No fearing Giants’ secondary
But ‘NYPD’ gets plenty of respect
Green Bay — In a casual chat with reporters around his locker, Aaron Rodgers set the tone for the Green Bay Packers this week.
The quarterback never has shied from sharing his feelings. So when asked whether the New York Giants’ defense’s ability to keep some of the league’s tops offenses in check forces him to pay special attention, Rodgers was diplomatic but firm.
“We respect all of our opponents,” Rodgers said. “We fear none of them.”
The Giants have one of the league’s top defensive backfields. They rank second in the NFL with a 75.8 opponent passer rating, and have allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns with 15.
Opposing quarterbacks have been able to move the football — the Giants rank 23rd with 251 passing yards allowed per game — but they’ve been stingy on the scoreboard.
“They’ve got three corners,” coach Mike McCarthy said, “I’d think you’d classify them as starting corners. So that’s a big part of it.”
They’ve also got a lot of swagger.
After apparently kicking around ideas in their meeting room, Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins dubbed the Giants secondary with a familiar acronym: NYPD. No, it’s not the New York Police Department.
This is the New York Pass Defense.
Packers receiver Davante Adams was asked about the nickname Thursday. He thought about the geography of Sunday’s game.
“Well, we’re in Wisconsin,” Adams said. “So we don’t have to worry about that.”
The group includes Collins along with cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and first-round rookie Eli Apple. They will be matched against the Packers’ skill players, including receivers Adams, Jordy Nelson, Geronimo Allison and tight end Jared Cook. Slot receiver Randall Cobb also could return this week.
When asked about the NYPD moniker Thursday, the Packers’ receivers followed their quarterback. Respect, but not fear.
“If that’s what they call themselves that’s what they call themselves,” Allison said. “It probably won’t be too many handcuffs passed out this Sunday.
“Whatever they throw at us, we’ll be prepared for. We’re going to attack them at their weak points, and we’re going to execute our game plan. We’re not really concerned about what they’re going to do to stop us. We just want to execute our job and do it to the best of our ability.”
Perry still productive: Outside linebacker Nick Perry wasn’t supposed to continue piling up his sack total with a cast wrapped around his entire left hand.
Few skills are more important for edge pass rushers than hand fighting. Perry, the Packers’ sacks leader, has to be resourceful shedding blocks from offensive tackles.
It hasn’t stopped him from getting three sacks in his past two games, including a third and 5 against Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford early in the third quarter. Perry stood up, took a few steps and petted his cast to celebrate.
“I just pet it because it’s been good to me,” Perry said. “So I just keep it going.”
It’s been a good season for Perry, a first-round pick in 2011. His 11 sacks in 2016 almost match the 12.5 he had combined in his first four seasons.
Perry and the Packers defensive front needs to provide pressure against Giants quarterback Eli Manning. It would greatly benefit a wounded Packers secondary.
“He doesn’t like to take sacks as you can see,” Perry said. “He’s getting the ball out really quick, and we’ve got to do a good job of keeping pressure on him.”
While it limits Perry, the cast can also be intimidating.
“Some guys are concerned that I’m going to hit them,” Perry said. “I’m going to whack them upside the head. Other than that, no, we’re good. I usually keep it clean.”
Leading the way: The Packers elected their playoff captains ahead of Sunday’s game against the Giants.
The offensive captains are Rodgers and right guard T.J. Lang. Rodgers has been a playoff captain every year since 2009.
The defensive captains are outside linebacker Julius Peppers and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Kicker Mason Crosby and defensive back Micah Hyde are the captains on special teams.
“It definitely means a lot, just to get the respect of my teammates and my peers,” said Clinton-Dix, who is a playoff captain for the first time.
Tough news: Cornerback Makinton Dorleant told PackersNews.com he tore his right ACL on Sunday in the win over the Detroit Lions.
Dorleant, who played primarily on special teams since being brought back from injured reserve, felt his knee give way while trying to plant his leg on the turf at Ford Field.
The Packers placed Dorleant on IR again Wednesday to officially end his rookie year. Because of the nature of the injury, Dorleant is likely to miss most or all of next season.
Dorleant said this is the second ACL tear of his football career, one in each knee.
Injury report: Cornerback Quinten Rollins (neck/concussion) and running back James Starks (concussion) were the only two players who did not participate in Thursday’s practice, which was split between the Don Hutson Center and the outdoor fields.
The other changes to the injury report included right tackle Bryan Bulaga (abdomen) and tackle Jason Spriggs (shoulder) dropping down from full participants Wednesday to limited participants Thursday; Peppers (rest) and inside linebacker Joe Thomas (back) rejoining practice on a limited basis; and cornerback Damarious Randall (knee) bumping up from a limited role to a full participant.
There were no changes to the Giants’ injury report.