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Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants Huttle on Giants

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Speaker 1: dot Com, part of the Giants podcast Network. Welcome to

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Speaker 1: another edition of the Giant Shuttle Podcast, brought to you

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Speaker 1: by PSC and G Energy Efficiency for game time and anytime.

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Speaker 1: I am John Schmilk. Today we have our on More

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Speaker 1: Friday podcast. We have play your Interview with Giants left

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Speaker 1: tackle Andrew Thomas. Then we have Matt Schneidman talking to

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Speaker 1: Paula Tino a Lance Meadow. He covers the Green Bay

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Speaker 1: Packers for the Athletic he'll preview the Packers force. And

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Speaker 1: then coming up last, Bob Papa has his weekly sit

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Speaker 1: down with the head coach of your New York Football Giants,

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Speaker 1: Brian Dable. Just as a remind, you can find the

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Speaker 1: GIHNT Suttle Podcast on all of your favorite podcast platforms,

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Speaker 1: the Giants Mobile app and the Giants dot Com slash podcast.

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Speaker 1: And again make sure you check out our past episodes

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Speaker 1: at a good episode with the Irish NFL Show, it's

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Speaker 1: an international podcast based out of the UK. We talked

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Speaker 1: some Giants, went around the league a little bit, so

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Speaker 1: how's a lot fun? Makes you go check that out.

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Speaker 1: But let's get to today's episode, and we're gonna start

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Speaker 1: with my conversation with Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas. And

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Speaker 1: now we're joined by Giants offensive one man Andrew Thomas.

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Speaker 1: Andre let's walk and talk. Why not? We're just off

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Speaker 1: the practice field here on Friday. Uh, Giants getting ready

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Speaker 1: for their game on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

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Speaker 1: How has it been? I know it's only been a

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Speaker 1: few hours here in London. We had a little red

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Speaker 1: eye flight. What's the atmostrass so far? Yeah? To turnovers crazy. Um.

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Speaker 1: They told us to, you know, try to try to

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Speaker 1: get to sleep in on the plane. We didn't get

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Speaker 1: to lay down when we got here. We went straight

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Speaker 1: to a little stretch and Stride had meetings and went

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Speaker 1: straight to practice. So trying to get us on the schedules,

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Speaker 1: it's a little difficult, but you gotta just suggest you

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Speaker 1: guys know how to roll with the punches. What has

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Speaker 1: the justin been like so far? Did you manage to

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Speaker 1: sleep on the point? Did you manage to sleep on

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Speaker 1: the point at all? Yeah? I did. Um. I got

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Speaker 1: up early Thursday morning, worked out Yeah. Practice, Um, trying

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Speaker 1: to get a little tired, So I got about probably

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Speaker 1: like four or five hours better than May I got to. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: that's that's tough, absolutely bad. All right, let's let's talk

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Speaker 1: about the team a little bit. When you guys sit down,

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Speaker 1: you watch the tape. Why have you been able to

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Speaker 1: put together a rushing attack that's the number one in

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Speaker 1: the league. What are you guys doing well when you

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Speaker 1: watch yourselves? Yeah, I think the biggest thing is the mentality. Um,

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Speaker 1: we know that is something that we can we can

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Speaker 1: do well, but you have to be physical. It's not

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Speaker 1: easy to run the ball in the NFL. But I

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Speaker 1: think our whole offense does a great job, from you know,

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Speaker 1: officering line, to the tight ends, to receivers, um running

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Speaker 1: backs obviously and even quarterback on fakes and stuff like

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Speaker 1: that helps the process. So I think it's a whole

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Speaker 1: group effort. You know, Ager, you mentioned it, you know

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Speaker 1: last week, So so much of that boot action off

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Speaker 1: of your run action, Dan, you had a chance to

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Speaker 1: run a couple years. You pass to the tight ends

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Speaker 1: that are running right in front of the catches. Just

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Speaker 1: explain to the fens how old that really works off

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Speaker 1: of one off each other and how that really opens

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Speaker 1: things up for your offense. Yeah, for the for the defense, like, um,

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Speaker 1: something that you know, Coach Table preaches to our defenses

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Speaker 1: stopped the run every week, stopped the run. So um,

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Speaker 1: when we're running the ball, well that's what the other

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Speaker 1: team is focus on. And when they can't, we're playing.

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Speaker 1: You know, I think we in the first half, we've

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Speaker 1: had three, um third downs, so that means we're you know,

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Speaker 1: getting good artists on first and second down. The playbook

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Speaker 1: is open to anything, so it's hard for them to

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Speaker 1: guard everybody. So that's how that's how it works together. Absolutely.

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Speaker 1: And then the other thing I think that impresses me

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Speaker 1: a lot of running teams become like exclusively and outside

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Speaker 1: Zone team exclusively and inside Zoe team. You guys seem

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Speaker 1: to have every scheme in your playbook. How much does

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Speaker 1: it help the run game that you can do all

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Speaker 1: those different things and then really customize your run game

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Speaker 1: based on your opponent and even the just mid stream

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Speaker 1: of the game based on what's working. We're very verse persons.

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Speaker 1: How whatever coach he gives us, Like our coach give us,

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Speaker 1: you know, a scrip of runs that we planned to

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Speaker 1: call in the game, but he was like, whatever it hits,

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Speaker 1: that's what we're gonna run and we do a good

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Speaker 1: job with justin whether it's outside zone gap skiing, um

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Speaker 1: inside when we do a good job, you know, you

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Speaker 1: never tell adjust or whatever we have to block. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: no question about. I think it's worked really well. What

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Speaker 1: has it been like working with Evan Neal? I'm sure

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Speaker 1: you've you know, probably to help him a long a lot.

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Speaker 1: You know, your your kind of book ended right tackle

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Speaker 1: and it seems like you guys have personalities that kind

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Speaker 1: of drive with each other, right serious, more action than talk.

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Speaker 1: I would say, how has that been working with him? No,

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Speaker 1: Evan is great, Um, very mature for his age. Um,

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Speaker 1: he does you know all the things that you you

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Speaker 1: know see Vets doing. You know, he takes care of

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Speaker 1: his body's always, you know, ask him, trying to get

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Speaker 1: you know, different tibits, different you know, nuggets from from

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Speaker 1: the vets. Just trying to get better every day in

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Speaker 1: regardless of his you know, simple stuff like you know,

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Speaker 1: where do you put your hands and you know what

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Speaker 1: is your approach on this certain block or you know

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Speaker 1: just like how did you get through you know, your

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Speaker 1: first few games and stuff like that. Just always you know,

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Speaker 1: looking trying to trying to learn and I think that's

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Speaker 1: that's a good mentality to have, and I think he's

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Speaker 1: gonna be a good player in this league. Have you

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Speaker 1: talked with him about having to roll with the punch?

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Speaker 1: Is a little bit your rookie year where you're gonna

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Speaker 1: have some bad days, but if you just keep ad

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Speaker 1: at everything's gonna work out in the end. Now that's

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Speaker 1: the bouty of office a line. Um, if people don't

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Speaker 1: notice you until you know you mess up, and you

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Speaker 1: know in in the big city, um, you know the

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Speaker 1: odds are on you. So it's a blessing and a

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Speaker 1: personal I just to him to keep working every day. Um,

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Speaker 1: like I said, it's a real a player. Um, he

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Speaker 1: has his money on you know, his head on straight.

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Speaker 1: So that was John Fiano, I believe with the with

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Speaker 1: the commentary there, all right, you personally and you from

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Speaker 1: the outside end, a lot of people seem to think

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Speaker 1: that you've taken a huge jump in year three and

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Speaker 1: you're hitting your stride playing at a pro bowl level.

