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Indianapolis - Running updates from Mike McCarthy's Friday news conference at the NFL scouting combine...

On this week... The interviews are very important. The workouts are important but the video and the video you have afterward is very resourceful. But the biggest thing, particularly with the NFL Network and the atmosphere they created, it's a big stage they created. So you see how guys react to that process.

On new coaching staffs in NFC North... Go about it like we always do. We have a week we dedicate to each opponent. Obviously with Minnesota, we'll look at a lot of Cincinnati film. With scheduling, division games come later so after teams get 4, 5 games under their belt, their identity becomes a little more clear.

On Johnathan Franklin... Johnathan did some really good things. One game stands out, his performance at Cincinnati. Tried to get him the ball in special teams. That was an adjustment for him. Unfortunate he got hurt. Hopefully, will be ready next year. Has big-impact ability, have to get him involved.

On Bulaga... Rehab, everything is on schedule. He's on time and has hit his targets. Told him, I'd be in touch with him, whatever the plan is for him whether it's left side or right side. Getting into the cut-ups. Coaching staff changes, about five days behind. Will get to that.

On the defensive line changes... Never been part of a conversation where you want your defensive linemen to be smaller. We will be a little different on defense. Our evaluation as far as what we're going to go, you always want to get bigger, faster, stronger. We're definitely not going to get smaller.

On Tolzien/Flynn... Scott will be back. Matt's a free agent. We always like to bring our own guys back, so Matt will be a part of that conversation. Matt is obvioiusly a good fit for our program. I thought he definitely gave us a shot when we needed it. Free agency is upon us. We'll see what happens.

On struggles vs. Colin Kaepernick... Colin has played very well against us. That's stating the obvious. The discussions we're having on defense isn't about one player on an opposing team. Would be losing sight of what really needs to get done. We have to do a better job with our personnel. Have had a lot of change, a lot of moving parts. We have to do a better job of planning for that April. Datone Jones needs to be on the field. Need to be on top of scheme and reality is we didn't get to a lot of that this year. We have to make sure we're emptying our guns every week. Give players more than one role.

On Datone Jones... Very talented young man. His injury in training camp set him back. There were a number of packages he was a part of and we didn't get to them because of our injuries. I feel that Datone is one of those players that takes a huge jump in second year.

On where Eddie Lacy can get better... Had a heck of a year. Eddie's focus will be being a three-down player. Needs to play three downs every game. Need a better rotation with our running back group. With Eddie and Johnathan and James Starks, if all these guys can play three downs, it gives your offense a chance to play faster.

On most important thing with QBs at Combine... The way they communicate on film. Can they tell you what the play's called, the defense. Who the center declared. What you're thinking going into a game. I'm always impressed with the prospects every year when you come here, just the way they really know football.