1 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers unscripted from 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston Hodkoitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: hear from our studios at lambeau Field, with the Packers 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: back from their bye week and looking ahead to a 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Sunday afternoon matchup against the Denver Broncos on the road. 7 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: I will start by apologizing for my voice if it 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: sounds a little off. I am slightly under the weather, 9 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: but I don't feel as bad as I sound. I'm 10 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: actually feeling pretty good. 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: I don't think you sound bad, though, I don't think 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: you sound like gritty like. 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: You're saying I need to bring this voice to the 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: show more often. 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 2: Well, I mean the type of voice like that you 16 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: walk in the bar, everybody starts looking at. 17 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: You, you know, I mean like you command the room. 18 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, command the room. No, I like it. I think 19 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: it's uh you're made for this, but I appreciate you tough. 20 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: I at workout. I'll try to replicate some other time 21 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: before we get to talking about some issues with the Packers. Though, Wes, 22 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: I have to mention this because on our last show. 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: Before we took our little break heading into the bye weekend, 24 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: I brought up, or at least raised the question as 25 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: to whether we were just headed for another NFC championship 26 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: rematch between the Eagles and the forty nine Ers. The 27 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: way those two teams are playing, the way they were dominating. 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: And lo and behold what happens right after we discuss 29 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: that possibility. A couple of backup quarterbacks with outstanding defenses 30 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: behind them pull off the upsets, and the Browns knock 31 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: off the Niners, the Jets knock off the Eagles. No 32 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,839 Speaker 1: one in the NFL in twenty twenty three now is unbeaten, 33 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: and the Eagles in forty nine Ers may still meet 34 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: again for the NFC Championship. But it just goes to 35 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: show you that it's a long season. Any given Sunday, 36 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: all of those, all those cliches, it's a week to 37 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: week le and that was quite an interesting week of 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: NFL football, even though the Packers were not participating. 39 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: In the spot for Jinks is real. So, I mean, 40 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: that's the other thing we learned this week. Hey listen, 41 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 2: So I had an amazing opportunity. This actually was the 42 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: first week and I ever sat down and watched football 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: with my son, which was a lot of fun. I 44 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: watched Vikings and Bears, I watched Lions in Tampa Bay. 45 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 2: I obviously saw the matchup you talked about with the 46 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: forty nine Ers and Browns Eagles all these games, But 47 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 2: what was the most interesting to me is you talk 48 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: about teams that are considered like the leaders, the front runners. Unfortunately, 49 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: they've also developed these patterns, and for San Francisco, they 50 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: were done in by what has ultimately been one of 51 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 2: the things that has stopped them from becoming a Super 52 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: Bowl championship team, and that's injuries. Trent Williams goes out 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 2: of that game, returns but still gets banged up. Christian 54 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: McCaffrey gets dinged up at the end of the game, 55 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 2: Deebo Samuel obviously has the shoulder injury ends up costing 56 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 2: me my fantasy game this week. We won't go into 57 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 2: that though, please, But when you're playing a team like 58 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: Cleveland that is as game as they are defensively, Oh yeah, 59 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: the Browns defense is one of the more underrated units 60 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: in the league considering how prolific they've actually been here 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: as of late. And then the Jets man I just 62 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: don't know what else you can say. Four takeaways. They 63 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: won that game for their team, but they also did 64 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 2: it by beating a five to zero football team who's 65 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 2: known for their offense explosion. Here the last couple seasons, 66 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 2: the Jets are for real and unfortunately for them, the 67 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers injury happened. But my goodness, I mean that 68 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: defense is going to keep them in a lot of ballgames. 69 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: Well, there's a lot of stirring going on in New 70 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: York now because there was the video of Aaron Rodgers 71 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: casually playing catch and whatnot. He's already off the crutches 72 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: after the Achilles surgery, and Robert Salas made the comment 73 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: that Aaron Rodgers is on a mission. Obviously, the Jets 74 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: mission if they can somehow get Aaron Rodgers back before 75 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: the end of the season. Their mission is to still 76 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: be in the hunt somehow, because then they feel like 77 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: they will really have a shot. And you mentioned the 78 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: Cleveland Browns. I did not realize this until I saw 79 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: this statistic on Sunday night, and I actually put it 80 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: in Monday Mornings Insider inbox when I was working on 81 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: the column. The Cleveland Browns have allowed one thousand and 82 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: two total yards through five games, which is like the 83 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: third