1 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by the 3 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: one and only Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field West. Since our last show, 5 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: the Packers have practiced twice more on nizchegie Field. Not 6 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: long after we wrap up this show, we'll be headed 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: to the airport because we are off to Denver the 8 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 1: joint practice on Friday. The preseason game. Preseason number two 9 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: is on Sunday night. So a lot to cover here 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: as we go through, but I'll just start with what 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: news and notes you have from these last two practices 12 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: here in Green Bay. A couple of things to note 13 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: very quickly on the health front, as far as some 14 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: of the bigger names, Jordan Morgan and Carrington Valentine both 15 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 1: have returned from their injuries and are back in practice, 16 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: but thus far only doing individual drills. They are not 17 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: yet cleared for eleven on eleven. Don't know what that 18 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: means as far as Denver on Friday and in the 19 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: game on Sunday, but good news that a couple of 20 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: guys who were expecting to have a pretty significant impact 21 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: on this twenty twenty four Packers team that those injuries 22 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: hopefully are in the review mirror. 23 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, you hope. You know, from Morgan's standpoint, I don't 24 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: know whether or not he'll be out there, but obviously 25 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: that the hope would be get him in at least 26 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 2: in one of these preseason games, if not next week 27 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: with the joint practice against Baltimore and then before that game. Yeah, 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: because he was doing some really good things Mike at 29 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: right guard right before the shoulder injury popped up there 30 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: in practice last week. You look at his size, his 31 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: body type. He was talking to the media on Wednesday 32 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: and even mentioned, you know, he's getting more comfortable in 33 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: that guard role again. And one of these guys, much 34 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: like Sean Ryan whom we talked about earlier this week, 35 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: somebody that didn't play that position at all in college, 36 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: was just stationed at left tackle and having to make 37 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: that adaptation now in the NFL. So when you look 38 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: at Valentine, when you look at Morgan, obviously, I think 39 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: Morgan's probably the one that you want to make sure 40 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: you get out in these preseason games and see as 41 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: much of them as possible and give him those live reps, 42 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: whereas a guy like Valentine played so many snaps last year, 43 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 2: started twelve games with such a vital part of that 44 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: defense with all the injuries that had crept up. I 45 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: think the other thing that really stood out to me 46 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: with these practices this week is the more opportunities that 47 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: Michael Pratt has been receiving at quarterback. And I think 48 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: a lot of people make too much out of the 49 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 2: first team, second team to third team, you know, designations 50 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: and who's running with whom. But the thing is is 51 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 2: they did put more on Pratt's plate this week. He 52 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: got a chance in the practice on Tuesday to close 53 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: out the two minute drive there and the arm talent 54 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 2: he has, the moxie. This is a guy much like 55 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: Clifford last year, who played a lot of college football 56 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 2: and I think has shown that he isn't just going 57 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 2: to be a deer in the headlights when he makes 58 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: this jump to the NFL. There's a lot there and 59 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: a lot of that he can lean back on as 60 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: he starts to make that transition. 61 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, there is a lot to watch with regard to 62 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: the backup quarterback situation. Now, as you said, Michael Pratt 63 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: getting a little bit more put on his plate taking 64 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: some reps with the twos as opposed to just with 65 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: the threes. And with regard to Sunday night's preseason game 66 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: in Denver, the starters are not going to play. They're 67 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: going to essentially get their work ones versus ones against 68 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: the Broncos in the joint practice on Friday. So then 69 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: it is the twos and the threes that are going 70 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: to be getting all the work in the Sunday night game. 71 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: And it'll be interesting to see because with what Pratt 72 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: did in his NFL preseason debut in Cleveland, he certainly 73 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: acquitted himself well. But I came out of that game thinking, Okay, 74 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: Michael Pratt looks like he belongs in the NFL. I 75 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: want to see him go against better than third string 76 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: units on the other side, right, So that's the next 77 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: step with Pratt. So we'll see how the reps ended, 78 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: you know, get divided up on Saturday night. I'm sorry, 79 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: on Sunday night in Denver. 