1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: Hi everybody, and welcome to this Labor Day weekend edition 2 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: He is Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here from 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: our studios at lambeau Field and West. Since they did 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: the roster cuts on a Tuesday, we figured why not 6 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: we'll post a Packers Unscripted on a Saturday. Let's just 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: keep changing things up, right, Nothing about this week is normal. Yeah, yeah, 8 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: don't don't fight it, just roll with it, right, just 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: roll with it. So well, Hey, I want to start 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: today's discussion though, talking about the Packers Wide Receiver group. 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: You have a story that UH posted on our website 12 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com talking about this group collectively. Now we 13 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: know who the number one is, Davante Adams. We talked 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: on our last show about the number six, Malie Taylor 15 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: and him securing that last roster spot at the position. 16 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: The real intrigue with this position group is those four 17 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: guys in the middle, obviously talking about Marcos Valdi, Scanling, 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: Al Lazard, Randall Cobb and A Marii Rodgers. It's a 19 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: very interesting collection in the type of collection of receivers 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: in terms of the varied skill sets and experience levels 21 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: and all of that. The type of collection the Packers 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: haven't really had around here for quite a while long time. 23 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: And you know, I go back to two thousand fifteen. 24 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 1: Remember Mike McCarthy and his staff are kind of catching 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: some flak because it was a lot of the same 26 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: eleven personnel. Now, I think a big thing about that 27 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: is that was pretty definitive who their top three receivers are, 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: who their tight end was, and ultimately who they're running back. 29 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: Was just to clarify, eleven personnel is one running back, 30 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: one tight end, and three wide receivers. That's what you're talking. Yeah, 31 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: and and yeah, it wasn't so much for a lack 32 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: of creativity. It's just that that those are kind of 33 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: the options, right. What I like about the way the 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: Packers have built this thing over the last two or 35 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: three years is even wrote in the story it's more 36 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: of a menu than it is a depth chart. Because, 37 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: as Mark was Abolt the Scantling said, in a lot 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: of these guys have talked about this offseason, nobody does 39 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: basically the same thing as another guy. You're not mixing 40 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: your personnel for the sake of getting different guys on 41 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: the field, You're mixing your personnel depending on what kind 42 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: of look you want to give the defense. Now that 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: extends to the tight end rooms with Robert Tonyan, with 44 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: Mark with Mercedes Lewis. That extends to the backfield with 45 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,399 Speaker 1: three very different running backs, different body types at that position. 46 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: But most importantly, I think it's receiver because you have 47 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: the downfield threat of Mark was Veld, this Scantling, a 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: guy that has developed more as a route runner and 49 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: an underneath receiver. You have the goon Alan Wizard, a 50 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: guy that does the nitty gritty stuff but also can 51 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: also burn you for a hundred yards too if he 52 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: needs to know. Randall Cobb I think is gonna be 53 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: a really intriguing fit. He gives them the slot receiver 54 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: the Packers really have lacked since he left the first time. 55 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: And then a Mari Rodgers, certainly the rookie third round pick. 56 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: It's gonna be Davanta Adams. You're gonna see a lot 57 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: of DAVANTAE sees that if he's healthy. But the four 58 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: guys on the field with Adams or three, if you 59 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: end up seeing a lot of Aaron Jones, that's where 60 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: the entrgue lies with this Packers offense. Yeah, I really 61 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: loved that line, that that term from Matt Lafleur when 62 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: I had asked him after the Buffalo Bills after the 63 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: last preseason game just about the receiver group in general, 64 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: because this was actually before we knew who the sixth 65 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: was going to be. But I asked him about, you know, 66 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: knowing essentially going into training camp barring injury, we knew 67 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,679 Speaker 1: who the top five receivers were going to be that 68 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: would make this roster, and what he thought of the group, 69 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: and he kind of went through him one by one 70 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: and he used that term goon for Alan Lazar. Now, 71 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: I took it as sort of a comparison to to 72 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: like the in hockey, where you call a guy, you know, 73 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: a goon because he kind of he stirs it up 74 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: and he's kind of the enforcer and you know, willing 75 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: to do the dirty work and whatnot, as you said, 76 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: But it's also a term of endearment in some respects 77 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: because that's not all at the guy brings to the table, right, 78 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's part of his role. And Alan 79 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: lazarren is probably the best blocking receiver that the Packers have, 80 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: but yet we've seen him make plenty of plays down 81 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: the field, a couple of big ones against the Saints 82 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: last year before he got injured, made the big clinching 83 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: touchdown against the Rams in the playoff game last January 84 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: when he got behind the defense. So um, I'm really intrigued, 85 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: especially because Lazard had the injury last season where he 86 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: missed such a big chunk of time coming off of 87 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: a big game when he when he did get hurt, 88 