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Speaker 1: When you watch yourself, do you think that too or

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Speaker 1: do you see something different? I think I'm definitely getting

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Speaker 1: better each and every day, but there's still some place

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Speaker 1: that I went back on film. UM. I think that's

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Speaker 1: just the mentality you have to have if you want

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Speaker 1: to be great. It's to never be satisfied with how

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Speaker 1: you're playing. So there's there's you know, a bunch of

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Speaker 1: players that I were like, you know from the first

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Speaker 1: few games that you played. UM, to be able to

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Speaker 1: clean up and just be more consistent is in every play.

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Speaker 1: Do you see it as steady improvement though from you

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Speaker 1: to year or do you think there has been a

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Speaker 1: big time jump You think from your second year to

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Speaker 1: your third? Um? I think, Um, from rookie year to

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Speaker 1: last year, I think it was my my biggest jump. UM.

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Speaker 1: I think I played pretty well. I don't deal with

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Speaker 1: some injuries and stuff like that last year, but I

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Speaker 1: thought I got a lot better UM in some of

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Speaker 1: my techniques and then you know, just striving to continue

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Speaker 1: that and it better this year. You talk about your techniques,

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Speaker 1: where do you think you've made the biggest jumps? Yeah,

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Speaker 1: consistency in my set is the biggest thing. UM. Just

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Speaker 1: get into my my spot each and every time recus

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Speaker 1: who the rusher is A get into my spot, being patient,

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Speaker 1: and then I'm working my hands from there, changing it

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Speaker 1: depending on the rusher Um, just you know, just understanding

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Speaker 1: that it's it's a chess match. Just understanding that each

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Speaker 1: and everywhere, no question about it. I'm with you. Um

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Speaker 1: when you mentioned your health, right, you kind of deal

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Speaker 1: with foot and ankle injuries your first couple of years.

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Speaker 1: How much is I am assuming you're feeling as good

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Speaker 1: as you have since you've been here, how much is

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Speaker 1: health you think a factor and how you're planning now?

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Speaker 1: I definitely has a big part in it. Um. You know,

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Speaker 1: I had two surgeries back to back years, which is

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Speaker 1: not something that you you know, you look forward to.

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Speaker 1: But I think I'm doing well this year managing and

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Speaker 1: it's early in the season, so well, you know, we'll

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Speaker 1: see how it goes in the NFL. Um, You're gonna

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Speaker 1: be banged up. That's just how That's just how it is.

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Speaker 1: But I'm trying to do my best standing the training room,

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Speaker 1: getting my extra massage and stuff like that, just trying

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Speaker 1: to get healthy as possible. What are you working on now,

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Speaker 1: like in the off season and continuing to the year,

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Speaker 1: What are the things that really trying to finesse in

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Speaker 1: and perfect as you move along in the season. Uh,

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Speaker 1: Like I said, just the consistency. In my past said

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Speaker 1: it um. I think that's the biggest thing for office alotment. Um.

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Speaker 1: Most of the times we see, you know, someone get beat,

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Speaker 1: it's a laps and technique, not necessarily something that the

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Speaker 1: defender did. Um. So just being consistent as possible. UM.

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Speaker 1: This guy working with Paula Alexander, he calls it um

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Speaker 1: cause the words it called technical stamina. So like, regardless

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Speaker 1: of what's going on around you, your technique is the same,

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Speaker 1: regardless of your fatigue, regardless if you're all losing, if

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Speaker 1: you just had a bad play, your technique is always

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Speaker 1: the same. And that's what I'm trying to reach. Alright,

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Speaker 1: a couple things about the deponent real quick before we

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Speaker 1: take goodbye. What do you see when you look at

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Speaker 1: the Packers defense on tip, Yeah, just a lot of

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Speaker 1: First of all, just the talent um and so many

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Speaker 1: guys are that on that front. You know, top picks um,

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Speaker 1: really good players. UM. But besides that, I think it's

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Speaker 1: the intensity there they played with a lot of times.

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Speaker 1: You know, guys are really talented. You will see them

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Speaker 1: take plays off, but they fly to the ball that

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Speaker 1: they run hard. So that's that's gonna be a good

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Speaker 1: test for us this week. They play physical and that's

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Speaker 1: that's the way we try to play. So it's gonna

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Speaker 1: be a good match. You'll see both for Shaun Garry

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Speaker 1: and Preston Smith throughout the game. What makes him different?

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Speaker 1: How are they similar and what's the challenge those two

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Speaker 1: guys bring to the fielder pass rushers? First? First thing,

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Speaker 1: just different body types of Preston is a little bigger

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Speaker 1: with a little more like length. So he does a

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Speaker 1: good job working you know, the alarm, the long arm,

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Speaker 1: and I'm converting all off of that. And ra Sean

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Speaker 1: he does a good job. He's a little I think

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Speaker 1: he's a little more twitchy. Um does a good job

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Speaker 1: converting the power and that's good. With his hands, they moved,

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Speaker 1: They move them around a good bunch and finally do

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Speaker 1: the way they scheme it up. You know, you guys

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Speaker 1: played Dallas, they were when the twist and stunts the

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Speaker 1: whole game. I was I watched a couple of their

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Speaker 1: games on defense. Greeny doesn't do a lot of the

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Speaker 1: twists and stunning, right, it's more kind of they try

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Speaker 1: to set up those one on ones a little bit more, right. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: they have faith in their players. They have you know,

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Speaker 1: good defensive line and interior and outside. Um yeah, you

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Speaker 1: know athletic linebackers to that they all mix in the game. Um,

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Speaker 1: you know, try to blist the back like our back,

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Speaker 1: you know, pick up protections. But like you said, they

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Speaker 1: want one on one matches and just see if their

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Speaker 1: guys canna win. Andrew best luck, Appreciate the time, Appreciate it.

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Speaker 1: That's Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas you think of for

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Speaker 1: joining us? Say, Giant fans join us. On Sunday, October sixteenth,

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Speaker 1: Giants Versus to Baltimore Ravens as the team celebrates Latino

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Speaker 1: Heritage Month presented by FOURD Arrival early to partake in

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Speaker 1: several plaza activations including food sampling, salsa dancing, live music,

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Speaker 1: and celebrity artist DJ Camillo performing during pregame warmups and

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Speaker 1: select times throughout the game. Limited tickets are available. Visit

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Speaker 1: Giants dot com slash tickets to secure your seat today.

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Speaker 1: All right, now, let's get to our in depth preview

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Speaker 1: on the Green Bay Packers are very own. Paul Detino

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Speaker 1: and Lance Medo talked to Matt Schneidman, who covers the

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Speaker 1: team for the Athletic for the first time since two

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Speaker 1: thousand sixteen. The Giants head across the pond. Is they'll

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Speaker 1: collide with the Packers in London in week five and

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Speaker 1: to get more into Green Bay. We are now joined

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Speaker 1: by Matt Schneidman, who covers the team for the Athletic

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Speaker 1: madd You got Lance Meadow and Paulatino here on Giants

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Speaker 1: dot Com. Greatly appreciate the time. Always good to speak

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Speaker 1: with you, hope Paul as well. How's everything on your end?

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Speaker 1: Not too bad? I'm mentally physically preparing for a seven

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Speaker 1: and a half hour flight from Chicago to London tomorrow,

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Speaker 1: so I couldn't be more excited. I'm ready to go

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Speaker 1: quite the journey ahead of you. Indeed, the sacrifices we

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Speaker 1: all make in the media industry to cover professional football. Well,

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Speaker 1: glad that you're good to go, and let's start off

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Speaker 1: the top. And I actually I want to start with

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Speaker 1: the turnover bug for the Packers because it's very unusual.

