1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford sitting alongside my trusted colleague Wes 3 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: Hodkoits were coming to you here from our studios at 4 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: lambeau Field and West. It is Wednesday, and that means 5 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: we are looking ahead to the Packers next opponent, and 6 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: it is the Minnesota Vikings Sunday noon kickoff at lambeau 7 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: Field here in week two. And normally when we talk 8 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: about the Minnesota Vikings, we would start with talking about 9 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: their defense. But this year, in particular, I think we 10 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: have to start on the offensive side because they made 11 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: a big investment at the quarterback position, bringing in Kirk Cousins, 12 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: who was considered the prize of the free agent field 13 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: out there in the off season, the Vikings looking for 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: the former Redskins quarterback to take him to the promise line. 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: It's actually funny because I'm gonna one up, you know, 16 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna take it even to a different level 17 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: beyond the defense. Beyond Kirk Cousins. I'm actually gonna talk 18 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: about Mike Zimmer because I think one thing about Mike 19 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: Zimmer and his time now whatever it's been, what has 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: it been now five six years he's been with the 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings. He might be one of the most self 22 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: aware coaches in NFL history, especially with given the air 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: in which he's coaching. His comment this offseason, to me 24 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: was the comment of the off season about how whatever situation, 25 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: whatever direction they went in at quarterback, it probably has 26 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: a direct tie into really his job security, he felt. 27 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: And that's why I know they threw a lot of 28 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: money at Kirk Cousins, but it's also why I didn't 29 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: blame the Vikings for doing this, because out of all 30 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: three quarterbacks, they already at a house. Kirk Cousins was 31 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: really the surest thing you had. Teddy Bridgewater coming off 32 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: a devastating knee injury, despite the promise that he showed 33 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: early on, you don't know if you want to hit 34 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: your way again too. That player Sam Bradford has had 35 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: issues he's had with injuries in the past years. And 36 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: then case Keenum was sort of this overnight sensation do 37 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: you want to make him your quarterback in the future. 38 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: So with all those chips on the table, he talked, 39 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: you know, and he also had Rick Spielman, they're going 40 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: out and those conversations. Really the biggest storyline of those 41 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: opening days of free agencies what was going to happen 42 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: with Kirk Cousins. How much was he gonna make? Was 43 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: it gonna be the first fully guaranteed contract in NFL history? 44 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: And at the end of the day, the Vikings got 45 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: their guy. I still believe, as I said earlier this week, 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: this team will go as far as its defense takes them. 47 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,839 Speaker 1: But having Cousins now, and especially with how productive he's 48 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: been in the NFL, it does give them a bigger 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: margin forrer than I think they've had before underneath Zimmer. Yeah. Well, 50 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: one of the narratives in the off season with regards 51 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: to this as well, how can the Vikings you know, 52 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: throw all that money at Cousins and expect him to 53 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: play better than Case Keenum did last year because Keenum 54 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: played so well and was so productive for them. And 55 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: really what it came down to, at least the way 56 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: I look data is if the Vikings get out of 57 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins the same type of season they got out 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: of Case Keenum last year, they would be perfectly happy 59 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: with that. That's what they're after. They were just they 60 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: were just betting that Cousins is more likely to give 61 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: that to them than Keenum doing it again. And uh, 62 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: and that was really what the decision came down to. 63 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: We'll see their one game in there, want to know. Uh. 64 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: They beat the San Francisco forty niners at home last week, 65 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: their first road trip now coming to lambeau Field this weekend. 66 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins no stranger to the Packers, certainly um this 67 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: particular defense. Obviously, the Packers have some different things going 68 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: on this year, but but the Packers have faced this 69 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: quarterback before a handful of times with the red skin 70 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: that in all these years, Michael, we've been doing this. 71 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: That might be one of your best points. I think 72 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: you've ever made it. You've made some good ones. But Yeah, 73 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: basically they expected Cousins to be more It would be 74 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: more achievable for him to have a case Keenum type 75 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: season then to double down on a Keenam doing it 76 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: right again. I think that's I think that's what they decided. 77 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: He might end up having a phenomenal year with Denver. 