When speaking with Cohen, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said something similar.
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“Obviously, we were very fortunate that we could have a Family Night practice and have 67,000 people in the stands”. While it might be a bit misleading to say that Rodgers is intentionally throwing interceptions, Rodgers is actually trying to throw the ball into areas where defenders have a chance to beat the receivers to the football.
Added Rodgers: “I threw five last year in the regular season, so I know how to play in those games”.
Throughout the early part of this season’s training camp Rodgers has been throwing plenty of picks. We want to gain the trust of the quarterback that if he throws it up, we’ll come down with it – us or nobody – and make the play.
“Hopefully they can come down with those balls, and if not, breaking up the balls from us”.
It wasn’t long after the Clinton-Dix interception that Scott Tolzien was inserted at quarterback and rookie cornerback Tay Glover-Wright found a deflected pass in the air and hauled it in. Or, are they? Both WR Jeff Janis, who made the team as a seventh-round pick last year but still must earn a spot this season, and TE Justin Perillo, who was promoted from the practice squad as a rookie last year but is battling for the No. 3 tight end job, each dropped passes on wide-open plays during 11-on-11 periods. In fact, McCarthy was in such a rush to get out to the field for the post-practice fireworks show that he did his best to hustle through his press conference. With the hypothetical setting of 1:42 showing on the clock, the Packers down by four points and starting at their 35, Tolzien led the team inside the red zone with three straight complete passes. “Every drill has things that go on for a player, whether it’s a fundamental or technique”.
“Those are the kind of things you learn from”, McCarthy said. “I was able to do the entire off-season program, put in my work back home, and just kind of within the first couple practices started having some soreness”.
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Matthews isn’t expected to participate in the Family Night practice Saturday evening, but may play when the Packers take on New England in their first preseason game on Thursday.
