HarveyWallbangers
09-07-2007, 11:08 PM
The boys at JSO were trying to get something out of McCarthy--just like Thompson. My favorite or the most interesting answers are in bold.
Pressure cooker
Heading into his second season in Green Bay, coach Mike McCarthy believes the Packers are positioned to win — now
Green Bay - Mike McCarthy might not appear to be a coach on the spot but in the unforgiving world of the National Football League, he most assuredly is.
McCarthy, 43, is in the second year of his three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. General manager Ted Thompson, the man who hired him, expects to win now, meaning McCarthy will be expected to improve upon an 8-8 record from a year ago.
The Packers' two most successful coaches in the last 40 years, Mike Holmgren and Mike Sherman, each made the playoffs for the first time in their second seasons. Vince Lombardi improved from a 7-5 debut in 1959 to 8-4 and a berth in the NFL Championship Game in '60.
In an interview earlier in the week with Journal Sentinel beat writer Bob McGinn, McCarthy discussed his somewhat tenuous contract status, career aspirations, the Packers' chances to overhaul Chicago in the NFC North Division and the team's formula for success.
Q. You're the second-year coach of a team that improved four games last season and made the Packers' biggest jump since Mike Holmgren's first year in 1992. Now you're in the second year of a three-year contract. Do you wonder if your future is going to be in Green Bay?
A. I've always thought my future will take care of itself. I don't worry about the contract thing. Our business is really kind of a one-year contract. I don't sweat my contract. I've let my contract run out before as a coordinator. I think it's clearly evident there's progress throughout our program. That's all I'm focused on.
Q. If the bottom falls out in 2007 and the Packers sink back to something like 4-12, is it possible you might be out of a job?
A. I don't think that way. Your body of work is judged, No. 1, on wins and losses. No. 2, you've got to look at the substance of the work. Ted and I are building a championship program. We're not trying to do a quick fix and win everything in one year. Now we need to stay on that course and overcome the obstacles we are going to encounter. Right now, it's medical. We'll build a championship program.
Q. Has Ted Thompson even brought up the status of your contract since you signed it 20 months ago?
A. Ted and I had a very brief conversation about the contract after the season. I really have no interest in even talking about it until after the season. Because it's not a focus of mine. I'm not concerned about it.
Q. So you haven't told your agent, Gary O'Hagan, to get something going with the Packers?
A. I have no interest in even opening up that can of worms. My contract will not ever be a subject in front of our football team. To me, the team's bigger than that. That will take care of itself. It's a non-topic.
Q. One of the least desirable situations for any coach is trying to operate in the final year of a contract. Would you want to do that? Can you foresee any way the Packers would ask you to do that?
A. I signed a three-year contract and I'll fulfill it. I don't concern myself with that.
Q. How happy are you in Green Bay? By signing a short-term contract, you also were able to control your own future. Are there other jobs in NFL or major-college coaching that would greatly appeal to you?
A. I'm sitting in my dream job right now. I have no desire to coach anywhere else. I'm a Pittsburgh native. This town reminds me a lot of the way I grew up. I love it here. I have no interest in moving on to a college-level type job or any other job in the league. I had the option to go with a three or four-year contract. I took the three-year for a number of different reasons.
Q. Would you like to one day work as a coach who also has control of all football decisions spelled out in his contract?
A. I clearly think, from a structure standpoint, this is the way to go. Now after being a head coach, I don't think you can do both jobs. If you do both, you're stealing from one. I clearly understand the power struggle you're trying to get at here. I have no interest in being a GM because of the vast number of responsibilities. But to sit here and say you want to make final decisions, I don't think that's something that I desire at this point in my career. I'm very comfortable with the relationship Ted and I have. We talk through every decision. He's told me time and time again that he'd never force a player down my throat. When we disagree, we talk things out. I feel like we've created a partnership here. He's been a very strong person for me on a lot of matters that I don't have a lot of experience in. Frankly, as a young head coach, I need that. And I'm not naïve to think that I'm above all that. I think you can bite off more than you can chew.
Q. Given your final 53, if you would have been running the show and Ted Thompson would have been beneath you, would it have been one or two players different?
A. No. We talked about every position.
Q. Given the fact that you're coaching a larger-than-life quarterback and working for an extremely powerful GM, do you ever feel like you're a little lost in the shuffle around here?
