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SHERMAN TAKES STOCK AS PACKERS MOVE INTO ANNUAL BYE, LIKES TEAM'S EFFORT, UNITED APPROACH; 'EXCITED' ABOUT LAST HALF OF SEASON
posted 10/17/00
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| RB Ahman Green produced a workmanlike effort, rushing for 40 yards and 2 TDs against the 49ers. |
What a difference a victory can make...
Particularly coming off a two-game losing streak and into a bye weekend - one with the promise of some welcome R and R for a team still much involved in the rehabbing process.
Small wonder then that a lighthearted Mike Sherman, opening his customary game-review press conference Monday, greeted the media by jesting, "It's nice to see everybody in a good mood for a change, you guys."
It was a little "reverse English" on the part of the Packers' head coach, to which the media responded with a collective chuckle.
He, understandably, was still permitting himself to enjoy Sunday's last-minute, 31-28 win over the San Francisco 49ers and the hopes a solid and successful all-around performance engendered for the second half of the season that lies beyond the bye.
As might be expected, the latter quickly became the subject of discussion. The second question: Looking at where other teams are and at the upcoming last nine games, how did the Packers' field leader assess the Packers' post-bye chances?
"This may sound naive on my part but I don't spend a whole lot of time looking where other teams are," said Sherman, who is giving his team Friday, Saturday and Sunday off in connection with the bye. "I focus on our team and where we are, and what we have to do. And I don't spend a lot of time worrying about other people - things that I have no control over.
"And I spend a lot of time thinking about the Green Bay Packers. So the only thing I'm concerned about right now is to improve this football team during the bye, get our players back healthy, get them rested...and come back next week and beat Miami."
The latter assignment - next on the Packers' agenda - will find them invading Pro Player Stadium Sunday afternoon, October 29, for a 12 noon, Wisconsin time matchup, and taking a 3-and-4 record into action.
Sherman added, "I know it sounds cliche-ish, but I just look at Miami right now...I'm not worrying about any other thing than Miami...and this bye week...and getting our team back."
Despite the Packer field leader's obvious focus, another "future" question quickly surfaced, concerning whether he feels that he and the Packers have "a lot of control because you play Minnesota twice, and play Tampa Bay twice" in the second half of the season.
"We do play some very fine football teams," Sherman conceded. "I do know this: Even though I haven't talked about teams after Miami, they are very fine football teams and, if we put ourselves in a position because of how many divisional games we have left, I think we can control part of our future if we are successful in those games."
The subject later turned to the bye week "emphasis," prompting the Packers coach to report that it will "include a couple things.
"From the coaching standpoint, we're going to look at Miami today and tomorrow," he said. "Then we're going to put them to rest and look at our next two divisional opponents and get game plans...tentative game plans...ready for those two opponents (Minnesota November 6 and Tampa Bay November 12).
"And then we'll go back and visit Miami again on Monday when we get back to work Monday and Tuesday. We'll see what they did over the weekend. So, from a staff standpoint, that's one thing.
"Another thing, from a staff standpoint that relates to our team right now...we'll do some things in practice that we want to introduce to the defense and the offense that we've been saving for this bye week - things we think can help benefit our defense and offense scheme-wise - that may be a little different...And also correct the mistakes that have occurred throughout the past season that we need to work on."
Sherman then addressed another pertinent point.
"I think you have to be careful in the bye week not to lose your technique, and try to tackle better. Ball security - developing skills, continuing to address those skills during the bye week or you come out of the bye week not improving."
On yet another, more personal subject, the Packers coach was asked to describe the first half of his first season as an NFL head coach.
"Well, it's been a growing process," Sherman rejoined. "I'm learning about the football team. I've learned a lot about them, they've learned a lot about me.
"I think one thing we can say about this team is that they don't panic. They keep playing the game. I think we have continued to show that we're playing with effort.
"I believe that, through the course of the first seven games, the character of this football team is something that I truly believe in and something that you can build on. It's very easy...you lose two games like we did just recently...and come into this game (against San Francisco) and the pressure that was on this game for us to be looking at each other last week. I was very proud of how the men - I asked them to give me three great days of practice and I felt like they did. I said, 'We can't have any distractions,' and we didn't. I said, 'We've all got to be together in this thing,' and we were. So I was very pleased with how they responded.
"Obviously, things didn't go exactly as I predict them to go - wins and loss-wise. But I'm excited about the future, excited about getting our guys back and playing the rest of our schedule."