78 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: He did enough to win that game through three interceptions 79 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: last week, but they still did top Seattle. But as 80 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: far as the vikings with where you know how these 81 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: defenses are built, Mike. You saw it with Seattle. That 82 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: window only stays open for so long. The Vikings had 83 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: to dart through it. They're getting Delvin Cooked back. They've 84 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: added to those weapons outside over the years, they've they've 85 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: found a diamond, the rough and Stefon Diggs. You need 86 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: to be able to get some titles out of this. 87 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: So that's the way they view it. That's how they're 88 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: approaching it. But it will be interesting to see now 89 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: because even though Cousins hasn't played in this division, he 90 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: has kind of a storied history here with the Packers. 91 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: He's seen a lot of them in the last few seasons, 92 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: and he'll see a new defense with Mike Petton on Sunday. Yeah. Well, 93 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: with regards to the Minnesota Vikings weapons and what they 94 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: have around Kirk Cousins, the Packers obviously, they've you know, 95 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: seen their share of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thieland and 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: Kyle Rudolph, and the Packers will have a whole different 97 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: secondary group to match up against them compared to past years. 98 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: But the one guy that the Packers have not faced 99 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 1: is Dalvin Cook. He was injured and out for the season. 100 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: By the time the first Packers Vikings game rolled around 101 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: last year. And I don't know how much of the 102 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: Week one game against the forty Niners that you watched West, 103 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: but I tell you what sure didn't look like. Dalvin 104 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: Cook was a running back coming off of a c 105 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: L surgery. He looks, he looks good, he looks he 106 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: looks kind of scary, frankly, And I say that from 107 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: the standpoint of he can he can run the ball 108 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: and be a pass catching weapon out of the backfield. 109 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: This is this is a big, powerful guy who can 110 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: do a lot of things. I do not care who 111 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: your quarterback is. I do not care what exactly your 112 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: receivers look like. In the NFC North, you have to 113 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: have a running back. You have to have a guy 114 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: that's going to be able to weather November and December. 115 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: And by all accounts, Cook was looking like that player 116 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: last year up until when he has the knee injury. Yeah, 117 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: he was one of the top two or three rushers 118 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: in the league. I don't remember exactly. Yeah, yeah, coming 119 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: through four through four games. Yeah, So they were very 120 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: fortunate in having Latavious Murray. Murray stepped up. He's a 121 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: vet he's been through this thing before. He's done it 122 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: in rows that occasion, but ultimately everybody knows the home 123 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: run for them is cooked. So to get him back 124 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 1: and to continue building that offensive line, I had to 125 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: be honest with you. I don't know how the NFL 126 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: executive the year thing went last year, but I think 127 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: Spielman has to be up in that conversation because of 128 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: getting case Keenum, despite having, you know, all the other 129 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: things going on at the quarterback position, signing Latavious Murray, 130 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: getting Riley Reef, so many things that they did ultimately 131 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: ended up helping them get to where they got to 132 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: because they were sort of fortifying their reserves and not 133 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: saying that. Brian Goodakuins took a page out of that, 134 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: but I think there's something to be said for it. 135 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: You talked about it in the lead up to the 136 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: start of the regular season, having some veteran options behind 137 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: you to potentially lean on if an injury happens. But 138 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: getting back to the original point, I think cook where 139 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: he's at, how quickly he came back from that injury. 140 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: You tip your cap to Brian Blaga in something. You know, 141 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: these linemen that come back in ten nine ten months. 142 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: But it's a different ball game for running backs. It's 143 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: a different ballgame for skill position players or cornerbacks because 144 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: you have to cut on it so often. And as 145 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: of right now, it looks like Cook's gonna be okay. Yeah, 146 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: watching that game, watching cousins first game with the Vikings 147 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: last week, the portions of it that I saw, what 148 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: I saw was not a spectacular performance. What I saw 149 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: were two I thought spectacular touchdown passes, one two digs 150 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: and one to Rudolph, absolutely pinpoint passes against tight coverage 151 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: in the end zone. Big plays there for the Vikings. 152 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: So he made he threw the two touchdown passes he 153 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: needed to throw, and he just didn't make any mistakes. 