1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: M Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 3 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. The first quarter of the 5 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: Packers season is over. The second quarter will get underway 6 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: officially on Sunday down at a T and T Stadium 7 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: in Dallas. The Packers are three and one. The Cowboys 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: are three and one. You don't want to make too 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: many over arching conclusions after just four games of a season, 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: but the sense that I get listening to Matt Lafleur talk, 11 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: listening to some of the guys in the locker room talk, 12 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: is that this week of preparation here leading up to 13 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: the Cowboys is going to focus on two things that 14 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: the Packers are not doing as well as they want 15 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: to right now, and it's about running the ball and 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: stopping the run. Do you get that sense that this 17 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: this week one quarter of the season done. The opponent 18 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: that's coming up, the Dallas Cowboys, These are really high 19 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: priorities here for absolutely, to be fair. If you have 20 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: the number one run defense in the league and you 21 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: have Zeke Elliott coming up on your schedule, It's gonna 22 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: be a big moment. But but that being said, I mean, 23 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: you look at some of even the stories that I've 24 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: written so far this week. You know, with or and 25 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: Burke's returning to practice, people are asking Montrevius Adams how 26 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: he's doing with the shoulder because there is that emphasis there, 27 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,919 Speaker 1: and you understand that. You know, these last few weeks, 28 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: the Packers have talked about it. This is not the 29 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: type of run defense that they feel they can be. 30 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things I think is really 31 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: important to point out with this is I guess maybe 32 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: I'd have a little bit more concerned if the Packers 33 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: were running traditional base and traditional nickel and they were 34 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: unable to stop this. But the reality is is because 35 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: of the injuries they've had it inside linebacker and now 36 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: at the defensive line, they've had to kind of shift 37 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: a little bit. We've had to see them use more 38 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: hybrid packages. Raven Green, who I thought did an exceptional 39 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: job against the run in the first game against Chicago 40 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: for being a box safety, sort of reminded me that 41 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: Morgan Burnett type of guy that is quicker, faster, can 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: go with the tight ends. But also can take on 43 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: a running back charging full steam at him, Well you 44 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: lose him. So you have to adjust there, and there 45 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: really isn't a backup so to speak, at that hybrid 46 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: safety spot, so they've had to get creative. But here's 47 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: the thing, Mike, is that when all the chips are 48 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: on the table, you look at Ezekiel Elliott coming up 49 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: on the schedule. You have to be on top of 50 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: your p's and ques with this matchup because he can 51 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: hurt you in so many ways. He can burn you 52 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: for the short yardage, he can get the third and shorts, 53 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: he can break a big run. The New Orleans States 54 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: did an exceptional job of defending him. So for Mike 55 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: Petton and his crew looking at that film last week 56 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: and see how that can translate, that has to be 57 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: a big, prime, primary objective for how you attack this 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: football game. Yeah. I mean, when you look at football 59 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: just in general, there may be nothing more team work 60 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: oriented then running the ball and stopping the run. Because 61 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: and the reason I say that, when you're trying to 62 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: run the ball, I say, if you're the Packers, you're 63 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: trying to get Aaron Jones on an outside zone. If 64 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: one guy in the run blocking unit breaks down, the 65 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: play can get blown up and by the same token 66 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: on the other side, when you're trying to stop the run, 67 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: if one guy gets pushed out of his gap too far, 68 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: or say one guy takes a chance and shoots one 69 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: gap when maybe he's got a two gap responsibility, but 70 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: he takes a shot and then boom, the run hits 71 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: in the area that he vacates. All it takes is 72 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: one guy to mess up, essentially, and uh, and things 73 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: can start to get sideways in a hurry. I think 74 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: in some ways that's what happened against Philadelphia. And when 75 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: Philadelphia got that momentum going running the ball, they just 76 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: kept after it. And on a short week, and you know, 77 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: you have defenders who are wearing down and all of 78 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. So the Packers they've got some 79 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: injuries to deal with, but hopefully the extra rest, all 80 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: the extra film study and everything that can go into 81 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: a game like this against Ezekiel Elliot, They've they've got 82 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: to get it short up. Yeah, And I don't want 83 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: to be a victim of the moment here with some 84 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: recency bias. But the thing is, Mike, I looked at 85 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: that Philadelphia game from the beginning. And I'm not saying 86 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: the Packers obviously there were seven points away from winning it, 87 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: but I just thought that was gonna be troublesome because 88 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: of the way the defense is configured, in the way 89 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: that they're running these rotations. Right now, you play those 90 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: you know, there's seven eight core guys that play relatively 91 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: every snap, and now you've got to come back on 92 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: four days, you know, three days rest and play again 93 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: in that type of environment against another run heavy team. 