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Speaker 1: You see Aaron Rodgers stat line. I mean, the guy

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Speaker 1: throws maybe five interceptions per season, all of a sudden

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Speaker 1: he's got three. The team overall has seven. I know

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Speaker 1: that clearly the coaching staff has been asked about this

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Speaker 1: in the early stage of the season. But if you

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Speaker 1: could put your finger on, what do you attribute to

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Speaker 1: why the turnovers have been a bit higher than we're

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Speaker 1: used to seeing. Is this a product of Aaron getting

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Speaker 1: still used to the new receiving corps. Why have they

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Speaker 1: had issues with ball security thus far? No. I mean,

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Speaker 1: one thing I can point to is Rogers just being

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Speaker 1: a little more reckless with decisions he makes. Like in

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Speaker 1: Week one, UM at the tail end of the first half,

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Speaker 1: he lofted up, uh go get it deep ball down

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Speaker 1: the middle for Randall Cobb, who's under six ft tall,

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Speaker 1: I think, UM for against Harrison Smith, who was one

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Speaker 1: of the best ball hawking safeties in the league. Smith

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Speaker 1: picked it off with seven seconds left and a half

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Speaker 1: and Rogers called it a dumb decision. You you saw

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Speaker 1: on Sunday when he threw the pick six to the

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Speaker 1: Patriots rookie cornerback Jack Jones completely telegraphed and out route

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Speaker 1: deep in his own territory to Alan Lazard. Then there's

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Speaker 1: stuff like rookie wide receiver Romeo Dobbs not being able

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Speaker 1: to hold onto the ball after he catches it. Has

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Speaker 1: had that problem a couple of times. One fumble he recovered,

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Speaker 1: one he did not, So just a little carelessness on

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Speaker 1: the Packers side. They were so good at taking care

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Speaker 1: of the ball last year, as they are in most

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Speaker 1: years with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback. Like you said,

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Speaker 1: he's almost to his interception total from last season altogether

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Speaker 1: in just four games this year. So they're gonna need

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Speaker 1: to take to take care of the ball better. Last

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Speaker 1: week was a rare instance in which they lost the

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Speaker 1: turnover battle and still won the game. I don't know

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Speaker 1: how fortunate they'll get in that regard going forward. So

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Speaker 1: they got to take care of the ball. Well, we

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Speaker 1: know the receiving corps is not what it's been in

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Speaker 1: the past, and in looking at their four games this year,

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Speaker 1: you've got the one game seven points against the Vikings

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Speaker 1: and only fourteen points offensively against Tampa Bay. And we

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Speaker 1: know the running game is going really, really well. So

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Speaker 1: how much has the difficulties that they've had with the

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Speaker 1: wide receiver group contributed to the fact that they're just

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Speaker 1: not getting enough points? Yeah? I think so. For sure.

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Speaker 1: They've started games really slow. Aside from the Buccaneers game

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Speaker 1: where they scored on their first two drives and we're

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Speaker 1: an Aaron Jones fumble on the one yard line away

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Speaker 1: from taking a twenty one to three lead at halftime

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Speaker 1: in Tampa. UM. But look, I think this wide receiver corps,

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Speaker 1: we knew it wasn't gonna be the same without the

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Speaker 1: best wide receiver in the NFL arguably UH in Davante Adams.

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Speaker 1: But the young guys Dobbs and Christian Watson their their

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Speaker 1: fourth round pick in second round pick, respectively, have really

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Speaker 1: shown some signs of promise and and if they can

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Speaker 1: iron out some of the mistakes they're making or find

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Speaker 1: a role in this offense, find a bigger role, I

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Speaker 1: should say, since they already have a role, I think

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Speaker 1: people will be pleasantly surprised with what this receiver corps

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Speaker 1: becomes down the road. If they get Sammy Watkins back healthy.

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Speaker 1: He has I believe two more games left to go

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Speaker 1: before he's eligible to come off. I R but listen,

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Speaker 1: everyone knew the strength of this offense was going to

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Speaker 1: be the running game. They have perhaps the best one

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Speaker 1: to punch and Aaron Jones and A J. Dillon they've

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Speaker 1: been really good. Uh. Last week, Aaron Jones ran sixteen

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Speaker 1: times for over a hundred yards A J. Dillon seventeen

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Speaker 1: times for seventy seventy three yards. I think it was

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Speaker 1: sealed the game late in overtime by helping them get

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Speaker 1: into field goal range. So it's no surprise that the

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Speaker 1: Packers receiving corps off to kind of a slow start

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Speaker 1: given the new pieces they're moving in and a lot

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Speaker 1: of people don't mention markus Velde's scantling was their main

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Speaker 1: deep thread, their number two wide receiver last year, who

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Speaker 1: signed with the Chiefs in free agencies, not just if

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Speaker 1: Onto Adams. They're losing, so a lot of moving parts there,

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Speaker 1: and while they get that figured out, they've really had

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Speaker 1: to rely on the run game, which they probably should anyway,

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Speaker 1: because that's the strength of this offense. Matt, you brought

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Speaker 1: up the youth movement at receiver, and this was something

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Speaker 1: clearly we expected given the changes you outlined. I find

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Speaker 1: it interesting Romeo Dobbs has been the most targeted wide receiver,

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Speaker 1: and the reason I bring that up is the fact that,

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Speaker 1: as you can attest to from covering the team, there's

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Speaker 1: been years where Aaron doesn't necessarily enthusiastically embrace going after

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Speaker 1: guys that he doesn't necessarily have that trust factor with

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Speaker 1: so I guess what I'm getting at is, what does

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Speaker 1: it say about Aaron that he is making an effort

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Speaker 1: to try to get these younger guys involved right out

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Speaker 1: of the gates, as opposed to simply just leaning on

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Speaker 1: Lazard and Cobb, which I would argue he may have

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Speaker 1: had a tendency to do in previous seasons right well,

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Speaker 1: without Adams, without VAL's scantling, and now without Sammy Watkins,

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Speaker 1: who was getting targets before he injured his hamstring in

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Speaker 1: Week two. You know, he didn't necess fairly have to

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Speaker 1: go to Romeo Dobbs or a rookie or whatever. It's

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Speaker 1: not only because Romeo Dobbs is impressing. He had a

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Speaker 1: really good preseason. Um, he's entrusted Rogers with his route running,

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Speaker 1: his ball catching skills. But it's also out of necessity,

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Speaker 1: like he doesn't have anyone else to throw too. I mean,

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Speaker 1: sure he has a couple other guys to throw too,

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Speaker 1: but you're gonna have to get these guys involved. And

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Speaker 1: Romeo Dobbs is one of the best receivers in the NFL.

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Speaker 1: I believe he ranks seventh in the league among receivers

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Speaker 1: who have at least ten catches in yards after catch

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Speaker 1: per reception. They throw him a lot of you know,

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Speaker 1: smoke alert screens and he takes them ten fifteen yards

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Speaker 1: Upfield had two on the Packers game winning drive. The

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Speaker 1: other day. He caught a really nice back shoulder touchdown

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Speaker 1: catch on third down to tie the game late in

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Speaker 1: the fourth quarter against the Patriots, and Rogers said, if

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Speaker 1: I'm throwing you a back shoulder for a touchdown on

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Speaker 1: third down, I've got a lot of confidence in you.

