Packers coach to his TE: Where's the old Finley?

Tyler Dunne, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

GREEN BAY — Jermichael Finley was wanted in Mike McCarthy's office. One thing crossed the tight end's mind.

"I was like, 'What the? What's going on?' When I go up there it ain't good," the Green Bay Packers tight end said on Friday. "So I was like, 'Dang, what's he got for me now?' So I walked in and he said, 'Sit down right here.' And he said, 'Look at this. Finley's a beast.'"

The game looping on this highlight tape was Finley's breakout performance against the Arizona Cardinals in a 2009 Wild Card loss. That game, Finley made it look easy. Effortlessly plucking the ball away from his body, he shredding the Cardinals for 159 yards on nine catches. In short, it's the player Finley has not been this season.

Out of sync with his quarterback and dropping passes, Finley has only 28 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown through eight games. This tape — shown to Finley four weeks ago — was meant to help snap Finley out of his funk. On Sunday, he'll get that chance against that same Cardinals team.

"That was clearly one of the most dominant performances I've ever been a part of with a tight end in a game," McCarthy said. "I felt that he was a big part of the offense's success in that game and the confidence that Aaron had in him, going to him in tight situations, what he did with the ball in his hands after he caught the ball, how we caught the ball. … That's why we talk about fundamentals all the time. It's a major emphasis."

The problem for Finley in 2012 has been trying to catch too many passes with his body. At his best — in 2009 and before his season-ending torn meniscus in 2010 — Finley didn't over-think things. He had no problem catching the ball away from his body in traffic.

Watching those highlights brought Finley back. Part of him was perplexed.

"It's like, 'What happened? Where did it go?'" Finley said. "I'm the same person. I just don't know where it went man.

"Everybody has a coming-out game in a season where they get comfortable and start rolling. So I'm hoping it's this game once again. They have similar, same guys so I have to come out and play my type of ball."

He's trying. Finley plans on meeting with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers each Saturday to work on the duo's chemistry, a buzzword for him dating back to last season. Greg Jennings, who is fresh of surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, is still out. Jordy Nelson (hamstring) will be a game-time decision.

The Packers sure could used a repeat of that 2009 game Sunday. Finley hopes this is the game everything finally clicks with his quarterback.

"If I was the quarterback I wouldn't throw it to a guy who's off rhythm, either," Finley said. "So we have to get that trust back."