Dein erstes Forum » best hes seen during his nine years as head

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The brief scuffle at Packers practice turned heads in the crowd. The dropped ball by a receiver during an offence vs. defence security drill drew roars from defenders. The team has grinded through off-season workouts with a work ethic that coach Mike McCarthy says is one of the best hes seen during his nine years as head coach in Green Bay. The energy is up. "Im not saying the other groups werent mature," McCarthy said. "It just seems like this group is further ahead than weve been, and you can sense the energy." Caveat: Its June, still more than six weeks from the start of training camp and three months from the start of the 2014 season. Almost every team feels good this time of year. The Packers, of course, have a championship pedigree. Confidence that comes with winning three straight NFC North titles, and just a few seasons removed from winning the Super Bowl. "The work ethic is very high. This group is really extremely competitive, in tune. Our new training environment has been unbelievable. It has put us so far ahead of where weve ever been, so I think with that brings more confidence so theres just a sense of maturity," McCarthy said. Changes on the coaching staff brought some new perspective. Quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo left to become the offensive co-ordinator of the New York Giants, while outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene left to spend more time with family. Sam Gash is the new running backs coach after Alex Van Pelt slid over to replace McAdoo. Winston Moss is the assistant in charge of all linebackers now, not just inside linebackers. Former Illinois and Florida head coach Ron Zook is now an assistant special teams coach. Green Bay hopes the defence will be improved this year with the addition of Julius Peppers and the anticipated healthy return of linebacker Clay Matthews from an injured thumb. Eddie Lacy has a full year of seasoning now as the lead rusher in a talented backfield that complements Rodgers. The 2011 NFL MVP, for one, likes the spunk hes seen on the practice field. "I love it. I love the energy, I love the passion. There will be those altercations in training camp. When guys remember this is a professional environment, not a personal environment, then you wont have any issues in the locker room," Rodgers said. "But every now and then you have to stir it up a little bit, you have to make some changes." Rodgers said he also likes the changes he has seen with new personnel and new coaches. "Its a natural progression. And when you have some new players theres always going to be stuff like that, guys getting used to this tempo," Rodgers said. "Sometimes guys dont like getting tossed down a little bit, and you need to work it out." Fringe players anxiously looking for a roster spot shouldnt get too overly worked up. Jobs arent won in June, McCarthy said, when practices are tailored to highlight agility and playing in space. But McCarthy likes some of the intangibles that he has seen so far. "I think youre seeing more player interaction as far as what goes on on the field. Guys self-correcting, and a lot more pro-active as far as sharing information," he said. "Those are good things. I see more of it this year." Note: The Packers signed rookie free agent Shaun Lewis on Tuesday. Lewis, a 5-foot-11 linebacker from Oklahoma State, tried out at Packers rookie minicamp in May. He had 73 tackles and three interceptions last season for the Cowboys. __ Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP BERLIN - Borussia Dortmunds alarming Bundesliga form continued with a 1-0 loss at home to previously winless Hamburger SV, while leader Bayern Munich enjoyed a 4-0 rout of Hannover on Saturday.Pierre-Michel Lasoggas 35th-minute goal was enough for Hamburg to claim its first win at the seventh attempt and climb off the bottom of the table.Finally, the team was rewarded for its performance, Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer said after his fourth game in charge.Nicolai Mueller intercepted Adrian Ramos attempted pass, eluded Sokratis and opted to stay on his feet as Erik Durm tugged his shirt in the penalty area, before squaring the ball for the unmarked Lasogga to claim his first goal of the season and just Hamburgs second.Dortmund fans whistled their side at halftime.Despite slight improvement in the second a€” Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ciro Immobile had chances a€” Dortmund had goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to thank for saving Heiko Westermanns header, and Lewis Holtby missed an open net from a tricky angle.It was Dortmunds third defeat in four league games without a victory.For all our goals and aspirations, it is currently much too little, said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp, whose side is two points off the relegation zone. I accept responsibility. Im responsible for the lineup and setup of the guys.Former Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski and Dutch winger Arjen Robben both scored twice as Bayern stayed four points clear of unbeaten Hoffenheim, which defeated Schalke 2-1.Karim Bellarabi rescued a 2-2 draw for Bayer Leverkusen against Paderborn, and Werder Bremen drew 1-1 with Freiburg as both missed out on their first win.Eintracht Frankfurt captain Alexander Meier scored twice as his side came from behind to beat promoted Cologne 3-2 in the late game.Haris Seferovic set up Meier both times, but Cologne levelled nine minutes later. Frankfurts winner came from a corner in the 79th, when Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn inadvertently knocked the ball over his own line after a defection.We knew we were getting close. Thankfully, it worked out, said Meier, whose side climbed to prrovisional fifth.ddddddddddddLewandowski got Bayern off the mark in the sixth minute, controlling Rafinhas long ball on his chest before dispatching it with his next touch past Ron-Robert Zieler.Robben capitalized on a mistake from Felipe to make it 2-0 seven minutes later, and Hannover held out until Lewandowski claimed his second in the 38th.The Poland striker again displayed wonderful technique to control Juan Bernats long pass, take the ball on and then shoot inside the near post.Everything went to plan, Lewandowski said.Robben claimed his second with 11 minutes to play, when he cut inside a number of defenders before unleashing inside the right post.Bayern has gone seven games without conceding across all competitions.Were getting a little better in each game. Were playing more and running less. Thats why Im happy, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.Bellarabi, who was called up for Germanys upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers, scored in the 90th minute for Leverkusen, three minutes after Moritz Stoppelkamp thought hed scored the winner for Paderborn, down to 10 men after Marvin Bakalorzs red card for a bad tackle in the 72nd.A mistake from Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno a€” he missed the ball after emerging from goal a€” allowed Suleyman Koc to open the scoring in the 20th.Stefan Kiessling hit the post and Lars Bender deservedly equalized in the 42nd, stabbing home the rebound after Lukas Kruse spilled Karim Bellarabis effort.Kruse earned a point for Paderborn with a host of saves in injury time.It wasnt always smart or intelligent how we played. But in the end we have to be positive about the result, Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt said.Hoffenheim is enjoying its best start to a Bundesliga season.Roberto Firmino set up Tarik Elyounoussi to open the scoring in the 13th, and Adam Szalai scored against his former club in the 29th.Schalke defender Joel Matip was sent off in the 75th for his second yellow card, and Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored his sides consolation in the 83rd.Schalke couldnt have complained if wed got the third goal, Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol said. ' ' '