WEBVTT - #665 Packers Unscripted: Final stretch 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:10.680 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:10.680 --> 0:00:14.080 Packers dot Com. I am like Spofford, he is my 0:00:14.320 --> 0:00:17.360 trusted colleague Weston Hotkowitz. We're coming to you here from 0:00:17.360 --> 0:00:22.360 our studios at lambeau Field West. Preseason game number two 0:00:22.480 --> 0:00:25.280 is in the books for the Packers. Let's let's get 0:00:25.360 --> 0:00:27.760 right into it. What were your impressions? What did you 0:00:27.960 --> 0:00:30.920 like best? As far as what you saw from the 0:00:30.960 --> 0:00:33.239 Packers against the New Orleans Saints on Friday night at 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:36.800 lambe Field, Jordan's love attacking downfield was the number one 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:38.800 thing I wanted to see And it actually goes back 0:00:38.800 --> 0:00:41.960 to what has been this recurring storyline learning more about 0:00:42.000 --> 0:00:45.680 Jordan's love the quarterback mistakes are gonna happen. You're not 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:47.519 gonna have every throw where you wanted to be, but 0:00:47.600 --> 0:00:50.680 taking chances. And I thought you heard Matt Lafleur discuss 0:00:50.720 --> 0:00:53.360 that a lot this week. And you know, being able 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:55.520 to see this young man stand tall in the pocket, 0:00:55.560 --> 0:00:59.600 create off schedule plays, deliver the ball with accuracy, power 0:01:00.200 --> 0:01:03.440 down field his receivers and and his receivers at times 0:01:03.440 --> 0:01:05.679 didn't catch him that that was one part of this 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:07.840 thing there. Yeah, the Floor pointed that out after the 0:01:07.880 --> 0:01:10.520 game too, He said, boy, you know, if if if 0:01:10.560 --> 0:01:13.319 some of those passes are caught, and they were certainly 0:01:13.560 --> 0:01:16.959 multiple catchable ones that were not, we're talking about a 0:01:16.959 --> 0:01:20.240 completely different statistical line for Jordan's love in this game. 0:01:20.319 --> 0:01:22.840 And since day one, Mike I've said that he's had 0:01:22.880 --> 0:01:25.600 the right temperament for the position. He's a guy that's 0:01:25.680 --> 0:01:29.000 naturally confident and he's unshakable in the pocket. You don't 0:01:29.040 --> 0:01:32.120 see him forsaking his footwork because he's nervous about the 0:01:32.120 --> 0:01:34.959 pressure that might be coming. He's going to go out 0:01:34.959 --> 0:01:37.080 there and deliver the football. But it's just about making 0:01:37.080 --> 0:01:40.240 sure that everything is syanked up. And Aaron Rodgers is disgust. 0:01:40.319 --> 0:01:42.240 He feels like Tom Clements coming in has had a 0:01:42.240 --> 0:01:44.840 big you know, a lot to do with that and 0:01:44.880 --> 0:01:47.760 also just a young man maturing that that stack gets 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:49.280 thrown out there a couple of times. Now when you 0:01:49.280 --> 0:01:51.600 look at these young quarterbacks coming into the league this year, 0:01:52.040 --> 0:01:54.480 Jordan loves in the same peer group as all of them. 0:01:54.760 --> 0:01:56.560 You know, he came into this league as a young 0:01:56.720 --> 0:01:59.640 quarterback and now he's had two years under his belt. 0:01:59.760 --> 0:02:02.320 There still things to iron out. He's not a finished 0:02:02.320 --> 0:02:04.200 product by any means, But if you're looking for a 0:02:04.200 --> 0:02:07.240 guy that's taking gradual steps from two thousand twenty to 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:09.919 one to twenty two, as the Floor said, it's like 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.119 he is light years ahead of where he was three 0:02:12.120 --> 0:02:14.880 and six days ago. Yeah. Absolutely, I think there's no 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:17.440 doubt about that. And what I really liked in terms 0:02:17.440 --> 0:02:19.760 of the the overall picture of things and what I 0:02:19.800 --> 0:02:22.800 think really helped Jordan Love in this game is I 0:02:22.800 --> 0:02:25.440 thought the Packers got something going on the ground. I 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:27.680 thought there, I thought the running game, No, it wasn't. 0:02:27.720 --> 0:02:30.800 It wasn't perfect. There were