1 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by the 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: birthday boy, Western hod Kuits. Happy birthday, my friend. Thank you, buddy. 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: These things creep up on you quickly. It's uh, it's 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: a it's funny every single year. Faster and faster it's coming. 6 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: And I can't sit here and believe that I'm already 7 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: forty eight. But it happened quickly than I could have 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: ever imagined. So here we are. Well, you're your household 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: is full of birthdays this week, right, your son is 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: coming up in just a few days. Well, and that's 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: the other thing too. You know, we're any of your 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: kids within your birthday range. Okay, I'll tell you this. 13 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: When your son is born about three days within the 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: range of your birthday, you've now had your last birthday, 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: so which is perfectly fine. The emphasis is in the 16 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: right place. But yeah, me and me and the kid, 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: I'll share the same week. Yeah, well, a fun weekend, 18 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: a fun week should say, in the hod Kowitz household. 19 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: But with that, we have a Packers victory to talk about. 20 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: And it was a forty five to thirty triumph over 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bears, improving the Packers record on the season 22 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: to ten and three. And I'll just start with this West. 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 1: I don't know if I've ever seen a second quarter 24 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: of football like that one that we saw Sunday night 25 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: at Lambelfield. That was crazy. I watched three different games 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,279 Speaker 1: that night. The first quarter, it's this three to nothing 27 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: kind of like you know, barnstormer a little bit, and 28 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: then uh forty eight points or whatever it ended up being, 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: I believe, in the second quarter, in the second quarter, 30 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: and then you finish off the game with the Packers 31 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: having this huge defensive stand you know they don't they 32 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: allow seven total yards in the third quarter or whatever 33 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 1: it was. And then by the time I got done, 34 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: like I was just stunned. But here's the thing is 35 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: that total points scored seventy two of them in the 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: final three quarters. You have to find a way to win. 37 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: And to the Green Bay, you know, Packer's credit, they 38 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: were able to get the job done. Well, that's the thing. 39 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: As wild as that second quarter was, which was big 40 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: plays back and forth, there were five touchdowns in that quarter, 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: scored on a play of longer than thirty five yards, 42 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: which was actually an NFL record for one quarter of 43 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: football based on statistics going all the way back to 44 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: the nine twenties according to NFL research. But after that, 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: after all that back and forth, and the Packers entered 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: the second half down one, it was domination by Green Bay. 47 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: Quite frankly, the Packers offense was rolling. The defense did 48 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 1: not allow the Bears to get a first down until 49 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: I believe, like four minutes left in the fourth quarter, 50 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 1: somewhere in that range. The Packers, once the game kind 51 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: of settled down, and this is what I wrote about 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: Sunday night, after We're all trying to calm down watching 53 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: everything that happened. Once the game itself had actually settled down, 54 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: the Packers were in complete command. Yeah, it was a 55 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: very decisive win in that regard. I mean, I think 56 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 1: it was pretty clear to anybody by the time the 57 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: game was over, the green Bay Packers were a much 58 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: better football team and much more complete football team, and 59 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: ultimately made fewer mistakes. And I know that saying something 60 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: considering some of the misques on special teams, but you know, 61 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: when you look at the Chicago Bears, whether it be 62 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: the interceptions from justin fields, the fact that they went 63 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: into that that lull in the third quarter, they had 64 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: some huge opportunities potentially on special teams that got taken 65 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,839 Speaker 1: away by penalties. A lot of times, Mike, this game 66 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: comes down to execution and discipline. For the Green Bay Packers, 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: both of those things swung in their favor. Yeah. Well, 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: what we saw Sunday night was really the Packers in 69 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: a lot of ways, overcoming a lot of different things, 70 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: and starting with the offense. The offense overcame a really 71 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: really sluggish start in the first quarter where there were 72 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: a couple of sacks, there was a botched handoff exchange. 