1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford and he is the one and 3 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: only West Hodkowits were coming to here from our studios 4 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West A lot to digest here 5 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: on today's show, because just before coming in here and 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: turning on the cameras, we heard from head coach Mike 7 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: McCarthy in his season ending news conference. It lasted I 8 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: believe roughly thirty three minutes. Okay, that's uh. I've been 9 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: here for all of McCarthy's coaching career and I can 10 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: tell you that that is the longest season ending news 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: conference he's ever had. It's a reflection, obviously, of all 12 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: the change that's going on here at twelve sixty five 13 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: Lombardi Avenue. UM, but an interesting, an interesting day in 14 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: the lambeau Field oud ofitur. It certainly is Mike. I 15 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: think last year McCarthy's final news conference, now mindy, there 16 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: was basically no coaching changes that happened after last season 17 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: was about twenty three minutes, nineteen minutes of questions from 18 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: what I gathered. UH, this year, he had a very 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: short intro, A lot of it were questions. Some of 20 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: the things that came out of that, Beginning with Dom 21 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 1: Caper's no longer the defensive coordinator. Scott McCurley and Mike Turkovac, 22 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: the assistant linebackers coach in defensive line coach, respectively, both 23 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: also have been parting ways at the organization. On the 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: offensive side, Edgar Bennett situation still fluid, but the offensive 25 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: coordinator position is going to look different. Alex Van pel 26 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 1: choosing to let his contract run out now a free 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: agent so he won't be back as the quarterbacks coach, 28 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: and then also Tim McGarrigle, who was the defensive quality 29 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: control coach, has also pursuing different opportunities. So for me, 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: during my time on the beat, how this line's up, 31 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: Mike the most changes other than you know, maybe the 32 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: shuffling that they did in two thousand and fourteen, A 33 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: lot of that was promotions, though it wasn't so much 34 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: guys being you know, parting ways with the team. So 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: very interested to see how the situation plays out now, 36 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: but definitely offensive defensive coordinator positions are going to look 37 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: different in two yeah, and certainly the biggest coaching shakeup 38 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,119 Speaker 1: since uh the the after the Packers last non playoff 39 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: season in two thousand and eight, when the entire defensive 40 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: coaching staff really except for one or two individuals, was replaced. 41 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: And unlike that time nine years ago, I guess if 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm doing my math right, um, this time Mike McCarthy 43 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: isn't talking so much about defensive scheme. He you know, 44 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: he really wanted to switch from that four three to 45 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: the three four when he brought in Dom Caper's in 46 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: early two thousand nine. This time he's not talking about, 47 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: you know, scheme and numbers and this and that. It's 48 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: about finding the right defensive coordinator that is is going 49 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: to have the same vision for the type of defense 50 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: that he wants to play, the style of defense he 51 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: wants to play, the xs and ohs. The schematic part 52 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: of it is secondary in a sense. And he did 53 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: mention three internal candidates for the job, associated head coach 54 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: Winston Moss, safety's coach Darren Perry, cornerbacks coach Joe Witt Jr. 55 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 1: But he will also interview some external candidates for for 56 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: defensive coordinator. This is going to be a very interesting 57 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: decision for Mike McCarthy. The first thing I want to 58 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,839 Speaker 1: start off with their mike is the scheme situation? Because 59 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 1: you and I get the question all the time, well, 60 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: is it the right time to move back to a 61 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: four three? Nick Perry was asked about it in the 62 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: final locker room as well, people, and it isn't any 63 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to single anybody out. We need to 64 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: stop focusing so much on that. And it's not just 65 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: in Green Bay, it's in the entire NFL. Base defenses 66 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: are run about fifteen percent of the time right now, 67 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: and even at that mike, if you watch the Packers 68 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: very closely this past season, they had a three four 69 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: base and they had a four three base variant where 70 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: you had Clay Matthews or Kyler Facro playing off the 71 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage as basically a traditional four three inside 72 00:03:54,960 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: middle linebacker. So that is different. What is ultimately when 73 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: you get to nickel and dime personnel. In most cases, 74 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: if you're going even strength, you have four pass rushers 75 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: going after the quarterback. Doesn't matter what your basic philosophy is, 76 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: the one on one concept is your four maybe five. 77 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: If you send a blitz, rushers need to beat those 78 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: offensive linemen need to beat the running back in protection 79 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: you need to get after the quarterback. And I think 80 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: that's the one takeaway I really got from McCarthy looking 81 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: at the vision for two thousand eighteen. With the defense, 82 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: it's finding the right guys to make everything fit defensively 83 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: and to really get the production that they felt they 84 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: really had that first month of the season before things 85 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: started to get away from them a little bit. Yeah, 86 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: