1 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is my 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: trusted colleague West and Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: from different locations at lambeau Field and wes. OTAs are 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: underway this week for the Green Bay Packers, and not 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: long after we get done recording this episode, we will 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: be headed out to the practice field for the one 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: ota per week that is open to the media that 9 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: is later today, and we have a lot to talk 10 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: about in terms of storylines things will be watching for 11 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: over the next few weeks when we do get to 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: watch practices. But we have to begin with the news 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: that broke yesterday afternoon. Late in the day, it was 14 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: announced by the NFL that the host city for the 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: twoenty twenty five NFL Draft will be none other than 16 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: green Bay, Wisconsin. And I'm a Wisconsin native. I've lived 17 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: in Green Bay for roughly twenty five years now. You 18 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: are a Green Bay area native. You grew up here, 19 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: you have lived here your entire life, you went to 20 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: college here. All of that tell me what this means 21 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: to a Green Bay native For an event of this 22 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: magnitude to be coming to northeast Wisconsin. 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 2: So after the announcement was made Mike and it obviously 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: was fast and furious. Following the owner's vote in Minneapolis 25 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 2: on Tuesday night, I should say Monday night. Sorry, Yeah, 26 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: getting my days mixed up already. I thought back to 27 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 2: my grandfather, my late grandfather who passed away in two 28 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: thousand and fifteen, and he was the one when the 29 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: whole referendum was happening about the atrium. You know, in 30 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: Bob Harlan practically knocking on doors trying to get drum up, 31 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: you know, interest and support for you know that the 32 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: Saale Ells tax changes the amount of money that was 33 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: gonna be pumped into Lambeoufield. And I'll never forget my 34 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 2: grandfather saying that, you know, he enjoyed all these years 35 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: of Green Bay Packers football. This is the move that 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: is going to set up my lifetime of Packers football. 37 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 2: And it was so true because not only did the 38 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 2: Atrium become a huge success in the renovations, I think, 39 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: honestly at Lambelefield have set the standard for the National 40 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 2: Football League and how you can have a stadium and 41 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: hold true to your character and your history. But also 42 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 2: continually improve it, right, and then we saw Title Town 43 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: go up, and we've seen the Rush Expo go up 44 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 2: across the street. We've seen Green Bay grow in so 45 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: many ways, Mike, and for it to finally culminate in 46 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 2: an NFL Draft coming here, I just thought about how 47 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: exciting the last twelve months have been for Packer fans 48 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 2: to finally go to London for a game the last 49 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 2: team in the International Series. Mike. That wasn't because the 50 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 2: NFL wasn't interested in it. It's because every away team 51 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: in the National Football League? What did it? Let the 52 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 2: Packers go? 53 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: Right? 54 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: This is the home of professional football. This is one 55 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 2: of the pillars of this league. There's never gonna be 56 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: a super Bowl here, and let you and I both 57 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: know that, but the fact that the NFL Draft can 58 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: come here is honestly just as big in my mind. 59 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: And talking to people friends, Packers fans, packers writers, packers 60 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: bloggers on Monday night, you can see how excited they are. 61 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: I think everybody's thinking about how this isn't just gonna 62 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: be a three day celebration of the NFL Draft. It's 63 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: gonna be a three day celebration of football. Honestly, a 64 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: whole week long celebration of football. 65 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's going to be really exciting to see. And 66 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: it's it's kind of hard to process right now that 67 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: we actually have two entire football seasons to play and 68 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: to cover and to talk about and everything before we 69 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: get to this twenty twenty five NFL Draft, and we 70 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: don't even know exactly all the logistics and machinations of 71 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: how this is gonna work in terms of how's Lambeowfield 72 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: gonna be involved. You have Title Town across once, you 73 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: have the Rush buildings across the other street, everything's going 74 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: to be you know, in use I think in some way, 75 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: shape or form. We just don't know all the details 76 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: and how that's going to shake out just yet. But 77 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: it's it's it's really gonna be something when you look 78 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: at what has happened the last couple of years, the 79 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: crowd that has been seen on television for the draft, 80 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: especially for those first two rounds on Thursday night and 81 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: Friday night, and and to think about think about that 82 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: kind of atmosphere going on, as you said, a celebration 83 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: of football here in Green Bay and surrounding Lambeau. It's 84 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: going to be pretty awesome. 