1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Winston turns play action fake, gonna throw it rolling right 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: looking looking throwing, and it's picked up by the Lions, intercepted 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: at the forty five yard line. Takeaway. That's what they needed. 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Defense coming up with a huge play. Thomas Harper stepping 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: in front of the attended receiver. 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: And Welcome Week thirteen of the NFL season. I am 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 2: Tim Twentyman. This is the twenty Men in the Huddle podcast. 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: He is John Neo, very talented calumnist for. 9 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 3: The Detroit game. It's good to be here, Tim. 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is becoming a like an annual thing, reunion 11 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,639 Speaker 2: this last Thanksgiving, so we're gonna we decided to reup it. 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 4: It was so good. 13 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 5: Slightly bigger the stakes of raise this Thanksgiving raise. 14 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 3: This is a big game. 15 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 4: It is a huge game. 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's the biggest game of the year, like and 17 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 5: I kind of felt like that even before the season, 18 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 5: we looked at that schedule, you know, all those primetime games, 19 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 5: and you know the sort of murderers row of primetime games, 20 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 5: and this was the one still to me, that's like, 21 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 5: you know, the goal of this season, like every season, 22 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 5: but especially this season, was to. 23 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 3: Win the division. And this is the game you got 24 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 3: to win to win the division. 25 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 4: Especially, I don't think the loser wins. 26 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 5: No, at least no crazier things have happened, certainly certainly 27 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 5: in this NFC North it's a log jam. But yeah, 28 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 5: it's the winner of this one is right there as 29 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 5: maybe I think probably wins the division. To be honest, 30 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 5: no offense to Ben Johnson and the Bears, but I 31 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 5: do think that the winner of this one is in 32 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 5: the driver's seat and U and the losers. 33 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: Really got to need some help. 34 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 2: That silly tie screwed everything. 35 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 5: I know, but it kind of makes things easier for us, 36 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 5: hopefully at the end of the season. But yeah, no, 37 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 5: I do think this is sort of this is a 38 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 5: make or break game for both these seams in terms 39 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:39,199 Speaker 5: of the division. 40 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: Let's talk about the Giants a little bit. Yeah, we 41 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: look forward to the Packers and john It felt like 42 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 2: on Monday the Lions were apologizing for a win, you know, Yes. 43 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 4: That sense to just you hear the. 44 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: Sports stock radio and my ax A count and everything else. 45 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 4: It felt better. Is there such a thing as a 46 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 4: bad win. 47 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 3: Apologize? 48 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 6: No? 49 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 5: Look, I mean that just look at who the Giants be. 50 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 5: They've only got two wins, but you know, they beat 51 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 5: maybe they beat yeah, Philadelphia, Philadelphia. So no, but and look, 52 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 5: it was a game all week they tried to tell 53 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 5: everybody this team is not a two and nineteen. You know, 54 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 5: you know the reason why they head coach got fired 55 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 5: is because they kept blowing fourth quarter leads, which of 56 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 5: course they did again on Sunday. But no, and I 57 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 5: think you know, look, you're always looking for the for 58 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 5: the positive spin after a game like that if you're 59 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 5: the Lions. But I think there is something to the 60 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 5: fact that, you know, Aiden Hutchinson after the game was 61 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 5: talking to met Is like something we really hadn't done before, 62 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 5: was down ten eleven, twelve minutes left, come back, win, 63 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 5: and those things do there's a confidence that comes from that. Yeah, 64 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 5: that I think is important. And you you know, every 65 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 5: good team is going to have one of those games 66 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 5: in a season, maybe more than one. You know, if 67 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 5: you're the Lions, and if you're a Lions fan, you're 68 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 5: hoping it's not a regular thing. Down and double digits 69 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 5: down in the fourth quarter. But no, I think there's 70 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 5: something to be said for, Hey, we can do this, 71 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,839 Speaker 5: we can come from behind and and win a game 72 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 5: like that. And when we're not playing our best, because 73 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 5: they certainly didn't play their best or close to it. 74 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: And there's something to be said for your star power 75 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 2: at the end being a big part of that too, 76 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,839 Speaker 2: Jamior Gibbs, Aiden Hutchinson gets the sack, you know, and 77 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: then it was your stars that made the plays at 78 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 2: the end of the game. And to your point, you 79 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 2: want to prove that you can come back, but your 80 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: stars have to be stars in those big moments too, 81 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: And I thought that was something positive to come out 82 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: of that game. You wrote about the defense after the game. 83 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 2: I'm just curious what impressed you about that performance and 84 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: what's one thing maybe that you got some reservations about 85 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: when you look at that. 86 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean it's pretty easy to me. I mean 87 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 5: the one thing that impressed me was, you know, look 88 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 5: at so many things went wrong for them on that 89 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 5: side of all, especially a week after they had, you know, 90 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 5: played championship level defense in the in the game in 91 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 5: Philly on prime time. The explosive was ten explosive price. 92 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 5: I mean, it's just it was sort of unheard of. 93 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 5: It was jarring, looked like, you know, look like scrambled 94 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 5: drills on the defensive side of few too many plays there. 95 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 5: You know, there's some miscommunications. Certainly, there's a lot of 96 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 5: things that went wrong. The one thing that you can 97 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 5: say about this defense more than anything else is that 98 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 5: run defense is legitimately one of the best in the league. 