1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford sitting next to my partner in crime, 3 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field West. Were another day closer to Packers 5 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: forty Niners Sunday Night football from Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. 6 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: A clash of NFC Titans, you might say for Week twelve, 7 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,959 Speaker 1: a lot to be, a lot to be sorted out yet. 8 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: But one of these storylines that's been interesting to follow 9 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: as we lead up to this big matchup, and it's 10 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: a first in the sense of Matt Lafleur's first year 11 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: as head coach and where he is in his career, 12 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: and that is that his counterpart on the other sideline 13 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: is someone that he goes back a long way with, 14 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: and I'm talking about Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of 15 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: the San Francisco forty Niners, And you posted a story 16 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: on our website with regard to their connection and when 17 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: it started and how far back it goes and how 18 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: it's evolved. So why don't you give us the rundown 19 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: on the background between La Fleur and Shannon. Well, this 20 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: is what's fun about you know life, right, the small 21 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: circles we all run in the six degrees of separation. 22 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: You know, I can tell you one story here at 23 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers. My good friend Nick Goddard, the 24 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: best man in my wedding, works in the Packers video department. 25 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: Now I worked for him when he was a manager 26 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 1: at Hey. I don't even know if I could say 27 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: the fast food chain restaurant. I'm not sure for allowed 28 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: to or not, but we worked the other when I 29 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: was fifteen, sixteen years old in Green Bay, Wisconsin. You 30 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: follow your path, we both end up with the Green 31 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: Bay Packers, the old teenage fast food job, old teenage 32 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: fast food job. You and I have both been there. 33 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: And it's funny because even though these are the best, 34 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: you know jobs in the NFL, the biggest you know 35 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: spots and professional football, everybody has those same kind of stories, right, 36 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: And you look at Kyle Shanahan and Matt la Floor. 37 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: These guys go back to two thousand and eight together 38 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 1: when Shanahan was an offensive coordinator for Gary Kubiak, who 39 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: was spoiler alert, an actual disciple of Mike Shanahan Kyle's 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 1: father with the Denver Broncos and they were looking for 41 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: an offensive quality control assistant. Robert Sala, the defensive quality 42 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: control assistant who happened to be college roommates and g 43 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: a with Matt Lafleur at Central Michigan in two thousand four, 44 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: ends up opening up that door. And it was remarkable 45 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: when Shanahan was speaking to the Green Bay Reporters on 46 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: his conference called Wednesday Afternoon. You know I wrote that 47 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: story back in January, documenting Lafleur's rise. I don't know 48 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: if I ever fully paused enough to appreciate how he 49 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: was a quality control assistant for two years with the 50 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: Houston Texans prior to becoming an NFL quarterbacks coach. I 51 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: mean that jump that he made in Shanahan's said it. 52 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: He's like when he decided to follow his dad to 53 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: Washington to be his o C. He needed he wanted 54 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: the floor and Kubiak wanted to keep the floor. So 55 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: what did he do? He made him the QB coach 56 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: brings him with him to Washington. He said he was 57 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: kind of overseeing him that first year, but it didn't 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: take long to figure out that this guy could handle it. 59 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: He gave him that room, arguably the most important position 60 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: in football, the most important position coach in football. And 61 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: then they spend those three plus years together in Washington, 62 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: they end up in Atlanta together, and now here we are, 63 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: eleven years after those two first met, now for the 64 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: first time, having this collision courses head coaches. With Shanahan 65 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: leading in a nine into San Francisco forty Niners team 66 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: against Matt Lafour's very resurgent Green Bay Packers at eight 67 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: and two. The story doesn't get any better than that. Yeah, absolutely, 68 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: And you mentioned Robert sala and the whole connection going 69 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: back to Central Michigan and how he got the door 70 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: open for Matt Lafleur to get into the NFL Sunday 71 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: night at Levi Stadium. Matt Lafleur will be calling the 72 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: offensive plays for the Green Bay Packers. Robert Salow, the 73 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: defensive coordinator of the forty Niners, will be calling those 74 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: defensive sets to try to counter what Matt Lafleur is 75 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: doing offensively. And then to add another twist or another 76 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: element to the story, the passing game coordinator for Kyle 77 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: Shanahan is none other than Mike Lafleur, the younger brother 78 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: of Matt Lafleur, who Matt Lafleur wanted to interview and 79 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: presumably would have hired him to join him on his 80 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: Green base. Don't hire him. Yeah, I'm not quite sure 81 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: how that would have gone over at at Christmas and Thanksgiving. 