1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is my trusted colleague wes 3 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: hodku Wits. We're coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. The spring right of passage 5 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: in the NFL, known as O t a S is 6 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: coming up, and just to give fans uh the lay 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: of the land here a little bit. Starting next week, 8 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: the Packers will have three weeks of O t a S, 9 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: which stands for organized Team Activities. Essentially, it's nonpadded practices. 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: They can do eleven on eleven work, but shorts and 11 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: helmets only, not full gear. And um so I want 12 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: to use the next two episodes, this one and then 13 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: our first episode next week to previ you O t 14 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: a S a little bit, just to give kind of 15 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: the landscape, the sense of what you and I are 16 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: going to be watching for, what what the media will 17 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: be looking for at these practices. Will have access to 18 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: one practice per week over the next three weeks in 19 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: terms of getting to watch practice and then also interview 20 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: players in the locker room afterwards. So with this show, 21 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: we'll focus on the offensive side of the ball to 22 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: preview O t A S And I don't know about you, 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: but I think the one thing that jumps out at 24 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: me that I'm gonna look for right away at this 25 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: first O t A practice that we get access to 26 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: next week is where somethings sit on the offensive line. 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: Because you added Billy Turner in the off season as 28 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: a free agent, Cole Madison is back from taking what 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: would have been his rookie year off from the NFL, 30 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: and then you added Elton Jenkins, the second round draft 31 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: pick at number forty four. Overall, I'm a little curious 32 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: just to see in terms of the depth chart what 33 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: positions these guys are lining up at. These new additions 34 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: on the offensive line are interesting. Yeah, Really, the only 35 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: one that I'm kind of curious about is Billy Turner, 36 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: just because you know, they left it open ended in 37 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: terms of where he's gonna play in potentially where he 38 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: could fit on the offensive line. I think we saw 39 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: him a lot of guard during that voluntary mini camp. 40 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: Right guards specifically, that's a spot that is open right now. 41 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: He could conceivably fit in there. From from the rest 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: of that, it's all gonna depend on the health of 43 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 1: the starting offensive linemen, and you know, you can't really 44 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: read much into really where Elton Jenkins is going to 45 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: be yet we know how this works with the off 46 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: season program. The story I always go back to is 47 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 1: that people made way too big of a deal out 48 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: of Alex Green being ahead of Eddie Lacey and two 49 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen during mini camp back then, and then two 50 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: you know, two months later, you know, Eddie Lacey is 51 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: right at the top of the depth chart when training 52 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: camp begins. So those are the things they're going to 53 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: give the veterans are going to give. The guys who 54 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: have status, they'll get the top end of those reps. 55 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: But you know, I think it's gonna be really valuable 56 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: for guys like uh, you know, got a guy like 57 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: Cole Madison. He has been through the process before last year. 58 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: He looked good throughout the offseason program, looked like he 59 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: was going to be able to contend for a starting 60 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: spot then obviously didn't report. But having him here getting 61 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: back acclimated with a new offense, I think is gonna 62 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: be really important for him. And then also, you know 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: those guys lower down the depth chart, they are very 64 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: deep on the offensive line. Lucas Patrick is a guy 65 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: that's going to have to defend his roster spot, justin McCrae, 66 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: Jason Spriggs, a lot of depth, a lot of versatility, 67 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: and a lot of experience there, Michael, with guys that 68 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: are trying to show you know that they belong. Yeah, well, 69 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: I think, uh, it's pretty clear at least, I guess 70 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: I'll put it this way. I'll be really surprised if 71 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: Billy Turner is not the number one right guard as 72 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: as we start o t S. I think that's what 73 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: the Packers signed him for. That's what um the value 74 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: of that contract would certainly indicate they signed him to 75 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: be a starter from the get go. With Jenkins and Madison, 76 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: I'm curious because the Packers are for the most part, 77 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: as far as we know at this point, looking at 78 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: them as interior offensive lineman, and we know that there's 79 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: a lot of talk about Ken one of these guys 80 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: push Lane Taylor at left guard. Now. I talked to 81 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: Taylor right after the season ended, the last open locker 82 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: room we had after the final game against the Lions, 83 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: and had an interesting conversation with him because he he 84 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: said coming off of last year he had an offseason 85 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: ankle surgery. It pretty much kept him out of all 86 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,119 Speaker 1: of the off season program. He was ready to play 87 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: Week one. He got out there, he played the bulk 88 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: of the season, but he actually admitted he's like, I 89 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 1: really didn't feel right. The ankle didn't feel right until 90 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: you know about the eighth or ninth game of the 91 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: regular season. And I mean, we saw Taylor didn't have 92 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: the season that that he had had in the past. 93 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: He and he was clearly dealing with something there. But 94 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: now this is whereas a veteran, he feels like he's 95 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,559 Speaker 1: coming back healthy, but they're gonna be some young guys 96 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: that will potentially push him here. So I think that's 97 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: something to watch as we and again, as you alluded to, 98 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 1: you take a little bit of this stuff in O 99 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: t S with a grain assault, especially with offensive lineman. 