99 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 5: It's a constant. It's you know, you're always going to 100 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 5: be in a game. You feel like with the way 101 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 5: they stopped the run, and that's a Giants team that like, 102 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 5: it's not a world beating Giants offense with you know, 103 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 5: the pieces they're missing, but they were running the ball 104 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 5: and they could run the ball and they didn't effectively. 105 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 5: It was a three point one yards of carry or whatever. 106 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: I mean. 107 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 5: They they they did enough in the run game to 108 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 5: keep themselves in there, and then now now they were 109 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 5: James once had. The problem was James had way. 110 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 2: Too much time to throw and that's been an issue. 111 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 5: That's been an issue million You get one sack and 112 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 5: it's the very last play of the game. Certainly it 113 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 5: was an important sack, but yeah, he just said way 114 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 5: too much time. I think it was like second longest 115 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 5: ye something like that this year this season. So you 116 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 5: know that's a problem. That's why it looked as bad 117 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 5: as it did, probably in the back end because there 118 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 5: wasn't enough pressure. And Jamis is a guy that we 119 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 5: all know. He's going to give you chances to make 120 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 5: plays and get turnovers if you put a little pressure, 121 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 5: and they just didn't enough that game. 122 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: All right, let's look forward to Thursday, big game. We've 123 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: talked about it. What does Detroit have to do, in 124 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 2: your opinion, Thursday to come out on top. It's a 125 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 2: really good, really good green Bay defense, top five in scoring, 126 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 2: top five in total defense. It's an offense. It's in 127 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 2: the top half of the league. They're pretty balanced defensively, 128 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: they're really really what. 129 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 5: Is it, second best defense they've probably played this year. 130 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 5: I would say, you know, maybe behind Philly. 131 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 2: What jumps out. 132 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 5: You gotta start fast, You've got to run the ball, 133 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 5: and that's the thing. You know, Look, we saw what happened. 134 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 5: All the miscommunication was the first time out for Tate 135 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 5: Ratledge and Chris Mahogany and that interior offense. Different team 136 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 5: now it is a different team. Now it's a different 137 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 5: you know, Michaeh Parsons was just getting his feet wet 138 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 5: and just shown up in Green Bay. Now he is 139 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 5: Michah parsons that defensive front, they can rush for and 140 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 5: sack the quarterback. Jared Goff was sacked four times time 141 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 5: n hit nine times. That can't happen again. But the 142 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 5: way to make sure that doesn't happen is to get 143 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 5: that run game going early, get the crowd in it. 144 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 5: But obviously is the other change when you change the 145 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 5: venue like this, Yeah, I think that's important to establish 146 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 5: a run and get some play action. Now, the other 147 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 5: thing that's been missing, obviously is that you know that 148 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 5: explosive deep shot in this offense. Teams are not gonna 149 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 5: let him do it. Jamo's not going to get behind 150 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 5: you know, the safeties are not going to let that 151 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 5: happen unless you force them to make it happen. And 152 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 5: so that's to me, I just think there's opportunities there. 153 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 5: But to me, it's gonna start with that run and. 154 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 2: If they take that big shot away, then you've got 155 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 2: to take advantage of the run game, like you talked. 156 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 5: About, especially now, especially now because you're missing Sam Laporta, 157 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 5: which is a huge piece that we probably don't talk 158 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 5: about enough. Yeah, there's no replacing that in terms of 159 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 5: not just a safety valve, but in the run game. 160 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 5: And look, you might not have cleef Raman this week, 161 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 5: so maybe, like you said, it's a tesla, it's a 162 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 5: little more action. Maybe there's more passing to Jamior Gibbs again, 163 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 5: which he's certainly a weapon. But yeah, to me, it's 164 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 5: gonna start with that line establishing the run. 165 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: Speaking of Gibbs, I think it was nine cares for 166 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: nineteen yards in that first week, four total, or maybe 167 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: it was bad. Something tells me mister Gibbs won't have 168 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: nine carries for nineteen yards. 169 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,239 Speaker 4: At home on that fast track. 170 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: John Look, two hundred nineteen yards rushing three runs of 171 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: forty nine plus last week. He's top three in just 172 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: about every category among running backs. And you start to 173 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 2: see the Lions always put out these statistics right on 174 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: the on the on the X account, and it's. 175 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 4: Since Barry's like the old page, the last one. 176 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: Since since Mary Sanders, first time since for you know, 177 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: all these things, forty plus touchdowns. He's probably gonna catch 178 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: Barry in terms of forty seven touchdowns before he's twenty four, 179 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 2: are we It's hard to compare anybody to who I 180 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 2: think is the greatest running back in the history. 181 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 4: Of the game. But it's it's starting to trend that way. 182 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 5: When you when you when you set a franchise right, 183 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 5: what was it was this total sixty forty four. Yeah, 184 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 5: when you set a franchise record for a franchise that 185 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 5: once was home to Barry Sanders for a decade, Yeah, 186 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 5: that tells you everything you need to know. But yeah, 187 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 5: he's just and what is now He's got three of 188 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 5: the five fastest speeds measured in the league and the 189 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 5: lead and that's h And that's the thing to me. 190 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 5: I mean, you know, there's nothing more entertaining than watching 191 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 5: you know, a quick block Pina Suell turns around, raises 192 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 5: his arms and gives it still and they just know, 193 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 5: almost sixty yards away at the end zone, it's just like, yep, 194 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 5: he's gone. And I mean that's the sort of thing 195 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 5: that you can't obviously you can't coach, but you also 196 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 5: can't defend. Yeah, if you give him room to run 197 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 5: like that, if if they can, you know, if they 198 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 5: can do the fundamental things at the line of scrimmers 199 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 5: the way they did on a few of those run plays, 200 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 5: he's taken into the house and that is just a 201 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 5: complete game changer. And that's you know, especially for a 202 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 5: team that obviously doesn't have the offensive line had a 203 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,319 Speaker 5: year ago or two years ago or three years ago. 204 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 5: That's that's everything they need, really is He's going to 205 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 5: have to be able to provide that here down the 206 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 5: stretch against these better defenses. 