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Speaker 1: And this has been the case with Dobbs since training camp,

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Speaker 1: where he had a couple of drops. The good he

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Speaker 1: does outweighs the bad, and they're just gonna have to

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Speaker 1: live with that. They can't afford to say, Okay, you

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Speaker 1: dropped one. Let's go to all these other receivers we

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Speaker 1: have before Rogers is comfortable coming back to the rookie.

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Speaker 1: They don't because Dobbs is perhaps the receiver with the

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Speaker 1: highest ceiling and Lazard is still the number one guy,

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Speaker 1: and they have guys in Aaron Jones and Robert Tony

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Speaker 1: in the tight end who can catch passes for sure,

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Speaker 1: but they can't afford to go away from Dobbs because

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Speaker 1: of the good he's also doing. And same with Christian Watson.

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Speaker 1: He hasn't received nearly as many targets in the passing game,

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Speaker 1: but they still find ways to get him involved. He's

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Speaker 1: an athletic freak. And you saw his first touchdown the

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Speaker 1: other night came on an end around a jet sweep

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Speaker 1: where he just breathed, untouched around the right end for

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Speaker 1: fifteen yard for a fifteen yard touchdown. So they're finding

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Speaker 1: ways to get both these guys involved, Dobbs more so

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Speaker 1: in the passing game, and I think you're gonna see

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Speaker 1: it again on Sunday. All right, let's go to that

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Speaker 1: running game that you talked about a few minutes ago

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Speaker 1: between Joes and Dylon. I'm and it's not exactly an

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Speaker 1: even split in the amount of touches that they've had.

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Speaker 1: But philosophically, have you been able to figure out why

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Speaker 1: one guy gets certain touches and other guys the other

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Speaker 1: guy gets the other touches? No, I mean Matt Lafleur

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Speaker 1: calls them running backs one A and one A. They

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Speaker 1: don't see it as a starter or a backup. I mean,

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Speaker 1: Aaron Jones is the feature guy. A j Dillon is

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Speaker 1: technically below him in the pecking order, but he can

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Speaker 1: also be a feature guy. I mean, Jones, uh and

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Speaker 1: Dylan can both do everything, and that's past protect, that's

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Speaker 1: catch the ball, that's run the ball. Aaron Jones is

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Speaker 1: probably more skilled pass catcher, but a J. Dillon can

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Speaker 1: do that too, and we've seen that in both games.

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Speaker 1: You look at Week one when Aaron Jones only had

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Speaker 1: eight touches, and then the next week he comes back

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Speaker 1: with I believe it was eighteen touches and two touchdowns

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Speaker 1: against the Bears on Sunday Night football. He's one of

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Speaker 1: the most versatile playmakers in the entire league, not just

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Speaker 1: on the Packers. A J. Dillon the you know, common

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Speaker 1: misconception is he's just a he's not fast, he just

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Speaker 1: pounds ahead on third and one to get you the conversion.

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Speaker 1: But you look late in the game the other day,

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Speaker 1: you know his tackle breaking ability is I don't want

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Speaker 1: to say second to none because you guys cover running

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Speaker 1: back who is actually probably the second to none in

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Speaker 1: in that regard. But um, listen, both of them are

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Speaker 1: really versatile and they truly feel the Packers coaches that

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Speaker 1: is that they can plug them in whenever. It's not

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Speaker 1: like a situational thing where they can only put in

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Speaker 1: a j Dillon on third down. They can only use

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Speaker 1: them in short yardage situations. What they're doing a lot

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Speaker 1: more this year is using them both on the field

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Speaker 1: at the same time. They already they only shared the

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Speaker 1: field on offense for twenty four snaps all last season.

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Speaker 1: They've already blown past that this year. Um, and they

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Speaker 1: can do a lot of things out of those formations.

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Speaker 1: They call it the Pony package or when both Jones

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Speaker 1: and Dillon are on the same field. And also that's

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Speaker 1: probably because Rogers, at least to start the season, did

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Speaker 1: have as many wide receivers he trusted, he trust number

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Speaker 1: thirty three and number twenty eight more in the passing game.

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Speaker 1: And and there are two of their best eleven players

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Speaker 1: on offense. So I think, like I said about targeting Dobbs,

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Speaker 1: you'll see a lot more of of Jones and Dylan

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Speaker 1: on the field at the same time in London, which

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Speaker 1: makes sense because of the chemistry that also they have

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Speaker 1: built within the offense. Now, clearly the running game Matt

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Speaker 1: is synonymous with the offensive line. As we're talking with

428
00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,919
Speaker 1: match Niman, who covers the Packers for the athletic and

429
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:28,879
Speaker 1: last season they didn't have the luxury of having the

430
00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,359
Speaker 1: two anchors on the offensive line because of injuries, and

431
00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,880
Speaker 1: David Bottier and Elton Jenkins now they're both back. Two

432
00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,680
Speaker 1: part question number one, How have those two guys specifically

433
00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,120
Speaker 1: looked as they have worked them back into the line.

434
00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,960
Speaker 1: And I'm hearing some buzz about maybe they make some

435
00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,240
Speaker 1: changes to try to get the five best guys on

436
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,760
Speaker 1: the line and use one of their backup tackles and

437
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,800
Speaker 1: move things around. How much Stocker substances behind that entering

438
00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:57,360
Speaker 1: this Giants game. Yes, so David Battiers looked pretty good. Um,

439
00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:02,440
Speaker 1: he obviously went healthy, is arguably the best left tackle

440
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,840
Speaker 1: in football. He made five straight All Pro teams from

441
00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,120
Speaker 1: UH made an All Pro team in made first team

442
00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:14,200
Speaker 1: All Pro in despite playing only eleven games and tearing

443
00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,639
Speaker 1: his a c L in Week seventeen. I believe it

444
00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,080
Speaker 1: was while they were getting ready for a game against

445
00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,400
Speaker 1: the Bears, and he played Week eighteen last season, reaggravated

446
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,280
Speaker 1: the injury, missed the playoffs, returned in Week three against

447
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,119
Speaker 1: the Buccaneers. He only played thirty four snaps. Um, who

448
00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,200
Speaker 1: was really hot down in Tampa. He kind of did

449
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:34,720
Speaker 1: a rotating series thing with yosh Naiman, who is the

450
00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,840
Speaker 1: backup offensive tackle you mentioned who filled in really admirably

451
00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,040
Speaker 1: at left tackle last season when Boxtr went down, and

452
00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,440
Speaker 1: then also Jenkins, who towards a c L in Week

453
00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,320
Speaker 1: eleven was playing left tackle. But then Josh who was

454
00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,080
Speaker 1: I guess their third string left tackle last year uh

455
00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,280
Speaker 1: filled in nicely the second half of the season. Jenkins

456
00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,920
Speaker 1: has been a little shaky at right tackle. Um it's

457
00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,520
Speaker 1: a position he only played thirty two snaps of entering

458
00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:03,800
Speaker 1: this season. He hasn't been great. Now there's thought, and

459
00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:07,399
Speaker 1: perhaps that thought is just from reporters like myself, but

460
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840
Speaker 1: coaches like Adam Stanovich, their o C who was their

461
00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,320
Speaker 1: offensive line coach the past couple of years, and Matt

462
00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,000
Speaker 1: Lafleur have both acknowledged to get their best five on

463
00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,919
Speaker 1: the field. Perhaps they moved yash Naiman from being the

464
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,520
Speaker 1: backup left tackle to the starting right tackle because you know,

465
00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,399
Speaker 1: in just terms of overall offensive line play, he's probably

466
00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,760
Speaker 1: in their top five. And and Royce Newman, their second

467
00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,280
Speaker 1: year right guard, has been fine, but he's probably the

468
00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,840
Speaker 1: worst of the five and worse overall than Nieman. So

