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.