1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford and he is the one and 3 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: only Wes Hodkowits were coming to you here from our 4 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: studios at lambeau Field and West. On our last episode, 5 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: we spent a fair amount of time talking about some 6 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: of the comments Aaron Rodgers made at his locker following 7 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: the last public o t a practice of the spring. 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: But one area that he touched on that we didn't 9 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: quite get to was what he said about the Packers 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: young cornerbacks, specifically your Alexander Josh Jackson, the top two 11 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: draft picks, and with his tongue at least partly planted 12 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: in his cheek, he sort of tossed out a warning like, Hey, 13 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: I'm coming after you guys in training camp. This could 14 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: get pretty interesting in late July. What do you think? 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: This is the thing I enjoyed the most. As we're 16 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: getting done with the offseason program. You always think every 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 1: year about who's most excited about training camp. It says 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: probably a lot about your football team. When it's your 19 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: fourteenth year quarterback, is the one that is most excited 20 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: about the upcoming training camp? Aaron Rodgers without a shadow 21 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: of a doubt. I don't want to speak for you. 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: For me personally and all the years I've covered sports, 23 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: he's the most competitive person I've ever seen. I think 24 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: that goes almost without saying that I would, I would 25 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: have to agree. So, you know, there's a lot of 26 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: hoot and holler and going on over in the cornerbacks 27 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: and defensive backside of the locker room. Jo your Alexander 28 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: not short on confidence whatsoever. Josh Jackson not as vocal, 29 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: but you can tell a very confident individual as well. 30 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers is looking forward to this. And I'll say 31 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: this too. That competition, that's something I think we really 32 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: need to see. I mean, when you're getting into training camp, 33 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: you need both of those two sides, offense defense, pushing 34 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: and pulling against each other. H Aaron Rodgers is going 35 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: to bring it. And the nice thing is, regardless of 36 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: how this turns out, those two young quarterbacks are going 37 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: to be going against the game's very best. There is 38 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: no better way to get ready for a season than 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,639 Speaker 1: have that a kind of opportunity. Yeah, if you're Mike Petton, 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: you absolutely love the fact that your top two draft picks, 41 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: those two young cornerbacks on the defensive side are going 42 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: to be able to get ready for their rookie season 43 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: in their rookie training camp, going up against the best 44 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: quarterback in the league, and it's a it's an opportunity 45 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: for them that that they certainly don't take lightly. Alexander, 46 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: I believe it was the prior week he had an 47 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: interception against Rogers when we were there watching practice at 48 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: the at the public workout. But even he said he 49 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: took it with a grain assault. Hey, it's just practice. 50 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: I know, guys are working on stuff as far as 51 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: routes and timing and stuff. And he was pretty excited 52 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: about that interception though, and he said, you know, he 53 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: just looks forward to making some more plays when they count. Yeah. 54 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: And Ahmad Thomas also had an interception during that practice, 55 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: and I think the jubilation and celebrations that happened afterwards. 56 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: They love it when they get Rogers they have, They 57 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 1: absolutely love it. There's a lot of entergy you there. 58 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: But he he's right, you do take it with a 59 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: grain assault, and one interception in one offseason program practice 60 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: does not make a career. However, and I wrote about 61 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: this an Insider inbox this week, Mike. That is the 62 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: thing that stands out to me though about Alexander. The 63 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: small things that you can actually take out of this 64 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: is his closing speed. It's remarkable, and he has incredible 65 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: quick twitch and that interception that he had, uh seemed 66 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: like there's a little miscommunication there between Rogers and Geronto 67 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: Allison on a back shoulder, but Alexander's ability to react 68 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: to that and pick it off in a red zone period. 