1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by the one 3 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: and only West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from 4 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: our studios at lambeau Field West. It is Wednesday, and 5 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: that means turn the page day and coming up Monday 6 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: night football at lambeau Field. Next week is the Packers 7 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: hosting the San Francisco forty Niners. So let's break down 8 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: this San Francisco team a little bit. I know, when 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: the schedule came out in April, I was really looking 10 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: forward to this game because I thought it would be 11 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers against Jimmy Garoppolo. Obviously that is not the case. 12 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: Jimmy Garoppolo out for the season with a knee injury unfortunately, 13 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: and C. J. Bethard, the former Iowa quarterback, has stepped in. 14 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: What are your impressions at this point as far as 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: Bethard running that offense? Yeah, I mean he could throw 16 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: the ball. I think that's the one thing he's really 17 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: shown in three games, two starts this season. Last week 18 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: and that lost to Arizona three nine yards through the air. 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: Uh he I actually be honest with you, Mike Um. 20 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: I thought he did some good things for them last season. Ultimately, 21 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: especially after Garoppolo had been in the scheme for a 22 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: little bit, You're like, it needs to be Garoppolo. You 23 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: need to see what you have here before he becomes 24 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: a free agent. But I actually thought it went okay. 25 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: Six ft two fifteen pounds and he's not the biggest 26 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: quarterback you've ever seen, not the most elusive in terms of, 27 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: you know, what he can do outside the pocket. But 28 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: that being said, I mean he has a live arm, 29 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: and he can move the offense, and when you're dealing 30 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: with a backup quarterback, I think those are ultimately the 31 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: intangibles you're looking for, because really there there's a reason 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: why those type of guys are not starters. So um, 33 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: he knows Shanahan and the scheme that he runs, he's 34 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: familiar with it, and they they're rolling with him right 35 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: now at quarterback. The big thing is going to be 36 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: that backfield and and if they're gonna have breed to 37 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: available or not. Yeah, the the I was gonna say 38 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: rookie is actually not a rookie. Second year running back 39 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: Matt Brita, Georgia Southern. I believe where he came from. 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: Undrafted player, really lively, dynamic looking running back, but sprained 41 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: his ankle against Arizona last week, and the initial reports 42 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: are the ankle sprain is not as bad maybe as 43 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: they initially feared it would be, but his status for 44 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: Monday night's game at lambeau Field very much in question. 45 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: If he can't go, it looks like it would be 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: Alfred Morris, the veteran who formerly of Washington, of Dallas, 47 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: and I'm probably missing some other Yeah, you're missing a 48 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: big one, Mike Florida Atlantic. Oh okay, I could do 49 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: a whole show on Alfred Morris. I knew everything about him, 50 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: followed him every single game he played at Florida Atlantic. 51 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: Would ended up being I believe Howard Shellenberger's last season there. 52 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: We don't talk much about. I forgot about that. But 53 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: here's the thing. In all kidding aside, Alfred Morris is 54 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: a guy that remember the first week of August being like, 55 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: how is this guy still a free agent? And I 56 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: get Dallas and there's certainly kind of a stigma attached 57 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: to those running backs. Well, how much is at the 58 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: running back? How much is at the offensive line? At 59 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: least that's how it's been historically. I thought he was 60 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: really effective last year. With all the issues that they 61 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: had and and certainly the suspension and and you know, 62 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: all the off the field stuff trying to swirling around 63 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: with Zeke Elliott, he stepped in and did his job. 64 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: And I when they lost um, I believe it was 65 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 1: Jerick mckinning right at the beginning of the season. Yeah, 66 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: McKinnon was kind of their big free agent signing coming 67 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: from Minnesota. He was he was the running back receiver 68 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: out of the backfield, all that that they wanted in 69 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: the Shanahan offense. And then they lost him in the preseason. 70 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: He goes down and they go and sign Alfred Morris. 71 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: I thought that was a really smart signing for him. 72 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: It's a good veteran that they can build that running 73 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: back tandem off of. Actually they're leading Russia right now 74 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: with sixty two attempts now. Doesn't have the explosiveness that 75 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: Brida has, but is still a really down in distance 76 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: type of guy that can help you move the chains. 77 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: They have weapons there for me personally, I think in 78 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: two thousand eighteen, their biggest weapon is George Kittle, a 79 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: good solid tight end and I think people are finally 80 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: starting to catch up with and understand that this guy 81 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: not only was a guy that came on late last 82 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: season with Jimmy Garoppolo, but he's had a rapport there 83 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: with Bethre too. So U don't take the lightly. I 84 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: know they lost to Arizona and it certainly raises some 85 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: red flags there because of you know, the slow start 86 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: that the Cardinals have been off too, But they have 87 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: tools to be able to move the football in this offense. Yeah. 88 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: I've watched highlights of a few of their games this 89 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: season against Minnesota, against Detroit, and then this past week 90 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: against Arizona, and if there's one thing that has stood 91 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: out about their offense, it's been that tight end George Kittle. Now, 92 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: the interesting thing, he's not only a downfield threat, but 93 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: he'll he'll take screen passes as well. Bethard Bethard, particularly 94 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: against Arizona, the screen pass for him was really effective, 95 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: throwing to the fullbacks and to the tight ends on screens. 