WEBVTT - #625 Packers Unscripted: The latest challenge 0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:10.479 Hi, everybody, Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:10.520 --> 0:00:13.360 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 0:00:13.440 --> 0:00:17.480 partner in crime, Weston Hodkowitz. Were coming to here from 0:00:17.520 --> 0:00:20.120 our studios at lambeau Field and West just when we 0:00:20.200 --> 0:00:23.800 thought the storyline of this week might be the Packers 0:00:23.960 --> 0:00:26.720 might get back to closer to full strength and have 0:00:26.840 --> 0:00:30.880 all their guys well no, sorry, Aaron Rodgers, as everyone 0:00:30.920 --> 0:00:34.360 knows by now, is on the COVID nineteen reserve list. 0:00:34.640 --> 0:00:38.159 Jordan's love will be making his first NFL start on 0:00:38.240 --> 0:00:42.199 Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, and it's another week where the 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:47.040 Packers just have to adjust and roll with the punches, 0:00:47.200 --> 0:00:49.880 you know. Matt Lafleur spoke to the media for fifteen 0:00:49.960 --> 0:00:54.080 sixteen minutes after um all this news happened on Wednesday, 0:00:54.080 --> 0:00:56.960 and I really appreciate a lot of what he said, 0:00:57.000 --> 0:00:58.959 but one thing that stood out to me in particular 0:00:59.160 --> 0:01:01.480 is this is just something you just have to learn 0:01:01.520 --> 0:01:04.400 to deal with. UM. We've always known about the injury 0:01:04.440 --> 0:01:06.319 side of things, and in the month of December. In 0:01:06.360 --> 0:01:08.200 the past, there's been the flu bug that has been 0:01:08.240 --> 0:01:10.319 passed around the locker room. Packers had a big boat 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:13.760 of that back in two thousand nineteen. But you know, 0:01:13.880 --> 0:01:16.800 the realities of COVID now are that one week, you 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:19.080 may not have your defensive coordinator, you may not have 0:01:19.200 --> 0:01:21.120 your you know, you're all pro receiver, and in this 0:01:21.160 --> 0:01:24.200 particular case, you're not gonna have your three time MVP quarterback. 0:01:25.840 --> 0:01:29.280 But the ability to adjust, I think, in my opinion, 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:32.959 on top of Lafleur's offensive brilliance, on top of the 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:35.880 creativity of this coaching staff, the way the Packers have 0:01:35.920 --> 0:01:40.119 been able to adapt and build winning game plans despite 0:01:40.160 --> 0:01:42.679 whatever they're missing, has been one of the hallmarks of 0:01:42.800 --> 0:01:44.560 his you know, two and a half year run now 0:01:44.640 --> 0:01:46.640 is the head coach of the Packers. I couldn't agree more. 0:01:47.360 --> 0:01:51.440 This is not an easy opponent, This is not easy circumstances. 0:01:51.720 --> 0:01:54.280 But in a lot of ways, Mike, we talked about 0:01:54.320 --> 0:01:56.360 it all the time with young quarterbacks throughout the National 0:01:56.400 --> 0:01:59.040 Football League. The Packers have invested a year and a 0:01:59.120 --> 0:02:01.800 half now into Jordan's love. This past summer he took 0:02:01.840 --> 0:02:05.560 all the reps, almost every single one of them, in 0:02:05.640 --> 0:02:08.960 meaningful team periods for the Packers. It's been on the 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:11.200 back burner now. He's been the scout team quarterback for 0:02:11.240 --> 0:02:12.959 the last eight weeks. But this is the first round 0:02:13.040 --> 0:02:15.880 caliber talent that now is going to get his first 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:18.600 opportunity to lead an NFL offense. Yeah, and I appreciate 0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:21.600 what you said about Matt Lafleur and his two and 0:02:21.639 --> 0:02:24.240 a half seasons. Here the challenges that he has dealt with, 0:02:24.800 --> 0:02:27.400 even as big a challenge as last week was without 0:02:27.480 --> 0:02:29.840 your top three receivers and all the news that was 0:02:30.080 --> 0:02:32.800 happening with those guys, and you're on a short week 0:02:32.840 --> 0:02:35.239 and you've got a two thousand mile flight and and 0:02:35.280 --> 0:02:37.840 all of that kind of stuff, This one, I think 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:41.000 is is the biggest one that he's faced. And not 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:45.080 