WEBVTT - #321 Packers Unscripted: View of the Vikings

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<v Speaker 1>Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com.

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<v Speaker 1>I am Mike Spofford sitting alongside my trusted colleague Wes

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<v Speaker 1>Hodkoits were coming to you here from our studios at

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<v Speaker 1>lambeau Field and West. It is Wednesday, and that means

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<v Speaker 1>we are looking ahead to the Packers next opponent, and

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<v Speaker 1>it is the Minnesota Vikings Sunday noon kickoff at lambeau

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<v Speaker 1>Field here in week two. And normally when we talk

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<v Speaker 1>about the Minnesota Vikings, we would start with talking about

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<v Speaker 1>their defense. But this year, in particular, I think we

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<v Speaker 1>have to start on the offensive side because they made

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<v Speaker 1>a big investment at the quarterback position, bringing in Kirk Cousins,

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<v Speaker 1>who was considered the prize of the free agent field

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<v Speaker 1>out there in the off season, the Vikings looking for

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<v Speaker 1>the former Redskins quarterback to take him to the promise line.

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<v Speaker 1>It's actually funny because I'm gonna one up, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm gonna take it even to a different level

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<v Speaker 1>beyond the defense. Beyond Kirk Cousins. I'm actually gonna talk

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<v Speaker 1>about Mike Zimmer because I think one thing about Mike

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<v Speaker 1>Zimmer and his time now whatever it's been, what has

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<v Speaker 1>it been now five six years he's been with the

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<v Speaker 1>Minnesota Vikings. He might be one of the most self

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<v Speaker 1>aware coaches in NFL history, especially with given the air

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<v Speaker 1>in which he's coaching. His comment this offseason, to me

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<v Speaker 1>was the comment of the off season about how whatever situation,

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<v Speaker 1>whatever direction they went in at quarterback, it probably has

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<v Speaker 1>a direct tie into really his job security, he felt.

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<v Speaker 1>And that's why I know they threw a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>money at Kirk Cousins, but it's also why I didn't

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<v Speaker 1>blame the Vikings for doing this, because out of all

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<v Speaker 1>three quarterbacks, they already at a house. Kirk Cousins was

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<v Speaker 1>really the surest thing you had. Teddy Bridgewater coming off

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<v Speaker 1>a devastating knee injury, despite the promise that he showed

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<v Speaker 1>early on, you don't know if you want to hit

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<v Speaker 1>your way again too. That player Sam Bradford has had

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<v Speaker 1>issues he's had with injuries in the past years. And

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<v Speaker 1>then case Keenum was sort of this overnight sensation do

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<v Speaker 1>you want to make him your quarterback in the future.

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<v Speaker 1>So with all those chips on the table, he talked,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, and he also had Rick Spielman, they're going

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<v Speaker 1>out and those conversations. Really the biggest storyline of those

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<v Speaker 1>opening days of free agencies what was going to happen

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<v Speaker 1>with Kirk Cousins. How much was he gonna make? Was

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<v Speaker 1>it gonna be the first fully guaranteed contract in NFL history?

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<v Speaker 1>And at the end of the day, the Vikings got

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<v Speaker 1>their guy. I still believe, as I said earlier this week,

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<v Speaker 1>this team will go as far as its defense takes them.

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<v Speaker 1>But having Cousins now, and especially with how productive he's

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<v Speaker 1>been in the NFL, it does give them a bigger

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<v Speaker 1>margin forrer than I think they've had before underneath Zimmer. Yeah. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>one of the narratives in the off season with regards

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<v Speaker 1>to this as well, how can the Vikings you know,

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<v Speaker 1>throw all that money at Cousins and expect him to

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<v Speaker 1>play better than Case Keenum did last year because Keenum

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<v Speaker 1>played so well and was so productive for them. And

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<v Speaker 1>really what it came down to, at least the way

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<v Speaker 1>I look data is if the Vikings get out of

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<v Speaker 1>Kirk Cousins the same type of season they got out

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<v Speaker 1>of Case Keenum last year, they would be perfectly happy

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<v Speaker 1>with that. That's what they're after. They were just they

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<v Speaker 1>were just betting that Cousins is more likely to give

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<v Speaker 1>that to them than Keenum doing it again. And uh,

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<v Speaker 1>and that was really what the decision came down to.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll see their one game in there, want to know. Uh.