469
00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,879
Speaker 1: there's been discussion about moving Jenkins inside where he was

470
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,119
Speaker 1: a Pro Bowl starter at left guard in is probably

471
00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,520
Speaker 1: better on the inside than he is at right tackle,

472
00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,480
Speaker 1: and putting Niemen at right tackle. But offensive coordinator Adam

473
00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,080
Speaker 1: Stanovich said yesterday Jenkins is our best option at right

474
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,160
Speaker 1: tackle right now. That that could change down the road,

475
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,240
Speaker 1: but for now, I think you're gonna see box r

476
00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,120
Speaker 1: At left tackle, John Runyon Jr. Who has been really

477
00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,960
Speaker 1: solid at left are Josh Meyers, the second year center

478
00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,760
Speaker 1: out of Ohio State who has been solid, Newman, second

479
00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:08,840
Speaker 1: year right guard out of All miss and then Jenkins

480
00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,160
Speaker 1: at right tackle. I think that's what you're gonna see

481
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,840
Speaker 1: for now. And Aaron Rodgers has been getting rid of

482
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,520
Speaker 1: the ball quickly so they don't have to hold up

483
00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,400
Speaker 1: as much in past protection, but when they have, it's

484
00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,080
Speaker 1: been pretty decent for all the moving parts they've had

485
00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,920
Speaker 1: to deal with. Okay, let's slip the coin to defense.

486
00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,560
Speaker 1: And the one thing that just stuck out immediately is

487
00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:30,520
Speaker 1: I started going through some of the numbers opponents only

488
00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:37,719
Speaker 1: gaining third down conversions at matt That is an instane number.

489
00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,560
Speaker 1: Lands likes to talk about how many times you'll see

490
00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,800
Speaker 1: third and loans and that obviously has an impact on

491
00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:49,040
Speaker 1: the percentage. Is that the case with the Packers If

492
00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:50,960
Speaker 1: you ask Matt la Fleur Hill say that's the case,

493
00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,560
Speaker 1: especially uh when they beat the Buccaneers fourteen to twelve.

494
00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:57,840
Speaker 1: They did get the Buccaneers in a lot of third

495
00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:59,399
Speaker 1: and longs, and a lot of that has to do

496
00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,560
Speaker 1: with their past rush on second down, and you know,

497
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,840
Speaker 1: stopping the run hasn't been great. They're giving up the

498
00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,040
Speaker 1: I believe twenty nine most so they ranked twenty nine

499
00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,840
Speaker 1: in the NFL in terms of yards per carry allout

500
00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,119
Speaker 1: on first and second down. So the run defense is

501
00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,360
Speaker 1: is pretty shaky, but the pass rush has been really good.

502
00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,560
Speaker 1: Rashawn Garry is one of the best young players in

503
00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,280
Speaker 1: the NFL regardless, not just young defensive players, and Preston Smith,

504
00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,480
Speaker 1: their other edge rusher, has been pretty solid. To Kenny Clark,

505
00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,520
Speaker 1: their nose tackle is is a pro bowler. He's really

506
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,359
Speaker 1: good at rushing the passer. That's what's helped them getting

507
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,479
Speaker 1: these third and longs where teams can't run because if

508
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,320
Speaker 1: teams run on you know, third and short, they're probably

509
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,840
Speaker 1: going to convert it. Since Peckers run defense isn't very good.

510
00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,280
Speaker 1: And that's whole another thing going up against the team

511
00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,040
Speaker 1: they're going up against on Sunday. You know, Matt hold On,

512
00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,040
Speaker 1: I got s Kwan Barkley on the other line. He's

513
00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,200
Speaker 1: gonna want to know that. Yeah, I'm sure he doesn't

514
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,480
Speaker 1: know that already, but look, you know se Quan not

515
00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,159
Speaker 1: only can Well we'll get into Sa Kuan later. But

516
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,240
Speaker 1: going back to your question about why their third down

517
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:04,880
Speaker 1: defense has been good, Yeah, I think it's just they're

518
00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,800
Speaker 1: getting them in a lot of third and longs. Their

519
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,520
Speaker 1: secondary is good. Um, at times, they have had some

520
00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,840
Speaker 1: coverage breakdowns, but when they're healthy in the secondary, they're

521
00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:15,840
Speaker 1: one of the best in the league probably and not

522
00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,719
Speaker 1: having complete communication breakdowns. And then they have two solid

523
00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,200
Speaker 1: inside linebackers and deve Andre Campbell uh and Quay Walker,

524
00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,280
Speaker 1: the rookie out of Georgia. So their past defense has

525
00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:30,400
Speaker 1: been decent, and especially when it's third and twelve, third

526
00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,440
Speaker 1: and fourteen for other teams, and I think that's been

527
00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,960
Speaker 1: the key when they get into third and short situations,

528
00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,960
Speaker 1: defending those, it's a little more dicey, Matt. You brought

529
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,520
Speaker 1: up Rashawn Gary. He has at least one sack at

530
00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,840
Speaker 1: each game. To your point, he's off to a tremendous start.

531
00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,280
Speaker 1: But I want to branch out big picture perspective because

532
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,240
Speaker 1: there's been years and you can attest this covering the

533
00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,800
Speaker 1: team where an hour and it and the offense didn't

534
00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,000
Speaker 1: put up a clinic, they'd be in trouble because the

535
00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,159
Speaker 1: defense struggled immensely. It seems as if going back to

536
00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,280
Speaker 1: last season, this group has turned the corner. But Joe Barry,

537
00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,840
Speaker 1: there's cont annuity. They're developing some of these young guys.

538
00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,239
Speaker 1: How fair of a synopsis do you think that is

539
00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,520
Speaker 1: that this unit has come a long way simply because

540
00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:12,240
Speaker 1: there's much more stability and continuity on that side of

541
00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,679
Speaker 1: the ball in comparison to what we've seen in the

542
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,280
Speaker 1: previous years. Yeah, for sure. I still think they have

543
00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,040
Speaker 1: a long way to go, though, because you know, last

544
00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,359
Speaker 1: year they were a top five defense in the league,

545
00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,320
Speaker 1: maybe top ten, right outside the top five for the

546
00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,960
Speaker 1: first half of the season. Than they were arguably the

547
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,840
Speaker 1: worst defense in the league for the second half of

548
00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,720
Speaker 1: the season. They have to find more consistency like this year.

549
00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,560
Speaker 1: They were bad against the Vikings in Week one, really

550
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,800
Speaker 1: good against the Bears, in Week two, really good against

551
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,520
Speaker 1: the Buccaneers in Week three, and you think they turn

552
00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,160
Speaker 1: a corner and then they're not good against the third

553
00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,240
Speaker 1: string quarterback in a pretty good Patriots run game and

554
00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,960
Speaker 1: they allow you know, well, they didn't allow twenty four points.