73 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: But then in the second quarter, the Packers started to 74 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: get their groove on offense. They were taking you know, 75 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: underneath throws, moving the chains, you know, they weren't necessarily 76 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: going for the for the big play. And once that 77 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: offense got rolling, the Packers were in a really good 78 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: rhythm offensively the rest of the ball game. You Know, 79 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: what I thought was kind of the one of the 80 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: bigger plays. I would not call it the biggest because 81 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: it did the drive didn't produce points. But one of 82 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: the moments that I thought actually was really important for 83 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: the Packers early on was that thirty two yard completion 84 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: to Alan Lazard. Yeah, when they were backed up it 85 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: was a third and eighteen and the drive ended up 86 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: stalling out, and obviously, you know, some stilling still went 87 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: wrong for the Packers after that. But to me, it 88 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,559 Speaker 1: seemed like the moment after that the offense really started 89 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: to find itself. Lazar became a big focal point. You know, 90 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: they don't have Randall Cobbs, so they basically moved down 91 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: Lazard into that slot role. Everybody moved around, but La 92 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: Fleur said afterwards that was kind of the next guy 93 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: up there, And I thought Lazard gave them, while incredibly 94 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: different type of body type than Randall Cobb, gave them 95 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: a similar presence in terms of somebody that Rogers can 96 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: go to, somebody that he trusts and ultimately ends up 97 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: scoring that touchdown that I think to really get these, 98 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: you know, the offense kind of clicking once the ball 99 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: started rolling in Green Bay's direction. After at that, you know, 100 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: with the offense at that point, it wouldn't stop. I mean, 101 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: the Packers really the four and twenty some yards whatever 102 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: it was that they put together a bulk of that 103 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: happened after Lizard's catches and in the offense catching fire. Yeah. Absolutely. 104 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: On the on the defensive side of the ball, we 105 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: saw the Packers give up two big plays for touchdowns 106 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: in this one. There was the jet sweep touch passed 107 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: to Jachim Grant and then the third down slant pass 108 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: to Demir Bird, and those speedy guys just just took 109 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: off and dashed the Packers for those long touchdowns. But 110 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: I'll say this one, I thought the Packers defense responded 111 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,799 Speaker 1: to allowing those big plays in really really strong fashion. 112 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: And by the same token, the Packers defense made two 113 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: big plays with its own that helps to wipe out 114 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: some of those big ones you allow. And of course 115 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: I'm talking about Rasul Douglass getting a pick six, his 116 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 1: second pick six in as many games. And then the 117 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: opening Bears possession of the third quarter, Preston Smith getting 118 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: the strip sack where Shawn Gary recovers, the Packers offense 119 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: turns that into a touchdown on a on a single play, 120 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: and that was the moment where suddenly, with the third 121 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: quarter starting touchdown, turnover touchdown for the Packers, they went 122 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: from down to up. My point is, you don't want 123 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: to give up those big plays. Obviously, on defense. But 124 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: if defensively you can make some big plays along the 125 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: way yourselves, it definitely helps to to mitigate the damage 126 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: when the other team does get absolutely and and really, 127 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: to me, this kind of almost reminded me a little 128 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: bit of a boxing match where you had an opponent 129 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: that's gonna throw some pretty heavy haymakers. You're gonna take 130 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: a few on the chin. You kind of have to 131 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: bite down on the mouthpiece and keep moving forward. Though 132 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: a hundred yards and two touchdowns off of those two plays, 133 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: justin fields only through for two and twenty four the 134 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: entire game, a bulk of his production were on those 135 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: two plays. And give credit where credit is due. I actually, 136 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: you know everyone rips on Matt and Aggie and the 137 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: Bears coaching staff. Actually, they have a really good coaching staff. 138 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: I think there's probably not enough talent there. But they 139 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: get those guys open in space, they scheme things up, 140 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: those guys made plays. They put their players in a 141 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: position to make plays. I think the bigger issue for 142 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: them was they didn't get David Montgomery going in this 143 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: game the way they were able to do it the 144 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: week earlier, even though they lost David Montgomery was really 145 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: the catalyst for them sort of finding themselves offensively. Justin 146 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: Fields had to do less. Justin Fields felt he had 147 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: to do more in this game. He scrambled a little 148 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: bit more, but he also made some ill advised passes 149 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: as well. Some he paid for, some he didn't. But 150 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: the Greeny Packers were just so much more consistent. When 151 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: you have Aaron Rodgers throwing for three d what was it, 152 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: forty one yards hundred forty passer rating Justin Fields, you 153 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: know he's sitting there over on the other side of 154 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: things with the seventy. When there's that type of differential 155 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: between the two, it's gonna favorite Green Bay. But more importantly, defensively, 156 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: it's that speech. I don't want to make it out 157 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: to be like this. This you know, win one for 158 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: the Gipper thing when one for the Preston But you 159 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: know Preston Smith going in there and telling the guys, 160 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: this is not up to our standard. We are losing 161 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: to a four win team, a four and eight team 162 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: that's starting to think of it's offseason. We gotta play better. 