96 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: And Kittle and Bethard were a a pass throwing catching 97 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: combination at Iowa together. They've played together a ton, so 98 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: that's something that becomes He's not only a threat for 99 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: Bethard in this offense, but a security blanket type of 100 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,119 Speaker 1: guy too for a backup quarterback. Now, the biggest problem 101 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: with Bethard has been the turnovers. He's had ball security 102 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: problems in the pocket, He's thrown some interceptions. If Shanahan 103 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: can get him to clean things up in the turnover department, 104 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: I think this offense starts to function a little bit 105 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: more smoothly. But that being said, this Packers defense is 106 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: looking for some turnovers. They've got to take advantage if 107 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: Bethard gives them some opportunities. Monday night. Yeah, you look 108 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: at him right now. Attempts, he has four interceptions. He 109 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: also had two lost fumbles last week and three total 110 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: fumbles on the season. That pairs with last season when 111 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: six and five stars he had six interceptions and two 112 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: fumbles lost. So protecting the football's paramount. We talked about 113 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: it on yesterday's show with Mike McCarthy and the emphasis 114 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: their play sing on it. The interesting thing is, though, 115 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: going back to his connection with Kittle, Kittle was sort 116 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: of a late riser at Iowa. I mean, I don't 117 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: think people really caught onto him. He end up being 118 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: a fifth round pick. I don't even think people from 119 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: Wisconsin realized that this kid was actually born in Madison, 120 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: spent most of his life, I believe in Iowa, but 121 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: actually was born in Madison. Six ft four, two seven pounds. 122 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: He has everything you look for. So as far as 123 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: beth are getting back comfortable in the offense, that's been 124 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: his security blanket. He also has pr Garzon. The Packers 125 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: are familiar with him and what he brings to the 126 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: table certainly, so yeah, he can move the football, but 127 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: ultimately this is the I think the big thing for 128 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: the Packers in this contest is going to be trying 129 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,679 Speaker 1: to take it away and get those momentum changing plays 130 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: well the forts with or without Garoppolo. They've had their 131 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: share of games this year where they've put up some points, 132 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: but they've also given up a ton of points. Now, 133 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: it's interesting West because from a yardage standpoint, their defensive 134 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: rankings are not all that bad. They're kind of middle 135 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 1: of the road. But as far as points allowed, I 136 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: believe every opponent has scored at least twenty four points 137 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: and and four of their five opponents have scored twenty 138 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: seven or more. So they've had a problem keeping teams 139 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: off the board. And I know, I think they've had 140 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: some of the turnovers they've had offensively have led to 141 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: either immediate scores or short fields and those kinds of 142 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: things that that all teams deal with. But they did 143 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: get Richard Sherman back at corner from his injury. He 144 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: was back on the field against Arizona, and uh, I 145 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: tell you what. By all accounts, Richard Sherman has come 146 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: back from that achilles injury that many people last year 147 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: thought that might be the end of Richard Sherman, and 148 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: he's come back and proven to be a pretty darn 149 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: effective cornerback at age thirties, and he's needed to be 150 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: for the San Francisco secretary for the San Francisco defense. 151 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: I mean, the one reality is and it's inescapable. This 152 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: isn't the Vic Fangio defense from six five, six years ago. 153 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: They don't have that kind of veteran sort of tilt 154 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: to it. They don't have the the linebackers that they 155 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: had at that time, more the pass rushers that they had, 156 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: so they've had to kind of stitch things together. Fortner's 157 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: only have one interception this year, and I think when 158 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: you look at the the giveaways that they've had. That's 159 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,239 Speaker 1: where it's hurting them in terms of the takeaway margin. 160 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: But Richard Sherman is still one of the best shutdown 161 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: corners in this league. You have to be mindful of 162 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: where he's at. Certainly him and Aaron Rodgers have had 163 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: some really good battles over the year. Over the years, 164 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: and and seeing exactly how they use him in this 165 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: matchup with a really young secondary overall is going to 166 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: be one of the big telltale signs of who comes 167 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: up victorious. Yeah, one thing I haven't had a chance 168 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: to really zone in on with regards to Sherman because 169 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: he did miss some time already this year with an injury. 170 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: Is he still playing one side of the field like 171 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: he did in Seattle or is he flopping back or 172 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: do you have any sense of how they're employing him. No, 173 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: I don't, And I think that goes along with you know, 174 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: my guess would be and this is just pure speculation. 