Sherman also dealt with these other topics in his wide-ranging press conference:
(on how he feels about how the sideline is organized, the play-calling) "I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Tom Rossley yesterday - and the last two games - did an exceptional job in calling the game. He and I spend most of Saturday, all of Friday and some of every day of the week talking about the game plan and how we want to attack 'em. And he's pretty much doing it the way I would like it done. He IS doing it the way I would like it done. I have not a qualm about it. I think yesterday he did an outstanding job.
(on whether Dorsey Levens had 'reassured you on how much the offense needs him') "That one catch he made - I believe it was 37 yards - when Brett (Favre) evaded the corner blitz and moved to his left and there's Dorsey Levens down field, finding a window that's not even really part of that play, as you can imagine. But that's two veteran players who have played together for a while responding to each other. I don't know if we have another back in that position at that time.
"So, in spite of the fact Dorsey didn't have the numbers that he normally would have, Dorsey Levens gives us...our offense...an awful lot of confidence when he's back there. I know he does with our quarterback and also with our offensive line."
(on rookie Chad Clifton's performance in his first start at left tackle) "I thought Chad did a fine job. He made some rookie mistakes, as we expected. Both our rookie tackles (Clifton and Mark Tauscher) had procedural penalties at different times that hurt us a little bit. But I thought he did OK. He still has a ways to go. He needs this bye week as much as anybody to develop some things. It's very difficult even to assess him right now, to be honest with you, because he hasn't taken very many reps in practice. He was late to training camp, our preseason, then he was hurt, and then he's a backup and a backup doesn't get a whole lot of work. So I think his biggest jump as a player will occur during the bye week and then next week."
(on the role of running back Ahman Green) "I really think he feels more comfortable in that role (as a backup) even than a starter because he and Dorsey (Levens) converse on the sideline...'What's happening out there?' And I believe Dorsey going out there and starting has been a litmus test for Ahman Green. He comes back and says, 'This is what's happening,' and they can talk on the sideline, and Ahman's watching the game.
"And, certainly, it's a different tempo. I'm really excited by the fact that both those guys can be healthy in a couple weeks. Dorsey was no worse off after the game than he was before the game, so resting him in this football game wouldn't have made any difference as far as where he's going to be in two weeks. But, yeah, I think Ahman is a great backup, coming off the bench, and starting Dorsey and giving us a change of pace."
(on whether he has 'just about kissed off' Earl Dotson for the season following his back surgery) "No, I haven't. Earl's anxious to get back and we're anxious to get him back. So we're hopeful that he will be able to play four to six games here at the end. Maybe that's a little bit presumptuous on my part - maybe a little bit too aggressive - but I hope that he can get back and play for us.
"Earl Dotson is a dominant player and can make a difference in a game in my mind. And I would love to get him back if we could. That's not taking anything away from our young right tackle (Tauscher). He's doing a good job, but Earl is different."
(on, finally, what he plans to do with his weekend 'vacation') "Well, we're not going to India or anything like that. A vacation for me would just be spending some quality time with my wife and my (four) kids. I'm really looking forward to that this weekend - just sit at home and watch everybody sweat it out there on game day. But I'll go home. Maybe we'll take a ride up to Sturgeon Bay on Saturday or something. But my kids are at that age...where they're doing something and so we get basketball starting, volleyball, football. So it'll be a chance to realign myself with my kids, which I'm looking forward to."
THE WEEK PAST: Adopting a different approach, the Packers stepped out to a 7-0 first-quarter lead against the 49ers and never trailed en route to pulling out a 31-28 victory by way of Ryan Longwell's last-minute field goal. In contrast to the back-to-back misadventures against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, in each of which they went without a touchdown in the first half, the Green and Gold scored in every quarter in forging their most consistent offensive performance of the season - embellished by their first turnover-less effort of the season.
Quarterback Brett Favre, at his elusive and productive best in mounting four touchdown drives of more than 70 yards, launched the afternoon's scoring by way of a 67-yard pass-run collaboration with flanker Antonio Freeman late in the opening period.
After the visitors evened the score on a 39-yard pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia to running back Charlie Garner in the tenth minute of the second quarter, Favre promptly escorted the Packers to a 14-7 halftime lead, presiding over a 10-play, 74-yard drive climaxed by Ahman Green's 2-yard run for the touchdown. The drive was largely a one-man show, Green providing the last 31 yards on four consecutive rushing attempts.
Launching the second half in workmanlike fashion, the Packers mounted a 21-7 lead via an 11-play, 80-yard march with the third-quarter kickoff, running back Dorsey Levens wrapping up the drive with a one-yard run.
The 49ers retaliated with a 71-yard push of their own, capped by a 23-yard Garcia pass to wideout J. J. Stokes, then tied the score early in the fourth period on a 16-yard Garcia strike to wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Favre again rose to the occasion, putting together a 7-play, 75-yard drive which Green finished off with a one-yard run, Longwell's fourth conversion giving the Green and Gold a 28-21 advantage.