85 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: Well, and I want to just mention that quick at 86 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: I mean to try to jump in there, but the 87 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: fact is, I know there are a lot of people 88 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: nationally and people saying, well, is there infrastruction? Is the 89 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: infrastructure in place? Is green Bay big enough for it? 90 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 2: I mean, obviously there's two different types of people, the 91 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: ones that have been to Green Bay and the ones 92 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 2: who haven't. And I actually ran a half marathon on 93 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: Sunday and there are people out in their front yards 94 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: handing people beer during race. This city, this community, the 95 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: way that they embrace one another on an average day, 96 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: let alone a game day or a major sporting event 97 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: or something like this where it's potentially a once in 98 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: a lifetime type of deal. With the NFL Draft coming here, 99 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: you're gonna have not just all the community leaders, not 100 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: just the green Packers, You're gonna have the whole city 101 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,119 Speaker 2: of Green Bay and the surrounding towns and suburbs all 102 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: being completely all in on this. And you know, I 103 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: think the Aaron BnB, you know, rates and things in 104 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: Green Bay are just gonna be you know, incredible, and 105 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 2: how many people are probably gonna open up their homes 106 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: to this thing as well. And that's the aspect that 107 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: I don't think a lot of people can appreciate if 108 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: you've only just kind of, you know, just sort of 109 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 2: dropped in and tried to offer an analysis here. I 110 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: think back to twenty eleven too, Mike, you were well 111 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: in time, you know, entrenched in your role as a 112 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 2: Packers writer. I was just a little lowly quote taker. 113 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: I'll never forget walking around lambeau Field during the Kickoff 114 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: concert game before the Packers played the Saints. And I 115 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: don't know if there's an aerial shot of that or not. 116 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 2: Maybe justin our producer can swoop it in. But it 117 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 2: was just a massive humanity for the kickoff concert, for 118 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: everything we have put on big events here in Green Bay, 119 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: the EAA, what they do down in Oshkosh, This community 120 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: in the state of Wisconsin has done this before. The 121 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: Democratic National Convention was in Milwaukee. The Republican one, I 122 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: think is gonna be in Milwaukee. We're not just some 123 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: little town that's never seen an event before. I joke 124 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: to somebody on Twitter, this analogy will completely go over 125 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: your head. But I was like, this isn't going to 126 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 2: be John Snow and mans Raid are trying to get 127 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: the figure out what to do with the wildlings and 128 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: game of throne like they are going to know and 129 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: have two years to prepare for this, and honestly, I 130 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: just I think it's going to be a great exhibit 131 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: of Green Bay and everything that this community stands for. 132 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, we will have a lot to talk about in 133 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: the coming years, certainly especially after twenty twenty four football 134 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: season ends, and then everything in the NFL be looking 135 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: forward to that twenty twenty five draft. But I do 136 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: want to get to the storylines things we'll be watching 137 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: for in OTAs as the Packers hit the practice field 138 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: here for the next few weeks. I will take care 139 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: of some sponsor business first. However, Serious XM NFL Radio 140 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL 141 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: news that true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, 142 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: three sixty five. And at Cousin Subs, we have something 143 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, 144 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 145 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs fifty years 146 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: of better, all right. Obviously, the biggest storyline of OTAs 147 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: will be that you know, it's another step in the 148 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: transition to Jordan Love as the starting quarterback. Right that 149 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: being said, Jordan Love has been the number one quarterback 150 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: for this offense during this period during OTAs for the 151 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: last couple of years. So while we will certainly be 152 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: watching that and we'll be talking to Jordan Love after practice, 153 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 1: I believe today at his locker, I want to hit 154 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: on some other things just in general. And I made 155 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: this comment in an inbox the other day as far 156 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: as okay, what as a reporter, like, what do you 157 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: look for when you go to the practice field at OTA? 158 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: Is like what are you watching for? And in a 159 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: very general sense, the first couple of things I look 160 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: for are one, where are the rookies and particularly the 161 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: draft picks lining up in terms of where's their spot 162 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: on the depth chart as things start right now? Is 163 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: there anybody who's working with the first units when they 164 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: go eleven on eleven? We may see Lucas van Nests 165 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: doing that, we may not. I don't know, are they 166 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: are they with the twos when the twos take the field? 167 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: Are they back with the threes? So it's a matter 168 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: of you know, and you don't put a whole lot 169 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: of stock in it's their first practices other than rookie 170 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: mini camp in the NFL. But you make those mental notes. 