175 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: People watching this are probably like, I mean, you're gonna 176 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: be kidding me, But I would probably still think his 177 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: home is going to be on the left side. And 178 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: I don't know at age thirty, and maybe he still 179 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: can be that shutdown type corner that that you know, 180 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: you could potentially move around. It seems like Seattle did 181 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: a little bit more of that towards the end, or 182 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: maybe out of necessity, but yeah, later later on. But 183 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: when remember when that legion of Boom was in was 184 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: in its heyday, he was he was lined up on 185 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: that left side and that was that was his spot. 186 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: And you remember that. I think it was what it 187 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: was at the beginning of the fourteen season where the 188 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: package they parked Jordy Nelson on one side, they've had 189 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: Richard Sherman on the other, and it was kind of 190 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: who was going to blink first. The Seahawks just ended 191 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: up basically taking away that side of the field with 192 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: Jared Boykan and obviously ultimately came out on the winning 193 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: side of it. So uh, yeah, he's still is a 194 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: guy that you're gonna to be mindful of. Personally. I'd 195 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: love to see him get some snaps against Davante Adams. 196 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: I think that would be a fun matchup with Adams 197 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: sort of coming on in his career, uh and seeing 198 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: exactly what happens with Sherman now at age thirty. As 199 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 1: you said, but the biggest thing for this defense now 200 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,719 Speaker 1: Mike is going to be seeing exactly what they can 201 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: offer in terms of the takeaway numbers. I was trying 202 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: to look it up quickly and not having a lot 203 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: of success with it at this time being in terms 204 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: of what they've looked like in with their takeaways. But overall, 205 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: I think ultimately that's what this thing comes down to, 206 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: is who's going to take away the football, Who's gonna 207 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 1: move the football and win that field position battle. Yeah, well, 208 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: certainly not not the stakes that people expected maybe in 209 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: this game when it first came out on the schedule, 210 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: but it is worth remembering a mid October Monday night 211 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: game back in Packers forty niners at lambeau Field. I 212 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: still remember watching it on TV at the time. Chris 213 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: Jackie ends up winning the game for the Packers with 214 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: a fifty three yard I believe it was fifty three 215 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: yard field goal in overtime to pull out a huge 216 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: Monday night win for Green Bay. Obviously, in ninety six, 217 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: they were on their way to a Super Bowl championship 218 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: that year. Some folks thought if this was gonna be 219 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Garoppolo and Monday Night in mid October, 220 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not sure how much we'll we'll see 221 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: the old highlights from that from that ninety six game, 222 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 1: but it's an important game for the Packers West to 223 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: two and one. You got the bye week coming up 224 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: after that. You absolutely do not want to be below 225 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: five HUD at the bye week. With having four road 226 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: games in five weeks coming up after the bye, Packers 227 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: have to get this one, get on the plus side 228 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 1: of five as far as the win loss column goes, 229 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: and go from there they do. I mean, it's huge. 230 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a critical game because not only 231 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: is it important to win your home games, we talked 232 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: about that until we're blue in the face, but it's 233 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: the bye week, so I mean, you're gonna have a 234 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: lot of time to think about it, and you need 235 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: to have some momentum going into that game against the Rams. 236 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: You just do. That's just the reality of this league 237 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: and a team like that what you could potentially do 238 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: to kind of even leap frog yourself into those situations. 239 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: Getting back to the point I was trying to make earlier, 240 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: and I was I was trying to find the regular 241 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: season standings are dead last right now and turn over 242 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: margin minus eight on the season so yeah, trying to 243 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: find a way to take advantage of that because they 244 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: have moved the football their fifteenth and total offense their eleventh, 245 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: and total defense their seventh against the run. They've done 246 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: good things this year. But as we saw last week 247 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: and against Detroit, you can have twice as many offensive 248 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: yards as the other team, but if you don't take 249 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: care of the football and you put them in advantageous situations, 250 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: that's gonna be what changes the tide of the entire 251 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: football game. That is the ultimate thing that you're trying 252 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 1: to go for. And yeah, if they've been putting the 253 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: ball on the ground, if they've been exposing the football, 254 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: the Packers defense has to take advantage of it. It's imperative. Yeah, this, uh, 255 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: this Packers team needs to get that turnover margin flipped 256 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: the other way. And it's on both sides of the ball. 257 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: It's about the offense protecting it better, special teams for 258 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: that matter, protecting it better. After the the incident with 259 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: the with the punt in Detroit and uh, the defense 260 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: getting some more takeaways. We've seen how Clinton dis obviously 261 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: has three interceptions, but you're always waiting for that moment 262 