100 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: They don't have the pads on, the hits aren't real 101 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: and all that kind of stuff. But you get a 102 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: sense of of kind of how things are going to 103 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: set up for training camp. Maybe it's the best way 104 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: to put it absolutely and what what exactly these guys 105 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: are gonna be working with in terms of who's available 106 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: and whatnot. I'll be honest with you, Michael, and I 107 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: don't know how you feel about it. At least during 108 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: my time on the beat, which is about six years 109 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: shorter than yours, I think that this is the deepest 110 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: they've been on the offensive line in terms of the 111 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: competition standpoint. When you talk about Lane Taylor, some of 112 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: these different spots where guys are gonna get pushed. Billy Turner, 113 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, he's going to be the slotted top 114 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: guy there. He's gonna get pushed because they think about this. Michael, 115 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: you have Alex Light that was on the roster all 116 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,119 Speaker 1: throughout last season. Adam Panky has been on the roster before. Uh. 117 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: You obviously have Justin McCrae and Lucas Patrick and the 118 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: number of guys that can play different positions. And that's 119 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: what it comes down to. And when you're talking about 120 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: guys like Patrick and McCrae, you're talking about guys who 121 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: have played in NFL games. They've taken the real lie 122 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: have snaps that some of these other guys haven't. The 123 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: story I always love to tell is the first year 124 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: I covered this team in two thousand twelve, Jeff Saturday, 125 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: about two years past his prime, was already starting at center. 126 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: It wasn't much of a competition after that, you knew 127 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: it was gonna be Evan Dietrich Smith and then Don 128 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: Barkley squeezed out the number seven spot. Packers went into 129 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: the season with seven offensive linemen. This group, the way 130 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 1: they're structured right now, you know, if if health is 131 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: not an issue here, if guys stay healthy throughout training camp, 132 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: there's gonna be nine ten guys contesting for roster spots 133 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: that might be in contention to really deserve them in 134 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: some tough calls that they're you know, general manager Brian 135 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: Dudikins is gonna have to make. But at the end 136 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: of the day, that's that's the plight that these scouts 137 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: want to have. Yeah, just one interesting little fact I'll 138 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: throw out before we go on to another position. Um 139 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: Elton Jenkins drafted number forty four overall. You know who 140 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: the last offensive lineman was the Packers drafted at number 141 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: forty four overall, Darren College Chad. Yeah, so just kind 142 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: of one of those coincidental things, don't I don't know why. 143 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: I always thought Clifton was a higher second. I knew 144 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: he was a second on draft was number forty. Well, 145 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: if this one turns out as well as Clifton did 146 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: have another Hall of Famer on their hands. Well, I 147 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: think another position we're certainly going to be watching closely 148 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: as O. T. A. S begin is the wide receiver spot. 149 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: And just to give fans a sense of what you 150 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: and I do when we go to practice and the 151 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven stuff is what we watch the most. 152 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: And again it's not full pads and these the eleven 153 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: on eleven in full pads and training camp is much 154 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: more indicative of where things are headed. But as soon 155 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: as they started eleven on eleven period, you and I 156 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: are there, We've got our notebooks, we're jotting down who's 157 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: taking the first reps because for the most part, those 158 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: are the guys who at that moment are at the 159 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: top of the depth chart at those positions. So when 160 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: it comes to wide receiver, I think you and I 161 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: are both going to be looking very closely. Maybe I'll 162 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: look at the offensive line first and you look at 163 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: the wide receivers so we don't miss anything. But if 164 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: Geronimo Allison is indeed with the starting group as the 165 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: number two offensive number two wide receiver, excuse me, and 166 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,119 Speaker 1: then the first time they have a three wide receiver set. 167 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: Who's the third guy? Is it Marquez Valdes Scaling, is 168 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: it eq St Brown, is it Jake Kumarro or somebody else. 169 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: Those are the kinds of things that you and I 170 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: will watch for when the starters, when Aaron Rodgers is 171 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: out there taking snaps and eleven on eleven, who are 172 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: the guys that are with them? Absolutely, And it's a 173 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: great point you raised there, because, as I was saying, 174 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: when we're talking about the offensive line, there's not a 175 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: lot