171 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: The other thing is, this is our first time to 172 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: actually see the retur hearning players in person. And you 173 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: always talk about and you hear about the jump from 174 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: year one to year two that NFL players can make. Well, 175 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: the first thing that we sometimes notice is a player 176 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: whose body physically from year one to year two looks different. 177 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: It's sort of like, Wow, that guy, like he grew 178 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: up really fast, so to speak, right, And I don't 179 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: mean to disparage anyone who comes into the NFL as 180 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: a young man, but you know what I'm talking about, 181 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 1: There are guys whose bodies will look different than they 182 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: did as rookies. They've had an offseason to rest and 183 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: recuperate and then train and get ready for this time. 184 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: So those are a couple of the things in a 185 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 1: general sense that I'll be watching for as we get 186 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: a chance once a week for the next three weeks 187 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: to see the players on the practice field. 188 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it can go a variety of different ways too, Mike. 189 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,599 Speaker 2: I think about Aaron Jones two summers ago when he 190 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: cut out candy and he comes back and just looked 191 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 2: lean and healthy and strong. I mean, like the guys 192 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 2: have to figure out what works best for them. I'm 193 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 2: guessing because of Jason Vrabel's comments last week, Samori Tourey 194 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: is going to be a very popular player in the 195 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: locker room the next few days. You know, Rabel, the 196 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 2: receivers coach, mentioning that you know, he looks like a 197 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 2: completely different guy right now. But for me, I mean 198 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: the biggest storylines that I think I'm going to be tracking. 199 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 2: As you said, you pay attention to where the rookies are, 200 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 2: but it doesn't mean everything, right I am curious to 201 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 2: see what they do with Lucas fans because realistically, I 202 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: think the only other person that potentially could be running 203 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 2: with the ones right now is you know, JJ and 204 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 2: a Barre, and he's only in a second year, so 205 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: it conceivably, you know, Vanas could be in that role 206 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 2: across from Preston Smith right off the bat, kind of 207 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: like Darnell Savage in twenty eighteen. But the other thing 208 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 2: I'm very interested to see play out is defensively, there 209 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 2: is a huge spot open right now at safety. Rudy 210 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 2: Ford is the incumbent. I think you would consider a 211 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 2: guy that played in that role last year, but Jonathan 212 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: Owens started seventeen games, played almost a thousand snaps last 213 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: season in Houston. Tarvarius Moore has been in that role 214 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 2: in this gains played down the stretch last season. We've 215 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: talked a lot about that wide open competition at safety. 216 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: That's going to be probably the biggest one defensively to 217 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 2: kind of keep your eye on, and offensively, just as 218 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: you mentioned Mike, seeing how you know, Christian Watson has grown, 219 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 2: seeing how Romeo Dobbs has grown, and even a guy 220 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: like maybe Zach Tom, who we talked last year about 221 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 2: having everything structurally but maybe just needing that first offseason 222 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 2: in the NFL to get his body, you know, to 223 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 2: let himself grow a little bit. So a lot of 224 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: things attract, for sure. And it's always interesting when you 225 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: go out there and you take attendance for the first 226 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 2: time and you're kind of keeping an eye on all 227 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 2: ninety guys on the roster, and I'm sure there'll be 228 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 2: plenty written and said. 229 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and what you bring up about Zach Tom is 230 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: interesting because I think one thing that we'll all be 231 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,719 Speaker 1: watching is exactly where is he going to line up. 232 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: We've heard he'll be competing for a spot, a starting 233 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: spot on the offensive line, but will he be lining 234 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: up at right tackle or right guard or maybe at center, 235 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: We don't really know. And the other thing, too, is 236 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: what whatever we see today or whatever we see next 237 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: Wednesday or whatever the day is that we're out there, 238 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: we can't put too much stock in it because here's 239 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: the thing. We might go out there today and Zach 240 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 1: tom will be at right tackle and everybody's going to 241 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: write about that and be talking about that. Well, you 242 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: know what, tomorrow, when the media is not there, he 243 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: might be lining up at right guard, and then the 244 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: next day he might be lining up at center. Those 245 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 1: days that we don't see because the coaches will have 246 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: these things on a rotation for guys that are that 247 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: are trying out different spots and whatnot, and when we're 248 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: not there every day. When we're there every day in 249 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: training camp, it's a little bit easier to report on 250 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: it and feel a little bit more confident as to 251 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: what is exactly going on in OTAs you have to 252 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: be a little bit more careful in terms of that. 253 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: But that said, we'll