80 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: I keep doing that this week too. 81 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I know I keep saying Saturday preseason on a Sunday night. 82 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: I had to look back at all of my schedules, 83 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: which are in a big stack at home since we 84 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: had to pack up all of our office step to 85 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: this temporary location we're working in. I don't know if 86 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: I've ever covered a preseason game on a Sunday night 87 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: like this might be, this might be a first, but regardless, 88 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: I think we're all going to be curious to see 89 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: if Michael Pratt is able to get into a preseason 90 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: game where it's not just the threes versus threes, but 91 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: where he gets to work with the Packers twos but 92 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: also goes against more of a second string unit defensively 93 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: as opposed to a third string unit. Then we'll see 94 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: how things go. It's interesting to watch it unfold. I 95 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: would say, I think it's going to be hard. It's 96 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: going to be difficult to not Clifford out of that 97 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: spot barring some kind of a disaster, just because of 98 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: his experience and that he has the one year under 99 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: his belt. But you can't rule it out. You definitely 100 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: can't rule it out. And then there's gonna be the 101 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: decision when push comes to shove. Are the Packers going 102 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: to keep three quarterbacks on the fifty three years going 103 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: to be two? And those are all things that we 104 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: still have to let these last two preseason games play 105 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: out before we really get into those conversations. 106 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. And I like what you said there 107 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: because I think one thing that people aren't giving Clifford 108 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: enough credit for I've said even last year, in a 109 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: lot of ways, he's sort of an agent of chaos, 110 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: it seems like, in terms of he goes out there 111 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: in these games and you talk about a gamer, a winner, 112 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: a guy that was a four year starter at Penn State, 113 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: Clifford shows it in those instances when when the fire 114 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: gets on his toes, when when the heat gets turned 115 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: up a little bit, the guy doesn't panic. He looks 116 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: to make plays, he doesn't look to recoil. That's what 117 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: made him successful last preseason. Honestly, I think that's what's 118 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: gonna make him a successful NFL quarterback. I think I 119 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: think so too, if he gets thrown into those situations 120 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: where you need a guy to go out there. The 121 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: question was asking me an insider inbox this week, and 122 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: I don't know how you feel about it, but it 123 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 2: was brought it up again about hey, should the Packers 124 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: have a Joe Flacco type? Should they have a veteran 125 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 2: quarterback behind Jordan Love one no, because the money that 126 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: you have to invest in those players is so astronomical. 127 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: People get so over the top about well, these quarterbacks 128 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: are making fifty million dollars a year to start, Well, 129 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 2: we're paying backup quarterbacks eight million dollars a year. That 130 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: all still comes out of the same salary caps You. 131 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: Got to understand you're talking about a different salary cap 132 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: wise when you have a couple developmental quarterbacks that even 133 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: if the Packers do keep them both and have three, 134 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: you're talking about a couple million dollars invested in a 135 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: couple of backup quarterbacks salary cap wise versus a six 136 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: or eight or nine million dollar a year deal for 137 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: a proven you know, NFL veteran, you know that whole thing. 138 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: That's a completely different financial equation and it's something that 139 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: the Packers would rather not have to go down that road. 140 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: And they believe in their process of developing quarterbacks and 141 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: getting as ready to play if indeed it happens is. 142 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 2: With w they did last year with Clifford, which they're 143 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: doing now with Michael Pratt. I love the decision to 144 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: draft Pratt in the seventh round. The Packers have had 145 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: this barrage of seventh round picks the last couple of years. 