WEBVTT - #685 Packers Unscripted: Here come the Cowboys 0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:10.399 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers unscripted from 0:00:10.440 --> 0:00:13.560 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joint by my 0:00:13.640 --> 0:00:16.439 partner in crime, West Han Kowitz. Were coming to you 0:00:16.520 --> 0:00:19.320 here from our studios at lambeau Field West. It's time 0:00:19.360 --> 0:00:23.280 to preview Packers Cowboys. It will be a three pm 0:00:23.320 --> 0:00:28.000 Central Time kickoff on Sunday at lambeau Field. We all 0:00:28.000 --> 0:00:30.880 know where the Packers are five straight losses, three and six, 0:00:31.080 --> 0:00:33.720 trying to get back in the wind column. The Dallas 0:00:33.800 --> 0:00:37.559 Cowboys are six and two, right in the thick of 0:00:38.479 --> 0:00:41.600 the playoff chase in the NFC. And this is a 0:00:41.640 --> 0:00:44.520 team that is six and one since an opening loss 0:00:44.520 --> 0:00:47.200 in Week one, and their only loss since Week one 0:00:48.000 --> 0:00:51.639 is to the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. They have wins over 0:00:51.680 --> 0:00:55.320 the Bengals, the Giants, and the Rams among those. In 0:00:55.400 --> 0:01:00.600 the meantime. We obviously we're hoping the Packers would get 0:01:00.640 --> 0:01:04.759 things turned around before this, But if they can get 0:01:04.760 --> 0:01:07.600 it turned around against the Dallas Cowboys and get back 0:01:07.640 --> 0:01:12.160 in the win column, this would be a significant victory 0:01:12.240 --> 0:01:14.720 because this is a Cowboys team that is playing awfully 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:19.120 well and coming off of their bye week. It's time 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:22.080 the Packers need to get one here, Mike, You and 0:01:22.120 --> 0:01:25.040 I have talked about it for five straight weeks. Um, 0:01:25.080 --> 0:01:28.080 you know it has been a a grind here for 0:01:28.120 --> 0:01:30.679 this football team trying to get back into the win column. 0:01:31.440 --> 0:01:33.319 And what you and I said going into this game 0:01:33.360 --> 0:01:36.240 against Detroit last Sunday was that this road does not 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:40.840 get any easier. Um, after Dallas, it's Tennessee. We know 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:43.319 what Derek On a short week, no less on a 0:01:43.400 --> 0:01:46.040 short week, Philadelphia is the best of the business. Even 0:01:46.440 --> 0:01:49.000 even Chicago is not looking like the game it was 0:01:49.080 --> 0:01:52.000 two months ago. The Green Bay Packers have to take 0:01:52.000 --> 0:01:54.440 care of business on Sunday if they are going to 0:01:54.520 --> 0:01:57.560 make a run here towards the playoff spot and get 0:01:57.600 --> 0:02:02.760 back within this NFC conference race. The difficult thing when 0:02:02.760 --> 0:02:06.200 you look at Dallas on paper is they're just so dynamic, 0:02:06.560 --> 0:02:10.399 Uh and I multitude of different areas. I mean, it's 0:02:10.440 --> 0:02:12.919 not that they are the deepest team in the NFL. 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:17.840 But between Dak Prescott, there two running back ceedee lamb Uh. 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:22.280 You know you look at those defenders, Um, Michael Parsons 0:02:22.360 --> 0:02:24.280 might be the best in the game right now, most 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:27.760 versatile for sure, probably probably the front runner right now. 0:02:27.800 --> 0:02:30.080 It's only halfway through the season, but the front runner 0:02:30.120 --> 0:02:32.639 for defensive Player of the Year most likely in the NFL. 0:02:33.560 --> 0:02:36.040 His statistics just jump off the page because it's not 0:02:36.120 --> 0:02:39.079 just the sex. It's the pressures, it's the interceptions, it's 0:02:39.120 --> 0:02:42.360 the takeaways, it's the the guy can hurt you in 0:02:42.400 --> 0:02:44.360 so many different ways. Trevon Diggs is one of the 0:02:44.360 --> 0:02:46.120 best ball hawks in the game right now. So the 0:02:46.160 --> 0:02:48.799 Packers have their work cut out for them against Mike 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:52.120 McCarthy's team here. And and you know, the only way 0:02:52.160 --> 0:02:54.519 you can slice this is Packers are going