I think so. You know, Mike McCarthy reference the season 87 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: opener against Seattle. Now, granted, Seattle ended up not being 88 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: a playoff team, just like the Packers ended up not 89 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: being a playoff team, but that performance in Week one 90 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field, that's that's the type of defense that 91 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 1: McCarthy envisions. He got it established at the start of 92 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: but now it's a matter of having that the roster makeup, 93 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: the way the players are developed, especially young players developed 94 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: all of that to be able to carry it through 95 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: for an entire season, to be able to continue to 96 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 1: play that way. And uh, and that's that's really his 97 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: goal and his vision for the upcoming season. Yeah, and 98 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: it isn't as you said, it's not just the defense 99 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: either offensively that there's some soul searching they need to do. 100 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: As well trying to to find a way to bounce 101 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: back from this. Certainly they lost the kingpin, they lost 102 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: the biggest piece to this equation for Aaron with Aaron 103 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: Rodgers for the better part of ten games last season. Uh, 104 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: that is going to be something that makes everything difficult. 105 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: But it's how do the other pieces independent of that 106 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: come together, which I think is one of the reasons 107 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: he said, when you're looking at the offensive coordinator spot 108 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 1: in Green Bay, it's unique because he he mentioned he's 109 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: going to continue to call plays here in this offense, 110 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: so that coordinator spot is really the guy that's going 111 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: to be facilitating those those positions coming together, the overall 112 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: concepts of a defense, this scheme that has to fit too. 113 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: So I think when you look at these two sides 114 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: of the ball, and certainly there's a lot of things 115 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: to be figured out. We only have the more abstract 116 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: vision at this point. But it will be interesting when 117 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: that staff does come together, when they start kind of 118 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: formulating that game plan for two thousand and eighteen, how 119 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: all these pieces are gonna align with that vision of 120 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: what McCarthy wants his team to be going forward. And 121 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: he said he doesn't have a timeline necessarily for when 122 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: he's going to finalize his coaching staff. But I think 123 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: we've seen in the past, you know, it takes it 124 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: takes a few weeks to get all the pieces in 125 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: place when you're making this many changes. But um, but 126 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: he's going to He's going to take his time. Yeah. 127 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you this much because I was 128 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: covering prep sports back in two thousand and eight and 129 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: two thousand night. How long do you remember how long 130 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: that was from when Bob Sanders and that staff was 131 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: let go to when they brought in Don Caper's I 132 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: want to say it was about a month because I 133 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: know that they got it all done. You get the 134 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: coaching staff definitely set before everybody goes to the combine 135 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: when you start meeting with the prospects, the college prospects 136 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: and whatnot. So I would think, you know, either by 137 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: the end of this month or shortly after the Super Bowl, 138 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: all I would have to believe he'll have his coaching 139 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: staff finalized for twenty Yeah, and and again, as you said, 140 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: there's no timeline on it. But it's just it is 141 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: interesting because this is these these weeks, these days, this 142 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: is where these decisions need to come together and what 143 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: we'll see what the Packers look like. Yeah, well, plenty 144 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: more to talk about from coach McCarthy. Season ending news 145 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: conference back with more on Packer's Unscripted right after this, 146 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford in this chair, 147 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowits and that one. And what's another topic that 148 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: came up with Coach McCarthy in the media auditorium speaking 149 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: with reporters the new GM higher, which we talked about 150 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: a lot on previous shows this week, McCarthy said he's 151 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: uh involved in the process to a certain extent that 152 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: we didn't go into into the details. The main gist 153 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: of what he said, though, is acknowledging essentially that, um, 154 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: he wants to have a similar type of partnership relationship, 155 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: the same type of fit that that he felt with 156 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: Ted Thompson over a very successful twelve year run. But 157 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: but if that fit isn't there, he doesn't expect or 158 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: you know, doesn't have the expectation that that new GM 159 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,679 Speaker 1: is going to necessarily keep him as the head coach, 160 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: you know. And and here's the thing. I thought it 161 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: was such a mature statement from McCarty looking at this 162 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: because it is you have to understand the realities of 163 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: this world, and it's that different people are gonna have 164 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: different philosophies, are gonna have different thoughts, and just to 165 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: think that, well, you hire one guy, everything will be 166 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, unicorns and rainbows, it doesn't always work like that. 167 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: His his biggest statement, I thought going up there, whether 168 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: it was talking about the coaching staff, whether I was 169 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: talking about the GM, every aspect of the football team 170 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: with the goal of being a championship surrounded by the 171 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: idea of fit. So he's involved to a certain extent, 172 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: he said with this, but ultimately it is Mark Murphy's search. 