Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke to the media following practice on Wednesday, as his team prepared for Sunday's road game against the Buffalo Bills. Here are some highlights:
Injury report
Did not participate: ILB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), G Josh Sitton (toe), CB Davon House (shoulder)
Limited: RB Eddie Lacy (hip), G T.J. Lang (ankle)
Full: OLB Nick Perry (shoulder)
On House:
Davon hurt his shoulder. We're still looking at it. I do not see him being available tomorrow during practice.
On Bills quarterback Kyle Orton:
Excellent addition. Ten years in the league, I always thought he's been very productive. He played very well against us in Kansas City in 2011. He has complete understanding of the offense, complete all the throws. He does a very good job with their offense. … He's played a lot of football.
On House's current and past shoulder injuries:
It doesn't have anything to do with past injury.
On protecting the football:
The Buffalo Bills do a great job defensively in their coverage units. They're No. 2 in the league in takeaways. It's a tough environment. We have three players on our team who played against Buffalo eight years ago. It's a fast track, old-style stadium. Those are things we're focused on.
On a loud crowd:
It challenges you. Anytime you have communication challenges, you have to overcome it. It's one of the louder places we'll play this year.
On the Bills' red-zone defense:
You look at their defense, it starts up front. They can get a lot of pressure with a four-man rush. They're playing very well.
On tapering at the end of the season:
You have to be very conscious of your workload. The schedule plays into that, Monday night game, short week and then next week will be a short work. I think those components all lead to tapering down some. We're very fortunate with our facilities to do a lot of classrooms that we don't need to go down to the Hutson.
On the Packers' magic number to reach the playoffs:
You might need 12. The state of the NFC. This is a football team that's approaching this game like a playoff game. They need it. We need it.
On Lacy:
Eddie is in good spirits. We'll see how he feels tomorrow.
On linebacker Sam Barrington:
Sam is doing well. He's earned these opportunities. Last week, he was the game ball winner. He's doing some things this week. He's getting better. Sam is doing some good things.
On the secondary's performance in the second half of Sunday's game against the
Atlanta Falcons:
I thought we started the game the way you'd like. Anytime you come off a big win, you concern yourself with a letdown. We didn't sustain it in the second half.
On the Packers' running back combination:
It's a couple different variables. Every week, we'll go through the game plan. I'll express to Tom Clements and Sam Gash how I think we should lay out the game plan. It's never written down in stone.
On the second-half issues against the Falcons:
I'll never apologize for a victory in December regardless of what it looks like. Some of the best lessons you learn in this game is when things don't go right.
What lessons do you learn from that second half?
It's the game of football. (Were) there areas we can do better job of communication? We don't evaluate the game on the final score or what our statistics are. There's fundamentals and techniques. There's big-play production. We went into game looking at big-play production and turnovers would decide it and that held through. It was not clean in the second half.
Originally Posted by packerboi:
On Bills quarterback Kyle Orton:
Excellent addition. Ten years in the league, I always thought he's been very productive. He played very well against us in Kansas City in 2011.
Wasn't that the 'blueprint' game?
The schedule plays into that, Monday night game, short week and then next week will be a short work.
Huh? The next two games are early games on Sunday. (so far)
My guess is he means that they have to travel back from NY on Sunday night and then fly to Florida later in the week.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills safety Da'Norris Searcy (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
Searcy left in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos with cramps and did not return. He was replaced by Duke Williams.
Meanwhile, defensive end Mario Williams and offensive tackle Chris Hairston both missed practice with illnesses. Coach Doug Marrone said both have experienced similar symptoms as defensive tackle Kyle Williams and offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, who both missed practice last Wednesday but returned Thursday, which could put Mario Williams and Hairston on track to return Thursday.
Here is the Bills' full injury report:
Did not participate:
TE Chris Gragg (knee)
S Da'Norris Searcy (hamstring)
DE Mario Williams (illness)
OT Chris Hairston (illness)
Limited participation:
K Dan Carpenter (groin)
DT Stefan Charles (quad)
DE Jarius Wynn (knee)
Originally Posted by packerboi:
Searcy left in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos with cramps and did not return.
Having a rather horrid period?
Looks like the Flu is going around the Bills.
Packers better ..
Or they'll get the Ebola
quote:On the second-half issues against the Falcons:I'll never apologize for a victory in December regardless of what it looks like. Some of the best lessons you learn in this game is when things don't go right.
Boom! Great answer MM.
If I had to line up against Aaron Rodgers I'd be feeling sick, too.
At least the weather looks good, mostly cloudy with a high of 41. Perfect Packer weather.
Originally Posted by ammo:
penis
Warm, no wind and no snow, NOT Bills weather.
Anyone attending the game? I'll be going by myself, haven't bought a ticket yet, and was hoping to sit with other Pack fans. There are still lots of tickets available.
If you're there, I'll be wearing my Nitske throwback. Is it still a throwback if it's the jersey he would have worn?
Holy shi!:
3rd and 9+ yards QB ratings this year:
Aaron Rodgers - 150.7
Tom Brady - 91.3
Drew Brees - 90.6
Andrew Luck - 84.6
Peyton Manning - 71.4
Lots of people trying to wrap their heads around how good Aaron Rodgers is.
Well, it's his failure to produce on 1st and 2nd downs that puts him in those 3rd and 9+ situations. -Skipschyt
Pre snap read. 1st read. Go no go. Check. 2nd. No. Check. Move. Receivers finding space. No/yes run/throw. 4 seconds. He read my movement. Laser. 150.7.
3rd and 9+ isn't terribly meaningful without a sample size.
