1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: partner in crime, Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field and West. Week one 5 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: has finally arrived, Packers Saints. It will be played in 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: Jacksonville on Sunday. It's a three pm Central Time kickoff. 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: We are just a handful of days away now from 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: the opener to the season. And a bit of news 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: here as Week one gets under way for the Packers. 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: Zadarius Smith now only doing individual drills. But Zadarius Smith 11 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: back at practice, trying to work his way back for 12 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: a second time now from that back injury after a 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: start and stop during training camp. But uh, a sign 14 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: that that this Packers team might just be getting healthy 15 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: at the right time. Yeah, very much so. And I 16 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: gotta admit, like I kind of after the intro, I'm 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: still not used to saying Packers versus Saints in Jacksonville. 18 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's terrible what happened in New Orleans. I 19 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: wish this game was being played down there. I just 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: I still can't believe this game is being played in Jacksonville, 21 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: of all places. But we'll see how the thing goes 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: ninety degree weather. We'll talk about that later this week 23 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: with Keys to Victory. Drink your gatorade. As far as 24 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: this is concerned, though, with Sadarius Smith, a pleasant surprise 25 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: with him being back on the practice field and match. 26 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: Niven from The Athletic asked the question of Matt Lafleur 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: before practice, Before practice, are you anticipating scenes to Darius, 28 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: And as he said, yeah, we're gonna try to get 29 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: him through the individuals and hope that he can be 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: back over on their field this week. Back injuries are tricky, Mike, 31 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: and we don't know if it's structural, we don't know 32 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: if it's a muscle issue. But for Zadarius to miss 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: as much time as he did after really not missing 34 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: any I mean, this is a guy that has been 35 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: banged up the past two years, but he's still found 36 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: a way to be out there on Sundays. Um it 37 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: tells you that this was something that that this guy 38 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: was truly dealing with. And we'll see exact actually what 39 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: the rep count looks like if he does play. The 40 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: nice thing for the Packers is I thought Preston Smith 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: had a phenomenal preseas you know, preseason training camp. I 42 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: thought he looked great. I thought he he seemed tremor. 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: He seemed like he was you know, really you could 44 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: tell there's a chip on his shoulder there to want 45 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: to bounce back this season. That was the best training 46 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: camp he's had in his three in Green Bay. I 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: think there's no question about yeah. In in Rashaan Garry, 48 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: although he had a couple of trip ups there with 49 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: the groin issue, has continued to make significant strides. I 50 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: said it from day one, whether it's a Darius Smith 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: is healthy or not, I think I want to see 52 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: you gotta get Rashaan Gary. I'm more on the field 53 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: and the defensive snaps, and depending on what Z's workload 54 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: looks like early this season, this could be a really 55 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: good opportunity for him to do so. Yeah, absolutely, I 56 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: think you know a best case scenario for the Packers 57 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,119 Speaker 1: here now if Zadarius Smith is able to continue practicing 58 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: to some extent the rest of the week, given all 59 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: the time that he's missed, He's not taking the field 60 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville to play fifty or sixty snaps or whatever. 61 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: That I think is out of the question. But if Smith, 62 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: given all this time that he's missed, is actually healthy 63 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: enough and capable to play a situational role in Week 64 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: one here to play, whether it's ten or twelve or 65 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: fifteen snaps, whatever it might be, you know, strictly a 66 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: third down situational pass rusher maybe as an example, that 67 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: would certainly be a boost to to the Packers defense 68 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: for a guy that they haven't had on the field 69 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: throughout the course of training camp. Also, just on the 70 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: injury front, Tyler Lancaster, who's been out for a while 71 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: with an elbow injury. He was back at practice on Monday. 72 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: As far as the fifty three man roster the active roster, 73 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: the only player not practicing on Monday for the Packers 74 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: was second year safety Fernon Scott. So obviously Matt Lafleur's 75 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: plan was to get to Week one as healthy as possible. 76 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: It's why the starters, the vast majority the starters, did 77 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: not play in any of the preseason games. They did 78 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: not want to take any risks there. And to this point, 79 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: it looks like he's going to accomplish that goal as 80 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: best he could. Yeah, and there's there's two different trains 81 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: of thought to this, Mike. The first one is you 82 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: don't want to take out your your stars. You don't 83 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: want to bang them up going into the season. Uh, 84 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: you can look. I think even I was looking through 85 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: some different game books after the prison finale. I mean, 86 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: you thought the Green Bay Packers sitting thirty players was 87 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: a lot. There were some teams it was thirty five forty. 