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<v Speaker 1>They beat the San Francisco forty niners at home last week,

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<v Speaker 1>their first road trip now coming to lambeau Field this weekend.

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<v Speaker 1>Kirk Cousins no stranger to the Packers, certainly um this

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<v Speaker 1>particular defense. Obviously, the Packers have some different things going

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<v Speaker 1>on this year, but but the Packers have faced this

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<v Speaker 1>quarterback before a handful of times with the red skin

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<v Speaker 1>that in all these years, Michael, we've been doing this.

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<v Speaker 1>That might be one of your best points. I think

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<v Speaker 1>you've ever made it. You've made some good ones. But Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>basically they expected Cousins to be more It would be

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<v Speaker 1>more achievable for him to have a case Keenum type

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<v Speaker 1>season then to double down on a Keenam doing it

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<v Speaker 1>right again. I think that's I think that's what they decided.

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<v Speaker 1>He might end up having a phenomenal year with Denver.

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<v Speaker 1>He did enough to win that game through three interceptions

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<v Speaker 1>last week, but they still did top Seattle. But as

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<v Speaker 1>far as the vikings with where you know how these

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<v Speaker 1>defenses are built, Mike. You saw it with Seattle. That

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<v Speaker 1>window only stays open for so long. The Vikings had

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<v Speaker 1>to dart through it. They're getting Delvin Cooked back. They've

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<v Speaker 1>added to those weapons outside over the years, they've they've

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<v Speaker 1>found a diamond, the rough and Stefon Diggs. You need

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<v Speaker 1>to be able to get some titles out of this.

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<v Speaker 1>So that's the way they view it. That's how they're

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<v Speaker 1>approaching it. But it will be interesting to see now

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<v Speaker 1>because even though Cousins hasn't played in this division, he

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<v Speaker 1>has kind of a storied history here with the Packers.

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<v Speaker 1>He's seen a lot of them in the last few seasons,

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<v Speaker 1>and he'll see a new defense with Mike Petton on Sunday. Yeah. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>with regards to the Minnesota Vikings weapons and what they

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<v Speaker 1>have around Kirk Cousins, the Packers obviously, they've you know,

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<v Speaker 1>seen their share of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thieland and

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<v Speaker 1>Kyle Rudolph, and the Packers will have a whole different

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<v Speaker 1>secondary group to match up against them compared to past years.

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<v Speaker 1>But the one guy that the Packers have not faced

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<v Speaker 1>is Dalvin Cook. He was injured and out for the season.

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<v Speaker 1>By the time the first Packers Vikings game rolled around

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<v Speaker 1>last year. And I don't know how much of the

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<v Speaker 1>Week one game against the forty Niners that you watched West,

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<v Speaker 1>but I tell you what sure didn't look like. Dalvin

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<v Speaker 1>Cook was a running back coming off of a c

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<v Speaker 1>L surgery. He looks, he looks good, he looks he

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<v Speaker 1>looks kind of scary, frankly, And I say that from

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<v Speaker 1>the standpoint of he can he can run the ball

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<v Speaker 1>and be a pass catching weapon out of the backfield.

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<v Speaker 1>This is this is a big, powerful guy who can

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<v Speaker 1>do a lot of things. I do not care who

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<v Speaker 1>your quarterback is. I do not care what exactly your

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<v Speaker 1>receivers look like. In the NFC North, you have to

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<v Speaker 1>have a running back. You have to have a guy

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<v Speaker 1>that's going to be able to weather November and December.

