GREEN BAY -- Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy addressed reporters for about 9 minutes following Friday's first practice of the post-draft rookie orientation camp. Here's a sampling of what he had to say ...

On the team's nine draft choices: "We're happy with our draft picks. We're really happy with everyone that's here. There's a lot of good looking players both in the free agent and the tryout category. This to me is not a time to evaluate performance, it's an education. It's an excellent learning experience and an excellent learning environment of what's expected on the field, off the field, and I'm very happy with the group we have."

On quarterbacks Brian Brohm, a second-round pick, and Matt Flynn, a seventh-round pick: "You could see they both have a lot of experience, just the way they step into the huddle. Their huddle command was very good. I'm pleased with that. There's a number of fundamental things they've been asked to do that we'll adjust here. They seem to be very coachable. The timing and all those things will come. They're throwing to new faces, they're throwing to new faces with different timing and things like that, so I really don't get into evaluating these guys until we get further into the OTAs. But I thought it was a very good learning experience from today."

On whether the team could go into the regular season with those two rookies behind new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers: "There's a good opportunity that could happen. We have a lot of work to do. It's not just at the quarterback position, but we have a lot of work to do at the football team. That's a big part of it, and we'll have them ready to play. That's our job."

After WSJ columnist Tom Oates followed up the question, McCarthy replied in part, "I think we have the time to get that done. I think these guys have the right mental makeup to accomplish that. From what we're told, they have excellent work ethic, and it's something we'll be prepared to do if we need to."

On whether he'll change Brohm's or Flynn's fundamentals -- especially footwork -- after what he saw in their technique Friday: "Absolutely, and that's normal. That's something that's happened with every quarterback I've ever coached, and I'm sure (quarterbacks coach) Tom Clements would tell you the same thing. There's different ways to skin a cat, there's different ways to teach footwork. We have a certain way that we teach it here. It's been extremely successful over the years, and these guys will be coached the same way."

On UW-Whitewater running back Justin Beaver's first impression: "He's quick as a hiccup, as advertised. I thought he did a nice job. He plays with both excellent pace and tempo. He's got an excellent spirit just the little that I've seen. But that's something that actually as a staff we'll sit down Sunday and we'll have an opportunity to sit down and watch all the film and we'll make some adjustments there. With the 80-man roster and even going down to 53, we're going to have some good football players that we may not be able to bring back."

On wide receiver Jordy Nelson, the first player (No. 36 overall) the team took in the draft last weekend: "Really liked the way he moves, and I'll tell you, I thought he did an excellent job on the go route, the way he stacked the receiver. You could see the patience that he has with the ball in the air. He's an accomplished route-runner, just the little I've seen. I'm glad he's on our team."