88 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: It seemed like just they didn't They might have been dressed, 89 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: but they didn't get in the game. They really concentrated 90 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: on shorten up that bench because you need to be 91 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: able to get these guys through a seventeen game season. 92 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: But furthermore, Matt Laflour, these guys that don't have any 93 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: more breaks now until early December, you're gonna go a 94 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: long wait for that, for the full bye week, twelve 95 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: straight games to be able to get I mean forty 96 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: years ago it was twelve games. I mean it was 97 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: that's just the way it was built. So for the Packers, 98 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: as I've said to you before, since the day the 99 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: schedule came out, that is a huge opportunity for them. 100 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: They're gonna be able to rest up and then have 101 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: whatever it is three of their last five or whatnot 102 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: at home and be able to kind of build some 103 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: momentum into a potential playoff push. But to get there, 104 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: the they got to go through the gauntlet here. Unfortunately 105 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: for green Bay, they enter Week one healthy. Yeah well, 106 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: a shout out to our sponsors here West Serious x 107 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to 108 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need seven 109 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: three six and had Cousin Subs. We have something for 110 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, golden fries, 111 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 112 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: sub in a bowl. Cousins Subs. We believe in better Well. 113 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: We talked a lot in the offseason Wes about even 114 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: given the salary cap constraints and and just the strange 115 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: financial world that the NFL is in here, that general 116 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: manager Brian gudakunst rust Ball, Matt Lafleur, everybody, they did 117 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: everything they could with only a couple of exceptions. They 118 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: did everything that they could to kind of keep the 119 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: band together to make another run at this thing. But 120 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: if there's one area where we're going, there's going to 121 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: be some significant personnel change compared to what we've seen. 122 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: It's on special teams because it looks like Amari Rodgers, 123 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: the rookie third round pick, will be the punt returner. 124 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: It looks like rookie seventh round pick Kyle and Hill 125 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: will be the first option on kickoff return. And now 126 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: a new punter is also in the fold, and that 127 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: is Corey B. Horkes. And I do have to apologize 128 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: because I believe I was saying his name wrong when 129 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: we brought it up last week. So be Horkes is 130 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: the proper pronuncia pronunciation. We got a chance to to 131 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: meet with him. He spoke to the media for the 132 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: first time since he arrived in Green Bay on Monday 133 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: after practice, and uh, a young man who's he's excited 134 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: to have this opportunity here in Green Bay. He's go 135 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: goes from you know, Buffalo, a f C runner up, 136 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: to now he's he's with the the Green Bay Packers, 137 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: a two time NFC runner up here and the Packers 138 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: bottom line is they're expecting um Behorkes to be an 139 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: upgrade in this area on specialty. It was the number 140 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: one thing that Brian Goodkin said after they made this 141 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: trade was they felt like this was an opportunity to 142 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: get better at that position. And if you go off 143 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: of what he's done in the past, that I think 144 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: you you'd have to agree with that. Um Bork has 145 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: It's funny too, a so cal kid that's sort of 146 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: been adopted by the cold. I mean, with with him 147 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: punting for three years in Buffalo and having success there, 148 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: now it's going to be punting in one of the 149 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,119 Speaker 1: more you know, tumultuous environments in the National Football League. 150 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: But that being said, I mean the numbers jump off 151 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: the page to you. I mean last year, you know, 152 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: first and gross average breaks the Buffalo's record. And it 153 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: wasn't just gross average, I mean he was fifth in 154 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: the NFL and ned as well. And I really enjoyed 155 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: that seventeen minute press conference we had with him, and 156 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: I mentioned this to you afterwards. It almost reminded me 157 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: more of the days in which would be in the 158 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: locker room you're just kind of huddled around a guy 159 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: and you're just not really pelting him with questions, but 160 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: we're just having a conversation. I haven't having a chat 161 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: with a new guy that that's new in the locker 162 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: room and in the number one question you even asked 163 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: him of this, and I think it was a lot 164 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: of on the forefront of a lot of people's minds. 