207 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: And I love how they're incorporating him the pass game too. 208 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 2: I think forty six catches. I think he had fifty 209 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 2: two each of his first two years. So he's gonna 210 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 2: obviously exceed that if he if he stays healthy in plays, 211 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: and that's a that's another way that they can get 212 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: the ball to him in and. 213 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 5: Not like it wasn't the opener where it was whatever 214 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 5: he set a record for like fewest yards on that 215 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 5: was just like, oh man, we've got no other option 216 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 5: here outlet, we just got to dump it off. No, 217 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 5: they've got you know, Texas routes, every whatever Texas there was, 218 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 5: there was a there was a wheel route last week 219 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 5: where it was like, oh and you know, I think 220 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 5: we're going to see one of those at some point. 221 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 3: Maybe it's this week where he's downfield catching the ball. 222 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: How fun is the NSC North right now? 223 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 5: I know, it's pretty crazy, right I was looking at 224 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 5: this too. It's the uh, the Bears are on top 225 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 5: right right, the Packers are right there, the Lines right there. 226 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 5: But if you look at the strength of schedule remaining 227 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 5: in the league, they're three of the top four because 228 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 5: they're all playing each other, you know, you know, the 229 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 5: Bears and Packers have to play each other twice. Yeah, 230 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 5: Lines obviously have to finish at you know, Soldier Field 231 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 5: in January. Obviously they're playing this week on Thanksgiving. But yeah, 232 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 5: there's so much that can happen here and those other 233 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,599 Speaker 5: two teams. To be honest, if you if you're a 234 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 5: Lions fan, you'd rather play the schedule they've got left 235 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 5: than one Chicago and a Green Bay. 236 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: The guy still has to go to San Francisco and Philadelphia. 237 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 5: And some of those weeks are really awkward too, because 238 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 5: you're going to San Francisco the week before, you know, 239 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 5: a Sunday night game before the line, you know, before 240 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 5: they're back home to play the Lines. Anyway, there's there's 241 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 5: plenty to be decided, but it's not going. 242 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 3: To be decided till the end. I think that's what's 243 00:10:59,360 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 3: starting to come. 244 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 5: Think you think that Week eighteen, I really, I do, 245 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 5: really think you know, whether it means it's Lions and 246 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 5: Bears playing to get in or maybe the and the 247 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 5: Packers are at the vikings. 248 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 3: Or advice for I can't remember now. I do think 249 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 3: it's going to come. 250 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 2: Down to me, just like last year, this division is 251 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: better when Chicago's good, right, Oh. 252 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 3: It's absolutely these rivalries. I mean that's the thing. 253 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 5: Like we went so long in this town in particular 254 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 5: with you know, would be rivals. But now that the 255 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 5: Lions have been on top and these teams are all gunning, 256 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 5: I mean we saw it in the opener in Lambeau. 257 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 5: I mean that meant a lot to the Packers to 258 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 5: finally sort of and the Lions jinks that you know, 259 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 5: they hadn't beaten them, you know, with any lock hadn't 260 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 5: had any luck beating them here in the last few years. 261 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 5: That meant a lot for them. Well, now the shoes 262 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 5: on the other foot, you know, it's like all right, 263 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 5: you know, you know, counter punch, that's what we're that's 264 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 5: and you can you could hear it in Dan Campell's voices. 265 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 2: And the Ben Johnson moved to Chicago up a little bit, 266 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 2: and that'll be the top of the conversation. For years 267 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: to come, as long as Ben's there, and we know 268 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 2: Green Bay is always going to be good. It's just 269 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 2: a little odd with Minnesota. Yeah, that quarterback whisper in 270 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: Minnesota for so long, and that just something doesn't seem right. 271 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 3: With right now. Whispers are starting to sound a little. 272 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 4: But that's a good roster. 273 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 2: That's a quarterback away from being right there again too, 274 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 2: And so it's just it's fun. 275 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 5: He wondered, you wondered at being in this year. Okay, 276 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 5: where's it? You know, how far is Chicago going to 277 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 5: make this jump? 278 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 3: It is? 279 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 5: It feels like the best division in football possibly still, 280 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 5: And that's that's a lot of fun for fans. It's anxious, 281 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 5: but it's fun. 282 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: Well, you're one of the best columnists in Thanksgiving. 283 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 4: Let's end on this Thanksgiving. What's what's a must? What 284 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 4: has to be on the plate at the Neil House. 285 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 3: It's a stuffing guy, stuffing. I'm a stuffing guy. Yeah, 286 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 3: I love it. 287 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, just yeah, I'll make an extra batch of stuff 288 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 5: and just for me left exactly. Yeah, I love it. 289 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 4: Big game on Thursday should be there. 290 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 2: You can listen to you can read everything and Detroit 291 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: news from from John Neo and thanks taking tanks. 292 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 4: Welcome back to the Twin in the Huddle podcast. 293 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 2: Everybody knows the guys sitting next to me, Isaac Tesla, 294 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: Welcome to the podcast. 295 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 4: Thanks for joining. 296 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 2: I appreciate it first time as a rookie. 297 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 298 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: It's like two West Michigan kids sitting there having a chat. 299 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: I'm from Zealing, you're from neighboring Hudsonville. And speaking of Hudsonville, 300 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: Hudsonville Unity Christian the team that you quarterbacked to a 301 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 2: state championships in the Division four championship on Friday. 