WEBVTT - #489 Packers Unscripted: Ultimate rivalry, ultimate opportunity 0:00:00.880 --> 0:00:14.680 Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:14.720 --> 0:00:18.000 I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my trusted 0:00:18.000 --> 0:00:20.920 colleague West Hodkowits were coming to you here from our 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:23.600 studios at lambeau Field West. It is Thursday. We are 0:00:23.640 --> 0:00:28.960 another day closer to the two Packers Bears meeting. It 0:00:29.000 --> 0:00:32.760 will be Sunday, a noon Central time kickoff at lambeau Field. 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:35.120 Obviously a big game for both teams, as we've been 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:39.760 talking about all week long, and as usual, after Wednesday's practice, 0:00:39.760 --> 0:00:43.920 Aaron Rodgers had his weekly media session at his locker, 0:00:45.000 --> 0:00:48.080 and he made no bones about it really was. He 0:00:48.680 --> 0:00:53.120 in discussing what he termed the quote unquote deciding factor 0:00:53.440 --> 0:00:56.120 for this Packers team in terms of whether it's going 0:00:56.160 --> 0:00:58.520 to make the playoffs, whether it's gonna win the division, 0:00:59.000 --> 0:01:03.000 how far this team will go, he said it will 0:01:03.040 --> 0:01:07.319 come down to consistency, and by that he means we've 0:01:07.360 --> 0:01:10.640 all seen certain levels the Packers have played at at 0:01:10.760 --> 0:01:14.640 different times this season down the stretch and moving forward, 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:19.000 it's about finding that level and then staying there for 0:01:19.120 --> 0:01:21.240 as long as you can, because that's been the challenge 0:01:21.280 --> 0:01:24.440 with this team is to is to get itself to 0:01:24.520 --> 0:01:26.880 that level and then stay there for an extended period 0:01:26.920 --> 0:01:29.720 of time. Yeah, we've seen a few games this year 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:32.680 out of the thirteen to date where the Packers I think, 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:35.440 have achieved that for the most part. Maybe it wasn't 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:38.920 the cleanest defensively, but you've seen the performances where they've 0:01:38.959 --> 0:01:41.319 dictated tempo. It's something I say a lot from the 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:45.039 very beginning. Oakland defensively wasn't a gem of a game, 0:01:45.080 --> 0:01:47.080 But that's kind of the one that jumps out when 0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:49.920 I think back to that because of one how Rogers played, 0:01:50.120 --> 0:01:52.880 but to just the different contributions they got in that game. 0:01:53.640 --> 0:01:55.760 This offense, I think one thing we all have to 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:58.400 step back and just realize for two thousand nineteen, this 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:01.200 offense is going to operate at its best when you 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:04.920 have multiple people contributing. They can win games when it's 0:02:04.960 --> 0:02:07.920 Aaron Jones, they can win games when it's Aaron Rodgers, 0:02:08.120 --> 0:02:10.040 and you can win games in Davante Adams has a 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:13.440 big hundred yard performance. But being able to get those 0:02:13.480 --> 0:02:16.720 things to happen simultaneously during the course of a sixty 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:19.520 minute game is going to be what ultimately propels them 0:02:19.520 --> 0:02:22.320 into the playoffs and to make a championship run, and 0:02:22.400 --> 0:02:25.640 they've done it. They have that potential in them, and 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:28.080 I think if there's anything that the Green May Packers 0:02:28.120 --> 0:02:30.120 can take from these last few weeks as they try 0:02:30.200 --> 0:02:34.160 to build up a playoff resume, is that they're going 0:02:34.240 --> 0:02:38.280 to have an opportunity here to really put that on display. 