GREEN BAY – The Packers' three coordinators spoke with the media Thursday. Here's a summary of their key comments.
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
On long snapper Jack Coco:
I think it's been a little bit of a roller coaster. But we're excited about where he is at this particular point. This will be another big game for him. Practices were a big deal. I think he understands he's competing against 31 other teams. Just because there's not another one here doesn't mean we're not looking at everybody around the league or guys that may not be playing now. So I think he knows he's in constant competition.
On the biggest areas of improvement so far:
Trying to learn how to finish is a big thing for us. We're trying to figure out what the exact body position should look like and then how to finish each one of those particular plays, what body position to be in in the beginning, what body position to be in at the end. I'd like to see our roll call to the ball at the end get a little bit better as we go along.
On his tough love approach to coaching:
Definitely think it's a process. The great John Wooden (would say), 'Until they know you care, they don't really care what you know.' I think over my time, I've tried to adopt that. If they can understand that every word that comes out of my mouth is to honor their dreams and is for what they want to do and what they want to accomplish, then I think they take more about what I'm saying sometimes than how I'm saying it.
On what matters most on special teams among scheme, talent, effort:
It all fits. If you go back to my days in Clemson in '95, we're doing the same thing. We're calling it the same thing. Guys I had in 2002 can walk in today and call our punt protection and call our punt returns. The system has expanded a little bit, but the base system has been in place for a long time. The fundamentals, the body position, where your eyes go, where your hands go, what it should look like has been in place for a long time. In this league, you can't go visit other teams so when you watch tape, you're kind of stealing things that are good, and try to get better at putting maybe your own spin to it. We didn't invent the chicken. We just try to make it taste better. The system has been the system. When you have good players, the system looks really good. When you don't have as good as players, the system doesn't look as good. Talent matters, offensively, defensively. In the kicking game, talent matters.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry
On Rasul Douglas playing in the slot:
He has such a great feel, you know? He's such an instinctual and aware football player. I think you could put 'Sul anywhere in the back end and he'd just find a way. Obviously the nickel corner position is unique, it's different, it's different playing inside than outside, but he's done a phenomenal job.
On the addition of Jarran Reed on the D-line:
I don't know if he had a Pro Bowl season in Seattle but I know he had a 10-sack year, which for interior guys to get double-digit sacks, that's pretty impressive, and then he went and played good football in Kansas City as well. So, he brings a lot to the table just as not only a veteran but a veteran that's played at a high level. We're going to move him all over. We're going to put him everywhere. I think he's a guy that if he was in a true 4-3 system, I think he could be a stereotypical 3-technique. But he can play up and down the line. He can play over a center, he can play over a guard, he can play over a tackle. Really glad he's here, obviously. He's going to help us a lot.
On the difference with Rashan Gary this year:
I think just consistency. I'm a firm believer that consistency is the truest measure of performance. That's probably the thing I love most about Kenny Clark, but it's definitely the thing I love most about Rashan Gary, is that he shows up every single day and it doesn't matter what day of the week it is, it doesn't matter what time of year it is, you know exactly what you're going to get out of Rashan Gary every single day. And then it becomes a habit and his demeanor and his style and the way he plays every single day. When you practice like that, it translates to games, and that's why I think he's the player that he is and the player that he's still going to become.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich
On the young wide receivers and Aaron Rodgers' comments:
Just thinking about our wide receiver room this year, reminds me of how our O-line room was last year when we had Josh Myers starting, we had Royce (Newman) starting. We had rookies starting, so you've got to be really conscious of what you're asking them to do, but you've also got to push them. That's the line you (walk) every day, so I think that's 12's response of hey, I'm pushing you, I want to see what you guys are about, and we'll see how they respond.
On using both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on the field together:
I love they're each different, but they both have explosive ability. You give them the ball enough times, they're going to make some really cool things happen. And then you have their ability to catch passes. They can do multiple things, multiple routes, they both have great hands. So they're probably two of the most dynamic guys that you can just be creative with, and it's fun as a coach when you have pieces like that where you can just be like, hey, let's do this and just really try and get your playmakers the rock.
On Jordan Love's progress:
I've been really pleased with Jordan. It's his command in the huddle, his command with the groups he's in. He's taken charge. You really see him taking the next step, so that's been impressive. He just looks much more confident in the pocket. You can tell he's understanding everything. Instead of just, 'What's my job?' now he's thinking about what the defense is doing. He's doing a really good job. I'm fired up for him.
On what he wants to see from Love in second preseason game:
I think at the beginning of the game last week, he missed some easy throws. I'd like to see him, right from the start, come out hot and make the simple throws, and then we'll move from there. I thought he did a great job last week commanding the offense. We didn't have any pre-snap penalties or any misalignments, so I thought it was pretty smooth from that aspect. Now it's go out there and let it rip.
On Jake Hanson continuing to work with the starters:
Jake has had one of the best camps of anyone on our offense just from taking that next step. I think his first year, his hip was banged up and he just didn't look right. He got his hip fixed and then has come back and he looks like a brand-new guy. He's playing with physicality, he's intelligent, he has the ability to center. I'm excited about him. He has the ability to play any inside position and hopefully he does a good job in these next preseason games and proves it.
