1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague West Hodkowitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: here from our studios at lambeau Field West. Two major 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: topics today, both related, of course. One is that we 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: will look back at the two joint practices with the 7 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: New Orleans Saints and share some of our observations, and 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: then we will look ahead to the preseason game against 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: the New Orleans Saints, which which is slated for Friday night, 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: seven pm kickoff at lambeau Field, the only home preseason 11 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: game for the Packers. In turning the clock back to 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: the last couple of days, the two joint practices at 13 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: NIKI Field Packers and Saints, what's the I guess the 14 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: first thing that comes to your mind when you think 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: back at those two workouts. No, no, no, it was 16 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: it was really it was only one minor little only 17 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: one scuffle. Scuffle, yes, scuffle would be the correct would 18 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: be would be an appropriate a Stokes and you know, 19 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: Jarvis Landry just getting into it a little bit. But no, 20 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: it wasn't. Nobody was throwing punches at helmets or anything 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: like that. Uh, No, really competitive two days and obviously, 22 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: and I talked with our our friends over with the 23 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: New Orleans Saints dot com website, it really was a 24 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: matter of defense, sort of controlling the tempo on both 25 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: sides of the field. And some of that is to 26 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: be expected. Both of these offenses are going through transitions, 27 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: and and you know, right now the Saints don't have 28 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: Jameis Winston, he's still been held out. And then obviously 29 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: on the Packers side of things, they're trying to find 30 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: their way here offensively with these new receivers and a 31 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: different structure. So what I was most encouraged by over 32 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: these two practices is everything we've seen from the Packers 33 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: defense and the dominance and in moments of really uh 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: just being able to control the tempo that that translated 35 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: against Saints. Yeah. Uh. And Mike, I don't know if 36 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: this is the third time, right, we've had joint practices 37 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: during my time here, third time in four years. I 38 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: don't know if I recalled a moment where the Packers 39 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: consistently down after down or pressuring the quarterback the way 40 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: they did in this practice, I don't think it really 41 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: would have mattered if Jamis Winston was back there or not. 42 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: The Packers were getting home and it wasn't just Rashaan 43 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: Gary or Preston Smith or Kenny Clark. You saw Kobe Jones, 44 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: you saw Kingsley and Nigba A. You saw everybody being 45 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: able to pressure that The Saints had a real difficult 46 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: time with some of the double A gap blitz is 47 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: and some of the looks that they gave with the cornerbacks. 48 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: This was really the type of performance you wanted to 49 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: see from Green Bay's defense after having a lot of 50 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: success to the first two and a half weeks of camp. Yeah, 51 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: and I had mentioned with regard to the defense when 52 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: we were previewing the joint practices that I was interested 53 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: to see that cornerback trio that we didn't really see 54 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: on the field at all last year. Of course talking 55 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: about Alexander Douglas and Stokes and uh. And Yes, the 56 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 1: what the defense was doing up front was impressive, There's 57 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: no doubt about it. But this defense in the back end, 58 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: as far as covering uh, Michael Thomas, Jarvis, Landry Cristal 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: Lave the rookie out of Ohio State, Now, I mean 60 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: they made some catches here and there. Let's let's not 61 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: you know that this was not literally complete and total 62 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: shut down like inability to move the ball. But there's 63 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,399 Speaker 1: a hundred yard football field and defenses get a lot 64 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: of territory to defend, and offenses need to put something together, 65 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: sustained some kind of rhythm and some consistency with moving 66 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: the ball, and the Saints really weren't able to do 67 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: that against the Packers number one defense. And it was 68 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: the combination of what those guys were doing up front 69 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: with with the pressure on the quarterback. Um I only 70 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: saw maybe over the course of the couple of days 71 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: one or two runs leak out. Otherwise it seemed that 72 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: the run defense was was holding up pretty well. And 73 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: then those guys in the back in even without Darnell Savage, 74 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: with the ones with with Vernon Scott, that that secondary 75 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: just doesn't give receivers a whole heck of a lot 76 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: of space and and uh yeah, there are gonna be 77 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: quarterbacks who can hit those pinpoint throws. But the windows 78 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: to me, when I was watching the defense, the throwing 79 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: windows for Andy Dalton were awfully tight. They really were. 80 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: And it was funny too, because well, one the gire 81 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: Alexander Michael Thomas matchup that we talked so much about. 