only because it's Aaron Rodgers and you're having to put 0:02:45.080 --> 0:02:47.639 in a quarterback who has not started an NFL game 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:51.120 in his place. But this news with Rogers did not 0:02:51.440 --> 0:02:55.600 come to light until Wednesday morning. And you know Monday afternoon, 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:59.679 Tuesday's that that's the coaching staff's game planning time. The 0:02:59.680 --> 0:03:02.960 players are off on Tuesdays, the coaches are putting together 0:03:03.000 --> 0:03:05.440 the entire game plan. So you get all that ready 0:03:05.480 --> 0:03:07.760 to go to give to the players on Wednesday, and 0:03:07.800 --> 0:03:10.000 then the first thing you're telling the players in the 0:03:10.160 --> 0:03:13.040 in the Wednesday morning team meeting is that the starting 0:03:13.080 --> 0:03:15.920 quarterback is out and UH and the backup, Jordan's Love 0:03:16.000 --> 0:03:19.040 is going to take over. Now. Obviously it's not as 0:03:19.080 --> 0:03:20.959 though you take the entire game plan and throw it 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:23.080 in the trash and you're starting over from scratch, but 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:27.360 it does. It does speak to the challenge here that 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:31.440 that the Packers have. And hopefully from a receive from 0:03:31.480 --> 0:03:35.280 a receiving standpoint, we've seen al Lazard, Marquis Velda scantling 0:03:35.320 --> 0:03:37.840 at practice thus far this week. Matt la Fleur is 0:03:37.880 --> 0:03:41.480 indicatd He's hoping that Davante Adams will be back um 0:03:41.600 --> 0:03:45.280 here as the week continues. So you hope that from 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:49.880 an offensive perimeter group standpoint that that Jordan's Love will 0:03:49.920 --> 0:03:53.680 have everyone everyone at his disposal except for Robert Tunyan 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:57.440 who's now out for the season. But um, but to 0:03:57.520 --> 0:04:00.280 have to adjust like this on the fly and UH 0:04:00.360 --> 0:04:03.800 and get ready to play. And yes, the Kansas City 0:04:03.840 --> 0:04:05.680 Chiefs have had their struggles, but this is still the 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:07.640 team that's represented the a f C in the Super 0:04:07.680 --> 0:04:10.080 Bowl in back to back years and they still have 0:04:10.200 --> 0:04:14.520 plenty of time left to get their season back on track. Well, Mike, 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:16.960 and let's be honest. I mean, Patrick Mahomes is the 0:04:17.040 --> 0:04:18.919 run that he's on right now that's not going to 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:22.400 last forever. This guy is a quintessential m v P 0:04:22.640 --> 0:04:25.040 quarterback who's played this game at the highest level. He's 0:04:25.080 --> 0:04:27.679 won the biggest prize at one of the most youngest 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:31.960 youngest ages for you know, a premier quarterback. I'm not 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:35.120 anticipating the guy with the ten picks and in the 0:04:35.240 --> 0:04:37.200 you know, the issues this year. I'm expecting the best 0:04:37.320 --> 0:04:39.600 version of Patrick Mahomes in this matchup. I think, I 0:04:39.640 --> 0:04:41.440 think when you're the Packers, that's how you have to 0:04:41.480 --> 0:04:44.400 look at it. Absolutely now. The one thing that you 0:04:44.440 --> 0:04:47.200 have to look at though, being fair on both sides, 0:04:47.320 --> 0:04:49.640 is the way Kansas Cities defense has played this year. 0:04:49.640 --> 0:04:52.920 There's still plenty of weapons there. You know, Tyrone Matthews 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:56.080 has Tyron Matthew excuse me, has two interceptions already this season. 