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<v Speaker 1>And by all accounts, Cook was looking like that player

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<v Speaker 1>last year up until when he has the knee injury. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>he was one of the top two or three rushers

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<v Speaker 1>in the league. I don't remember exactly. Yeah, yeah, coming

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<v Speaker 1>through four through four games. Yeah, So they were very

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<v Speaker 1>fortunate in having Latavious Murray. Murray stepped up. He's a

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<v Speaker 1>vet he's been through this thing before. He's done it

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<v Speaker 1>in rows that occasion, but ultimately everybody knows the home

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<v Speaker 1>run for them is cooked. So to get him back

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<v Speaker 1>and to continue building that offensive line, I had to

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<v Speaker 1>be honest with you. I don't know how the NFL

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<v Speaker 1>executive the year thing went last year, but I think

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<v Speaker 1>Spielman has to be up in that conversation because of

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<v Speaker 1>getting case Keenum, despite having, you know, all the other

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<v Speaker 1>things going on at the quarterback position, signing Latavious Murray,

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<v Speaker 1>getting Riley Reef, so many things that they did ultimately

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<v Speaker 1>ended up helping them get to where they got to

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<v Speaker 1>because they were sort of fortifying their reserves and not

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<v Speaker 1>saying that. Brian Goodakuins took a page out of that,

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<v Speaker 1>but I think there's something to be said for it.

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<v Speaker 1>You talked about it in the lead up to the

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<v Speaker 1>start of the regular season, having some veteran options behind

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<v Speaker 1>you to potentially lean on if an injury happens. But

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<v Speaker 1>getting back to the original point, I think cook where

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<v Speaker 1>he's at, how quickly he came back from that injury.

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<v Speaker 1>You tip your cap to Brian Blaga in something. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>these linemen that come back in ten nine ten months.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's a different ball game for running backs. It's

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<v Speaker 1>a different ballgame for skill position players or cornerbacks because

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<v Speaker 1>you have to cut on it so often. And as

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<v Speaker 1>of right now, it looks like Cook's gonna be okay. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>watching that game, watching cousins first game with the Vikings

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<v Speaker 1>last week, the portions of it that I saw, what

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<v Speaker 1>I saw was not a spectacular performance. What I saw

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<v Speaker 1>were two I thought spectacular touchdown passes, one two digs

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<v Speaker 1>and one to Rudolph, absolutely pinpoint passes against tight coverage

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<v Speaker 1>in the end zone. Big plays there for the Vikings.

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<v Speaker 1>So he made he threw the two touchdown passes he

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<v Speaker 1>needed to throw, and he just didn't make any mistakes.

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<v Speaker 1>And that way you flip the flip side of that

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<v Speaker 1>was Garoppolo. The forty Niners made mistakes all over the place,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's why they were playing from behind. They weren't

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<v Speaker 1>able to catch up Cousins. He had his tendency to

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<v Speaker 1>throw some interceptions with Washington, that's what you want to

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<v Speaker 1>try to put pressure on him, affect him, see if

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<v Speaker 1>he makes one of those errand throws. He did not

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<v Speaker 1>make any of those errant throws last week. He didn't

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<v Speaker 1>Washington with all. It was also asking to throw for

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<v Speaker 1>about four six yards proceeding. So when you're exposing the

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<v Speaker 1>football that much, I think that naturally is gonna happen.

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<v Speaker 1>That's not to say you can't protect the football better.

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<v Speaker 1>You can. We've seen it with Drew Brees and and

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<v Speaker 1>Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady the year that I

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<v Speaker 1>think he threw for fifty touchdowns, had what four interceptions

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<v Speaker 1>that season. So it's not like it isn't achievable, but

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<v Speaker 1>you are exposing the ball more. And and really Washington's

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<v Speaker 1>offense the last two or three seasons ran through cousins.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not probably gonna have that same problem in Minnesota

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<v Speaker 1>because he has a reliable option in the backfield, he

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<v Speaker 1>has playmakers around him. Even you have you know, Kyle

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<v Speaker 1>Rudolph is as steady as they come at that tight end.

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<v Speaker 1>I know of some people in the Green Bay area

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<v Speaker 1>that just so happened to draft Kyle Rudolph as their

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<v Speaker 1>number one overall pick this year simply out of mistake.

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<v Speaker 1>Not not putting anybody out there, Kim Hartwig, but that

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<v Speaker 1>being said, uh, they do. They They're very solid across

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<v Speaker 1>the line. There's there's not a lot of holes there.