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: It's not like they went up against Arizona. I mean, 95 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: this is a unit with Tug Peterson. Again, they're off 96 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: to a slow start with some of their running concepts, 97 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 1: but when they're at their peak, they want to be 98 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: able to push the ball. That's why they brought in 99 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: Jordan Howard. That's one of the focuses and emphasis that 100 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: they've had for this season is to play the way 101 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: they played on Thursday night. Now you're gonna get a 102 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: couple of days to decompressed, and you're gonna get a 103 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: full week of preparation for this matchup for Alice. The 104 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: way I look at it, and again, you need to 105 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: get it short up. We're a quarterway through the season, 106 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: right now. But it is team fundamental football. When guys 107 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: are fresh and playing together, and you know they're playing 108 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: in Unison, that's when a run defense is at its best, 109 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 1: and that's what the Packers are looking for right now. Yeah. Well, 110 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: both teams, the Cowboys and the Packers have some injuries 111 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: to deal with heading into this one. We don't necessarily 112 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: have full and complete updates on everything going on, but 113 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: with regards to the Cowboys, they're all Pro left tackle 114 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: Tyron Smith, it sounds like from reports that are leaking 115 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: out that he is going to miss the game against 116 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: the Packers. Although the long term prognosis for Smith and 117 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: that Cowboys off offensive line it doesn't sound as bad 118 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: as initially feared. But that could be a big loss 119 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: for Dallas here as they're trying to get Ezekiel Elliott 120 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 1: going after a rough game against the Saints. And on 121 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: the Packers side, you mentioned Orn Burke's is back in practice. 122 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: This is a player who's missed more than a month 123 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: and a half, almost two months really since getting injured 124 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: in the preseason opener back in early August, so it's 125 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: hard to say just how soon he's going to be 126 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: completely back up to speed. And ready to contribute defensively. 127 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: Jamal Williams is back with the team, though he's not 128 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: back on the practice field because he is officially in 129 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: the concussion protocol, and then other guys were just going 130 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: to be waiting. As the week goes along here, the 131 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: Packers will be back on the practice field on Wednesday. 132 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: They had a short practice Monday Tuesday as an off 133 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: day for the players. But on Wednesday, Davante Adams, Brian Blaga, 134 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: and Kevin King, all of whom were injured against the 135 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles. We don't really know the status of those 136 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: players yet and we'll just have to see if they'll 137 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: be held out of practice with limited participants. But really, 138 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: for the first time this season, the Packers kind of 139 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: dealing with with an injury list that raises your eyebrows 140 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: a little bit because it's coming to multiple spots and 141 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: on different sides of the ball. Yeah, the biggest positive 142 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: coming out of this weekend was the fact that Jamal 143 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: Williams was walking through the locker room. Yeah, because his 144 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: typical smiling self. Uh. The thing was is that you know, 145 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: because you're in the concussion protocol, how that procedure works 146 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: for the league you're not allowed to speak to the media, 147 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,239 Speaker 1: so we didn't talk to him yet, But just seeing 148 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: him come out of the meetings with the other running 149 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: backs like it's any other day. When you see that 150 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: type of blow, I mean, that's that's what you hope 151 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: to eventually see as him to be continuing. Well, and 152 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: I'll clarify too, I don't want to read too much 153 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: into it, but we know with this concussion protocol stuff, 154 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: sometimes guys aren't even in the meetings because of the 155 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: severity of what's going on. So the fact that he 156 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: was in the meetings with the team. No, he hasn't 157 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: been cleared from the concussion protocol yet, but he's at 158 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: a certain stage where he's not being completely held out 159 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: of all activity, which is something that we've seen in 160 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: certain instances in the past. I mean, I go back 161 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: to the Sam Shields thing. I go back to Jamichael 162 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: Finley in two thousand thirteen when he had that hit 163 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: across the middle and then he kind of just disappeared 164 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: for a bit. You weren't sure what was going to 165 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: happen there. So just to see I mean, for what 166 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: that could have potentially been a big sigh relief from 167 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: just a human standpoint, seeing Jamal Williams, you know, appearing 168 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,119 Speaker 1: to be okay. From that perspective, Matt