HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on practice this week)
"It's been good. It's always good to give them an idea of what it is going to be like during game week during the regular season. Our practices have been good, not perfect, but certainly have improved every day. We're looking to take another step forward today."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he's still evaluating for starting positions or if he's looking more at the depth of his team at this point in preseason)
"I think you have to evaluate everything. I just think that's the way it is in our business. You can never get comfortable. You can never get complacent, always trying to unearth something new and different, always trying to find a way to get an edge. You don't want to place any limitations on anyone. You want to see the competition and let it unfold. That's what makes it fun."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if at this point in preseason is everything set in stone)
"I don't think you ever get to that point. You don't ever start looking too far ahead. Let's deal with the here and now. Things change in a day, in a week. You just never know."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he could cut it down to a 53-man roster today if he had to)
"There's always questions, no question about that. And those are never easy decisions. They take a very thorough evaluation."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if the better the team, the harder it is to make those decisions)
"I think so around here because of the fact that our personnel office does a tremendous job of bringing people in that fit our system, and not only that, that can perform extremely well. It's highly competitive. There is a reason why they are here."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he anticipates RB-Allen Patrick and DB-Glenn Sharpe, who both signed on Monday, getting a lot of playing time on Thursday)
"It's pretty early, but we'll try to get them as familiar with what we do as quickly as we possibly can."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if players that haven't practiced all week will not play Thursday)
"There may be a few that are in that category, then there will be some that will probably get an opportunity to go out there today and practice a little bit that will play."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if RB-Devin Moore is unlikely to return kicks Thursday to give the coaches a look at other possible returners)
"This week that would probably be the proper term for it, unlikely."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if K-Adam Vinatieri needs more game work)
"I think it's a bit of a different situation with him because of the fact that he's done it for a long period of time and done it very, very well. So, I would not be concerned with that aspect. I'm sure he'd certainly like a little bit more work himself. Hopefully we can get him a little bit. We have to get a lot of work in practice, and I think he has been able to do that."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how vanilla do you make the offense in preseason)
"You hold back, I think, a significant amount because of the fact that if there is something you're doing that is a little bit different than what you've done before, you don't necessarily want to give any teams a little head start in preparation. There are some things that you may not divulge. But for the most part it is a fairly significant package. We do also want to keep things relatively simple because we like to see what guys can do and if they are out there thinking a little bit too much. I think that sort of retards what we consider to be a gift of ours and that is our speed and able to run to the ball and execute effectively without having to necessarily think about what is going on. That's kind of how we'll approach it, so it's a little bit of both. "
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how much DB-Jerraud Powers is wanting to be on the field Thursday)
"Like most of them, they want to play. That's what they are here for. That's what they love doing, and they have a great passion for it. He's chomping at the bit, as well as all the other guys that are at this point in time a little slowed because of injuries."
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HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on if he determines playing time by a certain number of snaps or by quarter in the third preseason game)
"It just depends on some guys. If a guy hasn't played much this preseason, we'll go by number of snaps. But other than that we usually go by time period at this point in time, whether it's a quarter, half-a-quarter, a quarter-and-a-half, whatever it might be. It just varies, and you always have to be ready to adjust that due to injuries and things of that nature."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on first roster cuts happening after the game)
"That part of it is one that we don't focus in on at this point in time because we allow the performances to dictate what happens when we do have to reduce the squad. That will happen in the ballgames. That will happen this week. The guys will be able to solidify a position and move themselves into a little bit better position to make the team. It's tough. Those decisions are tough. What we do is evaluate the film, watch the film, determine what we've seen in practice and make a decision from there."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on C-Jeff Saturdays' rehab)
"It's coming along very well, as expected. He's doing fine. I'm not going to put any time frame on it. I'm not going to place any limitations on it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on how beneficial it is to play against a team like Green Bay on the road in preseason)
"It's a great benefit. It's a great atmosphere. They are an outstanding team with speed to burn at their skill positions, a very talented quarterback, a good offensive line that is going to be a great match for us. Conversely, you look at the other side, they have a real stable defense with big guys up front that certainly try to control the line of scrimmage. They give you enough variety, in terms of their stunts and blitzes, to keep you on your toes, particularly on third down, and they are fine cover people. Schematically it is a great challenge both offensively and defensively, the kicking game, as well. They have good return men. WR-Jordy Nelson is a very fine return man. There are a lot of great things they do. They have an outstanding kicker, (Mason) Crosby, an outstanding coaching staff, and you couple that with the fact that it is one of the most unique atmospheres in the National Football League. It's a great mix."