According 506 Sports Green Bay @ Buffalo -- Justin Kutcher, David Diehl are the guys doing the game. Who in the hell are Justin Kutcher and David Diehl? How good of an anoounce team are these guys?
Diehl is a former NYG Olineman - I've heard him call a game before, not terribly impressed at all. Kutcher? who knows, never heard of him before.
Originally Posted by El-Ka-Bong:
3rd and 9+ isn't terribly meaningful without a sample size.
What if the sample size was 11 ? Is that meaningful ? What if its 33, is that meaningful ? What is the official NFL cutoff for sample- size meaningfulness in 2014 ?
We can learn something by noting the relative success rate of others in a similar situation and that's why the tweet included all of the top QBs- so we'd have some context and meaning behind the number.
Here's a few more data points:
http://www.teamrankings.com/nf...third-downs-per-game
http://www.teamrankings.com/nf...conversions-per-game
http://www.teamrankings.com/nf...-down-conversion-pct
These tell us that relative to other teams:
Packers have few 3rd downs
Packers convert a lot of those 3rd down opportunities
Packers 3rd down conversion percentage is top 3 in the league
Length of the 3rd down needed to convert doesn't seem to impact the success rate for GB
Rodgers is the best in the league at converting 3rd & long situations, which is what every opposing defense hopes to achieve - putting GB in 3rd and long.
3rd & longs are the most difficult to convert and Rodgers/Packers are the best at converting the most- difficult-to- convert conversions.
Is any of that terribly meaningful, or am I being too obtuse ? 
All stats are generally useless. Points and turnovers are really all the only indicators to how well a team or player is performing. Rodgers is outpacing everyone in the league in both really.
Meaningfulness is like BFI. No one can really quantify the value.
Originally Posted by Satori:
What if the sample size was 11 ? Is that meaningful ? What if its 33, is that meaningful ?
The answer is yes. Any number would have been meaningful as it would have given context to the metric.
Originally Posted by Satori:
Originally Posted by El-Ka-Bong:
3rd and 9+ isn't terribly meaningful without a sample size.
What if the sample size was 11 ? Is that meaningful ? What if its 33, is that meaningful ? What is the official NFL cutoff for sample- size meaningfulness in 2014 ?
It is not a specific number but a consistent sample size among the QBs being compared would make that stat somewhat more meaningful. If QB 1 had 50 3rd and 9+ attempts and QB 2 only had 5 attempts at 3rd and 9+ that could carry some weight.
Originally Posted by ammo:
According 506 Sports Green Bay @ Buffalo -- Justin Kutcher, David Diehl are the guys doing the game. Who in the hell are Justin Kutcher and David Diehl? How good of an anoounce team are these guys?
Have you ever tried putting the game on mute and called the game by yourself? It's super fun and makes the game go by really fast. I even have my kids play out their own commercials. Halftime shows are epic.
Originally Posted by Tavis Smiley:
penis
can I stream your station?
Originally Posted by Responsibleadultbehavior-Ka-Bong:
. Any number would have been meaningful as it would have given context to the metric.
11
Man Johnny Football really ruined my viewing plans, half the country switched from Packers Bills to the Little People Awareness Bowl
Yeah, it blows. Haven't had to stream for about two months. Hope my go to site hasn't been shut down.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke to media after practice Thursday. Here are some highlights:
Injury report
DNP: CB Davon House (shoulder), ILB Jamari Lattimore (ankle), DL Bruce Gaston (illness)
Limited: G TJ Lang (ankle), RB Eddie Lacy (hip), OLB Nick Perry (shoulder), G Josh Sitton (toe)
On Davon House's shoulder:
Davon House is going to have some tests tomorrow and maybe Saturday. We're still gathering information for his injury. Both players injured on same play. They were in an awkward position.
On Eddie Lacy:
Eddie Lacy, he participated in the drill work and individuals. He's making progress.
On limited players earlier the week:
I think everyone responds better after a high-tempo practice. The opportunity to recover from that, I think everybody recovers from that. They feel good about their bodies. It leads them to a better Saturday practice.
On Buffalo's defense:
Buffalo Bills defense is excellent. It starts up front. Their linebackers are physical guys who can really run and hit. I've been impressed by their secondary. They do a lot of things the right way. Very aggressive.
On Buffalo being similar to Green Bay:
Absolutely. In our first team meeting Wednesday, we outlined it for our players. We talked about Buffalo. Small-town but similar characteristics to Green Bay. It's an older stadium, small locker room. It's old-school NFL football.
On Marcell Dareus:
Excellent player. He's definitely a factor.
On Morgan Burnett:
He made two plays in practice today that were phenomenal. I'm really impressed with the step he's taken. He's making plays. He had a big play in the Falcons game. He has a great relationship not only with the safeties, but also the corners. Morgan is an excellent fit for us and he's doing an excellent job.
Eddie Lacy says he has hurdles before being cleared. Said he won't put the team at a disadvantage if he can't play effectively.
Lacy said pain in the hip is the issue. Hasn't done much in practice. Said he has "no idea" if he's at risk for further injury if he plays.
aren't you always at risk for further injury if you play?
More Lacy
"If I can go out and play through that pain without setting the team back or putting the team at a disadvantage, I’ll go out and do that. If not, then I’m not going to risk that."
Maybe rest Lacy
Leading with Buffalo-dude Starks just seems like a winner
What ever happened to Harris......at one time looked like he may have had a chance.
Harris is on the roster for this very reason. Both Starks' and Lacy's running styles invite contact. Almost inevitable that one or both of them will get nicked or worse during a season. MM and Rodgers for that matter are very high on Harris, if he has to play they've shown faith in him before.