0:02:38.880 --> 0:02:41.120 The Chicago Bears are a different type of beast though, 0:02:41.240 --> 0:02:44.200 right it's not the Giants and it's not Washington. They're 0:02:44.200 --> 0:02:46.519 gonna have to raise their level another notch when you're 0:02:46.639 --> 0:02:48.840 playing a team that's kind of coming off a recent 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:51.359 hot streak. But all that being said, I think it's 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:53.959 the perfect opponent for them because what is the one 0:02:54.080 --> 0:02:56.040 game when you look at the course of this year 0:02:56.080 --> 0:02:59.960 where Green Bay, while they won, weren't able to find 0:03:00.000 --> 0:03:02.440 in their offensive rhythm. It was that Bears game. Because 0:03:02.400 --> 0:03:04.680 of how good they are defensively and because of some 0:03:04.720 --> 0:03:06.600 of the things the Packers are working through at that time, 0:03:07.000 --> 0:03:09.680 I think there is a better feel of self in 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:12.600 what they are now as opposed to Week one, and 0:03:12.639 --> 0:03:15.320 when you look for areas of growth, while consistency still 0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:17.919 is the key, I think you've seen it over these 0:03:17.960 --> 0:03:20.520 last three months in the direction this offense is headed. Yeah, 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:23.440 and Rogers was primarily talking about the offense and his 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:26.120 discussion of consistency. But I think, and this is what 0:03:26.160 --> 0:03:29.560 I wrote about a little bit on our website Wednesday evening, 0:03:31.080 --> 0:03:33.840 is his words really apply to all three phases of 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:37.280 the team, because we've seen the special teams have their 0:03:37.360 --> 0:03:39.480 ups and downs. And yes, it was a great step 0:03:39.520 --> 0:03:43.480 forward to find a punt return game against Washington, something 0:03:43.480 --> 0:03:46.360 the Packers hopefully will have now here the rest of 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:49.520 the way. But one game does not mean your issue 0:03:49.600 --> 0:03:52.360 is entirely fixed, right. You can't just you can't just 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:54.520 say that You've got to continue to do it again. 0:03:54.600 --> 0:03:59.560 It's about that word consistency. Defensively, the Packers haven't really 0:03:59.640 --> 0:04:03.200 returned earned to the form they were in in September, 0:04:03.200 --> 0:04:05.920 where really against the Bears, against the Vikings for the 0:04:05.920 --> 0:04:08.280 most part in week to certainly against the Broncos in 0:04:08.320 --> 0:04:12.160 Week three, the defensive side of the ball was dictating 0:04:12.200 --> 0:04:15.560 tempo a lot for the Packers in those games. Against 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:19.800 Washington last week, we saw the defense allow less than 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:24.120 two hundred yards total yards until Washington's final drive when 0:04:24.120 --> 0:04:25.680 it was twenty to nine and they were in the 0:04:25.720 --> 0:04:27.880 complete hurry up mode and they had to score twice 0:04:28.200 --> 0:04:31.080 within the last couple of minutes of the ballgame. So 0:04:31.120 --> 0:04:35.520 again that's a sign, but that doesn't mean everything is 0:04:35.640 --> 0:04:37.680 suddenly fixed, because you need to be able to stay 0:04:37.720 --> 0:04:40.159 at that level for an extended period and and on 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:42.920 the offensive side of the ball. I think it has 0:04:42.960 --> 0:04:46.400 it has worked for this Packers team to have different 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:49.080 guys step up at different times and for this team 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:53.720 overall to find different ways to win. But that but 0:04:53.880 --> 0:04:56.720 we've seen the ups and downs of this as it's 0:04:56.760 --> 0:05:00.640 gone along through nineteen and the Packers need to you 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:03.440 want to still, I mean, everybody needs to be ready 0:05:03.480 --> 0:05:05.479 for his opportunity, right if you're going to be the 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:07.359 guy who's the star of that game, if you're going 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:09.280 to be the guy who makes the key play at 0:05:09.279 --> 0:05:11.960 the key time. And that's how this team has put 0:05:12.000 --> 0:05:14.520 together ten wins in thirteen games so far. But on 0:05:14.640 --> 