to be 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:58.079 the underdogs here this week, next Thursday, probably the week 0:02:58.120 --> 0:03:01.560 after that, regardless of the come of these games, you 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:05.680 have to find a way. Well, with the injury earlier 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:07.960 this season to Dak Prescott, it seemed as though the 0:03:08.000 --> 0:03:11.720 Cowboys with Cooper Rush the backup filling in, and they 0:03:11.760 --> 0:03:13.720 went four and oh I believe it was four and 0:03:13.760 --> 0:03:17.160 oh in his in Prescott's absence. With Cooper Rush at quarterback, 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:20.359 It's almost as though they found their identity in that, 0:03:20.880 --> 0:03:22.680 in that this is a team that is based on 0:03:22.960 --> 0:03:25.959 its defense. These guys are these guys are ranked third 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:30.520 in the league in points allowed and the statistic that 0:03:30.600 --> 0:03:33.240 absolutely jumps off the page to me that I mentioned 0:03:33.240 --> 0:03:36.920 in our three Things video that we shot after Wednesday's practice. 0:03:37.600 --> 0:03:41.440 These guys are plus twenty one in sack differential. They 0:03:41.480 --> 0:03:44.960 have thirty three sacks in eight games while only allowing 0:03:45.080 --> 0:03:48.800 twelve on the other side. That says something about how 0:03:48.840 --> 0:03:52.160 they are winning in the trenches on a consistent basis 0:03:52.200 --> 0:03:55.080 week after week. Michael Parsons leads the way with eight sacks. 0:03:55.560 --> 0:03:59.120 They have three other guys with four plus on the 0:03:59.200 --> 0:04:02.040 season um on the way to that that total of 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:04.960 thirty three. And you mentioned Trayvon Diggs. He had the 0:04:04.960 --> 0:04:08.320 big year with all the interceptions last year, not quite 0:04:08.320 --> 0:04:10.960 as many this year, but still has three leading the team. 0:04:11.040 --> 0:04:14.720 He's the guy, he's sort of the takeaway guy with 0:04:14.800 --> 0:04:17.960 that defense and a lot of a lot of what 0:04:18.279 --> 0:04:21.760 the Cowboys have been able to accomplish when you look 0:04:21.800 --> 0:04:24.240 at the numbers is this is a team that starts 0:04:24.279 --> 0:04:28.360 fast and finished as strong. They have outscored opponents forty 0:04:28.440 --> 0:04:32.200 six to fifteen in the first quarter and fifty four 0:04:32.279 --> 0:04:35.919 to twenty three in the fourth quarter. They get on 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:39.000 you in a hurry and then they finished the game late. 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:42.120 That's why these guys are six and one since dropping 0:04:42.240 --> 0:04:44.919 an opening week UH ball game. I believe it was 0:04:44.960 --> 0:04:48.560 to Tampa Bay. Yeah, And if you look at this situation, Mike, 0:04:48.640 --> 0:04:51.880 where you know that first year Mike McCarthy gets there, 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:55.400 he hires Mike Nolan as his DC, things don't really 0:04:55.400 --> 0:04:57.360 go in the right direction for them. In year one, 0:04:57.960 --> 0:05:01.880 Dan Quinn becomes available after his you know, separation from Atlanta, 0:05:02.680 --> 0:05:05.040 and you know, with everything that's happened over the last 0:05:05.040 --> 0:05:08.000 ten years, we've kind of forgotten about that that lineage 0:05:08.040 --> 0:05:10.960 of Seattle defensive coordinators and what they did and how 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:13.440 many guys got head coaching jobs out of that position. 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:17.880 Quinn was one that basically helped start that wave. And 0:05:18.080 --> 0:05:20.560 I think when listening to Matt Lafleur, who worked for 0:05:20.640 --> 0:05:24.800 Quinn for two years in Atlanta, hearing not only had 0:05:24.839 --> 0:05:27.040 the impact he made in terms of how they go 0:05:27.080 --> 0:05:30.440 about building a football team and having a basketball hoop 0:05:30.440 --> 0:05:33.200 in their you know, conference, their team meeting room. That's 0:05:33.240 --> 0:05:36.400 something that started with Quinn, but the way in which 0:05:36.520 --> 0:05:40.960 Quinn continually evolves his scheme every place he's been, his 0:05:41.080 --> 0:05:43.680 defense has looked a little bit different, trying to stay 0:05:43.720 --> 0:05:47.120 on the front edge of that wheel, uh, you know, 0:05:47.279 --> 0:05:50.320 parody in this league. And now you go through the 0:05:50.400 --> 0:05:52.680 names just if we can for this defense. You know, 0:05:52.720 --> 0:05:56.560 Micah Parsons obviously, DeMarcus Lawrence is having a fantastic year 0:05:56.640 --> 0:05:58.880 for them. Layton vander esh is a guy that I 0:05:59.000 --> 0:06:01.880 felt for years is one the more underrated off ball 0:06:01.920 --> 0:06:05.240 linebackers in this league. Anthony Barr is there now, Jrn 0:06:05.360 --> 0:06:10.719 curse Um, Dante Fowler has four sacks this season for them. 0:06:10.760 --> 0:06:13.400 There's a lot of talent, and there's a lot of names, 0:06:13.680 --> 0:06:17.400 and and being able to have guys sort of step 0:06:17.520 --> 0:06:21.240 up and and play to the scheme I think has 0:06:21.279 --> 0:06:23.920 been the real hallmark for them so far, and Quinn 0:06:23.960 --> 0:06:26.040 really getting the most out of these players. Certainly, you're 0:06:26.040 --> 0:06:29.720 throwing an athlete like Parsons that you see it all 0:06:29.760 --> 0:06:32.200 the time what a superstar can do for a defense, 0:06:32.240 --> 0:06:34.080 but you know they've got a lot of guys that 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:36.240 are stepping up along with him. Yeah. But you make 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:39.480 a great point with regard to Quinn because even when 0:06:39.560 --> 0:06:43.839 when Parsons was drafted out of Penn State and was 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:45.680 first kind of trying to find his way with the 0:06:45.720 --> 0:06:49.200 Cowboys defense, everybody was wondering, like where does this guy fit? Like, 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:52.640 what's he going to do? Well? Enter Dan Quinn and 0:06:52.800 --> 0:06:55.560 it's not about where does Micah Parsons fit. It's about 0:06:55.640 --> 0:06:58.240 just how do we use him? And that's how that's 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:00.000 how Quinn has gone about it, and he has turned 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:03.000 earned He has turned Parsons in a very short time 0:07:03.120 --> 0:07:06.680 into a superstar in this league. He is the he 0:07:06.800 --> 0:07:09.200 is the guy that jumps off the film. He is 0:07:09.240 --> 0:07:11.680 the guy you have to have a target on when 0:07:11.720 --> 0:07:16.120 you game plan against this defense. And uh and they 0:07:16.280 --> 0:07:19.280 use him. Dan Quinn uses him in so many different ways. 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:21.280 And as you said, you rattle off all the other names, 0:07:21.320 --> 0:07:23.320 there's a heck of a there's a heck of a 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:27.680 cast out there defensively for the Cowboys, that um that 0:07:27.760 --> 0:07:30.600 Quinn has to play with as well on the offensive side. 0:07:30.840 --> 0:07:33.520 I know there are some questions as far as whether 0:07:33.600 --> 0:07:36.200 or not Ezekiel Elliott is going to be available this week. 0:07:36.240 --> 0:07:39.800 We will have to see with regard to that. But 0:07:40.000 --> 0:07:44.200 Tony Pollard, he's averaging six point two yards per carry west. 0:07:44.280 --> 0:07:46.160 I mean, you talk about how and I mentioned that 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:49.120 obviously the defense is kind of the foundation and and 0:07:49.200 --> 0:07:51.800 the way they built this team with Prescott's injury and 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:55.600 Cooper Rush playing quarterback. But Tony Pollard averaging six yards 0:07:55.640 --> 0:07:57.600 of carry is going to help out any quarterback. I 0:07:57.600 --> 0:08:01.000 don't care if it's Prescott or Russian there under center. 