GREEN BAY – The Packers' three coordinators met with the media Wednesday in advance of the NFC Divisional playoff matchup against the 49ers.
Here's a sampling of their key comments.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
On dealing with the pressure of the playoffs as coaches:
When you get into the playoff situation, you're just as excited as the players. But I think in the end, it's about believing in the man next to you. It's about believing in the coach next to you, the player next to you and understanding everybody is going to be excited especially once that ball kicks off. But again, our job is to stay calm as coaches, and you've just got to take a breath. You've got to understand the process and really the plan. Believe in the plan, believe in the preparation that we've put in up to this point. It's about the faith in each one of us. That's what you're always building across the board. I think we have that, and the coaches are the ones that've just got to make sure it's that controlled aggression.
On getting Randall Cobb back:
So much credit to him. All the work that he's put in to get to this point. Another smart, smart player that understands the game and it's that kind of security blanket for Aaron to have another guy out there that he's thrown a lot of footballs to and had a lot of success. When you put Randall out there, you know he's going to be in the right spot at the right time. He's going to be able to make plays and when things get crazy or something unique happens because he's going to be able to adjust to that. That kind of presence out there is great for Aaron and just his overall leadership, just how he is in the meeting rooms, his knowledge, his intelligence, they're all such great things. It's been such a great year having him here. I mean it really has.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry
On the challenge of Deebo Samuel:
Just coming from that division, Deebo's a dangerous guy with the ball in his hands, obviously, whether it's down the field and they're throwing it to him, screen game, he's always been a huge weapon in their fly sweeps, when they've handed the ball to him. He's done a ton of damage over the years. This year they've had some injuries in the backfield and they committed to actually putting him back there and legitimately he's a running back and running their normal run game. He's done a phenomenal job. Deebo's a 220-pound receiver. People don't realize how big and thick he is. He's got unbelievable balance and he's an angry runner – he always has been – even down the field when they've thrown the ball to him.
On De'Vondre Campbell, All-Pro:
First of all, just to stick another feather in Dre's cap, he's been a star for us this year. It was a lot on Dre because we have a bunch of different roles for him, and he's been able not only to handle it and do it, he's done it at a high level obviously with the recognition that he got earlier in the week. We as coaches and then obviously Dre individually takes a lot of pride in the different things that we ask him to do, and we'll continue to have him wear a bunch of different hats for us.
Special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton
On who will be returning punts in the playoffs and if David Moore is a consideration:
We have a few options. We can tell you it'll be some familiar faces and possibly a new face. (Moore) is definitely in the conversation. He's on our roster, he's on our team, he did a fine job when he had his opportunity.
On how the special teams finished the regular season:
Last week we had the opportunity dissect what we've done. We started out the year in a decent position, trending up. That third quarter of the season is when we really hit a slump and we started having things happen to us on the regular that quite frankly can't happen. But over the last three weeks, we're definitely trending up. I think I mentioned before that our practices have been on point and the guys are now transferring what they're doing in practice to the game field, so we feel very encouraged, they are very encouraged and I'm excited to see what they're going to do here on Saturday night.