163 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: It's not just good enough to say that. You have 164 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: to come out and perform yourself. And Justin I should 165 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: say Preston Smith. Did that set the tone for that 166 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: second half and what Green Bay's defense was able to accomplish. Yeah, absolutely, 167 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: when I got when a guy speaks up in the 168 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: locker room like that at halftime and says, hey, this 169 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: is not who we are and then goes out there 170 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: on the second snap for the Bears and makes that play, 171 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: gets the strip sack and and completely turns things around. 172 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: That says something about about leadership, but also a leader 173 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: pointing to himself and saying and saying, you know, hey, 174 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: maybe I wasn't who I was in the first half. 175 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: Either this is this is who I am, this is 176 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: who we are and uh. And the Packers defense really 177 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: did turn things around. And is there anything more demoralizing 178 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: in the sport of football then when a guy gets 179 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: a strip sack fumble and Rashawon Garry recovers it and 180 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: they also draw the holding penalty on the play they 181 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: played through the hold. An incredible for performance by Preston Smith. 182 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: And I mean five sacks now in his last four games. 183 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: I saw one stat I think from Pro Football Focus 184 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: he has as many pressures over the past month as 185 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: he did all of last season. Preston Smith since coming 186 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: off that one game absence from the oblique, the guy's 187 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: been playing with his hair absolutely on fire. Yeah. Well, 188 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: and you mentioned too how the Packers didn't allow David 189 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 1: Montgomery to get going. But the other statistic that really 190 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: jumped out at me, and that speaks to even if 191 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: you even if you put the pick six aside for 192 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: just a second, but you look at what Russeul Douglas 193 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: and Eric Stokes did as the starting boundary corners in 194 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: this game. Alan Robinson was back for the Bears and 195 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: he's a big time performer. Darnell Mooney's their number two receiver. 196 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: Those two guys in this game eleven targets, three catches 197 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: thirty three yards. That speaks to what Stokes and Douglas 198 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: are doing and holding down their responsibilit at east against 199 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: the top receivers for the opponent. And uh, as much 200 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: as the Bears were in the game and obviously had 201 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: a ten point lead at two different times in the 202 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: first half of this game, justin fields never really got 203 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: going so to speak. I mean, yes, it was it 204 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: was the two big place for touchdowns. There was the 205 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: punt return for a touchdown, but justin fields never really 206 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: got going. Because the guys he needed to rely on, Montgomery, Robinson, Mooney, 207 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: those guys weren't doing the type of damage that that 208 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: can set a tone for an offense. And uh, and 209 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: that's why the Packers defense eventually prevailed. And I want 210 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: to give a shout out here. It's gonna sound like 211 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 1: somewhat of a weird shoutout, but I want to give 212 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: a shout out to Kevin King. Is Kevin King only 213 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: played three defensive snaps in this game. I imagine that 214 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: that was tough for him. Yeah, but this defense is 215 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: going to need him, This secondary is going to need him. 216 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: We've seen how these things go. The first question in 217 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: Credit to Match nine minutes a question every journalist should 218 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: be asking to Matt Lafleur. You know, what are you 219 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: gonna do when Jayer comes back? And you know, and 220 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: Matt and have an answer for that right now? I 221 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: don't think anyone does, because for so long the Packers defense, 222 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: and really on both sides of the ball, has been 223 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: just under this this abundance over abundance of injuries where 224 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: it's been next man up, next man up, next man up. Well, 225 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: what do you do when you start to get guys back? 226 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: What do you do when you guys start to get healthy. 