GREEN BAY -- The Packers' three coordinators met with the media on Thursday in advance of the Week 17 matchup in Detroit. Here's a summary of their key comments.
Special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga
(on Detroit returner Agnew)
He sets up his blocks, he has speed to attack the perimeter and get north and south. He's dangerous. You don't want to get outflanked but you know he can hit it vertical.
(on team's health helping units improve)
This last half of the season has been a little easier. The beginning of the season we had some guys in and out, a revolving door with some things. We've been a little more solidified and guys have settled into some roles. You've seen us get better.
(on Detroit trying something tricky)
Our guys are definitely on alert that all things are on the table.
(on Ty Summers)
He's a guy we looked at with the front office in the draft. From Day 1 he's been a guy that's caught on quickly. He fits all the traits we're looking for in a linebacker. We like what he's doing and where he's going.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine
(on what's known about Blough)
Not a ton. We have four-plus games. He's an NFL quarterback. Something we've been preaching so far this week. We don't take anybody lightly. It's not a circumstance where we're going to look down on anybody. We play who we play. We're going to prepare the way we normally do and be ready to go when we get there.
(on whether their offense is different with him)
It's not. I think when Driskell was in, they were doing more quarterback runs. Now it's pretty close to what it was before. They'll move him in the pocket a little bit, more passes like that. But the run game is very similar. Deep shots in the pass game are still a big part of what they do.
(on being part of any other individual performance like Z. Smith's)
Certainly not off the top of my head. That was obviously pretty special. That's just a tribute to him. He prepared well. We had a good plan for him and played well around him. Guys freed him up in certain circumstances and he made plays.
(on Jaire Alexander and Kevin King clamping down on Diggs and Thielen)
It just goes back in recent weeks, the mindset of our guys. We've been wanting to get more physical on the outside, be more hands on. They've accepted that challenge, and it's paid dividends. We had situations before where we'd bail and give guys free access in the secondary, and we paid for it.
(on the overall improvement lately)
It's been a lot of little things, a lot of things we emphasize and things that will be cornerstones of what we do. A big part was the communication which has improved dramatically the last several weeks. It was a real points of emphasis. We had some games the communication lacked and we gave up some big plays when we weren't on the same page.
(on the meaning of the performance at Minnesota)
It's the ability to have momentum going into the playoffs. You just look at what we were able to accomplish in December, especially from a points standpoint. We had some stretches we were a little rough around the edges and in search of that put-it-all-together game, and we got it on Monday. But we told the guys it can't be a one-time thing. They've been caught on tape. That's the standard. We're capable of playing like that. Slowly over the season we've been building to this. We want to take the momentum from Monday and apply it to Sunday.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett
(on Detroit's banged-up defense)
Coach Patricia has always been pretty aggressive in certain aspects of the game. He's going to keep that demeanor and push his guys. We'll see. It's that last game of the year. You have to be ready for anything.
(on Aaron Rodgers not having to play lights out to win)
The way we look at it, our offensive philosophy is we want to be balanced. It makes you defend so many different things, not just one. When you have a guy like Aaron out there, everybody's a little nervous because it's Aaron Rodgers. That allows us to run the ball. As much as you want to be aggressive down the field, when they're dropping everybody back, we have to take advantage of the run game.
(on getting the outside runs more)
You see the two, both touchdown runs, were on the perimeter. It starts on the lien and works its way out, with the tight ends setting the edge. MVS's block on the long run, he took his guy into another guy and blocked two. That allows you to get the ball outside, if you get blocking on the perimeter.
(on the receivers' blocking)
First and foremost, they're all tough guys. At the beginning, they looked at us like we were crazy. Coach Whitted did a great job teaching them the mentality, teaching them the technique. Now they own it. Once they start owning it, that's when it shows up on the field.