definitely be watching where he's lining 254 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: up and where he's competing, and a couple other things too. 255 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: A few weeks ago, we thought when we got to 256 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 1: this stage, we were going to be potentially watching competitions 257 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: getting going at long snapper and at kicker, and but 258 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: since then, Jack Coco has been released, so veteran Matt Orzik, 259 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: the free agent signing in the offseason, he's the he's, 260 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: you know, clearly the number one long snapper. There is 261 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 1: an undrafted rookie behind him, but I think the you know, 262 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: the the pecking order there is pretty clear as as 263 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: we head into OTAs here. And then at kicker, Parker 264 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: White was released and Anders Carlson, the sixth round pick 265 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: out of Auburn, is the only kicker on the roster currently. 266 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: So those are things that that maybe we thought we're 267 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: going to be a little bit more intriguing as things 268 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: got going here in late May, but but maybe not 269 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: quite so much at least at this point. 270 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's how it usually goes, right. I mean, 271 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: even think back to last year a training camp, we 272 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 2: thought stephen Wardle going up against Jack Coco was gonna 273 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: be a camp long competition, and then Jack basically I 274 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 2: think got that job either, right, before the first preseason 275 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: game or after family night. Yeah, it can go a 276 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 2: bunch of different ways. And certainly when you have a 277 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 2: ninety man roster in certain positions you want to fill up. 278 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: It's tough to have six guys at a specialists, you know. 279 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: I mean, it's tough to have competition at each spot. 280 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 2: The other thing that is fun though about this process, Mike, 281 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: Certainly you have to take everything with a grain of 282 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 2: salt because we're just seeing one practice this week. But 283 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 2: I go back to last year with Romeo Dobbs, and 284 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: it was right out of the gate, Dobbs look the part, 285 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 2: and it's something that you and I we were joking. 286 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: I think even Matt Leffleure referenced it a couple times, like, well, 287 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 2: he just has to keep stacking days. And the next 288 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 2: thing you knew, it was the end of the preseason 289 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: and the guy still really hadn't blinked yet. It's cool 290 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 2: when you can watch a rookie come in and not 291 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: necessarily look like a superstar, but just look in his element, 292 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: look comfortable, look at home. So it doesn't really matter 293 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: if it's a quarterback. Could be Sean Clifford, it could 294 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 2: be Anders Carlson as a kicker. Just the guys that 295 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 2: their eyes aren't too big, you know, they're looking at 296 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: the opportunity for what it is, and they're realizing that 297 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 2: this is just an extension of what I've been doing 298 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 2: the last three, four or five years at the college level. 299 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 2: And I think that's the most exciting thing about this process. 300 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: Along with that, We're going to see guys like Caleb Jones. 301 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: We're going to see, you know, Jonathan Ford, players that 302 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: were like virtual red shirts last year that have had 303 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: a full year to grow and now not only want 304 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 2: to compete for jobs, but want to compete for roles 305 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 2: on their respective side of the ball. It's tough because 306 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: I think the offseason you don't want to make too 307 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 2: much out of it, as you illustrated, But it's also 308 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: the most exciting time because it's it is sort of 309 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 2: like opening up the presence here after Christmas and seeing 310 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: what we have here in a football team that ultimately 311 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 2: is going to decide the destiny of the twenty twenty 312 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: three Packers. 313 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think I think a lot of the notes 314 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: that we make, things that we will write and talk 315 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: about over the next few weeks. It's things that you 316 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: jot down or make mental notes, and you file away 317 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: because the things that you see when they're just out 318 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: there in shorts and helmets at this stage of the spring, 319 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: you make those notes because you want to see then 320 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: if those players carry it over into training camp when 321 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: the pads go out, and then you're looking at the 322 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: same player that you saw in the spring, and and 323 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: things don't necessarily change in terms of their impact, in 324 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: terms of in terms of the way they carry themselves, 325 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: you know, as you get further into training camp. So 326 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: it's about making those those kind of notes. A couple 327 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: of stories I'll share from when I first got here 328 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: when you talk about a rookie making an impression, and 329 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: then also the growth from one year to the next. 330 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: My first year, I actually got hired here at Packers 331 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: dot Com in two thousand and six in the middle 332 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: of OTAs, so I walked out to watch, you know, 333 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: my first OTA practice as a writer for Packers dot Com. 334 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: And the guy who was absolutely jumped off the practice 335 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: field right from the beginning was a rookie receiver named 336 