302 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 4: I believe you've got a game Thursday. 303 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: You're gonna be able to make it down to the 304 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 2: championship game on Friday. 305 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 6: That's the plan. 306 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 2: And you're playing they're playing Divine Child. So is there 307 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: or is there not a bet? A friendly little wager 308 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,719 Speaker 2: in place between you and A and Hutchinson rival high 309 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 2: schools there? 310 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 7: Well? 311 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 8: Yeah, before this previous game I went up to him like, 312 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 8: did you see who you're playing in the state finals? Like, yeah, bro, 313 00:13:58,040 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 8: we gotta do a bet or something. So I said, yeah, 314 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 8: for sure, And we haven't a lot of had a 315 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 8: lot of time to talk after that and obviously before 316 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 8: the game. We're not too worried about anything about the game, 317 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 8: but I definitely think we're gonna put something together, something fun. 318 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 2: Take me back to those Unity Christian days. You know 319 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: you're quarterbacking the team there. Did you ever anticipate that 320 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 2: you would one day again be playing at Ford Field, 321 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 2: but this time with a blue jersey on for your 322 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: hometown team and the team you've always cheered for. 323 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say I anticipated it by 324 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 8: any means, but I mean it's always been my dream 325 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 8: since I was a little boy. So that moment was 326 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 8: so special for me. To be able to go into 327 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 8: the dome that I've been watching the lines play my 328 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 8: entire life. To be able to go and win a 329 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 8: game there with my closest friends and family in the 330 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 8: stands was super cool. So the fact that I am 331 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 8: here now in this position, and I mean it's even 332 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 8: surreal that I get to go back there and now 333 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 8: watch the team that I did, you know, go to 334 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 8: the state championship with. 335 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 6: Now I'll get to watch them, and it's just super surreal. 336 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 2: And you probably figured at the time that you if 337 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: that dream was gonna happen, it probably me a quarterback 338 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: and you go to college, you make the switch to 339 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 2: wide receiver. 340 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 4: Some guys would resist that. 341 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 2: You know, what was that conversation like, obviously turned out 342 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 2: to be the best thing for you, but just just 343 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: tuk me through kind of that journey and how you 344 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 2: got to where you are in terms of being a 345 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: wide receiver. 346 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean it was really my own decision. Like 347 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 8: nobody pressured me or even suggested it that I make 348 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 8: the switch to receiver. But I just felt like my 349 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 8: build and athleticism was better as a receiver than it 350 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 8: was a quarterback, which is kind of crazy to think 351 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 8: because I never caught a ball in a game. I 352 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 8: was always throw I was mostly running it. We threw 353 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 8: it very seldomly just because here ran the straight tea. 354 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 8: But yeah, I just felt like who I was athletically, 355 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 8: my speed, my size, my ability to jump up and 356 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 8: go get a ball. Because I would do drills with 357 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 8: my dad all the time and I would get bored 358 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 8: throwing the ball, so I'd go out there and he 359 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 8: make me run out. So I mean, I I was 360 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 8: getting reps at it, but it wasn't like I knew 361 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 8: that's what I wanted to do until about after my 362 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 8: junior season, after he one state, going to that summer, 363 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 8: going to camps, I was like, I think I want 364 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 8: to try going as a receiver instead of a quarterback. 365 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 2: And was it an easy transition? 366 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 4: Was it quick? 367 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: Did you have kind of quick success because of your 368 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 2: athleticism in your size? 369 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 8: I wouldn't say it was easy. I mean there's so 370 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 8: many nuances to being a receiver that I didn't realize 371 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 8: kind of going into it, Like watching TV, You're like, 372 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 8: all you gotta do is run the round and go 373 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 8: catch a ball. But I mean you can't just run 374 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 8: the lines on the paper, and there's different reads you've 375 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 8: got to make and all this stuff. So I mean 376 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 8: playing a quarterback kind of seeing the field that way 377 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 8: probably helped me a little bit as a receiver as 378 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 8: I learned it. But I mean it's just a completely 379 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 8: different position to play, and I had to learn so 380 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 8: many techniques and I'm thankfully my dad was a receiver 381 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 8: at Hillsdale where I ended up going, so he helped 382 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 8: me out a lot and we spent a line a 383 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 8: lot of time together working on my craft as a receiver. 384 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: And it's no joke in this offense playing wide receiver too, 385 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 2: with the splits and the timing and everything that Jared 386 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: is so specific about. What was that learning curve too? 387 00:16:58,640 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: Coming here? 388 00:16:59,160 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 3: Was it a lot? 389 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 2: Was a lot more than what you did at Arkansas 390 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 2: when you transferred there. 391 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 6: Oh definitely. 392 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 8: I mean everything is so like pinpoint, Like you said, 393 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 8: you know all the coordinators and especially Jaredissow, you know, 394 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 8: nitpicking about everything how everything needs to be because everything 395 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 8: has a brime or reason to it. It's not like, hey, 396 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 8: you make you go and get in that split for 397 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 8: a reason, or you want to run this route this 398 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 8: way just because I want it. It's because that's the 399 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 8: stuff that works against the defenses that were going against. 400 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 8: So you really got to lock into the game plan, 401 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 8: getting your playbook and see how things shake out on 402 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 8: the field when you're out of practice. 