82 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: We got a chance to see some of that, but 83 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: ultimately the way that the Saints moved Thomas around, he 84 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: saw a lot of Russell Douglas too, I mean, Eric Stokes, 85 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: I mean there was It wasn't just specific players matching 86 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: up against specific guys and man demand coverage there. It 87 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: was a really I don't want to say exotic because 88 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: it wasn't that far, but both of these teams were 89 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: pretty much open things up a little bit. They showed 90 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: more looks. You remember, one of the big criticisms Aaron 91 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: Rodgers had with the first joint practice against the Texans 92 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: a few years ago was it was basically a glorified 93 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: preseason game. The Texans weren't really given them their play 94 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: if they were doing things that you really wouldn't do, uh, 95 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: if you're actually trying to practice and refine some stuff. 96 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: I felt like the Saints and the Packers both did that, 97 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: and that's a credit to Matt Lafleur and Dennis Allen 98 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: and in seeing a lot of these guys step up 99 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: and you know, even you know, you talked about the 100 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: cornerbacks but even look at a guy like Vernon Scott, 101 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 1: like how valuable these last two days have been. A 102 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: guy that question didn't play really at all last season 103 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: and then suddenly he's the every down safety with the 104 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: number one defense, lining up next to Adrian Amos. So 105 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: you know, kuay Walker's getting his first big run being 106 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: inside with Devondre Campbell, guy that he probably won't play 107 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: with in the preseason at all. So again, by and large, 108 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: was really happy with the defensive work. Offensively, there were 109 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: some things to clean up, but but certainly I felt 110 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: like coming out of this thing, this was probably the 111 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: most productive joint practice session they've had so far. Yeah, 112 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: I would agree in terms of the three different years 113 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: we've seen this, the Texans, the Jets last year, and 114 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: the Saints, I I thought, I thought this was this 115 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: was the the best. It was the most competitive work 116 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: where you know, guys were playing clean. There wasn't there 117 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: wasn't you know, the extracurricular you know activity that that 118 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: kind of thing. And God bless the Jets, but I 119 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: mean those are two teams going in very different directions 120 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: in terms of their seasons. I mean, I don't think 121 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: the Jets were any under any disillusions that they were 122 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: gonna be a super Bowl team. The Saints have those 123 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: kind of aspirations, so watching those units work has really 124 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 1: been impressive. Yeah. Well, the big story on the offensive 125 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: side of the ball, of course for the Packers was 126 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: UM Aaron Rodgers when he spoke at his locker following 127 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: the first of the two joint practices on Tuesday. Um, 128 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: he sort of let his offensive unit have it a 129 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: little bit in terms of the sloppiness, the pre snap penalties, 130 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: mental mistakes and things and and uh Um. It was 131 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: in part directed at the whole unit, but there were 132 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: also parts of his comments directed specifically at the young 133 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: receivers in which he was talking about you know, wrong routes. 134 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: Obviously there were you know, some drop passes in there. 135 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: It was a very uneven two days really for the 136 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: Packers offensively against the Saints defense. But I think we 137 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: saw after Rogers comments following the first practice, we saw 138 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: a little bit more sharpness. We saw some more plays 139 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: from those young guys in the second practice. They We 140 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: then also found out there was a meeting that morning, um, 141 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: that was conducted with the quarterbacks and the receivers, UM 142 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: veterans and young guys all alike, you know, all getting together, Um, 143 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: a sign of just how dissatisfied everybody was with how 144 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: things went offensively on Tuesday. And then we saw on Wednesday, 145 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: we saw Romeo Dobbs, Samori toure um Amari Rodgers. We 146 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: saw the young guys who you know not we're not 147 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: necessarily mentioned by name by Aaron Rodgers, but we saw 148 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: those young guys respond. Now, of course you want to 149 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: see them carry that over now and respond also in 150 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: the game on Friday night. But but it's just another 151 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: um reminder I guess of how how much of a 152 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: work in progress things are with this receiving corps because 153 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: because Aaron Rodgers nos, he's got al Lazard and Randall 154 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Cobb and he's doing everything he can to get Sammy 155 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: Watkins up to speed. And I want to talk a 156 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: little bit more about Watkins in a minute. Um, But 157 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: Roger said, the time is running out on the young 158 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: guys in terms of the regular season is right around 159 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: the corner here. We've got to get things cleaned up, 160 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: you know, from Roger's point of view there, Um, things 161 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: need to get sharpened up. And uh, and we saw 162 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: a response, and now we'll see how they respond through 163 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: the rest of training camp. From here, Mike, it transport. 