GREEN BAY – We’ll have a story later off Mike McCarthy’s comments today following the Packers’ pseudo-bye week after their Thanksgiving Day victory over Detroit, but here’s a few highlights from McCarthy’s press conference Monday as the coaches returned to work. The players are back to work Tuesday.

> “We really like where we are as a football team,” McCarthy said.

> McCarthy said left tackle Chad Clifton, who suffered a pulled hamstring against the Lions, came in for treatment Monday. “He may miss some practice time this week,” McCarthy said. It doesn’t sound like Clifton is in danger of missing Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, however.

> McCarthy acknowledged that the special teams units are a concern, but he doesn’t think the problems can’t be fixed. “Our special teams needs to play with a little more confidence,” McCarthy said. “We had the opening kickoff, that we fumbled, and from then on I felt we were playing a little cautious.”

> Tuesday’s practice will focus on “normal down and distance on the Baltimore Ravens” and “make corrections from the Detroit game,” McCarthy said. The practice will be in pads.

> Clifton’s injury appears to be the only one that is a possible concern. McCarthy said wide receiver Jordy Nelson’s shoulder is “going to be OK,” and backup lineman Allen Barbre (ankle) and backup halfback Ahman Green (groin), who were inactive Thursday, worked out for the training staff, as did rookie cornerback Brandon Underwood (hamstring).

> McCarthy said the coaches worked a half-day Friday, then had Saturday and Sunday off before returning to work Monday. The players? “They’re back tomorrow morning. In the weight room by 7,” McCarthy said.

> McCarthy said he watched the Ravens-Steelers game Sunday night into the fourth quarter on TV. “There was obviously a lot you could take away from the game,” he said.

> The Packers defense is ranked No. 1 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed, but while it’s a good indicator of the unit’s growth, the statistic itself doesn’t mean much right now. “Being No. 1 in week 12, 13, 14 really doesn’t give you any merit,” he said. “But I definitely think our defense is on the right pace to be the championship defense that we anticipate we’d have here.

> McCarthy said rookie Brad Jones did enough to keep the starting job at left outside linebacker, but McCarthy “really liked the mix we have there at the outside linebacker position, because that’s a big void there without Aaron Kampman.” Thus, Brady Poppinga and Jeremy Thompson will also see action there.

> McCarthy isn’t worried about first-round draft picks Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji hitting the “rookie wall” late in the season, in part because neither player saw extensive action early in the season. “To have a second bye week before the (final) five games is an advantage for us,” McCarthy said.