GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A Week 3 loss in Detroit sent the Green Bay Packers to a 1-2 record and left their coaching staff with many questions to answer. After reviewing the film, the Packers' three coordinators addressed a few of the hot topics to come out of the game.
Here are three question-and-answer highlights from each coordinator:
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DOM CAPERS
1. By Detroit's last two series, was your defense -- which played 75 total snaps -- worn down?
CAPERS: "Well, they were out there for a few plays, but still that's the time of the game when we've got to be at our best. This game was kind of a reversal of the week before. We didn't play very well the first three series (against the Jets), and then from that point on we played very good football. So I really liked the way that we played in this game, until those last two series. That's when they converted their third downs. I thought they bled us for a little bit of yardage where we'd make the hit at 3 yards, and they'd gain 4 or 5 yards. That's the time of the game where you've got to be at your best. We need to get the ball back to our offense, because we're still right there if we can get the ball back and go out and get a score, we're right back into the thing."
2. Is it a matter of mental toughness when players are tired but need to get Detroit's offense off the field on one of those third-down conversions?
CAPERS: "Well, obviously people know you're going to be matching out playing the run up there. So I think it becomes a matter of feeling that sense of urgency. You've got to find a way to get the ball back. Obviously, the offense at that point of time is geared up because they know they're in a situation where a first down or two is going to put them in a position to win the game. We had three legitimate shots during that 4-minute drill to get off the field. We stopped them, we had them third-and-7 the first time, and they threw the ball outside. They made that one. We had a chance, we just needed to get more people to the ball carrier and not let him fall forward. Then we kind of popped out of a gap on the next one, and Bush got the ball running downhill on us. The last one, they moved the tight end, they needed four (yards) and they got it. But we'll address that. That's when you've got to be at your best. I've seen it before where you get into those situations and a little bit's a lot when it comes to that run defense and being able to stop them for less than three yards every shot in there. We didn't get that done."
3. Despite the loss, were you encouraged by the three forced turnovers as something that can be built upon moving forward?
CAPERS: "I think there's a lot of things we can build off of. (Detroit) has a lot of explosive players on offense. I was encouraged by the pass rush because I think if you can rush four and disrupt the quarterback and get him off the spot and his rhythm . . . We put a lot of zone coverage where guys had vision on the ball. I thought our guys reacted and responded to that fairly well. So, yeah, it's a game of takeaways. So, unfortunately, the takeaways, we weren't able to give the ball to the offense in great field position. Still, they were drive-stoppers, and any time you get a takeaway like Julius' down in the red zone, that's points off the board for them."
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR SHAWN SLOCUM
1. How was Randall Cobb able to create that space for himself on the 22-yard punt return?
SLOCUM: "Randall made a heck of a run. We could have blocked it better. We actually had a pressure called. They quick-snapped us and we had a couple guys get behind. We had some good decisions made in terms of not blocking right in front of Randall and getting a potential penalty and turning back up the field. It was a good play."
2. Any level of concern with Brandon Bostick being called for two special teams penalties?
SLOCUM: "We can't play with two penalties with one player. That's unacceptable. Brandon has been an important guy for us. I look forward to him playing well."
3. How has Sean Richardson been so far this season? Is he starting to get back to where he was before the neck injury?
SLOCUM: "I think his play has been very good. I've really been pleased with the way he's played. . . . I've been encouraged about him since he's been here. He's a big body at safety. He runs well. He's a tough guy. He plays smart. He had a little bit of a setback with the injury in terms of his play style, but I think he's really played well our first three games this year."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TOM CLEMENTS
1. Did your wide receivers have trouble getting open?
CLEMENTS: "Well we had 16 completions and six drops out of 27 attempts. That'd be 22 completions out of 27, so . . ."
2. Did you expect the Lions to be more worried about stopping Eddie Lacy rather than playing with two-high safeties like they did?
CLEMENTS: "They had been playing more one-high, but they were injured in the secondary as well. They were on their fourth nickel, so we anticipated, we were preparing for both and weren't surprised that they played two-high."
3. Does the offense miss James Jones?
CLEMENTS: "Well, I'm not going to talk about players who aren't here. We have guys on our team we think they can be productive for us. We just have to play more consistent and better as a group."
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