165 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: Is case, So this guy has this season with Buffalo, 166 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: looks really good, but then he gets nontender, and then 167 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: he goes a month without signing, and then he goes 168 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: to Los Angeles to go up against Johnny Hecker where 169 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't have a guaranteed job by any means. This 170 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: is one of the this is one of the top 171 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: punters in the league. From Yeah, and Biorke has said 172 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: it himself. I mean, this is in dang near impossible, 173 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: you know, task of trying to unseat Hecker. But the 174 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: fact of the matter is, at the end of camp 175 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: it was Hecker that said he was even wondering if 176 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: maybe the Rams would move on from him and go 177 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: with this guy. After he has a fifty one point 178 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: nine net average and has four of his seven punts 179 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: go inside the twenty two of those punts in mile 180 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: high dying at the one yard line. That's a heck 181 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: of a performance by Bork has to make this a 182 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: really solid competition. Yeah, he had a big time preseason 183 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: for for for the Rams. No doubt about it, and 184 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: for him to be able to carve out a job 185 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: is he said it, It wasn't so much just about Okay, well, 186 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: where do I want to go and where do I 187 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: want to punt? It was about where am I going 188 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: to be able to improve myself. He talked about learning 189 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: the on the Bananic punt from Hacker, that sideways Ausee 190 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: style punt um, just little things like that to make 191 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: him a better punch for when that next opportunity did come. 192 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: And for him, as he said at the end of 193 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: his presser, he hopes it's in Green Bay, and he 194 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 1: hopes for it's you know, in the long term and 195 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: years to come. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, the Packers packers hoping 196 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: to be better in all phases on special teams and 197 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: as they head into this week one matchup with the Saints, 198 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: I thought we could touch on what you and I 199 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: see as as as maybe some key matchups as far 200 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: as Green Bay versus New Orleans. Here, the first one 201 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: that jumps out at me is the veteran defensive coordinator 202 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: Dennis Allen for the New Orleans Saints coming up with 203 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: a scheme he obviously has to deal with Aaron Rodgers, 204 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: but he's looking at an offensive line that is most 205 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: likely going to have two rookies on the interior in 206 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: second round pick Josh Meyers at center, fourth round pick 207 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: Royce Newman at right guard. So this you know what 208 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: the Saints decided to do, how they want to test 209 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: the Packers rookies, as far as the pressure packages, their 210 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: defensive fronts, all of that. I think that is something 211 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: that will definitely be watched very very closely in the 212 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,199 Speaker 1: early stages of this game, first quarter, second quarter, because 213 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: Dennis Allen's plan very much could change depending on how 214 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: these young offensive linemen for the Packers respond to those 215 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: initial tests. Don't think the first two quarters are going 216 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: to really be a huge indicator I think of how 217 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: this game is going to go. And you know, the 218 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: biggest question I have, without knowing the full tendencies of 219 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: Allen in terms of how much he blitz his versus 220 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: you know, just even man pressure, is seeing what kind 221 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: of games they run early on, what kind of stunts. 222 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: You know, what is Cam Jordan doing, What is Marcus 223 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: Davenport doing, A guy that you know, in some ways 224 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: will always sort of be tied to the Packers because 225 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: that was the trade the Saints made to go up 226 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 1: and get him three years ago when Green Bay ultimately 227 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 1: ended up with JayR Alexander, which has worked out pretty well. Yeah, 228 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: but that's how strongly New Orleans felt about Davenport at 229 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: the time, and it understand ending how they use these 230 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: pieces that the big difference. Mike, you know, you and 231 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: I for the last decade could talk about how good 232 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: this offense has been and how multiple it is and 233 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: the way they use running backs and they always have 234 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: a top you know five, top three receiver in the 235 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: league in this in that receiving room. But the difference 236 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: maker that brought the New Orleans back to prominence here 237 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: the last five years has been the defense. There were 238 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: a lot of years where they put up a lot 239 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: of points, they put up a lot of yards, but 240 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: they were also combating that with giving up a lot 241 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: of yards, giving up a lot of points. Since Dennis 242 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: Allen has been installed there, he's changed the culture. That 243 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: unit isn't just an offensive, air it out, you know 244 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: team anymore. They're balanced and it's one of the reasons 245 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: why they've been able to make these runs that they have. 246 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: Packers are going to be an interesting spot with quite 247 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: lightly although it's not confirmed, two rookies in the starting 248 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: offensive line in Week one for the first time in 249 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 1: fifteen years. Um, that's gonna be huge on Josh Myers. 