fewest yards allowed through five games, like all time, 84 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 1: like ever in the NFL, And it's the fewest allowed 85 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: through five games since like nineteen seventy one or something 86 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: like that. You know, over fifty years. What the Cleveland 87 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: Browns are doing on defense? I tell you, I mean, 88 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: it was it was a weekend I thought, for the 89 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: most part, not in every instant, but for the most part, 90 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 1: a weekend that was ruled by defenses in the NFL. 91 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: We saw, I mean, and this is how backup quarterbacks 92 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: can get surprise victories so to speak, right, can get 93 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: upset victories. Is when is when defense is fined way 94 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: to take over games and then it sort of becomes 95 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: anything goes down the stretch. You know, the forty nine 96 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: ers still have a chance to kick a field goal 97 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: win the game, but they miss it. The uh the 98 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: Eagles still get the ball back at the end with 99 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 1: a chance, right, but you know, the fourth down pass 100 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: deep down the field, you know, double coverage gets knocked away. 101 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: There is a there's gonna be a lot of interesting 102 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: activity here now that now that nobody's undefeated and the 103 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: Lions are five and one now sitting sitting atop the 104 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: NFC analysts are asking, are the Lions maybe the best 105 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: team in the NFC. I don't know if I'd go 106 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: quite that far just yet, because up until last Sunday, 107 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: the Eagles in the forty nine ers look like they 108 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: were in, you know, on another on another level so 109 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: to speak. 110 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: Yeh. 111 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: But but take nothing away from the Lions. They went 112 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: down to Tampa Bay and only gave up a couple 113 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: of field goals to Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, and 114 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: they lost their number one running back to an injury, 115 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: and they didn't seem to miss a beat offensively either. 116 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: Thirteen three now the best record in the NFL over 117 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: the last sixteen games, the way they finished last season 118 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 2: and then being able to carry that momentum into this year, 119 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 2: it's been really impressive to watch Jared Goff and Amanael 120 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: Saint Brown have developed a chemistry there that I think 121 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 2: quarterbacks and receivers always look to achieve. I mean, you're 122 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 2: seeing the big play potential now that Jamison Williams is back, 123 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 2: Jamiir Gibbs is going to be thrown into the fire 124 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: potentially here he's been dealing with some of his own injuries. 125 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 2: But if they're going to lose David Montgomery for a minute, 126 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: that's the adjustment that's going to have to be made. 127 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: But Mike I said it at the end of last year, 128 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: and I said it in that regular season finale against 129 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 2: the Packers. Detroit's defense statistically was not very good last year, 130 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 2: but they made a change in the second half of 131 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: that season. They got better towards the end of that season, 132 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: and they've just continued to get better. So now you're 133 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: actually starting to see the statistics lining up with the 134 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: way that they perform. And in every single way of 135 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 2: that game, they dictated what Baker Mayfield could do. In 136 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: addition to the fact that Tampa Bay doesn't have a run game, 137 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 2: they've really struggled on the ground, but they didn't allow 138 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 2: Baker to pull off his magic to find a way 139 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: to win that game. I just thought, when you look 140 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: at Detroit and what constitutes being a good team, a 141 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: double digit win team, a twelve win team, they played 142 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: that style of football in this thing because they beat 143 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: him in all three phases. 144 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the efficiency that we started to see the 145 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: second half of last season from Jared Goff with Ben 146 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: Johnson as the offensive coordinator in Detroit. Not a fluke 147 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: by any means, because Jared Goff is continuing to be 148 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: that efficient quarterback. And I would argue, you know, losing 149 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: Montgomery and with what Goff did? I mean, I believe 150 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: it was forty four pass attempts against the Buccaneers, but 151 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: yet they held a thirteen minute advantage in time of possession. 152 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: It was pure ball control passing. And yeah, the Lions 153 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: didn't light up the scoreboard, but in not lighting up 154 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: the scoreboard, they still completely controlled and dominated that game 155 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: quite frankly, on both sides of the ball. 156 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: So and those are the games, by the way, that 157 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: Tampa's won this year. That's how they got to three 158 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: and one. They've won these scrappy games, and the Detroit 159 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 2: Lions just completely took that away. Yeah. 160 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: Well, those are the teams at the top of the NFC. 161 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: Those are the teams that the Packers are chasing. The 162 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: Packers will enter this Sunday's game at Denver with a 163 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: two to three mark, a two game losing streak unfortunately 164 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: heading into the bye week. Now the Packers are coming 165 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: out of that. And I'm just gonna throw this as 166 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: an open ended question at you, Wes, when you look 167 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: at everything that's happened over the first five games here 168 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: for the Packers. Now you're coming out of the bye, 169 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: You've got twelve straight here before the end of the 170 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: regular season. What is the I guess I would say 171 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: the biggest area or the top of mind thing for 172 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: you that you feel the Packers need to improve upon 173 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: in order to get things going back in the right direction. 