Bakhtiari: Packers will rally behind McCarthy
Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari co-hosted Monday's Clubhouse Live, Gannett Wisconsin Media's live weekly football show. Packers guard Lane Taylor was Bakhtiari's guest.
Among the topics they touched on were beating the Dallas Cowboys, calling plays and evolving as a player. The show can be seen live at The Clubhouse Sports Pub & Grill in downtown Appleton or at clubhouselive.com.
Here are select and edited answers from the interview:
REPLAY: Clubhouse Live with Bakhtiari and Taylor
Q: The Packers rushed for 230 yards in Sunday's win over the Cowboys and amassed 435 yards overall. As you look back, what impressed you most about the game from an offensive standpoint?
Bakhtiari: (Smiling) That they called a run play. It's always nice as an offensive line when they let us pin our ears back — no matter what, we're going to stay true and just run the ball. We're not going to get away from it. It's pretty nice. Same thing as a pass rusher. ... When the opposing team is down, they know it's a passing frenzy. So it feels pretty good. ... Rhythm's key. Getting not only the offensive line and the play-calling, but getting the running backs in sync is huge. Letting them get the feel for the game, get the feel for where the hole's going to hit. Getting used to hitting the hole and exploding and breaking tackles, and then they start getting more confident. ... The energy is just pulsating through all of the offense.
Mike McCarthy makes right call for Packers
Q: What was your reaction to Mike McCarthy taking over the play-calling duties again? Did you sense a difference? Did you feel like the offense was in a better rhythm?
Bakhtiari: He's the head coach. Whatever he decides, I think we're all going to rally behind him — from players to the coaching staff. Our one common goal is we just want to win, so whatever that takes.
Q: You've admitted you struggled last season in a loss to the Saints after entering that game in place of an injured T.J. Lang, so you used that experience to refocus and transform yourself as a football player. In what area do you think you've grown the most since that game?
Taylor: I didn't do as well as I wanted to do in that game. I knew it was kind of a low point in my career. It was kind of almost rock bottom for me. I knew that if I wanted to have a career in the league, I had to take my game to another level. So this (past) offseason, I was going to train harder than I've ever trained — really get in the playbook. And just stay hungry and get after it. A good example is T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton — I've learned a lot from them, especially this training camp. I was behind Sitton, so I learned great things from him. And I put it all together this year.
Brett Christopherson: 920-993-7117, or brett.christopherson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @PCBrettC