Mike McCarthy on Aaron Rodgers' Hamstring Injury: "So Far, So Good"

The Packers coach feels good about his quarterback being able to play against the Bears in Week 10.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy held his typical day-after-game press conference on Monday. The following are select comments from his meeting with the media:

  • Opening comments: Disappointing loss, as I stated last night. As you look through all three phases. I don't think I've ever been part of a game where there's been zero returns. … Defensively, I think it really comes down to the run defense. We knew we were going up a tough offense, particularly throwing the ball. ... The play-action that comes off their run-game production, the missed tackles. … Offensively, i thought the production was excellent. The turnovers and the red zone hurt us. ... We'll learn from it. We're 5-3, and we'll have time to heal. ... We have a couple injuries coming out of the game, but I think those guys will have a chance to play against Chicago.
  • On the hamstring injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers: Based on the reports that I have, Aaron I missed each other today … but so far, so good is how we're looking at it.
  • On the opportune timing of the bye: That's what we're hoping for. This is a great time for a bye for Aaron and T.J. (Lang), Morgan (Burnett).
  • On the schedule after the bye: When we get back with the team on Monday, we'll do three things. … Correcting the game. I used to like to correct the game on Monday, get it in the can. But I don't think that's the case. … When we get back Monday, we'll do the New Orleans corrections. We'll do our self-scout corrections … Then we'll start our preparations for Chicago.
  • On Eddie Lacy catching the ball out of the backfield: That's what you're looking for, you're looking for the complete player that he is. The opportunities came last night . …. He's more than just a 230-pound back. … It was great to get him involved in the screen game. … I think Eddie had probably his best game as a Packer.
  • On splitting touches between Lacy and James Starks: I think there's much too much time spent on stat sheets. ... Whether he carries it, whether he catches it, it's important for Eddie and James … they need to catch the football. ... I'm very comfortable with the number of touches Eddie has.
  • On the defense: The run defense was our Achilles heel on defense … We had a couple adjustments that were not clean in the downfield passing game. … It's definitely a focus from a defensive standpoint.
  • On the team's identity: I think you have to be realistic, that's probably a better view for me to express to you …. I think you identify yourself after six, seven, eight games. … I think the last four weeks, we need to identify who we are. We have to stop the run. … We have to do more than just win the turnover ratio. … We have to overcome when we play straight to our identity or our format.
  • On improving the run defense: Missed tackles are fundamentals, Any time you're talking fundaments, it's skill development. … Are there other individuals that deserverve opportunities? … Those are things we talk about as coaches day in and day out.
  • On T.J. Lang's ankle injury: He's not doing very good today, but I think he'll feel better as the week goes on. … It's a little too far out there for me to give you an accurate assessment.
  • On improvements: It's week eight, to sit here and talk about playoffs is hideous. We have to beat the Bears. … More importantly, we have to improve fundamentally every week.
  • On the play using Julius Peppers on offense: If you paid attention to the play from the beginning to the end. … Play design was what you're looking for. Execution wasn't there.
  • On whether he's discouraged to use Peppers again: That's why you play the games. I'm not discouraged by Julius dropping the football.
  • On the plan for J.C. Tretter coming off short-term injured reserve: We'll answer the J.C. Tretter question this week sometime, but we need to talk to J.C. first.
  • On running behind Lane Taylor on the failed fourth-and-1 attempt: If you look at the defense, we got the defense we expected. That's why we used the motion. … I thought the blocks by Corey and Josh Sittion, they were as fine as a backside block you could ever ask for.
  • On trying different players at inside linebacker: We want to play as many as our players as we possibly can, particularly on defense.
  • On the status of Morgan Burnett (calf) and Sam Shields (knee): They're definitely getting better. I know their workouts before the game before the Saints, I know our training staff feels they're improving.
  • On Burnett: We missed Morgan last night. Anytime you have your quarterback back there, your communication, our adjustments weren't as smooth … He's the lead guy, lead communicator in the back end. And that's something that wasn't in place last night.
  • On the game plan: I think the biggest thing when you game plan is where do you apply the stress? … We worked extensively on their pressure packages. … I thought the game from a preparation standpoint, we were able to be aggressive with them. … We went into the game being aggressive. Defensively, we need to get them in third-and-long. … You're playing uphill as a defense. … Their play-action passing game has more of an impact on your front seven, and they were able to hit the big shots on the back end.
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Comments (10)

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zoellner25's picture

October 27, 2014 at 05:04 pm

"We missed Morgan last night.....He's the lead guy, lead communicator in the back end. And that's something that wasn't in place last night"

Nice back up plan there, MM and Dom. Might want to watch film of your DLine getting blown up all night too.

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TommyG's picture

October 28, 2014 at 06:25 am

And since when did Burnett become this great communicator? I thought that job belonged to one AJ Hawk. So if the true field general is Burnett what are we paying hawk for???

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denniseckersley's picture

October 27, 2014 at 05:50 pm

we didn't have an achilles heel. We had an achilles hammy

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HankScorpio's picture

October 28, 2014 at 06:04 am

Hopefully the bye week will allow Rodgers to get healed up. Lang, too. Both injuries hurt the offense.

If Lang cannot go, maybe Tretter can be a better option than Lane Taylor.

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TommyG's picture

October 28, 2014 at 06:27 am

No comment about the near disappearance of Jordy, or what appeared to be yet another game plan to not throw or even look at him. Coach, why are you scheming as if you are scared of these teams?

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JimTaylor31's picture

October 28, 2014 at 08:11 am

Not sure why MM is even bothering with his "schemes". If we just line up our best against their best we would win most matchups anyhow. Another item from MMs presser was his frustration with the defense. Aagin. This has been a continuous theme since 2011. About time Mike took some of the blame himself for the defense as it's been a good part his decision to keep Capers around and most of the assistants. I'm not sure why he would expect things to be different.

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 28, 2014 at 07:46 am

One incredible positive out of New Orleans is the return of a viable and productive screen game - something that has been sorely missing from the arsenal for several years now. I have no doubt that the Packers will be able to effectively use the screen game going forward against over-aggressive pass rushing teams. Big step forward for the offense in that regard, despite everything else that happened.

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HankScorpio's picture

October 28, 2014 at 08:06 am

Having a RB that can gain yards on pass plays is a nice thing to add to the offense. Not only on screens. Lacy showed he's becoming a more complete RB. That's really good to see. So much of being a Packer RB involves doing things without the ball in your hands.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 28, 2014 at 03:28 pm

I agree seeing them dust off the screen makes me excited for next game, Unfortunately they will probably abandon it again, That has been the only consistent thing with MM.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 28, 2014 at 03:30 pm

It had been so long that I thought for a minute that a a screen play was obsolete.

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