GREEN BAY – The Packers' defensive and special teams assistant coaches met with the media on Sunday for the first time during training camp. Here's a summary of their key comments.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry
(on being so energetic)
I try to approach every day exactly the same way. I think I'm fairly passionate and energetic just by nature in my personality. The way I coach, the way I come to work every day, it's not a conscious thing. It's just me being me. But I firmly believe, let's be consistent and let's bring energy and hopefully that translates, from a player standpoint, to great effort.
(on safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage)
Those guys, we use a term they drive the bus. Those guys gotta control everything. They are mission control at least from the back end. So when you get a sharp guy that's played a lot of football like Adrian has, you just feel comfortable, and we have two of them in both Darnell and Adrian. It's nice you have that guy as your quarterback of the back end from a communication standpoint. Adrian has played a lot of football. He's very savvy. There's not much in his career that he hasn't seen or hasn't experienced, so I think he brings a lot to the table from that standpoint.
Defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jerry Gray
(on Kabion Ento)
He's not injured in training camp, so hopefully he can keep progressing there. He did make a couple good plays. He's competing for a spot on this team. The biggest thing we've got to keep him doing is going forward. Instead of getting the PBU, let's start intercepting the ball. Let's start doing those things and that's going to separate you from guys that may have gotten drafted. You played wide receiver, has great ball skills, now go catch the ball. But you've got to knock the ball down first before you start intercepting.
(on Eric Stokes)
What I like is his demeanor. When you see a young guy that's not getting frustrated because he's going against good players, that's a good sign. Hey look, I may get beat on an out. I may get beat on a hitch, it may be a back-shoulder fade. These are hard plays to cover, but the biggest thing is I don't see him drop his head. I don't see him do any of that. He's coming back for more coaching points. So that's a good thing.
(on who can play the star)
I talked to Savage and he's begging to get in. We did Ja a little bit early in the week when he got a chance to get in there. And of course, we still got Sully, who's doing a great job and then you look at Shemar Jean-Charles. I think Shemar has a really good chance to be in that position, too. So you look at it, we've got four guys that I think can really, really play at that level, depending on who's in the slot.
Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery
(on Dean Lowry)
Dean does so much of the dirty work at the position he's at. He takes on a lot of double-teams, he pushes the pocket on third downs when he gets those opportunities. But he's definitely had a good camp so far and saw some things last night from him which were nice. He's headed in the right direction.
(on Kingsley Keke)
I'm really excited about Keke. I think this is going to be a breakout year for him. I think he's going to be great on all downs—first, second and third down. This is that third year where I think he's going to make that jump. And I thought it was great in the spring and look forward to getting him when he comes back.
Inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti
(on De'Vondre Campbell)
He's a guy that's played a lot of football, and he's been in a couple of different systems that have given him some versatility. Obviously, just his features; he's a tall, tall person, and that part is a little bit different – just his dimensions. We're excited. It's mostly just about fitting in what guys are good at, and he's good at some stuff just because of how tall he is and he works at it and he has some football IQ with him, too.
(on Krys Barnes)
Krys is a guy that it doesn't really change, his approach doesn't really change. He's always going to be harder on himself than I can ever be. I think he's trying to make sure that he gets himself correct and gets himself right before he takes on any kind of a more prominent role. And that's where he's at. He's very focused on trying to correct himself right now.
Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith
(on Tipa Galeai)
Damn good football player. He's another one that needs to get the special teams rolling because if that joker can put on 10 more pounds, he's a demon. He plays hard. He's very smooth, quick. He's got great chop-and-spin, great counter. He's got a great get-off to beat you on the edge. He's got to get better with his power. He's learning if that's all you do, they're going to short set and wait for you, so you've got to threaten him.
(on any new leadership with Za'Darius Smith not practicing yet)
When Z's on the field, he's always a leader. He's usually the first one to talk in the room. But Rashan Gary has been a guy, that's been the biggest difference with Rashan so far in training camp is he's talking. And I'm glad he is. He's going to be a leader of this defense for a long time. He has the right. It's his third year. He doesn't take plays off. He does everything that you ask him to do, and now, it's funny, when you see it, the guys are taking it in. They know he backs it up. He's taking that step to become a leader. You can't have enough of those guys.
Special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton
(on the returners)
Right now, in the punt-return game, obviously, we're leaning toward Amari Rodgers. In the kickoff-return game, we're really vetting 32, Mr. (Kylin Hill). It's going to play itself out and we have a lot of other guys who are putting in work in the return area.
(more on Hill as a kickoff returner)
He has an even-keel demeanor right now. He doesn't get too high, doesn't get too low, and he has the ability to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical. That is awesome as a returner when it comes to setting up blocks.