A. (Laughter) No, not at all. I'm trying to flip through all the drama in the question. You don't think I get enough pub? I'm in charge of the football team. I'm in charge of who plays on Sunday. Every decision in the game plan. I'm given resources to win games. I couldn't ask for a better situation as a young head coach.
Q. With coaching salaries escalating every year, how comfortable are you with a salary averaging just under $2 million per year?
A. I'm very comfortable with my salary. I'm blessed to have this position. To sit there and complain about what you make, you'll never hear me do that.
Q. Is the NFC North winnable this season? Do the Packers have the team to do it?
A. Yes, I think so. Our football team is designed to play a certain way. The only thing of concern is you don't have the medical issues that make you take a different course. I truly believe we can win the division based on our football team and staying true to who we are. Very rarely (last season) on a Monday did I find myself saying, 'We just can't stop that.' Hey, there's no denying, the Chicago Bears were the representative of the NFC in the Super Bowl. Very good football team. Very talented football team. Further along in their program. I think Detroit and Minnesota are getting better. To me, the football game is about us. If we take care of what we do and don't try to do more than we're capable of, we'll be successful.
Q. Chicago won the division by five games a year ago and went to the Super Bowl. I'm sure you've compared the teams many, many times. On paper, are the Packers now on equal footing with the Bears from the standpoint of personnel?
A. On paper, we're not going to win a game based on the experts. But I don't believe the game's played on paper. If you want to look at experience, your argument for the Bears is understandable. But I don't view it that way.
Q. Is one of your main tasks convincing this team that it has what it takes to win the division?
A. My communication with the players, and you can ask any one of them, it's consistent and it's honest. I tell them exactly where we're at. I think the most important part of my job is keeping my finger on the pulse of that football team. I'm not into false confidence. That will blow up in your face bigger than life. By being honest, I think our confidence is real. We're getting close to the intensity I want. I think our defense is playing with more confidence and intensity than it has since I've been here. I think the offense is really starting to come together. We need to get some consistency at running back, just more of the same guys playing. And I think our special teams are going to vastly improve because we do have some experience. Last year, I think we were so young.
Q. If this team goes on to win 10 or 11 games, how do you see it doing it? What's the formula?
A. No. 1, we need to take the ball away and we need to protect it. The second thing is staying true to our scheme. Bob Sanders is in the third year of that defensive scheme and the confidence, understanding and communication is a lot better. We're going to bump-and-run you. That's who we are. On offense, our system is built to go whatever way we need to go. We have the quarterback who can give us the ability to manage us in and out of different personnel groups. We've got talented young kickers. We need to play within ourselves. If we're true to the schemes, I think we'll win a lot of games.
Q. With turnover avoidance absolutely critical for a team trying to win with defense, can you persuade Brett Favre to take fewer chances, accept punts as being OK and play field-position football?
A. One of the objectives we read to him every week is, 'Punting is good,' after a third-down completion. For as simple as it sounds, it's true. It's even more so with the ability that our defense has, particularly in the play-making category. We're asking him to make more decisions at the line than he has in the past. He needs to keep himself in a good play. Not try to make the great play all the time. One thing we do well with the perimeter group is yards after the catch. The completion percentage has to go way up. We can't operate at 56%. That's not cutting it. That's how he's being coached.
Q. In his dealings with the press, Favre often brings up his many good plays when asked about his bad plays. He becomes defensive, almost prickly, about interceptions. Despite his wondrous durability and all-time competitive spirit, can he be a hard guy to coach? How do you approach him about his propensity for giving the ball away?
A. I really don't have an opinion about how he deals with the press. He's as coachable a guy as I've ever had. As far as correcting him, nine times out of 10 it's, 'That's a bad throw. I shouldn't have went there.' He puts a lot of time into it. I think he's his toughest critic.
Q. During the regular season, would you say that creating the proper mood for the team, formulating a game plan, calling the plays on Sunday or something else is the most important part of your job?
A. The most important part of my job is to set the tempo for the team. Because I am the point man. I've never taken a public speaking class so I don't know the way you're supposed to do it. But I'm thinking about it all the time. When I'm driving a car, when I'm in the shower. Outside of my daughter, I don't think I think about anything else more than the football team. You always want to make sure you're not missing anything. The chemistry in the locker room clearly is the most important ingredient in winning. You can talk about talent, you can talk about experience. But if it's not right down there it will eventually blow up. From the feedback and what I see, I think we have a very healthy locker room.
Q. How well did you perform as the play-caller in 2006? Did you call every play last season, and do you intend to call them all again in '07?
