I was lucky enough to sit in on Packers coach Mike Sherman's news conference this Friday, for an article for my school paper. While some of the information is already old news, I just got the article ready to go so here it is for you guys...
Green Bay, Wis-Packers coach Mike Sherman told reporters in a news conference Friday that he is expecting nothing less than his team’s best effort Sunday against the Saints.
“We want to be heading into our bye week with some momentum,” Sherman said. “I expect nothing less than our best effort.”
Sherman is expecting a big performance from his defense, a much maligned unit that he believes is wrongly criticized. “We’ve lost our last three games by six points between them, and that tells me that our defense is keeping us in the game.”
The coach believes that his secondary holds the key to defensive success. “We need to get some plays from the secondary…Al [Harris] and Mark [Roman] and the guys have to get us some turnovers to help out the offense.” The Packers rank near the bottom of the league with a -8 turnover margin. The defensive backs have combined for only two turnovers in four games. “We’ve got too much talent back there not to be making more plays,” Sherman contends. The Packers will start second year man Ahmad Carroll next to veteran Al Harris at corner, with Mark Roman and rookie Nick Collins at safety.
Coach Sherman also touched on the running back situation. “Right now we’re not sure if Ahman [Green] is going to be able to play for us this week. Najeh [Davenport] is gonna start for us, and we feel like he’s just as capable a back as Ahman…He’s going to be just fine.” The coach has expressed a desire in recent weeks to get the running game going. The Packers are near the bottom of the league in rushing, averaging only 71.3 yards per game. Green, a former Pro Bowl player, has struggled to get on track, said Sherman, but the coach expects his star running back to be back in a groove soon. “We’ll use this upcoming bye to get Ahman healthy again, and he’ll be ready for a big second half…We need him to be a star for us.”
A former Packer, Mike McKenzie, will face his old team Sunday, and Sherman downplayed any ideas of either the player or team harboring any bitterness over McKenzie’s departure from Green Bay. “Mike and the team didn’t see eye to eye…we wish him well in his new spot and he’s happy in New Orleans.” McKenzie forced the team to trade him during the 2004-05 season. “Mike will want to put on a good show for his old team, and we’ll want to welcome him back with open arms. There won’t be any animosity.:”
As to the Packers’ 0-4 start, Sherman said that he’s “not ready to panic yet.”
“Last year, we were 1-4 and got spanked by the Titans before we got it together…Sometimes it takes a team awhile to gel. We’ve got a lot of youngsters on this team, and they’re going to get better as the season goes along. We figure we’re going to improve right along with [the young players].” Sherman is expecting a special improvement from rookie safety Collins. “Nick has been learning the nuances of the spot. He played a lot of corner back in school [Bethune-Cookman University], and he’s learning to get in his spot and to make plays…He’s been good in practice and it’s just a matter of time before he gets in there and becomes a real good player.”
As to the Saints, Sherman realizes that the Packers are facing a dangerous team. “New Orleans is a real solid group…They’ve got some players on offense that can really hurt you…and their defensive front will get after you.” The Saints come into the game with an even 2-2 record.
Sherman expressed his desire for a desperate effort from his team. “We’re not a desperate team, but it would do the players well to think that we are. We’re gonna need a big game to get us going, and I think the guys know that.”