403 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 2: We've seen you become bigger and bigger part of these 404 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: offense the last few weeks. I think over twenty offensive 405 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 2: snaps the last three weeks. Khalif Raymond's dealing with an 406 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: ankle injury, will see if he's available on Thursday. The 407 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 2: expectation if he can't go, you will have a much 408 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 2: bigger role. You're really not a rookie anymore at this point, 409 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 2: right after after eleven games, I'm curious as you evaluate 410 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 2: your first couple months in the league, what do you 411 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 2: think spend your biggest asset and what do you what's 412 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 2: the one thing maybe you want to focus on improving 413 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 2: the most. 414 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, i'd say my biggest thing is just 415 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 8: my versatility. 416 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 6: Obviously. 417 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 8: You know, people look at me and they damn you 418 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 8: think I'm a tight end just because of my size. 419 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 8: But I mean, you know, you see me running my forty. 420 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 8: I got some speed to me and I have some elusiveness. 421 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 8: So I just feel like I bring a lot of versatility. 422 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 8: I can play multiple positions on the field, inside, outside, 423 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 8: I can block, so that I definitely think that's like 424 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 8: my biggest strength is just my versatility. And then what 425 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 8: was the other part of it? 426 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 2: Just what's one thing? Yeah, you want to continue to 427 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 2: kind of build and work on. What's one thing that 428 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: jumps out to you in that regard? 429 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, I'd say just like my overall craftiness. Obviously. 430 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 8: Right now I'm so focused on like doing it the 431 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,959 Speaker 8: right way and you know, locking in what it is, 432 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 8: how it looks on the sheet. But I mean as 433 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 8: a receiver, you know, you gotta have some savvy to you, so, 434 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 8: you know, making, separating at the top, releasing and stuff 435 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:52,239 Speaker 8: like that. 436 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 6: So just all that stuff. I really want to continue 437 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:54,679 Speaker 6: to work. 438 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 2: On Thanksgiving Obviously tradition as a Lions fan, you watched 439 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 2: a ton Just how surreal is it now to be 440 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 2: playing in this game. Probably a ton of family coming 441 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: over from West Michigan. You could have a big role 442 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,919 Speaker 2: in this game as well. How much have you been 443 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 2: looking forward to this week and this game? 444 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 8: Yeah, it's obviously super special, And obviously being a Lions 445 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 8: fan growing up and the tradition that it is watching 446 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 8: the Lions play every Sunday was something I really look 447 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 8: forward to. Obviously I look forward to Grandma's cooking and 448 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 8: Thanksgiving Thanksgiving meal, but I was always number two to 449 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 8: watching the Lions play. And for you know, a long time, 450 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 8: we didn't have a lot of success, but you know, 451 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 8: last year, I think we broke a pretty long streak 452 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 8: of losses on things. 453 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: Six or seven in a row. 454 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, so I want to keep that rolling. 455 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 8: And it's cool that I'm going to be a part 456 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 8: of it, and my family's coming out this way, so 457 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 8: it's cool that we're gonna have Thanksgiving on the on 458 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 8: the East side this year as opposed to the West side. 459 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 2: Not just Thanksgiving though too. I mean it's Green Bay, 460 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 2: a team that you guys lost to Week one. Obviously 461 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 2: huge game with division implications, playoff implications. 462 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 4: How different of a football. 463 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 2: Team are you guys since all the way back in 464 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 2: Week one. 465 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, we've definitely learned a lot, and it's 466 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 8: nice now we got some scout games we can watch 467 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 8: the Packers. Obviously, going into Week one, you never know 468 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 8: what you're gonna get, so it's it's good to get 469 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 8: the we can get some scout tape on them, kind 470 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 8: of see what their tendencies are and get that film. 471 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 8: But like you said, it's obviously a huge game for us, 472 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 8: and really for I mean for both of us, us 473 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 8: and the Packers. Like you said, we lost that the 474 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 8: first one, so we definitely got a chip on our shoulder. 475 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 8: But I mean, it's not like they're gonna let off 476 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 8: the gas by any means, and it's gonna be, you know, 477 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 8: huge implications for kind of the playoff picture going forward. 478 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 8: So you never want to put too much importance on 479 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 8: a game. We want to treat every game the same. 480 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 8: But This one's definitely gonna have a big impact in 481 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 8: the rest. 482 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 6: Of the season. 483 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 2: From the outside looking at it seems like you stepped 484 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: in a pretty good situation with Scottie Montgomery. You know, 485 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 2: in that room with with veterans like you know, Khalif, Raymond, 486 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 2: A'man Ross, Saint Brown. How perfect of a situation has 487 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 2: that been Having kind of that experience in that room. 488 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 8: For you, it's just been incredible. The leadership from Scotty 489 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 8: Montgomery is something that I really appreciate. I remember, even 490 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 8: coming in my visit, I just I knew that was 491 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 8: something that I would see myself really thriving under. And 492 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 8: I really appreciated his leadership, not only on the football field, 493 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 8: because he's I mean, he's incredibly smart. He knows everything offensively, defensively, 494 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 8: like he's just such a like a football guru. And 495 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 8: then just I mean, everyone knows the receiver room that 496 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 8: we have, so just be able to step into that 497 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 8: and look up to guys like Satan Jmo and Khalif 498 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 8: and even TK. I mean that dude's so versatile and 499 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,640 Speaker 8: he's been He's been hanging around here for a long time. 500 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 6: So just be able to sit behind all those guys. 501 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 8: And learn from them and now be able to play 502 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 8: with them on the field. Is it's been, It's been 503 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 8: very beneficial for me. 504 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 4: I'm excited to see you have a bigger role. 505 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: Are you excited to kind of have that that bigger 506 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 2: role down the stretch too? And and Dan Campbell said 507 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 2: this week he said, look, it's coming. His breakout game 508 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 2: is coming. We see it on the practice field. We 509 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 2: know that the potential is there and it's coming. What 510 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 2: does that mean that confidence coming from the head coach. 