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: I'm really intrigued to see where things go with him, 89 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: and then obviously with Velde's scantling MVS. I mean, I know, 90 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: I know there's skepticism amongst the fan base because they 91 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: remember the drop passes and some of the frustrations and 92 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: all this, and and I'll say this, I think I've 93 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: said it an insider inbox and in other places as well. 94 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: You and I are at training camp practice every day, 95 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: and this is the first time I can remember since 96 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: Valdes's scantling has been here where it felt like on 97 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: pretty much a daily basis, he was a presence on 98 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: the practice field. There were in past summers, and I'm 99 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: not saying he had bad training camps, but in past 100 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: summers there would be two, three, four days in a 101 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: row where you kind of didn't really notice him where 102 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: he was. Yeah, he's running his routes and taking his reps, 103 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: but he's not really there. This summer, it felt like 104 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: he was there, like every day there, there was a 105 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: presence there and uh and I think it certainly bodes 106 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: well for for what could be ahead for MVS. A 107 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: couple of things I really like about MBS. One that 108 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: he never gets enough credit for it. Guys really durable. 109 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: I mean, he doesn't miss much time. That's true. It's 110 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: been out there and forgot that. That's that fast. Typically 111 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: if you run in the four three's you can have 112 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,799 Speaker 1: some hamstring injury, flat ups. That's the guy that takes 113 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: care of his body. He makes sure that he's accountable 114 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: to his teammates and and really brings it every single day. 115 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: But more importantly, everybody wants to talk about, Okay, there 116 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: was a drop there, there's a drop there. Can you 117 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: live with them? All that stuff that that has happened 118 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: in the past. But what I want fans and people 119 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: that challenge them to remember is make sure you remember 120 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay game, or make sure you remember some 121 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: of these other games too, because those are the games 122 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: that the opponent is having to watch on film. Those 123 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: are the examples where this is where this guy is 124 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: going to beat you. This is what you have to 125 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: take into account when eight three is on the field, 126 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: and what makes him so dangerous. I feel in this 127 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: offense is when you have a possession, you know, receiver 128 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: like Alan Lazard. When you have a superstar like Davante Adams, 129 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: the number six ranked player amongst his peers of the 130 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: National Football League right now, He's not just a guy 131 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: that you can just put a safety over the top 132 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: of MVS that is, and just try to take him 133 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: out of a game. You don't have as many resources 134 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: to do that. In the secondary. You have to be 135 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: cognizant of where he is and you've gotta be really 136 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: careful with how you handle that matchup. This is not 137 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: an easy game. It is a difficult position to play. 138 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: The important thing with MBS is for all the orbs 139 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: that have converged over him over time, he's been able 140 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: to pull through all of it. And I thought he 141 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: had one of his best performances in the Packers uniform 142 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: in the NFC title game. I don't even go back 143 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: to last year's training camp, like the two guys, I said, 144 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: it was him and it was Rashan Gary. I thought 145 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: MBS had a better camp this year, but he really 146 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: did stand out to me last year with what he 147 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: was doing, giving you signs that, Okay, he's gonna bounce 148 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: back from that nineteen season. Remembers telling people if if 149 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: Gary and MBS don't perform, I don't know what the 150 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: preseason or what the training camp is even good for, 151 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: because to me, those guys really stood out, and I 152 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: thought you saw him take a step last season. I 153 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: think going into year four, you're gonna see him take another. Yeah, 154 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: I would agree with you. It certainly seems to be 155 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: setting up that way. And you and I were noticing 156 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: this before Aaron Rodgers made all of the nice compliments 157 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: that he said about MVS and what Matt Lafleur said, 158 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: and all of those comments are genuine. I'm just the 159 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: point I'm trying to make is that you and I 160 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: were noticing this on the practice field before his teammates 161 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: and whatnot. We're talking about him like this is definitely 162 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: something that noticed with him, and now it has to 163 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: carry over from training camp from the practice field to 164 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: the games. We have to see that. Obviously, these guys 165 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: didn't play in the preseason games for good reason, so 166 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: we need to see it carry over. But everything is, 167 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: everything is setting up, The stage is being set here 168 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: for something that that could be a pretty big year 169 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: for MVS. And they are gonna have a really difficult 170 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: defense to contest with with Dennis Allen's group there with 171 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: the Saints here in a week and a half, no question. 