227 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: Unfortunately for King it resulted in him not being in 228 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: the starting lineup in this game. But when you see 229 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: Russeul Douglas making the plays that he's made over the 230 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 1: past two months, when you see Channon Sullivan making a 231 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: huge play at the end of the game in the slot, 232 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: Eric Stokes I think is on the precipice and becoming 233 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: a really good player in this league, and he's been 234 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: their most consistent, healthy, viable corner throughout the season. It's 235 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: gonna lead to some tough decisions, but we all have 236 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: all seen how one hamstring injury here, one head injury, 237 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: one foot injury, it changes the complexion of the season. 238 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: And especially when you look at Jaire Alexander and his shoulder. 239 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: Jaire Alexander doesn't hurt his shoulder. You might not have 240 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: her Soul Douglass in Green Bay right now, but the 241 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packer are gonna need that secondary to be 242 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: able to make a championship run. And I think even 243 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: if it isn't this game, it could be the next one. 244 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: It's about making sure that you are ready when you're 245 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: called upon, and it was Soil Douglas credit man I have. 246 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: I can't remember Mike. I wasn't here for the Super 247 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: Bowl run, But I can't remember a veteran player that 248 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: came in at the juncture that he did, with the 249 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: low expectations that were cast upon this young man coming 250 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: off at Arizona's practice squad that's made the kind of 251 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: impact he has. This wasn't some undrafted free agent we 252 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: didn't know about. This wasn't some guy that was playing 253 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: a different position. This guy was a former third round 254 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: draft pick who Jerry Gary gave him a couple of 255 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: tips on how to watch film better, and he's playing 256 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: out of his mind. Yeah, it's it's it's really been 257 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: something to watch. Yeah, it's remarkable. I mean, you we 258 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: we talked about from the Super Bowl season. You know, 259 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: guys like Eric Walden, Howard Green, you know, veteran players 260 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: who joined the defense midstream, so to speak, and became 261 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: very solid players and solid contributors. But nobody's going to 262 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: say that, you know, in two thousand and Howard Green 263 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: or Eric Walden is doing what we're sewell Douglas is 264 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: doing for this defense when when the defense absolutely needed 265 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: him with Jaire Alexander being out for such a long stretch, 266 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,439 Speaker 1: you know, and Green he was such a great player 267 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: for them. But they had Ryan Pickett, and they had b. J. 268 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: Raggie who was coming into his own. B. G. Rodgers 269 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: should have been a pro bowler that year. You you 270 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: look at Eric Walden, well, it was still the Clay 271 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: Matthews show. Bristil Douglas is one of the best players 272 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 1: on this entire defense right now. Defense with a lot 273 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: of good players. It's quite the fine. Hey, but they 274 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: didn't get Stefan Gilmore. They don't know what they're doing, 275 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: my goodness. All right, Well, serious x M NFL Radio 276 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to them in NFL 277 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: News that true football fanatics need seven three sixty five. 278 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: And at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like 279 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, and 280 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub 281 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: in a bowl. Cousin Subs, we believe in better all right. 282 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: I want to get back to a couple of thoughts 283 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: on the offense first, and then we do have to 284 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: turn our attention to special teams. But offensively, there were 285 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: there was a lot to like in this game. And 286 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: I say that in the sense of in the sense 287 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: of a lot to like in terms of you know 288 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: your your staples, so to speak. But then also these emergencies, 289 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: and what I'm talking about is Davante Adams had another 290 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: double digit reception, a hundred yard game, and a couple 291 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: of touchdowns. Davante Adams doing his thing right. We saw 292 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: we saw a j Dillon grinding out the yards in 293 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter that touched on driving the fourth quarter 294 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: that took eight and a half minutes off the clock. 295 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: Dylan I believe, had five or six carries for thirty 296 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: six yards on that drive. That's the kind of stuff 297 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: that that the Packers offense is built on. That's what 298 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: you like to see. But you mentioned it before, Al 299 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: Lazard stepping up and having a really really productive game 300 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: and then also Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis. This is probably 301 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: the most productive I think almost certainly the most productive 302 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: tight end performance the Packers have had in the passing game, 303 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: uh since Robert Tonyan went down with his season ending injury. 