146 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: When you looked at that draft board, he was the 147 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: guy that I had on there. When I was looking 148 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: at it, I was like, this is the dude if 149 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: they want to go to try to draft somebody late, 150 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: and it was the guy they ended up picking. I 151 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: love what he brings to the table. I love his 152 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: arm strength. I love the fact that this has been 153 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: a real live competition between these two. Pratt is moving 154 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 2: up from just the entry level one hundred level class 155 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: to more than two hundred level stuff now with some 156 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 2: of these reps he got this past week. But at 157 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: the same time, I think Sean Clifford's done a lot 158 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: of good things too. A little bit of confusion at 159 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: the end of the two minute series on Wednesday, but 160 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: the fact that he drove them down as quickly as 161 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,679 Speaker 2: he did, looked poised, look confident, got the ball quickly 162 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: out of his hand. There wasn't a timeout to be 163 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: used during that series was a minute forty with no timeouts. 164 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 2: He had a really nice scene pass to Ben Simms 165 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: for twenty three yards. He is looking to make those 166 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: plays downfield with his arm in addition to keeping the 167 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 2: drive moving and again, I think Clifford has talked about 168 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: it at nauseum. Now it was a different beast winning 169 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 2: that first week when he was trying to step in 170 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: there for Jordan Love. Now he's having a chance to 171 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: get back in with twos, and I think you're seeing 172 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: the development process take it from there. 173 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, And the quarterback, the quarterback situation is definitely going 174 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: to be worth monitoring here as training camp wraps up, 175 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: and there are a lot of snaps to be had 176 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: in these last two preseason games because even if Jordan 177 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: Love and the starters do return to preseason action in 178 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: that finale against Baltimore, I don't expect it to be 179 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: a whole lot much more. You know, it might be 180 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: a little bit more than the really brief cameo in Cleveland, 181 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: But then again, maybe not. And you know, we don't know. 182 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: There are a lot of snaps for Clifford and Pratt 183 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: to take over these last couple of preseason games. A 184 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: couple other thoughts with regard to these last two practices. 185 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: Really too bad on the defensive side of the ball 186 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: that the two rookie draft pick linebackers Edgern Cooper and 187 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: Tyron Hoppert have been injured and have not been able 188 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: to participate. I think Hopper has been going through some 189 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: individual drills, but neither one has been in the eleven 190 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: on eleven at all, and that's really unfortunate. Now there's 191 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: still another week left after the Denver trip, and there's 192 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 1: still the one more preseason game, but at this point, 193 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: you know, I don't want to put the cart before 194 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: the horses, they say, but it's hard to see any 195 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: sort of an immediate, like week one impact from rookie 196 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: linebackers in this brand new defense when they have missed 197 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: as much time and as much potential opportunity as they have. 198 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: One of the things that I think is interesting about 199 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: this though, and I was actually chatting about this on 200 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: the sideline the other day with Paul Brettle, who's a 201 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: relatively new media member on the Packers beat, works for 202 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: ESPN Radio out of Lacrosse. He lives here in the 203 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: Green Bay area, and he was talking about Christian Welch, 204 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: the veteran inside linebacker, and because when training camp started, 205 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: you're looking at, Okay, you've got as far as that, 206 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,839 Speaker 1: as far as that off ball linebacker spot, you have 207 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 1: Kuay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, you know, has been 208 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: doing his thing. You have the two rookie draft picks. 209 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: How you know how much more room is there? Well, 210 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: now that Cooper and Hopper haven't really been in there, 211 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: Suddenly Christian Weltch the combination of not only the reps 212 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: that he's getting in practice, but then what he brings 213 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 1: as a veteran guy on special teams and all that. 214 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: It's like, well, the Wisconsin native, I you know, Iola Wisconsin, Uh, 215 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: Christian Welch is is you know, in position to make 216 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: this fifty three man roster again. We'll see again, still 217 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: a long way to go. But a guy that I 218 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: don't like to use the word afterthought, but but a 219 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: guy that you weren't we weren't really talking about him 220 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: right right, But now it's looking like, well, maybe we 221 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: should be talking a little bit more about this guy 222 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: because I think he's going to be in position to 223 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: make the fifty three. 