0:08:01.440 --> 0:08:03.960 This is a team that this is a team that 0:08:04.000 --> 0:08:07.360 can run the football when it wants to and uh, 0:08:08.040 --> 0:08:11.680 but also has has the big play weapons in Ceedee Lamb, 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:15.040 Jake Ferguson, the former Wisconsin Titan, has a couple of 0:08:15.120 --> 0:08:18.240 touchdowns the last the last couple of weeks for um. 0:08:18.280 --> 0:08:20.560 For this Dallas offense, they have a lot of different 0:08:20.560 --> 0:08:24.920 places they can turn. It doesn't all fall on Dak 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:27.400 Prescott now that he's back, and it didn't all fall 0:08:27.480 --> 0:08:29.520 on Cooper Rush, which is why they were able to 0:08:29.560 --> 0:08:32.360 win games without Prescott. This is what is so unfair 0:08:32.400 --> 0:08:35.360 about what Dallas has done this season. Look at Zeke 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:39.280 Elliott and Tony Pollard. Pollard almost reminds me a little 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:42.000 bit of like that m j D after you know, 0:08:42.040 --> 0:08:44.280 Fred Taylor, like some of these places that had a 0:08:44.320 --> 0:08:46.439 real name running back, but then there was a young 0:08:46.480 --> 0:08:49.280 guy that just sort of came up behind him. And 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:52.080 and I'm not gonna dis disrespect Zeke at all. He 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:53.720 could play in this game, he could easily go off 0:08:53.760 --> 0:08:56.640 for a hundred fifty yards. But there's a reason why 0:08:56.679 --> 0:08:58.960 so many people are talking about that platoon and that 0:08:59.000 --> 0:09:02.720 two headed monster, because Pollard has literally inserted himself into 0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:06.440 that conversation against one of the league's most noteworthy in 0:09:06.600 --> 0:09:09.840 name running backs. But it's not just that, right, Michael 0:09:09.880 --> 0:09:12.760 Gallup is banged up. They have guys stepping up at receiver. 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:15.800 Dalton Schultz is not having the season he had last year. 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.600 He's also battled some injuries. Well, then Jake Ferguson, as 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:22.560 you said, has two touchdowns this season. Where they've needed 0:09:22.559 --> 0:09:25.000 guys to step up. Cooper Rush is the number one 0:09:25.000 --> 0:09:28.320 example of that. But at the skilled positions, at some 0:09:28.360 --> 0:09:30.800 of the other areas where they've lost a star, a 0:09:30.840 --> 0:09:34.120 bona fide starter, um or that player has just been 0:09:34.120 --> 0:09:37.840 banged up, they've had guys respond to that. So I 0:09:37.880 --> 0:09:40.079 think that's a credit to Mike McCarthy. I think that's 0:09:40.080 --> 0:09:42.000 a credit to Kellen Moore from making the most of 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:44.760 those offensive weapons that he has. And also you have 0:09:44.840 --> 0:09:47.600 to give credit to the Jones family in the front 0:09:47.679 --> 0:09:51.720 office being able to acquire a lot of rich talent 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:55.040 for this team. UM. The deeper you are, the better 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:57.920 you're gonna do handling those injuries. Yeah. Well, I want 0:09:57.960 --> 0:10:00.360 to get to the keys to victory for the Packers 0:10:00.400 --> 0:10:02.079 here in a minute, But first a little bit of 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:06.320 sponsored business. Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting 0:10:06.360 --> 0:10:08.840 analysis and up to the minute NFL news that true 0:10:08.880 --> 0:10:14.240 football fanatics need seven three and at Cousin Subs, we 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:17.400 have something for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:19.800 and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with 0:10:19.840 --> 0:10:22.840 your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs 0:10:23.400 --> 0:10:27.679 fifty years of better. All right, Keys to victory for 0:10:27.720 --> 0:10:31.440 the Packers coming into this one. I don't like to 0:10:31.679 --> 0:10:37.680 uh um be rate the obvious, but I think this game, 0:10:38.440 --> 0:10:40.960 with as banged up as the Packers are receiver, we 0:10:41.080 --> 0:10:45.000 know things are still somewhat influx on the offensive line. 0:10:46.040 --> 0:10:50.200 I think Aaron Rodgers has to have the type of 0:10:50.240 --> 0:10:55.120 bounce back game that he has had regularly throughout his career. 