Packers Return Healthy, Focused After Bye
The Green Bay Packers returned to practice on Monday, coming out of their bye week healthy, for the most part, and focused on their upcoming opponent, the New York Giants.
Clay Matthews, Datone Jones, Morgan Burnett, and the Letroy Guion all were practicing after missing the last game against the Lions on Sept. 25th. Still missing, however were tight end Jared Cook who is dealing with an ankle, and cornerback Sam Shields, who remains in the concussion protocol.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said at his press conference on Monday that, although early, the bye week came at an opportune time and allowed for further evaluation of younger players who were pressed into playing time early this season due to injury.
“One thing that jumps out at you in the evaluation process, not only what we’ve done schematically, but also how many players have played because of our injuries,” said McCarthy. “We have a little bit of information on some guys but this will be very good for a lot of our younger players (to go back and look at live game tape.)”
Now it’s on to business as usual at Lambeau Field, and McCarthy began installing the game plan for the Giants at Monday’s practice and watched them play Monday night against the Vikings, which McCarthy said will be helpful for scouting purposes.
“I think it gives you really good information… When you get to watch an uncommon opponent go against a division opponent, it gives you a lot of quality information. It gives you a good gauge about how you foresee that guy playing you.”
One area McCarthy most likely took note from Monday night’s game was how the Vikings were able to virtually neutralize Giant’s All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
With Sam Shields presumably still out, Cornerback Damarious Randall will likely draw the assignment Sunday night, after having been taken advantage of the last two games, giving up almost 400 yards receiving to Stefon Diggs and Marvin Jones.
With the Packers now looking up in the division at the Vikings, the early season bye seems to have been a blessing in disguise. A healthy Matthews, Jones, Burnett, and a fresh Julius Peppers will all be counted on to make sure Beckham Jr. doesn’t take out his frustration on the Packers’ defense Sunday night.
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