still some plays that you know, 0:02:30.880 --> 0:02:33.920 runs get stuffed at the line of scrimmage, but I 0:02:33.960 --> 0:02:37.560 saw more holes being opened. It felt like it felt 0:02:37.560 --> 0:02:41.280 like when some of those five yard nine yard runs 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:45.639 were being churned out by you know, Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson, 0:02:47.000 --> 0:02:50.040 that Jordan's Love was able to really stay settled down, 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:52.720 stay into a rhythm, stay in command of everything. And 0:02:53.200 --> 0:02:55.520 I don't know what you think, Well, I mean, you 0:02:55.560 --> 0:02:58.799 look back to two thousand nineteen, Matt Lafleur first got here, 0:03:00.240 --> 0:03:02.880 and the Packers really couldn't do much with regard to 0:03:02.919 --> 0:03:07.800 the outside zone running and and sort of shifted everything 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:11.200 to become an inside zone running team with Aaron Jones, 0:03:11.320 --> 0:03:15.040 right what I what I've seen, you know, the joint 0:03:15.080 --> 0:03:18.359 practices with the Saints than the preseason game and even 0:03:18.400 --> 0:03:21.240 a little bit in practice this week. I think this 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:25.239 outside zone is maybe looking better than it ever has 0:03:25.320 --> 0:03:28.400 on the floor now that we're into this this fourth year, 0:03:29.400 --> 0:03:31.680 and who knows, maybe it'll show up in the games. 0:03:31.760 --> 0:03:35.160 Maybe it won't, you know, maybe with with Dylan and Jones, 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:38.000 it's still going to be more inside zone and outside zone. 0:03:38.240 --> 0:03:41.520 But I've seen some encouraging signs with that, and I 0:03:41.560 --> 0:03:44.840 think that started to show up against an opponent in 0:03:44.920 --> 0:03:47.200 the Saints on Friday night. It was so interesting too, 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:49.440 because I think for so long it was almost like 0:03:49.480 --> 0:03:51.880 the Packers were trying to find themselves with it that 0:03:52.120 --> 0:03:54.280 you wanted to go back to maybe the safety blanket 0:03:54.280 --> 0:03:56.640 of running, you know, you know, between the tackles and 0:03:56.680 --> 0:03:59.320 everything and staying there, and that still can be really 0:03:59.400 --> 0:04:01.840 valuable actually with the back like a j. Dillon. But 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:04.320 the more the idea what the outside zone is, you're 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:06.880 able to stretch teams more, get them thinking more, play 0:04:06.920 --> 0:04:10.280 sideline to sideline and look for opportunities look for holes 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:13.520 in that that defensive front to execute on. I've always 0:04:13.560 --> 0:04:16.160 felt like Aaron Jones, whatever way you want to run him, 0:04:16.760 --> 0:04:18.800 I can have the greatest philosophy, I can have the 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:22.320 worst philosophy in terms of running football. I think Aaron 0:04:22.400 --> 0:04:24.680 Jones is gonna get you yards. We've seen that throughout 0:04:24.720 --> 0:04:26.440 the course of his career. He's a big play waiting 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:28.680 to happen. A j Dillon is really the one I 0:04:28.680 --> 0:04:30.839 think where the Packers are finding out more not only 0:04:30.880 --> 0:04:33.760 about Dylon, but about how he can fit into this offense. 0:04:33.920 --> 0:04:36.159 Whether it is the inside zone, outside zone, whether it 0:04:36.240 --> 0:04:38.360 is you know, getting him out in space and throwing 0:04:38.360 --> 0:04:40.719 the ball to him. Uh, those are all things that 0:04:40.760 --> 0:04:43.279 I've I've really believed are the principles are there, and 0:04:43.279 --> 0:04:46.560 now they're bringing in offensive linemen that are really learning 0:04:46.680 --> 0:04:49.640 in this scheme rather than trying to make a transition 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:54.080 within it. So, but for Tyler Goodson, looking at him specifically, 0:04:54.120 --> 0:04:57.599 I thought this game um this past week against New Orleans, 0:04:57.680 --> 0:05:00.320 that was one of his best showings because you were 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:03.640 able to see more about how the running back, especially 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:06.120 when they're decisive, they have a good one cut ability, 0:05:06.320 --> 0:05:09.520 they can execute and make plays happen at the second level. 