174 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: Win the first quarter, and you need to play a 175 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: complete game in order to win the game. But if 176 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 2: you don't come out of the gates, there's only these 177 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: teams are so talented, Mike, and there's so much parity 178 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 2: in this league. You can't spot an opponent, you know, 179 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: the first four hundred meters of a you know, a 180 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: thirty two hundred meter run. You have to be able 181 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: to keep pace if nothing else, And that's where Green 182 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 2: Bay's really struggled. I mean, I raised the point in 183 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: Insider Inbox. One of the only things that Denver's actually 184 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: done pretty well up until last week against Kansas City 185 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: was they put points on the board in the first quarter. 186 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: They actually are outscoring teams forty one to thirty one 187 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: in the first quarter, and that's not because they had 188 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 2: like twenty four points in one first quarter. No, they 189 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: was just consistently putting up seven to fourteen points. The 190 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: problem for Denver is they're the opposite of green Bay 191 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 2: in that they have ten points in the third quarter. 192 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: They just have not been able to sustain that throughout games. 193 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 2: They've had injuries in turnovers kind of haunt them. For 194 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: green Bay's standpoint, they've been one of the more productive 195 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 2: teams in the National Football League in the second half, 196 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 2: particularly that third quarter. But it's making sure and you 197 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 2: don't dig that hole early on, So how do you 198 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 2: stop that. It comes back to sustaining drives offensively, It 199 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: comes back to that initial first down. You go back 200 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: to that opener against Chicago. It wasn't perfect. They got 201 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 2: the ball at midfield because of a gutsy play by 202 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: the Bears. Yeah, but it was how they took what 203 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: basically was almost a turnover tight play and produce points 204 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: off of it. That's one thing green Bay for the 205 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: last month is just really struggled to do. They have 206 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 2: to find ways to come out of the gates and 207 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: sustain a drive. 208 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, the starts have certainly been one of the most 209 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: if not the most concerning issue for the Packers. And 210 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: this is the way I look at and I think 211 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: I'm saying the same thing you are, but maybe with 212 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: slightly different language, because maybe it'll you know how I am. 213 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 1: You know how I am with regard to crunch time 214 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: and how much that matters in this league. You know, 215 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: making the plays when you've got to make them in 216 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, late in games when things are tight. 217 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: And I'll talk about a few more of those later 218 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: on as well. So you can't win a game, You 219 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: can't win a game, generally speaking, with a fast start 220 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: in the NFL. But as you talked about, if you can, 221 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: if you can come out of the gates with some 222 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: production and at least keep pace, you get off to 223 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: a decent start in a game, it just increases your 224 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: margin for air the rest of the way. What we've 225 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: seen with the Packers, because they've gotten off touch such 226 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: slow starts, is then you get into the second half, 227 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: you're in comeback mode and your margin for error is 228 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: almost nil. Can't you can't you know, you can't make 229 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 1: a mistake on offense where you cross midfield and then 230 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: throw an interception because you're just too far behind you 231 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: haven't made enough good things happen, the defense gets in 232 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: a position where it can't allow one scoring drive, you know, 233 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: in the second half, because the offense is too far behind. 234 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: So a stronger start will increase this team's margin for air. 235 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: Because these games are not going to go perfectly. And 236 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: I know we talk about the youth a lot and 237 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: all of that, and the Packers are still working through 238 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: a lot of that, but those things are going to 239 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 1: continue to come up where it's not always going to 240 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: look smooth, it's not always going to look perfect. But 241 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: if you can put yourself in a position where you 242 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,719 Speaker 1: have a little bit more of a margin for air, 243 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 1: then you have a chance at crunch time to make 244 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: the plays that you need to make. 245 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: Let's even go back to that Detroit game against green 246 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 2: Bay because this also probably feeds into what Packers need 247 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: to do a little bit better down these last twelve games. 