0:10:55.600 --> 0:10:58.400 Through three interceptions for the first time in five seasons, 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:04.199 but when he's had those rough games, he generally has 0:11:04.240 --> 0:11:07.200 bounced back with a really, really, really strong performance. And 0:11:07.240 --> 0:11:11.160 the Packers are absolutely going to need that from number 0:11:11.200 --> 0:11:13.680 twelve on something, and this team desperately just needed to 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:16.520 get home. Um now, you have to make the most 0:11:16.559 --> 0:11:21.199 of this. It's not perfect. Five days, two games. It's 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:22.760 still going to be a challenge, and you know the 0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:25.200 opponent waiting on the other side of it. But we 0:11:25.320 --> 0:11:27.760 saw the way they looked throughout this stretch of four 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:30.760 road trips in five weeks. It just every week it 0:11:30.840 --> 0:11:32.679 just seemed like a little bit more energy was being 0:11:32.760 --> 0:11:34.680 zapped out of them. The injuries started to mount a 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:37.200 little bit more. Well, now you kind of get to 0:11:37.240 --> 0:11:40.960 catch your breath again. In getting back to the Rogers situation, 0:11:41.960 --> 0:11:43.679 I really think this game is going to come down 0:11:43.720 --> 0:11:47.719 to turnovers, takeaways in ball control. UM. I said a 0:11:47.800 --> 0:11:50.120 lot of positive things about the Dallas Cowboys. The fact 0:11:50.120 --> 0:11:52.120 of the matter is their passing game hasn't been overly 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:55.240 dynamic this year. They have been kind of one dimensional. 0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:57.560 They've dedicated themselves to the run a little bit more 0:11:57.600 --> 0:12:00.719 and making the most of those short yardage and in 0:12:00.840 --> 0:12:04.360 situational opportunities. One of the reasons they've been able to 0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:06.280 do that is they haven't had a ton of takeawahere. 0:12:06.320 --> 0:12:07.720 They haven't had a ton of giveaways and they have 0:12:07.720 --> 0:12:09.920 a defense that is leading the league in sacks. Is 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:13.440 being able to pressure the opposition, they're winning as a 0:12:13.520 --> 0:12:16.840 complete football team. Uh, the Packers need to do that 0:12:16.880 --> 0:12:18.960 to be able to win this game on Sunday. I 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:20.800 think it starts with Rogers. I think it starts with 0:12:20.880 --> 0:12:24.400 being able to not only move the football again that 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:27.960 that if you could take yards and just PLoP it 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:30.439 into this game with maybe a little bit more rushing offense. 0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:33.160 Perfect you get inside the red zone, you have to 0:12:33.160 --> 0:12:36.280 convert that into points. Packers came up short there against Detroit. 0:12:36.679 --> 0:12:39.080 That area has to get kind of flushed out here 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:41.440 now against the Cowboys, I think another big area in 0:12:41.480 --> 0:12:43.679 this game. And I guess I bring it up because 0:12:43.960 --> 0:12:46.600 because the Packers are facing the Cowboys. And one of 0:12:47.200 --> 0:12:50.280 Mike McCarthy's challenges this year as the head coach at 0:12:50.360 --> 0:12:54.120 Dallas was to cut back on the penalties because Dallas 0:12:54.200 --> 0:12:58.280 last year was flagged like crazy and all those flags 0:12:58.320 --> 0:13:02.079 that flew in the opening playoff game against San Francisco, 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:05.839 that's why the Cowboys got knocked out in that round 0:13:05.920 --> 0:13:08.880 as as early as they did. And there were some 0:13:09.880 --> 0:13:12.800 penalty issues early this season with the Cowboys as well, 0:13:12.880 --> 0:13:16.719 but those numbers have come down during this five game 0:13:16.800 --> 0:13:19.600 losing streak. The Packers have been penalized way too many 0:13:19.640 --> 0:13:23.120 times some games. That's been the last couple of games. 