0:05:17.200 the whole, you have to find a certain level of 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:19.640 play here. You've got all your division opponents coming up 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:22.359 and then hopefully some more games in January. You have 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:24.400 to find a certain level of play here and then 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:28.679 maintain that standard because at this stage of the season, 0:05:28.839 --> 0:05:33.600 any significant dip can turn out to be really, really costly. Yeah, 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:35.640 it really can. Because even though the Packers said at 0:05:35.680 --> 0:05:37.640 ten wins it was funny. I was talking with John 0:05:37.680 --> 0:05:39.599 Coon yesterday about this, and you know some of the 0:05:39.600 --> 0:05:41.640 things that they've worked through in two thousand and eight, 0:05:41.640 --> 0:05:43.720 the first time that he was able to beat the Bears, 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:46.000 you know, that was a monumental moment for him, and 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:48.240 it's end up being what set him up for that 0:05:48.440 --> 0:05:50.400 for that run that they got on over the next 0:05:50.400 --> 0:05:53.240 two years to win a Super Bowl. It all starts, 0:05:53.279 --> 0:05:56.400 it always starts in the division, and the Packers this 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:58.440 year have a chance for the first time since two 0:05:58.480 --> 0:06:01.120 thousand eleven to go six and oh the division since 0:06:01.200 --> 0:06:05.120 two thousand and eleven. And this matchup with the Bears 0:06:05.160 --> 0:06:08.200 represents so much more than just a game, just an 0:06:08.279 --> 0:06:11.279 NFC North of Black and Blue Division matchup. There there's 0:06:11.320 --> 0:06:13.760 so much at stake here in terms of history and 0:06:13.839 --> 0:06:15.640 also in terms of being able to feel really good 0:06:15.640 --> 0:06:19.200 about yourself going into Minnesota the week after. But the 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:21.600 game has changed a little bit. I look at two 0:06:21.640 --> 0:06:23.920 thousand four, I brought this up when I was kind 0:06:23.960 --> 0:06:27.520 of paging through the thumbing through the media guide. It 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:29.760 was incredible to me that the Packers they had beaten 0:06:29.920 --> 0:06:32.960 Minnesota to win the NFC North. They went ten and 0:06:33.040 --> 0:06:35.720 six that year, Minnesota got into the playoffs. I think 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:38.880 at eight and eight as a wild card. It's remarkable 0:06:38.880 --> 0:06:40.240 when you go back and think about it now, the 0:06:40.240 --> 0:06:44.400 Packers in most years sitting at ten and three. As 0:06:44.440 --> 0:06:46.760 as I said in yesterday's show, Mike McCarthy's old mantra, 0:06:47.120 --> 0:06:49.920 that's when you start thinking playoffs. This year, that's not 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:53.400 the case. Ten wins may not get you in the playoffs. 0:06:53.839 --> 0:06:56.600 Eleven wins could potentially not get you in the playoffs. 0:06:56.720 --> 0:06:59.760 There are mathematical there are mathematical scenarios where teams in 0:06:59.800 --> 0:07:03.240 the NFC, the Packers included, could finish eleven and five 0:07:03.480 --> 0:07:06.000 and still be on the outside looking at exactly and 0:07:06.080 --> 0:07:08.919 the Packers they want to win that. The intention once 0:07:08.960 --> 0:07:11.480 you get past this game, win loser draw on Sunday 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:13.360 against the Bears is they want to go into US 0:07:13.400 --> 0:07:16.200 Bank Stadium and get that victory against the Vikings. That's 0:07:16.200 --> 0:07:19.640 the litmus test, that's the barometer, because by all accounts, 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:23.280 the Vikings look to be a playoff team. But with 0:07:23.400 --> 0:07:26.240 this game against Chicago, if you're able to win this 0:07:26.360 --> 0:07:29.560 and then you win Detroit in two weeks, your work 0:07:29.640 --> 0:07:32.400 is cut out for you the division champion, and depending 0:07:32.400 --> 0:07:34.920 on how much anarchy happens here in the NFC, you 0:07:34.960 --> 0:07:37.920 could be something even more than that. I look at 0:07:37.920 --> 