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: when the turnovers start to come in bunches, because that's 263 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: usually the way it happens in this league. And the 264 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: Packers haven't hit one of those stretches defensively yet, and uh, 265 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: you know they're going to need let's face it, West, 266 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: I mean, with the schedule coming up after the by 267 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: the road games, the opponents that are in those road games, 268 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: the Packers are going to need to start winning the 269 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: turnover battle consistently in order to be able to win 270 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: these games because because quite frankly, the some of the 271 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: expectations on the outside are going to be that the 272 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,719 Speaker 1: Packers are underdogs in some of these road And I'm 273 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: gonna ask you this question, Mike. If I would have 274 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: told you going into week six that the Packers are 275 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: tenth and total offense their fourth and total defense in 276 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: second against the past, you would think that that has 277 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: them in the division lead, right where they want to 278 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: be in the driver's seat, because it shows you that 279 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: defensively you've been able to have some stops and offensively 280 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: you're moving the ball. But the thing is they're tied 281 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: for twenty three right now if minus two in the 282 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: turnover margin. So again, I think this really does come back. 283 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: This is the perfect week for Mike McCarthy to stress 284 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: the fundamentals because it comes back to who's going to 285 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: make less mistakes and you have to be able to 286 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 1: take advantage of that. And you're back at lambeau Field. 287 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: The Packers, other than maybe what the last fifteen minutes 288 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: of that game against the Vikings, the first twenty of that, 289 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: you know, you know, thirty minutes against Chicago, they've had 290 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: really dominant stretches at home against opposition. So forty Niners 291 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: are coming in there reeling. They lost to potentially the 292 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: worst team in the league if you look at the 293 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: NFL Power Kings, if you will, Packers need to take 294 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: advantage of this. Yeah, well, as we as we move 295 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: ahead here during the week, the Packers, because the Monday 296 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 1: night game, they've shifted their on field preparation schedule. Normally 297 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: the three practices during the week are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. 298 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: That's been shifted to Thursday, Friday and Sunday. If I 299 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: get my days all straight there um. But what that 300 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: means for us in terms of information is that when 301 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: it comes to Jairo, Alexander Randall, Cobb, Geronimo Alice and 302 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: these players who have been on the injury report and 303 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: missing some time. We won't really know until very late 304 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: in the week just what the status is because of 305 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: everything with the preparation being pushed back. It's a good 306 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: thing that Packers have an extra day here maybe to 307 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: get some of these guys back. Aaron Rodgers, he took 308 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: that that kind of ugly tackle on that scramble early 309 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: in the first quarter against Detroit. Didn't look good. He 310 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: came out of it okay, but he did say, you know, 311 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: he's probably gonna have to continue to wear that knee brace, 312 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: you know, not gonna be able to shake that. So 313 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: an extra day here concern helped the Packers, and then 314 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: you have the bye week afterward. But we'll find out 315 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: as this week wraps up later on just just where 316 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: the Packers are with their injury situation. And there's a 317 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: lot to figure out. The biggest thing I took away 318 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: from Mike McCarthy's uh you know what at the beginning 319 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: of the week um was him mentioning that jayro Alexander 320 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: uh probably does have a good chance to play in 321 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: this game. It appears like Kevin King came out okay 322 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: from the chin injury. There was no uh you know, 323 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: setback with the growing It just strictly was him getting 324 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: stepped on with the space, which is just devastating. I 325 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: know you've had some pretty gnarly baseball injuries in the past. 326 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: I haven't had in a situation where someone stepped on 327 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: me with a cleat before, let alone my face, so 328 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: you can only imagine how that felt. But Packers in 329 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: that regard are getting healthier. The big question is going 330 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: to be where they are they're at with their receiving corp. 331 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: Can Randall Cobb potentially be back? Where's Geroni Wayles and 332 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: the concussion protocol? They saw what their young receivers can do. 333 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: But the Packers, I mean, where they want to go 334 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: with this offense is those veterans that have been working 335 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers here for the last three or four 336 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: or five six seasons. All right, well, we're real quickly 337 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: west before we go some sponsor business here at home 338 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: or here in the stands. We all know that Green 339 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: Bay fans give it their all and that takes a 340 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's 341 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: Chunky soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers 342 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just 343 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup, 344 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. With that, 345 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: I think we'll call it a wrap on this edition 346 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our 347 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: coverage of the team on Packers dot com on Twitter, 348 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: He's at west Hot, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers 349 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See 350 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: you next time.