() Comments
Packers confident about handling indoor noise Monday night
By The Associated Press
GREEN BAY — The last time the Green Bay Packers played indoors in front of a noisy crowd, their ineffective offensive line let the Minnesota Vikings take several free shots on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“We didn’t react,” Packers center Scott Wells said Saturday of the Nov. 9 game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, where the Vikings pulled out a 28-27 win over their division rivals.
A supremely harassed Rodgers was knocked down a dozen times, sacked four times and gave up two safeties in the game.
Two weeks later, the Packers feel they’re better prepared to handle the din of the Louisiana Superdome and keep Rodgers safe when they play Monday night against the New Orleans Saints.
Rodgers is optimistic the blocking will continue to be more like it was against the Bears than it was against the Vikings.
“I’m confident in the guys and their ability to pass protect and run block,” Rodgers said. “I think last week was a prime example of that — they played their butts off and dominated the line of scrimmage. I know they expect to do the same thing every week they take the field.’
Before they tend to their run blocking and pass protection responsibilities, the linemen will have to be mentally sharp in trying to tune out the noise of Saints’ fans prior to the snap of the football.
“I think it will be, particularly when we get in the game, probably as loud as we’ve heard,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy, comparing the noise in the Superdome to that in the Metrodome.
McCarthy is familiar with the Superdome, having served as New Orleans’ offensive coordinator from 2000 to ’04.
The home crowd figures to be more rabid than usual because the Saints will be playing their first game at the Superdome in six weeks and it comes in the nationally televised prime-time game.
“It’s a very large stadium,” McCarthy said. “Seating capacity is probably 5,000 to 8,000 more I would think than the Metrodome is. It’s loud.”
The Packers spent their extended week of practice from Wednesday to Saturday with thunderous noise piped into their indoor practice facility when the offense had the football.
Green Bay also used the artificial crowd noise during a punt segment in practice Saturday.
“Don’t anticipate it (being a problem on punts), but still have to practice it,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy refused to blame the crowd noise at Minnesota two weeks ago on the struggles endured by the offensive line.
“No excuses,” McCarthy said. “We had a couple players that didn’t play well, and we’ve hopefully learned from that and we’ll be able to carry that experience forward to Monday night.”
Wells also dismissed noise as a factor but acknowledged that he and his fellow linemen were taught a valuable lesson in their forgettable experience in the Metrodome.
“Concentrate and react,” Wells said. “If you look at the pressure (from the Minnesota defense), it’s because we didn’t react. We didn’t react to the game quick.”
Teams that go into a noisy environment are apt to try to counteract on offense by using a silent snap count.
Wells said the Packers relied on a silent count a lot against the Vikings, whereby the offensive players generally rely on the visual cue of the snap of the football to come out of their set positions.
Green Bay practiced with the silent count this week, too.
“It can be as effective as possible, if you communicate,” Rodgers said. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s about silent communication, making sure you’re on the same page with that silent communication.”
A more effective tool, both Rodgers and Wells contend, will be to take the crowd out of the game by getting off to a good start on offense against the Saints.
“Execute (on) third downs,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s been the biggest thorn in our side, is our inability to start fast this season, and that’s directly related to not getting ourselves in third-and-manageable, but still not converting those third downs.”
The Packers fueled the stadium frenzy at Minnesota two weeks ago by converting only one of 11 third-down opportunities.
“That’s going to be a key for us, is to continue that first drive, get a couple of first downs, change the field position at least like we did last week (against Chicago) and hopefully put some points on the board as well,” Rodgers added.
——
NOTES: The Packers made two changes Saturday to their injury report for the game Monday. Rookie OG Josh Sitton was added to the list as questionable after having his ankle rolled in practice Friday. Sitton didn’t practice Saturday. Rookie DE Jeremy Thompson (groin) was downgraded from probable to questionable. McCarthy said Thompson and CB Jarrett Bush (ankle), who also is questionable, would be worked out before the game to determine whether they will be able to play. ... McCarthy said the season-ending knee surgery LB Nick Barnett underwent Thursday “was very positive.” A timetable hasn<t been set for Barnett’s recovery. “I think it will be a normal rehab, and hopefully he’ll be ready to go next year,” McCarthy said.
Special Offer: Get 5 Weeks of the Journal Times for $7!
|
||
| Meeting topic is medical options for Modine retirees |