A. I called every play last year and I intend to call every play this year. I'm always looking to be better. I enjoy it. I put a lot of time into it. On every Monday, I ask myself, 'Did I put our guys into position to make plays?' And I think for the most part I do that week in and week out.
Q. How much would it mean to you to be mentioned by your peers when the roll of the great coaches in the game is called?
A. It'd be the ultimate compliment. I think there's more to life than what you do professionally. But from a professional standpoint there's nothing better than to be respected by your peers. Those are guys that know.
Q. What kind of team would you hope your peers are saying that Mike McCarthy is building in Green Bay?
A. Smart and tough. To me, that directly equates to winning.
Q. Is this defense going to be among the five best in the NFL? If so, why?
A. I think we could be a top defense in the NFL. They understand the scheme, they believe in the scheme. Probably more importantly, we have playmakers to make big plays. I chose this scheme. There's schemes that play more of contain. You know, outside leverage and break to the ball, and they've been very successful. But what I've always liked about this scheme is it has the ability to choke you. It challenges you at every turn. There's things in it to take away plays. That's the whole approach I'm looking for from our football team. Because I feel we play offense the same way. I think that common thread needs to run through your whole team.
Q. The defensive scheme came to Green Bay with Jim Bates and now is being coordinated by Bob Sanders, but it originated with Jimmy Johnson. It's certainly a departure from the Cover 2 looks prevalent around the league. What makes it hard to attack?
A. You start up front. It's a two-gap scheme so it has the ability to collapse the middle. You have to block two-gap schemes differently. Plus, you're seeing so much more of the wide gap schemes. Chicago, Detroit. We don't see anything like ours the rest of the year. The bump and run, I'm always in favor of that. A lot of passing games are built on timing. It attacks the time clock in the passing game. You have the ability to be a nine-man front in your base (quarters) coverage. Run defense is at a premium.
Q. Sanders seems ill at ease in media settings, but reporters don't see him interacting with players and colleagues. What type of coach is he? Does he possess the inspirational qualities necessary to get the most from a unit?
A. I clearly think he does. He's a very hands-on individual. His attention to detail is second to none. He's done a very good job. He's done a very good job being critical of himself. He wants to know, 'Hey, what can I do better? What do you see?' He's here all the time. I obviously trust him with the way we formatted this staff. He's a very passionate individual. He's just such a quality person. I don't think there's a person in the building that doesn't respect Bob Sanders.
Q. During your brief tenure the Packers seem improved at wide receiver, offensive line, quarterback, defensive line, linebacker and cornerback thanks to player procurement and player development, but running back has gotten worse. You're going into a season relying on a third-year junior in Brandon Jackson, someone who has never started in Vernand Morency and a seventh-round draft choice in DeShawn Wynn, among others. You must have seen trouble ahead with this group when camp opened. How in the world can you have a balanced offense with perhaps the worst bunch of backs in the league?
A. I'm not as concerned with their youth and inexperience. I think Brandon Jackson's development has been very obvious. If he stays healthy, I think we'll all be happy with his productivity. He's instinctive. He has a very strong lower half. He can get in and out of his breaks. He's doing a lot better job with one-cut decision-making. (Vernand) Morency only got better last year. I've had Deuce McAllister, Ricky Williams, Frank Gore. I'm not going to say DeShawn Wynn is better than those guys but the guy understands football. He picks up protections very well. He could be a very good player.
Q. You have $14 million in cap room. Why didn't you get a back?
A. Who do you want us to go get?
Q. In the last six months you could have gone and got somebody that might look pretty good in your stable of backs.
A. Who?
Q. You know who was out there.
A. I know it. But obviously we didn't think so. They were all on the board. Now they're on someone else's board.
Q. You came in talking like a coach hell-bent on running the ball after having had a run rate of 43.2% in New Orleans and 49.5% in San Francisco, yet the Packers ran merely 39.7% in '06 despite having an established runner like Ahman Green for 14 games. Did you drop the ball? Or are you finding out the zone scheme isn't what it's cracked up to be?
A. It's neither. To score points in this league you need to throw the ball. I think anybody would agree on that. To commit to the run for me would be around 44%, 45%. If you want to pound the football and play good defense, that's where I was with the Saints in '01, we were 49% run. We had a number of games last year we were behind. I'll say this. Brett threw it more last year than you like but I'll do whatever it takes to win.