248 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: Green Bay did a really good job against David Montgomery 249 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 2: in that game for the most part, but they kept 250 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 2: going back to Montgomery over and over and over again. 251 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 2: They created some second in short opportunities, some third and 252 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: short opportunities, and then later on in that fourth quarter 253 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 2: when he was starting to get up to twenty five, 254 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 2: twenty six, twenty seven touches. That's when things started to 255 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,079 Speaker 2: rupture a little bit more. Green Bay has really struggled 256 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 2: to generate those plays offensively. You know, you look at 257 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: the time of possession. I threw this stat and insider 258 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 2: inbox two in Matt Lafleur's first four years as Packers 259 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 2: head coach, win or lose playoffs are now NFC Championship 260 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: game or not making the playoffs. They've been a top 261 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 2: five team in time of possession. Time of possession isn't 262 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: a b all end all stat. I will always say that, 263 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 2: but it is an indication of overall efficiency. Yeah. Green 264 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 2: Bay right now, I believe is in twenty eighth or 265 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 2: twenty ninth. They just haven't won that phase. And it's 266 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 2: because of not sustaining drives. It's because of you know, 267 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 2: some of the things that have happened defensively. Green Bay 268 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 2: needs to get back to that, to the sort of 269 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: the roots of this offense and what they do well 270 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 2: because win or lose, that was what they always kind 271 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: of were able to hang their hat on, is that 272 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: we're gonna make you play defense. We're gonna make guys 273 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 2: go out there and have to give energy every single time. 274 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: We're gonna give our defense time to rest on the 275 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 2: you know, on the other side of things, green Bay 276 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 2: struggled to find that. I think that partially has to 277 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 2: do with some of the issues with the run game, 278 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: but it also comes down to the situational football elements 279 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: that Green Bay struggled with, not so much in the 280 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 2: red area like last year, but in some of the 281 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 2: early down stuff. 282 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and what you said too about sustaining drives, I 283 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: mean or I go with that as well as is 284 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: a couple of things and Matt Lafleur's talked about a 285 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: lot in terms of the Packers have to avoid the 286 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: negative plays and whether that's you know, we saw like 287 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: against New Orleans it was a lot of penalties and 288 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: some other games it's been tackles for loss or in 289 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: the case of the Raiders game, there were the sacks 290 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: and what Max Crosby was doing in the offensive backfield 291 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: and all that. You have to You're not gonna be 292 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: able to eliminate them, but you have to cut down 293 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: on those negative plays that are putting you behind the 294 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: chains and making it difficult to sustain those drives. But 295 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: then the other thing I will say, and this really 296 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: goes for both sides of the ball, is you have 297 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: to make the plays that are there. You know, when 298 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: you look at you know, why why are the Packers 299 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: two and three right now? Because all these games, you know, 300 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: certainly the close ones, they always hinge on a couple 301 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: of plays here or there. You know, you look at 302 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: the Atlanta game and there were a couple of interceptions 303 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: that were in guys hands that were dropped. There was 304 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: a third and one on offense where the hole was 305 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: there and it wasn't converted. You know, right before the 306 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: final interception against the Raiders on that last drive, a 307 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: couple of drop passes that could have moved the chains 308 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: and put the offense in a better position. Those are 309 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: all plays that are there to be made, and you 310 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: have to make them. When you're the team that makes them, 311 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: your odds of winning go way up. When you let 312 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: those opportunities get away, things shift, you know, to the opponent, 313 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: and their chances are the ones that rise. So the 314 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: plays have been there for the Packers, and not to 315 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: say that making those plays was going to guarantee some 316 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: sort of a victory, but boy, their chances of winning 317 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: those games, we're gonna go We're gonna go up dramatically. 318 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: And I think if they just make more of those 319 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: plays that are there, they put themselves in better positions. 320 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: Since you and I are just Monday morning quarterbacks now 321 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: that just sit around and watch football on the weekends. Yeah, 322 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 2: did you get a chance to watch Chargers and Cowboys? 323 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: Did you get actually watch most of the game Monday night? 