224 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: And I no means do I want to disrespect Christian here, 225 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 2: but I think one of the reasons why you don't 226 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: think much about him is he didn't play on defense 227 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: for Green Bay last year. He played four defensive snaps 228 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: the year before that, with Baltimore. 229 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, he has been a special teams a special teams specialist. 230 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 2: This is where he has cut his teeth in the league. 231 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: And as Paul was telling us, and I've talked to 232 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: Christian too, I remember talking him at the end of 233 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 2: the season last year about his desire to come back, 234 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 2: considering he's ninety minutes from his home, you know, his hometown. Yeah, 235 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: but you know, as he was saying, it's like he 236 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: loves special teams. Yeah, this is a guy and it 237 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 2: reminds me kind of like the Jared Bushes of the world, 238 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: Guys that Yeah. I mean, certainly everybody wants to play 239 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 2: on defense. He's in linebacker. That is his position. He 240 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 2: wants to play linebacker. But there's certain guys that they 241 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 2: embraced that with open arms, those type opportunities and the 242 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 2: chance to be able to create a living and have 243 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 2: a legacy, be able to tell his grandchildren I played 244 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: in the National Football League for seven, eight, nine, ten years. 245 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 2: A lot of times those grants there aren't asking, hey, 246 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 2: were you the starting linebacker in Week two against Chicago. No, 247 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 2: he played for the Green Bay Packers. It all kind 248 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: of counts the same in that way. Yes, and Welch 249 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: has the right mentality for it. The one thing I 250 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 2: think is very interesting to me because I went into 251 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 2: this whole thing even though they drafted Edrin Cooper, even 252 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 2: though they drafted Tyrone Hopper, And there's a lot to 253 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 2: like about both of those guys. 254 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: Absolutely, there is a ton to like about what those 255 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: guys bring to the table. 256 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 2: But the guy I really honestly thought was going to 257 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: be a starter no matter what is I'm Misaiah McDuffie, 258 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: just because of the way he plays the position, and 259 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 2: he reminds me so much of those those great inside linebackers, 260 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 2: the guys that I don't care what the forty was, 261 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: I don't care what the bench was when you put 262 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 2: them on the field. He is just a missile to 263 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 2: the football. And what I think is interesting now is 264 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 2: with the injuries they've had it inside linebacker, a guy 265 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 2: that has been a staple on special teams for a 266 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 2: number of years, You almost kind of wonder how much 267 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 2: are they going to be able to play Isaiah McDuffie 268 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 2: on special teams this year? Because I think he's going 269 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:58,719 Speaker 2: one way or another, is going to have a big 270 00:12:58,800 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 2: role on this defense. 271 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: That's only what it's looking like for sure. 272 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 2: The tough part though, is this is the time where 273 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 2: you would have liked to see Cooper and Hopper get 274 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: those reps, because that's what you build off now if 275 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 2: you get called upon once the regular season starts, that's 276 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: what you build upon when you do get thrown out there, 277 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 2: and that's one area where they're gonna have to try 278 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 2: to make up some ground on whenever they get back 279 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 2: on the field. 280 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm glad that you brought up McDuffie because, uh, 281 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a guy that we've we've watched him 282 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: over the last few years go from you know, being 283 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: a guy who's just playing on special teams, handling his 284 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: role there and and you know, carving out his his 285 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: niche to where because of injuries and other circumstances, you know, 286 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: he ended up getting I believe he started roughly half 287 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: the games. 288 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 2: Yeah season he started eight yeah, eight as a spots starter. 289 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: Eight games as eight games as a starter last year. 290 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 2: Four positions each, four for Kuway Walker, for for uh 291 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: Devondra Campbell. 