304 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: And when you start to see those types of those 305 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: types of things, you just wonder how many more doors 306 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: is that going to open for this offense down the stretch, 307 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: and as you head into January and whatnot, when some 308 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: of these guys who have been a little quiet, you 309 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: might say, in terms of the passing production, suddenly they have. 310 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: You know, Marcedes has four catches for fifty yards. Josiah 311 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: Deguire gets a few catches as well. And and when 312 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: those guys are always doing what they're doing in the 313 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: run game on topic, well, and this was the Josiah 314 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: Deguire that I remembered from the opener in Minnesota. A 315 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: guy that's gonna be able to catch passes for you 316 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: and a number of different positions. He's going to be 317 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: able to throw some lead blocks, He's going to be 318 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: able to be used as that Swiss Army knife he 319 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: was in some eye formation looks in this game, as 320 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: as that f position. The thing I loved about Louis, though, 321 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: is we've seen it time and time again, Mike. You 322 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: know how like DeVante Adams draws all this attention, you 323 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: got four or five six, some teams just put all 324 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: eleven guys on him on the Mercedes. Lewis lulls people 325 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: to sleep. It is remarkable how he goes uncovered in 326 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: this league, in the National Football League, a guy that's 327 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: been doing this for sixteen years that has made the 328 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: production that he has, a former pro bowler himself. And 329 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: it happens where they'll give him these cushions. He sneaks 330 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: out into the flat and nobody's within six yards, I swear. 331 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: Defenses see him lined up in his usual position, and 332 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: they just they just mentally immediately go, Okay, he's blocking, 333 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: and they just they don't think about the possibility that 334 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: he's gonna leak out for a pass. And he and 335 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: he makes Now he's not he's not gashing anybody for 336 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: thirty forty yards, but he's making these eleven, twelve, fifteen 337 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: yard catches that are moving the chains and getting things done. Well, 338 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 1: that's the best part about If he has this twenty 339 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: yard catch where he's just getting down failed right, And 340 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: could you imagine Aaron Rodgers mentioned that the twenty three 341 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: yard touchdown play to Aaron Jones, that wasn't the design. 342 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: The design that it was to follow Mercedes Lewis down 343 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: the scene. Could you imagine if he would have called, 344 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: if Mercedes Lewis would have caught a twenty three yard 345 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: touch down down the scene. What would have happened in 346 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: lambeau Field. There would have been popcorn flying everywhere with chance, 347 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: you know, and in howling and embarking and everything. But 348 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: four catches fifty one yards for Lewis. That's his most 349 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: offensive production in terms of catches and receptions in his 350 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: three plus years with the Packers, his most overall going 351 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: back to that week through third week three season in 352 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen where he had three touchdown catches for Jacksonville. 353 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: The guy still can perform at this level. And for 354 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: Josiah Deguire to be picking up some of that Robert 355 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: Touny in load, uh, you have to see what happens 356 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: with Dominick Dafty. He got pretty banged up in this game. 357 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: But you know, the Packers made that investment in Deguara 358 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: third round pick, a high draft pick, because they saw 359 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: the Swiss Army knife tools and how those could be 360 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: implemented in this offense with Matt Lafleur. And I thought 361 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: that by far was his best game as a pro. Yeah. Absolutely. 362 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: There were some regrets from this game, however, one of 363 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: those being on the offensive side. Yet another injury on 364 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: the offensive line. Billy turn goes down with the knee injury. 365 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: Veteran Dennis Kelly stepped in at right tackle. By all accounts, 366 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: held up just fine and whatnot. Matt Lafleur suggested that 367 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: Billy Turner might not be out for the season, that 368 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: this might not be a super serious type of injury, 369 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 1: but evaluation still going on. We will just have to see. 370 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: He's certainly going to be out at least for something. 371 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: I mean, I would think but if the Packers, based 372 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: on how that injury looked, if Billy Turner can actually 373 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: come back at some point in this season, you'll be 374 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: thrilled with that. Yeah, Billy probably set a record. I'm 375 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: not saying this to make a joke. I mean, he 376 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,479 Speaker 1: was in that blue tent forever after that age. They 377 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: were checking him out for a long time. Usually something happens, 378 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: they get him on the cart, they get into the 379 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: locker room, but they really took a look at it 380 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: and Billy was able to actually walk back to the 381 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: locker room on his own, very slowly, very gingerly. But 382 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: the fact that he was able to do that, you 383 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: hope that that bodes well. I'll tell you what, Mike. 384 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: I remember Mike McCarthy used to talk