172 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: But I'm really Mike, the thing I'm most excited to 173 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: see is that Monday afterwards when NFL g s I 174 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 1: s puts up there played playing time stats, seeing how 175 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: they allocate these reps, seeing which receivers play, how much 176 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: they play, who's in the backfield, who's that tight end there? Again, Mike, 177 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: there were years where it's like, okay, well you can 178 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: kind of jot down Jordan Davante Randall. They're all going 179 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: to play about sixty seventy snaps. It's not like that anymore, 180 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: and it's something that could change week to week. It's 181 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: not like we're gonna look at the snap counts for 182 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: week one and go, Okay, this is how they're going 183 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: to do it all year. No it's going to be 184 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: a week to week thing in this offense. As you said, 185 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: it's it's a menu of receivers with with all the 186 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: different things that they bring to the table. So from 187 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: a matchup standpoint, from a game plan standpoint, things could 188 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: really change UM week to week with what mattel Fleur, 189 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: Nathaniel Hackett and these offensive coaches want to do. UM 190 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: some sponsor business. Here West Serious x M NFL Radio 191 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL 192 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: news that true football fanatics need seven three sixty five. 193 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 1: And at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like 194 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, and 195 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub 196 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: in a bowl. Cousin Subs, we believe in better alright. Uh. 197 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: Late this past week Thursday evening, a long awaited Packers 198 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame induction ceremony delayed by the pandemic and whatnot, 199 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: rescheduled multiple times. All that Packers Hall of Fame induction 200 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: for Charles Woodson and Al Harris, and well, I what 201 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: I wrote about on our Packers website. Both of those 202 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: guys talked about it that. Uh, it's almost two fitting 203 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: that these two star cornerbacks go into the Packers Hall 204 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: of Fame together because u um, they really were. They 205 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: only played together in games on the field essentially for 206 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: four years two thousand six through two thousand and nine, 207 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: but that was a special pair that the Packers had 208 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: on the field together and it was neat to see 209 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: them get this honor together. Great job are you covering that. 210 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: I appreciate you giving me off on Thursday, you know, 211 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: afternoon and evening, be able to get home a littlettle 212 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: bit earlier to my family. But here's the thing I love, 213 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: and no one talks about this enough. The mid two 214 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: thousands things were kind of in shambles there with the 215 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: Packers cornerback contingent. There was a miss draft picks, there 216 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: was some you know, Mike mackenzie basically demanding a trade. Yeah, 217 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: the contract situation, all the issues they had, their Al 218 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: Harris was the constant. They made that trade in what 219 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: two thousand three two in from Philadelphia, which, by the way, 220 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: in two thousand twenty one, I never see the Eagles 221 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: making that trade anymore. That was more like they were 222 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: so loaded at cornerback, but with how many cornerbacks you 223 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: need now in today's NFL. Who knows if that deal 224 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: ever gets done. But what I loved about it is 225 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: he was the constant for six seven years in that 226 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: secondary and in two thousand and six they bring in 227 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: Charles Woodson. Two guys from very different paths, different walks 228 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: of life, but how they came together, and as Woodson 229 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: kind of talked about the work that they were willing 230 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: to put in, the grind that they were willing to chase, 231 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: that's what kind of binded them and for them in 232 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: Woodson set it from his first conference call when the 233 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: announcement was made, he wanted to go in with Al Harris. 234 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: It took a little bit longer than I think everybody expected, 235 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: but he gets that honor. You can tell how much 236 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: this is the guy that just went into Canton like 237 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: earlier this month, you are last month. Now. You can tell, though, 238 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: how much this honor means to him too, and in 239 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: the path that he has traveled. It was a cool 240 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: night and I'm glad that obviously he was able to 241 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: enjoy it with a close friend. Yeah, it was really 242 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: interesting hearing Woodson kind of tell the story of how 243 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: they would they would go to practice, and Al and 244 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: Charles would kind of look at each other and go, Okay, 245 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna work today, all right, Yeah, it's time to work. 246 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: And what they meant by that is they were just 247 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: going to take all the reps at cornerback with the 248 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: number one defense being out there, and they weren't going 249 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: to let the younger guys like rotate, and they were 250 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: just going to take them all. Maybe on a hot day, 251 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: he said, they would take a playoff. Yeah, exactly. They 252 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: let Grammont Williams or Jared Bush or one of you know, 253 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: one of these younger guys slip in there once in 254 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: a while, but that was you know, and those are 255 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: the kinds of things that we didn't necessarily see because 256 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: during regular season practice as reporters, we don't get to 257 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: watch the eleven on eleven. So you hear these you 258 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: hear these stories after the fact about how during that 259 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven work in the regular season, those guys 260 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: really did go to work. And Al Harris wanted to 261 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: be a Pro Bowler every single year and he did 262 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: get a couple of Pro Bowl honors. And Charles Woodson 263 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: talked about how it's it's so clear shape we hear 264 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: it so often about players saying, you know, the competition, 265 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 1: this and that, that they push each other to be better. 