0:05:09.920 --> 0:05:11.640 His fifteen yard run that got him down to the 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:14.000 four yard line. That's set up the Romeo Dabs touchdown. 0:05:14.279 --> 0:05:16.000 That's about as pretty as a place you're going to 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:19.240 see in preseason football. It's not easy Mike to run 0:05:19.240 --> 0:05:21.320 the ball in the preseason. That that was a that 0:05:21.400 --> 0:05:25.960 was a classic backside cut back lane that the outside 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:29.000 zone play is designed to create. It was there, he 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:32.400 hit it, and uh and as you said, fifteen yards 0:05:32.440 --> 0:05:34.320 and and and it's a matter of it's a matter 0:05:34.360 --> 0:05:36.760 of the timing division. You see it at the right time, 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:39.279 and instead of just a four or five yard gain 0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:42.440 on a garden variety outside zone, you see the cutback 0:05:42.520 --> 0:05:45.960 lane and suddenly it's an explosive run. Absolutely, So those 0:05:46.000 --> 0:05:47.760 are all things that are going to be very interesting 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.480 to watch develop. And and certainly we don't know when 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:52.320 David Bactier is gonna be back. You don't know when 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:54.520 Elton Jenkins is going to get back. But for as 0:05:54.600 --> 0:05:56.680 much as people talked about this offensive line and the 0:05:56.760 --> 0:05:59.480 uncertainties there, and certainly they need to figure out who 0:05:59.480 --> 0:06:01.440 those guards are going to be in this whole equation. 0:06:01.839 --> 0:06:03.960 But the fact of the matter is the Packers have 0:06:04.120 --> 0:06:06.840 the type of offensive alignment to run that type of 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:09.080 offense if that's where they want to go. And I 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:10.960 really do believe is you and I have said so 0:06:11.000 --> 0:06:13.440 many times during this training camp. There are a lot 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.279 of good options that receive a lot of potential, but 0:06:16.560 --> 0:06:18.919 the proven commodity right now is this running game. And 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.279 when you're talking about what's best eleven getting them on 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:24.039 the field, it starts with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Yeah, 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:26.640 and one other thought on the offense before before we 0:06:26.680 --> 0:06:29.960 shift gears to the defense from Friday night. It's a 0:06:30.000 --> 0:06:35.680 really interesting battle slash decision that's going on here as 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:38.080 far as the number three running back. When you look 0:06:38.120 --> 0:06:42.360 at what Tyler Goodson has done, you look at Patrick Taylor, 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:46.560 his body type, his experience in this in this offense, 0:06:46.600 --> 0:06:49.200 having played in some regular season games, really good past 0:06:49.279 --> 0:06:53.720 protector Dexter Williams coming back obviously plenty familiar with the 0:06:53.760 --> 0:06:57.279 offense and all that. I think it's going to be 0:06:57.400 --> 0:07:00.960 very difficult numbers wise, for of the Packers to keep 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:03.760 four running backs on the fifty three man roster. So 0:07:04.279 --> 0:07:07.160 um they will have some others, at least one or 0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:09.320 two others. I think on the practice squad. But the 0:07:09.360 --> 0:07:12.840 decision as far as which one gets the number three 0:07:12.960 --> 0:07:15.040 job and it's on the fifty three, I think it's 0:07:15.280 --> 0:07:18.000 it's a really tough call. If you're looking at, say 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:22.960 