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<v Speaker 1>So I'm just very interested to see how this plays

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<v Speaker 1>out for them because we know what they've had for

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<v Speaker 1>so long on defense. You and I have done so

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<v Speaker 1>many unscripteds over the year, Mike, where we're talking about

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<v Speaker 1>the defense, We're talking about those corners, we're talking about

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<v Speaker 1>the pass rush, the linebackers that they have. The offense

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<v Speaker 1>has always been the thing trying to catch up in

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<v Speaker 1>the Vikings if they're going to get to where they

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<v Speaker 1>want to go this this year, and the Packers are

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<v Speaker 1>obviously trying to stand in front of that. They're gonna need,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, Kirk Cousins Delvin Cooking Company to hold up

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<v Speaker 1>there under the bargain. Yeah all right, Well, I do

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<v Speaker 1>want to start talking about that Vikings defense. But before that,

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<v Speaker 1>at home or here in the stands, we all know

0:09:27.320 --> 0:09:29.040
<v Speaker 1>that Green Bay fans give it their all and that

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<v Speaker 1>takes a lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl

0:09:31.520 --> 0:09:34.600
<v Speaker 1>of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness

0:09:34.600 --> 0:09:38.040
<v Speaker 1>of Packers fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup.

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<v Speaker 1>Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup,

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<v Speaker 1>the official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay,

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<v Speaker 1>the defensive side of the ball here for the Minnesota Vikings,

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<v Speaker 1>the number one defense in the league last year, hands down,

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<v Speaker 1>and then pretty much starting with the second half of

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<v Speaker 1>the playoff game against New Orleans all the way through

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<v Speaker 1>the NFC Championship game, they didn't look like the same

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<v Speaker 1>unit out there. Um Me, personally, my opinion is that

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<v Speaker 1>things started to unravel when Xavier Rhodes, their stars shut

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<v Speaker 1>down cornerback, was not healthy, was either trying to play

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<v Speaker 1>through injury, or was on the sideline. It seemed like

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<v Speaker 1>that through everything out of whack. And one thing about

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<v Speaker 1>the Vikings defense last year is they stayed remarkably healthy

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<v Speaker 1>all season long. Those that unit was playing together, all

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<v Speaker 1>the key pieces on the field every week, and it

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<v Speaker 1>showed throughout the course of the year the way they played.

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<v Speaker 1>But boy, the value of Xavier Rhodes to me, shot

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<v Speaker 1>up astronomically after what we saw happen in the postseason

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<v Speaker 1>and the fact that they had Xavier Roads and Trey

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<v Speaker 1>Waynes and they still use their first round draft pick

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<v Speaker 1>on another cornerback in Mike Hughes from UCF shows you

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<v Speaker 1>how important that position is in their defense and in

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<v Speaker 1>the defense in general. That's not to say that they're

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<v Speaker 1>trying to replace Roads, but I mean just having more

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<v Speaker 1>oaks in the fire. To me, it was very interesting.

0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:04.840
<v Speaker 1>This is no disrespect to Terrence Knew when he had

0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:07.480
<v Speaker 1>a tremendous career, but for a guy that was thirty nine,

0:11:07.480 --> 0:11:09.600
<v Speaker 1>that was playing the snaps, he played down the stretch,

0:11:10.240 --> 0:11:13.120
<v Speaker 1>that sometimes isn't the best formula for success. And I

0:11:13.160 --> 0:11:15.720
<v Speaker 1>think in some ways, and they obviously we're kind of

0:11:15.720 --> 0:11:17.840
<v Speaker 1>worn down there by the end of the season. But

0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:20.120
<v Speaker 1>don't make no mistake. I mean, Xavier Rhodes is as

0:11:20.120 --> 0:11:22.840
<v Speaker 1>good as they come in terms of cornerbacks. This division

0:11:22.880 --> 0:11:26.559
<v Speaker 1>in general has really developed some fine corners these past

0:11:26.600 --> 0:11:30.360
<v Speaker 1>few years. Some good Darius Slay and in Detroit and

0:11:30.360 --> 0:11:32.680
<v Speaker 1>and certainly Xavier Rhodes living up to being the first