266 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: And I'm not I'm not dismissing it, but we do 267 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: hear it so often. The thing about Charles and al 268 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: As it was very, very real. They really did, They 269 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: really did push each other because they were both trying 270 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: to be the best in the game at the same position, 271 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: and they were on the same team, you know, and 272 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: they got they got to practice together, play together on 273 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: a daily, on a weekly basis, and that's a that's 274 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: a really that's a really interesting set of four years. 275 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: And I also look back as well that two thousand 276 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: and six to two thousand nine will end with al 277 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: obviously going you know, going back to two thousand three, 278 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: and then Charles staying with Green Bay through two thousand 279 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: and twelve. Those guys played through and came back from 280 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: a lot of injuries. The their their toughness. It's it's 281 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: no surprise that head athletic trainer Brian Engle, affectionately known 282 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: as Flee, is the guy that Charles Woodson chose to 283 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: present him for Hall of Fame induction. Because Woodson was 284 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: in the training room a lot he was dedicated to 285 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: getting out there absolutely as often as he could. When 286 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: you look at the track record of these two players, 287 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: and Fleet called them, pound for pound, two of the 288 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: toughest guys he's ever come across in the National Football League, 289 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: and and Flea has been here for twenty five years 290 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: in the Packers training room. The their dedication to being 291 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: out there for their teammates, they did not until Al 292 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: Harris had the knee injury in two thousand nine the 293 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: a c L and until Charles Woodson had the broken 294 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: collar bone in two thousand and twelve, which was the 295 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: second time he had broken a collar bone after doing 296 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: so obviously in Super Bowl forty five. Until those major injuries, 297 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: those guys you could count on one hand the number 298 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: of games that they missed as members of the Packers. 299 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: Their their their dedication to their craft was exceptional. I 300 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: remember in two thousand and eight two UH I was 301 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: reading I believe it was either Pete Doherty rooted or 302 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: robbed Demoskas when I was working at the Press, because 303 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: that when the report came out that Al Harris had 304 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: the ruptured spleen, and I remember thinking to myself, that 305 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: sounds like the worst injury you could ever possibly have. 306 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: And the way that these guys persevered through this. I 307 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: mean even Charles Woodson. I mean, the guy breaks his 308 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: collar bone in the Super Bowl and I'm sure there's 309 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: a lot of adrenaline, no question about that, especially even 310 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: when he wasn't playing with you know, them being that 311 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: close to a super Bowl title. I sometimes look at 312 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: these guys and I go, you know, as someone that's 313 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: never broken a bone, he's never torn in a c 314 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: L Like, how do you get yourself up? You know, 315 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: not just the fact that you get an injury, you 316 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: rehab it, but then want to come back after that. 317 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: They're just they're cut from a different cloth. They're different 318 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: types of dudes. And you know, I'll say it for 319 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: the last time. I've been saying this all offseason about Woodson, 320 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: but the amount of professionalism that he showed throughout his career, 321 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: this is a guy that if you're not going to practice, 322 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: if you're gonna be hurt all week and rehabbing all week, 323 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: do you know how much film stud do you have 324 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: to do? How much preparation has to go in when 325 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: you're not actually out there getting the physical reps? You 326 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: know too, you know, Wednesday through Friday. Charles Woodson was 327 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: always always prepared. He's the only guy. He's the only 328 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: guy I've ever seen who could who could miss as 329 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: much practice as he missed in order to try to 330 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: keep his body healthy and then and go play at 331 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: a Pro Bowl on Sundays every single week. It was. 332 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: It was remarkable what he did and up until what 333 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: two thousand nine times. I mean, the guy was on 334 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: an island a lot of times too. I mean it's 335 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: it's about as obvious as it gets in the National 336 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: Football League if you're not up to par playing one 337 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: on one against some of these guys, and Woodson did 338 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: it better than anyone. Yeah. Well, that that segways to 339 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: one other topic. I want to get to here before 340 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: we sign off, because I answered a question in Insider Inbox. 