about NFL teams 385 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 1: average to a c L tears a year. Green Bay 386 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: Packers are basically covered for the next three season on 387 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: that metrics. So you hope that that you know, Turner, 388 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: this thing turns out all right, you can get him 389 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: back because him and Royce Newman, they were the only 390 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: players on the offensive side of the ball to play 391 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: every snap this season and he's done all of it 392 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 1: at right tackle. Uh Now, Dennis Kelly, credit to him. 393 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: He came in played really well for a dude that 394 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: hasn't played in an actual game in a d and 395 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: twenty one days. But still, I mean, there's a reason 396 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: why Billy Turner has been that rock, as Matt Lafleur said, 397 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: and Green Bay really needs him for a title run. Yeah. Absolutely, 398 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 1: So hopefully the good news there will be some more 399 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: good news regarding Turner as as this week unfolds special 400 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: team side of things, though, a really really rough performance 401 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: for the Packers. Um alarm bells kind of going off 402 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: everywhere with regard to what was going on. I'm not 403 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: going to go through the litany of mistakes it was. 404 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: Um it was a long list of some bad happenings. 405 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: On special teams for the Packers. And I thought the 406 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,239 Speaker 1: most poignant comment to me that Matt Lafleur made on 407 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: Monday when he addressed addressed what was going on with 408 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: special teams the day after, he said, Okay, it looks 409 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: like the Packers are going to have to turn to 410 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: some of their veteran regulars on offense and defense and 411 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: asked them to play a certain phase of special teams, 412 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: whether it's kickoff cover, whether it's punt cover, something, to 413 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: take on some extra duties on special teams because because 414 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 1: the personnel that's out there right now is not is 415 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: not getting it done, and the Packers cannot afford, absolutely 416 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: cannot afford another performance like that in the third phase 417 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: of the game, not at all, because you know one 418 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: of the one or two of those mistakes might happen. 419 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: It can't be as widespread on a number of units 420 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: as it was. And whether it be the punt return, 421 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: whether it be the fun you know, the muff punt 422 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,360 Speaker 1: at first, whether it be what happened on the onside kick, 423 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: you have to be more assignment sure than that. I 424 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: think here's here's the biggest key is adding on Alan 425 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: Lazard or a Seul Douglas or adding some of these 426 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: guys these teams. Is it can improve everything overnight. No, 427 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: but it would I think give them a much needed 428 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: boost in confidence. And no, okay, there's a new variable here. 429 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: Here's here's some actual help. Here's some guys that are 430 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: proven on these teams that can really assist us in 431 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: our goal. I think that's that's critical. I don't want 432 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: to see you know, Adrian Amos being a gunner or 433 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: anything like that, but you have to find ways to 434 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: make things a little bit more palatable here for this unit. 435 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: And realistically, I mean it's a tough situation that Green 436 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: Bay has been put in because you just make that 437 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: switch where you start toying with the idea of using 438 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: Randall cob on punts. Then he gets hurt, right, you see, 439 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: Equinimia st Brown has been a really strong gunner for 440 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,239 Speaker 1: them this year. He gets the concussion obviously on that 441 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: that big return from Grant. You know the reason they 442 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: actually as much as we talk about, you know what 443 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 1: Douglas has given them defensively, what Isaac ye Adam gave him. 444 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: Those guys were kind of brought in as special teams 445 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: guys originally like that was sort of thing. We need 446 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: some extra guys here because now you're gonna be using 447 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: some of those corners already on the roster and more 448 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: featured defensive positions. So to use a Douglas, to use 449 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: a Lazard, if that's what you gotta do, I think 450 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: you do it now. The only question I wonder about 451 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: is the deployment of it. We have four regular season 452 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 1: games left here. It's important, don't get me wrong, But 453 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: you also want to make sure that those guys are 454 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: around for the playoffs. You need to balance how many 455 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,120 Speaker 1: reps they need to get to be comfortable in those 456 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: spots and key situations versus Okay, doing it too early 457 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: and now you're you're having that risk of exposure. So 458 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: a lot of decisions green Bay has to make. But certainly, 459 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: you look at a performance like that, you have to 460 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,159 Speaker 1: make some structural changes in order to find a way forward. 