324 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 2: So perfect example that because we just it's not just 325 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 2: about Green Bay. It's what other teams do, and it's 326 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: the difference between a win and a loss sometimes. Yeah, 327 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: I think about that. Keenan Allen played a great game 328 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 2: on Sunday night, Monday night. Excuse me, he completely broke 329 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 2: I believe it's blank. The cornerback from the Cowboys completely 330 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: broke his ankles right beat him with the double move. 331 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 2: The guy didn't just get lost on the play. He 332 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: actually fell down and he's going up the sideline there 333 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 2: justin Herbert kind of airmails. The pass just overthrows him, 334 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 2: just standing in the pocket, not running. Ornything just overthrows him. 335 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 2: It ends up. You know, Alan reaches out for it. 336 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: Probably at the very least if he beats the safety 337 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 2: it's going to be a touchdown, but at the very 338 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 2: least it's going to be an explosive play, probably twenty 339 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 2: twenty five yards. Alan misses him. You think about the 340 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: difficulties that La had trying to move the ball against 341 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 2: that Dallas defense. If you hit that explosive difference in 342 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 2: the ballgame. Conversely, Cowboys have probably one of their worst 343 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 2: play call, no disrespect to Mike McCarthy, but probably one 344 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: of their worst play calls of the entire game. Play 345 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 2: is completely falling apart. They're trying to run like the 346 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 2: screen game or something. Dak is under pressure. He fires 347 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 2: off this pass that Tony Pollard. Pollard makes one cornerback 348 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: miss and takes it up the field for sixty yards 349 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 2: or whatever. That that's the difference when you execute in 350 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 2: areas of the game where you're not supposed to execute 351 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: and you don't make the plays that are there to 352 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 2: be made. 353 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that mistackle, the mistackle on the dump off pass 354 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: to Pollard maybe was the biggest play in the entire game. 355 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: I mean it might be. Yeah, it turned it turned 356 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: a modest gain into a into an explosive play that 357 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: completely that completely changed things. Again, it's another another example 358 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: of the the plays that are there. It doesn't take 359 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: anything magic, It doesn't take anything herculean to make it happen. 360 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: When it's there, when it's right in front of you, 361 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: you gotta make it. And uh And I think the 362 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 1: Packers have had those opportunities and I think they can. 363 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: I think they they'll have the ability to generate more 364 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: of those opportunities as these young players on offense continue 365 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: to grow. The other thing I will say too, we 366 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: don't really know exactly where the Packers are health wise 367 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 1: right now. They were back for a post by week 368 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 1: practice on Monday. Aaron Jones and Darnell Savage, having missed, 369 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: slashed exited the previous game. They were back on the 370 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: on the practice field. Devandre Campbell Kuay Walker were not 371 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: just yet. But the other thing I'll say too, And 372 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: this echoes a little bit of what Matt Lafleur had 373 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: said before the break, and it dovetails off of the 374 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: point I just made if and when, Assuming the Packers 375 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 1: are going to get Aaron Jones back at some point, 376 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: we hope it's this week, maybe it's not. Who knows, 377 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: but Aaron Jones is not the is not the cure 378 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: all fix all for everything because a lot of these 379 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: things I was just talking about about making the plays 380 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: that are there to be made, those have nothing to 381 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: do with Aaron Jones being absent from from the ballgame. 382 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: Those are plays that other guys can make. And yes, 383 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones reinsertion into this offense would be a huge boost. 384 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: It will definitely help a lot of things. But the 385 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: mentality for the players, and I know that coaches certainly 386 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: have this mentality as well, it can't be that Aaron 387 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: Jones is just going to is going to fix everything 388 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 1: because because this this this is the ultimate team sport, 389 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: and the opportunities have been there for others as well. 390 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. I mean that was what ultimately you 391 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 2: think about where guys have originally stepped up and you 392 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: know Christian Watson where he made the most of his 393 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 2: opportunities later in that season, Romeo Dobbs stepping up early 394 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 2: in the season when they didn't have Watson last year. Right, 395 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 2: It's how guys established themselves in these offenses. And you know, 396 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 2: you go back to that final sequence and not to 397 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 2: put on any one specific player, any specific phase, but 398 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 2: there were opportunities to catch the football and they did 399 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: not come up with them. So what ends up happening. 