173 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: The questions about it have to be directed towards Mark 174 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: Murphy in terms of who ultimately is going to be 175 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: handling that role of general manager. But one of the 176 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: reasons why him and Thompson worked so well is because 177 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: they aligned in the idea of fit. Thompson was hired 178 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: as GM, ends up a year later hiring McCarthy as 179 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: his coach when I think a lot of other people 180 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: in the NFL wouldn't have been glowing, you know about 181 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: an offensive coordinator that just went through the struggles that 182 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: he did. In San Francisco. Thompson saw the big picture, 183 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: he saw what he was as a developer, and they 184 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: had this run of twelve seasons together. Now that you 185 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: look towards the future, there's some really good in house 186 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: candidates as far as this GM position is concerned. McCarthy 187 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: didn't want to single out anyone specifically for obvious reasons, 188 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: but there is there is value to that, and there's 189 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: value to having that relationship and in understanding how all 190 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: of that can come together when you have people that 191 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: were raised in Thompson's personnel department in McCarthy obviously also 192 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: seeing his career as a coach really flourished under Thompson's watch. Yeah, 193 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: and make no mistake about it, Mike McCarthy confirmed, as 194 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: he said many times in the past, he feels he 195 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: has the best job in the NFL. He absolutely loves 196 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: coaching the Green Bay Packers. All the resources that are 197 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: available to him as a head coach to develop a 198 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: football team to go win football games. He loves it here. 199 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: He wants to stay here. He's just acknowledging the reality 200 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,719 Speaker 1: that you know, if if there isn't a if there 201 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: isn't a viable partnership with whoever the new GM is, 202 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: that that's not going to be what's best for the 203 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers. And just as Ted Thompson stepping aside 204 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: when he has now was a move that wasn't the 205 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 1: best interests of the Packers going forward. Mike McCarthy's acknowledging 206 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: that these types of moves, you know, they could happen 207 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: down the road. He's he's not necessarily counting on the 208 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: fact that after twelve years as the head coach, that 209 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: he's going to be the coach here for another Well, 210 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers really are an anomaly in the 211 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: NFL right now. And the reason I say that is 212 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: because you can look at lengthy coaching tenures in the NFL. 213 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: There are some examples of it. There's lengthy general manager 214 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: tenures in the NFL too. But the two establishments that 215 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: have a longer tenure right now than McCarthy is Bill 216 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: Belichick in the New England Patriots, and Belichick basically runs 217 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: their personnel department too in Marvin Lewis in the Cincinnati Bengals. 218 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: In Marvin Lewis basically runs that entire organization as well 219 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: with his coaches, So those everyone has a unique kind 220 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 1: of viewpoint on how you go about building a franchise, 221 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: building a football team, and sustaining that success. I think 222 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: the only other real comparable is New Orleans what they've 223 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: done with Mickey Loomis and in Sean Payton that has 224 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 1: stayed together over the years, but it is in some 225 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: ways it's uncharted territory what the Packers are going into. 226 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: So McCarthy understands the realities of this and how things 227 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: can play out. And again, it's gonna come down to 228 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: seeing how what happens ultimately with Mark Murphy, what he 229 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: decides to do for this organization, and then seeing from 230 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: there how everything could fit together. Yeah, and Mike McCarthy 231 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: also talked about some of the things on the field 232 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: in that obviously didn't go as planned. So we'll get 233 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: to that after the breakback with more and Packers Unscripted. 234 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 1: Right after this, Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford here, West, Hodkuh, 235 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: It's over there, West, Continuing our discussion of Mike McCarthy 236 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: season ending news conference. I want to start this segment 237 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: with some comments we heard the other day from Packers 238 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: safety ha Ha Clinton Dix in which he was expressing 239 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: some frustration with things that were going on on the defense, 240 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: particularly in regards to when the injury struck and you 241 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: had to have young players filling in on defense and 242 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 1: things weren't going well that Uh, the Packers didn't necessarily 243 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: have really the options to replace those players to try 244 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: to do something better, to try to improve what was 245 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: going on out there. The options were limited. In a 246 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: lot of cases it was young players who not for 247 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: lack of talent, but for lack of experience. Really, we're 248 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 1: not getting the job done. But yet then the only 249 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: other options are guys with even less experience. Um. Mike 250 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: McCarthy addressed this a little bit too in terms of 251 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: in terms of the makeup of the team. What do 252 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: you make of of these comments that we're hearing, you know, 253 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: ha ha. I thought it made such a great point. 