Q. Aaron Rodgers appeared finally to transition from suspect to legitimate prospect. How much better do you feel about his ability not only to be a starter by default but a playoff-caliber starter for the Packers?
A. I think Aaron Rodgers will be a very good quarterback when his time comes. He's coming up the right way. He's had some rough patches early in his career, which he will benefit from. He's on a very steady pace progressing to a very good quarterback. The talent is there. His mental capacity is very high. He's coming into his own on how to play the game. He's not chasing the game. The game has clearly slowed down for him.
Q. Are you disappointed or relieved that you're not coaching Randy Moss? Might he have been more trouble than he's worth?
A. I can only judge people by my own interaction with them. A lot of people in this business get reputations. I had one conversation with him during that process. I asked him very pointed questions. I was comfortable with that. I have no idea how he would be to deal with.
Q. Wasn't Justin Harrell pushed in college? He must be in shape by now but even in the fourth game he was standing up and picking his spots. At this stage, don't you have to wonder if he's ever going to be a decent starter, let alone a big-timer?
A. I think Justin Harrell will be a good football player here for a long time. Justin is 20 pounds heavier than he's ever been asked to play. He's at 320. It's something we asked him to do because of the scheme. He's getting better. He needs to get better. He is getting more comfortable with the weight. He's an anchor in a two-gap scheme. Plus the beauty of him being an anchor is the height. That's what you're looking for.
Q. Scouts for other teams are finding it hard to believe that James Jones can be this good this early. As a coach, what's it like to find a wide receiver like this in the third round? Does his performance give you and your coaches even more confidence in the personnel department?
A. We were all in agreement on James Jones. Jimmy Robinson was very excited about him when we drafted him. He's going to be a fine player. He's exactly what you saw on film. I've been wrong before. Some people just need to admit they were wrong. He has short-area quickness. He really separates well from people.
Q. Mike Holmgren said a few times that in the toughest of times he was often glad to have Fritz Shurmur on his staff for counsel. Who do you turn at times like that?
A. Ted Thompson is a great listener. He has a lot of insight. John Schneider also is a confidant. On the staff, Winston Moss is developing into my right-hand man. I rely on my coordinators a lot. Everybody needs somebody to talk to, don't get me wrong. But my responsibility as a leader, I think it's important to lead. Especially when it's not going good.
Pressure cooker
Heading into his second season in Green Bay, coach Mike McCarthy believes the Packers are positioned to win — now
Green Bay - Mike McCarthy might not appear to be a coach on the spot but in the unforgiving world of the National Football League, he most assuredly is.
McCarthy, 43, is in the second year of his three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. General manager Ted Thompson, the man who hired him, expects to win now, meaning McCarthy will be expected to improve upon an 8-8 record from a year ago.
The Packers' two most successful coaches in the last 40 years, Mike Holmgren and Mike Sherman, each made the playoffs for the first time in their second seasons. Vince Lombardi improved from a 7-5 debut in 1959 to 8-4 and a berth in the NFL Championship Game in '60.
In an interview earlier in the week with Journal Sentinel beat writer Bob McGinn, McCarthy discussed his somewhat tenuous contract status, career aspirations, the Packers' chances to overhaul Chicago in the NFC North Division and the team's formula for success.
Q. You're the second-year coach of a team that improved four games last season and made the Packers' biggest jump since Mike Holmgren's first year in 1992. Now you're in the second year of a three-year contract. Do you wonder if your future is going to be in Green Bay?
A. I've always thought my future will take care of itself. I don't worry about the contract thing. Our business is really kind of a one-year contract. I don't sweat my contract. I've let my contract run out before as a coordinator. I think it's clearly evident there's progress throughout our program. That's all I'm focused on.
Q. If the bottom falls out in 2007 and the Packers sink back to something like 4-12, is it possible you might be out of a job?
A. I don't think that way. Your body of work is judged, No. 1, on wins and losses. No. 2, you've got to look at the substance of the work. Ted and I are building a championship program. We're not trying to do a quick fix and win everything in one year. Now we need to stay on that course and overcome the obstacles we are going to encounter. Right now, it's medical. We'll build a championship program.
Q. Has Ted Thompson even brought up the status of your contract since you signed it 20 months ago?
A. Ted and I had a very brief conversation about the contract after the season. I really have no interest in even talking about it until after the season. Because it's not a focus of mine. I'm not concerned about it.
