The offseason mantra for the Green Bay Packers under Head Coach Mike McCarthy has been to improve individually from within. The in-season focus is to improve collectively with each successive game.
That will be the priority as the Packers move from their season-opening victory over Minnesota to another NFC North Division contest this week in Detroit. There was plenty to praise in Monday night's 24-19 victory over the Vikings, but that performance by no means featured this team as a finished product.
"We need to focus on improvement, and that's our focus," McCarthy said on Tuesday. "That will never change. We have a blueprint in place that's worked for us the last two years. Both teams improved throughout the course of the year, and that's what I'm holding this team accountable to. We need to improve.
"We've played one game. We're 1-0, and we have a lot of work to do."
That work can be found in each of the team's three phases.
For the offense, it's cleaning up the penalties. Of the 12 infractions stepped off against the Packers, seven were against the offense, and six of those on the first two series. There were also two additional offensive penalties that were declined.
McCarthy noted that in the offseason the team identified penalties as a problem area during prime-time games last season, and took steps to emphasize it. In the three prime-time contests last year against Chicago, Denver and Dallas, the Packers were called for 34 penalties. So it was disappointing to see a lack of progress there.
"That's unfortunate because we identified it, we have talked about it a few times during the course of training camp, and we have officials at every practice," McCarthy said. "But we definitely need to fix that because that is a common mistake that we have made. Maybe I need to take a look at my part. Maybe I had them too pumped up for this one or something. I don't know. We need to do a better job with the penalties."
On defense, the trouble spot was third and fourth downs. The Vikings converted 7-of-16 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down, for a 50 percent conversion rate overall. Most distressing were the four consecutive third-down conversions (one by defensive penalty) followed by a fourth-down conversion for a touchdown to cap a 15-play drive in the second half that consumed 7 minutes, 23 seconds on the clock.
And on special teams, an otherwise solid and productive night was marred by a blocked field goal on the final play of the first half that kept the Vikings within one score at intermission.
"We have a lot of work to do," McCarthy reiterated. "I say it all the time, and I mean it. We'll correct it with the players tomorrow. It's important to get it corrected. We don't ever sweep anything under the rug around here."
That being said, the outlook is positive when the team can work on these early issues after a win, as opposed to the alternative.
"We found a way to win the game, and that's important," McCarthy said. "That's the thing I was most impressed with our football team because they continued to find ways to play at the level to win the game, and that's the bottom line."
Blackmon honored
Cornerback Will Blackmon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Monday night's win over the Vikings.
Blackmon posted a career-long 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Packers a 17-6 lead. He added three kickoff returns for 69 yards.
It was the second time in two seasons that Blackmon has earned the honor. Last year he received the accolade for his performance vs. Oakland (Dec. 9) when he scored his first two NFL touchdowns, returning a punt 57 yards for a score and recovering a fumble in the end zone for another touchdown on an Oakland punt return.
Injury update
McCarthy said the injuries to report from Monday night's game included safety Atari Bigby (bicep strain), cornerback Charles Woodson (toe) and wide receiver Ruvell Martin (finger). The first official injury report for the Detroit game will be issued tomorrow.
McCarthy said linebacker A.J. Hawk, who returned from a chest injury to lead the team with 10 tackles against Minnesota, felt fine after the game and reported no problems.
Running back Ryan Grant, who was back in action after being sidelined for most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, reported some soreness in the hamstring at halftime. McCarthy said it affected Grant on his 57-yard run in the fourth quarter.
"It's just something that we're being cautious with," McCarthy said. "It's unfortunate for him. I know he's a little frustrated with it, but he was not at full strength last night. I thought he did a very good job of giving us what he could."
{sportsad300}It appears a couple of injured players who were inactive for the opener will be returning to the practice field this week. Wide receiver James Jones, who is recovering from a sprained knee, is expected to practice Wednesday, and center Scott Wells (back/trunk), is expected to practice this week as well.
McCarthy said guard Josh Sitton, also sidelined with a knee sprain, is getting close to returning and that the team will see how he does with his rehab work Wednesday.
Another look
McCarthy said the coaching staff moved on immediately Tuesday to game-planning for Detroit, so as of late afternoon he hadn't watched the film of Monday night's game. He planned to watch the film before going home Tuesday night.
Fans can get another look at the game on Wednesday evening on NFL Network, where the Packers-Vikings opener will be re-broadcast on the channel's NFL Replay feature, a fast-paced 90-minute format with press conference soundbites from certain key moments. The game will be shown at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Prior to that, another NFC North rival will be shown on NFL Replay. At 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, the Chicago Bears' opening victory over the Indianapolis Colts will be re-broadcast.
