Lions humble about Hundley
There’s coach speak, then there are flat-out lies.
Detroit Lions defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin was asked about not having to face quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Monday night, when his team visits the Green Bay Packers. Big advantage, right? “No, we’re not getting a break,” Austin said.
C’mon, Teryl. Third-year newbie Brett Hundley doesn’t pose anywhere near the same threat as Rodgers — and the whole world knows it.
Will it make for a more competitive game? Probably. Detroit has one win at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field since 1991, so they’ll take every break they can get.
Of course, the Lions had such a break in January 2012, when the Packers rested Rodgers before the playoffs, but then-unknown backup Matt Flynn blew apart the Detroit defence in a 45-41 win.
This is Hundley’s second start since Rodgers’s right collarbone was broken on a hit after throwing a pass three weeks ago against Minnesota. Hundley threw a pick on his first pass attempt in that game, then two more in that loss and another six days later in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Hundley has thrown only one TD pass.
Green Bay had a bye last week. Head coach Mike McCarthy said going into it that he had to better help his inexperienced pivot.
“He tried to do a little too much (against the Saints),” McCarthy said, “but he’s competitive. He made some big, big plays with his feet.”
So does Rodgers. It’s all about what he can do with his arm, and until Hundley can hurt teams with his arm as well as his feet, the Packers will struggle on offence.
The Packers added cornerback Kevin King to their injury report Sunday with a back problem. He’s questionable to play Monday.
When asked last week if the volume of injuries may have led the team to take a big-picture evaluation of prevention, training and rehab — or if that was a task reserved for the off-season — McCarthy said, “No, it’s an ongoing process.”
McCarthy did say there were a high number of ankle injuries.
“You look at those and it really just makes you go back through the process a little deeper,” he said.