69 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: If this would have been a game simulation, that's a 70 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: potential pick six. That really impresses me because it shows 71 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: headiness there with a young player, and it also shows 72 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: the one thing you can't quite coach, which is even 73 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: if you see it, can you get to it? And 74 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: I think Alexander is shown he definitely has that kind 75 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: of ability. Yeah. I mean we heard when the Packers 76 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: drafted him all about his ball skills, and that was 77 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: that was a perfect example of it. When you mentioned 78 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: the quick trip twitch, the reaction to when he's got 79 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: a chance to make a play on the ball and 80 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: in that particular instance he made it. You mentioned his 81 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: confidence before the swagger, whatever term that you want to use. 82 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: One thing that I think is interesting about these two guys, 83 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: and I don't mean to continue talking about them like 84 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: two p's in a pod, but in a sense that 85 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: they're probably going to be connected like that throughout theirs 86 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. But both of these guys 87 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: strike me as very, very confident young players who believe 88 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: that they belong in the NFL. They just carry themselves 89 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: very differently in that respect. Alexander much more outgoing. He 90 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: you know, he talks a lot. He does have a 91 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: little bit of that swagger on the practice field. Josh 92 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: Jackson much quieter, much more reserved, but in my opinion, 93 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: no less confident in what he can do out there 94 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: on the field. Yeah, exactly. That is the thing that 95 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: stood out to me, even going back to the scouting combine, 96 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: when we're listening to him talk there in Annapolis. He 97 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: is very sure about himself and what his abilities are. 98 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: He talked about himself in February as if he is 99 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: the best cornerback in this draft class, even though we 100 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: only had that one year of really true production as 101 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: a starting cornerback at Iowa. Now coming to Green Bay, 102 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: he said it. Since the beginning, I think there is 103 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: a little bit of chip on the shoulder there for him, 104 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: wanting to prove that he was the best cornerback, a 105 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: first round draft pick type caliber player, and yet he 106 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: lasted till the middle of the second round, which the 107 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: Packers felt was a great value pick to get him 108 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: there for sure, And if they didn't, they wouldn't have 109 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: taken him in that spot, you know, with already having Alexander, 110 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: so with both of those young guys coming in, with 111 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: Tremon Williams, Devon House coming back, Quentin Rollins made it 112 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: back in the off season program from the Achilles injury. 113 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: They have fourteen guys I think I counted in the 114 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: entire secondary, including the defensive backs, with NFL experience. Now 115 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: in addition to the young guys they brought in. They 116 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: wanted depth at that position. They wanted to give themselves 117 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: more cushion at that position. They accomplished that this summer. 118 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: Now the task for Alexander and Jackson is going to 119 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: be rising up that depth chart in training camp and 120 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: showing that they can contribute right away, No question, I 121 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: bought it. With that, we'll go to a break back 122 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: with more on Packers unscripted right up to this Welcome 123 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: back to Packers unscripted Mike Spofford in this chair, Wes 124 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: Hodkowits and that one west last week another topic that 125 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: we didn't quite get to, maybe in the most timely 126 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: fashioned but we heard for the first time really since 127 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: he was hired from new defensive coordinator Mike Petton, and 128 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: we got a little bit of insight into his philosophy, 129 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: which also told us a little bit about how things 130 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: have gone this offseason, both in free agency and the 131 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: draft in terms of the Packers priorities. Because a very 132 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: interesting thing that he said in talking about the pass rushes, 133 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: he values inside pass rush equally, if not more so, 134 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: than the edge rush, which is where all the attention 135 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: obviously is the Clay Matthews and the Nick Perry's of 136 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: the world. But that inside pass rush, he's really building 137 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: this defense, building this past defense around collapsing the pocket, 138 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: isn't he He is? And when he said that, I 139 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: honestly was fist bumping a little bit, because I've been 140 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: trying to tell people this that since January, you know, 141 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: an insider in box, and when people ask, because everybody 142 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: thinks of pass rush, they think abo outside linebackers, and rightly, 143 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: so I get that That's a big part of the equation. 144 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: But you gotta look, the only thing we have to 145 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: go off of until pet and talked last week, was 146 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: the fact that you had these transactions, you had these 147 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: roster moves. You have to be able to read the 148 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: tea leaves a little bit there. Mohammed Wilkerson getting added 149 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: at what could conceivably be the Packer's biggest position of strength. 