0:07:41.280 this matchup in terms of, yes, what it means historically, Yes, 0:07:41.320 --> 0:07:43.720 what it means to this year's team, but also from 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:46.160 the standpoint of what's the best way to get hot 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:48.240 late in the season in December. When you look at 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:51.680 Aaron Rodgers numbers, it's to win these NFC North matchups 0:07:51.680 --> 0:07:53.840 with how this division layout is played out in what 0:07:53.960 --> 0:07:55.600 better way to do it than a win against the 0:07:55.600 --> 0:07:58.640 Bears on Sunday. Yeah, And we saw what this exact 0:07:59.000 --> 0:08:02.880 NFC North gonet it did for the Packers in three 0:08:03.000 --> 0:08:05.440 years ago when they were in a different position where 0:08:05.440 --> 0:08:07.440 they were they were fighting to get into the playoffs, 0:08:07.480 --> 0:08:10.680 they were looking for help from elsewhere. But they had 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:14.840 all three division opponents lined up in weeks fifteen, sixteen seventeen, 0:08:14.920 --> 0:08:17.160 and they ran it, and they ran it all the 0:08:17.160 --> 0:08:19.800 way to the NFC Championship game before they before they 0:08:19.840 --> 0:08:22.680 ran into a buzz on in Atlanta. And it's really coincidental, Mike, 0:08:22.680 --> 0:08:24.880 because that reason I was thumbing through the media guide 0:08:24.880 --> 0:08:26.600 was because an inbox reader it asked, when was the 0:08:26.680 --> 0:08:28.680 last time the Packers have finished with back to back 0:08:28.800 --> 0:08:31.640 road games to finish a season? That is that is 0:08:31.680 --> 0:08:34.400 a challenging aspect to this year's schedule, and it was 0:08:34.480 --> 0:08:37.480 it was two thousand and four. And for the Packers 0:08:37.520 --> 0:08:39.760 to be in a position here to have eleven wins 0:08:39.960 --> 0:08:42.839 entering that stretch that gives you a little bit more 0:08:42.880 --> 0:08:46.280 breathing room depending on crazy scenarios that could play out. 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:48.960 And then, by the way, if you take care of 0:08:49.000 --> 0:08:51.079 business and you win all three of these things, well 0:08:51.080 --> 0:08:53.720 then you get a buy. So the stakes I wrote 0:08:53.720 --> 0:08:55.520 this in a Darnell Savage player on the Rise that 0:08:55.559 --> 0:08:58.440 I put together on Thursday, the stakes are extremely high 0:08:58.559 --> 0:09:01.400 right now. And when the NFL made this adjustment to 0:09:01.480 --> 0:09:04.320 finish the year against your division, this was the type 0:09:04.360 --> 0:09:07.800 of you know, drama they hope to create. And for 0:09:07.880 --> 0:09:09.920 the Packers to be back in this scenario where these 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:11.679 things are meaningful and the Packers are looking to get 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:13.480 to the postseason for the first time since two thousand 0:09:13.480 --> 0:09:16.160 and sixteen, doesn't get much more exciting than that. Yeah, 0:09:16.200 --> 0:09:18.800 just to clarify for folks too, if you're looking at, okay, 0:09:18.800 --> 0:09:21.520 how can the Packers win the division if they don't 0:09:22.040 --> 0:09:24.720 run it and win all three and finish thirteen and three. 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:27.240 A couple of different ways. You can beat the Bears 0:09:27.320 --> 0:09:29.440 and beat the Lions and get to twelve wins, and 0:09:29.440 --> 0:09:32.280 you'll be the division champs if the Packers were to 0:09:32.320 --> 0:09:34.400 happen to lose to the Bears and the Lions. But 0:09:34.480 --> 0:09:37.960 if they beat the Vikings next week, the Packers are 0:09:38.000 --> 0:09:43.600 also division champs. Um with um because that would be 0:09:43.640 --> 0:09:46.280 the Vikings fifth loss. Both teams would finish eleven and 0:09:46.320 --> 0:09:49.360 five in that potential scenario, and the Packers would have 0:09:49.360 --> 0:09:50.800 the head to head sweep. So there's a couple of 0:09:50.840 --> 0:09:54.200 different ways here Green Bay can win the division. But 0:09:54.280 --> 0:09:57.760 you just mentioned the rookie set rookie safety. Excuse me, 0:09:57.840 --> 0:10:02.679 Darnell Savage and and you uh later today or at 0:10:02.720 --> 0:10:06.280 some point after we're done taping here, a story as 0:10:06.520 --> 0:10:09.160 this week's Player