GREEN BAY – The Packers' coordinators met with the media Thursday. Here's a sampling of their key comments:
Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
On the Bears' trick punt return for a TD:
To be honest with you, I just did a poor job preparing them for that particular play in that particular situation. We came out of there with a mindset to not fan the field the way we're supposed to, and chase the return guy. Kudos to them. They did a great job. I did a poor job preparing our guys in that particular situation.
I can give you 100 different reasons, but the reality of it is, I did not really cover that with them in this particular week or in the previous four weeks, let's just say, to cover when the guy sloughs off in the double team out there, he's the guy that could possibly catch it. It's a lesson learned, right? Hard lesson learned.
On the Eagles' special teams:
They're different than they were Week 1. They've played some different guys. One of the things they're doing a really good job of is (Cooper) DeJean back there on punt returns. He's averaging basically a first down in the return game. He's aggressive. He's an easy catch guy. He starts at you right away. I think their punter does a heck of a job of directing the ball right and left, puts it in different spots. He plays really well in the red zone. He can put the ball out of bounds at times if he wants. And then, anytime you go to Philadelphia, to play a football game, I've been a part of a lot of them up there. I have so much respect for the loyalty of the fans in Philadelphia and the way they make you feel when you go into that stadium. So, it's the playoffs, right. It's a challenge going on the road, it's a challenge getting into the playoffs, it's a challenge when you get into the playoffs, how your young players are going to play for sure.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley
On the last play in the Bears game:
I've been very truthful with you guys, and I'm not going to go through this one in length. Matt (LaFleur) addressed it. There was miscommunication. It's not the call we were supposed to be in, certainly not at that time. Obviously, frustrating, disappointing. Learn from it. Move on, and we have, we're onto Philly.
On how the pass-rush plan vs. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts worked in Brazil:
I thought Week 1 our D-line did a really good job of keeping him in the pocket. He didn't rush for many yards. He didn't escape. He had the one scramble at the end of the game that was costly when he did get out, when we pressured, we had an open B gap to the right side. I think I've watched it 100 times now. There's got to be a little bit of both (types of pass rush), you know. And I think I've learned from that, just like I've learned a lot over the year. You look back at that game now, it feels like so long ago, but we did some really good things that we like, but then there's some things we have to do different, and there's going to be a time and a place for when we want to go hard at 'em and when we've got to keep him in the pocket.
On the Eagles' offensive line:
They're huge. They're really well-coached. They know what they're doing. They've got great length, they've got size. They stay on their double teams. They're good at their gap scheme runs. I think it's a really good combination of their scheme and their players, and then obviously you've got the running back, but then you have the quarterback.
On facing RB Saquon Barkley and all of Philly's weapons:
This game is not going to come down to does the D-line play well, do the linebackers play well? This is, can our 11 guys on the field, however many we dress, stay more disciplined every single play than they are, and finish the game? Because that's how you have to beat 'em. It's going to take every single guy doing their job and I believe our guys have confidence in it and they're really excited for that challenge.
On getting LB Quay Walker and S Evan Williams back at practice:
It was great to have them back. I know that's been really hard for them. Now I do give the guys who stepped in a lot of credit. I thought Zayne (Anderson) did a really nice job when he came back and played, and then when he got hurt, I thought KT (Oladapo) last week, I was proud of him. He hadn't even played in a preseason game, so we've got another safety in there. And credit to all the 'backers. We gave (Isaiah) McDuffie the green dot for the first time last week, and I thought he did a pretty good job with that. Eric (Wilson)'s continued to play well, and (Edgerrin) Coop(er)'s been playing obviously more and more, and we need him to do that. It's nice to have the leadership of Quay, and the one thing about Evan, Evan is such a smart football player, and it comes so easy to him. The communication back there it's just like a nice calming factor when he's back there. I think for X(avier McKinney) too, it allows X to kind of not have to do it all, where it allows X to say 'All right, I'm going to play ball now.'
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich
On Philadelphia's defense:
The one thing with Coach (Vic) Fangio's defense throughout the years, they do a very good job putting a top on it, you know what I mean? To prevent those big plays, those DBs do a really good job just not allowing you to get behind 'em. The first time we played 'em, it was their first game with him as the defensive coordinator and there was some blown coverages where we had some guys really open down the field. But as the season's progressed, these guys have done a really good job preventing those big plays and you can see in their statistics, they're the top-ranked defense in a lot of categories, so we're going to have our hands full. These guys are really good, but we're really excited about the challenge and getting after them.
On TE Tucker Kraft being more valuable catching or blocking:
I think it's both, really. Anytime you can find a tight end that has the ability to do both and be pretty good in the run game and in the pass game, it allows them to be on the field more. It allows you to just, alright, let that guy go play and whatever situation we're in, that guy has the ability to affect the offense, whether it's blocking or making plays down the field in the pass game. He's just a very good weapon for us and just the physicality that he plays with, whether he's blocking or has the ball in his hand. The one thing I don't know many people notice, just how well he is on the move, too, doing the different shifts and motions.
On WR Jayden Reed having a big game Week 1 vs. Eagles:
Just one of those things where he got hot, and I wouldn't say he's been super quiet, but yeah, he just hasn't made as many impact plays as he had earlier in the season. But the one thing about him is he has that ability to make those plays and really affect the game. At any time, you get the ball in his hands something special can happen.
On Philadelphia's defensive tackles in the middle:
These guys really don't have a weak spot on their defense. The one thing that is pretty impressive about watching those guys is just how hard they play. They're very physical players. You can tell they're both young players and they play with some good intelligence. They can sniff out plays, and they do a good job jumping around blocks at times and then they're both really good pass rushers. A lot of times when you get D-tackles that have that size they sub them out in passing situations but for the most part, like (Jalen) Carter, he stays in the whole game. So he can play in all different situations. That's pretty impressive.