0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:26.800 The personal files are the ones that have stood out 0:13:26.840 --> 0:13:30.280 the most. Before that, you know, there was there was 0:13:30.440 --> 0:13:33.360 holding and false start issues and things like that. It 0:13:33.360 --> 0:13:36.760 always seems to be every game there is, uh, there 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:39.920 is some penalty category that sort of bites the Packers 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:41.840 in the rear end and they've got they've got to 0:13:41.840 --> 0:13:44.080 be able to get rid of that. You can't continue 0:13:44.120 --> 0:13:46.080 to play four quarters and look at the stats at 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:47.680 the end and see that you had eight or nine 0:13:47.720 --> 0:13:50.400 penalties called against you when there are always going to 0:13:50.440 --> 0:13:52.520 be a couple of penalties that are declined as well. 0:13:52.559 --> 0:13:55.320 Those are just the accepted ones. That's the that's the 0:13:55.360 --> 0:13:57.760 shoot yourself in the foot kind of stuff that that 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:02.480 the Packers continue to do. Um they it comes back 0:14:02.520 --> 0:14:06.520 to it comes back to playing clean football on both 0:14:06.559 --> 0:14:09.360 sides of the ball and not just giving yardage away 0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:11.200 to your opponents, because the Packers have done that too 0:14:11.280 --> 0:14:13.200 much the last month. The big thing I look at, 0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:15.600 you know, through these games so far this season. Last year, 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:20.000 nullified yards through seventeen games on this season, they're already 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:23.840 at one. Uh. It's the when you look at you know, 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:26.920 being able to start on first down, avoiding a holding 0:14:26.920 --> 0:14:30.480 penalty there, avoiding a false start, the procedural stuff that 0:14:30.480 --> 0:14:33.080 Matt Lafleur has talked about. There was some times this year. 0:14:33.120 --> 0:14:35.200 Didn't happen last week, but there's been some times, especially 0:14:35.280 --> 0:14:38.080 during this losing streak, where you've seen them have UM, 0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:40.960 you know, legal formation penalties that just they didn't have 0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:44.120 UM during the first couple of seasons underneath Matt la floor. 0:14:44.640 --> 0:14:47.080 And then certainly you know a player gets to the sideline, 0:14:47.080 --> 0:14:48.480 you get him out of bounds. You've got to be 0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:50.400 careful there. You have to be able to avoid that. 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:53.320 Some things are going to happen. We talked with Kingsley 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:56.600 and Igbari about this at his locker on Wednesday. He's 0:14:56.640 --> 0:14:59.520 going in for a sack, golf is going down. You've 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:01.840 got to be were mindful of his hands. He's admitting that. 0:15:01.880 --> 0:15:05.720 But it's a moving target game. Some things, unfortunately, are 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:08.760 going to happen. But it's the discipline penalties. It's the 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:13.120 ones that are going to tack on an extra fifteen 0:15:13.200 --> 0:15:16.080 yards to an eleven yard run. I mean, it's those 0:15:16.120 --> 0:15:19.160 type of things. Those are explosive plays, Mike, And when 0:15:19.200 --> 0:15:21.720 you tilt the field like that, it gives the opponent 0:15:21.800 --> 0:15:26.240 a real opportunity not only to get points, but zapp 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:29.360 that momentum in their favor. Well, the Packers obviously, are 0:15:29.520 --> 0:15:32.240 are dealing with a number of injuries on both sides 0:15:32.280 --> 0:15:34.360 of the ball. We will see by the end of 0:15:34.400 --> 0:15:37.160 practice on Friday, when the final injury report comes out 0:15:37.760 --> 0:15:43.040 just where things stand with all these players. But with 0:15:43.080 --> 0:15:45.880 what we know about the injury situation, who are the 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:52.200 guys that you see being