250 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: But as I mentioned that I wrote this an inbox 251 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: to Mike, Myers has been preparing for this since May. 252 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: It's not like this was creeping up where it just 253 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: got surprised there, you know, thrown on them like it 254 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: was with Corey Lensley in two thousand and fourteen. He 255 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,199 Speaker 1: knew this was coming and this is why the preparation 256 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: was put in place to get him ready for this moment. Yeah. Well, 257 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: both of these teams have a key member of their 258 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: offense on the pup list and not able to play 259 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: here at the start of the season. Obviously, for the 260 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: Packers that's left tackled David bak Try. For the New 261 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: Orleans Saints that is star wide receiver Michael Thomas. Now. 262 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: Thomas also missed the Packers Saints matchup from a year 263 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: ago in Week three. But one matchup that we are 264 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: likely to see on Sunday that we did not see 265 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: last year down in New Orleans is Davante Adams against 266 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: Marshawn Lattimore. The Star cornerback for the Saints. Adams obviously 267 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: missed the game against the Saints last year. He was 268 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: not on the field. The Packers still put up thirty 269 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: seven points, which was pretty darn impressive when you're missing 270 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: your number one wide out. But this Adams Lattimore matchup 271 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: is I mean, Fox is going to have an ISOK 272 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: camera on those two. I mean, any time that they're 273 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: lined up across from one another, they're gonna have a 274 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: camera on them every single snaw. Lattimore is a He's 275 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: an extreme, extremely talented player, you know, fun to watch 276 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: and and certainly that's gonna be a big battle and 277 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: really how Allen and how the Saints want to use 278 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: him in this game if he's just gonna be completely 279 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: traveling with him. Uh, you know, there's been a lot 280 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: of questions about the as as talented as Lattimore is, 281 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: the overall depth of that position group for the Saints 282 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: right now. Um, certainly they've been making some moves here 283 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: the last few days, trying to you know, create some 284 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: more experience and some more options. But that that's where 285 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: it's going to really be, you know, an indicator of 286 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: where this game is going to go, because Adams can 287 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: move around a lot and Lattimore can move around a lot. 288 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: So seeing exactly how those chess pieces fall into place. 289 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: Uh and and as I've said all along, Mike, how 290 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: the Packers decided to put what other four players around 291 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: the field with Adams, the packages, the combinations. You and 292 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: I don't know that we saw everything during training camp. 293 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: We saw them, you know, multitude of players to the 294 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: last week of training camp, Ecuonemia st. Brown was taken 295 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: first team reps. So what is the ultimate concoction that 296 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: Green Bay storms up? And and where exactly is Latimore 297 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: to counteract that? Yeah, well, what's your what's your feeling? 298 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: Because this is week one, we just we really don't 299 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: have a whole lot to go on, So I'm just 300 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: throwing this at you. What what's your feeling on what's 301 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: gonna really look different with the Saints offense with Jamis 302 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: Winston at quarterback? How Winston plays quarterback is my number 303 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: one question because the talents there, Mike. It always has 304 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: been you don't throw for five thousand yards in a 305 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: season without having you know, the ability. But it's always 306 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: been the takeaways, right, It's been the turnovers, It's been 307 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: the interceptions. Can you avoid those moments in which you 308 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: you shoot yourself in the foot with Drew Brees every 309 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: single time you and I stepped up here, every single 310 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: time we did on script, and we talked about pressuring him, 311 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: you know, reducing the shot clock. The incredible thing about 312 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: Breeze and Philip Rivers had this too, was that they 313 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: could get the ball out quickly, but they also got 314 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: it out safely, and that's not easy to do in 315 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: the past. First offense and being able to understand where 316 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: your help is in your hot routes. Can Winston play 317 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: faster in place safer than he did in Tampa Bay, 318 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: because ultimately that's the only reason he ever lost a 319 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: starting job. That's gonna be really intriguing because they have weapons, 320 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: they have Dane. You know, we know what Sean Payton 321 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: can do. Can Winston executed. Yeah. The big thing that 322 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: we're going to see in a general sense in terms 323 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: of how the Saints offenses, excuse me, is going to 324 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: look different is you have a quarterback who can scramble 325 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: and get out of trouble. Whereas for years now Drew Brees, 326 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: I mean, very shifty in the pocket, could always find 327 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: his throwing lane. And you know, his height was never 328 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: really an issue. I mean, this is a Hall of Fame, 329 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: a Hall of Fame guy, But Drew Brees was not 330 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: going to take off and run for ten or twelve 331 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: yards on third and six, right, I mean, Jamis Winston 332 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: can do that. So from a defensive game planning ampoint, 333 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: you have to take that into account with him. But 334 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: obviously the wins and losses for Winston over the course 335 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: of his career, for the most part, it's it's always 336 