The pesky 49ers, however, struck back once more, Garcia finding Owens with a 37-yard scoring pass with 5:30 remaining in the game.
At this critical stage, Favre took final charge of the proceedings, fashioning a 9-play, 44-yard drive to the 49er 17-yard line with 54 seconds remaining. Longwell then put a happy period to the afternoon for the faithful, drilling home a 35-yard field goal.
Favre, posting his most efficient passing performance of the season, completed 20 of 27 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown, without an interception, and three times aided the offensive cause by scrambling for first downs.
Linebacker Brian Williams, making his second start since returning to action from the injury list, collected 8 tackles (5 unassisted) to lead the defense. Middle linebacker bernardo Harris and strong safety LeRoy Butler were next up with 7 stops apiece, followed by free safety Darren Sharper and right cornerback Tyrone Williams with 6-tackle harvests.
THE FAVRE FILE: Quarterback Brett Favre Sunday continued his ascent among the NFL's all-time leaders in touchdown passes, moving into eleventh place alone by unfurling the 245th scoring throw of his career in the very first quarter on the 67-yard pass-run collaboration with flanker Antonio Freeman.
It moved him into sole possession of eleventh place, which he had shared with John Hadl going into Sunday's game, and within two of tenth-ranking Boomer Esiason, who closed out his career with 247.
In the process, Favre presided over the 18th comeback victory of his career (including postseason), orchestrating a 9-play, 44-yard drive to set up Ryan Longwell's game-winning, 35-yard field goal in the final minute.
The 31-year-old field general also extended his NFL record for quarterbacks in making his 132nd consecutive start.
THE FREEMAN FILE: Antonio Freeman, Favre's most frequent target, also invaded the record book Sunday. His first quarter touchdown reception was the 47th of his pro career, tying him with Sterling Sharpe for the most receiving touchdowns in the first six seasons of a Packers career.
Closing out the day with six catches for 116 yards, Freeman also posted the 17th 100-yard day of his career, tying him with Bill Howton (1952-58) for fifth place on the club's lifetime list.
THE LEVENS FILE: Dorsey Levens joined Favre and Freeman in upward mobility, becoming the sixth-leading rusher and the second-ranking receiver-running back in team annals. His 57 rushing yards in 17 attempts enabled him to supplant Hall of Famer Paul Hornung in the No. 6 niche with 3,745 yards and his 4 receptions lifted him above Edgar Bennett (242) is the Green and Gold's No. 2 receiver among running backs with 243 catches.
Gerry Ellis (1980-86) is the club's all-time leader in the latter category with 267 career catches.
THE (NFL) STATISTICAL UPDATE: Eighth a week ago, quarterback Brett Favre climbed to fifth place in the NFC' passer ratings - his highest ranking of the season - following a standout performance against the 49ers. He has an 82.1 rating after seven games, based on 152 pass completions in 251 attempts for 1,779 yards and 10 touchdowns, with 8 interceptions.
Favre also ranks sixth in the NFC in third-down passing with an 83.2 rating, based on 32 completions in 59 attempts for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, with one interception.
Placekicker Ryan Longwell, with a 7-point production against San Francisco, continued to hold second place in NFC scoring with 60 points, just two fewer than conference leader Jeff Wilkins of the St. Louis Rams.
Free safety Darren Sharper also is tied with Philadelphia's Troy Vincent for second among NFC interceptors with four.
Returner Allen Rossum ranks fifth in NFC kickoff returns with a 24.7-yard average for 21 runbacks and eighth in punt returns with an 8.7-yard average for 13 returns.
Fellow specialist Josh Bidwell stands ninth among NFC punters with a 39.8 average for 33 punts and fourth in net average with a 37.4 ratio.
Flanker Antonio Freeman is tied with Jacques Green of Tampa Bay for 11th in the NFC in receiving yards with 440 and tied with Chad Lewis of Philadelphia for 13th place in receptions with 29.
Running back Ahman Green ranks 15th in NFC rushing with 322 yards in 74 attempts and a 4.2-yard average. He also is sixth in the production of first downs with 29 - 16 rushing and 13 receiving and ninth in third-and-one rushing with five first downs in six attempts.
Wide receiver Donald Driver is tied for 11th in third-down receptions with eight.
As a team, the Packers rank eleventh in the NFL on both offense and defense - 25th in rushing and fifth in passing on offense and ninth against the run and 15th against the pass on defense.