254 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: This goes back to Tuesday's final locker room. It was 255 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: the first question he was asked in regards to Don 256 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:45,439 Speaker 1: Caper's being let go. Really supported Capers during that he 257 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: started off with probably a minute long response, UM, thanking 258 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 1: of for his time, saying that this is where I 259 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: got my start, this is where I really got to 260 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: get comfortable in an NFL defense. But one of the 261 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: parallels he drew was his first season in two thousand fourteen, 262 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: which was to for my money still probably aside from 263 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl team itself, the best team that the 264 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: Packers have had probably under McCarthy. And I say that 265 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: because of how well rounded they were on both sides 266 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: of the ball. So that season they were incredibly healthy. 267 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: But you look at the depth that they had and 268 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: that they had for those years after. You know, in 269 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: that in that two thousand twelve to fourteen stretch, you 270 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: had guys that stepped in. You look at the outside 271 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: backers when you had Mike Neil and Nick Perry jumping in. Uh. 272 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: You know, in developing when you had Eric Walden, Jared Bush, uh, 273 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: a guy like Chris Banjo, Mica Hyde. Players that were 274 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: maybe not quote unquote starters because of the depth depth positions, 275 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: but they knew the defense and they knew it well, 276 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: and when they got the opportunity to go in there, 277 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: they were able to really flourish. And McCarthy addressed this too, 278 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: about this this sort of in the middle of young, 279 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: inexperienced players and veterans the Packers these last two seasons 280 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: have really struggled to find someone in the middle of that. 281 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: It's not an easy thing to solve because I think 282 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: injuries have really taken the biggest bite out of that. 283 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: I don't think it's anybody's really fault per se that 284 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: all this has happened, but it does lead to natural 285 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: challenges that I think in some ways took the Packers 286 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: from where they were that first month of the season 287 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: defensively and ended up making it what the season you know, 288 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: ultimately was. Yeah, and I think what we've seen over 289 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: the years, Mike McCarthy talks about it, it's it's a 290 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: it's the nature of the business in the NFL. You're 291 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: gonna have your young players and you're gonna have your 292 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: veteran players. But then as the season goes along, you 293 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: see that gap close in terms of in terms of 294 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: their ability, the young guys start to catch up. He 295 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: felt that really last season in ten he was seeing 296 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: the gap wasn't closing fast enough, and that's one of 297 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: the reasons the Packers started four and six. Before you know, 298 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: they picked it up and then obviously made that memorable 299 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: run to the NFC Championship Game. This year. The gap 300 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: seemed to be even larger and was was closing even 301 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: more slowly. And obviously you lose Aaron Rodgers and that 302 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: has an impact on on you know a lot of 303 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: things and a lot of these issues that that we're 304 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: talking about. But the uh, you've got to You've you 305 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: have to do one of two things. You either have 306 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: to have some more experienced players to be able to 307 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: weather those injury storms when they happen, because they're going 308 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: to happen, and they happen to everybody, or you have 309 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: to be able to get the young players up to 310 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: speed that much faster. And in the post two thousand 311 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: eleven cb A environment, you know, Mike, the first half 312 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: of Mike McCarthy's coaching career, the off season program was longer, 313 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: They could work with players more, you know everything about 314 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: those first and second year players. You've got to do 315 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: so much more with them, especially the second year guys, 316 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: you know, after they had put in their rookie seasons. 317 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: That's not that's not how it's done anymore because there 318 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: are so many more limitations on O t a s 319 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: and offseason program dates and hours and and this and that, 320 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: and I think we're seeing and Mike McCarthy says, it's 321 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: really across the league. We're seeing the impact of that 322 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: with young players having to be thrown into roles and 323 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: playing too soon, playing over their heads, so to speak, 324 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: and and teams are suffering for it. About this, Mike 325 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: Packers drafted Kevin King in the first round last year, 326 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: the first pick, sorry, ye overall? Okay, So he's unavailable 327 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: for basically the entire off season program due to the 328 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: college rules that left him back on the West Coast 329 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: because Washington wasn't out of school yet. He comes into 330 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: Green Bay, has the shoulder injury, plays through that ends 331 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 1: up starting whatever it was, seven eight games despite not 332 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: having that full off season to go off of. I 333 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: think in some ways that was a good illustration of 334 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 1: this inexperience and injury and how that can affect you. 335 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: We'll talk more about this, but I just I think 336 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: this is something that it's very interesting to see when 337 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 1: you really get a chance to review what happened this 338 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: past season, how much that really influenced, particularly