specifically Goodson and Taylor. They've both they've both been productive, 0:07:22.960 --> 0:07:25.200 they've both shown what they can do. I think partly 0:07:25.240 --> 0:07:29.240 what makes it a difficult decision is they're two completely 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:32.160 different style of backs. Right. It's in some ways you're 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:36.520 not able to compare just apples to apples because Goodson 0:07:36.680 --> 0:07:39.640 is sort of the speedier, shiftier guy and Taylor is 0:07:39.720 --> 0:07:43.840 more of the the upright power back. Right. So, um, 0:07:43.840 --> 0:07:46.520 it's it's going to be an interesting decision. And and 0:07:46.640 --> 0:07:49.840 certainly Thursday night in Kansas City is is going to 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:52.360 factor into this as well. So this is your ten 0:07:52.720 --> 0:07:55.560 year eleven with me now covering the Packers, and you're 0:07:55.600 --> 0:07:59.440 twelve going back to training camps. In terms of not 0:07:59.520 --> 0:08:02.239 only just the running back position, I don't ever remember 0:08:02.240 --> 0:08:04.760 the stakes being this high going into a preseason finale. 0:08:05.280 --> 0:08:07.800 You mentioned the backfield. You look at tight end, you 0:08:07.840 --> 0:08:12.640 look at offensive line, defensive line, safety, cornerback, so many 0:08:12.680 --> 0:08:16.080 of these positions. Mike I wrote about our Insider Inbox column. 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:18.400 The decisions are not going to be easy here for 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:22.200 Brian good Kunst and his scouts. I mean, because it's 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:24.560 not just about the fact that, Okay, who's the best 0:08:24.560 --> 0:08:27.600 prospect or who's the best player. These guys offer different 0:08:27.680 --> 0:08:31.600 skill sets, different strengths, different weaknesses, different things that you're 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:33.720 gonna be able to potentially do with them on special teams. 0:08:34.320 --> 0:08:36.120 And that's really when you get back to this running 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:38.120 back equation. You have to factor that in as well. 0:08:38.160 --> 0:08:40.559 Patrick Taylor, It's been a pretty good staple with a 0:08:40.600 --> 0:08:43.160 lot of Green Bay special teams. Tyler Goodson has been 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:46.440 the number three kickoff returner in camp. Where do you 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:48.600 want these guys to fit and how will they be 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:51.440 part of this program? You have a practice squad now 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:53.839 that's sixteen players, where guys can be brought up up 0:08:53.840 --> 0:08:57.040 to three times now as elevations. These are all things 0:08:57.040 --> 0:08:58.720 that have to be swirling around in your mind a 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:01.600 little bit. In all so, getting back to just the 0:09:01.679 --> 0:09:04.240 pure basics of the running back position. I've said it 0:09:04.280 --> 0:09:08.520 since the beginning, Patrick Taylor is your quintessential Green Bay 0:09:08.520 --> 0:09:12.240 Packers running back. That's the way they've typically had backs 0:09:12.280 --> 0:09:14.840 here in Green Bay. Maybe not with Matt Lafleur, but 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:18.160 in terms of the Ted Thompson, Brian Goodkins. He is 0:09:18.200 --> 0:09:20.800 a big back. He's a guy that can stand up 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:23.760 to pass pressure. He's going to be able to offer 0:09:23.800 --> 0:09:27.000 you a lot of different avenues to to move a football. 0:09:27.360 --> 0:09:30.240 Tyler Goodson has been incredibly explosive. Oh and then you 0:09:30.320 --> 0:09:34.000 have Dexter Williams returning to the equation in Dexter going 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:35.520 back to the short shuttle and the things he did 0:09:35.559 --> 0:09:37.960 at the combine. He checks all the boxes for what 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:40.800 the Packers like in their running backs. There's been a 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:42.640 lot of years, Mike, where the Packers have had some 0:09:42.679 --> 0:09:44.480 backs and you're watching them out there and you're like, Okay, 0:09:44.520 --> 0:09:46.240 well they got to get through the third and fourth quarter. 