you can draw from because you know who's going 176 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: to be out there. You know they're going to give 177 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: veteran status to certain guys will get the reps, you know, 178 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: and I would I would imagine unless something surprises me, 179 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: that you're gonna see Lucas Patrick and Justin mccraie take 180 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: reps before Jenkins, just based on that hierarchy. But at receiver, 181 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: you have three receivers who are all the same age 182 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: or all the same year. You have Jake Kumero having 183 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: the experience that he has. It will be very interesting 184 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: to see what the first move is with these receivers 185 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: and also what they're asking them to do. I don't 186 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: know how many a routes we're gonna see. I don't 187 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: know how many team periods we're gonna see, but you 188 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: are going to get a feel for what the design 189 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: is going to look like for this offense. My personal 190 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: feeling is Geronimo Alison is that number two guy right now, 191 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: much like the number three last year when he went 192 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: to training camp. I think he has a solid grasp 193 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: on that and is gonna have to defend that in 194 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: training camp. But those three young receivers Michael, based on 195 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: every practice now and going into the summer, I can 196 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: fluctuate and those guys are gonna be asked to do 197 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: different things. And then also the guy I keep challenging 198 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: people not to forget about is Trevor Davis. Trevor Davis 199 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: is still in the thick of this thing as well. 200 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: He gives them the versatility on returns and he had 201 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: his moments as a receiver, most of those came in 202 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: his rookie year, but they're still there. So it is 203 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: going to be a very compelling case to see exactly 204 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: who from this this this room of opportunity kind of 205 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: rises to the top of that. Yeah, it's a good 206 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: way to put a room of opportunity. Absolutely um quickly 207 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: though West the powerful noise canceling technology that helps NFL 208 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: coaches block out eighty tho screaming fan can get you 209 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: closer to the music you love. Learn more at www 210 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: dot bos dot com, Slash Packers Bows, the official headphones 211 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: of the Green Bay Packers, and at Homer Here in 212 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: the stands, we all know that Green Bay fans give 213 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: it their all and that takes a lot of energy. 214 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's 215 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. I 216 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: tried the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your 217 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup, Official sup 218 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, sticking with the 219 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: perimeter players on offense. I know we had talked on 220 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: a previous show. Just our curiosity is to maybe how 221 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: things are going to shake out at running back. I 222 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: really don't think we're going to get any kind of 223 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: a feel for that necessarily beyond Aaron Jones as the 224 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: number one until we get to the preseason games. You 225 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: know that we're we're talking August and well into August 226 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: before we know how this shakes out. But the thing 227 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be watching with regards to the running backs 228 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: is the past catching ability. Um A, how smooth, how 229 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: smoothly do they do it? And be how often in 230 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: this offense are they asked to how much are they 231 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: going to be repping those kinds of things, because I 232 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: think that's something we might see a little bit more of. 233 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: And I'm not talking about just the checkdowns, you know 234 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: when the guy is an open downfield. I'm talking about 235 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: the design plays and not even necessarily screen passes, but 236 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 1: designed passing plays for the running backs that I think 237 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: could be part of this Matt Lafleur offense. And how 238 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: these running backs Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams, Dexter Williams, Capri Bibs, 239 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: these guys, how smoothly they can look in those reps 240 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: when it's not full contact. That's gonna translate into maybe 241 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: where they are on the depth chart comes summertime. It's 242 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: a new offense, new coach, new scheme. But I felt 243 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: one of the things that Mike McCarthy did well during 244 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: his time in Green Bays how that position evolved and 245 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: how the running back and the receivers so to speak, 246 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: in the backfield sort of became more of a prominent 247 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: part of the offense. When the Packers had their most 248 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: success right around two thousand and fourteen, they were getting 249 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: Eddie Lacy and James Stark's involved in the screen game. 250 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: But then as time wore on, you had time Hontgomer, 251 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: you had Randall Cob, You even had Vante Adams at 252 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: some points lining up in the backfield with design Place 253 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: being able to motion those guys out. See if you 254 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: can pick up a few hints from what the defense 255 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: is asking. I think that's gonna be a big thing 256 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: in this offense with Matt Lafleur. What they're gonna ask 257 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: those guys to do. It isn't just going to be 258 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: the checkdown Charlie approach. It's going to be them going 259 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: out into space, finding holes and getting open. That is 260 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: the key to this thing. I think of the NFL 261 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: in two thousand nineteen, we can talk for so many 262 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: for so long