400 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 2: Jordan Love has to do a little bit more heroics 401 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 2: and it leads to an interception in an end zone. 402 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's put He's put in a third and ten 403 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: that quite frankly shouldn't have been third and ten. 404 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: And look at the end of the Tampa was not 405 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: going to win the game. But look at the end 406 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 2: of the Tampa game too, where when you're in third 407 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 2: and ten and you're just taking streaks to the end zone, 408 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 2: it just shots the end zone, that's all you can 409 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 2: Probability is not going to be there. 410 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I do need to take care of a 411 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: little bit of sponsor business here. 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One other topic to get to before we go. 419 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: We heard from a whole bunch of Packers assistant coaches 420 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: on Monday after practice, we heard from the coordinators as 421 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: well as the defensive assistance. Again, I'll just throw it 422 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: out to you open ended. Anything that came out of 423 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: those media sessions that sort of struck a chord or 424 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: stuck in your mind that you heard from from one 425 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: of the coaches about a particular player or something going 426 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: on with the team right now. 427 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 2: First off, just to mention it because we just got 428 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 2: done talking about it, but hearing Stenovich's perspective on where 429 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: the Packers' offensive coordinator Adam Stenovich his perspective on where 430 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: the offense is at right now after these five games. 431 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 2: Nothing that you and Iden already just discussed, but where 432 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 2: the Packers need to get to, where the offensive line 433 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: needs to get to, where the young nucleus around Jordan 434 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 2: Love needs to produce, and ultimately just trying to get 435 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: some win back in their sales. That's been a big 436 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: line that I've been pushing an inbox. I mean, I 437 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 2: really think, I mean, you cannot take the Denver Broncos 438 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 2: for granted whatsoever, but five and one one in five, 439 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 2: the Packers just need to get a win. They need 440 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 2: to get that feeling of what it's like to win again, 441 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 2: because while while the New Orleans win was great and 442 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 2: it felt awesome in that fourth quarter, you remember what 443 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: it looked like the first three quarters until you had 444 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 2: that comeback. They got to go back to defeating opponent 445 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: again like they did against the Bears. I think that 446 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 2: can be a huge thing for them. The other aspect 447 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 2: of it actually goes over to Ryan Downer in the 448 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: safety position, because he was asked about Rudy Ford, and 449 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 2: I thought, Rudy, when we're talking about guys that have 450 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 2: capitalized on their opportunities, Rudy's probably one of the best 451 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 2: examples of that so far. A lot of questions for 452 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 2: the Packers at the safety position. There was a wide 453 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: open competition throughout the summer of who was going to 454 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 2: line up next to Darnell Savage. Ford signed here after 455 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 2: leaving Jacksonville last September. He signed here, duing part to 456 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 2: the opportunity he was hoping to get on defense. We 457 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: all knew everyone in the NFL saw what he could 458 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 2: do as a gunner as a coverage player. He wanted 459 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 2: to be able to show that I can my skills 460 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 2: on special teams can translate to defense. And all the 461 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 2: dude has done in that time since is take advantage 462 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 2: of that hasn't been perfect, but when you look at 463 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 2: the PFF staff right now that he's leading the league 464 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 2: and run stops, he has two more interceptions after back 465 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 2: to back games, Packers have needed somebody to provide a 466 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: lift here defensively, and I don't think it was a 467 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 2: coincidence that one of the better overall defensive performances Green 468 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 2: Bay got this season came after Rudy Ford was able 469 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: to capitalize on an interception. Hearing Downard talk about how 470 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 2: this was a guy that has finally gotten his opportunity 471 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 2: and capitalized on it, I think that is one of 472 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 2: the when there's been injuries, when there's been opportunities, when 473 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 2: you've looked for guys to step up, Rudy Ford has 474 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 2: been one of those guys that I think has responded. 475 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would agree, I think, and I had featured 476 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: him in my in my What you might have missed 477 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: with some video clips from the game against the Raiders, 478 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, aside from getting the interception, I 479 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: thought Ford played a really solid game, especially in the 480 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: run support. The other thing that stood out to me, 481 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: and we heard it from a couple of the of 482 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 1: the defensive coaches is that, yes, of course they want 483 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: to get Devandre Campbell and Kway Walker back in the 484 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 1: middle of the defense as soon as possible, But the 485 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: defensive play did not take some huge step back with 486 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson filling in at those inside 487 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: linebacker spots, and I think that speaks to the preparation 488 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: of those guys. The I mean, Eric Wilson's you know, 489 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: he's a long time you know, relative to what's on 490 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: this Packers roster. He's a longtime veteran in this league. 