GREEN BAY – Before his team’s practice Sept. 25, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur addressed the media. Here are some quick highlights.

Matt LaFleur praises Elgton Jenkins’ response to poor play

Whether LaFleur heard starting center Elgton Jenkins’ harsh self-critique of his play to start the season or not, the coach was pleased with the veteran’s accountability.

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Jenkins was only part of a poor performance from the Packers‘ offensive line in Cleveland, but he allowed a team-high 1.5 sacks. It’s something the seventh-year lineman who is transitioning to starting center is not accustomed to. Jenkins put it bluntly at his locker Sept. 24, saying he’s “playing like (expletive).”

LaFleur praised his center for being introspective.

“I personally think that’s a mature response. I mean, we all need to be self-critical if we want to get better,” LaFleur said. “He has a high standard for himself, which that’s exactly what you want. He’s one of our better players. In order to win games in this league, you need your best players to play at their best. Certainly, I think it wasn’t just him, it was all of us. It was myself included. We’ve all got to be better.”

LaFleur acknowledged Jenkins’ transition to center might take time. The Packers were bullish on Jenkins’ potential at center this offseason, when he replaced longtime starter Josh Myers.

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“I think there’s something to be said for that, for sure,” LaFleur said.

Matt LaFleur says offense’s operation needs to improve

LaFleur believed the Packers were too slow against the Browns defense, and not just after the snap.

The coach said the offense’s operation needs to be crisper when the Packers travel to Dallas for a primetime matchup in Week 4.

“I just thought our operation as a whole the past game was not good enough,” LaFleur said. “We were too slow in and out of the huddle, getting lined up to the line of scrimmage to allow you to see what’s going on.”

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LaFleur said it was “better” in practice Sept. 24, but suggested there was still a need to improve.

“We’ve just got to be urgent with our substitutions,” LaFleur said. “I think a lot of it is the communication. When we have different guys running in and out of the huddle, we’ve got to communicate more efficiently to get them out of the huddle, so you can call the play and give yourself ample time to get up to the line of scrimmage and do whatever you need to do.”

Packers offensive line still struggling with injuries

With four offensive linemen on the injury report, including three starters, the unit’s primary need is health. LaFleur didn’t want to use injuries as an excuse.

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“Yeah, you can use that as an excuse always,” LaFleur said, “but it is what it is. It’s the National Football League. Guys got to be ready to step up and step in, and you can’t miss a beat. So that is what it is. I mean, every team is dealing with this. We’re not the only one. You’ve got to find a way.”

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Matt LaFleur says Elgton Jenkins’ self-critique is ‘mature response’