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:58.839 They have guys that can pressure the quarterback. But the 0:04:58.880 --> 0:05:00.720 stats are what they are right now, their twenty nine 0:05:00.760 --> 0:05:03.800 and total defense, you know, their second to last uh 0:05:03.880 --> 0:05:05.960 in sacks allowed. I mean, there's been a lot of 0:05:06.000 --> 0:05:09.680 things that we're not really common during their Super Bowl 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:11.919 run that have sort of kind of bubbled up to 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:15.080 the surface. So if I'm Jordan's Love and I'm Matt Lafleura, 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:17.240 I look at this week in terms of being able 0:05:17.279 --> 0:05:20.520 to re establish the run game again. Aaron Jones, much 0:05:20.560 --> 0:05:22.600 like two years ago, could very easily be his best 0:05:22.680 --> 0:05:24.120 friend in this game. I mean, he had a big 0:05:24.160 --> 0:05:29.040 game at arrowhead back in yards, receiving two touchdowns. They 0:05:29.080 --> 0:05:31.080 need that version of Aaron Jones again, the guy that 0:05:31.160 --> 0:05:33.800 makes plays in space. A j. Dillon has been just 0:05:33.880 --> 0:05:36.080 an absolute wrecking ball in the middle of the field, 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:40.320 breaking tackles, getting yards after contact. And also, Mike, I 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:42.159 know Matt Lafleur said it this week, you don't really 0:05:42.160 --> 0:05:44.200 know what the West Coast offenses again, but I think 0:05:44.240 --> 0:05:46.680 it goes back to a lot of the real fundamental 0:05:46.720 --> 0:05:50.640 principles of that scheme, short passing games, winnable down and distance, 0:05:50.680 --> 0:05:53.280 and moving the ball down field. They need Jordan's Love 0:05:53.320 --> 0:05:55.400 to be able to manage this thing and then go 0:05:55.520 --> 0:05:58.760 from there once the plays emerge. It's about that that 0:05:58.800 --> 0:06:01.560 whole group of eleven me together and not just the 0:06:01.640 --> 0:06:05.280 number ten quarterback that that's taken the ball from Lucas Patrick. Yeah, 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:08.720 I mean, I had said shortly before we sat here 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:11.200 at these tables and turn the cameras on. We were 0:06:11.240 --> 0:06:16.360 filming our weekly Three Things segment with Larry and I 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:18.880 said in in that segment, and I'll say it here again, 0:06:19.600 --> 0:06:23.040 it feels like the formula for victory for the Packers 0:06:23.160 --> 0:06:25.680 here is really not any different than it was a 0:06:25.720 --> 0:06:28.520 week ago when you were missing your top three receivers 0:06:28.520 --> 0:06:30.240 and on a short weekend everything. How did they go 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:36.160 into Arizona with those limitations and beat the previously undefeated Cardinals. 0:06:36.600 --> 0:06:39.400 They ran the heck out of the ball and which 0:06:39.440 --> 0:06:42.159 which not only was about yardage and moving the chains, 0:06:42.200 --> 0:06:45.120 but controlling the tempo of the entire game. It was 0:06:45.160 --> 0:06:48.240 about limiting the possessions that Kyler Murray was going to 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:50.880 have on the other side. And then when Kyler Murray 0:06:50.880 --> 0:06:53.920 did have the ball, the Packers got some turnovers. They 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:56.040 got a turnover on special teams, they got the one 0:06:56.080 --> 0:06:58.640 turnover on defense early in the second half, and then 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:01.800 obviously the turnover at the end that sealed the victory. 0:07:03.320 --> 0:07:06.400 You're replacing Aaron Rodgers with Jordan's Love. You're hoping to 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:09.560 get those receivers back, but it feels like the formula 0:07:09.600 --> 0:07:11.960 for victory is still the same. You've got to get 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:14.600 Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon have to be the 0:07:14.600 --> 0:07:17.000 guys that control this football game for Green Bay and 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:20.400 on the defensive side the Kansas City Chiefs. The stats 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:22.680 are what they are. They lead the league in giveaways 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.520 offensively this year, the Packers have to be able to 0:07:25.560 --> 0:07:29.680 take the ball away, steal some possessions from Patrick Mahomes 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:32.960 and uh and use that ground game to control tempo. Yeah, 0:07:33.000 --> 0:07:35.120 and I know we'll probably talk about the defense here 0:07:35.120 --> 0:07:37.080 in a second, but I do it is worth pointing 0:07:37.120 --> 0:07:40.240 out a lot of two shell looks this