292 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: Yeahs for Campbell. Yeah. So he ends up over these 293 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: last couple of years now, he started to get a 294 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: lot more action on defense he's been involved a lot 295 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: more and all he's done is, you know, it's the cliche, 296 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: but all he's done is do everything that these coaches 297 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: ask him to do. And if you line up Isaiah 298 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: McDuffie and have him run a forty yard dash, he's 299 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: not going to impress anybody. And that's why he was 300 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: still on the board in the sixth round coming out 301 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: of Boston College. As a tackling machine at Boston College, 302 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: but he was still there in the sixth round. But 303 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: he's one of these guys that, as you said, the 304 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: forty time doesn't matter because he plays so much faster 305 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: than that, because because when he knows a system and 306 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: he's in a system and then he's able to he's 307 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: able to use his instincts to read what the offense 308 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: is doing. He plays so much faster than any forty 309 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: time on a stopwatch. And as he has worked his 310 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: way into more and more defensive snaps over the last 311 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: couple of years, and this year could be his biggest yet, 312 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: depending on what happens with the rookies and those injuries 313 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: and when those guys can get back and really start 314 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: to try to compete for playing time. He's he's going 315 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: to have a major role in this defense, and to 316 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: his advantage, it's Jeff Hafley's defense. He worked, you know, 317 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: he played for him at Boston College. This is a 318 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: system that he knows. The transition or whatever you want 319 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: to call it to this system was probably the easiest 320 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: for Isaiah McDuffie than anybody else on this Packers defense. 321 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: And it looks like he's taken advantage of that. 322 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and just seeing that again, everything he did in 323 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 2: college has been applicable to what he's doing in the NFL. 324 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 2: And you know, and not to throw him too far 325 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: under the bus at the forty, I mean, he ran 326 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: a four to six one. But you look at what 327 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 2: these linebackers are doing now and that people want stronger, faster, 328 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: all these different things they're asking these positions to do. 329 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 2: He's the throwback. He is the guy that is the gritty, 330 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 2: hard nosed dude. And you saw it in practice even 331 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 2: I believe it was on Wednesday where it was a 332 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 2: free play. You had TJ. Slayton jump off the guys 333 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 2: the offset. Jordan Love drops backs trying to make something happen, 334 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 2: throws a ball across the middle. Isaiah McDuffie's skies tips 335 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: it quay Walker interception. If that happens in a game, 336 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: it's all for not because the guy jumped off sides 337 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 2: and it was a free play, but what the potential 338 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: ramifications of that play are by giving them the free 339 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: opportunity to take a shot down field. Those are huge 340 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 2: and it just shows you the type of football player 341 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 2: and the type of headiness he has. The Packers have 342 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 2: set themselves up well here depending on what happens with 343 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 2: Cooper and Hopper, because you have McDuffie and Wilson who 344 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: have both played a lot of football and can be 345 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: counted on and relied upon be in there with kuay Walker. Again, 346 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 2: it's just it's unfortunate where you made that heavy investment 347 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 2: in an inside linebacker to day two inside linebackers, and 348 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 2: you just are hoping to be able to give them 349 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: as much opportunity as possible to learn this defense, to 350 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 2: get familiar with it, because it is it's a long 351 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 2: seventeen game regular season. 352 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, I want to look ahead to Denver a 353 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: little bit here, but I'll take care of some sponsor business. 354 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: For serious XMNFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up 355 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 1: to the minute, NFL news that true football fanatics need, 356 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven three sixty five and cousin subs. 357 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: We have something for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, 358 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 359 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub and a bowl cousin 360 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: subs fifty plus years of better. All right, joint practice 361 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: coming up Friday in Denver. I already mentioned this is 362 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: going to be where the starters for the Packers, both 363 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: on offense and defense, are going to get the bulk 364 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: of their work because they will not be playing, according 365 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: to Mattlefloor, in the game on Sunday night. So my 366 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: question to you, Wes is what are you looking for? 367 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: What are you watching for? When we are at the 368 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: practice field out there in the Rocky Mountains on Friday 369 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 1: afternoon or Friday morning, I should say. 370 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll be Friday morning, get ready for that bus ride. Yeah, 371 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 2: I'm going to start it off. And this isn't just 372 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: lip service or trying to like, oh hey, go read 373 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 2: my story, but Emmanuel Wilson is a big name that 374 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: sticks off the page for me for two reasons. One, 375 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 2: no running back in the National Football league since the 376 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 2: start of the twenty twenty three preseason has more rushing 377 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: yards than Emmanuel Wilson led last year. He's currently one 378 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 2: yard off of the lead for this year with those 379 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: sixty seven rushing yards he had last week in Cleveland, fifty. 