on the Rise will be posted on 0:10:09.200 --> 0:10:11.800 our website with regard to Savage. And what's interesting to 0:10:11.840 --> 0:10:13.640 me is we we had talked about this at the 0:10:13.640 --> 0:10:16.000 beginning of the season. I think we're starting to see 0:10:16.000 --> 0:10:20.320 it come to fruition now the combination of a rookie, 0:10:20.559 --> 0:10:25.520 very athletic, very talented young safety being paired with a 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:28.480 veteran who has been through a lot of battles, been 0:10:28.480 --> 0:10:30.720 through a lot of wars, so to speak, and and 0:10:30.800 --> 0:10:34.440 kind of knows the landscape of the NFL. It took 0:10:34.440 --> 0:10:36.240 a little bit of a break when Savage had to 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:38.480 miss a couple of games back in October with an 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:42.000 ankle injury. But this, this pairing in the back end 0:10:42.000 --> 0:10:44.800 of the Packers secondary, I think is is really starting 0:10:44.800 --> 0:10:46.640 to become what they were hoping well. And it was 0:10:46.679 --> 0:10:48.640 tough for the Packers during that time too, because not 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:50.720 only were they without Savage, then you also had to 0:10:50.760 --> 0:10:52.439 take ad your names and move him up to being 0:10:52.440 --> 0:10:56.439 a box linebacker, playing that hybrid role next to Blake Martinez. Yeah, 0:10:56.440 --> 0:10:58.680 he's playing a little out of position there. I tip 0:10:58.760 --> 0:11:00.679 my cap to Amos for what he did. He did 0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:03.320 not complain about it. He stepped up admirally. But as 0:11:03.400 --> 0:11:05.800 I mentioned to you back then to Mike, the Packers 0:11:05.840 --> 0:11:08.040 didn't pay Adrian Amos the money that they did. They 0:11:08.040 --> 0:11:10.760 didn't bring him in from Chicago to be an inside 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:13.720 linebacker next to Blake Martinez. They had to do that 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:16.160 out of necessity trying to bridge the gap to when 0:11:16.200 --> 0:11:20.000 they got Ibraheim Campbell back after losing Raven Green. But 0:11:20.120 --> 0:11:22.920 they want him playing in that setting, that deep at 0:11:22.920 --> 0:11:24.800 the back end. They want him being able to rove 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:27.400 a little bit, you know, make plays as a strong safety, 0:11:27.400 --> 0:11:29.880 but not necessarily be a guy that's just lining up 0:11:30.000 --> 0:11:33.400 right five yards behind the defensive front. And I really 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:36.640 from Amos's perspective starting there, I thought that Washington game 0:11:36.679 --> 0:11:40.040 really illustrated his value to this defense. He made a 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:42.600 clutch interception at the end of the first half that 0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:45.920 that ended a potential drive there for Washington. He had 0:11:45.920 --> 0:11:49.240 the sack early off of Blitz. He was uncovered, he 0:11:49.360 --> 0:11:52.360 was nobody covered his hat, but he still was able 0:11:52.400 --> 0:11:55.120 to finish it against an athletic quarterback against Haskins for 0:11:55.240 --> 0:11:58.439 negative yardists play got the big guy down. And even 0:11:58.480 --> 0:12:00.920 more than that, you just see how smart he is 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:03.720 and how he's utilized in the secondary. I mentioned this 0:12:03.760 --> 0:12:05.960 earlier this week. I'm gonna mention again so much wants 0:12:05.960 --> 0:12:07.719 to be made out of Amos playing the Bears. I'm 0:12:07.720 --> 0:12:10.120 sure Clinton Dix is answering the questions about Green Bay 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:12.480 right now, but both of these guys for what's being 0:12:12.480 --> 0:12:15.240 asked to them fit those secondary pictures really well. I 0:12:15.240 --> 0:12:17.600 don't think there's a winner and the loser in this case. 