461 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 1: I belie. Yeah, it's it's going to be. Uh, it's 462 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: going to be a difficult tight rope to walk in 463 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: that respect, because of because of the exposure, because of 464 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: the because of just the the extra snaps, the extra 465 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: workload and everything like that. I mean, you need Rasul 466 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: Douglas at his best at cornerback in the fourth quarter 467 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: of a close game, and if he's taken an extra 468 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: ten or twelve snaps on special teams throughout the course 469 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: of a game. As we know, all it can take 470 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: is is one play. Just like all it can take 471 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: is one guy on special teams on a cover unit 472 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: getting out of his lane or not doing his job properly, 473 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: and suddenly a guy like Jachem Grant has a has 474 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: a seam and boom has gone for ninety plus yards. 475 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: That's the That's the kind of stuff you have to 476 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: guard again. And the thing you got to recall to 477 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: is that it's not just that punt return, right, It's 478 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 1: that the defense has to go back on the field 479 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: after uh that play. I remember talking to Divon House 480 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: about this a number of years ago. Devon would be 481 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: a jammer, uh you know with the with I should say, 482 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 1: a gunner on the punt return unit, and then he 483 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: would have to be out play in the perimeter. And 484 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: you're now you're facing off against one of the NFL's 485 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: fastest receivers and you've just gotten done, you know, basically 486 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: running sixty yards down field. So there is that balance 487 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: and it's something that Green Bay is gonna have to weigh. Yeah. Well, 488 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,359 Speaker 1: the good news for the Packers in the big picture 489 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: of things, although there wasn't anything that went right in 490 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: terms of the results to help green Bay throughout the 491 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: weekend's games. On Sunday, Monday night, the Air's own the 492 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 1: Cardinals lose at home to the Los Angeles Rams, which 493 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: has now created a three way tie for the top 494 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: record in the NFC. The Packers, the Buccaneers, and the 495 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: Cardinals are all ten and three, and right now, the 496 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: Packers are the team in the driver's seat with the 497 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: number one spot because of those three teams, the Packers 498 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: have the better conference record green Bay. Only two of 499 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: green Bay's losses are in the NFC, the third one 500 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: obviously being to Kansas City in the a f C. 501 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: Both the Cardinals and the Buccaneers all three of their 502 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: losses to NFC teams, so that conference record tiebreaker the 503 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: Packers own it right now, which means if the green 504 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: Bay Packers win out here and finished fourteen and three, 505 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: they will be the number one seed with the first 506 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 1: round by and with home field advantage, just as they 507 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: had last season. And the big reason for that the 508 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 1: big key to that, I think is really just being 509 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: able to keep that advantage over Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay 510 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: is getting hot. It's it's following a very similar trajectory 511 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: of last se and maybe even more so because now 512 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: the ball has really been in Tom Brady's hands this year. Uh. 513 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: The thing about that game last night that I was 514 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: so stunned by was, Okay, you hear all these COVID editions, 515 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: COVID list editions, you know, Jalen Ramsey, Tyler Higbee, which 516 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: cost me my fantasy game. Um, the fact that they 517 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: still came out and did what they did to Arizona 518 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: in that game was truly impressive. Cardinals, Man, I don't 519 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: know if I've ever seen anything like this. They have 520 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: a hard time winning at home. Yeah, it's crazy. They're 521 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 1: seven and oh, they're seven and oh on the road, 522 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: and they're three and three at home this season. It's 523 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: it's a it's remarkable. Now. One of those one of 524 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: their three losses was without Kyler Murray. It was when 525 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: the you know, when Colt McCoy was in as the 526 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: backup quarterback. But I'm with you, Wes, watching the watching 527 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: the game against the Rams, the most surprising thing to 528 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: me about that entire game was simply that the Arizona 529 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: Cardinal The Rams held the Arizona Cardinals to just twenty points, 530 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: and they did not have their number one cornerback in 531 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: Jalen Ramsey out there to try to try to cover 532 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: DeAndre Hopkins the um the Rams didn't let Hopkins go 533 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: nuts and uh and as a result, and then once 534 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford kind of got got going with his arm, 535 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: he made some big time throws in that game and 536 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:16,520 Speaker 1: uh and, and the Rams got on a role putting 537 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:17,919 Speaker 1: up a bunch of points and they were able to 538 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: hang on. We we talk a lot, and obviously it's 539 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: where we are. We talked so much about Brian Goodkin's 540 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: and you know in Matt Lafleur in that relationship and 541 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: being able to find the talent and develop the talent 542 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: and get the talent producing what less need. And you 543 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 1: know Sean McVeigh have done in l A is impressive. 