year for 0:07:40.320 --> 0:07:43.200 Patrick Mahomes in this Kansas City offense. In some ways, 0:07:43.240 --> 0:07:45.440 there's a lot of similarities between the way teams are 0:07:45.440 --> 0:07:48.120 wanting to defend him in what the Packers have seen 0:07:48.200 --> 0:07:51.400 over the years. Now with the two shell against Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, 0:07:51.440 --> 0:07:53.720 just go back to two thousand twelve when Rodgers was 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:55.920 coming off of his first m v P season. The 0:07:55.960 --> 0:07:58.480 Packers were fifteen and one and all that, and then 0:07:58.520 --> 0:08:01.520 suddenly everybody just played two safeties deep and they're like, 0:08:01.560 --> 0:08:03.560 we're not going to let you. We're not gonna let 0:08:03.560 --> 0:08:05.640 you just smoke us with all these big plays. We're 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:07.840 gonna make you grind out drives, We're gonna make you 0:08:07.880 --> 0:08:10.000 pound the ball with the run. And it took a 0:08:10.000 --> 0:08:13.080 while for the Packers to to adjust to that. And 0:08:13.080 --> 0:08:15.240 and here the Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with that 0:08:15.280 --> 0:08:17.320 and their four and four halfway through the year. And 0:08:17.360 --> 0:08:18.920 that's the point I was going to draw to, is 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:21.480 the fact that the Packers have overcome that this season 0:08:21.520 --> 0:08:24.360 to be seven and one. You've seen a ton of production, 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:27.520 whether it be running or catching the ball between a J. 0:08:27.680 --> 0:08:30.640 Dillon and Aaron Jones. Kansas City has had a real 0:08:30.640 --> 0:08:33.680 difficult time establishing that so far. You know, Clyde Edward 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:36.640 Edwards h layer with the MCL. He's out right now. 0:08:36.679 --> 0:08:38.480 I don't think at this time that he's going to 0:08:38.520 --> 0:08:42.400 be back. We never get injury reports based on guys 0:08:42.400 --> 0:08:44.559 that are on injured reserve, so like that that's kind 0:08:44.559 --> 0:08:46.400 of out of the question. Yeah, when they're when they're 0:08:46.400 --> 0:08:49.120 on injured reserve and not on the active roster, there 0:08:49.160 --> 0:08:51.560 their practice status and how much they're working out and 0:08:51.600 --> 0:08:54.840 stuff is not is not officially reported. Yeah, so you know, 0:08:54.960 --> 0:08:56.800 Darryl Williams is the one that was kind of a 0:08:56.920 --> 0:08:59.200 bell call for them. Then obviously last week you saw 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:02.880 Gore and being the next guy. Kansas City hasn't really 0:09:02.880 --> 0:09:05.560 been willing to commit to the run, and to be honest, 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:07.920 that's sort of been something that's happened over the years 0:09:07.920 --> 0:09:11.200 with them. I know, Edwards Hilaire was his debut game, 0:09:11.240 --> 0:09:13.280 a lot of people got excited about it, but ultimately 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:16.480 they kind of shifted back to Tyreek Hill, to Travis 0:09:16.520 --> 0:09:18.800 Kelsey being able to get the downfield passing game going. 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:21.800 More teams are threatening Kansas City to run this season. 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:24.520 I'm interested, from green based perspective, how they go about 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:27.960 defending that. Yeah. Absolutely, And I think what part of 0:09:28.040 --> 0:09:30.360 part of what Kansas City is dealing with two, whether 0:09:30.400 --> 0:09:33.920 whether it's been injuries or other personnel turnover and whatnot. 