164 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: It transported me back to two thousand sixteen when I 165 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: started at Packers dot Com and you pulled me into 166 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: an office that neither of us have and and kind 167 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: of laid it into me a little bit and told me, hod, 168 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: it's just not clean enough. This copy is not clean enough. Now. 169 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: But what I enjoyed the most about I hope you 170 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: appreciated that. What I what I like the most about 171 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: what Rogers did was he's talked about the time and 172 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: time again. He even mentioned again this week Al Lazard. 173 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: That's his his wide receiver one right now. You know, 174 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: he mentioned Randall Cobb is like a pre eminent slot 175 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: receiver in this league. One of the most proven slot 176 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: receivers in this league in Sammy Watkins, number four overall 177 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: pick a number of years ago, has seeing a lot 178 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: of football, has won some Super Bowl. These guys get it. 179 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: If he didn't want the young guys to succeed, if 180 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: he didn't want them to be a factor this season, 181 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: he wouldn't care. He wouldn't be pulling these guys together. 182 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: He wouldn't be, you know, saying things he mentioned this 183 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the camp. If I'm not saying 184 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: anything to you, that's a bad sign, if I'm not 185 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: actually talking to you at all, Because Rogers does get it. Lazard, Cobb, 186 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: and Watkins. Those are the one two three right now. 187 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 1: Nobody's discounting that they're actually even on the preseason program 188 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: cover if you pick one up on Friday night. But 189 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: the fact of the matter is one of those guys 190 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: might get hurt. You're going to need the rookies to 191 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: step up. You might see the rookie in there for 192 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: a handful of plays at the bend of the season, 193 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: and Rogers wants them to be ready and for everything 194 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: that didn't go great on Tuesday, and it was not 195 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: a great offensive performance for the Packers on Tuesday. Wednesday 196 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: was a step in the right direction. They are going 197 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: up against a very tough, very veteran defense in the 198 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: New Orleans Saints. But they won more in the areas 199 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 1: that I think Aaron Rodgers wants them to win. There 200 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: was more preciseness with the routes. There were fewer penalties 201 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 1: at the line of scrimmage procedural penalties. Matt for saying 202 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: that he counted up seven in that first practice and 203 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: then honestly it wasn't Rogers on the field, but when 204 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: they're in the two minutes and Jordan's Love airs it 205 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: out there for Samori to Ray, probably one of the 206 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: best balls that Jordan's Love has thrown yet in a 207 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers uniform too. Ray caught it in stride 208 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: and not just making the touchdown, but because of the 209 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: game situation them needing to get the two point conversion 210 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: to win, he has to come right back in despite 211 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: kind of having his hands wrapped up by the defensive back, 212 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: he still catches the two point conversion. Those of the 213 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: small things that need to happen because this if you're 214 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 1: not doing this in these settings, you're not going to 215 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: be able to do them on Sundays in September. Yeah, 216 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: it was. It was a good sign to see those 217 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: those young guys respond make some more plays on on 218 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: Wednesday and you know, sort of reset the course hopefully 219 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: for for where the group has set it. I thought, 220 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: in terms of um strictly the starters, the number one offense, 221 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: to me, the most encouraging thing that I saw in again, 222 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: what was what was a very up and down couple 223 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: of practices because that is that is a darn goood 224 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: Saints defense, and the Packers weren't entirely sharp. But those 225 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: two days Tuesday and Wednesday, I thought were the best 226 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: days that we've seen from Sammy Watkins since since he 227 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: put on a Packers uniform. Watkins himself said, you know, 228 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: he wasn't so crazy about Wednesday. You know, Tuesday was 229 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: definitely his best day. But in terms of putting together 230 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: those practices backed back against another opponent, Watkins talked at 231 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,319 Speaker 1: his locker, Wait a bit, I have a story up 232 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: on on Packers dot com right