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: been determined by the turnovers. I mean he's had he's 337 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: had four hundred yard games and and you know, if 338 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: he throws three interceptions in a four hundred yard game, 339 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: he still would usually lose. And uh and when you 340 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: know when Winston's had success against Green Bay too, I 341 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: mean they know how dangerous this guy can be. And 342 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: also you know would be you're amiss. You have to 343 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: say it every time you see the Saints. As long 344 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: as Taysom Hill that number seven is on the field, 345 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: there's available for the Saints. How he's used now because 346 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: it's a pretty clear, narrow vision now for what they 347 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: want to do. Winston's the starting quarterback, you know, so 348 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: you imagine you're gonna see more gadget type plays with 349 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: Hill again. Where he's lined up and how they're utilizing 350 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: him is also gonna be something Green Bay is gonna 351 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: have to be aware of. They are much faster in 352 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: the backfield in terms of the signal color position than 353 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: they were in the past, no question about that. Yeah. Well, 354 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: and and what Packers fans obviously remember from last year's 355 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: game was the mom ster performance by Alvin Kamara because 356 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: Packers had a hard time tackling him. Obviously, that offense 357 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: is designed to get him the ball in space, with 358 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: those opportunities to get yards after the catch, to break tackles, 359 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: you know, all of those kinds of things. And you know, yes, 360 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: the Packers did win that game last year, they also 361 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: gave up thirty points and Kamara was was almost like 362 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: a one man show on some of those drives for 363 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: New Orleans. So you have to believe that. You know 364 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,959 Speaker 1: that film, Joe Berry's digested it, He's looked at it. 365 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: He's got to come up with a way to to 366 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 1: not let Alvin Kamara just have those stretches where he 367 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: kind of takes over. Yeah, and that's gonna be on 368 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 1: the inside. Backers it's gonna be on those slot cornerbacks, 369 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: and and how they want to make sure that you know, 370 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: you have tabs on this guy at all times. It's 371 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: gonna be curious seeing how this offense operates now that 372 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: Breeze has gone in regards to Kamara, because it did 373 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: seem like, especially the last season, as Breeze got older, 374 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: he started leaning on Kamara more and more actually in 375 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: the passing game. And I think from that you learned, Okay, 376 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: this guy we knew since day one he could catch 377 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: the ball, but just how dynamic he is in space, 378 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: that's gonna be a principle that's gonna hold true here 379 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: going forward, and without Michael Thomas available, he's the playmaker. 380 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: He is the guy everybody has their eyes on um. 381 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: And it's funny, you don't really go into a lot 382 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: of games where it's like, okay, it's it's you know, 383 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: a lot on the running back and yeah, they have 384 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: some receivers, but it's this guy here that you know, 385 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: in terms of a pass catcher, he's going to need 386 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 1: all your attention. Yeah, absolutely, Well, we'll get down to 387 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: some more specifics, the brass text, so to speak, the 388 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: keys to victory and what I will be in our 389 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: show later this week as we get a little closer 390 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: to Sunday's kickoff, But I'm already excited. I don't know 391 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: about you, but it's just all the work you put 392 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 1: in in the off season. We've seen it all. You 393 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: get through training camp, you get through the preseason games, 394 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: and yes, it's a long season, seventeen games and everything, 395 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: even longer than it's normally been. But there's a lot 396 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: of excitement around Week one. You can't help it get 397 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: fired up. And this is, without question, this is an 398 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: easier matchup for Green babying in Jacksonville. But there is 399 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: a part of me that's like, Man, if you could 400 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: have had this game, you know, inside the super Dome 401 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: with that crowd, the first time they would have been back, 402 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: you know, in a year, in that environment, it would 403 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: have been so cool to hear it, to see it. 404 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,959 Speaker 1: Jacksonville's Jacksonville. You're gonna enjoy the game for what it is. 405 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, it is football. 406 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: We're back to week one and incredible, Mike, that's six seven, 407 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: eight months. How fast it you know, passes by? And 408 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: right here again you have a two thousand one season 409 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: staring in the face. Yeah, very curious to see just 410 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: how many Packers fans are in that stadium in Jacksonville 411 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: on Sunday afternoon. It could be very very interesting crowd 412 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: mixture down there in Florida. But with that, we're going 413 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: to call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 414 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 415 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: team here in Week one leading up to the season opener. 416 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: We'll have it all for you on Packers dot com. 417 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: For West, I'm Mike, Thank you for tuning, and everybody, 418 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: we will see you next time.