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:20.079 If anything, the Packers got an extra fourth round pick 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:23.760 out of this transaction. Okay, Now looking at Savage, a 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:26.120 young man that came in, he rose up the boards 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:29.960 four point three six forty time, which is just remarkable 0:12:30.000 --> 0:12:32.280 for a free safety. He he ends up being a 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:34.880 first round pick, the first defensive pack off the board. 0:12:35.160 --> 0:12:37.360 And how many times can you remember, Mike and all 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:40.120 your years covering this team where we've mis stepped into 0:12:40.120 --> 0:12:42.600 that first o t a practice and there's a rookie 0:12:42.600 --> 0:12:44.680 that's starting out there with the defense. It doesn't work 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:47.560 like that. The story I always say is Eddie Lacey 0:12:47.640 --> 0:12:49.679 for his harolded as he was when they drafted him 0:12:49.679 --> 0:12:52.400 in two thousand thirteen. He was still behind Alex Green 0:12:52.480 --> 0:12:55.280 and James Starks and in the veteran running backs. The 0:12:55.400 --> 0:12:58.120 Packers thought so much of Savage in in what his 0:12:58.240 --> 0:13:00.320 role had to be this year, he was out there 0:13:00.360 --> 0:13:02.520 from day one. He made two big plays the first 0:13:02.559 --> 0:13:05.240 month of the season, became the first safety to start 0:13:05.280 --> 0:13:08.120 the regular season opener since Morgan Burnett in two thousand 0:13:08.080 --> 0:13:10.400 and ten, he has to work through the ankle injury. 0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:12.680 But I think now these last few weeks, you're seeing 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:15.600 a guy that's getting comfortable. He's still only twenty two 0:13:15.640 --> 0:13:18.280 years old, and he's making plays at a critical position 0:13:18.280 --> 0:13:20.960 in this defense. If the Packers defense the things that 0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:23.280 you were outlining that they need to do to return 0:13:23.320 --> 0:13:25.840 to form here and to make a real presence this 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:28.400 last month in the season and into the postseason, it 0:13:28.440 --> 0:13:31.120 starts with that safety position. I think you're seeing Amos 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:33.839 and Savage both being healthy and playing their natural roles, 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.600 being able to bring that dimension to the secondary. Yeah. 0:13:36.600 --> 0:13:39.120 I mean, I think we've certainly seen some of the 0:13:39.200 --> 0:13:41.920 expected ups and downs with the rookie safety and needed 0:13:41.920 --> 0:13:43.840 to have the injury to deal with the middle of 0:13:43.840 --> 0:13:46.600 the season and all that. I'd like to also comment 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:48.880 though on Amos for those who like to check out 0:13:48.960 --> 0:13:51.120 my what you Might Have Missed feature with a little 0:13:51.160 --> 0:13:53.280 bit of the game film which was posted on the 0:13:53.280 --> 0:13:56.400 website on Tuesday. Going through the defensive film from the 0:13:56.400 --> 0:13:58.960 Washington game, I was really really impressed with Amos and 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:00.680 I got a couple of snap on there. I'm not 0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:05.000 showing his interception and the unblocked, you know, sack on 0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:10.520 the blitz. You're like, yeah, did anybody miss that? Like 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:13.200 that was pretty obvious, right, But I put a couple 0:14:13.240 --> 0:14:17.160 of snaps in there that showed that, Uh, that showed 0:14:17.200 --> 0:14:19.640 both both against run and pass some of the players 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:22.760 that Amos was making in that game. His run support 0:14:22.800 --> 0:14:26.560 against Adrian Peterson in that Washington game was really really key. 0:14:26.640 --> 0:14:30.480 Just played disciplined, disciplined football where where it was like 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:32.640 he wasn't necessarily like, oh, I've got to rush up 0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:34.680 and make the tackle. There were a couple of instances 0:14:34.680 --> 0:14:36.680 he had to do that, but sometimes it was I 0:14:36.720 --> 0:14:39.040 need to rush up and get into the right spot 