341 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: There was a fan writing in and I apologize I 342 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: don't remember his or her name at the moment, but 343 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: just wondering, you know, what, what's the status of the 344 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: Packers secondary right now? Kind of asking some questions about it, 345 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: and and I actually you know, and partly Charles and 346 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: al going into the Hall of Fame, you know, this 347 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: is this is what triggered my memory. But in looking 348 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: at the Packers, if you look at the top six 349 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: defensive backs on this roster, and I'm talking about the 350 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: four at corner, Alexander King, Stokes, and Sullivan, and then 351 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: you're two starting safeties Amoson Savage. I honestly think and 352 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: you can you can correct me if you have a 353 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 1: different perspective on this, but I think this is this 354 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 1: is as strong a top six group in the secondary 355 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: as the Packers have had since for for my money, 356 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: going back to two thousand and nine, which is when 357 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: the top four corners were Woodson, Harris, Tremont, Williams, Jarrett Bush, 358 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: and you're starting safeties where Nick Collins and Atari Bigbie, 359 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: I couldn't find a top six. I couldn't find a 360 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: top six that to me compared going into a season 361 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: with the top six that the Packers have here four 362 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: teens close just because you had Casey Hayward and Devon 363 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: House kind of struggling. You can only get one of 364 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: those eyes on the field, which Tremont playing in the slot. 365 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 1: But the safety position just wasn't as strong. Yeah, I mean, haha, 366 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: came on late throughout the season you had Mica there, 367 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: but yeah, no, no question about it. I guess I 368 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: was thinking more of micah As as a corner or 369 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: not not as much as he was playing bass, and 370 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: then he was going back in the sub packages. But 371 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: he was at the embasy of that position. Haha. It 372 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: was a rookie to your actual point, though, it is 373 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: an incredibly deep six and the amount of resources to 374 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: put into that position as well, right, I mean you 375 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: have a first round pick in Darnell Savage, two first 376 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: round picks and Jire Alexander Eric Stokes. Uh, Kevin King 377 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: was as close as you can get to being a 378 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: first round pick at number thirty three, and then Adrian 379 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: Amos being you know, paid and rewarded the way he 380 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: was in two thousand nineteen. It's a good group. The 381 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: other guy to keep an eye on is gonna be 382 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: Henry Black at this point in time. Looks like he'll 383 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: be that dime guy. Uh if if Amos moves into 384 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: the you know, into the box. But my eyes are 385 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: on Eric Stokes this season, Mike, and he's gonna have 386 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: to be ready because JR. Alexander pitty me in professionalism. 387 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: Kevin King, when he's healthy, he can get the job 388 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: done outside. But we know how This goes with the 389 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: cornerback position. At any given time, you might have to 390 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: make an adjustment and Stokes has to be ready for it. 391 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: And that's why Rogers tested him the way he did. 392 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: That's the reason why Davante Adams tested him the way 393 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: he did. This is going to be an excellent opportunity 394 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: for him to grow here these first few weeks, but 395 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: at any given moment, that young man needs to be 396 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: ready to contribute. Yeah, I think it's going to be 397 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: interesting to see with Joe Berry's defense, because there's there's 398 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: certainly plenty of of dime defense with six defensive backs 399 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 1: that's played in the NFL these days, and when you 400 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: have Henry Black Vernon Scott as as your reserve safeties, 401 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: and as we talk about with um, these top four 402 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: cornerbacks the Packers have, it will be interesting to see 403 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: when Joe Berry calls the dime, is it going to 404 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: be three corners three safeties or is it going to 405 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: be four corners to safeties And maybe they maybe they'll 406 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: do that interchangeably depending on certain matchups with with the 407 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: opponent and whatnot. So the way the game is played 408 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: these days, you see six defensive backs on the field 409 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: quite a bit, and not just on third down. It 410 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 1: actually happens um on on some other downs as well. 411 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: That's something to watch here from a personnel standpoint as 412 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: the Packers move into And that's why Amos was so important, 413 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: you know, especially last year him having to kind of 414 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: pick up that hybrid linebacker role when Raven Green got hurt. 415 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: He's a guy that is a really good cover safety, 416 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: but also is can you know, take on a running 417 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: back in the you know, in the trenches if he 418 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: needs to to A really underrated player. I know the 419 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: team realizes his value, but I think widely throughout the 420 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: National Football League understanding that yes, this was a former 421 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: fifth round pick, but Adrian Ames is one of the 422 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: best at his position. He's going to be such an 423 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: important lynch pin as well for this defense. And honestly, Mike, 424 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: I'm excited to see it all come into you know, 425 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:50,199 Speaker 1: fruition this season. They have the pieces, they feel like 426 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: they have the coordinator. Can the Packers really make that 427 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: push to be in the dominant unit. Yeah, well, we 428 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 1: shall see. And as we return to the studio next week, 429 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: we'll start previewing a Week one against the New Orleans Saints. 430 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: With that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition 431 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our 432 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: coverage of the team. We've got it all for you 433 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: on packers dot com. For West, I'm Mike. Thank you 434 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 1: for tuning in, everybody. You will see you next yeah,