0:09:34.640 --> 0:09:37.800 Everybody is sort of focusing their defensive game plans on 0:09:37.800 --> 0:09:42.040 Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelsey and the Chiefs haven't really 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:45.160 found that next guy to to, you know, to step 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:47.080 up and carry the mantle, so to speak. Now, I 0:09:47.120 --> 0:09:50.360 think McCole Hardman, who's a you know, I sort of 0:09:50.400 --> 0:09:53.640 liken him to a to an unaccomplished or less less 0:09:53.640 --> 0:09:56.760 accomplished Tyree Hill in terms of his size and his 0:09:56.800 --> 0:10:00.480 speed and what his potential is. But he hasn't become 0:10:00.640 --> 0:10:03.680 that player yet. He's he's a very dangerous guy with 0:10:03.720 --> 0:10:05.439 the ball in his hands, and the Packers are certainly 0:10:05.480 --> 0:10:07.440 going to be aware of him. But he's one to 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:10.240 watch here as as the Chiefs try to figure this 0:10:10.320 --> 0:10:14.240 out with so much attention on on Kelsey and Hill 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:16.000 as they try to run their offense. If you'd have 0:10:16.040 --> 0:10:17.720 told me a year ago, kind of like the Edwards 0:10:17.800 --> 0:10:19.880 Hilaire thing, I would have thought hard Been would have 0:10:19.880 --> 0:10:21.839 been a bigger household name. At this point. I just 0:10:22.120 --> 0:10:25.120 he's a shifty guy, he's explosive, and I can't sit 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:26.360 here and tell you I watch a lot of you know, 0:10:26.440 --> 0:10:28.959 Kansas City football. I don't really know exactly everything that's 0:10:28.960 --> 0:10:31.520 played into that, but he's really been still more of 0:10:31.559 --> 0:10:34.320 a complimentary guy than a featured guy and and everything 0:10:34.360 --> 0:10:37.760 that plays into that. But from Green Bay's perspective, the 0:10:37.800 --> 0:10:40.440 other idea of this too is that they've faced all 0:10:40.480 --> 0:10:42.920 these guys that are mobile quarterbacks and it seems like 0:10:42.960 --> 0:10:45.880 they've been building towards the Patrick Mahomes game in terms 0:10:45.920 --> 0:10:49.080 of guys that have the athleticism, but maybe don't have 0:10:49.160 --> 0:10:51.920 the arm or have the athleticism and don't have the pedigree. 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:54.920 Have the athleticism, but maybe they rely too much on it. 0:10:55.640 --> 0:10:58.000 They got Kyler Murray two weeks ago. Now you get 0:10:58.040 --> 0:11:00.839 Patrick Mahomes, Guys who can extend plays, Guys that can 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:03.480 make plays outside of the pocket. That's going to be 0:11:03.520 --> 0:11:07.400 a big challenge too. But as Kenny Clark mentioned when 0:11:07.400 --> 0:11:10.000 he addressed the media on Wednesday, green Bay has been 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:12.000 really apt at being able to take the ball away 0:11:12.040 --> 0:11:14.040 this season. That is something that has been sort of 0:11:14.080 --> 0:11:17.720 coming in stretches for them. They are coming off a 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:20.439 big October and obviously got to see how everything works 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:21.880 out with Dean Lowry and what the health of this 0:11:21.960 --> 0:11:25.640 team is going into Sunday. But this is seems to 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:28.720 me like a really solid opportunity once again for green 0:11:28.720 --> 0:11:30.720 Bay to be able to come out, turn over the 0:11:30.720 --> 0:11:33.560 football and get it back to Jordan's love in the offense. Yeah, 0:11:33.559 --> 0:11:36.400 and when you talk about what's been going on defensively 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:40.600 for the Packers through the month of October, uh, Deveandre Campbell, 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:43.120 the inside linebacker. We've talked about him a lot on 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:47.000 this show. Obviously he's been a revelation for the Packers defense. 0:11:47.040 --> 0:11:50.400 And he was just named the NFC's Defensive Player of 0:11:50.440 --> 0:11:53.840 the Month for the month of October. And there's only 0:11:53.840 --> 0:11:56.360 four of those guys. There's only four of those guys 0:11:56.360 --> 0:11:59.600 the entire season. I mean, yeah, you look at something else. 0:11:59.760 --> 0:12:01.720 You at what he You look at what he has done. 