0:11:32.760 --> 0:11:35.120
<v Speaker 1>round pick that he was in two thousand thirteen, and

0:11:35.160 --> 0:11:37.080
<v Speaker 1>it gives them a lot of things to uh, you know,

0:11:37.160 --> 0:11:39.600
<v Speaker 1>to work with. Me personally, I think the fun part

0:11:39.600 --> 0:11:41.000
<v Speaker 1>of this game is going to be seeing how all

0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:44.240
<v Speaker 1>these pieces match up. Yeah, you've seen Randall coverse this

0:11:44.320 --> 0:11:47.080
<v Speaker 1>defense before and in Davante Adams but now you have

0:11:47.200 --> 0:11:49.280
<v Speaker 1>Jimmy Graham involved. Now you have a guy like Geronimo

0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:52.920
<v Speaker 1>Alison more established. Uh, seeing how those what the Packers

0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:55.280
<v Speaker 1>are doing offensively matches up with the Vikings. Assuming we'll

0:11:55.320 --> 0:11:58.160
<v Speaker 1>see how everything plays out thereon Rodgers, that that's gonna

0:11:58.160 --> 0:11:59.520
<v Speaker 1>be one of the big I think, one of the

0:11:59.520 --> 0:12:01.079
<v Speaker 1>big push for this game. That's gonna make a really

0:12:01.080 --> 0:12:03.480
<v Speaker 1>compelling Yeah. Well, the guy that, the guy that I

0:12:03.520 --> 0:12:06.679
<v Speaker 1>always have my eye on when I'm watching Minnesota's defense

0:12:06.840 --> 0:12:10.000
<v Speaker 1>is number twenty two, Harrison Smith. I think he's the

0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:13.120
<v Speaker 1>He's kind of the glue guy that that really makes

0:12:13.200 --> 0:12:16.440
<v Speaker 1>everything work because he's he's so versatile, he's such an

0:12:16.440 --> 0:12:19.880
<v Speaker 1>aggressive player, he's such a smart player. They scheme things

0:12:20.000 --> 0:12:22.560
<v Speaker 1>up blitz wise for him to get free runs at

0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:25.200
<v Speaker 1>the quarterback to try to wreck havoc that way. We

0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:28.679
<v Speaker 1>saw last year the game in Minneapolis after Rogers went down.

0:12:29.080 --> 0:12:31.240
<v Speaker 1>You know how I have when I watched games normally,

0:12:31.520 --> 0:12:33.640
<v Speaker 1>I always look at Aaron Rodgers is probably the best

0:12:33.679 --> 0:12:36.600
<v Speaker 1>football player on the field. When Aaron Rodgers left that

0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:40.200
<v Speaker 1>game against Minnesota last year, there was no doubt that

0:12:40.360 --> 0:12:42.880
<v Speaker 1>the best player on the field that day was Harrison Smith.

0:12:42.960 --> 0:12:46.440
<v Speaker 1>He absolutely controlled and dominated that game. The sacks, he

0:12:46.480 --> 0:12:49.520
<v Speaker 1>had a diving one handed interception, He's breaking up passes,

0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:53.040
<v Speaker 1>he's a sure tackler, a hard hitter. This guy, this

0:12:53.080 --> 0:12:57.240
<v Speaker 1>guy does it all. And when we talk about that

0:12:57.360 --> 0:12:59.840
<v Speaker 1>big play the Packers made against the Bears on Sunday

0:12:59.880 --> 0:13:03.160
<v Speaker 1>night where Jamal Williams picked up the blitzing linebacker and

0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:05.520
<v Speaker 1>Aaron Rodgers was able to find Davante Adams for a

0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:09.480
<v Speaker 1>big fifty yard pass play, Jamal Williams, He's got to

0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:12.240
<v Speaker 1>find where Harrison Smith is coming from, because it seems

0:13:12.280 --> 0:13:14.320
<v Speaker 1>like every time the Packers and the Vikings play, and

0:13:14.360 --> 0:13:17.079
<v Speaker 1>not just against the Packers, almost any Vikings game you watch,

0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:20.319
<v Speaker 1>Harrison Smith at least once a game, gets a completely

0:13:20.360 --> 0:13:23.240
<v Speaker 1>free run at the quarterback where somehow nobody picks him up,

0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:26.920
<v Speaker 1>nobody blocks him, and and he just levels your your QB.