154 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: And that way you flip the flip side of that 155 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: was Garoppolo. The forty Niners made mistakes all over the place, 156 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: and that's why they were playing from behind. They weren't 157 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: able to catch up Cousins. He had his tendency to 158 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: throw some interceptions with Washington, that's what you want to 159 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: try to put pressure on him, affect him, see if 160 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: he makes one of those errand throws. He did not 161 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: make any of those errant throws last week. He didn't 162 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: Washington with all. It was also asking to throw for 163 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: about four six yards proceeding. So when you're exposing the 164 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: football that much, I think that naturally is gonna happen. 165 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: That's not to say you can't protect the football better. 166 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: You can. We've seen it with Drew Brees and and 167 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady the year that I 168 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: think he threw for fifty touchdowns, had what four interceptions 169 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: that season. So it's not like it isn't achievable, but 170 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: you are exposing the ball more. And and really Washington's 171 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: offense the last two or three seasons ran through cousins. 172 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: He's not probably gonna have that same problem in Minnesota 173 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: because he has a reliable option in the backfield, he 174 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: has playmakers around him. Even you have you know, Kyle 175 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: Rudolph is as steady as they come at that tight end. 176 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: I know of some people in the Green Bay area 177 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: that just so happened to draft Kyle Rudolph as their 178 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: number one overall pick this year simply out of mistake. 179 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: Not not putting anybody out there, Kim Hartwig, but that 180 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: being said, uh, they do. They They're very solid across 181 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: the line. There's there's not a lot of holes there. 182 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: So I'm just very interested to see how this plays 183 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: out for them because we know what they've had for 184 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: so long on defense. You and I have done so 185 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: many unscripteds over the year, Mike, where we're talking about 186 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: the defense, We're talking about those corners, we're talking about 187 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: the pass rush, the linebackers that they have. The offense 188 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: has always been the thing trying to catch up in 189 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: the Vikings if they're going to get to where they 190 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: want to go this this year, and the Packers are 191 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: obviously trying to stand in front of that. They're gonna need, 192 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: you know, Kirk Cousins Delvin Cooking Company to hold up 193 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: there under the bargain. Yeah all right, Well, I do 194 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: want to start talking about that Vikings defense. But before that, 195 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: at home or here in the stands, we all know 196 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: that Green Bay fans give it their all and that 197 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: takes a lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl 198 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness 199 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: of Packers fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. 200 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup, 201 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: the official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, 202 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball here for the Minnesota Vikings, 203 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: the number one defense in the league last year, hands down, 204 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: and then pretty much starting with the second half of 205 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: the playoff game against New Orleans all the way through 206 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: the NFC Championship game, they didn't look like the same 207 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: unit out there. Um Me, personally, my opinion is that 208 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: things started to unravel when Xavier Rhodes, their stars shut 209 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: down cornerback, was not healthy, was either trying to play 210 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: through injury, or was on the sideline. It seemed like 211 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: that through everything out of whack. And one thing about 212 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: the Vikings defense last year is they stayed remarkably healthy 213 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: all season long. Those that unit was playing together, all 214 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: the key pieces on the field every week, and it 215 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: showed throughout the course of the year the way they played. 216 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: But boy, the value of Xavier Rhodes to me, shot 217 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,479 Speaker 1: up astronomically after what we saw happen in the postseason 218 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: and the fact that they had Xavier Roads and Trey 219 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: Waynes and they still use their first round draft pick 220 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: on another cornerback in Mike Hughes from UCF shows you 221 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: how important that position is in their defense and in 222 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: the defense in general. That's not to say that they're 223 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: trying to replace Roads, but I mean just having more 224 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: oaks in the fire. To me, it was very interesting. 225 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: This is no disrespect to Terrence Knew when he had 226 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: a tremendous career, but for a guy that was thirty nine, 227 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: that was playing the snaps, he played down the stretch, 228 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: that sometimes isn't the best formula for success. And I 229 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: think in some ways, and they obviously we're kind of 230 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: worn down there by the end of the season. But 231 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: don't make no mistake. I mean, Xavier Rhodes is as 232 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: good as they come in terms of cornerbacks. This division 233 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: in general has really developed some fine corners these past 234 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: few years. Some good Darius Slay and in Detroit and 235 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: and certainly Xavier Rhodes living up to being the first 236 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: round pick that he was in two thousand thirteen, and 237 