82 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: But um, but Mike Lafleur is still in San Francisco 83 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: because Kyle Shanahan was not going to let him go. 84 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: He's been a big part of what they've been building 85 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: offensively with these running backs with Jimmy Garoppolo, and Kyle 86 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: Shanahan said on the conference call with Green Bay Media 87 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: he plans to have Mike Lafleur with him until michaela 88 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: Fleur becomes a head coach himself. Yeah, and it was funny. 89 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: And again this is a topic that Shanahan had to 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: tackle at the combine. I think he was even asked 91 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: about at the owners meetings in March, to be honest 92 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: with you, and both times he said yeah, I mean no, 93 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: I mean I was I wasn't letting him walk out 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: of the door. He thinks really highly and Mike as 95 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: he does Matt, and he he was asked by Matt 96 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: Sneidman from the Athletic and Green Bay here about if 97 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: he felt guilty, if he felt bad at I'll not 98 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: be able to do it, And he said no, I 99 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: looked very much forward to saying no to that request 100 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: when Matt pushed that through. Yeah, if you want to 101 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: know how cutthroat the business of coaching and winning football 102 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: games is in the NFL, there you go. He did 103 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: not feel badly at all for not letting the brothers 104 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: reunite in Green And he said a couple of times 105 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: like if they pushed hard enough, maybe he would have 106 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: been okay with it, But then he always comes back 107 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: with probably not. And you know what, you can't lie. 108 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: I mean, Mike, you look at what they've done this season. 109 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: I mean, there's been a secret that San Francisco has 110 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: just been able to unleash here and the mega rebuild 111 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: that Shanahan has put that organization through. Remember where they 112 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: were in two thousands six team and when he was 113 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: hired and the they had to find a quarterback, they 114 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: had to reinvent the defense, they had to find some 115 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: playmakers offensively. Yeah, they were at that point. They were 116 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: a long way from that forty Niners team in the 117 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: early part of this decade that went to three straight 118 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: NFC Championship games, went to a Super Bowl that the 119 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: roster had practically been gutted essentially from what that team was. Yeah, 120 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: so they had a big job ahead of them. And 121 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: the thing I like about it. You talked about Sala, 122 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: You talk about you know Adam Stanovich, who's now the 123 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: offensive line coach for Green Bay. He was the assistant 124 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: last year at the Fort. You know, those are tough times. 125 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: And he jokes now with La Fleur about how you 126 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: know it took him until week nine of his first 127 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: year as a head coach to win a game, La Fleur, 128 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: It took him one the opener against Chicago. But there's 129 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: a lot of times that those coaches, they'll panic, they'll 130 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: make changes, they'll do things abruptly. Shanahan did not do that. 131 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: He knew from the beginning when he became a head 132 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: coach he wanted Solid to be his defensive coordinator. Salo 133 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: had been in Jacksonville. Incidentally enough, with Nathaniel Hackett, who's 134 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: now the offensive corner for Green Bay. He had been 135 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: a linebackers coach there. He brings him in. Shanahan wanted 136 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: to have him as his d C. He found you know, 137 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: he brought up uh, Matt's younger brother. And here they 138 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: are now being able to, you know, lay claim at 139 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: least for one more week here that they're the number 140 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: one team in the NFC. And I just think there 141 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: are so many ties to this, and you can tell 142 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: Shannahan and the Floor do not want this to be 143 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: about them, but