511 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean that's definitely a confidence booster. But it's 512 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 8: not something you know, you can go into the game 513 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 8: and you can force Like it's got to come with time. 514 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 8: So it's not like I'm going into every game like, 515 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 8: oh man, I hope this is the one, Like I 516 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 8: really hope you know. 517 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 6: This is my breakout game. Like I just go into 518 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 6: the game. I gotta do my job. I just gotta 519 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 6: do what I gotta do. Unto the ball comes my way, 520 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 6: and so be. 521 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 2: It on the ball comes your way, you catch it 522 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 2: one hand, two hands. It hasn't mattered this year. A 523 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 2: couple of great catches. Hopefully you have another great catch. 524 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 2: It touchdown to against Green Bay like you did Week one. 525 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 2: Last question, what's the must on the table? You talked 526 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 2: about the cooking Thanksgivings coming east? What has to be 527 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 2: on Isaac's play on Thanksgiving? 528 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 8: About half the play as mashed potatoes, gravy corn on top. 529 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 3: I like it. 530 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: Well, good luck to you on Thursday, your first hit 531 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 2: at the Thanksgiving Today tradition as a player, Go have 532 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,400 Speaker 2: that big game. Appreciate you taking the time. 533 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 6: Thank you. 534 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: Welcome back to the twenty in the Huddle podcast. I'm 535 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 2: very happy to welcome in Mike Spotford. He does great 536 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 2: job as the editor of Packers Dot. 537 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 4: Huh, Mike, thanks for joining me. Appreciate you. 538 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 7: Hey, you bet, thanks for having me tim short week. 539 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 2: This is I think what the twenty third meeting we've 540 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 2: had here on Thanksgiving. So we're familiar with this, we 541 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 2: us a little bit more than you. 542 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 4: But but just how tough. 543 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 2: Are these short weeks for the players, for the coaches, 544 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 2: for us quick to turning this around. 545 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 4: Not that the fans really care about us, but it's 546 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 4: it's tough. These short weeks are night it, Yeah. 547 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 7: No doubt about it. I mean I don't know, you 548 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 7: know how the players do it? Quite frankly, to play, 549 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 7: you know, four quarters on a Sunday and then turn 550 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 7: around four days later and have to and have to 551 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 7: put their bodies through that again on a day where 552 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 7: you would really just normally be putting the pats back 553 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 7: on for the first time during the week to you know, 554 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,479 Speaker 7: to get a practice in and you've got to go 555 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 7: play another game. I always think the Thursday games are 556 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 7: are really different for the road team versus the home 557 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 7: team too, because when you're getting on an airplane on 558 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 7: Wednesday to fly somewhere at least when you're playing at 559 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 7: home on Thursday, you know, you don't have that the 560 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,479 Speaker 7: travel part of it where it almost feels like another 561 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 7: another day is taken away on a short week when 562 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 7: when you're the road team, but every team goes through 563 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,719 Speaker 7: it at at some time or another. You guys are 564 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 7: used to hosting this game, and certainly the Packers have 565 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 7: played in Detroit on Thanksgiving a number of times, including 566 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 7: just two years ago. 567 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 4: You know, it's interesting. 568 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 2: I talked to alex Anzelone's in the locker room yesterday 569 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: and I was just curious. I'm like, during a normal week, 570 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: like when do you start to like feel good, like 571 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 2: when is your body like ready to And he was like, 572 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 2: I start to feel like real good, Like my body's 573 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: good if I don't suffer an injury on Friday, on 574 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 2: Friday of a typical week, and now he's strapping it 575 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 2: up after playing an overtime game on Sunday. So it's 576 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 2: definitely tough on these players and coaches. But Mike, I 577 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 2: want to talk about this Packers defense. First of foremost 578 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 2: top five in the NFL in total defense, top five 579 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 2: and scoring defense held Minnesota, I think to one hundred 580 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 2: and forty five total yards on Sonny just four total 581 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 2: net yards in the second half. How good is that unit? 582 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 2: It was Michael Parsons, Mike, the missing piece to that. 583 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 2: You know, has he kind of tied it all together? 584 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, I would say Parsons is definitely a 585 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 7: guy who you know, he's taken a good defense and 586 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 7: kind of helped to put it over the top and 587 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 7: raise it to another level. Because the Packers were playing 588 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 7: pretty good defense down the stretch last year. In Jeff 589 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 7: Hafley's first year as defensive coordinator, things were really coming 590 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,239 Speaker 7: together with Edger and Cooper coming into his own at 591 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 7: the end of his rookie year. He had other rookies 592 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 7: like Javon Bullard and Evan Williams. You know, they were 593 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 7: getting that experience in their first seasons. Then you know 594 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 7: you're bringing you're bringing all that back, and then right 595 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 7: before the start of the season you add Parsons to 596 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 7: the mix. So yeah, it's a unit quite frankly, that's 597 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,479 Speaker 7: really had only one like bad game and that was 598 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 7: way back in Week four. It was a forty to 599 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 7: forty overtime tie at Dallas where suddenly, you know, the 600 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 7: Packers defense just didn't look like what we've