GREEN BAY – The Packers' offensive assistant coaches met with the media Sunday. Here's a sampling of their key comments.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich
On building chemistry on the O-line even with competitions going:
I think we're doing it right now. With how we rep guys and move 'em around and stuff, everyone's kind of used to playing with each other. If you can get your starting five out there and they're you're guys, then that's great. But usually throughout an NFL season, you have to move guys around at times. So yeah, I mean we still have competition open right now and I'm OK with that until someone grabs the job.
On Elgton Jenkins' work at center:
It's been really good. You can tell, I think, that Jordan Love really likes working with him, too. He's very assertive, very knowledgeable, takes charge of the calls in the offensive line, so he's a very good presence in there for everyone, especially if we are trying to get different guys at different spots. If you've got a guy like Elgton in there that can make sure we're targeting and we're going in the right direction, it makes it easier on everybody else.
Passing game coordinator Jason Vrable
On WR Malik Heath:
Yesterday he might've had two opps. Was in kind of a battle with both those guys on the plays. They were grabbing and holding a little bit. He didn't come down with those opportunities yesterday, but I think he's done a really good job, especially mentally. You talk about a guy who's had to play in the games and take all the practice reps and hasn't said a word or complained about it. I feel like maturity in the room … mentally the last two games he's played in really hasn't had a mental mistake.
On TE John FitzPatrick:
You can feel the confidence from him, and he's just a worker. He's one of those guys who came in early today and was already in the coaches' offices like hey, how did I play, what can I do better? If you see him, he's one of those blue-collar type of players that kind of just fits the mold of our building, the whole offensive staff. He's been a great addition.
Offensive line coach Luke Butkus
On what he's seen from Jordan Morgan:
Improvement. We all know that Jordan, he's a really good athlete. His movement skills are great, he's getting bigger and stronger. It's the confidence you get with reps. So, he has improved. There's still things that we need to fundamentally keep working on – hands and pad level – but I like the direction he's going.
On Anthony Belton recovering from the rough first half:
He did respond, which I was excited about because that first half was pretty bad. He'll be the first one to admit it. Guys were all over him and it wasn't just him, it wasn't Steno, it wasn't Matt. It was our guys on the sideline, too. For him to come back and play a cleaner second half, again, he is going to play with physicality but just some of the technical stuff, the brain stuff and the first half of the false start, of the illegal formations, for him to be able to come back in that second half and play football – there's still things we have to clean up – but he didn't go just down in the dumps. He came back and he admitted to it and stuck his chest out and said, 'Let's go. I want some more.'
Tight ends coach John Dunn
On Tucker Kraft's leadership:
It always starts in our unit first, just in the tight end room. He's kind of been that guy for us, that guys go to, that they lean on, if he does have anything he's been that guy, and then I think that slowly starts in front of the offense and then slowly in front of the team. I do think he's had more of that. The biggest thing with him still is he just works his tail off and he has so much respect just from the way he works and how he works and the way he goes about it and guys see that. So yeah, I think the vocal part has come along.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans
On MarShawn Lloyd's tough luck with injuries:
You're very supportive of him and that's why you talk to him about, 'You've just got to keep pressing ahead,' because it's one of those unfortunate occurrences but at some point, just the way the guy works, you've gotta believe that at some point, he will get past all this and be fine.
(He showed) everything that we knew about him, which is that he's an explosive player. He's a guy that you like to get in the open space and sometimes he can create his own space like the time the linebacker came running through, made the guy and miss and was in the secondary. It was a great tackle by the corner or he probably would've been gone or had a chance to be gone. Those are the biggest things that you know that he can do, and again is why you stay with him and just gotta realize he's still a young guy, only in his second year.
On Emanuel Wilson's pass protection:
He was actually really good last year. He didn't give up any sacks and he was going against some pretty big linebackers that were pressuring against him. He struggled his first year, but last year he did really well. I just think (in the Colts game) it was one of those deals where he thought it was a three-step (drop), he kinda thought the ball was gone and he's got to attack the line of scrimmage more because even if you go look at his one-on-ones against the Colts, I mean, he was really, really solid at that. His pass protection is, to me, not an issue. It used to be but after you watched him last year, he didn't give up any sacks or pressures last year.
Wide receivers coach Ryan Mahaffey
On recent arrival Isaiah Neyor:
First thing I really like his attitude. He's very professional with his approach. He's really diligent in the meeting room, asking the appropriate questions. You see his length and you see his speed. He's maybe a little bit quicker than I anticipated, just being able to separate at the second level. But he's a big, long body who has been able to stretch the field vertically. Looking forward to see how he continues to develop.
On the catches made by Julian Hicks that were nullified by penalties:
It builds confidence as much as anything else when you're given an opportunity and the protection is there and they're able to deliver the ball. He made a nice play down the sideline – his sideline awareness – I just think that helps get them in rhythm but also you're able to feel like, 'Oh, I'm taking a step forward.' All those plays are surely something that's getting evaluated.
Quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion
On the growth of Malik Willis:
He's gotten a lot better. From really last year we got him just ahead of the regular season, which you don't have the long runway in terms of teaching progression with him. But he came in obviously last year and did a great job for us, so I think this whole offseason program, training camp (has helped) to really start from the very beginning from a learning perspective, which he wasn't afforded last year due to the circumstances. He's really, really coachable. He just wants to be a sponge. Soak up everything we can give him.