you do have to step back and 144 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: appreciate when these guys that are kind of climbed that 145 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: tree to get to where they are right now. Every 146 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: once in a while you got to step back and 147 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: look at it and appreciate for it for what it is. 148 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: Because there's gonna be a lot of friends competing against 149 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: one another. And I think to me, it reminds you 150 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: a lot of just playing with your buddies in the 151 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: backyard or you know, you know, getting out the chess 152 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: board and having some fun. I mean, it's just it's 153 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: that type of challenge that those two pushed each other 154 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: when they were younger coaches, and they're gonna push each 155 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: other against Sunday night for the better team to win. Well, 156 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: here's an interesting one to throw at you because with 157 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: Matt lie Fleur obviously getting off to a great start 158 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: in Green Bay with what the San Francisco forty Niners 159 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: are doing this year. And Kyle Shanahan obviously believes that 160 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: Mike Lafleur has head coach a head coach title in 161 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: his future. Are we going to be talking one of 162 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: these days on Packers unscripted about Matt Lafleur versus Mike Lafleur, 163 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: two head coaches in the NFL, Brothers going ahead to 164 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: head that you know, uh, the harbaugh Um clash redo 165 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: with with a couple of brothers. Yeah, you and I 166 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: talking in the pre production meeting about how often this 167 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: has actually happened before. Other than the hardballs, we couldn't 168 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: come up with anything else. And as far as head 169 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 1: coach is going toe to toe against each other, and 170 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what we'll have to see. Obviously, both 171 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: those guys are very young. Matt just touch forty. I 172 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: don't even Mike. I think maybe it's thirty seven. I mean, 173 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: like they are young and their coaching professional. It's probably 174 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: a testament to both their their work ethic. And as 175 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: Shanahan said too, I mean none of this comes as 176 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: a surprise when he looks at what Matt has done, 177 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: you know. He he compared it a lot to what 178 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: they did with Matt Ryan and at Anna. You have 179 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: an m v P quarterback, you have one of the 180 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,359 Speaker 1: top quarterbacks the NFL. Those guys are going to be successful. 181 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: But finding a way to utilize your scheme to maximize 182 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: that player in the other ten offensive players on the 183 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: field with him, this is not a surprise. He was 184 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: very proud, and he said he's pulling for him. He's 185 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: just not pulling for him too hard, considering they both 186 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: share the same conference and ultimately the same goal. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, 187 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: quickly here West, before I forget select, Cousin Subs locations 188 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: are now offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your 189 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: favorite sub, they're delivering right to you when you order 190 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: online at Cousin Subs dot com. Cousin Subs. We believe 191 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: in better. Okay. On yesterday's show, we talked quite a 192 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: bit about the forty Niners and particularly that defense, a 193 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: defense that's wrapped up thirty nine sacks, a defense that's 194 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: third in the NFL with twenty two takeaways. I posted 195 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: a story late on Wednesday just looking at this matchup 196 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: of the Packers offense against the forty Niners defense, and 197 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: aside from the obvious, which is to protect Aaron Rodgers 198 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 1: and protect the football, when I talk about those sack 199 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: and take away stats, I think an interesting thing going 200 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: into this game is the way we've seen this Packers 201 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: offense evolved. They had to survive for a month without 202 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: Davante Adams. They've found a nice balance between Aaron Jones 203 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: and Jamal Williams in the backfield. We've seen other guys emerge. 204 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: We've seen Alan Lazard makes some plays. We've seen Jimmy 205 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: Graham makes some significant contributions along the way. It just 206 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: has this feeling, and especially with the Packers coming off 207 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: of a bye week where the coaches have reviewed the film, 208 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: they've had a chance to reset. You know, maybe there 209 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: are gonna be some new things, some new wrinkles that 210 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: will get thrown in. It just seems like one of 211 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: these games where somebody is going to emerge from the 212 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: shadows for the Packers offensively, if they're to come out 213 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: victorious in this game, There's going to be a storyline 214 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: late Sunday night from the locker room when we're working 215 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: on our stuff on the plane on the flight home. 216 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: A storyline that we're not talking about right now, that's 217 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: going to be a storyline in this game. I'm curious 218 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: if you have any gut feeling as to what direction 219 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: this might go. Mason Crosby three carries for thirty five yards. 