Mike about you know, you know this 263 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: offense is doing this and Sean mcveigh's doing that. If 264 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,599 Speaker 1: you look at the teams that made deep runs in 265 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: the playoffs, this year. I don't know how much playoff 266 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: football you watched. I think I watched every game. I 267 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: could they a lot of those, especially the Patriots, the 268 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: things that they do. The design it really, I think 269 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: is incumbent on offenses now to maximize those running backs, 270 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: maximize the James Whites of the world. Guys that because 271 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: so often when you think about scrambled plays with quarterbacks right, well, 272 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: sometimes and the quarterbacks gets free, it's because he's the 273 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: guy that isn't really accounted for in the passing game, 274 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: running backs have sort of become the same player. So 275 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: seeing how Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams, uh, you know, even 276 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: Danny Vitality the fullback, these guys can handle that role. 277 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be paramount for not only 278 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: getting the roster spot, you know, Dexter Williams and Capri Bibs, 279 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: They're gonna have to prove themselves in that capacity, but 280 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: who ultimately is going to be the one getting the 281 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: bulk of those snaps, the bolt of bulk of those 282 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: touches in the opener against the Bears. Yeah, when you're 283 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: talking about getting the ball to running backs in the 284 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: passing game, a it's presumably higher percentage passes because they 285 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: aren't downfield. They aren't they aren't highly challenged throws, and 286 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: then be if the running back makes one guy miss 287 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: suddenly four or five yard game can pick up a 288 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: first down and off you go offensively. And I think 289 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: that's going to be something that this h this Matt 290 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: Lafleur offense very well could be built on. And I 291 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: remember talking to Aaron Jones at the end of the 292 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: regular season last year, and one of the first things 293 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: he's one of the first things he said is his 294 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: whole focus in the off season, aside from his health 295 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: and getting his body to where he can withstand a 296 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: full sixteen game and and hopefully more schedule, was about 297 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: improving his route running and his pass catching out of 298 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: the backfield. I think he was already sensing that that's 299 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: the next step from a skill standpoint for him to 300 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: become the complete, well rounded running back that you know, 301 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: becomes that guy that you don't necessarily want to take 302 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: off the field very often. Absolutely. And and and the other 303 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: thing too, is that if the Packers are going to 304 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: try to stretch the field a little bit more, you know, 305 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: Davante Adams with that little quip about you know the 306 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: yards per catch, you're going to go up. What happens 307 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: when you start attacking the second and third levels of 308 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: a defense, it starts to open up things underneath, and 309 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: that's where the tight ends. That's where you have you know, 310 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams. They have to be effective 311 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: in that capacity, being able to become complete players because 312 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: when you look at the guy, and this isn't just 313 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: for the Packers, this isn't just for the teams. When 314 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: you look at the running backs now that are making 315 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: money in this league's it's it isn't the guy that 316 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: has eighteen hundred yards r sing anymore. It's the guy 317 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: that has a thousand yards rushing in seven hundred yards receiving. 318 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: It's a total yardage game now, Michael, or maybe even 319 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: eight eight hundred split splitting. It isn't he isn't getting 320 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: carries two carries a year and rushing yards. It's the 321 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: total package. And that's what I think makes these guys valuable. 322 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: It's what also is going into summer. Guards is going 323 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: to extend careers because the more you can do as 324 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: a pass catcher, look at Darren Sprawls, the longer you're 325 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: gonna be Yeah, no question about it. Another position I 326 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: want to touch on quickly before we go today West, 327 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: and again I say this, uh in a very very 328 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: preliminary sense, but we know that this coming summer, the 329 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: training camp in preseason is gonna shape up as a 330 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: potentially very legitimate battle for the number two quarterback spot 331 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: between Deshaun Kaiser and Tim Boyle. With where the Packers 332 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: are now and uh and Manny Wilkins has been added 333 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: to that mix as a fourth quarterback at this point. 334 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: I'll be interested to see here when we first get 335 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: a look at these guys in eleven on eleven for 336 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: the first time, you know, which of these backup quarterbacks 337 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: you know, looks the smoothest, looks like mentally they're picking 338 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: up everything with the offense. We know the mental acuity 339 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: and the experience that Aaron Rodgers has and everything is 340 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: going to carry him a long way in this transition 341 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: to a new offense. But these younger guys sometimes you 342 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: just don't know until you see it. And I'll be 343 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: really curious just how it how it shakes out, how 344 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: it starts for these guys when they get into some 345 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: of these eleven on eleven reps. Right. And then the 346 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: other thing too that I'm that I'm most excited to 347 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: see is Tim Boyle. Uh and certainly seen Kaiser a 348 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: lot of ability there. He's still only twenty three years old, 349 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: and he's got he's got the playing game experience. I 350 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: mean that whole season Cleveland. He got a couple of 351 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: games last year. I know they didn't go as well 352 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: obviously as he would have liked, but he's got the 353 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: most playing experience by far of the backup quarterbacks in 354 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: this group. The reason why I'm really intrigued by Boyle though, 355 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: is because last year this time I wrote the story 356 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: when he came in for rookie right. I remember, this 357 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: was a I that had a nightmare college career in 358 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: terms of a guy when you look at committing somewhere. 