555
00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:53,280
Speaker 1: Patriots scored twenty four, but one of those was Rogers

556
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,160
Speaker 1: pick six, So they were decent, but not as good

557
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,920
Speaker 1: as they would have liked. Like I mentioned, their run

558
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:00,960
Speaker 1: defense is the big week this. They have to get

559
00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,120
Speaker 1: that figured out. That has been a problem around here

560
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,679
Speaker 1: in Green Bay for the last couple of years. For

561
00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,920
Speaker 1: the first time in a couple of years, they brought

562
00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,440
Speaker 1: in reinforcements on the defensive line, at ed rusher, at

563
00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,760
Speaker 1: inside linebacker, but it hasn't really worked out yet. You know,

564
00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,600
Speaker 1: the Packers are only holding opponents to no gain or

565
00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,160
Speaker 1: a loss of yardage on runs seventeen point six percent

566
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,080
Speaker 1: of the time. That ranks in the league. You know,

567
00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,160
Speaker 1: any rushing defensive rushing statu you look at, the Packers

568
00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,480
Speaker 1: are in the bottom third or significantly worse. Like I mentioned,

569
00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,600
Speaker 1: they're not good at stopping to run on first and

570
00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,080
Speaker 1: second down, which is what you need to do to

571
00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:41,439
Speaker 1: get into those third and long situations. So look, Adrian Amos,

572
00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,119
Speaker 1: one of their starting safeties. I don't know if he's

573
00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,280
Speaker 1: gonna play on Sunday since he's still in the concussion

574
00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:49,119
Speaker 1: protocol from Sunday's game. Jr. Alexander, highest paid cornerback in

575
00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,560
Speaker 1: NFL history, didn't play last week, didn't play most of

576
00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:55,000
Speaker 1: Week three against the Buccaneers because of a growing injury.

577
00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,159
Speaker 1: I don't know if he's gonna play on Sunday. They

578
00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,520
Speaker 1: got to get those two guys healthy and then they'll

579
00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,919
Speaker 1: be better off. But they still have some things to

580
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,080
Speaker 1: shore up. They have all the potential in the world.

581
00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,240
Speaker 1: On paper, they should have the best defense in the league,

582
00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,920
Speaker 1: but or one of the best defenses in the league,

583
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,440
Speaker 1: I should say, but they've just had some trouble stringing

584
00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,720
Speaker 1: together consistency. And listen, if you check Packers Twitter, they

585
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,080
Speaker 1: want Joe Barry's head on a plate. I don't think

586
00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,520
Speaker 1: it should be that far yet, but they've got another

587
00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,320
Speaker 1: tough test on Sunday. I've got to ask you about

588
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,159
Speaker 1: quay Walker Matt because coming out of school, I know

589
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,800
Speaker 1: he turned out to be a first round pick, very

590
00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:33,240
Speaker 1: interesting athlete. I'm not sure that I could necessarily when

591
00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,280
Speaker 1: when I saw the tape when he was coming out,

592
00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,600
Speaker 1: if I could say, Okay, this is gonna be the

593
00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,560
Speaker 1: best system for him, and this is the thing he

594
00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,600
Speaker 1: does really really great. To me, he was just a

595
00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,919
Speaker 1: great athlete who could probably do a lot of things well,

596
00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,520
Speaker 1: but I just couldn't think about how he would be

597
00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,399
Speaker 1: best used. How are the Packers using They're using him

598
00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,080
Speaker 1: in a lot of different ways. I mean, part of

599
00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,320
Speaker 1: the reason they drafted him is because it sounds, you know,

600
00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,439
Speaker 1: counter productive, but they had a first team All Pro

601
00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,399
Speaker 1: inside linebacker last year and Davondre Campbell. He hasn't been

602
00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:09,040
Speaker 1: as good this year, but nonetheless, they wanted to pair

603
00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,240
Speaker 1: him with someone that was equally as talented defending the

604
00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:16,520
Speaker 1: past and the run. Not only because having two versatile

605
00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,479
Speaker 1: and side linebackers is makes a world of a difference

606
00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,159
Speaker 1: on a defense, but because it will allow them to

607
00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,040
Speaker 1: kind of disguise some things and when they're defending against

608
00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,239
Speaker 1: the past, not always go nickel or dime, or when

609
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:32,679
Speaker 1: they're defending against the run, maybe not always make it

610
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,360
Speaker 1: so obvious. When when they're going, you know, six defensive

611
00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,960
Speaker 1: linemen or whatever and put in an extra inside linebacker

612
00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,960
Speaker 1: in there. They think he's incredibly versatile. He's had some

613
00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,080
Speaker 1: great moments. Certainly, the guy can cover sidelines to sideline

614
00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,000
Speaker 1: and he hits as hard as anyone on the team.

615
00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:53,680
Speaker 1: But some tackling stuff, pass coverage, run defense, it's expected

616
00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,080
Speaker 1: for a rookie not to be you know, thoroughly polished

617
00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,280
Speaker 1: right out of the gate. They're using him in some

618
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,240
Speaker 1: blitz package is which is kind of rare around here

619
00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:05,720
Speaker 1: for inside linebackers. But he has that ability, and he

620
00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,800
Speaker 1: can also drop back into coverage, like I said, which

621
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,480
Speaker 1: is also uh not rare, but rare for inside linebackers

622
00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,920
Speaker 1: around here. At least they finally found a good one

623
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,719
Speaker 1: last year and now they have to They think it's

624
00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,560
Speaker 1: gonna need to get a little better. But with quays

625
00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,640
Speaker 1: skill set his versatility, they think they can use him

626
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,560
Speaker 1: in a myriad of ways um and he'll be counted

627
00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:28,080
Speaker 1: upon to defend against the past and defend against run.

628
00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,800
Speaker 1: And that's what happens when you're taking number two, twenty

629
00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,840
Speaker 1: two overall in the draft. You have to do all that. Matt,

630
00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,960
Speaker 1: speaking of the past defense you referenced earlier, the injuries

631
00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,960
Speaker 1: they're dealing with their top corner, jyr Alexander question mark

632
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:42,440
Speaker 1: entering this week, as well as Adrian aim Is at safety.

633
00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,360
Speaker 1: The Giants have clearly struggled in passing the football given

634
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,880
Speaker 1: the injuries the receiver and now Daniel Jones dealing with

635
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,960
Speaker 1: an ankle injury. What I'm getting at is, how do

636
00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,000
Speaker 1: you think this Packers secondary will hold up in the

637
00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,640
Speaker 1: event they don't have those two players we talked about

638
00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,520
Speaker 1: and they have to rely on some of the backups

639
00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,960
Speaker 1: and dig deeper into their depth chart. I think fine um.

640
00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,320
Speaker 1: One of the things coming into the season that we

641
00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:10,400
Speaker 1: pinpointed as a concern was secondary depth. But Keishaan Nixon,

642
00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:14,120
Speaker 1: their backup slot corner who had been a special teamer

643
00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,160
Speaker 1: filling spot slot corner for the Raiders the last couple

644
00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,600
Speaker 1: of years, who Rich Bisaccia brought over here, filled in

645
00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,520
Speaker 1: really nicely on defense against the Buccaneers when Alexander went

646
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,880
Speaker 1: down on the first drive with that grown injury I mentioned,

647
00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,120
Speaker 1: and then last week when Adrian Amos went down with

648
00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,160
Speaker 1: a concussion early in the game. Rudy Ford, who has

649
00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,880
Speaker 1: been a special teamer, a really good gunner or they

650
00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,920
Speaker 1: call it a flyer here in Green Bay for the Cardinals, Eagles,

651
00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,800
Speaker 1: and Jaguars. The last couple of years. Joe Barry. When

652
00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,000
Speaker 1: we talked to him yesterday, he was really pleased with

653
00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,240
Speaker 1: how Rudy Ford filled in on defense. So those are

654
00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:49,120
Speaker 1: the two guys. If Amos and Alexander can't go, that

655
00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,480
Speaker 1: they would likely turn to my guest, is Alexander plays

656
00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,720
Speaker 1: this week? Um? It seemed more precautionary holding him out

657
00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,920
Speaker 1: last week. Amos, I don't know. You know, the Packers

658
00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,120
Speaker 1: had an offensive lineman in running in a couple of

659
00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,360
Speaker 1: weeks ago who was in the concussion protocol all the

660
00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,200
Speaker 1: way up till game day. I believe, So it's possible

661
00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:09,920
Speaker 1: a dream aim Is still plays. He has not missed

662
00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,280
Speaker 1: a game I don't believe since the Packers signed him in.

