Packers Post Game Quotes
GM/HEAD COACH MIKE SHERMAN(Opening statement)
First on the injuries. Kenny Peterson, in the first half. We thought he may have had ACL or cartilage damage but we brought him in and X-rayed him. It appears that he is okay in that area structurally. He might have bruised a cartilage or hyper-extended his knee but we really don't know right now. We will not know until tomorrow. If that's the case, we are hoping that the possibility that he will be back for next week. But there's also a possibility that he will not. Tony Fisher tweaked this left knee but was okay by the end of the game. Jason Horton had a hip pointer. Donald Driver sprained his ankle and was in a position to go back in the game, but I held him out.
(On if you are where you want to be at the end of preseason)
Certainly I would like to have not had as many turnovers. If you eliminate the turnovers we had in the last two weeks, I think I would be fairly pleased with where we are. You can't look the other way on turnovers because they are such a factor in every ball game and they determine winning and losing ball games. Yes, we converted our first four third downs, I believe on offense. I think Najeh (Davenport) had over five yards rushing (per carry). We moved the ball on some drives, minus the touchdown pass, but we cannot turn the ball over and expect to win football games. That is something we have to seriously look at. There were some plays we didn't make. There were some balls not caught, that could have been caught and could have changed the way the game was progressing. Defensively, I thought the first have we played fairly well. I thought our first defense played the run pretty well as well as the pass. They tackled well and I think they are progressing a little bit ahead of schedule. Ahmad Carroll did a nice job out there with his first assignment as a starter in the defense and had an interception late in the game. The kicking situation has not solidified itself completely at this point. B.J. (Sander) had the shank punt. Last week we were down there in Jacksonville and a Pro Bowler punter had a shank as well. He's further along in his career than B. J. is, so we certainly have to look at that as well. On that particular punt, as I watched him punt the football, he rushed the punt. The rush was coming and he rushed the punt. If he just takes his time, we have an excellent long snapper.
(on the team's performance in the first half)
Certainly we don't want to turn the ball over. We had two turnovers and it's a great lesson because that generally dictates football games...We need to not make it hard on ourselves.
I was pleased we converted quite a few third-downs offensively. We moved the football fairly well and I was excited about that.
I thought defensively we did a nice job hanging in there. We gave them two early touchdowns, obviously, offensively, but I think they (the defense) played fairly well.
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE (on the play of the offense)
I felt like we were in rhythm the whole day, but turning over the ball and penalties will kill you. Our scoring drive, which was our longest drive of the day, was effective because we made plays and didn't make mistakes.
CENTER MIKE FLANAGAN (on his return to action)
It felt OK. I'm still trying to shake the rust off. I've got a few things to work on. Overall, though, I'm glad I got this chance to come back tonight and it felt great to get into live action and test the knee.
Tonight was important, not just for me, but for my teammates on the line.
SAFETY MARK ROMAN (on the play of the defense)
Overall, I think we did OK, but we did give up a couple touchdowns. Our goal is to come out here and shut down the offense, so anything less than that I don't think anyone on defense can be satisfied.
(on the play of rookie cornerbacks Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas)
I think they're doing really well. They've been challenged and as long as they continue to do what they've been doing, they'll be alright and we'll be alright.
P BRYAN BARKER (on competition for roster spot)
This is my fifteenth year and to think that eight punts in the preseason can dictate whether I continue, to me I'm really not worried about it. I know what I've done over my career. I felt better tonight than I felt last week. I'm trying to catch up fast. Two weeks is my training camp this year.
(on whether he should earn a roster spot because he is a veteran)
I think I've earned a position that they can count on me if they make me the punter because I've been there and I've done it.
P B.J. SANDER (on his punting)
It is tough to develop a rhythm when you are going out there every other punt. I got out there and rushed it. I tried to do too much with it, but I came back and had two good punts after that. You are only as good as your next punt so if you let it bother you your next one is going to suffer. It happened, you put it behind you and move on.
(on his future)
Green Bay made a commitment to me and I am here for the long run. I will get things straightened out and we will be good to go.
WR JAVON WALKER (on finding a rhythm on offense)
It is easy to say we need to go back to practice and work on it, but I think it is just something that you ned to work through. Obviously we came back and scored, but the game is happening so fast out there that sometimes you don't see everything that is happening out there.
(on Robert Ferguson's touchdown)
He beat the guy really bad. I am not sure what kind of defense they were in, but he beat the guy really bad. Hopefully that happens during the season.
QB TIM COUCH (on his chances to make the team)
I haven't done enough in this camp that is for sure, but I have played in this league for five year and have done some good things. Hopefully I will be around and it will be a nice season for us. I have only been in the system for a few weeks, and they know I am brand new to this. I don't know if they will take that into consideration, but we'll see how it goes.
QB CRAIG NALL (on offensive performance vs. Titans)
I did okay. Bottom line, we didn't get the job done. I thought the offensive line played a pretty good game when I was in there. We tried to get in the end zone and didn't do it, so it wasn't good enough.
(on what the coaches should ascertain from his individual performance)
Hopefully they've seen some flashes of potential. I'm a rhythm-type player. It's hard for me to come in cold and get in there and make things happen. Hopefully tonight was enough for me to stick around. Things are out of my hands. The injury didn't help out. Missing the first two weeks of training camp put me behind the eight ball a little bit. I really want to be here in Green Bay and hope that I am.
QB SCOTT McBRIEN (on his pursuit of a roster spot)
I hope that I've done enough. Just to get out here, it's been a great experience working with these guys. Hopefully I can continue. Of course, I'd like to be here in Green Bay. I'm willing to do anything to help this team succeed. If it's on the squad, great. If it's on the practice squad, I'm happy with that.
