Self-Scouting, Recharging of Batteries on Packers’ Bye Agenda
The Green Bay Packers enter their bye week with an 8-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs well within their reach.
It’s a bold improvement over 4-5-1 last season, 5-5 in 2017 and 4-6 in 2016.
“The focus will be on what we need to do better moving forward, because there’s a lot to improve upon. I think our guys know that, as well,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday.
LaFleur will have his coaching staff grinding away on some projects before giving them a few days off to recharge their batteries. Among those duties are what former coach Mike McCarthy called “across the hall” sessions in which the offensive staff scouts the defense and the defensive staff scouts the offense.
While most players will be free to get out of town, receiver Davante Adams said he’ll be sticking around to rehab his injured toe. For the most part, though, the Packers are a healthy bunch. The only player on the roster out on Sunday due to injury was tight end Robert Tonyan.
“It’s something that we haven’t really been able to say in the past,” Adams said. “With that said, everybody needs to take advantage of this week off training-wise and treatment-wise. I’ll be in town all week, just making sure I’m continuing to get back so I can feel 3 million percent like myself. I know everybody’s going to do a good job with that. We’re in a blessed position with our record and with our health right now, more or less, so we have to make sure we don’t take that for granted and take care of business.”
That was quarterback Aaron Rodgers' message on Sunday and again on Monday. After two consecutive seasons out of the playoffs and almost a decade since Super Bowl XLV, Rodgers wants to seize the opportunity that is in front of the team.
"We’ve both been through rough seasons over the years, where you’re just not quite in the mix," Rodgers said of himself and tight end Jimmy Graham. "This feels different. Hopefully, those guys understand how important the opportunity is and not do anything stupid that’s going to jeopardize their role in that opportunity."
When the Packers get back to work, a showdown against the powerful San Francisco 49ers will await. The 49ers entered Monday night’s game at Seattle as the NFL’s lone undefeated team at 8-0. Having a bye should be an advantage for Green Bay, but teams coming off their bye are only 7-11 this season.
