GREEN BAY – The Packers' offensive assistant coaches met with the media on Sunday. Here's a sampling of their key comments:
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
(on what he learned seeing Jordan Love in live action for the first time)
I would kind of say that toughness aspect of it. There was the one, he delivered that ball down the middle to Jace, which was a beautiful read, beautiful throw and he got hit at the same time. That's always the first thing as a coach you want to see how a quarterback's going to be able to stand in there and be able to take that. I mean, it was great. He got right back up and went down and scored.
(on the struggles with the run game)
It was … very bad yesterday. The one positive thing is, the mental errors weren't there. So it wasn't a misidentification, it was more the fundamentals and techniques. So I think those are things that we can continually improve. Just go back to those basics. And that starts with tomorrow, because that's unacceptable, what we did yesterday. And I think all those guys know that. The coaches know that, we know that, and we've got to get better.
QB coach/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy
(on Jordan Love's performance)
To see how he would respond, see how he would react, how he commanded the huddle, I thought he did a really nice job. Communication was really good. He did a really nice job processing most of the night. It was good to see. I think that was a big stage for him. He was excited. You could see he was pumped up for that game, just to be able to finally get out on that field, missing the preseason last year.
(on Aaron Rodgers helping Love)
He was great last night. He would come over as we were looking at the pictures, and he just saw one or two things as the game was going live, and he gave him some good little tidbits. He's been outstanding. His approach and his mentality, his leadership and all that stuff, mentoring, he's been phenomenal. He's helped out Jordan a ton. I've mentioned that Jordan's feet have been a big emphasis, well, no one has better feet than Aaron, so just him constantly (giving) Jordan that insight of where his mind is with his feet and why he does what he does with his feet, I think it's been huge for Jordan.
Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Adam Stenavich
(on Josh Myers)
He's got great football intelligence. He's very poised. We put a lot on his plate, and he handles it very well. He played very well last night, did exactly what I thought he was going to do, just went out there and handled himself well, played with physicality, run the huddle. He did a good job. Just a mature kid.
(on how the unit will respond after a poor showing in the run game)
I hope that will light a little fire under some guys. I definitely thought we lacked intensity. I thought Houston did a good job. We've just got to come out there and do a better job executing, do a better job with our fundamentals and most of all just coming across the ball and getting after people.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans
(on Kylin Hill, and scoring on the screen)
He's put himself in great position. I think the more we put him in situations maybe even going against people's top players to really gauge him even more, I think that'll help him. He's got really good instincts. I think he understands how to process what's in front of him, how the defense is reacting, so that way he can counter. He's got really good quickness and very explosive cutting ability, and I think the biggest thing with him is he knows how to use those things at the right time.
(on AJ Dillon)
The biggest thing I've seen with him is just his overall knowledge of football. I think with him, he's one of those guys that there's a difference when you get to a game situation in comparison to practice. I think everything just turns up a little more for him. We'll see how much we'll play him moving forward, but I do think that he needs more reps. Plus now, he knows and understands that Jamaal's not here anymore and there's going to be a heavier dependence on him to perform.
Tight ends coach Justin Outten
(on Marcedes Lewis grinding through another camp)
He loves being here. He loves being around the game. When you love something, it's easy to forget you're in Year 16. He's growing, just like these other guys. He's getting more involved. He's hitting his marks in the run game way quicker than he did in the last couple years. To see him pick up where he left off against Tampa Bay last year was really exciting to see. He's never going to be bored of being a great leader. He's never going to be bored of being a great football player. Our connection in our room has been awesome. There's typically not a lot of boring, lull days with him. He's all-in and trying to learn and trying to bring guys along. He's really invested in us.
(on Robert Tonyan)
What he does outside the building has really jumped off. You can progress here, but you have to be able to do it outside this this building, and he's really taken care of his body, the mental aspect of it, the gymnastics of the playbook and being utilized a little bit more. The spotlight is going to be a lot brighter now with the success that he had last year. He's a guy that's going to continue to get better. He's not reached his ceiling yet, in my opinion.
Wide receivers coach Jason Vrable
(on Randall Cobb)
I've always watched him and I'm like, 'Man, look at the way he plays, just his fire and energy and passion.' I always say to younger guys on other teams, 'This is a guy you wanna emulate, to see his success.' The last two weeks he's grinded. I'm talking about work. He's the first one in and been studying the playbook with me an extra hour, and then doing special teams getting some more time, and then he would stay late and be with Aaron. So in about two weeks he's pretty much got caught up with the playbook.
(on Marquez Valdes-Scantling's sure hands so far in camp)
He's just really confident right now, he's playing at a high level, he's in attack mode at all times, and typically when you're confident you trust yourself. Things just start going in the direction that you want and that's what I see with him. He's worked at a lot of things that he wanted to get better at as opposed to pushing those away. He's bought in to the saying, 'Whatever my weakness was, I'm gonna make it my strength,' and he's bought into that type of coaching.