663
00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,760
Speaker 1: Maybe he's only missed one game in his career since

664
00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:19,040
Speaker 1: the Bears drafted him in. If not one, then then

665
00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:24,120
Speaker 1: less than a handful. But uh, look, their depth is

666
00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,040
Speaker 1: going to be tested if those guys can't go. But

667
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,840
Speaker 1: so far against the Buccaneers and Patriots, Uh, those guys

668
00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:33,240
Speaker 1: Nixon and Ford have held up pretty well. Btal thought

669
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,480
Speaker 1: from me, Matt. Just for looking at the numbers, it

670
00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,600
Speaker 1: would appear that special teams, whether it be returns or

671
00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:41,760
Speaker 1: coverage units have been an issue. Yeah, they've They've been

672
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,080
Speaker 1: an issue in Green Bay for his as long as

673
00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:48,080
Speaker 1: we can remember. But I would say the coverage units

674
00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,520
Speaker 1: have been way better this year. And I say way

675
00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,760
Speaker 1: better because the standard wasn't possibly low. They were, you know,

676
00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,280
Speaker 1: in Rick Goslin's rankings, which are kind of the bible

677
00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,200
Speaker 1: for special teams around around the NFL, the Packers were

678
00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,520
Speaker 1: dead last last year. They brought in Postaccia. The coverage

679
00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,080
Speaker 1: units have been way better. Not against the Patriots last week.

680
00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,920
Speaker 1: They were not good then. Um, but the return units

681
00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:13,840
Speaker 1: are still kind of a question mark. Amari Rodgers, the

682
00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:17,440
Speaker 1: second year receiver out of Clemson, who is Trevor lawrences

683
00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,080
Speaker 1: number one guy a couple of years ago. I can't

684
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:25,880
Speaker 1: really make guys miss. He's not really explosive. Um. There's

685
00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,560
Speaker 1: been kind of talk, at least from in my head.

686
00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,840
Speaker 1: I don't know if it has been internally. They might

687
00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:34,560
Speaker 1: have to make a change at returner to kind of

688
00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:36,760
Speaker 1: generate some more stuff on that end. But in terms

689
00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:40,040
Speaker 1: of the punt team, the field goal team, uh, the

690
00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:43,520
Speaker 1: coverage units, those were all absolute disasters last year. They

691
00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:47,640
Speaker 1: have been serviceable this year, which any Packer fan will

692
00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:51,200
Speaker 1: take because it's anything better than an absolute catastrophe. The

693
00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,600
Speaker 1: return units are where they're still needs to be the

694
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:56,520
Speaker 1: most progress, but there's been good strides and everything else.

695
00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:59,480
Speaker 1: And for once, and I say for once because it's

696
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,200
Speaker 1: like the first time in the last couple of years

697
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,920
Speaker 1: that Matt Lafleur is on his third special teams coordinator

698
00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,160
Speaker 1: in four years as a head coach. I think they

699
00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:09,360
Speaker 1: might have finally gotten this one right, but it's still early.

700
00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:12,360
Speaker 1: Knock on wood well, but Sacchi it did a fantastic

701
00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,640
Speaker 1: job as the interim coach of the Raiders and Matt,

702
00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,680
Speaker 1: as you can attest to, I'm sure Packers fans still

703
00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,200
Speaker 1: have a nightmares from that Niners playoff game. Seeking of

704
00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:22,280
Speaker 1: special teams, misasked me because that was a big reason why,

705
00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,760
Speaker 1: unfortunately their postseason run did not go as long as

706
00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,600
Speaker 1: they had anticipated. He is Matt Schneidman who covers the

707
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,760
Speaker 1: Packers for the Athletic Matt can't thank you know greatly

708
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:34,760
Speaker 1: appreciate the time of the insight. Safe travels to London

709
00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,840
Speaker 1: and we look forward to this game on Sunday. Thanks guys,

710
00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,480
Speaker 1: always a pleasure. Thank you to Matt Schneidman and thanks

711
00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,760
Speaker 1: to Paul Lands for given our weekly preview of the opponent.

712
00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:50,520
Speaker 1: Giant fans, don't forget. The Giants official connected TV app

713
00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,200
Speaker 1: is Giants TV. You can find it for free on

714
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:59,400
Speaker 1: Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire Team, and the Giants Mobile app.

715
00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:03,160
Speaker 1: It's the Giants official streaming app. Giants Teva brings original

716
00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:06,160
Speaker 1: video content in game highlights on demand indirect to Big

717
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,319
Speaker 1: Blue fans. Make sure you check that out. All right,

718
00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:11,520
Speaker 1: let's wrap things up, are very own. Bob Papa had

719
00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:12,960
Speaker 1: a chance to talk to the head coach of the

720
00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:16,319
Speaker 1: n y G Brian Dable. The Giants take on the

721
00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:20,759
Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers Tottenham in London and coach. First trip

722
00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:24,200
Speaker 1: for you over here. How have you enjoyed it? Yeah,

723
00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,640
Speaker 1: I think everybody's been very accommodating. Um. I think the

724
00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,640
Speaker 1: players have all the things they need to have to

725
00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:31,920
Speaker 1: to go out there and have a good practice and preparation.

726
00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,680
Speaker 1: So it's been a really good week. All right. Let's

727
00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:36,719
Speaker 1: talk about the Green Bay Packers. They come in at

728
00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:40,120
Speaker 1: three and one, same record as your squad. When you

729
00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,120
Speaker 1: look at them defensively, Rare Shawn Gary's got five sacks

730
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:45,560
Speaker 1: on the season. Uh, they do a good job in

731
00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:47,760
Speaker 1: the passing game, giving up only a hundred and sixty

732
00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,880
Speaker 1: eight yards. What makes them so effective defensively, Well, they

733
00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,640
Speaker 1: can affect the quarterback. Um. You know, like you said,

734
00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,520
Speaker 1: Gary is a premier edge rusher, And I would say

735
00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:58,279
Speaker 1: that you know, all the players that they got, whether

736
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:00,640
Speaker 1: it's Quay Walker at inside line actor they just got

737
00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:04,320
Speaker 1: in the first round, UM and Kenny Clark really inside

738
00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,680
Speaker 1: has been a menace for for the inside guard center position.

739
00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:11,040
Speaker 1: So they affect the quarterback well, and they got good

740
00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:13,080
Speaker 1: coverage players in the back end. They play a good scheme.

741
00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:15,600
Speaker 1: Coach Barry does a good job. They're they're a really

742
00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,960
Speaker 1: good group. Are they a team that um because of

743
00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,919
Speaker 1: the talent that they have schematically? Is it a lot

744
00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:24,319
Speaker 1: of gimmicky stuff or is it just their guys are

745
00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:26,439
Speaker 1: able to beat guys in front of them regularly? Yeah,

746
00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,600
Speaker 1: they play good sound defense, UM cover the deep part

747
00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,600
Speaker 1: of the field, very good in in the passing game

748
00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:34,759
Speaker 1: and up front. You know, if they if they turn

749
00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,000
Speaker 1: it into a passing game for you, it's it's a

750
00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,480
Speaker 1: problem go to the other side of the ball. Obviously.