COACH SHERMAN'S POSTGAME COMMENTS:
(on whether a win going into the bye week makes life more bearable) "It makes a difference. I'm certainly happy that we won this game and it certainly makes the bye week a little more enjoyable. You build on confidence...and hopefully we can take another step."
(on the performance of a 'younger" Brett Favre) "Well, you know, he enjoyed his 31st birthday this past week and he looked like he had his 21st birthday out there today. And he makes me nervous, but he did what he had to do to help us win that football game. He made some tremendous plays today. That is truly Brett Favre in action out there today...He took control of the football game."
(on how much difference not having any fumbles, any interceptions, any turnovers....make) "We didn't bury ourselves in the first quarter like we have in the past. We were able to get up on them 7-nothing and we were able to hold, for the most part, I guess, hold the lead in the game. And they came back...we went forward...they came back...we went forward. But we did not bury ourselves with turnovers so it certainly helped us. We did have two penalties there that were called penalties but they were on two young guys...(Chad) Clifton and (Mark) Tauscher."
(on the challenge of the Bill Schroeder 'touchdown,' that was ruled incomplete via instant replay) "We had a split decision (among the members of the coaching staff) on whether he caught it or not. But the guys up in the box said, 'It doesn't look like he did unless he just pulled it in at the last second.' Billy was adamant about the fact that he caught it...and I learned a valuable lesson there. But it is a play that could determine the end of a game and you take a shot at those type of plays."
(on whether he was satisfied, overall, with Favre's protection) "They were blitzing us pretty consistently throughout the game. We had some quick protections on that didn't allow for us to pick up seven. We had to throw the ball 'hot' a couple times.
"We always want to improve our protection. We look at it...look at the film, tomorrow, and make improvements from there. I thought our two young tackles (Clifton and Tauscher) held up OK."
(on the contributions of wideout Donald Driver) "I look at Driver as the (Tod) McBride of offense. A guy who has come in here - a relative unknown - and just keeps making plays. And he really has - week in and week out - stepped up...He does it on special teams, he does it on third-down clutch situations...he does it blocking...I can't say enough about Donald Driver."
(on his emotions at this point) "Right now, I'm excited about winning the football game. I'll enjoy that football game all the way up until midnight tonight and then start getting ready for Miami (the next opponent, on October 29)...I'm excited about winning the football game, I promise you that. So are our guys...And now I think they see a little bit of a light because we start getting Vonnie Holliday back (from a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for three weeks). A couple of our guys, (Mike) McKenzie and (Antuan) Edwards came back. But, just because you come off the injury list doesn't mean you can start playing again. And the bye week will afford them an opportunity to get some of the rust off and move forward at their positions.
THE PLAYER PERSPECTIVE:
Brett Favre (on how he feels 'right now' having just turned 31 and been described by his coach as playing like he was 21) "Fifty-one (smirk)...I feel all right. Probably could go about four more quarters - next week...I'm a little sore but...I'm still escaping a little bit. Got no choice."
(on having looked like a 'flashback' to his performances of five years ago - 'scrambling, throwing back across the body, throwing two-hand shovel passes, etc.') "I do whatever it takes. Everything you said was not the way it was in practice this week. So it's reaction...and that's part of just playing the game.
"They blitzed us probably every snap and you can't block everybody, so sometimes you either get drilled or you make a play. I prefer to make a play."
(on whether 'the protection was better today') "Being that I've got the best seat in the house, so to speak, it felt like it was fine. They blitzed a lot...blitzing you can't block everybody...but, hey, they played hard. I thought guys played hard. And I'll tell you what, San Francisco played hard. It was a battle. I have a lot of respect for those guys."
(on whether his approach has changed) "Yeah...I try to play within the system...and not try to dig a hole for our team. You never know what's going to happen as far as your defense or special teams. And that's something I can't control. And, in the past, I tried to do everything...and that probably won't change. I want to win badly and I like to think I can do everything. But I just go into every game a little bit older, a little bit wiser...I'd like to think, a little bit smarter...and just enable guys around me to make some plays. And, you know, if I have to, I'll make 'em - or try to make 'em.
"But, in the past, I know I've tried to do too much. Once again, that may happen again. You know, every player should feel that way. Every player should go and say, 'I'm going to be the difference in the game today,' because that's the way I do. I approach the game that way. But I am trying to stay within the system. And allow guys to work."
(on the game-winning drive to a Ryan Longwell field goal) '"I've told our guys, 'We can score, we can do whatever we want.' You just have to believe in it and you have to make plays when the opponent is there. It's not totally always going to be the way it's practiced or the way it's drawn up on the board, so you have to be able to react. Today was one of those days. You hope you can build from this and carry it over into next week."