220 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: That's my prediction. Now, Hey, the thing I was joking 221 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: about earlier in addition to that is that, I mean, 222 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: would it be something if it's Danny vitally? Because all 223 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: week long the narrative and I even talked if I 224 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: tell you about this this week, I mean, Kyle Uschek 225 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: is considered the guy at that position right now, the 226 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: ultra fullback. Yeah, if I tell even called him the 227 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: fullback go, and he has so much respect for him, 228 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: and he's been just a perfect fit for what Shanahan does. 229 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: If there'd be any way that floor could out Shanahan 230 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: Shanahan with the fullback position, that would be incredible. That'd 231 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: be something really would be really fun to watch. But 232 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: you'd have fun writing about that on the plane on 233 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: the way home. That something else? Yeah, No, But I mean, 234 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: who doesn't love a good fullback catch? But you know, 235 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: here's the thing that's been beautiful about this offense, and 236 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: I think you know, you see, although those two offensive 237 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: schemes have gradually evolved, uh, you know, from what the 238 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: Floor does and what Shanahan likes to do, there is 239 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: a similarity there with how they utilize their personnel. I 240 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: would argue the Packers probably have a few more established 241 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: playmakers in terms of just the league wide notoriety right 242 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: now with Davante Adams and the peak of his you know, 243 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: his profession, you know, and Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams. 244 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: But they can get multiple and they can get contributions 245 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,599 Speaker 1: from across the board from any number of skill position players. 246 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: Certainly for the forty Niners, that guy has been George Kittle. 247 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: We'll see what his availability looks like this week. But 248 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: in Green Bay, it's no longer that two thousand fourteen. Okay, 249 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: you're gonna see Jordy Nelson, you're gonna see Davante Adams, 250 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: and you're gonna see Randall Cobb. And that's going to 251 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: be the unit that plays sixty snaps plus together each game. 252 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: They're gonna mix and match personnel, and I think, if 253 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: you want to credit, you know, the Floor for anything 254 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,599 Speaker 1: in terms of what his scheme has brought to Green Bay. 255 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: It's that multiplicity. It's being able to use those many 256 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: different personnel combinations to not only work a you know 257 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: where down a defense, but also get the most out 258 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: of those players. So, yes, you're absolutely right, someone needs 259 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: to step up, someone needs to emerge in this game. 260 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: But the beautiful thing is, for Green Bay, you just 261 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: don't even know who that's going to be, right. I 262 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: think that's what makes this matchup so in intriguing. Obviously, 263 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: the stakes and everything with these two teams being at 264 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: the top of the NFC, the Packers coming off of 265 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: the bye week. You just look at statistically some of 266 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: the things that you would not believe to be true 267 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: for a Packers team that's eight in too. Davante Adams 268 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: does not have a touchdown reception yet, coming off of 269 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: three consecutive double digit touchdown seasons. Who is leading the 270 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers in touchdown receptions from Aaron Rodgers. It's 271 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: a running back and it's not Aaron Jones. It's Jamal Williams. 272 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: He's got five. That's more than anybody else. We haven't 273 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: seen Marcedes Lewis catch a touchdown pass yet in a 274 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: Green Bay uniform. You mentioned vitality as a possibility. Maybe 275 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: you know, we've we've seen some plays with him, but 276 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: then other other games he's not necessarily a big part 277 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: of the game plan. Marquis Veldez Scantling. He's got five 278 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: past receptions of forty plus yards this season. He has 279 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: nine in his career essentially one and a half years 280 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: in the NFL. But he's been playing through some knee 281 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: and ankle injuries. He only has one catch in the 282 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: last three games. So is he suddenly going to re 283 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: emerge and become the big play guy in this offense? 