380 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: As you said on our Tuesday podcast after the contact, 381 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 2: So you're taking an already talented, already motivated, five two 382 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty six pound running back and now you're 383 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: sending them back to Denver, where his NFL career began 384 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 2: when he signed with them as an undrafted free agent 385 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 2: out of Ford Valley State. He gets cut three days 386 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,719 Speaker 2: after that rookie mini camp, and for as quiet as humble, 387 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 2: as determined as a manual is, you can tell how 388 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 2: that affected him because he was saying to us this 389 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 2: past week, you know, he thought that was the end 390 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: of the road. He thought football wasn't going to be 391 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: for me anymore. Well, I think it was ten or 392 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 2: eleven days later the Packers signed him. He comes in 393 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: and Mike, how many times have the Packers signed an 394 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 2: undrafted running back that's fifty or six on the depth 395 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 2: chart that is sort of the the guy that's just 396 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 2: coming in. We'll see what he can do. You got 397 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 2: to eat snaps in the preseason. Emmanuel Wilson from the 398 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 2: time in which he signed with the Packers that towards 399 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: the end of May in over the next three months, 400 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 2: made himself undeniable with that roster spot. An eighty yard 401 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 2: touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals will help that, but 402 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 2: it was what he did day in and day out, 403 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 2: and even how he looked last season before the shoulder injury, 404 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 2: just in real spot duty. This is a talented, really 405 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 2: hungry young man. I'm really interested to see how the 406 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: Packers in him are able to run this football. It 407 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 2: could be a lot of Wilson in this game. I 408 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: think it's gonna be a lot of Wilson in these 409 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: practices too. Although Josh Jacobs this is going to be 410 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: his game day, so to speak. I mean, you're not 411 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,879 Speaker 2: going to run him into the ground. And they're currently 412 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: without Marshawn Lloyd and also Jarvin Howard, who neither of 413 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 2: whom practice this week, so great opportunity to build on 414 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,439 Speaker 2: what they did in Cleveland, and certainly Wilson is going 415 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 2: to have a lot of motivation to do to do 416 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 2: really well. 417 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, the thing I still have to get used to 418 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: with Emmanuel Wilson, and I'm starting to What I have 419 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: to get used to with him is seeing that body 420 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: type five ten, two hundred and twenty six pounds with 421 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: legit speed, like because you just you look at him, 422 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: you know, sort of that that first impression, and yes, 423 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: he looks like a running back, but he doesn't look 424 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 1: like a running back who would have the type of 425 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: breakaway speed that he does. And when he broke off 426 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: that eighty yard touchdown in Cincinnati last August, and when 427 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: he broke to the outside with you know, Michael Pratt 428 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: throwing that extra block for him in Cleveland last week, 429 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: when he gets in the open field, man, he can 430 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: turn it on and that's you know, that's really impressive 431 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: because because at two hundred and twenty six pounds, you know, 432 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: he's got the power between the tackles like that's there 433 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: and that's that's not a question and h and his speed, 434 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: his speed is always is always impressive to me. The 435 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: other thing I want to watch for, and I don't 436 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 1: know how this is going to go in the Friday 437 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 1: joint practice, but with the fact that this will be 438 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 1: you know, the action for Jordan Love and the number 439 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: one offense is are the Broncos going to dial up 440 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: some blitzes? Are they going to get a little exotic? 441 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: Are they going to challenge the Packers offensive line, the 442 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: protection calls, the unit there, Jordan Love with the hot 443 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: reeds and the receivers to stay on top of everything 444 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: because and I know, the game out in Denver last 445 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: October was before the Packers kind of found their footing 446 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: on offense and got things going. But that Denver defense 447 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: gave the Packers all kinds of problems. Yeah, last year 448 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: in the regular season, to the point that the Packers 449 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: didn't even have any points on the board at halftime. 