la Floor is saying, 169 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, by all accounts him walking around the building 170 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: good signs there or in Burke's is interesting because he 171 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: was the one that returned to practice on Monday, and 172 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: as you pointed out, this is gonna be you know, 173 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: those soft muscle injuries, Mike, especially when you're coming off 174 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: a terror like he did with his pack. It's not 175 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: a bone, right, it's not six weeks. You've got to 176 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: play it by ear. You gotta go by how you feel. 177 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: You have to communicate that to the trainers. The big 178 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: goal and emphasis for Burkes this week is just being 179 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: able to redevelop the strength start to bang again if 180 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: you can get some of those reps in there he's had. 181 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: You know, it's been about six seven weeks now since 182 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: it happened against Houston, So just trying to gain the 183 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,719 Speaker 1: confidence back because as he mentioned and I asked him 184 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: this in the locker room on Monday, now, he was 185 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: feeling really comfortable in the scheme and what they were 186 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: asking him to do after you know, kind of being 187 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: thrown into the fire and then sort of having to 188 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: take a backseat to Antonio Morrison. He felt prepared and 189 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: ready to be that secondary option to like Martinez. So 190 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: just seeing how this plays out for him is going 191 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: to be critical because I really do believe not only 192 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: does it give you depth at the position, but with 193 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: some of these things that are ailing the Packers trying 194 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: to find a hybrid safety, trying to find a coverage 195 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: linebacker that can play next to Blake Martinez. If Burkes 196 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: can be you know, solid against the run, I mean 197 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: that's a major upgrade for this defense moving forward. Yeah, 198 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: I think it could be as well. I just, uh, 199 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: I think it's it's smart to temper the expectations a 200 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: little bit because, I mean, let's face it, a guy 201 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: who's missed as much time as he has, and once 202 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: you get into the regular season where the Packers are, 203 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: they're only putting the pads on once a week in 204 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: terms of when you talk about the banging and really 205 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: trying to get back into football shaped. So to expect 206 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: a guy to just you know to walk back into 207 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: practice for a couple of days after seven weeks of 208 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: very limited and sometimes no activity and then uh, you know, 209 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: walk out there on Sunday and try to tackle Ezekiel 210 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: Elliott doesn't really work that way. So there'll be a 211 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: process here to get Burke's back up to speed and 212 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: ready to go, and we'll just see week to week, 213 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: um how things go in terms of getting him ready. 214 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: But I agree with you that, I mean with the 215 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: way things started with Raven Green in that spot and 216 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: then he gets hurt, and there's been kind of some 217 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: mixing and matching going on with Mike Petton in terms 218 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: of personnel and how they want to do things. Just 219 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: getting another option available for the different packages he wants 220 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 1: to run. I think it's going to help us, and 221 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 1: just getting back to a preferred starter, right, I mean, 222 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: when you originally line up your depth charger, O, T 223 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: A S and in minicamp, the way you want things 224 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 1: to align, the way you prepare, and and how you're 225 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: figuring in your mind you're gonna move the chess pieces around. 226 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 1: Raven Green was a major chess piece. Mike. I just thought, 227 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: I mean, people, that's not gonna be a name that's gonna, 228 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: you know, sound off a lot of alarms. Yeah, it's not. 229 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: It's not like he was suddenly going to become a 230 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: pro Bowl player anything. But you're right in terms of 231 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: the usage and the way Mike Patton wanted to employ 232 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: him in different situations. He was a key piece take 233 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: because it wasn't just him being the hybrid linebacker. He 234 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: was the next man up with the two safety spots. 235 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: And now you saw Will Redmond come down, you know, 236 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: working through something. Now I believe he was in the 237 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: getting evaluated for concussion. I don't know where that went 238 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: after that, but you know, he was the guy that 239 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: sort of moved in and Green was out. But then 240 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: that pushed Adrian Amos to the you know, to the box. 241 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: I've wrote about this an insider Inbox, looking specifically at 242 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: offensive line because people are asking about Alex light a 243 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: little bit. I cannot stress to you the value of 244 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: being able to take a backup and plug them into 245 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: a starting spot because it allows you to stay strong 246 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: at your other points and doesn't diminish you at two 247 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: different spots. That's not an indictment against Adrian Amos, but 248 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: everybody understands he was brought in for what he provides, 249 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,839 Speaker 1: as you know, that strong, traditional strong safety type role, 250 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: you know, not just moving the box and playing the 251 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: hybrid linebacker. Spot. You know, if you have to end 252 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: up moving Billy Turner to right tackle because you don't 253 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: have Brian Blog and then you have to put in 254 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: another guard at that spot. It there are so many 255 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: different variations of it, but when you can just go 256 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: to one specific player, that's so valuable for Green Bay. 257 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: So seeing how all this works against Dallas again, there's 258 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: four or five days separating today in that game, but 259 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: what the Packers can potentially have and who could potentially 260 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: play in that game is gonna be critical for that 261 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: matchup at and T Stadium. Yeah, definitely what we'll certainly 262 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: be talking about it a lot as the week continues. Um. 263 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: Before we go here today though, wes uh. Shortly before 264 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: we came into the studio here to tape this episode, 265 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: you were you were in attendance at a press conference 266 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: involving Mason Crosby October. UM, the month of October, the 267 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 1: Packers will be involved in some different cancer awareness initiatives 268 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: and things like that as the month goes along, and 269 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: a little bit of news coming out of of of 270 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: this news conference with Mason Crosby. What did you find out? Yeah, 271 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: so well, for first and foremost Packers versus cancer. This 272 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,959 Speaker 1: is an initiative they've been doing for the last three years. 273 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: Mason is one of the heads of the Vince Lombardi 274 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: Cancer Foundation, something he's been doing for a number of years. 275 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: I can't even tell you, probably six seven years at 276 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: this point. He's been heavily involved with that and as 277 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: one of the spokespeople for this campaign along with Blake Martinez. 278 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: Each person was allowed to come up and sort of 279 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: speak very quickly. It's well documented by now, obviously what 280 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: Mason's sister in law, Brittany has been battling over the 281 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: last three years. I wrote about it two years ago. Um, 282 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: you know, in her condition and being diagnosed at a 283 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: very extremely young age with a varying cancer and how 284 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: that sort of impacted their lives. Well unfortunately now, Mason's 285 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: wife was diagnosed with a lung tumor during the summer, 286 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: which she ended up having removed at the I think 287 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: it was the day after the Packers preseason finale. So 288 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: a couple of different layers to this one is Mason 289 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: pointed out this was not a cancerous tumor. You know, 290 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: there was cancer like, but it wasn't. It hadn't metastasized, 291 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: so We didn't want to put it in the same 292 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: category as you know, what the drastic nature of what 293 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: Brittany is dealing with. But at the same time, I 294 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: also thought it was a somewhat heartwarming story because, um, 295 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: this sort of shows you the tight knit nature of 296 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 1: the Packers, especially with those players. Um Molly actually sees 297 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: one of the team doctors as a physician of Prime 298 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: Ry Care, physician Dr Evan, So it was Dr Gray, 299 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: John Gray and Dr Even that Actually she was complaining 300 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: of some discomfort. She'd been dealing with some sinus infection 301 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: type stuff. They end up running some scans on her 302 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: and she was dealing with this, um very healthy, you know, 303 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: lady in her early thirties, mother of five. I was 304 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: going to say, with a lot of kids running around 305 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: the house, the big message that and I'm going to 306 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: write about it for our website. We'll get in all 307 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: the details there. But I mean, the message that Mason 308 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: wanted to convey was the importance of screening with things 309 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: like this and in early detection. And you know, certainly 310 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: it's timely giving what they've gone. You know that the 311 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: Packers first Cancer campaign, the emphasis in the month of 312 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: October throughout sports and entertainment media. UM, in the emphasis 313 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: that has been placed now in all cancers, not just 314 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: you know, one specific variety. UM. Just another wake up 315 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: call and unfortunately for a family that probably didn't need 316 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: another one. But certainly the positive aspect of it is 317 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: Molly's doing well. They don't believe she's gonna need the 318 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: additional treatment. She had it removed through a surgery. Actually 319 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: the day after the Kansas City game and the Saturday. 320 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: It was kind of wild because in the same day 321 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: in which they were told by the doctors that you know, 322 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: everything was looking good, they felt like they got everything. 323 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: They were able to save more of her lung than 324 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: they were initially anticipating. Uh. Shortly after that, he ended 325 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: up getting a call from Brian Goodkin's telling him he 326 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: was gonna be the Packers kicker again here for fourteen season. 