284 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: So there are a lot of possibilities. And I think 285 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: what Matt Lafleur really likes about his team and what 286 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: he likes about this offense is they've found different ways 287 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: and different guys to get the job done. And I 288 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: think Aaron Rodgers likes that as well, because it makes 289 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: the Packers, you know, not not the most predictable offense 290 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: in the world. Absolutely, and even if you want to 291 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: even take it to another level, Mike, I mean Big 292 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: Bob Tanyan's baby boy, Robert Jr. He's also a full 293 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: participant in Wednesday's practice, hopefully for him being able to 294 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: return after a month and a half layoff from that 295 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: hip injury. Sure, Jay Sternberger played twelve snaps before the 296 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: by He looked pretty good in past protection and what 297 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: some of the blocking the assignments he was asked to do. 298 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: They want to be able to throw the kitchen sink 299 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: at you. That's when this offense is at its best. 300 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: And be honest with you, both of these offenses are 301 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: at their best. My biggest takeaway though, listening to Rodgers 302 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: at his locker on Wednesday, the parson that I was 303 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: there for was him discussing how when you look at 304 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: al Lazard, when you look at Geronto Allison, former undrafted 305 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: free agents, they came through the door and that was 306 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: not too big for them. None of this was too 307 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: big from And that's an easy thing to say, becomes 308 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: cliche at times, but you kind of remember these are 309 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: undrafted guys. You know Kumro coming from Whitewater, Toronto, Ellis 310 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: didn't play a lot in college between his community college 311 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: and then going to Illinois. And then you have Lazard, 312 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: who was a record breaking huge receiver at Iowa State, 313 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: but then he's on a practice squad for a year 314 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: with the Jaguars to see those guys come in and 315 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: just fill those roles and look at it like any 316 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: other game, any other quarterback, and be able to fulfill 317 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: their their assignments. Yes, it hasn't been one guy that's 318 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: catching seven, seven hundred yards and fifty passes, but the 319 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: group of that has been what's complimented this offense and 320 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: that's why the Packers have had success. Yeah, and maybe 321 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: maybe the guy to keep an eye on in this game. 322 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: Quite frankly, as Alan Lazar John Coon pointed out in 323 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: our three Things video yesterday, Alan Lazard leads the Packers 324 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: offense in targeted passes over the last five games. You know, 325 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: obviously Davantae Adams has only been back for a couple 326 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: of those, but Alan's Art is the leader in that category. 327 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: You go back to the to the l A game 328 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: against the Chargers, not that we want to relive um 329 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: all the downs of that, but the Packers were getting 330 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: nothing going, nothing was working. And then when they finally 331 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: did in the fourth quarter and put together a touchdown drive, 332 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: who was the guy who came off the bench and 333 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: started moving the chains. It was Alan waz Art. He 334 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: came off the bench, the ball was going his way, 335 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: the Packers got something going there, so you wonder, um, 336 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, coming off the bye week here, if um, 337 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: if Alan Lazard is is potentially a guy to keep 338 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: an eye on. But again, as we've been saying, it 339 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: could be any number of guys who might emerge, you know, 340 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: be that someone different that Aaron Rodgers talked about it 341 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: as locker that makes a difference in this game. Well. 342 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: And and the other thing too that I want to 343 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: go back to. You mentioned Davante Adams and the fact 344 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: that he doesn't have the touchdown catch this year. But 345 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: you can tell me to go to hell, Michigan with 346 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: this if you need me to. But I I personally 347 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: believe within the red area this year, the Packers have 348 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: been just so much better with their utilization of the 349 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: running backs. As you mentioned, Jamal Williams has five touchdown catches. 