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:42.120 to funnel him, to funnel the running back back to 0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:45.000 where the pursuit is to bring him down, and his 0:14:45.080 --> 0:14:47.560 job was to make sure Peterson couldn't bounce outside and 0:14:47.600 --> 0:14:49.600 get to the sideline. Things like that. He also had 0:14:49.640 --> 0:14:53.440 another play where he chased down um chased down a 0:14:53.480 --> 0:14:56.160 pass play the he came up to try to to 0:14:56.680 --> 0:14:58.880 potentially take the tight end. The tight end leaked into 0:14:58.880 --> 0:15:01.160 the flat Kyler Facker want with him. There was an 0:15:01.200 --> 0:15:04.560 over route coming from coming behind Amos. He just turned 0:15:04.560 --> 0:15:06.840 his back and sprinted over to the sideline and for 0:15:06.880 --> 0:15:08.880 folks who remember that was the past that basically hit 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:11.240 him in the back of the head, But he beat 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:13.760 the receiver to the spot in in that instance, and 0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:15.880 that's why that's why he was there to make the play. 0:15:15.920 --> 0:15:18.680 So I was just really really impressed with his game. 0:15:18.720 --> 0:15:21.320 And obviously we all remember that he was the hero 0:15:21.480 --> 0:15:23.880 in Chicago in Week one with the interception in the 0:15:23.960 --> 0:15:26.280 end zone in the fourth quarter. But he's a guy 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:28.880 who continues to play down this whole thing about playing 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:31.240 against his former team and all that kind of stuff. 0:15:31.240 --> 0:15:33.280 That's not what it's about for him, especially here in 0:15:33.320 --> 0:15:36.320 week fifteen. This is about where this Packers team has 0:15:36.320 --> 0:15:38.640 potentially had. I don't know if Adrian has ever met 0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:40.920 Morgan Burnett, but I mean, like there's a lot of 0:15:40.920 --> 0:15:43.640 similarities between those two, and I always I got along 0:15:43.680 --> 0:15:45.920 really well with Morgan. So maybe that's why I really 0:15:45.920 --> 0:15:49.000 like what Amos brings. Because he's not a demonstrative person. 0:15:49.040 --> 0:15:52.200 He's very even keel and he'll respectfully answer your question. 0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:53.960 He's just he doesn't buy into that, and it's not 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:56.560 because he doesn't want to create headlines. He legitimately doesn't 0:15:56.560 --> 0:16:00.120 care now and if anything, We're we've already got on 0:16:00.200 --> 0:16:01.520 through what he knew he was gonna have to go 0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:03.240 through that week one. Why would that still be a 0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:05.720 conversation now, I mean, are we We're just gonna sit 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:07.760 here and just keep asking guys about Therefore, you know, 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:10.240 should we ask some questions about Zadarius Smith and Baltimore 0:16:10.320 --> 0:16:12.400 like next year? I mean, it is what it is, 0:16:12.480 --> 0:16:16.160 But in terms of his impact, I think it needs 0:16:16.160 --> 0:16:19.280 to be put out there too, that Eddie Jackson had 0:16:19.320 --> 0:16:22.800 a terrible injury coming out of Alabama, but they asked 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:26.520 Aimos to be the compliment to him. This rookie that was, 0:16:26.680 --> 0:16:28.160 you know, wasn't able to do a lot of stuff 0:16:28.200 --> 0:16:30.240 during the offseason program, was not able to do stuff 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:33.000 during the pre draft process. They asked him to partner 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:35.360 with this kid, and and you see, Jackson has kind 0:16:35.360 --> 0:16:37.880 of flourished into an All Pro player. And I think 0:16:37.920 --> 0:16:40.000 when you look at the intangibles, there's a lot of 0:16:40.000 --> 0:16:42.800 those same parallels that can be drawn with Darnell Savage 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:45.000 and being able to get on a run with two 0:16:45.040 --> 0:16:48.080 safeties at the same position, being able to