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:04.760 It's it's not just the tackles where you expect an 0:12:04.760 --> 0:12:07.680 inside linebacker to be, you know, amongst your league leaders 0:12:08.000 --> 0:12:11.000 or your team leaders and whatnot in tackles, But throughout 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:13.120 the course of the year, he's had multiple secks, He's 0:12:13.120 --> 0:12:17.280 had multiple interceptions, you know, other turnover plays regarding fumbles, 0:12:17.320 --> 0:12:20.760 tackles for loss, and just being that leader in the 0:12:20.800 --> 0:12:25.600 middle of Green Bay's defense, taking over the communication responsibilities 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:28.680 and whatnot for a guy, as we've talked about, who 0:12:28.840 --> 0:12:31.800 did not show up until basically there was one week 0:12:31.880 --> 0:12:35.120 left in the off season program, so he had to 0:12:35.240 --> 0:12:37.280 learn as much of the defense as he could on 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:40.640 his own time during that break between the office season 0:12:40.640 --> 0:12:43.240 program and the start of training camp, and then take 0:12:43.320 --> 0:12:46.200 over that leadership and all of the communication and everything 0:12:46.520 --> 0:12:49.640 throughout the course of training camp and then and then 0:12:49.640 --> 0:12:52.600 in the early weeks of the regular season. He's been 0:12:52.600 --> 0:12:55.280 a phenomenal player for this Green Bay defense, and and 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:58.040 they're going to continue They're going to continue to lean 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:01.200 on him because he's he's an impact player right in 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:03.959 the middle of everything going on in an incredibly intelligent 0:13:04.080 --> 0:13:05.920 human being, not just about what he does on the 0:13:05.920 --> 0:13:09.120 football field. Like I wrote about two weeks ago, there 0:13:09.200 --> 0:13:11.280 was a plan. There was a method to this madness 0:13:11.280 --> 0:13:13.560 with how he approached this offseason. A lot of people 0:13:13.600 --> 0:13:15.600 look at him signing on June nine, is well, why 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.520 didn't anybody sign this guy? No, this was a case 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:21.520 in which the COVID restrictions with the cap, you know, 0:13:21.640 --> 0:13:25.200 the salary cap room is deflated across across the league. 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:27.959 Inside linebackers like him, a guy that was coming off 0:13:27.960 --> 0:13:30.880 a one year, eight million dollar contract, That money wasn't 0:13:30.880 --> 0:13:33.880 there this time. So he looked for what was going 0:13:33.920 --> 0:13:36.400 to be the best opportunity for him, with the understanding 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:39.840 that Okay, you play, you make some money this year, 0:13:40.080 --> 0:13:43.080 but you get back on the market in twenty nine 0:13:43.160 --> 0:13:45.000 next year and have a chance to really get that 0:13:45.040 --> 0:13:48.560 big deal. He signed with Green Bay. Yes, he had 0:13:48.600 --> 0:13:51.000 the relationship with Matt Laflour, but also there was that 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:54.440 opportunity for him to actually be the featured guy, and 0:13:54.440 --> 0:13:55.960 and if he earned it, I mean, it wasn't gonna 0:13:55.960 --> 0:13:57.920 walk in and just be the MiCT right away. He 0:13:57.960 --> 0:14:01.520 had to actually, you know, claim that position. But since 0:14:01.559 --> 0:14:04.200 he has Mike. For a guy like me that's covered 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:05.960 the team for ten years, I didn't get the Desmond 0:14:05.960 --> 0:14:07.880 Bishop era. I got the end of the A. J. 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:10.800 Hawk era, and AJ had a phenomenal career here, But 0:14:11.400 --> 0:14:15.600 I haven't seen a sideline to sideline inside backer like Campbell. 0:14:16.040 --> 0:14:19.240 This guy is good against the run, he fills gaps well, 0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:22.280 he diagnosed as well, he knows his assignments fundamentally sound. 0:14:22.640 --> 0:14:25.360 But the athleticism factor with him is what really jumps 0:14:25.400 --> 0:14:29.000 off the page and Mike. With seventeen games, this guy 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:31.280 is on pace for a hundred seventy five tackles this year. 0:14:31.280 --> 0:14:33.600 I mean, that's the type of season Devandre Campbell's having. 