forced into a larger role 0:15:52.280 --> 0:15:54.600 and more playing time than they've gotten in the past. 0:15:54.640 --> 0:15:57.320 And the guys that have to young guys that have 0:15:57.400 --> 0:16:00.920 to seize this opportunity not only to help the Packers, 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:03.720 but potentially for their own careers. Well, it starts with Nigbari, 0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:05.600 because Mike, for two and a half years, you and 0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:07.760 I have been talking about, you know, Okay, you had 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:09.840 the Smith Ros and you had Gary, who else is 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:11.800 going to be the guy? And now they're at a 0:16:11.800 --> 0:16:15.320 situation where you have Preston and without Rashawn, Gary potentially 0:16:15.360 --> 0:16:17.440 here for the rest of the season. Who's going to 0:16:17.520 --> 0:16:19.960 step up. Enigbari is a guy that I think and 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:22.240 you you touched on this too with some of your writings. 0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:26.360 You know, he's made steady improvement every week, and I 0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:29.120 think that's what you're looking for from him. Defends the 0:16:29.200 --> 0:16:32.000 run well, uh he and he even it was really 0:16:32.040 --> 0:16:34.680 interesting listen to him lay out his thought process, right 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:37.160 because his number one thing is he's going through the 0:16:37.200 --> 0:16:40.040 preseason is He's like, I'm not really facing a whole 0:16:40.040 --> 0:16:43.040 lot of like starting NFL tackles, right, I'm going up 0:16:43.080 --> 0:16:45.760 against guys that maybe in the league, maybe on practice squads, 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:48.680 maybe he won't even make the National Football League this season. 0:16:48.960 --> 0:16:51.480 But he said what that first sack against Tampa Bay 0:16:51.520 --> 0:16:53.040 did for him is it proved to him in his 0:16:53.120 --> 0:16:56.800 mind that Okay, I can not only hold my own 0:16:56.880 --> 0:16:59.360 that was the first step. I can make plays against 0:16:59.400 --> 0:17:01.960 these guys. And he said the next step, something that 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:04.080 Rashawn Gary talks about a lot of the guys talk about, 0:17:04.080 --> 0:17:07.240 the veterans talk about on this team is finding dominance 0:17:07.920 --> 0:17:11.879 moments where you're going to dominate the opposition. An Igbari. 0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:14.159 Other than maybe that forty time Mike, there was so 0:17:14.240 --> 0:17:16.840 much to like about him coming out of South Carolina. 0:17:17.359 --> 0:17:19.720 Didn't have like a twenty five sacks season or anything, 0:17:19.760 --> 0:17:22.200 but just was a very consistent, steady guy, has great 0:17:22.240 --> 0:17:24.920 size for the position, and he's gonna be the next 0:17:24.920 --> 0:17:28.200 man up here. Jonathan Garvin, tip A nally I potentially 0:17:28.280 --> 0:17:32.240 coming back here, Ladarius Hamilton's there are other outside linebackers there, 0:17:32.600 --> 0:17:34.760 but ultimately, when you're looking for the guy that's probably 0:17:34.800 --> 0:17:37.640 gonna be starting opposite Preston Smith, it starts with Nigbari, 0:17:38.000 --> 0:17:41.199 and you have to think that offenses without Gary on 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:44.280 the field, offenses are gonna are gonna shade their protection 0:17:44.359 --> 0:17:47.360 to Preston Smith's side. If there are one on ones 0:17:47.440 --> 0:17:49.880 on the other side, whether it's an Igbari or Garvin, 0:17:50.000 --> 0:17:52.199 or if nally I comes off of injured reserve and 0:17:52.240 --> 0:17:54.880 gets get some snaps there, you've got to be able 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:57.240 to win that one on one and get that offense 0:17:57.280 --> 0:17:59.320 to to pay attention to the pass rush on the 0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:02.760 other side as well. I think offensively, we know Randall 0:18:02.760 --> 0:18:06.120 Cobb is still out. Romeo Dobbs it sounds like he's 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:08.520 going to be out for at least a few weeks. 