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GREEN BAY \u2212 At the conclusion of the NFL trade deadline,\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0general manager\u00a0Brian Gutekunst\u00a0met with the media to discuss the current state of the team and the new pieces who have contributed.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Packers\u00a0traded veteran defensive lineman\u00a0Preston Smith\u00a0to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick.<\/p>\n
Here are some players Gutekunst talked about.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s had a little bit of interruptions missing some time and working through injuries. He\u2019s unflappable. He\u2019s kind of the same guy every day. His focus is really, really good. Our offense has been very explosive at times because of him. I think we as a football team, we\u2019re working into a complete team and a team that can win situational football. We\u2019re not there yet, but I feel he\u2019s played very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe weren\u2019t expecting him to be pressed into duty as quickly as we did and you really got to credit Malik and our coaching staff for the great job they did getting him ready, putting a game plan around him that really suited him. We knew the player, the skill set and really liked that part of it to win with his arm and leg. I\u2019ve really enjoyed getting to know him. He\u2019s a great kid and really fits in what we want here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose guys have done a great job this year. I think (Javon Bullard) for a rookie has been doing an excellent job when he\u2019s been put in the nickel. The ability for him to play safety and nickel and what\u2019s put on that guy, for a young guy to do what he\u2019s done is really exciting. What he\u2019s done already and where he\u2019s about to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeisean (Nixon) hasn\u2019t played a ton of outside corner for us and was put in that position. He\u2019s done a really good job for us. He\u2019s got excellent instincts. He can take the ball away. I\u2019ve been really happy with him out there, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot surprised (at production). Those guys were proven players in the league. Again, coming a new environment, sometimes that can take some time. Credit to those guys for being able to contribute how they have so quickly. I think, for me, the production they\u2019ve put out there for us, but also how they fit in the locker room as leaders. They\u2019ve helped strengthen our culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt always starts with our process in college and watching him through that time. Certainly, we were very fond of him during that time and watching him in New York. We played (Giants) last year \u2013 had a chance to see him up close and how he prepared in pregame and the things he was doing. He prepares extremely well. Takes it very serious and keeps his body in great shape. I just think he\u2019s a pro\u2019s pro. Interceptions can be streaky, but I do think he\u2019s a guy where the opportunity presented itself, he had the ability to take the ball away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Film review:<\/strong>Jordan Love’s interception is the one play that cost the Packers against the Lions<\/p>\n \u201cHe had a little bit of a setback (with injuries) in training camp, which for a young player is tough when you miss that much time on the field. Just like he was in college, when you put him on the field he makes dynamic plays. He\u2019s still working through the details and intricacies of our defense, but when he\u2019s out there you feel him. He certainly brings an element of speed and he\u2019s a natural playmaker. Excited for him, where he can go, I think there\u2019s a lot of really good football ahead of him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very rare athlete. Very smart. We knew he could do a lot of things. Did I expect him taking snaps in short yardage? No. If any of our scouts claim they knew, let me know. I\u2019ve read all those reports and I didn\u2019t see anything about a short-yardage quarterback. At the same time, he continues to grow and Matt continues to expand his role because of what he\u2019s been able to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA veteran guy. A pro. He\u2019s been in every situation, so I don\u2019t think he gets flustered at all. Coming in and after the first game, of course, it came down to a (game-winning kick), then did two in a row. It\u2019s why we made the move. Certainly, talking to (special teams coach) Rich (Bisaccia) and those guys, he knows how he wants it done and he\u2019s done it a long time. I think that\u2019s refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore consistency and maybe a little bit better in situational football. I think for a team to win championships and go deep in the playoffs you have to be able to do that. We\u2019re working towards that and I think these guys have had really good moments, but you\u2019ve got to be consistent with that and call upon that when it\u2019s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" packersnews.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-green-bay-packers"],"yoast_head":"\nEdgerrin Cooper<\/h2>\n
Tucker Kraft<\/h2>\n
Brandon McManus<\/h2>\n
What he wants to see from the team after the bye week<\/h2>\n