150 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: What does that tell you? The fact that they drafted 151 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: two cornerbacks with our first two picks when there were 152 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: outside linebackers on the board, what does that tell you? 153 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: This is a part of the plan. They aren't just 154 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: neglecting or or just you know, diverting their attention away 155 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: from certain areas. The Packers feel like if they have 156 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews and Nick Perry healthy, along with the returning 157 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: players they have there, that is the necessary compliment to 158 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: the inside rush. The Packers went out, they got Wilkerson, 159 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: they have Mike Daniels coming back office first Pro Bowl, 160 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: Kenny Clark coming off of a breakthrough season, the quickest 161 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: way to the quarterbacks through the middle of the field. 162 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: I say that time and time again. They feel like 163 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: they have the horses to do it. Yeah, it'll be 164 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: interesting to see how this develops now, because what it 165 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: comes down to for any defensive coordinator is, in a 166 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: scheme sense, he's trying to scheme things to get certain 167 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: guys in one on one matchups and then you win 168 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: that one on one to get to the quarterback and 169 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: disrupt the play, disrupt the timing, whatever it might be. 170 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: Mike Patton likes his chances with Kenny Clark, Mike Annals, 171 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: Mohammed Wilkerson in some combination, maybe two of them on 172 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: the field, maybe all three in certain situations at the 173 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: same time, but one of those guys getting a one 174 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 1: on one opportunity against an interior offensive lineman and beating 175 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: him and getting to the quarterback. Now, the flip side 176 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: of it is, if the defense becomes so reliant on 177 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: the inside pass rush, of course offenses are going to adjust, 178 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: they're going to start to take that away. But then 179 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: that means you're outside guys absolutely have to be able 180 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: to win one on one. And now Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, 181 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: we know their injury history. The guys who are behind 182 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: them when they're called upon are going to have to 183 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: step up and win those one on ones. Whether you're 184 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: talking about Chris odom or Kyler Facral or Vince Bagel 185 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: or Kendall Donnerson, the seventh round pick who was the 186 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: only edge rusher of the Packers took in this last draft. 187 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, West and I said 188 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: this in our Insider Inbox column. It comes down to 189 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: winning a one on one because at some point the 190 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: the the offense is going to take away what you 191 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: do best. So then when you have a one on 192 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: one somewhere, that guy gotta win. And this is the 193 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: thing I look at to Mike outside linebacker. They have Perry, 194 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: they have Matthews. Two first round picks have done in 195 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: a long time at the league. Both have had over 196 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: ten SAX seasons. The one difference, because everybody talks about 197 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: two thousand four, the one difference is Julius Peppers. I 198 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: don't care which way you break it down. He was 199 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: the difference maker. He's not here anymore. But trying to 200 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: act like the rotation is just suddenly so much different 201 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: or just so much on a so much more unaccomplished. 202 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: And in the past, that's a lie that that that's 203 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: it's not it's not true. And I've said it time 204 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: and time again. I've covered this team when Desmond Moses 205 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 1: started six games at outside linebacker in two thousand twelve. 206 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: You've seen Frank Zambo starting on a Super Bowl team. 207 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: Got a sack in the Super got a sack. They 208 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: got contributions from guys to complement what they had. Kyler 209 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: Facker is the third round pick, Vince Biegel's a fifth 210 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: round pick. They like what they have in Reggie Gilbert. 211 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: If those guys Gilbert Gilbert was the other guy was 212 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 1: trying to think of, and I neglected to mention it. Yeah, 213 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: I mean those guys are gonna fact during into this. 214 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: Kendall Donnerson coming in as well. They have a core there. 215 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, they need Claim Matthews 216 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: and Nick Perry to stay healthy. But it's one of 217 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: the things that's really bothered me about this offseason, people 218 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: asking repeatedly about the depth that outside linebacker. They've gone 219 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: into seasons with less. Yeah, so I we'll see how 220 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: it goes. They needed. There isn't a Julius Peppers type 221 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 1: player there. I mean, there's only one of those guys 222 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: in the entire league. But to act like this outside 223 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: rush is just so much vastly different from when they 224 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: want a super Bowl or in two thousand and eleven. 