0:18:09.880 --> 0:18:13.159 Christian Watson has exited each of the last two games 0:18:13.200 --> 0:18:16.280 two weeks ago with concussion last week precautionary as we 0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:17.960 talked about on our last show. Turned out it was 0:18:18.000 --> 0:18:21.120 not a concussion. It was actually a shot to the uh, 0:18:21.200 --> 0:18:24.280 to the chest that knocked the wind out of him. 0:18:24.440 --> 0:18:28.520 Packers are gonna need Christian Watson. I know he hasn't 0:18:28.720 --> 0:18:31.520 been able to play as much as they would like 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:34.080 and as much as he would like. He doesn't have 0:18:34.200 --> 0:18:37.120 the experience level based on all the time that he's 0:18:37.160 --> 0:18:40.800 missed that everybody was hoping that Christian Watson has the 0:18:40.840 --> 0:18:43.040 number thirty four overall pick in the draft, would have 0:18:43.160 --> 0:18:46.240 at the midpoint of the season, but you kind of 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:47.760 in a way, you kind of have to throw that 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:50.120 out the window and say, Christian Watson, this is your 0:18:50.200 --> 0:18:52.720 this is your time. This team really really needs you 0:18:52.840 --> 0:18:56.600 right now. And uh and I look for I look 0:18:56.640 --> 0:18:58.679 for the young man to to make an impact on 0:18:58.720 --> 0:19:00.640 Sunday if the Packers are gonna have a shot here. 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:04.800 Different round, different year, and different expectations. But in some 0:19:04.840 --> 0:19:06.720 ways it kind of is that call back to what 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:09.480 Marcus Velda Scantling had to do an eighteen and it 0:19:09.560 --> 0:19:11.399 was one of the reasons why it was when people 0:19:11.480 --> 0:19:13.760 get on MVS about his drops. I always was kind 0:19:13.760 --> 0:19:16.720 of like, are you guys are ridiculous here? Because one, 0:19:16.800 --> 0:19:18.640 he was a fifth round pick. Anything you get out 0:19:18.640 --> 0:19:20.680 of him there is a is a plus. But two, 0:19:21.640 --> 0:19:24.200 it was the dimension that he brought to the offense 0:19:24.640 --> 0:19:27.159 and he was thrown into a position to make plays 0:19:27.200 --> 0:19:29.600 that a lot of fifth round picks, especially in a 0:19:29.680 --> 0:19:32.480 contending team like the Packers expected to be that year 0:19:33.440 --> 0:19:36.840 they're they're typically not put into those spots. That's where 0:19:36.840 --> 0:19:40.080 Watson is right now. I mean, you look at that 0:19:40.119 --> 0:19:44.320 injury report on Wednesday for Green Bay, Mike, it's expansive. Now, 0:19:44.440 --> 0:19:46.320 we'll see what they do at the end of this week. 0:19:46.600 --> 0:19:50.000 There's some options with the practice squad. We'll see here. 0:19:50.080 --> 0:19:52.960 You know, next week next Thursday, Randall cob would be 0:19:53.000 --> 0:19:55.399 eligible that the first game he's eligible to come back for. 0:19:56.480 --> 0:19:59.639 Alan Lazard's gutting through some stuff. Smari two Ray has 0:19:59.680 --> 0:20:03.480 been in positions, but Watson was the second round pick. 0:20:03.520 --> 0:20:05.360 He's the guy that when he walks into the room, 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:08.000 you go, wow, that's an NFL receiver in terms of 0:20:08.000 --> 0:20:11.359 how he's built, where he was drafted, in the speed 0:20:11.400 --> 0:20:13.720 that he has when he's on the field and Mike, 0:20:13.800 --> 0:20:16.919 Let's be honest, when Watson's there at least has been 0:20:17.000 --> 0:20:19.040 this way the past month, maybe you feel differently, but 0:20:19.320 --> 0:20:21.320 I feel like that's when the Packers offense looks the 0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:24.480 most like itself. Absolutely, I I believe. I believe that 0:20:24.520 --> 0:20:27.480 a hundred percent. I think I think because he brings 0:20:27.520 --> 0:20:31.639 a dimension to the offense that nobody else does, that 0:20:32.080 --> 0:20:36.160 defenses have a harder time against this Packers offense when 0:20:36.200 --> 0:20:40.120 he's on the field, and his his absence for at 0:20:40.160 --> 0:20:44.959 different times, different reasons, everything else, but his absence over 0:20:45.080 --> 0:20:47.639