now for anyone who 233 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: wants to check it out. He's being very as a 234 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: veteran receiver, being very demanding and exacting of himself to 235 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: try to learn all of the checks and the adjustments 236 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: and the nuances and everything of the way Aaron Rodgers 237 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: wants to run this offense. Um, Sammy Watkins is being 238 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: is being absolutely meticulous with it. Now he has an 239 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to do that because he's not swimming in the 240 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: playbook as much as a rookie is right learning an 241 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: NFL playbook for the first time, and this is a 242 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: transition that Watkins has gone through before he's joined the 243 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Last year it was the Ravens 244 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: and Lamar Jackson. You're talking about other m v P quarterbacks, 245 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: but even Watkins said, you know Aaron Rodgers eighteen season 246 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: fifteenth as a starter four m vps on the shelf. 247 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: This is a guy who who is very demanding and 248 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: exacting of himself and his teammates, and wa Kins wants 249 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: to match that in terms of in terms of how 250 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: he goes about it to get on the same page 251 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,839 Speaker 1: with his quarterback. What we saw the last two days, 252 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: it's coming right. We can see, we can see the progress. 253 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: We can see Watkins getting there, but he was also 254 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: very careful to say I'm not there yet. I'm I 255 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: still need to push. I still need to tell myself 256 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: that I'm not all the way there mentally, because when 257 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: it comes down to a crucial situation in a two 258 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: minute drill and a third down and whatever, I have 259 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: to be out there not thinking about what I'm doing. 260 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: I have to know exactly what to do and exactly 261 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: what Aaron Rodgers wants me to do. That's where Sammy 262 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: Watkins wants to get to Mike. And when I think 263 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: about everything Watkins said. It was funny to me because 264 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,959 Speaker 1: people just we do all these press conferences, right, we 265 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: do these interviews, and you see these media huddles on 266 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: packers dot Com and everywhere else, and guys talk and 267 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: they'll talk for ten fifteen minutes, and you never neally 268 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: know you know what topics are going to come up. 269 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: But I saw a direct parallel between Watkins was saying 270 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: on Wednesday to what he said a few months ago 271 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: when he discussed how important this opportunity was to him, 272 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: and when he talked about this his back being up 273 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: against the wall. He doesn't want to waste time here. 274 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: He knows that opportunity is not available to him. He's 275 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: been with Baltimore, he you know, had the Super Bowl 276 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: run with Kansas City. But ultimately, individually, he still has 277 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: a lot to prove to himself. And if he's not 278 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: ready for this thing off the bat, it's gonna put 279 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: him behind because the Packers do have a lot of 280 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: young guys that they're excited about. He wants to go 281 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: out there and show that there's a reason why you 282 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: brought Sammy Watkins in here, and I'm going to be 283 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: able to be a veteran that not only comes in 284 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: and contributes, but immediately earns that trust of Aaron Rodgers. 285 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: Because as much as we talk about the rookies, the 286 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: veterans coming in, well, they have seen a lot of football. 287 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: He's played with a lot of great quarterbacks. This is 288 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: a different new quarterback that has to get familiar with him. 289 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: So the accountability side of it, and I heard this 290 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: about Watkins before he even got here, and the way 291 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: he carries himself, it's there. This guy is a professional 292 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: and he's not going to back down from that. And 293 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, when I was watching him 294 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: and that Tuesday practice, especially when I was seeing the 295 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: offense a little bit more, he was one of the 296 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: better players on the field that day. He was making 297 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: the plays that you want to see Sammy Watkins, the 298 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: ninth year veteran, the former fourth overall pick make, And 299 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: I think that's the most exciting thing. Nobody is asking 300 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: Sammy Watkins to be a two thousand yard receiver this year. 301 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: They're asking him to be the best version of himself 302 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: to help this offense get through this in your interim 303 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: area where they don't have a Davante Adams, and I 304 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: think Watkins is definitely up to that challenge. Yeah, I 305 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: think he is too. I mean Aaron Rodgers has expressed 306 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: his confidence that Watkins is up to the challenge. Matt 307 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: Lafleur has said, so we know Jason Vrabel, who worked 308 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: with him in Buffalo, has that has that level of 309 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: confidence in him as well. And I just thought it 310 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: was interesting that that, even after you know, really his 311 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: two best days as far as back to back that 312 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: we've seen on the practice field so far from Sammy Watkins, 313 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: the first thing he was saying at his locker is 314 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: I'm not there yet. This is not that. This is 315 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: not like, hey, I've arrived, I've got this all figured out. Now, 316 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: I've been through this transition before. You know, We're good 317 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: to go. That's not where that That's not where he 318 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: is in terms of how he assesses his own situation. 