Q. So you haven't told your agent, Gary O'Hagan, to get something going with the Packers?
A. I have no interest in even opening up that can of worms. My contract will not ever be a subject in front of our football team. To me, the team's bigger than that. That will take care of itself. It's a non-topic.
Q. One of the least desirable situations for any coach is trying to operate in the final year of a contract. Would you want to do that? Can you foresee any way the Packers would ask you to do that?
A. I signed a three-year contract and I'll fulfill it. I don't concern myself with that.
Q. How happy are you in Green Bay? By signing a short-term contract, you also were able to control your own future. Are there other jobs in NFL or major-college coaching that would greatly appeal to you?
A. I'm sitting in my dream job right now. I have no desire to coach anywhere else. I'm a Pittsburgh native. This town reminds me a lot of the way I grew up. I love it here. I have no interest in moving on to a college-level type job or any other job in the league. I had the option to go with a three or four-year contract. I took the three-year for a number of different reasons.
Q. Would you like to one day work as a coach who also has control of all football decisions spelled out in his contract?
A. I clearly think, from a structure standpoint, this is the way to go. Now after being a head coach, I don't think you can do both jobs. If you do both, you're stealing from one. I clearly understand the power struggle you're trying to get at here. I have no interest in being a GM because of the vast number of responsibilities. But to sit here and say you want to make final decisions, I don't think that's something that I desire at this point in my career. I'm very comfortable with the relationship Ted and I have. We talk through every decision. He's told me time and time again that he'd never force a player down my throat. When we disagree, we talk things out. I feel like we've created a partnership here. He's been a very strong person for me on a lot of matters that I don't have a lot of experience in. Frankly, as a young head coach, I need that. And I'm not naïve to think that I'm above all that. I think you can bite off more than you can chew.
Q. Given your final 53, if you would have been running the show and Ted Thompson would have been beneath you, would it have been one or two players different?
A. No. We talked about every position.
Q. Given the fact that you're coaching a larger-than-life quarterback and working for an extremely powerful GM, do you ever feel like you're a little lost in the shuffle around here?
A. (Laughter) No, not at all. I'm trying to flip through all the drama in the question. You don't think I get enough pub? I'm in charge of the football team. I'm in charge of who plays on Sunday. Every decision in the game plan. I'm given resources to win games. I couldn't ask for a better situation as a young head coach.
Q. With coaching salaries escalating every year, how comfortable are you with a salary averaging just under $2 million per year?
A. I'm very comfortable with my salary. I'm blessed to have this position. To sit there and complain about what you make, you'll never hear me do that.
Q. Is the NFC North winnable this season? Do the Packers have the team to do it?
A. Yes, I think so. Our football team is designed to play a certain way. The only thing of concern is you don't have the medical issues that make you take a different course. I truly believe we can win the division based on our football team and staying true to who we are. Very rarely (last season) on a Monday did I find myself saying, 'We just can't stop that.' Hey, there's no denying, the Chicago Bears were the representative of the NFC in the Super Bowl. Very good football team. Very talented football team. Further along in their program. I think Detroit and Minnesota are getting better. To me, the football game is about us. If we take care of what we do and don't try to do more than we're capable of, we'll be successful.
Q. Chicago won the division by five games a year ago and went to the Super Bowl. I'm sure you've compared the teams many, many times. On paper, are the Packers now on equal footing with the Bears from the standpoint of personnel?
A. On paper, we're not going to win a game based on the experts. But I don't believe the game's played on paper. If you want to look at experience, your argument for the Bears is understandable. But I don't view it that way.
Q. Is one of your main tasks convincing this team that it has what it takes to win the division?
A. My communication with the players, and you can ask any one of them, it's consistent and it's honest. I tell them exactly where we're at. I think the most important part of my job is keeping my finger on the pulse of that football team. I'm not into false confidence. That will blow up in your face bigger than life. By being honest, I think our confidence is real. We're getting close to the intensity I want. I think our defense is playing with more confidence and intensity than it has since I've been here. I think the offense is really starting to come together. We need to get some consistency at running back, just more of the same guys playing. And I think our special teams are going to vastly improve because we do have some experience. Last year, I think we were so young.
Q. If this team goes on to win 10 or 11 games, how do you see it doing it? What's the formula?
A. No. 1, we need to take the ball away and we need to protect it. The second thing is staying true to our scheme. Bob Sanders is in the third year of that defensive scheme and the confidence, understanding and communication is a lot better. We're going to bump-and-run you. That's who we are. On offense, our system is built to go whatever way we need to go. We have the quarterback who can give us the ability to manage us in and out of different personnel groups. We've got talented young kickers. We need to play within ourselves. If we're true to the schemes, I think we'll win a lot of games.