0:09:46.280 --> 0:09:48.400 Here this is gonna be the guy and we know 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:51.800 what will probably happen on Saturday. All three of those guys, 0:09:51.840 --> 0:09:54.440 I could see any of them being the number three back. 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:57.280 That's really how tight that competition is. Yeah, I think 0:09:57.320 --> 0:10:01.400 so too. On the defensive side, I'll say this West 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:04.720 what stood out to me in this game. We know 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:10.360 that Deveandre Campbell and Kay Walker are you know, one 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:12.880 and two in terms of the inside linebackers, and we 0:10:13.000 --> 0:10:15.640 talked about, you know, two guys six ft four. You know, 0:10:15.720 --> 0:10:18.880 Aaron Rodgers used the term range e in terms of 0:10:19.440 --> 0:10:22.920 having guys like that um in the middle of a 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:26.000 defense and what that can mean. But I tell you what, 0:10:26.280 --> 0:10:32.760 Chris Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie, Ray Wilborn, these other these other 0:10:32.800 --> 0:10:36.600 guys that inside linebacker are really showing up in these 0:10:36.640 --> 0:10:40.240 preseason games and really really playing some good football. I've 0:10:40.280 --> 0:10:45.360 been impressed with that position specifically in terms of its depth, 0:10:46.040 --> 0:10:48.720 maybe maybe more so than any other position on the 0:10:48.760 --> 0:10:51.080 defensive side of the ball right now, because it's also 0:10:51.160 --> 0:10:53.840 a position where the Packers haven't historically had great depth, 0:10:54.040 --> 0:10:57.959 right And I think in a lot of different variations 0:10:58.000 --> 0:11:01.480 and metaverses and and you know drafts that you could do, 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:04.320 Packers very easily could have winned this season as Chris 0:11:04.320 --> 0:11:07.240 Barnes as this number two inside linebacker, and I don't 0:11:07.240 --> 0:11:08.719 think a lot of people would have batted an eye 0:11:09.160 --> 0:11:12.880 tackling machine, right. But then you have kay Walker fall 0:11:12.960 --> 0:11:14.680 to them and they feel like that's a good value 0:11:14.679 --> 0:11:16.280 at that pick, and he gets brought in. You have 0:11:16.320 --> 0:11:18.840 two six ft four speedy linebackers down in the middle 0:11:18.840 --> 0:11:21.720 of this defense. But Chris Barnes, you look at how 0:11:21.760 --> 0:11:24.480 he's played in these preseason games, Mike, I mean that's 0:11:24.480 --> 0:11:26.319 a guy on a mission. I mean some of the 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:29.880 sideline tackles he made against the Saints, they get your attention. 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:31.920 He knows how to call the defense if it's asked 0:11:32.080 --> 0:11:35.720 that of him as well. And Isaiah McDuffie has taken 0:11:35.760 --> 0:11:37.439 about as big of a year one a year to 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:40.160 jump right now as anybody on the roster. This is 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:42.319 a guy that had a hard time even getting active 0:11:42.559 --> 0:11:45.400 in games last season and now suddenly he's on all 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:48.640 this basic special core units, special team's core units. In 0:11:48.679 --> 0:11:51.400 addition to the fact he's they're leading tackler in the preseason. 0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:53.480 Ray Wilburn is a guy that's been around for two 0:11:53.520 --> 0:11:55.040 years now. The Packers have put a lot of time 0:11:55.040 --> 0:11:57.200 and effort into him. And we haven't even mentioned Ty 0:11:57.320 --> 0:12:01.800 Summers in that equation too. This this competition, not only 0:12:02.000 --> 0:12:04.760 you know, we'll look so much about defense, but realistically 0:12:05.080 --> 0:12:07.680 what these guys could potentially do for Rich Pisacchi on 0:12:07.760 --> 0:12:12.800 special teams. Again, it's going to be a sixty minute 0:12:12.800 --> 0:12:15.760 competition on Thursday night to show what you can offer 0:12:15.800 --> 0:12:18.280 because there's been so many of these young men who 0:12:18.280 --> 0:12:20.520 have really stepped up. You haven't seen a lot of 0:12:20.559 --> 0:12:23.760 mistackles from the inside backer position in these preseason games. 