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: it gives them a lot of things to uh, you know, 238 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: to work with. Me personally, I think the fun part 239 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: of this game is going to be seeing how all 240 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: these pieces match up. Yeah, you've seen Randall coverse this 241 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: defense before and in Davante Adams but now you have 242 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: Jimmy Graham involved. Now you have a guy like Geronimo 243 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: Alison more established. Uh, seeing how those what the Packers 244 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: are doing offensively matches up with the Vikings. Assuming we'll 245 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: see how everything plays out thereon Rodgers, that that's gonna 246 00:11:58,160 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: be one of the big I think, one of the 247 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: big push for this game. That's gonna make a really 248 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: compelling Yeah. Well, the guy that, the guy that I 249 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 1: always have my eye on when I'm watching Minnesota's defense 250 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: is number twenty two, Harrison Smith. I think he's the 251 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: He's kind of the glue guy that that really makes 252 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: everything work because he's he's so versatile, he's such an 253 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: aggressive player, he's such a smart player. They scheme things 254 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: up blitz wise for him to get free runs at 255 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: the quarterback to try to wreck havoc that way. We 256 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: saw last year the game in Minneapolis after Rogers went down. 257 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: You know how I have when I watched games normally, 258 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: I always look at Aaron Rodgers is probably the best 259 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: football player on the field. When Aaron Rodgers left that 260 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: game against Minnesota last year, there was no doubt that 261 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: the best player on the field that day was Harrison Smith. 262 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: He absolutely controlled and dominated that game. The sacks, he 263 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: had a diving one handed interception, He's breaking up passes, 264 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: he's a sure tackler, a hard hitter. This guy, this 265 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: guy does it all. And when we talk about that 266 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: big play the Packers made against the Bears on Sunday 267 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: night where Jamal Williams picked up the blitzing linebacker and 268 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers was able to find Davante Adams for a 269 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: big fifty yard pass play, Jamal Williams, He's got to 270 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: find where Harrison Smith is coming from, because it seems 271 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: like every time the Packers and the Vikings play, and 272 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: not just against the Packers, almost any Vikings game you watch, 273 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: Harrison Smith at least once a game, gets a completely 274 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: free run at the quarterback where somehow nobody picks him up, 275 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: nobody blocks him, and and he just levels your your QB. 276 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: Packers can't let that happen on Sunday. I think they 277 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: call that stealthy stealthiness. That's good whatever, But yeah, he's 278 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: that's the type of players he's been. He's been that 279 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: way since two thousand and twelve, and honestly since he 280 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: came into this league. He he matured quickly. He made 281 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: an impact in his defense quickly, and you mentioned him 282 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 1: sort of being the glue guy. I mean, the thing 283 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: is Mike is that really Let's see here, he's the 284 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: other than Andrewsondo. He's what the longest tenured member of 285 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: that defense now as far as the starting unit. Everson 286 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: Griffith in there too from the two thousand ten draft, 287 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: but yeah, he he is. He knows we talk about 288 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: all the time. Morgan Burnett was that player too for 289 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: the Packers defense all those years. He just makes communication 290 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: easier in the safety position. Even though historically it's not 291 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: gotten a lot of respect in this league, it gets 292 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: more and more importance by the year because of how 293 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 1: much those players now in this era are a lot 294 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: of times the primary communicator. Yeah, you can find a 295 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: Blake Martinez that plays every down, but if something happens 296 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: to that inside linebacker, it's usually on the safety is 297 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: to step up. Harris Smith. Harrison Smith has been that guy, 298 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: has been steady, he's been consistent, and he also makes plays. 299 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: So yeah, as you mentioned, whether it's Jamal Williams, whether 300 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: it's these safeties, or whether it's these receivers, you got 301 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: to know where he is on the field at all times. Yeah. 302 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: With this entire Vikings defense, it's really pretty much the 303 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: same group you mentioned. Mike Hughes obviously being added to 304 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: the mix as what looks like they're nickel cornerback right now, 305 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: but pretty much the same unit that the Packers face 306 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: last year that the whole league had trouble dealing with. 307 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: Up front. You know that pass rush. Everson Griffin and 308 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: Daniel Hunter are the guys who really make that go, 309 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: and they don't require Zimmer to call whole heck of 310 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: a lot of blitz is. But Zimmer will pick his 311 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: spots when he wants to be aggressive and force the issue. 