0:14:34.000 --> 0:14:37.920 So to see him get rewarded a really silent kind 0:14:37.960 --> 0:14:41.200 of you know, hunter out there on the field. It 0:14:41.280 --> 0:14:42.800 was a cool thing for him, and the Packers are 0:14:42.800 --> 0:14:44.760 going to need him in the second half of the season. Yeah, 0:14:44.880 --> 0:14:47.960 I don't know for sure. The last time a Green 0:14:48.000 --> 0:14:51.040 Bay Packers defensive player earned a Defensive Player of the 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:55.280 Month award. Again, this is that's what I heard Clay 0:14:55.360 --> 0:14:57.800 Matthews in two thousand and ten. This is obviously very 0:14:57.800 --> 0:15:00.480 different from defensive player of the week. And and I 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:04.200 know in two thousand nine Charles Woodson somewhere along the way, 0:15:04.200 --> 0:15:06.200 if not multiple months, when he was on his way 0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:08.640 to Defensive Player of the Year, that he got Defensive 0:15:08.640 --> 0:15:10.120 Player of the month. But yes, it might have been 0:15:10.160 --> 0:15:12.600 Clay Matthews in in two thousand and ten. Since a 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:15.880 Green Bay defensive player got an award like this, Campbell's 0:15:15.880 --> 0:15:17.600 on the like he's on a trajectory to make a 0:15:17.640 --> 0:15:20.960 Pro Bowl here and like all provo question, this is 0:15:21.000 --> 0:15:22.800 more than just the dude that walked in the door 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:25.160 in June, signed a one year deal and then played 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:28.160 out the season. Devonja Campbell is really doing himself a 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:30.960 lot of favors this season. Yeah, well, we'll get a 0:15:30.960 --> 0:15:33.600 little bit of sponsor business here. West Serious x M 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:36.480 NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the 0:15:36.520 --> 0:15:41.640 minute NFL news that true football fanatics need seven three, six, 0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:44.760 five and at Cousin subs, we have something for everyone, 0:15:44.840 --> 0:15:48.040 like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, golden fries, 0:15:48.080 --> 0:15:50.480 and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 0:15:50.600 --> 0:15:54.040 sub in a bowl. Cousin subs. We believe in better. 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:56.520 All right, let's crystallize it down. We've talked about it 0:15:56.560 --> 0:16:00.600 a little bit already. West, but the keys to victory 0:16:00.640 --> 0:16:05.000 here for Green Bay on Sunday going to Arrowhead, which 0:16:06.120 --> 0:16:08.720 it's right up there with Seattle in terms of the 0:16:08.760 --> 0:16:12.120 noise factor at an outdoor stadium in this league. Kansas 0:16:12.160 --> 0:16:15.120 City in Seattle, in my mind, is certainly as far 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:17.920 as having been too pretty much everywhere in the league, 0:16:17.960 --> 0:16:20.640 this one. This is a tough place to play. Yeah, 0:16:20.640 --> 0:16:23.000 and they have less speakers. I mean, it's impressive with 0:16:23.080 --> 0:16:25.400 the with the crowd. Actually it's actually it's actually more 0:16:25.520 --> 0:16:28.840 natural crowd. They're not there's no auto tuning. They're singing 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:33.000 with the real you know. No. But I mean you 0:16:33.080 --> 0:16:35.200 and I have been there, and I've talked to players 0:16:35.240 --> 0:16:37.240 over the years. I remember talking to like Justin McCrae 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:40.560 and Brian Blog, an offensive lineman, about how difficult that 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:43.440 environment is for an offensive lineman to play at. Packers 0:16:43.480 --> 0:16:46.120 have played really clean football from a false start perspective. 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:49.840 From a penalty perspective, that's going to be challenged this week, 0:16:50.120 --> 0:16:52.600 especially with how energized this team is going to be 0:16:52.640 --> 0:16:54.800 in this type of matchup. Those fans are going to know, Okay, 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:56.840 Aaron Rodgers is not out there, we get the backup. 