Q. With turnover avoidance absolutely critical for a team trying to win with defense, can you persuade Brett Favre to take fewer chances, accept punts as being OK and play field-position football?
A. One of the objectives we read to him every week is, 'Punting is good,' after a third-down completion. For as simple as it sounds, it's true. It's even more so with the ability that our defense has, particularly in the play-making category. We're asking him to make more decisions at the line than he has in the past. He needs to keep himself in a good play. Not try to make the great play all the time. One thing we do well with the perimeter group is yards after the catch. The completion percentage has to go way up. We can't operate at 56%. That's not cutting it. That's how he's being coached.
Q. In his dealings with the press, Favre often brings up his many good plays when asked about his bad plays. He becomes defensive, almost prickly, about interceptions. Despite his wondrous durability and all-time competitive spirit, can he be a hard guy to coach? How do you approach him about his propensity for giving the ball away?
A. I really don't have an opinion about how he deals with the press. He's as coachable a guy as I've ever had. As far as correcting him, nine times out of 10 it's, 'That's a bad throw. I shouldn't have went there.' He puts a lot of time into it. I think he's his toughest critic.
Q. During the regular season, would you say that creating the proper mood for the team, formulating a game plan, calling the plays on Sunday or something else is the most important part of your job?
A. The most important part of my job is to set the tempo for the team. Because I am the point man. I've never taken a public speaking class so I don't know the way you're supposed to do it. But I'm thinking about it all the time. When I'm driving a car, when I'm in the shower. Outside of my daughter, I don't think I think about anything else more than the football team. You always want to make sure you're not missing anything. The chemistry in the locker room clearly is the most important ingredient in winning. You can talk about talent, you can talk about experience. But if it's not right down there it will eventually blow up. From the feedback and what I see, I think we have a very healthy locker room.
Q. How well did you perform as the play-caller in 2006? Did you call every play last season, and do you intend to call them all again in '07?
A. I called every play last year and I intend to call every play this year. I'm always looking to be better. I enjoy it. I put a lot of time into it. On every Monday, I ask myself, 'Did I put our guys into position to make plays?' And I think for the most part I do that week in and week out.
Q. How much would it mean to you to be mentioned by your peers when the roll of the great coaches in the game is called?
A. It'd be the ultimate compliment. I think there's more to life than what you do professionally. But from a professional standpoint there's nothing better than to be respected by your peers. Those are guys that know.
Q. What kind of team would you hope your peers are saying that Mike McCarthy is building in Green Bay?
A. Smart and tough. To me, that directly equates to winning.
Q. Is this defense going to be among the five best in the NFL? If so, why?
A. I think we could be a top defense in the NFL. They understand the scheme, they believe in the scheme. Probably more importantly, we have playmakers to make big plays. I chose this scheme. There's schemes that play more of contain. You know, outside leverage and break to the ball, and they've been very successful. But what I've always liked about this scheme is it has the ability to choke you. It challenges you at every turn. There's things in it to take away plays. That's the whole approach I'm looking for from our football team. Because I feel we play offense the same way. I think that common thread needs to run through your whole team.
Q. The defensive scheme came to Green Bay with Jim Bates and now is being coordinated by Bob Sanders, but it originated with Jimmy Johnson. It's certainly a departure from the Cover 2 looks prevalent around the league. What makes it hard to attack?
A. You start up front. It's a two-gap scheme so it has the ability to collapse the middle. You have to block two-gap schemes differently. Plus, you're seeing so much more of the wide gap schemes. Chicago, Detroit. We don't see anything like ours the rest of the year. The bump and run, I'm always in favor of that. A lot of passing games are built on timing. It attacks the time clock in the passing game. You have the ability to be a nine-man front in your base (quarters) coverage. Run defense is at a premium.
Q. Sanders seems ill at ease in media settings, but reporters don't see him interacting with players and colleagues. What type of coach is he? Does he possess the inspirational qualities necessary to get the most from a unit?
A. I clearly think he does. He's a very hands-on individual. His attention to detail is second to none. He's done a very good job. He's done a very good job being critical of himself. He wants to know, 'Hey, what can I do better? What do you see?' He's here all the time. I obviously trust him with the way we formatted this staff. He's a very passionate individual. He's just such a quality person. I don't think there's a person in the building that doesn't respect Bob Sanders.