225 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: It's it's not true. Yeah, and maybe the one guy 226 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: as far as the inside passed us that we don't 227 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: even really know yet what he brings to the table 228 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: as montrevious. Absolutely a third round draft pick last year, 229 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: he's now in that mix with Daniels, Clark, Wilkerson and 230 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: Dean Lowry who's coming into his own now in his 231 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: third season. So a lot to look forward to here 232 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: in Adams. The reason they draft him in the third 233 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: round last year. Obviously there's a run block, you know, 234 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: run defending element to it, but it was his pass 235 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: rush inside pass rush. They liked him there. They think 236 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: he's explosive. You have a chance to show it now 237 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: in acamp alrighty with that, we'll go to another break 238 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: back with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome 239 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford here, Wes Hodko, it's there, 240 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: wes Um. We talked a lot about Justin McCrae and 241 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: where he's headed now on this Packers offensive line and 242 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: the opportunity in front of him. Another guy sort of 243 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: lumped into that same category with McCrae in some senses 244 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: with the way things went last year as Lucas Patrick. Now, 245 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: unfortunately he's going to be known as the guy who 246 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: hit the line drive off Clay Matthew's face and broke 247 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: his nose and sent him to the operating room for 248 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: surgery and all that. But aside from that something I'm 249 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: sure he doesn't feel too good about, and it does 250 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: and wishes and wishes wouldn't have happened. But um, he's 251 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: had an opportunity here this spring because Lane Taylor, starting 252 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: left guard, has been out with an ankle injury. Packers 253 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: being a little cautious with that, you know, kind of 254 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: saving Taylor, just letting him get healthy for training camp. 255 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: But that means Patrick has taken a lot of reps 256 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: with the number one offensive line at left guard. Now 257 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: I see him from a starting job perspective, competing at 258 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 1: right guard with with Justin McCrae to try to get 259 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: into the starting lineup. But whatever position, if you're taking 260 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: reps with the number one offensive line, that's a good 261 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: way to uh to to continue developing and progressing in 262 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 1: your career. Yeah, and this is a young man to 263 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: Mike that finished last season starting at right guard when 264 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: Jerry Evans ended up having to set out a couple 265 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: of games. Um and you know, dealt with the hand injury, 266 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: was wearing a club. He was knocking on wood that 267 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: that won't be an issue. He's had to deal with 268 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: it twice now so far during his short tenure in 269 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: Green Bay. But here's the thing that's interesting about it. Mike, 270 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: him and Justin McCrea are really good friends. They've developed 271 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: into you know, their roommates, uh that you know, they're 272 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: just they've grown incredibly close. But yet their story has 273 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: sort of been tied together the entire time. Last year, 274 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: it appeared that they both were competing for one spot. 275 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: They end up both making the roster due to some 276 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: injury situations, and both sort of came out of nowhere 277 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: to contribute in some shape or former fashion. Patrick is 278 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,719 Speaker 1: probably one of the more unique stories you're gonna find. 279 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: I wrote about it last year, we talked about it 280 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: on the show. The fact that he was a guy 281 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: that when he graduated from Duke a really productive career 282 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: for them, didn't even get an undrafted free agent offer. 