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Tonight's paid attendance was 68,809.
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End of Game.
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After the defense held their ground, forcing the Titans to punt, Craig Nall hit Scottie Vines in the middle of the field. Vine fumbled, however and the ball was recovered by the Titans.
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Just as the Packers were threatening to score, Craig Nall's pass was intercepted by Michael Waddell in the end zone. Earlier in the drive, Nall connected with Wilson Thomas for a 37-yard gain to the Titans' 12 yard line.
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Craig Nall replaced Scott McBrien at quarterback (5:47, 4th quarter).
McBrien completed 1-of-3 passes for 5 yards.
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The Titans added three points as Joe Nedney made good on a 46-yard field goal (5:58, 4th quarter).
Jarrett Payton had runs of 15 and 10 yards on the drive, while Jason Gesser hit Tramon Douglas for 14 yards.
The Titans' scoring drive was 10 plays for 50 yards. Time of the drive was 4:50.
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The Packers began the 4th quarter on a high note as Ahmad Carroll intercepted Billy Volek's pass intended for Tramon Douglas at the Packers' 38 yard line (no return). The Packers, however, were unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced to punt.
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End of 3rd quarter.
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Scott McBrien replaced Tim Couch at quarterback (5:53, 3rd quarter).
Couch completed 3-of-6 passes for 14 yards in one series.
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Tim Couch replaced Brett Favre at quarterback (13:51, 3rd quarter).
Favre completed 10-of-20 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Favre was intercepted two times.
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On the opening drive of the second half, Tennessee running back Chris Brown's 73-yard run put the Titans inside the Packers' 2 yard line. Antowain Smith punched it in on the next play, extending the Titans' lead to 24-7 (13:51, 3rd quarter).
The Titans' scoring drive was three plays for 77 yards. Time of the drive was 1:09.
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Packers Halftime Quotes
GM/HEAD COACH MIKE SHERMAN:
(on the team's performance in the first half) "Certainly we don't want to turn the ball over. We had two turnovers and it's a great lesson because that generally dictates football games...We need to not make it hard on ourselves."
"I was pleased we converted quite a few third-downs offensively. We moved the football fairly well and I was excited about that.
"I thought defensively we did a nice job hanging in there. We gave them two early touchdowns, obviously, offensively, but I think they (the defense) played fairly well."
QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE:
(on the play of the offense) "I felt like we were in rhythm the whole day, but turning over the ball and penalties will kill you. Our scoring drive, which was our longest drive of the day, was effective because we made plays and didn't make mistakes."
CENTER MIKE FLANAGAN:
(on his return to action) "It felt OK. I'm still trying to shake the rust off. I've got a few things to work on. Overall, though, I'm glad I got this chance to come back tonight and it felt great to get into live action and test the knee.
"Tonight was important, not just for me, but for my teammates on the line."
SAFETY MARK ROMAN:
(on the play of the defense) "Overall, I think we did OK, but we did give up a couple touchdowns. Our goal is to come out here and shut down the offense, so anything less than that I don't think anyone on defense can be satisfied."
(on the play of rookie cornerbacks Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas) "I think they're doing really well. They've been challenged and as long as they continue to do what they've been doing, they'll be alright and we'll be alright."
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End of 1st half.
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With less than a minute remaining in the half, the Titans added 3 points to extend their lead to 10 points at halftime.
Steve McNair put the Titans into scoring position, first hitting tight end Erron Kinney for 15 yards and later scrambling up the middle for 10 yards.
Joe Nedney was good on a 37-yard field goal attempt (:21, 2nd quarter).
The Titans scoring drive was 11 plays for 57 yards. Time of the drive was 3:58.
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The Packers used two big plays late in the second quarter to get their first points of the night.
Najeh Davenport's 22-yard run was followed by a 53-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Robert Ferguson along the right sideline (4:19, 2nd quarter).
The Packers' scoring drive was five plays for 86 yards. Time of the drive was 2:25.
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The Titans, unable to get anything going on offense, pinned the Packers inside the 5-yard line with Craig Hentrich's 57-yard punt.
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After Najeh Davenport's 12-yard run, Brett Favre just missed Antonio Chatman at the goal line on 3rd-and-5 from the Titans' 43 yard line. The Titans took over at the 38 yard line following B.J. Sander's 5-yard punt.
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Al Harris, running stride for stride with Titans receiver Darrell Hill, batted away Steve McNair's 50-yard pass attempt on 3rd down, forcing the Titans to punt.
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End of 1st quarter.
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A bad snap on 3rd-and-6 ended the Titans' drive at their own 33-yard line. After a 45-yard punt by Craig Hentrich and a 6-yard return by Antonio Chatman, the Packers took over at their own 28-yard line.
Brett Favre's first pass was again intercepted, this time by Samari Rolle and returned 30 yards to the 15-yard line. The Titans needed only one play, a 15-yard pass reception from McNair to Derrick Mason, to find the end zone for the second time of the night (3:10, 1st quarter).
The Titans' scoring drive was one play for 15 yards. Time of the drive was :06.
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After converting two third downs on the opening drive, Brett Favre's pass intended for Javon Walker was intercepted by Keith Bulluck at the Titans' 30 yard line and returned for a touchdown (11:05, 1st quarter).
Favre completed 3-of-3 passes on the drive before the interception.
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Temperature at kickoff is 80 degrees.
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The following Packers players are not expected to play in tonight's contest: Shockmain Davis, Michael Hawthorne, Ahman Green, Chris Watson, Torrance Marshall, Atlas Herrion, Steve Bush, Chukie Nwokorie and Larry Smith. |
