GREEN BAY – The Packers' three coordinators met with the media Wednesday. Here's a summary of their key comments:
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
On game-planning for a QB like Aaron Rodgers:
When you've got Aaron, I mean really the sky's the limit. You can be as creative as you want. You can do a lot of different things and I think it shows and it allows us to really mix it up and Aaron just does a great job of being efficient, at the same time aggressive. I think that's the brilliance of him at this position.
On the upcoming Rodgers vs. Brady matchup:
It's great entertainment. I mean, you can't ask for anything better than this. These two guys, going against each other. When it comes to those two guys, from the standpoint of how it affects them, they're at such a high level that I don't even think they think of it. They're just out there to do their job. For us as coaches, as players, as fans, as reporters, I just think it's great entertainment and a fun thing to be a part of. You know? Anybody who's a part of either organization, it's just a great opportunity for us to watch them go at it. But for them, it's another game. It's just about the level they're at.
On self-scouting during the bye week:
We're always doing that with a fine-tooth comb. We're always trying to look at everything we do and look at if we're doing something too much or if we need a counter to it or if we need to change the personnel or hide something … That's just the chess game as a coach. You're always trying to protect something or create something new.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine
On Krys Barnes:
He doesn't get rattled. That's the thing. He's always got that look in his eyes that he's locked in and I think the guys respect that. I think the key to it is his preparation. That's what we talk about – confidence through preparation and this is a guy that knows the defense and knows it well.
On Barnes and Ty Summers both wearing the communication helmet:
We switched it out. Kirk Olivadotti was on top of that. It wasn't your typical game where you have one guy with it and off you go. There were times where it was being switched out in between series. We knew going into the next series who was going to play, who was going to be on the field for whole series, so we were able to get the appropriate helmet.
On Tyler Lancaster:
He's always been very consistent. That's kind of been his trademark. He rarely gets a minus. He'll do his job, and a lot of times it's a thankless job – taking on a double team and not letting the double team climb to the linebacker, or if there's a play that occurs and there is a double and he splits it, that's his play to make and he'll make it. He's just been so dialed in these last couple weeks and he's gone against some pretty good centers. I think he realized that the responsibility, a lot of it was on him to fill the void with Kenny Clark out and he accepted that challenge.
Special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga
On progress in the return game:
Yeah, we had two good returns the other night, after the penalty out to the 49 and the 50 that led to touchdowns right after that. I've been seeing the progress. We're there. I'm not concerned by it. Did see better results the other day, which obviously reinforces what we're trying to do for our guys, so I'm encouraged by it.
On dealing with the trickle-down effect of injuries:
We continue to develop, it continues to evolve, we're trying to develop as many guys as we can just to be ready. As injuries happen up above them on the depth chart, some guys' roles change and they play more offense or defense, and we've got to pull for some other guys. We try to keep as many guys ready and keep that core but there's a group of the 15 to 18 guys that are in all of our meetings all of the time, along with the practice-squad guys that are there that are ready to go in any one of those phases.