450 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: It was a first half shutout for Denver. So the 451 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 1: challenge that it will present, and I hope, I'm hoping 452 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: for Jordan Love and Company's sake that they do get 453 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,159 Speaker 1: the challenge of, you know, some third down blitzes and 454 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: some different calls and different looks that they have to 455 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: react to and respond to to really make that joint 456 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: practice work worth it when when they're not going to 457 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: be playing in the preseason game. So so for me, 458 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,239 Speaker 1: that's that's a big one to watch. And then when 459 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: it comes to the game on Sunday night. The a 460 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 1: couple of receivers that I'll have my eye on. One 461 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: of course, is Grant Dubo's And as you mentioned, you 462 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: have a story on Packers dot com on Atmanuel Wilson 463 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 1: coming out of the Cleveland game not long before we 464 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: turn the cameras on here. A story of mine on 465 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 1: Grant Dubo's has been posted on Packers dot com. So 466 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: if you want to check that out, certainly do so. 467 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 1: But as I mentioned on our last show too with 468 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,199 Speaker 1: with with a guy like Dubo's, he had such a 469 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: strong game in Cleveland. Now the question is, okay, can 470 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: you do it again? Can you repeat it? Can you 471 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: stack the success in these preseason games? And then on 472 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: the flip side of that in the same competition for 473 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: you know, wide receiver and a difficult place to make 474 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: this roster. Boll Melton had a couple of drop passes 475 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: in Cleveland, but we've seen what boul Melton can do 476 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: in games when he was active last season. This is 477 00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: the guy who can help the Packers and he can produce, 478 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: but he's in a really competitive situation to make this 479 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: team right now. So how does bull Melton bounce back 480 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: from a bad day at the office out in Cleveland. 481 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 1: Now in Denver, can he get back to looking like 482 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: the Bowl Melton that we saw down the stretch last season, 483 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 1: who was a big part of things for the Packers 484 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: on offense. So at the receiver position, there's always something 485 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: to watch. But those are the two guys that I 486 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: think are going to have the most eyes on them 487 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: heading into this Denver game. 488 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. And I again just seeing Granted bow 489 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 2: Is just week after week, practice after practice, and preseason 490 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 2: game after preseason game be able to stack that has 491 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: been really impressive to watch. And as Matt Lafluur also 492 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 2: said that what he's added as with his pass blocking too, 493 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 2: He's impressed a lot with the effort he's shown in 494 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 2: that capacity, which is the off forgotten phase of the 495 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: game when you look at it from a fans perspective, 496 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 2: but sometimes it's just as critical to a team. I 497 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 2: love that. 498 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 1: I love that line Lafleur had in the press conference 499 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: the other day about the receivers no block, no rock. 500 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: If you don't block in the running game, you're not 501 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 1: going to get your number call to the pass like 502 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: that's that's how much they emphasize it. Here, if you're 503 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: if if you're just going to be a receiver who's 504 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: going to run your routes and then hang around, hang 505 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: out on the periphery when the running plays are called, 506 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: and not stick your nose in there to find a corner, 507 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: find a safety. Maybe it's even a linebacker that you 508 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: got to put a hat on a hat and throw 509 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: a block. It's really really emphasized around here. And we've 510 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: seen it. Whether it's Bull Melton, whether it's Malie Heath, 511 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: whether it's Samari Ture, whether it's Grant Dubo's these guys 512 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: who are fighting for those spots at the bottom of 513 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: the roster. It's not just you know, Romeo Dobbs and 514 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: Christian Watson, who are who are blocking in the running game. 515 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: All these guys are and and it speaks to the 516 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: speaks to the mentality and the culture that has been 517 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: created amongst the wide receivers. And I think it's something 518 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 1: that's existed in the Packers wide receiver room for a 519 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: long