Oh really? That was the word from Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy via the Press-Gazette’s Mike Vandermause in yesterday’s column criticizing Ted Thompson for not drafting a safety.
McCarthy is, of course, referring to Jerron McMillian and M.D. Jennings, who were awful and one degree less than awful, respectively, in the Packers season-opening loss to San Francisco.
“They could play better,” Mike McCarthy said, which is about as close as the Packers head coach will come to publicly criticizing his players. “I think they both would tell you that. Playing without Morgan is something you have to deal with.”
Morgan being starter Morgan Burnett, who sat out week one with a hamstring injury.
The good news is this. While Big Ted passed over a number of safeties in the draft — notably Johnathan Cyprien, who went to Jacksonville in the second round, and T.J. McDonald, who went to St. Louis in the third, and are starting for those teams — it probably won’t be as bad this week.
Burnett has practiced all week, unlike last week when he practiced Wednesday and Thursday and then pulled up lame on Friday.
At #Packers practice, CB Jarrett Bush not working a day after he sustained a hamstring injury. CB Casey Hayward only other non participant.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 13, 2013
If Burnett can go on Sunday, at least the Packers will have one competent safety on the field. He’ll likely be joined by Jennings, who’s serviceable when he isn’t asked to be the No. 1 guy.
Then McMillian can go back where he belongs — the bench.
Can I get a Banjo sighting? Ready to see what this kid is about
If the Safety help is anything like last Sunday it’ll be a long day. It’s supposed to be rainy and 64ºF so that may effect footing vs RGIII, if he runs. Heads must be pulled out of asses for this one.
I don’t know if the safties could play much worse. If they stink it up again, bring in the Banjo!!!!! what do you have to lose?
I fail to see the point of drafting a safety in the 3rd or 4th round when you drafted McMillian there. Who says any of those guys are better than he is?
Excuse me if I fail to be impressed with a guy starting for the Jaguars.
No, if you are going to draft a safety, which I was for, then you should have done it in the 1st or 2nd round. Except, to make that argument, you have to be willing to say that we should have drafted a safety INSTEAD of Datone Jones or Eddie Lacy.
Sorry, its too damn early to make that judgement.
I was an Eric Reid guy before the draft, and I liked the way he looked on Sunday. But it is still too early to say he’s going to be a better pro than Jones or Lacy. So, I can’t argue that we should have drafted him… yet.
All i know is….Ol Ted and Dom better have a respectable season or the chit hits the fan. Just my .02………Gotta turn this ship around…like yesterday. We have a tough schedule. The O line rook has to play fairly strong (alot to ask of a rookie left tackle) and this O line needs to learn to run block as a unit. No offense Campen, your doing a fantastic job.
From said article:
TED THOMPSON, Packers GM
Although the draft was rich in safety talent, Thompson sat on his hands. The Packers were one of only 12 NFL teams that didn’t draft a safety.
TRENT BAALKE, 49ers GM
The 49ers, by comparison, faced a similar offseason predicament when they lost all-pro safety Dashon Goldson to Tampa Bay in unrestricted free agency.
But unlike the Packers, the 49ers took an aggressive approach to shore up a weak position. They traded a third-round draft choice to move up 13 spots in the first round to select Reid at No. 18 overall. Consider it a draft pick well spent and perhaps the move that cemented the 49ers’ Week 1 victory.
Reid was all over the field last weekend. He had an interception, six tackles and broke up a pass.
Thanks Ted, thanks a lot.
They should take a flier out on Kerry Rhodes. NFL teams are probably blacklisting him cause he likes to suck dick, but he’s a damn good safety
LOLOLOLOLOL!!! Hey I like Elton Johns music… Let Rhodes play I say!