait until after the season.
- On the offensive line: The offensive line is cealrly the starting point. I know a lot is made of the quarterback position, but it all starts up front. This is the best offensive line we've had in my time here. … This is a very cohesive offensive line, both on and off the field. It's a smart bunch. They help each other. … We look for them to play their best football down the stretch.
- More on the offensive line: The five that play together and practice together give you the best chance to be the most cohesive. … I know Josh and T.J. have been limited.
- On playoff captains: Offense: Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson. Defense: Julius Peppers, Morgan Burnett. Special teams: Randall Cobb, Jarrett Bush.
- On naming playoff captains now: This is an opportunity to give people more credibility, more opportunities to take the platform. … I always look for ways to create opportunities for leadership. You can't assign it. … This is clearly an opportunity to identify the six men to lead us down the stretch.
- On creating opportunites for leadership: It's an option. Going back to the offseason program, training camp, the way we do the presume talks. There's a number of components in our program to create opportunities whether is players or assistant coaches.
- On Peppers being named a captain his first year with the team: I think it says a ton about Julius Peppers and it says a ton about Morgan Burnett. … He was quiet when he first got here and started to extend himself more and more.
- More on Peppers: Going back to the last game, he had the caused fumble that we didn't take advantage of. He's playing more reps now than he has. … I think he has some excellent football in front of him.
- On respect for Peppers: Julius Peppers when he walks into the locker room, he's respected for what he's done in the league. … I thought he did a great job one on one with his teammates. I can remember respectively some conversations between him and David Bakhtiari. … You talk about stacking success, I think that's kind of the way he goes about it. … The one time he had the opportunity to talk to the team, I think everybody got a clear look into what Julius Peppers is all about.
- On the Buccaneers: I think No. 1, you have to trust the film. When you turn on the film, they fly around. Doug Martin is a heckuva football player. … You're playing on the road, that's another element that factors into it. … Regardless of the wins they have right now, he's trying to take wins into the offseason. … They have nothing to lose, whether it's going for it on fourth downs or whatever.
Comments (8)
DrealynWilliams
December 17, 2014 at 03:35 pm
Julius Peppers...his ass better have one of the best Playoff runs as a OLB/DE
Clay the 1st
December 17, 2014 at 04:48 pm
Random question.....
Is Khyri Thornton even on this team?
3rd round draft pick this year I think.
IR? Where are they hiding him?
Evan
December 17, 2014 at 05:32 pm
IR in the pre-season.
Amanofthenorth
December 17, 2014 at 04:51 pm
Burnett is 25 years old. Been with the Packers forever it seems.
LASVEGAS-TOM
December 18, 2014 at 02:16 am
Here are the Up to date Future Odds for the NFC & SB
NFC
Seattle 8/5
GB 11/5
DALLAS 6/1
DETROIT 12/1
SB
NE PATS 13/5
SEATTLE 3/1
GB 11/2
DENVER 13/2
DALLAS 12/1
DETROIT 22/1
At this point Las Vegas is Figuring an NFC Championship Game between Seattle & GB
Las Vegas favors The Pats & Seattle in the SB, but they have GB in the mix. The Detroit line is a Surprise to me. I have GB @ 8-1, but Det @ 12-1 & 22 -1 look like good hedge bets to me. This looks like Las Vegas doesn't think too much of Detroit. I'm kind of Surprised. LVT
LASVEGAS-TOM
December 18, 2014 at 02:43 am
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I believe NO Super Bowl Champion has won even 1 Playoff Game since the Pats did it back in 2004. That's a 10 year span. Seattle is up against a BIG TREND. I think I would go the other way, on their 1st game. LVT
RCPackerFan
December 18, 2014 at 06:24 am
I still think it would be interesting to see if Seattle ended up having to go play a wild card playoff game in New Orleans. A little bit of a role reversal from a few years ago, when the better team (New Orleans) had to go play at a losing teams home (Seattle).
LASVEGAS-TOM
December 18, 2014 at 06:39 pm
That would be interesting. Like to see that myself. LVT