0:13:27.559 --> 0:13:29.800
<v Speaker 1>Packers can't let that happen on Sunday. I think they

0:13:29.840 --> 0:13:34.680
<v Speaker 1>call that stealthy stealthiness. That's good whatever, But yeah, he's

0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:36.440
<v Speaker 1>that's the type of players he's been. He's been that

0:13:36.480 --> 0:13:39.000
<v Speaker 1>way since two thousand and twelve, and honestly since he

0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.800
<v Speaker 1>came into this league. He he matured quickly. He made

0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:44.520
<v Speaker 1>an impact in his defense quickly, and you mentioned him

0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:45.959
<v Speaker 1>sort of being the glue guy. I mean, the thing

0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:48.840
<v Speaker 1>is Mike is that really Let's see here, he's the

0:13:49.040 --> 0:13:52.000
<v Speaker 1>other than Andrewsondo. He's what the longest tenured member of

0:13:52.000 --> 0:13:54.040
<v Speaker 1>that defense now as far as the starting unit. Everson

0:13:54.080 --> 0:13:56.920
<v Speaker 1>Griffith in there too from the two thousand ten draft,

0:13:56.960 --> 0:14:00.360
<v Speaker 1>but yeah, he he is. He knows we talk about

0:14:00.360 --> 0:14:02.000
<v Speaker 1>all the time. Morgan Burnett was that player too for

0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:05.160
<v Speaker 1>the Packers defense all those years. He just makes communication

0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:08.200
<v Speaker 1>easier in the safety position. Even though historically it's not

0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:10.720
<v Speaker 1>gotten a lot of respect in this league, it gets

0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:12.920
<v Speaker 1>more and more importance by the year because of how

0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:16.079
<v Speaker 1>much those players now in this era are a lot

0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:18.320
<v Speaker 1>of times the primary communicator. Yeah, you can find a

0:14:18.320 --> 0:14:21.320
<v Speaker 1>Blake Martinez that plays every down, but if something happens

0:14:21.320 --> 0:14:23.760
<v Speaker 1>to that inside linebacker, it's usually on the safety is

0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:26.520
<v Speaker 1>to step up. Harris Smith. Harrison Smith has been that guy,

0:14:26.600 --> 0:14:29.640
<v Speaker 1>has been steady, he's been consistent, and he also makes plays.

0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:31.800
<v Speaker 1>So yeah, as you mentioned, whether it's Jamal Williams, whether

0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:35.080
<v Speaker 1>it's these safeties, or whether it's these receivers, you got

0:14:35.080 --> 0:14:36.840
<v Speaker 1>to know where he is on the field at all times. Yeah.

0:14:36.840 --> 0:14:39.640
<v Speaker 1>With this entire Vikings defense, it's really pretty much the

0:14:39.680 --> 0:14:42.280
<v Speaker 1>same group you mentioned. Mike Hughes obviously being added to

0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:45.160
<v Speaker 1>the mix as what looks like they're nickel cornerback right now,

0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:48.280
<v Speaker 1>but pretty much the same unit that the Packers face

0:14:48.400 --> 0:14:50.680
<v Speaker 1>last year that the whole league had trouble dealing with.

0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:53.880
<v Speaker 1>Up front. You know that pass rush. Everson Griffin and

0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:56.680
<v Speaker 1>Daniel Hunter are the guys who really make that go,

0:14:56.800 --> 0:15:00.440
<v Speaker 1>and they don't require Zimmer to call whole heck of

0:15:00.480 --> 0:15:02.400
<v Speaker 1>a lot of blitz is. But Zimmer will pick his

0:15:02.440 --> 0:15:05.240
<v Speaker 1>spots when he wants to be aggressive and force the issue.