283 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: His only tryout opportunity was in Green Bay even then 284 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: he didn't get a contract out of rookie camp. He 285 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: had to go back home, was planning the next step 286 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: of his career and you know, and then got the 287 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: call back to football. And he's really not taking that 288 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: for granted. His mindset has stayed the same the entire time. 289 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: He's still a tryout guy, trying to make the most 290 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: of that. At the same time, he understands the opportunity 291 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: before him right now and that both he and mccraine 292 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: not only are gonna have a chance to potentially started 293 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: right guard, but have a chance to be that number 294 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: five or number six guy on the offensive line. And 295 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: he said every single rep he's taken this offseason, he's 296 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: gone back afterwards, he's talked with Lane Taylor. He's helping 297 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: him walk through exactly all the progressions. Last year was 298 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: a nice building block for him to come up and 299 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: step up in spite of the club. But at the 300 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: same time, he has loftier goals and one of them 301 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: is to, you know, go into training camp here and 302 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: compete for a starting job. Yeah. I remember talking to 303 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: him last year at the end of the regular season, 304 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: after he had he had essentially played the last two 305 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: games because he stepped in after the very first snap 306 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota game in Week sixteen, played the rest 307 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: of that game, and then started against Detroit. So those 308 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: two games the most important um snaps that he's put 309 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: on film in his NFL career so far, and he's 310 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: doing it with a club on his hand. And I 311 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: remember asking him, you know, so, do you feel like 312 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: you know you're even able to show in that film, 313 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: like what kind of player you are? And and he 314 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: said no, I mean, he knows he can play better. 315 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: He knows that if he's healthy and has the full 316 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: use of both of his arms, both of his hands, 317 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: that he's got more to give. Even though he held 318 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: up just fine in those in those two games, considering 319 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: all the circumstances. So this is an interesting guy to watch. 320 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:11,239 Speaker 1: As you said, teams are always looking for those reliable backups, 321 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: swing guys that can play multiple positions if they don't 322 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: crack the starting lineup, but but they can be ready 323 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: to step in there. Now. He's not a guy who 324 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: has experience at tackle, but certainly on the on the interior, 325 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: he's the guy who's going to have a very good 326 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: chance to uh to make his mark on the Packers, 327 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: and he gives you versatility too because he picked up 328 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: that center position along the way. I go back to 329 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: that Minnesota game, Mike, I still don't know how he 330 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: wasn't just an absolute turnstyle. Looking at those defensive tackles 331 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: that they have, the stuff that Mike Zimmer throws at you, 332 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: the fact that he was able to hold up to 333 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: it really impressive. And you know, talking with about Patrick 334 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: with Corey Lindsley this past week, Lindsley said, you know, 335 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: even though he was a tryout guy, you could see 336 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: from the beginning that this guy belonged and that there 337 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: was something there that people just hadn't seen. And I 338 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: think his time has gone on here. Some of the 339 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: stuff he's done this off season two increases hip flexibility. Uh, 340 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: he's really showed that he's not he wasn't a camp body. 341 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: He's not a roster you know, at the edge of 342 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: the roster guy. He's a guy that's here to compete 343 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: and you know, hopefully, you know, turn this thing into 344 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: a long career. Alright. With that, we will go to 345 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: another break back with more and Packers Unscripted right after this. 346 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford alongside West Hodko. 347 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: It's West final segment today. Definitely need to mention because 348 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: we talked the other day about the fact that we 349 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: were recording our three hundredth episode of Packers unscripted. For 350 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: those who are the podcast listeners, not the television watchers, 351 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: this is podcast number three, and I know that's created 352 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 1: some consternation about from the the loyal podcast listeners will 353 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 1: where are these long lost episodes that supposedly aired and 354 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: we weren't able to listen to them on the website. Well, 355 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: it's just a matter of timing. There were a couple 356 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 1: of I believe it was Monday episodes if I'm not mistaken, 357 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: before Monday night football in a preseason games. Yeah where 358 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: because the podcast wouldn't be available until the next day 359 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: because the game was played in between. It would be 360 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: useless for podcast listeners to listen to a game preview 361 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: after the game has been played. So they weren't podcasts, 362 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: and that's why we have the discrepancy in the number 363 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: of episodes versus the number of podcast But anyway, now 364 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 1: we've hit three hundred in both, so so here we go. 365 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: But to wrap up today, the Packers this past week 366 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: did their annual team building exercise where they surprised the 367 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: players and say, hey, guys, no practice today, Let's all 368 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: hop on the bus and go have some fun somewhere. 