319 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: He's gonna keep pushing, He's going to keep driving. He 320 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: wants to get to the Randall Cobb level as soon 321 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: as possible. Now that's going to be impossible quite frankly, right, 322 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: It's that that's an impossible task, an impossible standard for 323 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: somebody to meet in their first year with Aaron Rodgers. 324 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: But that's what he's going for. He wants Aaron Rodgers 325 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: to feel about him the way Rogers feels about Cobb 326 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: and Lazard in this offense. Absolutely, and and for me personally, 327 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: I'll just put it out there, if Sammy Watkins stays healthy, 328 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: you can time stamp this eight two thousand twenty two. 329 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: If if Watkins stays health throughout the course here, he's 330 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 1: going to win the Packers a game or two by himself. 331 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: I mean, he's done it a couple of times in 332 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,479 Speaker 1: regular season openers over the course of his career already. 333 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: He's that type of receiver. And I really think Mike 334 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: in an offense where they're gonna spread people out and 335 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: they're gonna make these running backs think every time Sammy 336 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: Watkins has been in a situation where he can have 337 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: one on opportunities, the guys thrived in those offenses. I'm 338 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 1: just I'm just saying, yeah, I know, it's it's exciting 339 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: to see exactly where this can where this can go. 340 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: I wanna turn our attention to Friday night's preseason game, 341 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 1: but first some sponsor Business West Serious x M NFL 342 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute 343 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: NFL news that true football fanatics need seven three and 344 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: had Cousin subs. We have something for everyone like our 345 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, 346 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: all paired with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. 347 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: Cousin Subs fifty years of Better. Preseason Game number two, 348 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: Friday night, seven pm Central kickoff at lambeau Field. Now 349 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: we haven't heard anything definitively, but my expectation is that 350 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: the vast majority of the Packers starters are going to 351 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: be sitting much as they were last Friday night out 352 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: in San Francisco. This is going to be the the two, 353 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: the twos, and the threes probably for probably for both teams. 354 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: We'll see what the Saints decided to do. I have 355 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: absolutely no idea what their plans are, but I think 356 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: when when we look at this, and whether you're talking 357 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: about Jordan's love or other guys you look at, you 358 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: look at a second preseason game. Now for the for 359 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: these young players, it's about it's about looking at the 360 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: guys who had their moments right, Um, who made an impression, 361 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: made an impact in that first preseason game, and can 362 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: they do it again? Um, Jordan's Love obviously has some 363 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: things with with the accuracy of his his throws. He'd 364 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: like to clean up. The receiving corps has some things 365 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: that that they need to clean up for Jordan's Love 366 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: and and catch the passes that that uh that are 367 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 1: catchable and keep the chains moving and keep their young 368 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: quarterback in a rhythm. For me, when it comes to 369 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: looking at those impact guys from San Francisco last Friday 370 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,239 Speaker 1: night who are looking to to you know, proving that 371 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: they can do it again, that they can have that 372 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: kind of impact in the game again, two guys stand 373 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,120 Speaker 1: out to me West and it's one on either side 374 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: of the ball. On offense, it's a Mari Rodgers and 375 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: on defense it's Kingsley Nigbari. And I'll start with Rogers 376 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: because we saw the early in the San Francisco game, 377 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: the fifty yard kickoff return, nice moment for the special 378 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: teams there. Then late in the game, he catches the 379 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: pass in the flat from Danny yet Ling makes a 380 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: nice move up the sideline twenty two yard touchdown. UM 381 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 1: A couple of big moments there for a Mari Rodgers. 