0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.040
<v Speaker 1>Uh Sometimes with him, you just never know when those

0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:10.400
<v Speaker 1>extra rushers are coming. Yeah, and they also got Sheldon

0:15:10.480 --> 0:15:13.000
<v Speaker 1>richardson this year too, so's so you have him and

0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:15.960
<v Speaker 1>Linville Joseph. Now is your nose tackles, your defensive tackles

0:15:16.520 --> 0:15:18.960
<v Speaker 1>very solid up front there. It's gonna make life difficult

0:15:19.000 --> 0:15:20.680
<v Speaker 1>not only on the Packers but every team that they're

0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:22.560
<v Speaker 1>gonna be facing this year if those starting four can

0:15:22.560 --> 0:15:25.520
<v Speaker 1>stay together. To me, Everson Griffin is still the key guy,

0:15:25.560 --> 0:15:28.920
<v Speaker 1>I mean in Monday's locker room, even though uh, most

0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:30.840
<v Speaker 1>of the media was still pretty much looking back on

0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:34.440
<v Speaker 1>that Bears game. Brian Dave Bactieri was already being asked

0:15:34.440 --> 0:15:36.920
<v Speaker 1>about Griffin because of the wars that those two have

0:15:37.000 --> 0:15:39.320
<v Speaker 1>had over the years. Now and in seeing him in

0:15:39.360 --> 0:15:41.720
<v Speaker 1>the player that really both of those guys have become,

0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:45.120
<v Speaker 1>you know, Bot becoming an All Pro, Griffin becoming one

0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:47.840
<v Speaker 1>of the league's top two edge rushers after originally appearing

0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:49.680
<v Speaker 1>to be more of, you know, a complimentary piece, and

0:15:49.760 --> 0:15:52.360
<v Speaker 1>his first couple of seasons there has really broke out.

0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.640
<v Speaker 1>So Yeah, I've always been a huge Linville Joseph fan,

0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:57.320
<v Speaker 1>going back to his days with the Giants. I thought

0:15:57.320 --> 0:15:58.920
<v Speaker 1>that was a great pick up for them a few

0:15:59.000 --> 0:16:00.800
<v Speaker 1>years ago when they signed him as a uf are

0:16:01.440 --> 0:16:04.280
<v Speaker 1>unrestricted free agent out of New York and bringing in

0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:06.760
<v Speaker 1>Sheldon Richardson. To Richardson was kind of quiet last year

0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:08.880
<v Speaker 1>in Seattle, but you still know what you're getting with him,

0:16:09.120 --> 0:16:11.400
<v Speaker 1>So to see how he compliments the rest of that front,

0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:13.320
<v Speaker 1>it's gonna be exciting to watch. Yeah, as far as

0:16:13.360 --> 0:16:15.960
<v Speaker 1>the matchups go, I'm not sure how the Packers in

0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:18.800
<v Speaker 1>their secondary you are going to match up with these

0:16:19.120 --> 0:16:21.800
<v Speaker 1>with these receivers when we're talking digs and theeeling and

0:16:22.120 --> 0:16:25.320
<v Speaker 1>I still haven't figure out up last week's game, so

0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:29.080
<v Speaker 1>King and Williams and Alexander and Jackson and how how

0:16:29.120 --> 0:16:31.200
<v Speaker 1>exactly those matchups are going to go. But if you're

0:16:31.200 --> 0:16:34.960
<v Speaker 1>going to pick one particular one on one matchup that

0:16:35.000 --> 0:16:37.440
<v Speaker 1>we can anticipate and that I think we'll have a

0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:40.240
<v Speaker 1>lot to say about how this game goes. I'm guessing

0:16:40.320 --> 0:16:43.280
<v Speaker 1>you start with box tr against Griffin. It does yes

0:16:44.360 --> 0:16:47.080
<v Speaker 1>in terms of just like the matchup, like just to

0:16:47.120 --> 0:16:51.480
<v Speaker 1>watch it for just elite NFL football, play another one

0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:53.240
<v Speaker 1>to depending on how it works out how they want

0:16:53.240 --> 0:16:55.400
<v Speaker 1>to handle that nickel corner spot is whoever lines up

0:16:55.400 --> 0:16:58.400
<v Speaker 1>against Adam Feeling? Yeah, and Feeling is a versa little guy.