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: Greg Jennings. The way he ran his routes, the way 337 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: he cut off of his brakes, the way he caught 338 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: the ball with his hands. Everything you're you know, everybody's 339 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: kind of looked and I was a little sheepish because 340 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: this was my first time out here, but I noticed 341 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: that everybody was looking around and talking like, is this 342 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: guy really a rookie wide? This guy does not look 343 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: like a rookie. Everybody files that away, and then you 344 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: wait and see and train camp when the pads go on, 345 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: when there, when he's out there in the preseason games, 346 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: does he still look like the same guy? Obviously, Greg 347 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 1: Jennings did still look like the same guy. He was 348 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: a rookie wide receiver who was ready to go from 349 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: the jump. The other story I'll share is two thousand 350 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: and seven. I distinctly remember coming back. 351 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 2: Now. 352 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: This would have been after the whole first year of 353 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy as the head coach, with Tom Clements as 354 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks coach, and the whole quarterback school in the offseason. 355 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: They would have done it in two thousand and six 356 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: and then again in two thousand and seven leading into OTAs, 357 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: and I remember walking out there on the practice field 358 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: for two thousand and seven OTAs and watching Aaron Rodgers, 359 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: the number two quarterback behind Brett Favre. He started throwing 360 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: the football and it was like it was like he 361 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: had a brand new arm compared to two thousand and six, 362 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: Like the ball was coming out harder, faster, the what 363 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: do they say in the with major league pitchers, the 364 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: spin rate or whatever of the of the ball. The 365 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: ball was just spinning faster out of his hand. 366 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 2: It was cold. 367 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: You could see it with the naked eye. It was 368 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 1: so obvious the progress made from two thousand and six 369 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: to two thousand and seven, and everybody had filed that 370 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: away as well. And obviously we know where eventually Aaron 371 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: Rodgers ended up. So while you do take everything with 372 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 1: a grain of salt, it is it is about making 373 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: notes that you file away to refer to later. Because 374 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 1: there will be some players who will jump out on 375 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 1: an OTA practice field, and then in training camp they'll 376 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: start to fade back into the background because they're not 377 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: quite there yet. There are other guys who will jump 378 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: out on an Ota practice field and then you start 379 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: to see it again in training camp and in the 380 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: preseason games, and those are the ones who you know 381 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: have a real chance to stick around. 382 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then I'll close on this too, Mike. I 383 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: mean I again, we're not there yet, But I go 384 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: back to mini camp in twenty twenty one, June ninth, 385 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 2: when Jordan Love had at that time the best practice 386 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 2: he'd had as a Packers quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, as you mentioned, 387 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 2: wasn't in town at that point, so Jordan Love was 388 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 2: leading the number one offense and him and Juwan Winfrey 389 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: on that day looked like honestly Montana and Rice. It 390 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 2: was incredible watching out there because it wasn't just real, 391 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 2: you know, Love's passes. I mean, Winfrey was making some 392 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: really nice catches for him as well. And I felt 393 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: like at a time that was a big turning point 394 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: for Love because twenty twenty was very difficult, very tough, 395 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 2: not any preseason games, very few practices, had to be 396 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 2: very cognizant of how they were using players at that time. 397 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 2: It was mostly about getting ready for Week one more 398 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 2: so than just developing that rookie class. Twenty twenty one 399 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 2: was where he made the big jump, the first big 400 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 2: jump in his professional career, and obviously we've seen where 401 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: it's gone from there. It's put him in a position 402 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 2: now to be the starting quarterback for the Green Bay 403 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 2: Packers two off seasons two summers. Mike of kind of 404 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: interning for this job during OTAs in the off season program. Now, 405 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 2: Jordan love every single rep out there. He is quarterback 406 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 2: one and he is holding a spot for nobody. 407 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, he is QB one in the spring, and 408 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: he will be QB one when training camp begins in 409 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: late July. So that will certainly be something we'll be 410 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: watching and talking about. But with that we will call 411 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 412 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team all 413 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: through OTAs the next several weeks mini camp. At the 414 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: end of this stretch, we'll have it all for you 415 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: on Packers dot Com. With that, we will not have 416 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: another episode later this week, but we will be back 417 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: right after Memorial Day with another episode here of Unscripted 418 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: for you. So with that, for wes I and Mike, 419 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: thank you for tuning in everybody. We will see you 420 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: next time.