(on 'running around used to be fun') "Oh, it's fun...it's fun when you win. But, you know, you get a little bit older, it's a little bit tougher. You get a little more winded...that 30-second clock turns into a 20-second clock...But I'll keep doing it as long as I can...Whenever that stops, it's time to get out, because that's how you survive."
(on whether he sees 'this organization getting back to the Super Bowl while you're here') "I expect us to this year...I don't know what else a football player can look forward to. So...we're 3-and-4...we haven't played great, we've lost some close games...and whatever people are saying. And just let 'em say it. I mean, I'm doing everything I can to get us to the Super Bowl this year. I mean I know I'm not rebuilding. I may have had injuries, I may have this and that...we've got a new coach now.
"But my goals are to go to the Super Bowl and be the best player I can be...And, until they terminate my contract here, that's what I'm going to do."
Flanker Antonio Freeman (on whether the offense might be feeling better about itself): "As an overall team, we just wanted to win. We've been on the other side of the coin so much this year that we just wanted to come out and win a football game. And I'd agree the offense came around and we made some plays and scored some points. We were able to score more points than the opposing team. and we'll get a victory on our bye week. And that's what our goal was - to go into the bye week with a victory and enjoy it for a while."
(on the block by Donald Driver which triggered his first quarter touchdown) "Enough can't be said about the block Donald Driver gave me downfield, because he stayed with the guy for three to five seconds. And that's a long time to stay with a guy's block, and he helped spring me and get me in the end zone, and we got off to a 7-0 lead...something we probably haven't done since the Arizona game."
(on whether he feels better about his role in the offense) "At times this year, it was frustrating. When you don't put up stats, regardless of the situation, people are going to say and write bad things about you. 'Not getting open...you don't have that edge any more'. You know, things like that. I stayed firm in my belief that if I can get the ball in my hands five or six times a game, I could do something to help our offense and put us in a position where we can win games and be successful...And I've just been fortunate enough to get the ball in my hands these past two weeks and been able to make some plays in this offense and be a spark."
Running back Ahman Green (on his one-yard run for the Packers' final touchdown) "As a running back you learn in Little League that no matter what, if you aren't down, to keep your legs churning."
NOTE-WORTHY:
-Sunday's victory squared the Packers' regular-season series with the 49ers. They now have won 25, lost 25 and tied one in 51 in-season meetings with the Californians.
-Ryan Longwell's 35-yard, game-winning field goal in the final minute was his second of the season - and four-year NFL career, following his 38-yard effort which gave the Green and Gold a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on September 17.
-It also was the 12th consecutive field goal for the 26-year-old UCLA alumnus, only one shy of his longest personal streak and 5 short of the club record, 17, set by Chris Jacke in 1993.
-The Packers made team offensive history with the game's very first snap when they started a contest with a pair of rookie offensive tackles - Chad Clifton (left) and Mark Tauscher (right) for the first time in 48 years.
The last time such a pairing occurred was on November 16, 1952, when Tom Johnson (a sixth-round draft selection) and Bob Dees (an 18th-round pick), rookies from the University of Michigan and Southwest Missouri State, opened at left and right tackle, respectively.
-Running back Ahman Green had the first two-touchdown game of his three-year NFL career, scoring on a 2-yard run in the second quarter and on a one-yard bolt in the fourth quarter, making no fewer than four thrusts before barging into the end zone on the latter.
-Green earlier had set up his second-quarter score with a 20-yard burst - the Packers' longest run of the game - to the San Francisco 4-yard line.
-Defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt posted his fourth sack of the season, tying him with Santana Dotson for the team lead, in the second quarter when he ran 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia out of bounds for a 2-yard loss.
-Rookie Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila shared the Packers' other sack with veteran end John Thierry, a key maneuver which saw them fell Garcia for a 15-yard loss late in the opening period, ending a 49ers threat.
-Gbaja-Biamila, active in a league game for the first time this season, also made a pair of tackles in kickoff coverage.
-Cornerback Mike McKenzie, making his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in the season-opener vs. the Jets, showed he hasn't loss the touch which enabled him to lead the team interceptions as a rookie in 1999 with 6, breaking up a pass intended for the legendary Jerry Rice shortly after entering the game.
-Packers inactives Sunday included wide receiver Corey Bradford, running back Herbert "Whisper" Goodman, offensive tackle Earl Dotson, defensive ends Vonnie Holliday and David Bowens, linebacker Chris Gizzi, defensive back Gary Berry and designated Third Quarterback Danny Wuerffel.
-Fullback William Henderson (offense), tackle Russell Maryland (defense) and running back Matt Snider were the team's game captains.
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