382 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: Can he make that kind of impact again? I think 383 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: That's what we're all waiting to see. I think the 384 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: most exciting thing when I watched that game against the 385 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: forty was it was sort of the precursor to me 386 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: the idea in my head of this is what Mari 387 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: Rodgers could do and when the Packers are at their 388 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: best underneath Matt the floor. As cool as it is 389 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: to have Davante Adams and Aaron Jones, ultimately I think 390 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: a lot of their best successes come from is when 391 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: guys fill a role in thrive in that role. Um. 392 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: It was one of the things I talked about with 393 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: Josida Deguire out of the gate. Nobody was asking to 394 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 1: guard to be a seven yard tight end, but he 395 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: has a role in his body type that he's gonna 396 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: fit that really nobody else on this roster was going 397 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: to be able to replicate. That's a Mari Rodgers to me. 398 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: He had the fifty yard return and Mike, can you 399 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: tell what that meant to the Packers to be able 400 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: to break that return that side that sideline was going crazy? Well, 401 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: first off, you know, Rogers stands up. I mean, you 402 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: can tell that was one year of just weight off 403 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: of his shoulders of I can do this at this level. 404 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 1: We can do this as a unit. We can break 405 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: a big return here, we can create opportunities for ourselves. 406 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: And then seeing somebody like Rashawn Gary come and completely 407 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: face plant the kid, it was the entire It was 408 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 1: an uplifting, rejuvenating moment for I think these special teams, 409 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: a special teams unit that is desperately looking for wins 410 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: right now. A lot of these guys that are gonna 411 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: be on this team, there's gonna be some turnover, but 412 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: there's gonna be plenty of guys like Rogers on the 413 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: squad that were part of last season and want to 414 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: walk last season from their brain. That's a good way 415 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: to do it. But even with the twenty two yard touchdown, 416 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: that was an instance where Amari really made the necessary corrections. 417 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: He he saw what was happening, he saw the blitz 418 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: was coming from the slot, and he knew he was 419 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 1: probably gonna be the hot read in that instance, and 420 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: once he got the ball in his hands, he made 421 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: someone miss. I don't know if a Mari Rodgers a 422 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: two er in sixteen pounds makes that guy miss the 423 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: way that this version of a Mari Rodgers did, And 424 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: how confident he was going down the sidelines. Mary Rogers 425 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: has played football his entire life. He's known Randall Cobs 426 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 1: since he was nine. His dad is Team Martin. This 427 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: guy wants it. He wants to prove that he was 428 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: a good third round pick and the Packers were justified 429 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: in going up to trade for him. I love everything 430 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: I saw from him, but this is a game of 431 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: consistency and he needs to come out of the gates 432 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: and this matchup against the Saints and continue to build 433 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: on that, like all these young receivers do. Samari too 434 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: Ray talked about it too, that fifty yard catches fantastic. 435 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: That's a good feather in your cap to have right now. 436 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: But if you don't keep doing that or you start 437 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: dropping passes, everybody forgets about that. Yeah, and and that's 438 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: really what I go back to it. These receivers and 439 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: Rogers great start with with what they were able to 440 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: accomplish in Spurts in San Francisco. Can you carry it 441 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: over now here at lambeau Field. Yeah, absolutely. We hear 442 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: it a lot in this league. Anybody can do something once, right, 443 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: then the question is always can you do it again? 444 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: And that that's that's what separates the guys who belong 445 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: in this league from the guys who were just going 446 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,719 Speaker 1: to flash and eventually uh and eventually go on their 447 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: way and disappear on the defensive side. I think we 448 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: mentioned him a little bit on our last show, Kingsley 449 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: nigbari Um we what we've seen, what we've seen over 450 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: the last week. This is a young man, a fifth 451 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: round draft pick out of South Carolina. I don't know 452 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: if we hardly talked about him at all during O 453 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 1: T A S you know, mini camp during the spring, 454 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 1: and even in the opening days the opening week week 455 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: and a half a training camp, we didn't really see much. 456 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: He just you know, not to say that he was 457 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: doing anything wrong, but he just wasn't doing anything to 458 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: get noticed. Well the last week, I mean, starting with 459 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 1: that game in San Francisco Friday night. This this guy 460 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: is he's established himself as a daily presence on the 461 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: practice field now and I should also say the preseason field. 