time, going back to Donald Driver and James Jones 520 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: and Jordy Nelson and all that. I think the whole 521 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: blocking in the running game has that the mentality has 522 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: been has been even heightened in a sense in this 523 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: particular era with with the way Lafleur emphasizes it and 524 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 1: the other offensive coaches do as well. 525 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, no doubt, and yeah, so to have do Bo's 526 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: get involved with this and looking as good as he's 527 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 2: looked three weeks into camp, and you know, obviously bow Melt, 528 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 2: we all know what he can do. Some unfortunate drops 529 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 2: there and some stuff that didn't really sync up right, 530 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: but incredibly talented. We saw it in the one on 531 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: ones you were watching that with the receivers and defensive backs. 532 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 2: Had a huge touchdown on that. And then quickly I 533 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 2: just want to mention also with Malik Heath. I mean, 534 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 2: Malik Heath's the guy that I thought had some drops 535 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 2: and had some missed opportunities during the off season program. 536 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: I thought he's really bounced back well. And when you're 537 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 2: talking about guys that also contribute in special teams, his 538 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 2: body type and just that's bridge. Pasaccia has deployed him 539 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 2: in a number of different units, whether it was on 540 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 2: kickoff return as you know, a blocker, or even on 541 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 2: I think he's been doing some stuff as a gunner. 542 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: There's a lot of ways to use him as well. 543 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 2: So it's what you expect. You want to see good 544 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 2: competition throughout that receiving room. But it's just so interesting 545 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 2: to me, Like, for example, last week, Mike, I'd be 546 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 2: challenge you to show me how many teams will start 547 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 2: with their starters in a preseason game and then after 548 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 2: that initial series there's four guys that are are not 549 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 2: going to play anymore. You know, Dantavian Wicks is technically 550 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: I guess you would say the number four receiver. He 551 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 2: has a sixty five yard touchdown and he's done for 552 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 2: the afternoon. That's very rare, I would get. I would 553 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 2: venture to guess that you go back and talk to 554 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 2: James Jones. I'm guessing James Jones played in a lot 555 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 2: of preseason games and saw a lot of action despite 556 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 2: the fact he was the established number three or number four. Yeah, 557 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 2: but just shows you how deep Green Bay is and 558 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 2: if those number five, six, seven, eight, Samory two Ray, 559 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 2: those guys get involved in these games, you have to 560 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 2: be able to take advantage of it. 561 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. I'm glad you brought up Malie Heath too, because 562 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: I think we've seen him on the practice field lately 563 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 1: looking a lot more like the guy we saw last 564 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: year and knops guy who looked like in the spring 565 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 1: he was trying to find himself again a little bit. 566 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: And he's another guy to watch to see now if 567 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: he can take what he's been doing on the practice 568 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: field into a preseason game and cash in on what 569 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: I think will be some opportunities for him. 570 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 2: You know, it's the coolest thing too. I'll close on 571 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 2: this in terms of the receivers. You're not an Instagram 572 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 2: social media, but I think something is so cool about 573 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,959 Speaker 2: that room because anybody can say, oh, yeah, we're all 574 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 2: pulling for each other and everything like that. Grant to 575 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 2: Bo's has a great game against the Cleveland Browns. I 576 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: would imagine I haven't talked to Bow about it. I'd 577 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 2: imagine Bo probably wasn't thrilled with this game. You know 578 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 2: what was on Bo's Instagram story two days ago a 579 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 2: picture of one of Grant's catches from the Packers account 580 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 2: reposts it on his That's being a teammate. Yeah, that's 581 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 2: being somebody to root for and hopefully you know, both 582 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 2: can get this thing. Yeah again, because he's an explosive 583 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: football player man. 584 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you talk about culture, that's a great example 585 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: of culture right there. So with that we'll call it 586 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 1: a rap on this edition of Packers Unscript. You'd be 587 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our continuing coverage of training 588 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: camp and everything that's going on in Denver, the joint 589 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: practice on Friday, the preseason game on Sunday night. We 590 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: will have it all for you on Packers dot com 591 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: for Wesiam Mike, thank you for tuning in. Everybody. We 592 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: will see you next time.