0:16:58.440 --> 0:17:00.840
<v Speaker 1>You can use them in a multiple multipout of ways.

0:17:00.880 --> 0:17:03.800
<v Speaker 1>But I'd have to imagine Joy, Alexander and or Josh

0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:06.159
<v Speaker 1>Jackson is gonna be seeing some of his coverage. So

0:17:06.160 --> 0:17:09.040
<v Speaker 1>seeing how those young rookies with all their athleticism and

0:17:09.080 --> 0:17:11.280
<v Speaker 1>how good they've looked early on match up with him

0:17:11.680 --> 0:17:13.720
<v Speaker 1>is going to be important because theeeling is that we've

0:17:13.720 --> 0:17:15.960
<v Speaker 1>seen it and he's had good games against Green Day.

0:17:16.119 --> 0:17:18.520
<v Speaker 1>He is a supreme football player. I remember talking to

0:17:18.560 --> 0:17:21.400
<v Speaker 1>Davante Adams during the offseason program for his yearbook story

0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:23.760
<v Speaker 1>and getting to know feeling a little bit at the

0:17:24.119 --> 0:17:26.439
<v Speaker 1>Pro Bowl and seeing how he works and everything he

0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.480
<v Speaker 1>puts into it. The world slept out of him coming

0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:32.280
<v Speaker 1>out of the D two ranks in Minnesota, but he's

0:17:32.280 --> 0:17:35.679
<v Speaker 1>found a spot in this offense and he's becoming one

0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:38.200
<v Speaker 1>of the league's top really most devastating threats in the

0:17:38.200 --> 0:17:39.720
<v Speaker 1>middle of the field. Yeah, you said it. I mean

0:17:39.760 --> 0:17:42.800
<v Speaker 1>that he's not just a homegrown product and a fan favorite.

0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:46.520
<v Speaker 1>He's an elite player. He's he's a self made elite

0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:48.800
<v Speaker 1>player in a lot of ways because of where he

0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:51.000
<v Speaker 1>came from. He didn't play at a at a big school.

0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:53.800
<v Speaker 1>He didn't play at a Power five conference type school.

0:17:53.840 --> 0:17:58.680
<v Speaker 1>But something I don't even know. But he's he's proven

0:17:58.760 --> 0:18:01.960
<v Speaker 1>himself over time. No, he has. And uh, you look

0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:05.000
<v Speaker 1>at the complimentary pieces there. They obviously Diggs has been

0:18:05.160 --> 0:18:07.359
<v Speaker 1>a guy that's you know, bawled out at times, and

0:18:07.359 --> 0:18:08.760
<v Speaker 1>they're still trying to see what they have in la

0:18:08.800 --> 0:18:11.760
<v Speaker 1>Kwan Treadwell, their first round pick from a few seasons ago.

0:18:11.880 --> 0:18:15.440
<v Speaker 1>So hey, listen, Kirk Cousins has a ton of weapons

0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:17.639
<v Speaker 1>to use in this offense, so the Packers trying to

0:18:17.720 --> 0:18:19.840
<v Speaker 1>quiet him. It's going to start on the perimeter to

0:18:19.960 --> 0:18:22.480
<v Speaker 1>and making sure that those those guys don't get loose. Yeah,

0:18:22.520 --> 0:18:26.959
<v Speaker 1>I think Mankato might be the Northern Sun coming like that.

0:18:27.000 --> 0:18:30.200
<v Speaker 1>But three yeah, Well, we'll figure it out when we're

0:18:30.200 --> 0:18:32.720
<v Speaker 1>off camera, but for now, we gotta call it a

0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:34.960
<v Speaker 1>wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Would be sure

0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:38.720
<v Speaker 1>to follow all of our coverage previewing Sundays Packers Vikings

0:18:38.760 --> 0:18:41.359
<v Speaker 1>game on Packers dot com. On Twitter, you can find

0:18:41.400 --> 0:18:44.080
<v Speaker 1>him at west Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers

0:18:44.119 --> 0:18:46.680
<v Speaker 1>for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See

0:18:46.720 --> 0:18:47.280
<v Speaker 1>you next time.