751
00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:43,279
Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers future Hall of Famer. What makes him so

752
00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,160
Speaker 1: difficult to defend? Despite the fact that offensively right now

753
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,960
Speaker 1: they're only averaging eighteen point eight points per game. But

754
00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,720
Speaker 1: you just kind of feel like that explosiveness can happen

755
00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,680
Speaker 1: at any moment. Yeah, it can. Uh, there's not one

756
00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:59,600
Speaker 1: thing that he does bad. Everything is good from his

757
00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:03,080
Speaker 1: Caden says to his little checks that he can get

758
00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:06,439
Speaker 1: to the receiver quick or good decisions when he needs

759
00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:08,759
Speaker 1: to check it down and and and throw deep when

760
00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:12,040
Speaker 1: he and he thinks he has an opportunity, he's extremely accurate. Um,

761
00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:13,839
Speaker 1: he's one of the best to ever do it. He's

762
00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:15,160
Speaker 1: really do you do You have to be on your

763
00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,040
Speaker 1: p's and queues when you go against a guy like

764
00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,799
Speaker 1: him or even a Brady where you know, if you're

765
00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,479
Speaker 1: in substitution, they go quick and they get a free

766
00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,600
Speaker 1: five yards or if you jump offside, they're great at

767
00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:28,160
Speaker 1: the free play. Yeah. Absolutely. It's something that we've practiced

768
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,399
Speaker 1: a lot this week. But until you're in in live reps, um,

769
00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,360
Speaker 1: you know, you have to have great focus, great attention

770
00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:35,760
Speaker 1: to detail when you're on the defensive side playing against

771
00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:38,560
Speaker 1: Aaron Um and we we've worked at it and um,

772
00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:41,319
Speaker 1: we'll see how it goes. You know, one of the

773
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,120
Speaker 1: underrated parts of Green Bay has been their run game

774
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,360
Speaker 1: between Jones and Dylan. Uh, if you go back to

775
00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,240
Speaker 1: you know, the last couple of years two thousand nineteen,

776
00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:52,480
Speaker 1: Jones is second in the NFL. He is forty two

777
00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:56,319
Speaker 1: scrimmage touchdowns, averaging five point one yard to carry over

778
00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:59,120
Speaker 1: that span. Talk about that combination and how hard they're

779
00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:02,200
Speaker 1: to deal with. Yeah, well, they both make yards when

780
00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,320
Speaker 1: they get the ball in their hand. Um, he's Jones

781
00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,319
Speaker 1: can can kill you in the passing game. He can

782
00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:08,640
Speaker 1: kill you in the run game. And he ever it's

783
00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:12,240
Speaker 1: just six point eight yards this year already. H dynamic player,

784
00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:16,279
Speaker 1: always seems to make positive yards. And Dylan, Dylan's a

785
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,000
Speaker 1: you know, he's a big, powerful back, but he's also

786
00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:21,920
Speaker 1: got great speed and strength and uh, he's a problem

787
00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:25,600
Speaker 1: to tackle. UM coach Sae Kwon Barkley has been absolutely

788
00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:30,239
Speaker 1: brilliant for you guys. Just talk about the confidence that

789
00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:33,799
Speaker 1: he's been playing with, which seems to feed throughout your

790
00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:36,239
Speaker 1: entire team. He and Daniel, both of them have played

791
00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:38,920
Speaker 1: with great confidence. Yeah. I think that stems from all

792
00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:40,600
Speaker 1: the way back to O. T. A. S And how

793
00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,839
Speaker 1: he has taking care of his body come back from

794
00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:46,320
Speaker 1: his injuries. He feels really healthy. Uh. He's a dynamic player.

795
00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:50,880
Speaker 1: He's got quickness, speed, strength, good vision, um, and you know,

796
00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,680
Speaker 1: he's a focal point for our offense, as everybody knows. UM.

797
00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:56,879
Speaker 1: And I'd say Daniel has done a really good job

798
00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,440
Speaker 1: of doing the things he needs to do, uh, to

799
00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,000
Speaker 1: to lead us out and to win games. Um. You know,

800
00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:05,560
Speaker 1: we've had four one score games already in this first

801
00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:07,880
Speaker 1: quarter of the season, and uh, you know, proud of

802
00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,719
Speaker 1: the way Daniels competed and led the offense. Proud of

803
00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,400
Speaker 1: your team as well, with the way they've embraced the

804
00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:15,879
Speaker 1: style of play that they need to play in order

805
00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:19,080
Speaker 1: to be competitive and have a chance to win games. Absolutely,

806
00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:21,080
Speaker 1: there's there's always a way to win a game in

807
00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,600
Speaker 1: the National Football League, and there's there's obviously ways to

808
00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,839
Speaker 1: lose it. And our guys compete for sixty minutes. They

809
00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,239
Speaker 1: play with great effort. Um. You know, we try to

810
00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:31,080
Speaker 1: do things as good as we can do. We understand

811
00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:33,560
Speaker 1: that it's not always gonna be what we want, but

812
00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:36,520
Speaker 1: I think playing the next play and having resiliency is important.

813
00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:38,920
Speaker 1: And again I've talked about this at nauseum. As long

814
00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:40,880
Speaker 1: as we're doing things during the week. We're preparing the

815
00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,319
Speaker 1: right way, we're practicing the right way, and we're going

816
00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:46,160
Speaker 1: out there and giving great effort on Sundays. Um, you

817
00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:47,919
Speaker 1: can live with the results. You might not like them,

818
00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:50,799
Speaker 1: but you can live with them. Boy, you took me

819
00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:53,520
Speaker 1: back to like with Bill Parcels. I could still hear

820
00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:57,200
Speaker 1: him saying, Fellas, there's always a pathway to victory. Sometimes

821
00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,840
Speaker 1: it's narrow, sometimes it's wide. But in the NFL, unlike college,

822
00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,000
Speaker 1: there always is one. Absolutely, these games are usually close, um,

823
00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,360
Speaker 1: and it's really performing under pressure when it counts the

824
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,560
Speaker 1: most that usually makes the difference. There's a few games

825
00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,120
Speaker 1: here there in most games unless it gets away from

826
00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,080
Speaker 1: you that you gotta nail, whether it's a play caller,

827
00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:19,879
Speaker 1: whether it's a player and assistant coach, whatever it may be. Um,

828
00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:23,680
Speaker 1: they're very, very competitive and the margin is is so small. Coach,

829
00:39:23,719 --> 00:39:26,160
Speaker 1: best of luck today. Thanks, but I appreciate you. That's

830
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:29,160
Speaker 1: Giant's head coach, Brian Dable. We thank him. We thank

831
00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:32,319
Speaker 1: Matt Sneidman from the Athletic, Paul Lands and Bob and

832
00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:34,719
Speaker 1: of course we thank Andrew Thomas for joining us on

833
00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:38,480
Speaker 1: this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast. We're in London.

834
00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:41,839
Speaker 1: That's where I'm recording this, folks, Giants and Packers coming

835
00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:44,880
Speaker 1: your way in that loan. I'll call it a national

836
00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:47,280
Speaker 1: game because there's no other game going on NFL Network

837
00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:49,960
Speaker 1: at nine thirty Eastern time on Sunday. Make sure you

838
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:53,240
Speaker 1: tune in. Then Giants come back home right after the game,

839
00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:55,200
Speaker 1: and then they get ready for the Baltimore events for

840
00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:58,040
Speaker 1: home game coming up the following week. Thank you everybody

841
00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:00,160
Speaker 1: for being with us. I'm John Smoke again. Find all

842
00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:02,560
Speaker 1: the Giants podcasts on the Giants Podcast Network, on the

843
00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,640
Speaker 1: Giants mobile app podcast platforms, everywhere in giants dot com,

844
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,880
Speaker 1: Slash podcast. We'll see you next time. Everybody say travels.