312 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: Uh Sometimes with him, you just never know when those 313 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: extra rushers are coming. Yeah, and they also got Sheldon 314 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: richardson this year too, so's so you have him and 315 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: Linville Joseph. Now is your nose tackles, your defensive tackles 316 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: very solid up front there. It's gonna make life difficult 317 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: not only on the Packers but every team that they're 318 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: gonna be facing this year if those starting four can 319 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: stay together. To me, Everson Griffin is still the key guy, 320 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: I mean in Monday's locker room, even though uh, most 321 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: of the media was still pretty much looking back on 322 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: that Bears game. Brian Dave Bactieri was already being asked 323 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: about Griffin because of the wars that those two have 324 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: had over the years. Now and in seeing him in 325 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: the player that really both of those guys have become, 326 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: you know, Bot becoming an All Pro, Griffin becoming one 327 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: of the league's top two edge rushers after originally appearing 328 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: to be more of, you know, a complimentary piece, and 329 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: his first couple of seasons there has really broke out. 330 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: So Yeah, I've always been a huge Linville Joseph fan, 331 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: going back to his days with the Giants. I thought 332 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: that was a great pick up for them a few 333 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: years ago when they signed him as a uf are 334 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: unrestricted free agent out of New York and bringing in 335 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: Sheldon Richardson. To Richardson was kind of quiet last year 336 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: in Seattle, but you still know what you're getting with him, 337 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: So to see how he compliments the rest of that front, 338 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna be exciting to watch. Yeah, as far as 339 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: the matchups go, I'm not sure how the Packers in 340 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: their secondary you are going to match up with these 341 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: with these receivers when we're talking digs and theeeling and 342 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: I still haven't figure out up last week's game, so 343 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: King and Williams and Alexander and Jackson and how how 344 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: exactly those matchups are going to go. But if you're 345 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: going to pick one particular one on one matchup that 346 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: we can anticipate and that I think we'll have a 347 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: lot to say about how this game goes. I'm guessing 348 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: you start with box tr against Griffin. It does yes 349 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: in terms of just like the matchup, like just to 350 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: watch it for just elite NFL football, play another one 351 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: to depending on how it works out how they want 352 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: to handle that nickel corner spot is whoever lines up 353 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: against Adam Feeling? Yeah, and Feeling is a versa little guy. 354 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: You can use them in a multiple multipout of ways. 355 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: But I'd have to imagine Joy, Alexander and or Josh 356 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 1: Jackson is gonna be seeing some of his coverage. So 357 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: seeing how those young rookies with all their athleticism and 358 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: how good they've looked early on match up with him 359 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: is going to be important because theeeling is that we've 360 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: seen it and he's had good games against Green Day. 361 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: He is a supreme football player. I remember talking to 362 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: Davante Adams during the offseason program for his yearbook story 363 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: and getting to know feeling a little bit at the 364 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl and seeing how he works and everything he 365 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: puts into it. The world slept out of him coming 366 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: out of the D two ranks in Minnesota, but he's 367 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: found a spot in this offense and he's becoming one 368 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: of the league's top really most devastating threats in the 369 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: middle of the field. Yeah, you said it. I mean 370 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: that he's not just a homegrown product and a fan favorite. 371 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: He's an elite player. He's he's a self made elite 372 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: player in a lot of ways because of where he 373 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: came from. He didn't play at a at a big school. 374 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: He didn't play at a Power five conference type school. 375 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: But something I don't even know. But he's he's proven 376 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: himself over time. No, he has. And uh, you look 377 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: at the complimentary pieces there. They obviously Diggs has been 378 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: a guy that's you know, bawled out at times, and 379 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: they're still trying to see what they have in la 380 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 1: Kwan Treadwell, their first round pick from a few seasons ago. 381 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: So hey, listen, Kirk Cousins has a ton of weapons 382 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: to use in this offense, so the Packers trying to 383 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: quiet him. It's going to start on the perimeter to 384 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: and making sure that those those guys don't get loose. Yeah, 385 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,959 Speaker 1: I think Mankato might be the Northern Sun coming like that. 386 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: But three yeah, Well, we'll figure it out when we're 387 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: off camera, but for now, we gotta call it a 388 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Would be sure 389 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage previewing Sundays Packers Vikings 390 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: game on Packers dot com. On Twitter, you can find 391 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: him at west Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers 392 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See 393 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: you next time.