0:12:24.080 --> 0:12:26.720 Guys know and understand the sense of urgency that goes 0:12:26.760 --> 0:12:29.400 along with this, because it's not just about the spot 0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:31.880 and the job, it's about how you can potentially help 0:12:31.960 --> 0:12:34.120 this team throughout the course of a season. Yeah. Well, 0:12:34.800 --> 0:12:37.120 the other spot I want to talk about with regard 0:12:37.160 --> 0:12:40.680 to the defensive side of the ball is the safety position. 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:44.839 Um Darnell Savage has been out since Family Night when 0:12:44.880 --> 0:12:48.200 he tweaked his hamstring. Vernon Scott had been filling in 0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:51.760 with the number one defense paired with Adrian Amos. We've 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:55.679 seen that in practice. Vernon Scott injured his shoulder Friday 0:12:55.760 --> 0:12:58.920 night against the New Orleans Saints. So and there had 0:12:58.960 --> 0:13:01.920 been some other safe these out with injuries as well. 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:05.079 Now this week we've seen in his Gains and Tore Carpenter, 0:13:05.160 --> 0:13:08.160 the seventh round draft pick rookie this year. Those guys 0:13:08.160 --> 0:13:11.080 are now back in practice. Presumably they'll be able to 0:13:11.679 --> 0:13:14.960 play in the In this preseason finale show a little 0:13:15.000 --> 0:13:18.920 bit of what they can do. But a guy brought 0:13:18.960 --> 0:13:22.080 in I think less than two weeks ago, if if 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:25.400 my math is right, because of these injuries at safety, 0:13:25.800 --> 0:13:30.120 Mica Abernathy talk about a guy who shows up suddenly, 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:32.600 sort of out of nowhere in a sense. I mean, 0:13:32.800 --> 0:13:36.800 there's no way he has a decent chunk of the 0:13:36.800 --> 0:13:39.880 playbook down in the very short time that he's been here, 0:13:40.640 --> 0:13:44.880 but an interception against Saints quarterback Ian Book in the game. 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:47.679 I think he also had a tackle for loss um 0:13:47.760 --> 0:13:50.720 in there as well. You talk about a young man 0:13:51.520 --> 0:13:54.240 getting an opportunity, jumping on the scene and sort of 0:13:54.280 --> 0:13:56.600 like raising his hand and saying, hi, here I am. 0:13:56.679 --> 0:13:59.400 I mean, Mica Abernathy is a is a guy who's 0:13:59.400 --> 0:14:02.079 gonna make the personnel department think a little bit if 0:14:02.120 --> 0:14:05.240 he can follow it up Thursday night in Kansas City 0:14:05.520 --> 0:14:08.320 with another performance like he had at Lambeau. This is 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:11.120 there's so many different things to like about the Abernathey situation. 0:14:11.240 --> 0:14:15.079 One having the USFL that avenue to give players some exposure. 0:14:15.120 --> 0:14:16.880 That maybe because Abernathey had been in the league. I 0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:19.480 think he came into league in two thousand nineteen, you know, 0:14:19.560 --> 0:14:21.680 kind of went through the process, ended up falling out. 0:14:21.720 --> 0:14:24.280 I think he was in Minnesota for a time and 0:14:24.520 --> 0:14:26.560 ends up finding his way to the USFL, and he said, 0:14:26.600 --> 0:14:29.360 you know, had a decent solid season there, you know, 0:14:29.560 --> 0:14:32.440 multiple games, you know, started the season, seventy some tackles, 0:14:32.560 --> 0:14:34.960 a few interceptions, but the season ends and you're kind 0:14:34.960 --> 0:14:37.400 of just sitting there waiting like, hey, did anybody notice me? 0:14:37.440 --> 0:14:39.920 Did anybody see what I did here? And he gets 0:14:39.960 --> 0:14:42.080 that call and in so many ways might get reminded 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:44.400 me of what Chris Banjo did in two thousand thirteen, 0:14:44.440 --> 0:14:48.320 where this young guy comes in understanding I don't have 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:51.480 any room for error. I need to maximize every single 