0:16:56.880 --> 0:16:59.400 That's fresh meat for us. They're gonna be ready for 0:16:59.440 --> 0:17:02.480 this thing. For green Bay's perspective, though, I think it 0:17:02.560 --> 0:17:05.720 really comes down to shortening this ball game. I don't 0:17:05.720 --> 0:17:08.120 know the exact stats on thirty five or thirty four 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:10.800 plus minutes in terms of time of possession, but when 0:17:11.160 --> 0:17:15.040 green Bay controls the football and finishes and executes, you 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:17.359 gotta do all that eventually have to score points. But 0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:19.640 when they control the tempo of a game, the green 0:17:19.640 --> 0:17:22.520 Bay Packers win. That's how Matt Lafleur got more wins 0:17:22.560 --> 0:17:24.560 in the modern era than any other coach in his 0:17:24.600 --> 0:17:27.760 first forty games. They need to be able to do that. Again. 0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:30.600 That means running the football. That means whoever is available 0:17:30.600 --> 0:17:33.919 in that receiving corps, whether it is Davante Adams, Marquisvelda Scantling, 0:17:33.920 --> 0:17:36.199 you know you're gonna have Alan Lazar back. They have 0:17:36.280 --> 0:17:38.879 to be able to push the football down field. But 0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:42.879 it comes down to winning between the first down in 0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:45.280 the next first down, right, just moving the football. I 0:17:45.359 --> 0:17:47.600 think that's gonna be the main catalyst here and again, 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:50.400 playing mistake free football and Jordan loves first start. Yeah, 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:52.359 And on the defensive side of the ball, I've already 0:17:52.359 --> 0:17:55.120 talked about the turnovers. But the other thing, clearly when 0:17:55.119 --> 0:17:58.080 you're facing this Kansas City Chiefs defense and Patrick Mahomes, 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:01.400 is you can't get gas for the big play, right, 0:18:01.440 --> 0:18:03.280 you have to make and and this is what Kansas 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:05.560 City has struggled with. They're always looking for the big 0:18:05.560 --> 0:18:07.960 shot down field. They want they want to punch you 0:18:08.000 --> 0:18:10.760 in the mouth with that long fifty yard bomb to 0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:13.399 Tyreek Hill or the thirty yards scene passed down the 0:18:13.400 --> 0:18:16.199 middle to Travis Kelsey. You've got to be able to 0:18:16.240 --> 0:18:20.640 defend against those, because that's why the Chiefs have struggled offensively, 0:18:20.760 --> 0:18:23.159 is when they've been forced to grind it out, to 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:26.359 grind out the long drives, they've made a mistake somewhere 0:18:26.359 --> 0:18:29.080 along the way. The opening drive last week Monday Night 0:18:29.119 --> 0:18:31.719 Football a few nights ago against the New York Giants 0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:34.600 was the perfect example. The Chiefs take the opening kickoff, 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:38.440 double digit play drive, everything looking smoothly working well, they're 0:18:38.440 --> 0:18:40.639 taking more than seven minutes off the clock. And then 0:18:40.640 --> 0:18:42.400 they get in the red zone and a ball gets 0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:44.720 deflected and picked off and the Giants have the ball 0:18:44.760 --> 0:18:46.720 back and the Chief's got nothing out of that possession 0:18:46.720 --> 0:18:49.600 except to turn over. Why because the Giants didn't give 0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:52.119 up a fifty yard pass, right they made up you know, 0:18:52.160 --> 0:18:54.679 And that's what the Packers. That's what the Packers have 0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:56.439 to do, because that's what's going to give you the 0:18:56.480 --> 0:18:59.360 opportunities for the turnovers, is to make them grind out 0:18:59.359 --> 0:19:02.040 a drive. And it's it's the old Dom Caper's thing. 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:04.560 Maybe it's because that was my first defensive coordinator that 0:19:04.600 --> 0:19:07.520 I covered, but I just remember all those times standing 0:19:07.520 --> 0:19:10.000 in the podium and Dom talking about the more plays 0:19:10.040 --> 0:19:11.639 that they have to play on a drive and the 0:19:11.680 --> 0:19:14.240 fewer you know, big penalties that you give up the 0:19:14.280 --> 0:19:17.920 fifteen yarders, the better statistically your opportunity is going to 0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:20.520 be to take away the football and also to stop them. 0:19:20.560 --> 0:19:22.840