462 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: He got he got the sack in the game on 463 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: Friday night. Then on Sunday he was single handedly wrecking 464 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 1: the two minute drill for the number one offense with 465 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: the pressure that he was getting off the edge Um. 466 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: He was a steady presence in these two days of 467 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: joint practices against the Saints. UM had a fair amount 468 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: of reps against the number one draft I shouldn't say 469 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: number one, but first round draft pick in uh in 470 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: Trevor Penning at at offensive tackle for the Saints, and 471 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 1: uh and quite frankly, no question about it, clearly got 472 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: the better of that of of that matchup on a 473 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: consistent basis, going against a first rounder. And now it's like, 474 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: all right, he's heading out there for for his second 475 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: preseason game. Now it's exciting to think of what the 476 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 1: Packers might have here if he continues on this trajectory, 477 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 1: because we've talked about how it is so wide open 478 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: at edge russia outside linebacker. After the two starters for 479 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: Shawn Gary and Preston Smith, what else do the Packers have? 480 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: Who can they put in there to give those starters 481 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: a breather to develop some kind of some kind of 482 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: a rotation. And we saw Randy Ramsey get released earlier 483 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 1: this week in in the first cut down to eight five, 484 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: So that's another guy at that position now who's gone. 485 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,680 Speaker 1: The door is wide open for an Abari here who's 486 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: known as j J to everybody. That's uh, that's his 487 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: nickname amongst his teammates and and whatnot. If if JJ 488 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: can keep this going what we've seen over the last week, 489 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: the Packers are going to feel a lot better about 490 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 1: what they have behind their two starters on the edges. Yeah. 491 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 1: And it's funny too, because I saw Matt Lafleur brought 492 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 1: up the JJ thing, and I've always had the same 493 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: maxim since the very beginning I've started covering this team. 494 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: Whatever the guy's name says on the roster page, that's 495 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: what I call him. I don't mix and match it. 496 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: It's Kingsley to me, but kudos. I like the j 497 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 1: J of the Jet or whatever that was that the 498 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: Kids show. That's where he got his nickname apparently. But 499 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: this is a guy at a position where the Packers 500 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: wanted players to step up. Who really has emerged. And 501 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: if you look at it, Mike Whitney merciless, he's cooking now. 502 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: I mean he's he's not coming back through that door. Uh. 503 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: They've needed a number three guy really in that role 504 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: now with you know, Zadarius Smith is gone. Obviously, we 505 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: saw Kyler Facult did in that role in the ways 506 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: they used him back in two thousand nineteen. They this 507 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: number three outside linebacker will play. They'll have to play. 508 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: You can't play Preston Smith and Rashawn Gary every down 509 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: as much as you want to. And I think seeing 510 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: him Bill Hubert from s I said it, and I 511 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 1: agree with him. I mean, Kingsley Ning Barrie. Although I 512 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: don't think he was really ever in jeopardy of not 513 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,919 Speaker 1: making the team, he did make the team within like 514 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,719 Speaker 1: four days of practice. I mean he has made it 515 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: undeniable and he is he He has very very quickly 516 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: in a in a short period of time. And with 517 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 1: with this, this burst of multiple days, multiple practices, has 518 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: shown that he belongs in the NFL. This is it. 519 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,360 Speaker 1: This is a This is a young guy who belongs 520 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: and he's going to be here on this Packers. And 521 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 1: he hit the trifecta. He practiced well against his own team. 522 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,880 Speaker 1: He carried it into the game against the forty niners 523 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: in whatever momentum, confidence, whatever you wanna call it. He 524 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 1: just came right back against the Saints and put it 525 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: to work. When I was talking about all the pressure 526 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 1: that was getting generated, you were right. Ning Bari was 527 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: a big part of that so the other side of 528 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,360 Speaker 1: the two, if I may really quickly before we move on, 529 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 1: I just want to give a quick mention as well 530 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: to Jack Heflin. I wrote about him this week on 531 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. Heflin really reminds me of the j 532 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: Rone Elliott's Uh, some of these guys that are the 533 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: the undrafted college free agent types that you know there 534 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: might be more talented people at his position. As he says, 535 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 1: he understands how high the ceiling is. He's trying to 536 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: raise up the floor. That's his goal when he's on 537 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: the field. But when he's in games, the guy finds 538 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: ways to win consistently. Last year he lead the Packers 539 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: and quarterback knockdowns. This year he comes out of the gate, 540 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: he sets the tone against the run. There's these guys, 541 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: Mike every year. I talked about with Rico Gafford a 542 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: little bit earlier this month too, Guys that just want it, 543 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: not saying they want it more. I'm not trying to 544 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: compare anything, but Jack Heflin is putting every single thing 545 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: he has into this camp because he knows nothing is guaranteed. 