0:14:51.480 --> 0:14:53.720 time I'm on the field, and a few different things 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:57.120 unfortunately end up going his way on the injury front, 0:14:57.200 --> 0:14:59.600 that he's put in a position to make some plays, 0:14:59.640 --> 0:15:02.560 and walking with him after the game and him mentioning that, yeah, 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:04.600 that was something that Jerry Gray this past week had 0:15:04.600 --> 0:15:06.440 talked to him about because there was a play very 0:15:06.480 --> 0:15:09.000 similar to that in practice where he wasn't in the 0:15:09.080 --> 0:15:11.360 right position and didn't make the play that could have 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:14.960 potentially been there for a turnover. In this specific thing, 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:19.000 the guy crashes like lightning down the sideline and as 0:15:19.040 --> 0:15:20.480 he said, he's like, I didn't know if I got 0:15:20.520 --> 0:15:22.040 in or not, but I was sure going to act 0:15:22.080 --> 0:15:24.160 like it, you know, just to make sure and he did. 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:26.560 But like, those are the type of plays you have 0:15:26.640 --> 0:15:28.760 to make as a young safety trying to make this roster, 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:32.040 especially this late in the process. Sean Davis was on 0:15:32.080 --> 0:15:34.600 the practice squad last year, originally a draft pick out it, 0:15:34.680 --> 0:15:38.600 I believe Indianapolis and as Gains comes back, tore Carpenters 0:15:38.600 --> 0:15:42.120 the seventh round pick. Again, a number of guys here 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:44.520 that are trying to get those numbers two and are 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:47.840 three and four spots in the safety depth chart, and 0:15:48.320 --> 0:15:51.320 it's a wide open competition going into the final turn. Yeah, 0:15:51.400 --> 0:15:53.320 Davis is the guy who now is stepped up to 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:56.240 fill in for Vernon Scott with Vernon Scott being injured. 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.640 And we saw Davis have a fum more recovery. We've 0:15:58.640 --> 0:16:00.600 seen him make some plays in PRAC this so that 0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:04.000 that's another guy who's who's right in the mix here 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:07.000 as well. Um, I'll take care of some sponsor business 0:16:07.000 --> 0:16:09.560 here West before we move on. Serious x M. NFL 0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:12.360 Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute 0:16:12.480 --> 0:16:17.760 NFL news that true football fanatics need seven three and 0:16:17.760 --> 0:16:20.040 had Cousin Subs. We have something for everyone like our 0:16:20.040 --> 0:16:23.320 Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, 0:16:23.320 --> 0:16:26.160 all paired with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. 0:16:26.280 --> 0:16:31.400 Cousin Subs fifty years of better. All right. Well, the 0:16:31.440 --> 0:16:33.640 big piece of news that we need to talk about 0:16:34.200 --> 0:16:38.880 that occurred since our last show was the return of 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:42.560 David Botry from the pup list. He is back in 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:46.760 practice doing only individual drills at this point, same with 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:50.960 Elton Jenkins and Bobby Tounyan who came back off of 0:16:51.000 --> 0:16:54.960 pup the week prior. We haven't seen any of those 0:16:54.960 --> 0:16:58.160 guys in eleven on eleven yet, but bot is back. 0:16:58.240 --> 0:17:01.520 He's working his way back. Chris and Watson has jumped 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:04.160 into eleven on eleven. Now we'll see what that means 0:17:04.200 --> 0:17:08.040 with regard to whether he gets some preseason action Thursday 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:12.480 night in Kansas City. Um, but once again a couple 0:17:12.520 --> 0:17:17.000 of big names. The health equation is starting to turn 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:19.080 a little bit more in the right direction. For it 0:17:19.200 --> 0:17:21.359 is and for David box tr I mean, what a 0:17:21.440 --> 0:17:23.200 you know, sigh of relief. I think for a lot 0:17:23.240 --> 0:17:25.480 of folks, and I have to imagine, you know, King 0:17:25.520 --> 0:17:28.200 among them being boxed and being able to actually put 0:17:28.200 --> 0:17:30.320 the pads on again get out there, and you hope 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:32.120 he can do it in a you know, a pain 0:17:32.240 --> 0:17:35.720 free type matter. Excuse me, you hope he can do 0:17:35.760 --> 0:17:38.040 it in a pain free type matter, because you know, 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:41.520 he's put so much work into this recovery and to 0:17:41.600 --> 0:17:44.439 have to go through three procedures, uh to, to to 0:17:44.480 --> 0:17:46.040 get back out there. And you can just hear him 0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:47.560 when he was talking to the media this week how 0:17:47.640 --> 0:17:50.280 much this means to him and how much he wants 0:17:50.320 --> 0:17:52.320 to prove he's still the same five time All Pro 0:17:52.400 --> 0:17:55.040 tackle that he can be that guy once again. And 0:17:55.080 --> 0:17:56.960 I'll be honest with you, Mike, one of my big 0:17:56.960 --> 0:18:00.080 takeaways from practice was just how active he was at 0:18:00.119 --> 0:18:02.119 the young tackles. You know, he's sitting there working with 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:04.000 yosh Niman, who has been the you know, kind of 0:18:04.040 --> 0:18:07.160 the replacement here the last year, and then also Caleb Jones, 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:10.960 who has been a really promising, monstrous undrafted rookie out 0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:13.480 of Indiana, you know, and he's going through the reps 0:18:13.520 --> 0:18:16.439 with with Luke Buckiss, but he's also talking those guys 0:18:16.440 --> 0:18:18.919 through them too, and over on the other side with 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:22.199 the rights the right side of the offensive line. You 0:18:22.280 --> 0:18:25.640 had Elton Jenkins doing that as well. You need your leaders, 0:18:25.840 --> 0:18:28.480 and I think there's a tangible difference when those leaders 0:18:28.480 --> 0:18:30.040 are out on the field. You saw it when it 0:18:30.119 --> 0:18:32.520 was Josh Sitton and t J. Lang. You saw it 0:18:32.520 --> 0:18:35.520 when it was Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton. You need 0:18:35.640 --> 0:18:37.760 somebody to be able to hold up that flag and 0:18:37.800 --> 0:18:41.359 tell everybody this is the way. And as good as 0:18:41.400 --> 0:18:43.600 box tr he is, it's one of the best in 0:18:43.600 --> 0:18:45.560 the NFL, one of the best tackles the Packers have 0:18:45.680 --> 0:18:49.160 ever produced. It's also the leadership aspect that I think 0:18:49.200 --> 0:18:51.960 so often gets forgotten, and a confidence and a swagger 0:18:52.000 --> 0:18:53.960 when he's on the field. Now, we're gonna have to 0:18:54.000 --> 0:18:56.200 see what this all means if weak ones of possibility, 0:18:56.240 --> 0:18:58.840 as Matt Lafleur said, he's not getting into the expectations 0:18:58.840 --> 0:19:02.280 with no expectations called no limitations. They want to be 0:19:02.320 --> 0:19:04.000 able to get this guy healthy and get him healthy 0:19:04.040 --> 0:19:06.520 for the long run. But my goodness, does it look 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:09.560 good to see number sixty sev back on the field. Yeah. 0:19:09.560 --> 0:19:11.600 And what you talked about with regard to those two 0:19:11.600 --> 0:19:13.680 guys as leaders in the way they work with those 0:19:13.760 --> 0:19:16.280 other those young alignment on the practice field. You know, 0:19:16.480 --> 0:19:19.520 that's that's just to carry over from what's going on 0:19:19.600 --> 0:19:22.000 in the meeting room behind the scenes when they're studying 0:19:22.040 --> 0:19:25.040 film and whatnot. But there is another element to it 0:19:25.119 --> 0:19:29.919 when it is that type of interaction, that type of advice, instruction, 0:19:29.960 --> 0:19:31.760 whatever you want to call it, that is that is 0:19:31.800 --> 0:19:34.360 out on the field and not just in the meeting room. 0:19:34.400 --> 0:19:36.960 And the fact that Jenkins and bok Tr are both 0:19:36.960 --> 0:19:39.240 are both out there now, as you said, we'll see 0:19:39.240 --> 0:19:41.520 what happens with regard to week one. It's certainly on 0:19:41.600 --> 0:19:44.720