Q. During your brief tenure the Packers seem improved at wide receiver, offensive line, quarterback, defensive line, linebacker and cornerback thanks to player procurement and player development, but running back has gotten worse. You're going into a season relying on a third-year junior in Brandon Jackson, someone who has never started in Vernand Morency and a seventh-round draft choice in DeShawn Wynn, among others. You must have seen trouble ahead with this group when camp opened. How in the world can you have a balanced offense with perhaps the worst bunch of backs in the league?
A. I'm not as concerned with their youth and inexperience. I think Brandon Jackson's development has been very obvious. If he stays healthy, I think we'll all be happy with his productivity. He's instinctive. He has a very strong lower half. He can get in and out of his breaks. He's doing a lot better job with one-cut decision-making. (Vernand) Morency only got better last year. I've had Deuce McAllister, Ricky Williams, Frank Gore. I'm not going to say DeShawn Wynn is better than those guys but the guy understands football. He picks up protections very well. He could be a very good player.
Q. You have $14 million in cap room. Why didn't you get a back?
A. Who do you want us to go get?
Q. In the last six months you could have gone and got somebody that might look pretty good in your stable of backs.
A. Who?
Q. You know who was out there.
A. I know it. But obviously we didn't think so. They were all on the board. Now they're on someone else's board.
Q. You came in talking like a coach hell-bent on running the ball after having had a run rate of 43.2% in New Orleans and 49.5% in San Francisco, yet the Packers ran merely 39.7% in '06 despite having an established runner like Ahman Green for 14 games. Did you drop the ball? Or are you finding out the zone scheme isn't what it's cracked up to be?
A. It's neither. To score points in this league you need to throw the ball. I think anybody would agree on that. To commit to the run for me would be around 44%, 45%. If you want to pound the football and play good defense, that's where I was with the Saints in '01, we were 49% run. We had a number of games last year we were behind. I'll say this. Brett threw it more last year than you like but I'll do whatever it takes to win.
Q. Aaron Rodgers appeared finally to transition from suspect to legitimate prospect. How much better do you feel about his ability not only to be a starter by default but a playoff-caliber starter for the Packers?
A. I think Aaron Rodgers will be a very good quarterback when his time comes. He's coming up the right way. He's had some rough patches early in his career, which he will benefit from. He's on a very steady pace progressing to a very good quarterback. The talent is there. His mental capacity is very high. He's coming into his own on how to play the game. He's not chasing the game. The game has clearly slowed down for him.
Q. Are you disappointed or relieved that you're not coaching Randy Moss? Might he have been more trouble than he's worth?
A. I can only judge people by my own interaction with them. A lot of people in this business get reputations. I had one conversation with him during that process. I asked him very pointed questions. I was comfortable with that. I have no idea how he would be to deal with.
Q. Wasn't Justin Harrell pushed in college? He must be in shape by now but even in the fourth game he was standing up and picking his spots. At this stage, don't you have to wonder if he's ever going to be a decent starter, let alone a big-timer?
A. I think Justin Harrell will be a good football player here for a long time. Justin is 20 pounds heavier than he's ever been asked to play. He's at 320. It's something we asked him to do because of the scheme. He's getting better. He needs to get better. He is getting more comfortable with the weight. He's an anchor in a two-gap scheme. Plus the beauty of him being an anchor is the height. That's what you're looking for.
Q. Scouts for other teams are finding it hard to believe that James Jones can be this good this early. As a coach, what's it like to find a wide receiver like this in the third round? Does his performance give you and your coaches even more confidence in the personnel department?
A. We were all in agreement on James Jones. Jimmy Robinson was very excited about him when we drafted him. He's going to be a fine player. He's exactly what you saw on film. I've been wrong before. Some people just need to admit they were wrong. He has short-area quickness. He really separates well from people.
Q. Mike Holmgren said a few times that in the toughest of times he was often glad to have Fritz Shurmur on his staff for counsel. Who do you turn at times like that?
A. Ted Thompson is a great listener. He has a lot of insight. John Schneider also is a confidant. On the staff, Winston Moss is developing into my right-hand man. I rely on my coordinators a lot. Everybody needs somebody to talk to, don't get me wrong. But my responsibility as a leader, I think it's important to lead. Especially when it's not going good.