546 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 1: He can play out of his mind and maybe still 547 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: not make the team. With how deep that position is. 548 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,120 Speaker 1: But he's not going to leave anything up in the air. 549 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: He's going to leave it out all in the field. Yeah, 550 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: when when these you're talking about, you know, guys like 551 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: Heflin and what they do over the course of multiple 552 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 1: preseason games. We saw it last year. That's why he 553 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 1: made the team. He's trying to do the same thing. 554 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: And for a guy, you know, it's a guy who's 555 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: trying to carve out a role to where you know, 556 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: maybe he gets a handful of snaps a game the 557 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: regular season to spell some of these guys who were 558 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: in front of him. Well, he's gonna play twenty five 559 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: or thirty or thirty five snaps in a preseason game. Um. 560 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 1: The the the opportunity that he has to show what 561 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: he can do is is not lost on him. And 562 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: and his his relentlessness when quite frankly, he had to 563 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: be dog tired in the fourth quarter of of that 564 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,399 Speaker 1: game last Friday night in San Francisco, and how he 565 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: just he kept coming after San Francisco's offensive front. That's 566 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: the kind of thing that stands out on film to 567 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: the coaches. That's the kind of thing that gets you noticed. 568 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 1: And uh and Yeah, he's another one of these guys 569 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: that made an impression in that first preseason game. Can 570 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: he do it again? And but his situation is a 571 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 1: little bit different than that. He's been through this before. Right, 572 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: He's been through this before and he's made the team. 573 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: He's trying to do it again and actually more difficult 574 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: circumstances because of a first round pick at the position 575 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: and a free agent you know, I'm talking about Davante 576 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: Wyatt and then a free agent brought in at his 577 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: position in Jared Reid. He's still trying to fight to uh, 578 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: to make the squad. So yeah, he's definitely another guy 579 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on. Last thing before we go. 580 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: Anybody else that jumps out to you that your eyeballs 581 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: are going to be on from the press box at 582 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: Lambo Friday? Yeah, I said it during the Packers pregraming radio. 583 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep saying it now. It's Jack Coco who 584 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: was the backup long snapper. Really, when you look at it, 585 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: what he was doing in Georgia Tech that transitioned over 586 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: to tight end once he got a you know, a scholarship. 587 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: Jack Coco is the only long snapper on this roster. 588 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: Right now. And I know that's a very small thing. 589 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: It's not it's not you know, a receiver running back, 590 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 1: but that's a critical position for the special team's unit 591 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: that's trying to get renovated, and he has no competition 592 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: in the building at the moment. This is I can't 593 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: think of a more golden opportunity for a guy that 594 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: never actually was a long snapper in terms of the 595 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: punts in college, was only the short snapper on some 596 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: of the field goals for three years. This guy is 597 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: someone that you know Byron Storer, the Packers assistant special 598 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: teams coach, I kind of found Rich Bisaccia like they 599 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: brought him in on a tryout. He makes the team 600 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: as a tryout player, gets that contract. Stephen Wardle was 601 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: released a week ago. Now he's competing against every long 602 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: snapper in the league right now once you get down 603 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: to the end of camp. But this is for a 604 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 1: guy that who knows what was going to happen if 605 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: Green Bay doesn't call for him. This is this is 606 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: a golden ticket in the candy bar. So I just 607 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: I thought last week he he had a good, solid 608 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: performance and realistically, I mean these next two weeks are 609 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: probably as critical of anybody on the roster. For him 610 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: to show what he can do in the preseason settings. Yeah, absolutely, 611 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,720 Speaker 1: definitely another guy to watch. And once you start talking 612 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: about candy bars, it's time to time and coco. Yeah, 613 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: and cocoa, We're going to call it a rap on 614 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all 615 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: of our coverage of the team training camp Friday night's 616 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: preseason game. We're gonna have it all for you on 617 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: Packers dot com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. 618 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 1: See you next time. Get me