seen the 601 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 7: rest of the year. But that was really the exception 602 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 7: and not the rule. And really what happened, you know 603 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 7: in the Vikings game is for the first time in 604 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 7: about a month, the Packers actually got a multi score lead. 605 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 7: They were able to build an eleven point lead. It 606 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 7: was seventeen to six early in the third quarter against 607 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,239 Speaker 7: the Vikings, and once the Vikings you know, kind of 608 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 7: had to throw the ball, they couldn't rely on the 609 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 7: running game because they were down multiple scores. Then the 610 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 7: Packers pass rush just just overwhelmed them. And that's really 611 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 7: the formula for the Packers is to build a lead 612 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 7: and then turn the pass rush led by Parsons loose 613 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 7: on the opposition. But when the Packers have not had 614 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 7: that type of a lead, then the defense doesn't necessarily 615 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 7: play like that. It's a lot harder to just pin 616 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 7: your ears back and go after the quarterback when you 617 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 7: in a tight down to the way or game. So 618 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 7: that's those are the kind of the differences we've seen 619 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 7: with this unit throughout the course of the year. 620 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,199 Speaker 2: When you talk about building a lead, you look at 621 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,400 Speaker 2: this team offensively, just the weapons on the outside at receiver. 622 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 2: I know they lost their tight end, that was a 623 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 2: big loss for them, but you know, Josh Jacobs is 624 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 2: one of the better running backs in this league. You 625 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 2: look at the statistics and I think they're thirteenth and 626 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,479 Speaker 2: thirteenth offentually, so they're kind of right in the middle 627 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 2: of the pack in the NFL. But just personnel wise, 628 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,679 Speaker 2: it seems from the outside looking in they should maybe 629 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 2: be a little bit better than that. What's maybe been 630 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,120 Speaker 2: some of the inconsistencies on that side of the football 631 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 2: where they haven't been able to build those big leads, 632 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 2: pin their ears back and let that defense eat. 633 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:46,199 Speaker 7: Yeah, the biggest issues that have cropped up over the 634 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 7: course of the year. Kind of holding the Packers offense 635 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 7: back have been penalties, and as was the case just 636 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 7: a couple of times in the Eagles game and in 637 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 7: the Giants game where the drop passes. Now drop passes 638 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 7: were an issue for the last season in twenty twenty four. 639 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 7: They seem to have kind of cleaned that up through 640 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 7: the first half of twenty twenty five, but then they 641 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 7: had a couple of games where again the catching of 642 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 7: the ball just wasn't clean and it cost them penalty wise. 643 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 7: The offense has just had throughout the course of the years, 644 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,679 Speaker 7: had way too many pre snap penalties, whether it be 645 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,439 Speaker 7: the fall starts or illegal motion or illegal formation with 646 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,399 Speaker 7: guys lining up wrong, just the mental mistakes that have 647 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 7: compounded and made things difficult for the offense, and in 648 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 7: certain situations the last two weeks against the Giants and 649 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 7: the Vikings, the pre snap penalties knock on wood for 650 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 7: the Packers have kind of gone away. They feel like 651 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,959 Speaker 7: if that part of their offensive game is cleaned up, 652 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 7: then things start to look more consistent, more productive on offense, 653 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 7: So they're hoping that that's behind them, But of course 654 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 7: now you're going to be going into an indoor stadium, 655 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 7: a crazy Detroit crowd, you know Thanksgiving Day that you know, 656 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 7: the noise is going to be there, the crowd, it's 657 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 7: going to bring it. So the Packers have to stay 658 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 7: on their p's and q's with regard to, you know, 659 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 7: keeping those pre snap penalties at bay for this offense 660 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 7: to be in the position it wants to be. 661 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's crazy. You mentioned that drops. 662 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 2: Detroit was the best team in the NFL last year 663 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 2: in terms of fewest amount of drops drop percentage. Packers were, 664 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 2: you know, down at the bottom of the lee. But 665 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 2: that's been an issue for Detroit now this year. Those 666 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 2: have cropped up very steady. Hand on Ron Saint Brown 667 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 2: has had a few, Jamison Williams has had the issue. 668 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 2: So it's just interesting how year over year some of 669 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 2: those statistics and some of those things can just kind 670 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 2: of flip up side down. Mike short weight means injuries 671 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 2: are always a storyline. I'm just curious how are the 672 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 2: Packers health wise? The injury report on Monday looked pretty good, 673 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 2: is what's the opinion of Josh Jacobs, Maybe some of 674 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: those other guys injury wise in their availability for Thursday. 675 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,479 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, on that long list of guys on 676 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 7: the on the injury report, I would say the two 677 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 7: the biggest things, The two biggest pieces of news as 678 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 7: far as that estimation on Monday was that both Josh 679 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 7: Jacobs at running back and kway Walker at linebacker were 680 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 7: estimated as limited participants, so they may be on their 681 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 7: way back to be able to play on Thursday, after 682 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 7: both of those guys missed the game this past Sunday 683 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 7: against Minnesota. So those are probably the two biggest ones 684 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 7: to watch. And then the other one is Keishawn Nixon, 685 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 7: the Packers' number one corner He left the game against 686 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 7: the Vikings with a shoulder stinger. He did not return. 687 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 7: Kamal Hadden came off the bench to replace him. Nixon 688 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 7: was estimated as a DNP for Monday on the injury report, 689 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 7: so very up in the air as to whether he 690 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 7: will be able to come back. But the other side 691 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 7: is that Nate Hobbs, another cornerback who has missed some 692 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 7: games now with a knee injury. He was estimated as 693 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 7: limited that he would be back in practice, So whether 694 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 7: he's potentially in the mix at cornerback on Thursday, well 695 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 7: we'll have to keep an eye on that, and as 696 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 7: we all know, I mean, we'll kind of find out 697 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 7: the final word ninety minutes before kickoff on. 698 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 3: All these guys. 699 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, last time these two teams played, it seems like 700 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 2: so long ago, Mike, you know, Week one at Lambeau. 