544 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 1: You know they lose cam Akers earlier this season. You 545 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: go into this game, it's sony Michelle and Michelle gave 546 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 1: them a very capable performance, manageable down in distance. Matthew 547 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 1: Stafford was as good was look solid um. You know, 548 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: you saw Beckham have his best game probably so far 549 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,679 Speaker 1: with them. They looked dynamic and dangerous, and if they 550 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: can put that together, they're gonna be a real problem 551 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 1: for teams down the stretch. Arizona is just such an 552 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: interesting thing. They're an interesting team to watch because you 553 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: see a game like that where they can't run the 554 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: ball at all. They don't have Chase Edmonds back yet 555 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 1: and it's all in Kyler Murray's hands, and Kyler Murray 556 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: is an exceptional player, but there were just elements of 557 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: that game where, even when they were kind of making 558 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: that run late, you're just like, I just think the 559 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: Rams are too balanced. And here they are now three 560 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 1: teams that ten and three the Packers with that conference advantage. 561 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 1: To have the number one seed right now, you have 562 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: to defend that territory. Yeah. Well, the Rams with two 563 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: big interceptions of Murray in that game, one that took 564 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: a potential touchdown off the board, another one that's set 565 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: up a touchdown for Matthew Stafford, and that offense, those 566 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: two turnovers were really the difference in the game. And now, 567 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: even though the Cardinals still have a one game lead 568 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: on the Rams in the NFC West, that division is 569 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: completely up for grabs because the Cardinals still have to 570 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,479 Speaker 1: play the Cowboys, they still have to play the Colts, 571 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: which is a team that's coming on strong. The Rams, 572 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: by no means have an easy schedule or anything like that, 573 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: but the fact that now they've gotten the split with 574 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, they've split their two games with them one 575 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: on one, they're sitting one game back. I'm sure they 576 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: feel pretty confident they could the Rams could catch could 577 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: catch the Cardinals and then and then make a push 578 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,239 Speaker 1: for a for a high seed in the playoffs as well. 579 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: And then you've got the forty Niners just kind of 580 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: sitting in the back seat waiting for this thing to 581 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: see how it all plays out. I mean, the playoffs 582 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: start today, the forty Niners are the sixth seat. I 583 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: mean that that division is really going to be interesting 584 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: to watch, and from Green Bay. In Tampa Bay's perspective, 585 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: Green Bay has a little bit more tough for competition 586 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: based on those matchups with the a f C. But 587 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,400 Speaker 1: really those two teams just got to kind of take 588 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: care of business within their division here, you know, and 589 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: they're gonna be able to have a real significant chance 590 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: at that by. I said this last night after the game, Mike, 591 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: I mean, buckle up. You know. The NFC race here 592 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: is gonna be down to the wire. It's gonna be 593 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: fun to watch. Yeah, no question about it. One last 594 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: thought here quickly before we go. Packers fans, if you're 595 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: looking for holiday gift ideas, Team and Story and Cliff 596 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: Crystals book, The Greatest Story in Sports, is now available 597 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: at the Packers Pro Shop. The four volume hardcover book 598 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: tells the book set excuse me. He tells the true 599 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: complete story of the Packers first century, from humble beginnings 600 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: to heartbreaks and triumph. Buy your copy online or in 601 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: store today. I need I need him to sign my copy. Yet. 602 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: I didn't get here on Saturday. I was out of town. 603 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: My nephew had a state swimming meet. Congratulations Aiden, he's 604 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: going to Nationals. All right. Yeah, he's a very talented 605 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: young man. But I didn't get my book signed. I 606 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: need to get my book signed. Cliff, I need you 607 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: to sign my book please. All right, you heard him, Cliff, 608 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: Get on that, all right. Cliff is a big listed 609 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: of Packers. He's with the second day. Right with that, 610 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: we do have to go. We'll sign off here on 611 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,719 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscrewed, but be sure to follow 612 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com. 613 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: For West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll 614 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: see you next time.