on defense, 339 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: how the Packers were able to play football. Yeah, let's 340 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: talk a little bit more about that after the breakback 341 00:17:50,000 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: with moren Packers unscripted. Right after this Ye, Welcome back 342 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: to Packers Unscripted Mike Spofford alongside West hodkowits West. Before 343 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: we go, I want to continue what we were discussing 344 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: in the previous segment about this gap between your veteran 345 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: players and your younger players in terms of that on 346 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: the field performance, because sixteen games is a long time. 347 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: The idea is that that gap closes and then you 348 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: get a team playing its best football down the stretch, 349 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: you make the playoffs, and you try to make that 350 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: postseason run. That's the formula. That's that's how the Packers 351 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: did it in two thousand and ten, That's how they 352 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: almost did it in two thousand and fourteen. But without 353 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: being uh, you know, armchair gms, or even you know, 354 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: football coaches for that matter, whose responsibility is to coach 355 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: these players and get them ready to play, how do 356 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: you go about trying to close that gap so the 357 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,360 Speaker 1: Packers don't end up in these situations like we've seen 358 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,439 Speaker 1: the last couple of seasons. We'll just be clear. You know, 359 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: Mark Murphy started this week, you know, interviewing candidates for 360 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: the GM job. My phone still hasn't rain yet, so 361 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: nobody's nobody's checking in with me. But um, to me, 362 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: it comes down to three different things, Mike. The first 363 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: thing is player acquisition. Packers have a lot of draft 364 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: picks this year. I think that's gonna be eleven or 365 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: twelve once this thing is all said and done with 366 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: the compensatory picks. That's a starting point. You have free agency, 367 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: both the free agents that you want to resign potentially 368 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: and then guys you want to entertain outside. I mean, 369 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: you look at you know what could potentially be out there. 370 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 1: Those are all decisions that whoever sitting in a GM 371 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: are ultimately gonna have to make to really set the 372 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: course for how things are gonna go. And the third 373 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: thing is the returning players that the Packers have. There 374 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: was a lot of departures last year just because of 375 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: how the situation worked, how contracts worked out. That was 376 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: a big off season for a lot of expiring contracts 377 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: and it impacted the leadership in the McCarthy acknowledged that absolutely, 378 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,239 Speaker 1: and that two thirteen draft man it bared a lot 379 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: of fruit for the Packers and it just so happened 380 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: at the same time they had some good veterans that 381 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: were coming up at the same exact expiration. Yeah, So 382 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: to me, I think you need to keep your fingers crossed. 383 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: You have to, you have to hope for some luck 384 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: on the injury front because I think that ultimately really 385 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 1: took away when you look, especially at the secondary, what 386 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: the Packers could do. But they got a lot of experience. 387 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: These young guys on this roster this year. They need 388 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that they're able to parlay those experiences 389 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: into a solid off season program and go into training 390 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: camp a lot better for what they went through this season. 391 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: I think that's the biggest key, because that's where your 392 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: experience is coming from. Yeah, and I wonder from a 393 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: roster makeup standpoint, and I'll reiterate what you said. My 394 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: phone is not ringing for the interview. Mike Mark Murphy 395 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: hasn't hasn't called me either. But you wonder when you 396 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: talk about draft and develop, and Mike McCarthy said, that 397 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: still needs to be the core of who the Packers 398 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: are and what they do is draft and develop. But 399 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: if you have too many young players, how much is 400 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: the development uh stunted in a sense for lack of 401 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: a better term, When you have too many of those 402 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: young guys that you need to bring along. Does the 403 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: roster need to have more balance? So there isn't there 404 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: isn't that large of a gap between your veteran players 405 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,479 Speaker 1: and your younger players. I think there are some issues 406 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: here in terms of roster construction, roster makeup that Mike 407 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: McCarthy would like to talk to the new general manager 408 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: about and and see if they're on the same page 409 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: to get back to that fit question. And we could 410 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 1: finish a whole episode talking about this, but I think 411 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: it is important when you look at that game against 412 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: the Lions offense and defense, the number of young players 413 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: that were playing at due to attrition, due to different situations, 414 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: it was almost insurmountable, I think in some ways for 415 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: what they had to handle. And I think sometimes when 416 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: you see the results being what they were, it was 417 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: a product of that. Yeah. Well, we'll be continuing these 418 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: discussions for sure, but for now, that's a wrap on 419 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all 420 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: of our continuing coverage of the team on Packers dot com. 421 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: I'm on Twitter, he's at west Hod, I'm at Mike 422 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. 423 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time. H m hm