GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If you've ever listened to a Mike McCarthy press conference, you've no doubt heard him talk about "pad level" time and again.
It's one of the Green Bay Packers coach's pet phrases, especially when talking about things that need to be corrected.
If the apparatus the Packers introduced to practice this offseason works like it's supposed to, you may never hear him complain about pad level again.
Those in attendance at Saturday's practice got an up-close look at what the offensive linemen call "The Chute." The official name of it, according to manufacturer Rogers Athletic Co., is "Trap Chute."
The offensive linemen used it during their position drills. So did the defensive backs when they worked on tackling techniques.
New assistant offensive line coach Mike Solari, who was hired this offseason after five years as the San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach, brought the idea with him.
"It's just something we work on to help get our pads low," right guard T.J. Lang said. "It's something coach Solari had coming over. We used a lot during the OTAs. It gives us good work when we get a chance to get under there and really work on getting our pads low."
And if they don’t stay low?
"It scuffs your helmet up," Lang said.
During Saturday's practice, Solari ran the linemen through -- or perhaps under is a better way to describe it -- the drill, while long-time line coach James Campen worked with players individually off to the side.
Lang said he already has seen "The Chute" work pay off.
"I just know from watching the [first preseason] game on the film or the iPad, it looked like everybody was playing with pretty good pad level up front," Lang said. "So it's definitely something that I think will help us out."
It's one of several ways Lang said Solari, who is in his 27th NFL season, has helped.
"He brings a lot of input on different techniques we can use," Lang said."“When he was in San Francisco they were a big run team, a big power team. He brings in a little bit of scheme for us. He’s been very helpful with techniques. Josh [Sitton] and I were saying that it's our seventh and eighth year in the NFL and we're still learning so much, especially from him. He's a smart guy, and you'd be pretty dumb not to take his advice."