359 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: He did all the right things. He was a Connecticut 360 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: State Player of the Year. He went to Yukon, he 361 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: wanted to rep his state, and things did not go 362 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: there three different coordinators in three different years. He obviously 363 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: moved on finished his career down at the FCS level, 364 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: but all along, Michael, if you see Tim Boyle walk 365 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: into a locker room, that's an NFL quarterback, his body, 366 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: he looks his arm, and we saw it from the 367 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: get go last summer. Now he's still I'm not trying 368 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: to put him in the Hall of Fame yet, but 369 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: I just think when you look at the raw and tangibles, 370 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: you just wipe out all the production in college. You 371 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: just look at a guy that projects like a developmental quarterback. 372 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: Boyle checks all those boxes. Seeing the strides he made. 373 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: He spent his off season here in Green Bay. He 374 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: obviously was able to be on the fifty three. He's 375 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: not getting all those reps during the season, but he 376 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: is getting a chance to learn from Rogers. Seeing where 377 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: he's at in year two now, where he's not just 378 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: the intriguing, somewhat confusing college prospect, now he's a second 379 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: year player, and where he's developed from there against Kaiser now, 380 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 1: I think is going to be one of the more 381 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: compelling cases to watch. Yeah, I agree with you. Can 382 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: you look at you look at his resume as a 383 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: college player and you would not think that two years 384 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: in he'd be a legitimate candidate to be backing up 385 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers to the Green Bay Packers, But he very 386 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,679 Speaker 1: much is. And as you said, it's it's all the 387 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: physical tools. And if there was a guy who needed 388 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: a clean slate coming out of college and get to 389 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: start over, it was Tim Boyle at the toughest position 390 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: that there is on the football field, and thus far 391 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: he's taken advantage of it because he's made the right 392 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: first impression. Now we're going to see has he made 393 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: the strides he needs to make in year two. The 394 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: only thing that my heart kind of goes out to 395 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: boil over is the fact that can this guy just 396 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: get the same offensive coordinator and think in a year 397 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: to year basis, I mean the fifth year now, I 398 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: don't even know how many different hope this will be 399 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 1: his fourth or fifth different head coach. And you can 400 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: say the same thing about Kaiser as well. Look at 401 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: what he's gone through from what was going on at 402 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: Notre Dame to too Now you know, then Cleveland and 403 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: Green Bay and and all the change. Another court, another 404 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: young quarterback with a lot of talent, who's been dealing 405 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: with nothing but change in transition for the last four 406 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: or five years. And I would be remissis not to 407 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: throw out there with Manny Wilkins. The thing I like 408 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: about Wilkins is Okay, you have Kaiser, elite, blue trip prospect. 409 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 1: You know in high school and college boil NFL prototypical, 410 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, pocket passer, strong arm. You want to have 411 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: a curveball in there. Manny Wilkins is that curveball. He 412 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: succeeded at a su playing the game a little differently. 413 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: I'm very intrigued to see how he responds now to 414 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: this speed, to this level, and also what he could do. 415 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: I don't know what the ultimate plan is going to be. 416 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur says he does have some reservations about carrying 417 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: four quarterbacks deep into training camp and everything like that, 418 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: just based on him wanting to get reps to the 419 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: other guys. But if Wilkins gets a chance to be 420 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: around here and be on this team, I would be 421 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: really intrigued to see him playing the training camp in 422 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 1: preseason and what he can offer as a quarterback. All right, Well, 423 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: with that, we will get to our defensive preview of O. T. A. 424 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: S In our next show, but for now we'll call 425 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: it a wrap on this edition of Packers on Scripted. 426 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: You should have follow all of our coverage of the 427 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com if you like podcasts. You 428 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: can subscribe to us on iTunes. We also are back 429 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: on Spotify. I know there were some technical issues there, 430 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: so available on Spotify again as well as other podcast 431 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: services and on Twitter. He's at west hot I'm at 432 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for 433 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: tuning in, everybody, We'll see you next time.