Out since the preseason with an injury, Desmond Bishop says he thinks he could have impacted the Packers defense against the 49ers if he were healthy. Photo by: Mark Hoffman
Green Bay – Saturday night could have been a triumphant homecoming for Desmond Bishop. As he grew up, the Green Bay Packers inside linebacker could see Candlestick Park from his window and actually played in Pop Warner on that field. As a kid, he rooted for the 49ers.
Yet back in town this weekend, Bishop was a spectator.
Out since the preseason opener with a hamstring injury, he could only watch as the 49ers rolled up 579 total yards and 45 points in a playoff blowout. For the third time in four years, a defensive implosion ended Green Bay’s season. Watching from the sideline, Bishop stood up for his defensive coordinator and said fixing the defense is rooted in a new “internal mind-set.”
A few people have it, Bishop said, but he added that the entire team needs it to produce a winner.
“Just a mind-set of getting it done, running around hitting,” he said. “And I think we’ll be fine. I think (we need to be) just be more focused on it. It’s something that we can consciously every day just kind of bring to our mind. I think it will turn over and show up on the field.”
After the loss, defensive coordinator Dom Capers has come under heavy criticism by fans. There were no defensive players from the loss available in the locker room Sunday to talk about the playoff defeat, but Bishop stood up for Capers.
“You can’t have a great defense and win the Super Bowl one year and then be kicked out the next year, or a year or two later,” Bishop said. “I don’t think it should work like that at all. I think Dom Capers is a great coach.”
Bishop does not anticipate any restrictions returning from his torn hamstring. Rehab has gone well and Bishop believes he will be back in time for minicamp. While Brad Jones drew some high praise from coachMike McCarthy this season, the Packers sorely missed Bishop’s intimidating presence in the middle of the defense. On Saturday, San Francisco ripped Green Bay for 323 rushing yards – including 181 by ColinKaepernick, 119 by Frank Gore.
Maybe things would have been different for the Packers’ defense this season and this game with Bishop on the field.
“It’s really kind of hard to speak hypothetical,” Bishop said. “Of course, I believe I could have helped impact the team. I always have about that. And I always will.”
He probably could have helped the Packers defend the option better. That proved to be a game-long problem for Capers’ unit at Candlestick Park. And it might become a problem for many more teams in the future. Kaepernick’s speed and decision-making gave the Packers fits.
Bishop says the “league is always evolving.” Defenses, he said, will evolve along with the option and find a way to stop it. Stopping the option begins with fundamentals.
“I think really it’s just technique,” Bishop said. “I don’t think it’s really about being fast. I mean, you definitely have to be fast and explosive and athletic. But I think it’s technique. This person has this person. That person has that person. Everybody just stay disciplined. So with discipline and technique, I think we can stop it.”
Backfield in motion
Hope and uncertainty.
That probably best characterizes the Green Bay Packers running back situation.
Cedric Benson hopes to be back 100% from foot surgery next year but isn’t certain he will be. Alex Green hopes to be completely healthy and be the starter, but he’ll have competition. James Starks hopes to avoid injury but isn’t sure where he stands.
DuJuan Harris gave hope there would be a running game in Green Bay, but it’s unclear whether a 5-7, 203-pound guy can be the long-term answer. Ryan Grant is hopeful he’ll hook on somewhere next year but isn’t sure if it will be here.
As many players as the Packers have at the position, there’s no guarantee that general manager Ted Thompson won’t draft a back in the upper rounds.
“I’m still going to prepare (to play),” Benson said. “I know there’s no certainty. I’m on a one-year deal, but I’m going to prepare and be in shape like I did the last off-season.”
Green said the year spent rehabbing took its toll on his knee and he was not the same player at the end of the season.
But he said he’s looking forward to being on even ground with the rest of the backs next year because he won’t have to do rehab just to get on the field.
Starks said he hoped to alter his running style some to avoid injury. He has one year left on his contract and is scheduled to make about $1.3 million. Whether the Packers want to pay that is a concern for him. As for Grant, he said it was worth coming back late in the year. He has no intention of retiring right now.
“I’m not there yet,” said the 30-year-old Grant. “We’ll see. It’s always worth it (coming back). It was frustrating, too. But that’s how this sport is. This job is not the average job when you think about what we put into it.”
Finley optimistic
As far as tight end Jermichael Finley knows, he’ll be a part of the 2013 Packers.
Given his strong performance down the stretch, there’s pretty good reason to believe him.
Finley had 26 catches for 279 yards in the final five regular-season games and closed out the postseason with five catches for 35 yards. He’d like to think it was enough to convince Packers brass that he’s worth the $3 million roster bonus he’s due in March and the $4.5 million base salary after that.
“I’d say more than anything I was just determined. Just determined to prove people wrong and just determined to make myself better overall,” Finley said of his strong finish. Asked what he knew about his future in Green Bay, Finley said as far as he’s concerned he’ll be here next season and hopefully well beyond that.
Finley, 25, said he’s young enough that the arrow is pointing upward for him.
“I don’t think I even scratched it,” he said of his potential. “I’ve poured it all out, but I don’t think consistently for 16 games. You’ve got to have opportunities, too. I’m not saying they’re not coming to me or what not, but if I had a chance to show my skills, I think I’d be a little bit better. It’s all about trust and communication.”
No defense
Apparently, the Green Bay defense said all it had to say about its embarrassing performance Saturday night. On Sunday, the locker room was open to media members for the last time this season and not a single defensive starter was around to discuss the game.
Just about every member of the offensive unit was available and talked about its successes and failures.
But aside from the injured reserve and Saturday inactive players, there were no defensive players around to talk about the future of the unit and the team.
In the locker room after the game, most of the defensive players talked, so it’s not as if they didn’t accept questions about the disappointing performance against the 49ers. But the day after the season ends is usually a time for players to reflect on their season, discuss their health and speak about their future and that of the team.
Whether it was a scheduling conflict or a concerted effort to avoid questions about Capers and his staff, the game plan from Saturday night or more rehashing of the game isn’t clear.
By Tyler Dunne and Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