play off 0:16:48.120 --> 0:16:50.320 each other. That's when these secondaries have been at their best. 0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:53.000 I mean, yeah, The Packers lost Morgan Burnett to an 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:54.560 a C L in two thousand and ten and that 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:57.000 forced them to have to pivot to Charlie Pepper. But 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:59.040 then you had Collins and Pepper kind of working off 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:02.040 each other. When you get two guys that can play 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:05.679 their natural spots and be able to understand the responsibilities together, 0:17:06.119 --> 0:17:08.200 that's going to be what helps you out on those 0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:11.000 deep balls, on those explosive plays. And I love that 0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:13.560 you had illustrated that play that that Amos had made 0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:16.679 because those are the somewhat off script type things that 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:19.159 a safety of free safety is strong safety. They just 0:17:19.200 --> 0:17:21.280 have to be accountable for you see that a guy 0:17:21.320 --> 0:17:23.600 has covered. Okay, go find work. Where can you make 0:17:23.600 --> 0:17:26.040 yourself useful? It's on the trick that they're trying to 0:17:26.040 --> 0:17:28.280 pull behind you with the with the outroute. So it's 0:17:28.400 --> 0:17:31.359 it's it's it's it's making those it's making those reactions. 0:17:31.359 --> 0:17:35.200 I'm sure part of it was film study that he recognized, 0:17:35.560 --> 0:17:39.040 he recognized in the proper moment where the ball was 0:17:39.080 --> 0:17:42.080 potentially going to go, and so so he got himself there. 0:17:42.119 --> 0:17:44.520 And that those are the kinds of things that veterans 0:17:44.520 --> 0:17:47.000 can do and can help teach a young guy like 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:49.280 Savage so that he gets to that level as well. Yeah, 0:17:49.320 --> 0:17:50.800 and and the other thing is too that I don't 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:52.480 think you can discount about this, and we'll be able 0:17:52.520 --> 0:17:54.879 to discuss this all offseason. I imagine it's going to 0:17:54.960 --> 0:17:56.800 be a huge storyline when we go to the combine 0:17:56.800 --> 0:17:59.439 and maybe even through to the owners meetings, how healthy 0:17:59.560 --> 0:18:03.119 this team has been this year. Matt Lafleur keeps he 0:18:03.240 --> 0:18:06.040 keeps cushioning all that by saying, you have to be fortunate, lucky, 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:08.640 and there is truth to that. There's just strange things 0:18:08.640 --> 0:18:10.560 that happened. Guys get hurt and you have to play 0:18:10.600 --> 0:18:13.080 through it. But the thing that I think is underrated 0:18:13.080 --> 0:18:16.240 about all this is that again on Wednesday's practice practice 0:18:16.280 --> 0:18:18.760 it was modified, but you had all fifty three guys 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:20.960 out there. Last week, they had all fifty three guys 0:18:21.000 --> 0:18:24.040 out there. When these guys can work like that, especially 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:27.480 in this defense, I don't think it is any type of, 0:18:27.560 --> 0:18:31.120 you know, coincidence that you've seen the defense, relatively speaking, 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:33.920 have two strong performances back to back out of any 0:18:33.920 --> 0:18:36.400 particular phase or unit that probably needed to be able 0:18:36.400 --> 0:18:39.800 to get some confidence back. It's Mike Petton's team and 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:42.760 being able to, you know, have everybody out there and 0:18:42.800 --> 0:18:46.200 everybody participating. Trumon Williams has been a veteran rusk guy, 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:48.080 but for the most part, they've been able to just 0:18:48.160 --> 0:18:50.639 kind of work with those pieces together. That goes a 0:18:50.640 --> 0:18:52.320 long way. Yeah, And the other thing I wanted to 0:18:52.359 --> 0:18:55.120 mention also with the defense, when I mentioned Washington's total 0:18:55.200 --> 0:18:58.000