GREEN BAY – The Packers' offensive assistant coaches met with the media Thursday. Here's a summary of their key comments.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
On Jordan Love's progress:
One of the bigger things with Jordan right now is his confidence in the system. Instead of trying to learn the verbiage and just understand how to call the plays, he can do that much easier now and then be able to go out there and execute them. That's something we've been able to see, so now we can talk about the techniques and the reads and those intricate details that we want to get to him. Timing and accuracy and all those things have definitely been better up to this point.
On Amari Rodgers and what he brings to the offense:
I think without a doubt he's going to do some cool things for us this upcoming year. I think any time you have a young player, there's always this kind of process of them trying to learn this new system, and there's ups and downs with it. It's easier in the beginning and then once more of the system gets put on, they start thinking almost too much. I think Amari's doing a very good job. He's not intimidated by what we're handing to him. He's a student of the game and you can see that. He's got a natural feel to the game in these limited reps. I think that's only going to develop with time.
QB coach/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy
On whether Jordan Love needs to push the ball downfield more in practice:
The main goal for me right now is that he just progresses properly, that he plays with his eyes and his feet. If his eyes and his feet tell him to move in his progression, I want him to move in his progression. So if defense is taking something away, we need to progress. I don't want him to think he needs to force something down the field.
On not having all the same offseason conversations about the offense with Aaron Rodgers this year:
I think the benefit of where we're at from where we were is a huge thing right now. We've had two full seasons to iron a lot of that stuff out. Sure, you would love to have him here and have those conversations again just to tighten things up again, but where we went last offseason … that's why we were able to be so dramatic in how much we changed from one year to the next, so I feel like we're more in line with where we want to be. We know where we want to go, and I think we have a pretty good idea of what we need to change moving forward, or what we need to tweak in getting ready to go for this season.
Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Adam Stenavich
On Elgton Jenkins playing LT:
He's looked great. He's a rare guy in this league, a guy that has the athleticism to play on the edge. Usually you get your centers and guards, they don't have that combination of length and athleticism to go out at tackle and compete with the good edge rushers out there, but Elgton has those tools. He has the size, he's got the length, so he's a very versatile guy, a very intelligent player. You can move him around and the game's not too big for him. He understands everything. Extremely football smart. Moving him out to tackle, it might not be his absolute best position but he's still a very, very good tackle.
On David Bakhtiari's rehab progress:
He's doing everything in his power to get back as soon as possible. For me, an NFL season's an extremely long season, so the worst thing you can do is rush a guy back and bring him back too soon where he's not playing at a high level or he hurts himself. I think Dave's got a good plan with Flea and our trainers. I know he's going to be back as soon as he can be. Watching him work out and do all the stuff that he's doing for a guy who's only had surgery five months ago or whatever it is, yeah, … it's just be patient with it and let's get him back as soon as we can.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans
On the Aaron Jones-AJ Dillon tandem:
I think we've got a great blend of a guy that's more of your home-run hitter, accompanied with a guy who's going to be physical but also has the ability to move the chains and create big plays. So obviously they're a little bit different — I should say a lot different — you know, in their styles, but at the end of the day, you look at what they can bring to the table, both of those guys are going to be able to produce.
On the No. 3 RB competition:
It really won't have a chance to work itself out until we get to the preseason and start playing some real football. But everybody, all those guys are well aware there's an opportunity sitting there, and the other guys know, hey, don't you sleep on the guys you feel are underneath you because you've also got to bring it every day too. They all know their position is pretty much wide open and won't be decided until we start playing real football.
The bottom line is they're competing against each other, but in actuality, they're competing against the guys lined up across from them. It's how productive are you when you're in the game. That's not only running the ball, it's catching the ball, it's how you are in protection, can we trust you in a game to do the right thing, so it's all those facets that kind of make up our decision.
Wide receivers coach Jason Vrable
On the top five receivers not being here for OTAs:
I talked to the guys a lot. Up until two weeks ago, we were virtual when they were doing everything, showing up for every meeting. They're great men and great players and obviously I want them here because both on and off the field they make us better. I'm excited for them for the future and hopefully next week they show up and we'll be ready to roll.
On Amari Rodgers:
I watched so much tape on him and just kind of had a good feel for him of the things that I loved and the things I thought that maybe he needed to work on. I'm really personally excited about just his professionalism. I mean he takes notes, just to be a student of the game, like no other. His notebook is immaculate and he's texting me at night. He just wants to be the best version of himself and that's all I can ask for. He just has tremendous upside.
Tight ends coach Justin Outten
On Josiah Deguara:
Getting Josiah on board with us, it just adds another dimension and brings the offense alive. Going back to the Atlanta days with Matt and just being able to use the fullback role and put him in different spots, you see the success Juice (Juszczyk) has in San Francisco. He has a really good feel for the offense right now. Coming in as a rookie last year, he just took off and ran with it. As he progresses, I just feel like he's going to open up some more things for us, just being as universal as he is, excellent pro as far as being in the meeting room and having the right questions. Really good attitude throughout this whole process. He's a joy to be around. His career, it's going to be a long one for him in this league. We're excited to have him and what he brings to the offense.
On the depth and competition within the TE group:
It's an exciting room to be in. it's a well-rounded, veteran group that, they're all competitive but not to the fault of not hanging out with each other and getting each other better. It's a unique chemistry that we have in that room. I'm really excited. Every time I go upstairs to watch the tape, you see guys working their tails off to prove themselves, and guys are going to have to come to work each and every day to prepare. They're not trying to beat out the guy in the same room with them, they're trying to be the best in the league. They have a higher expectation for themselves.