701 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 2: It seems like almost a last season. Two obviously very 702 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 2: different teams that at this point in the season. But look, 703 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 2: the Packers handed to two Lions week one. I mean, 704 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 2: they won by two touchdowns. It really never was a contest. 705 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 2: I'm curious now you look two three months later, what's 706 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 2: the biggest concern for green Bay coming to Detroit on Thursday? 707 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 4: What's what's what? 708 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 2: Are they looking at it as something that they have 709 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 2: to do if they're gonna escape Ford Field with a 710 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 2: victory and a season sweep of Lions. 711 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, I you know, I don't like to 712 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 7: oversimplify things, because this game is never simple and it's complicated. 713 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 7: But if you if you want to break it down 714 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 7: into a into a really succinct SoundBite from the Packers perspective, 715 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 7: it's tackle Jumior Gibbs and block Aiden Hutchinson. Because those 716 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 7: from green Bay's perspective, those are the two guys who 717 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 7: can give you a really long day on either side 718 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:12,959 Speaker 7: of the ball. And when you go back to Week one, 719 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 7: as you said, it feels like it was forever ago. 720 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 7: It feels like it was last season. Jamiir Gibbs and 721 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 7: David Montgomery were kind of, you know, splitting time and 722 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 7: it was very much an uneven workshare back then at 723 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 7: the beginning part of the season. We've seen Jamiir Gibbs 724 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 7: really come on as a dangerous, big time home run 725 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 7: hitter who has become an even bigger part of this offense, 726 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 7: at least in my opinion, as the season has gone 727 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 7: on for the Lions. And obviously the game he had 728 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 7: last week against the Giants was just out of this world, 729 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 7: So that rises to the top of the list. And 730 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 7: the other thing with Hutchinson back in Week one, the 731 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 7: Packers were able to neutralize Hutchinson, but that was also 732 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 7: his first game back from the long layoff last year, 733 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 7: after the really rough injury and the long rehab and 734 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 7: all that. And we've seen Aiden Hutchinson as the sea 735 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 7: and has gone along get back to being a lot 736 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 7: more like the pre injury Aiden Hutchinson that we had seen. 737 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 7: And I think the Packers have to be ready for 738 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 7: Hutchinson's best on Thursday, and they've got to They've got 739 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 7: to find a way to minimize his impact as well. 740 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 2: Mike, how fun is this race in the NFC North 741 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 2: right now? You know, obviously, look give Chicago credit, right, 742 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 2: they're finding ways to win games. It hasn't been pretty, 743 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 2: but look, you never apologize for wins in this league. 744 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 2: At least that's a philosophy here in Detroit. I'm sure 745 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 2: it is with Ben Johnson in Chicago. You knew the 746 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 2: Packers were gonna be right there. You knew Detroit was 747 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 2: gonna be right there. In Minnesota obviously having a little 748 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 2: bit of quarterback issues, and when you have that, it's 749 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 2: tough to consistently win in this league. But for those 750 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 2: three teams, just how fun has this been? And and 751 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 2: look from a Packers perspective, I think you guys, five 752 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 2: of your last seven are against division opponents, so you 753 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 2: guys control your own destiny. But just overall, Mike, how 754 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 2: fun do you expect this finish in the NFC North 755 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 2: to be? And how big is Thursday's game because of that? 756 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 8: Yeah? 757 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 7: I mean, I honestly, I think I think the winner 758 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:12,600 Speaker 7: of Thursday's game in Detroit, you know, puts themselves in 759 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 7: a pretty good position to be able to win the 760 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 7: division and the loser is going to have a very 761 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 7: hard time. I think winning the division, it's gonna be 762 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 7: you're gonna be looking more at the wild card scenarios, 763 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 7: I think than possible division championships. There's still a long 764 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 7: way to go. But you know, the Bears at eight 765 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 7: and three, the Packers at seven three and one, the 766 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 7: Lions at seven and four, and here we are, the 767 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 7: Packers and Lions are playing each other. The Lions and 768 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 7: the Bears still have to play one more game. The 769 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 7: Packers and the Bears have two games left to play 770 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 7: against one another. So this can go any number of 771 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,360 Speaker 7: different ways. And here we are, you know, hitting the 772 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:50,279 Speaker 7: holidays and the fact that the Packers and Lions are 773 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 7: playing on Thursday and then the Bears are playing the 774 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 7: Eagles on Friday. I mean before we even get to 775 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 7: the weekend, there, you know, can be all of us 776 00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 7: shifting around in the in the NFC North just based 777 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 7: on these these Thursday Friday results. So it's been fun 778 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:04,919 Speaker 7: so far, and I think it's I think it's only 779 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 7: going to get more intense as we get down the 780 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 7: stretch here. 781 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 4: It'll be fun to Chicago Detroit week eighteen. 782 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:13,920 Speaker 2: Ben Johnson, if he's in the mix, that could be 783 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,240 Speaker 2: a fun little storyline, but it's a big one Thursday. 784 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 2: I agree with you, the winner definitely has the edge. 785 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 2: It makes this matchup on Thanksgiving really really big in 786 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 2: terms of the NFC, NFC Playoff picture and the NFC 787 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 2: North Division title. Mike, I appreciate you taking the time, 788 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 2: great stuff as always. You can catch all Mike's stuff 789 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 2: on packers dot com and safe travels to Detroit and 790 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:34,800 Speaker 2: we'll see you on Thursday. 791 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,440 Speaker 7: My friend sounds good tim Happy Thanksgiving.