491 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: He's played a lot of football, and he, you know, 492 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: he just stepped in and did his thing out there. 493 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: He's kind of, you know, he's kind of an undersized 494 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: you know, he's only about two hundred and thirty pounds. 495 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: He's not not as you know, as big as a 496 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: guy like Campbell or or Walker, but he's certainly willing 497 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: to throw his body around in there. And we've seen 498 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: McDuffie making, you know, the progression that he's made since 499 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: he came here as a six round pick out of 500 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 1: Boston College. Packers want to get their starters back in there. 501 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: But but that defensive performance against the Raiders, it held 502 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: up in large part because of those guys stepping in, 503 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: and I think I think some credit is due there. 504 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,159 Speaker 2: There's a lot about them too, if I may, just 505 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 2: because arguably, I think Kuway has probably been their best 506 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 2: all around defensive player so far this season. 507 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: I mean, the. 508 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 2: Guy he makes the tackles that are there, but he 509 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 2: also the way he's triggering this year is different, and 510 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: the way he's collapsing on the line of scrimmage. You 511 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 2: take that out of the defense. In that second half, 512 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 2: I had real questions about what was going to happen 513 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 2: with Josh Jacobs. But side of just that one twenty 514 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 2: four yard run to the edge, Green Bay still bottled 515 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 2: that up, and I thought that was a big credit 516 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 2: to Wilson. 517 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I may quibble with you a little bit, not 518 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 1: to take anything away from Walker, but if I were 519 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: to pick a defensive MVP through the first five games, 520 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: I might have to say, Raseuell Douglas. Yeah, know that 521 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: I know that he gave you know, he gave up 522 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: the touchdown against the Lions when he got fooled. And 523 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: then there was the whole conversation after the game about Hey, 524 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: we plan that just for you. We knew you were 525 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 1: going to bite on this move. Whatever, Hey, that happens. 526 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: That's the cat and mouse game that's played in the 527 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: NFL Rasseul Douglas to me, has he's he was, you know, 528 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: kind of that that turnover machine in some respects in 529 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one when he first got here and you know, 530 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,239 Speaker 1: was thrown into things and he was making, you know, 531 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: getting these key interceptions. Then you know, he he settled in, 532 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: did his thing last year. But I'm it feels like 533 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 1: he is a he is almost a different player this 534 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: year than he was last year. There's something something about 535 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: something about as approach, his swagger, just his his attitude, 536 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: whatever you want to call it, that he looks a 537 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: little bit different. Maybe he's just that much more comfortable 538 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: in this defense now that he's had you know, a 539 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: couple of training camps and all that to get ready. 540 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: But really like what we're. 541 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 2: Seeing his back outside. I mean he spent the off 542 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 2: season outside too. 543 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's true. Last last year there was a lot 544 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: of experimentation going on with where he was lining up. 545 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 2: I respected what the idea was there, because you look 546 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 2: at him, he has a similar size to a Charles Woodson. 547 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 2: There was that comparison. I think that that Aaron Rodgers 548 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 2: threw out there at the time, and but he the 549 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 2: way he battles and the way he uses his size 550 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 2: on the perimeter, Yeah, that is where I think he's 551 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 2: really shown his growth. And honestly, it'd be really interesting 552 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 2: if you just broke out his play in the number 553 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 2: of snaps he's taken just at the perimeter cornerback spot. 554 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 2: The Packers made a pretty pretty gutsy call there. They're 555 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 2: gonna say we're gonna play sides. We're gonna have gay 556 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 2: Air on the left, We're gonna play Rastul on the right, 557 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: understanding that you're gonna see a lot of DeVante over there. 558 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 2: And I thought he really competed well against I'm a 559 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 2: guy that there is. It's a high wire act going 560 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 2: against DeVante. Yeah, no, No, I thought he really succeeded. 561 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, the Packers defense certainly has something to build 562 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: off of heading into the Denver game. The Packers offense 563 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: trying to get things untracked early in games, like we 564 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: had talked about earlier. We'll talk a little bit more 565 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: about the Denver Broncos on our next show leading into 566 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 1: Sunday's game, But for now we'll call it a rap 567 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow 568 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: all of our coverage on the team on packers dot 569 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: com for wes, I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in, everybody. 570 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: We will see you next time.