Packers notes: Green puts spin on record

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Stay the course ... the proper pieces are still in place

TAMPA, Fla. - It didn't come in an ideal setting.

Nevertheless, Ahman Green became Green Bay's all-time leading rusher Sunday, surpassing Jim Taylor's 8,207 career yards in the Packers' 38-28 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It's a bittersweet feeling - to get that record - but we lost today," Green said.

Green had six carries for 45 yards, with a long run of 26. His final carry - a 2-yard gain behind right guard Josh Sitton - vaulted him past Taylor.

"The biggest thing is how long (the record) has been around," Green said. "A lot of guys played running back (for the Packers) before me, and had the opportunity to do it and never did it. I'm fortunate to be among that group of guys who are in the record books for the Green Bay Packers."

Taylor played nine seasons (1958-66) in Green Bay. Green, who signed back with the Packers on Oct. 21 following a two-year stint in Houston, is in his eighth season with the team and spoke highly of Taylor.

"Jim Taylor was a heck of a running back when he was here," Green said. "I don't know if he's happy or mad about it, but records are made to be broken. And someday somebody's going to break my record.

"Right now, it's just a hats off to all the guys that helped me get there, from 2000 to now - all the offensive linemen, all the fullbacks."

Tauscher: Injury not serious

As expected, left tackle Chad Clifton and right tackle Mark Tauscher returned to the Packers' starting lineup.

Green Bay used a rotation, of sorts, at both spots - something coach Mike McCarthy had hinted at during the week - but had to go with Allen Barbre exclusively at right tackle after Tauscher left with a knee injury.

Tauscher, who was active but didn't play last week for the first time since re-signing with Green Bay on Oct. 12, was shaken up on the second play from scrimmage of the second half.

McCarthy called the injury - one to his left knee, the same knee upon which he has twice undergone major surgery - a sprain.

Tauscher said he got rolled up on during the play, but didn't think it was anything serious after speaking with the team's medical staff.

"I'm sure we'll probably get it looked at again (Monday)," the former University of Wisconsin athlete and Sun Prairie resident said. "... I think I got lucky. I don't think it's anything major."

Tauscher said he was settling in prior to the injury. He started and played the first three series before being replaced by Barbre for the next two. Tauscher returned for the next series, one in which T.J. Lang came in for Clifton, only to be pulled after two plays. Lang had a false start on his first snap.

Clifton replaced Lang, and he and Tauscher were back for the final series of the first half.

No pressure on Freeman

While Aaron Rodgers was sacked six times and hit 12 times, the Packers only dropped Buccaneers rookie Josh Freeman once and hit him on just four occasions.

McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers pointed to Freeman's combination of size and elusiveness as reasons the Packers couldn't generate more pressure.

Freeman completed only 14 of 31 passes for 205 yards but threw three touchdowns against just one interception.

"I thought we got there a couple times and he was able to move out of the pocket," linebacker Nick Barnett said. "You've got to kind of keep contain, too. We've got to do everything: we've got to cover better, we've got to pressure, we've got to get him down on the ground."

Capers did throw a new wrinkle at the Buccaneers.

The Packers played a handful of snaps in their base defense with nickel back Tramon Williams in for safety Atari Bigby and cornerback Charles Woodson sliding over to operate more like a second safety.

Green Bay also used its dime package - with Jarrett Bush coming in as a fourth cornerback and Barnett working as the lone inside linebacker - more than it has recently. Capers said the reason for that was twofold: linebacker Brandon Chillar, who played in the nickel package, is out after breaking his hand last week; and the Packers wanted to match up Woodson on Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow.

"Winslow's their leading receiver, very good vertical threat, and we just felt like having Woodson matched up on him would be the way to go," Capers said.

Kampman leaves with injury

Besides Tauscher, the only other injured player was outside linebacker Aaron Kampman (head), McCarthy said.

It's unclear when Kampman suffered the injury, but he was replaced by Brady Poppinga starting on Tampa Bay's second possession of the fourth quarter and didn't return.

Kampman was credited unofficially with five tackles and one quarterback hit.

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