350 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: How many times has Aaron Jones been able to punch 351 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: something in the end zone from thirteen fourteen yards out? 352 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: This year, they've been so much more efficient in there. 353 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: There seems like so many times in recent years where 354 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: it'd be like, you know, since maybe that Eddie Lacey era, 355 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of that fourteen season where 356 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: he was pretty dominant where they've just been getting inside 357 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: the twenty. We gotta find a way to get the 358 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: ball to Davante Adams or Randall Cobb, and if that 359 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: doesn't happen, you're gonna have to sell for a field goal. 360 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: It's not like that right now. Yeah. The best the 361 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: best teams, the best teams in the red zone consistently 362 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: over the long haul, over a sixteen game season and playoffs. 363 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: The best teams in the red zone are the ones 364 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: who can run the ball in the red zone that 365 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: you know the safeties aren't playing yards deep. You get 366 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: in the red zone, everything is a little bit tighter, 367 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: but you can still run the ball. You can still 368 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 1: kind of punch a team in the mouth, get yourself 369 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: into good down and distant situations on second and third down, 370 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: and then open up the playbook. And that's because you 371 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: can run the ball in some tight quarters. And you've seen, 372 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: I mean you want you talked about vitally Vitalis wheel 373 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: Road a month ago. You know, being able to put 374 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: that out there and get down to the one yard 375 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: line when you get that stuff on film. Those are 376 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: all things that defense corners have taken into account. Jimmy 377 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: Graham's couple of touchdown catches this year. Just being able 378 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: to have that many options, Packers have been I want 379 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: to see that the second team in the league right now, 380 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: or maybe third in terms of red zone offense and 381 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: efficiency in producing touchdowns. That has not been something they've 382 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: done well over the years, at least the recent years. 383 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: That's been a turnaround this year. So regardless of whether 384 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: or not it's Stavant Adams or not. And I guarantee 385 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 1: you see, if you gave him six games, he's gonna 386 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: get you some touchdown catches. But even last week, Mike 387 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: thirty five yard catches twice, both of those ended up 388 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: leading to touchdown drives at Aaron Jones ended up scoring on. 389 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: That's what matters. That's what they want to accomplish this season, 390 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: and right now the Packers have it all in front 391 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: of them. Yeah, and when you look again, just looking 392 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: at how you never know what's going to happen. Aaron 393 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 1: Jones has that big game as a wide receiver in 394 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: Kansas City. The last two games, he's caught one pass 395 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: for negative one yard. So does you know, does that 396 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: suddenly shift back to being an offensive focus where Aaron 397 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: Jones can make some things happen in the passing game. 398 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: You just don't know necessarily where this is going to go. 399 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: And everyone talks about McVeigh, and again credit to him 400 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: for a lot of the principles he brought in and 401 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: some of the things that have been pushed to the 402 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: forefront here the league the last two years. But this 403 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: is the thing that Bill Belichick has just dominated with 404 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: in the league over the last ten years. Match up 405 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: based problems and being able to use your personnel in 406 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: different types of situations, looking at your entire depth chart 407 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: and seeing if there's a way that you can execute. 408 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: Lafleur has been phenomenal with that so far, and it's 409 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why the Packers sit at eight 410 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: and two going into this very big matchup. And it's 411 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: why we call this a week to week league because 412 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: that it really is what it is. But with that 413 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: we will call a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 414 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 415 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com. You can subscribe to us, 416 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 1: like us on iTunes and other podcast services, and please 417 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: check out our new YouTube channel. The Packers have a 418 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: YouTube channel, Packers unscripted. All sorts of other videos from 419 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 1: packers dot com are on that YouTube channels, so devour 420 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: all that content. I think you'll like it. And with that, 421 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: thank you for watching everybody. We will see you next time.