369 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: And they went back to an activity that they've done 370 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: at other times in past years, which is to go 371 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: clay shooting with um On out at the out at 372 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: a local range just outside of Green Bay here in 373 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: Little swam Coo. You went out to kind of take 374 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: in some of the action and stay safe. But but 375 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: what were your impressions of the whole excursion Little Creek 376 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 1: Lodge and never all my years of living in Green 377 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: Bay in northeast Wisconsin, obviously I'm not a big outdoorsman, 378 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: so I didn't know what existed. But it is out 379 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: there and it it was a cool experience and it 380 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: was fun getting to see the guys that do this 381 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: like recreationally, like Jake Ryan. Um. Yeah, I've been I've 382 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,360 Speaker 1: been out there in the past in past years when 383 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: they've done this, and there are some guys who are 384 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: awfully good marksman. There are three different types of players. 385 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,239 Speaker 1: I figured out by the being out there for two 386 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: hours with them. They're the guys that do it recreationally. 387 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: I think Jake Ryan among them. It sounds like Joe Carriage, 388 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: although I didn't see him, it sound like Joe Carriage 389 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: is very good. The fullback. Um, there's the second guys 390 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: which are probably naturals to it, like Lance Kendricks. Kendrick 391 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: said he doesn't really get out to, you know, these 392 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: kind of ranges very often, but he credited his marksmanship 393 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: to call of duty. So the video game, I'm sure 394 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 1: you're familiar with that a game place. And then three 395 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: there's the guys that have never done this before. Uh 396 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: you know, Fortunately there's there's officers at every station that 397 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: helped them with loading and telling them what to do 398 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: and with safety locks and all that. But they are 399 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: not going to hit the broadside of a bar. So uh, 400 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: seeing all those different types of personalities, it's interesting to watch. 401 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: And I followed a couple of groups around, including one 402 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: with offensive line coach James Campen and Dean Lowery was 403 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: one of those guys that he went basically half the 404 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: day without hitting anything, but when he finally did, the 405 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: entire group just went nuts. So it's those kind of 406 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: small victories too in themselves that that lead to some 407 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: neat bonding experiences. Yeah, and if people wonder, Okay, how 408 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: does this actually you know, help in the team building 409 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: and the bonding experience. They group these guys into teams 410 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 1: for the day. They sort of have a very informal competition. 411 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: But it's uh, it's having offensive coaches on a team 412 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: with defensive players. It's having wide receivers on a team 413 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 1: with defensive lineman. Guys that they're not in the meeting 414 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: rooms with each other, they don't know each other as well. 415 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: It's a big football team, it's a ninety man auster. 416 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: It's hard to get to know everybody. This is an 417 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: opportunity based on how they pair guys up in the 418 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: teams of four or five players and coaches for for 419 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: a little more interaction than maybe they would normally have 420 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: through the course of of a football day. Yeah, there 421 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: are several veterans I talked to that they're meeting some 422 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: of these rookies and first year players for the first 423 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: time during these excursions, and you find some interesting bonding 424 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: opportunities among them, chance to tell their stories. And they've 425 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: done this in the past. They've gone bowling, they've had 426 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: you know, Olympic type events. Um, you know, going back 427 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 1: to two thousand eight, I think they did paintballing dodgeball. 428 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy always tries to find ways to sort of 429 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: take guys out of their element a little bit, and 430 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: then the nice thing about it too, As Leans Kendricks said, 431 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: it's a day to get away from the practice field, 432 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,120 Speaker 1: but sometimes can go a long way. For these guys, 433 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: it definitely can. With that, we're going to call it 434 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 435 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:50,879 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team on 436 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: Packers dot com on Twitter. He's at west Hot, I'm 437 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks 438 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: for tuning in, everybody, See you next time. The b