327 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: Well that that That's what I wanted to point out, 328 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: is that now that now that some of this news 329 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: and what what Molly Crosby was dealing with throughout the 330 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: summer and a lot of uncertainty is to exactly what 331 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: was going on and what was ailing her. You know, 332 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: Mason Crosby was fighting for his job in training camp 333 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: with Sam Ficken and everything, and and Mason was dealing 334 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: with an injury of his own he missed some time 335 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: with with a strained calf. I mean, you look back 336 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: now at the month of August and everything that was 337 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: going on. I mean the uh um, I don't want to, 338 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: you know, stereotype. Mason Crosby is sort of that you know, 339 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: ice in his veins type of you know, kicker, you 340 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: know that whole cliche that you hear. But when you 341 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: look back at the month of August and everything that 342 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: was going on in Mason Crosby's life, um and uh 343 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: and and the fact that that he came through it 344 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: and obviously kept his job, the packers are thrilled that 345 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: he has remained their kicker. But then u um, but 346 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: now fortunately some really good news at least coming out 347 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: of coming out of Molly's procedure to get the tumor removed. Yeah. 348 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: I can't say enough of at Crosby's mindset and and 349 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: Molly's as well, obviously, you know, having to battle this 350 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: and and go through this mentally during a training camp. 351 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: They found out shortly before camp started they were actually 352 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: initially planning on having surgery straight away, and then it 353 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: was during that process that they discovered that she actually 354 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: had a blood clot in her abdomen as well, just 355 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: through doing the full body examination. So not that that 356 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: necessarily would have turned in anything, but you know, immediately, 357 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: but long term, it's just it makes you and and 358 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: one of the things that Mason really conveyed was that 359 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: it makes you grateful for your family and also, you know, 360 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,479 Speaker 1: for things like playing for the Packers. He said there 361 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: were a lot of days where he would come in 362 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: and you know, this was sort of a little bit 363 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: of a safe haven for him. He got to focus 364 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: on his job and in doing something that he loves 365 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: and being around a team that he really appreciates. So 366 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: a team captain this year on special teams. I mean 367 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 1: just uh an incredible summer that um, I mean, you 368 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: really tip your cap to the Crosby family and just 369 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: their mental you know, headspace and strength to sort of 370 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: for the fortitude to get through everything that that that 371 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: they were dealing with as a family. And obviously, you know, 372 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: you and I have both known Mason for a really 373 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: long time. I've been here since uh, you know, since 374 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: before he was drafted. I've covered his entire career and 375 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: seven he was drafted in two thousand seven in the 376 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,479 Speaker 1: sixth round. There's there's never been There's never been a 377 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: more stand up guy from the very beginning. Um, because 378 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: he's dealt with position competitions at different stages throughout his career, 379 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: and to think of he was dealing with that as 380 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: well as as well as a lot of uncertainty with 381 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: what was going on with Molly. I just, uh, I'm glad, 382 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 1: I'm glad it's all worked out the way that and 383 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: didn't lead on at all. I mean, it's not something 384 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: that they were They were kind of playing it close 385 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: to the you know, the vest a little bit and 386 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: then um, you know, obviously his involvement went this and 387 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: he was explaining the reason that came up. He was 388 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: just kind of explained the ways it's impacked him. He 389 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: lost grandmother to cancer, his sister in law, dealing with 390 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: this and unfortunately tumor situation with his wife that you know, 391 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: knock on wood, we don't have any available to us 392 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: right now, but you know, I'll be able to work 393 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: through that well. Certainly, the message of the month in 394 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: this cancer we're in this month is if you got 395 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 1: anything going on get it checked out. Absolutely. I want 396 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: to mention to the Packers Pro Shop again, we'll be 397 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: selling the Packers Versus Cancer Vince Lombardi caps. It's actually 398 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: a knit cap this year, so for the chilly out. Yeah, 399 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: five dollars from each of those purchases goes to the 400 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 1: Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, and then people that are shopping 401 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: at the Pro Shop also have the option to add 402 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: a dollar to their purchase and support of that. So 403 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: a very cool measure and in a neat cap too. 404 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: If I don't have one with me, I wish I did, 405 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: but yeah, well maybe we'll bring one on later this month. 406 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: Turn on the air conditioning a little bit here. There 407 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: we go get the full effect. Okay, let's do that. 408 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: With that, we will call it a wrap on this 409 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of 410 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: our coverage of the team on Packers dot com. Like us, 411 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: subscribe to us on iTunes and other podcast services if 412 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: you will. On Twitter, He's at west Hot I'm at 413 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for 414 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 1: tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.