1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am like Spofford, he is the 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: one and only west Hodkowits for coming to you here 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field West. There are five 5 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: training camp practices in the books, one of them in 6 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: pads and shoulder pads on Monday at the time that 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: that we are taping this episode. So I'm just gonna 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: go through here the three different phases of things and 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: ask for your early impressions. I'll I'll respond and share 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 1: some of my own offensive side of the ball. Your 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: early impressions through these first handful of practice, Well, I 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: thought Aaron Rodgers said it perfectly from the beginning. He's like, 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: there's gonna be good days. There's gonna be days where 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: the defense wins, and certainly the first day in pads, 15 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: by and large, it was a defensive winning kind of day. 16 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: But what impressed me was how the offense came back 17 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: in the two minute period and you saw guys, you know, 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: Josiah Deguire making a key catchdown the scene that's set 19 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: up the field goal that won the drill or whatever 20 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: you wanna call it. Uh and Also Sammy Watkins came 21 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: in and also had to move the ball kind of 22 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: you know, play to get him in territory. For that, 23 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: this offense, I know a lot is gonna be on 24 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers shoulders this year, but there's so many guys 25 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: that he can rely on and count on. I think 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: you're seeing the way they're using these running backs right now. 27 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: Certainly they have to figure out what they're starting. Five 28 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: is gonna look like. Here, you gotta see what happens 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: with David baktr But ultimately, as I've said it time 30 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: and time again, for but as much as people were 31 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: stressing about Davante Adams, and there's a big reason for that, 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur mentioned in the playbook or whatever it was, 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: ran through him last season, there are guys ready willing 34 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: and able to pick up that slack. And that's what 35 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: I saw in some of those adverse type of situations. Yeah, 36 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: I agree with you that first practice in Pads, the 37 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: defense was definitely getting the better of things. Um, But 38 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: then you saw towards the tail end of the practice, 39 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: you saw Rogers and that first team offense kind of 40 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: snap out of the appinis a little bit. They kind 41 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: of got things going. They had they did put together 42 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: a solid two minute drive. There. The biggest things that 43 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: jump out at me in general with regard to the 44 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: offense in these first five practices, a that rookie receiver 45 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: Romeo Dobbs has carried over what looked like a very 46 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: strong spring in the practices we got to see. Now 47 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: we didn't get to see all of them in the spring, 48 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: but it looked like he got off to a good 49 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,119 Speaker 1: start in the spring and he's carried that over, I think, 50 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: into a good start to training camp. But the other thing, 51 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: and you just hinted at it in your last comment, 52 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: is how much these running backs Aaron Jones and a J. 53 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: Dillon are going to be involved in the passing game 54 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: for Aaron Rodgers. You can see it in the play designs. 55 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: You can see it in you know, the way Rogers 56 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: looks to them in certain situations and not just this 57 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: isn't just the checkdown stuff when he needs to get 58 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: rid of the ball. This is this is design stuff 59 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: that Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon wherever they might 60 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: line up, usually if they're both on the field together. 61 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: Dylan's the one of the backfield and Jones has lined 62 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: up somewhere as more of like a slaughter or a 63 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: wide receiver, but wherever they're lined up, there a threat 64 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: to catch the ball in the passing game in a 65 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: in a designed, purposeful type of way. That's what That's 66 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,239 Speaker 1: what I've seen. As much as it's been good to 67 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: see what al Lazard's doing, what Romeo Dobbs is doing, 68 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: and and now Sammy Watkins getting involved in eleven on 69 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: eleven now a few days into camp. What we're seeing 70 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: from these running backs I think is the biggest sign 71 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 1: of what we're going to see come September and October. 72 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 1: And when you talked about that transition point in that 73 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: practice of where things start to turn around for the offense, 74 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: I personally felt like it was that the steam route 75 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: that A. J. Dillon ended up running, because it wasn't 76 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: just that Rogers made a nice throw to him, it's 77 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: how Dylan adjusted his body to the ball. He looked 78 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: like a receiver on that play. And for a kid 79 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: that so many people were questioning, you know, how he 80 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: catches the ball. He didn't do it often at Boston College. 81 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: I think over the last sixteen months you've seen him 82 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: make big strides in that area and and realistically, you know, 83 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: one of the conversations this week with Dylan and Aaron 84 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: Jones at their lockers was the idea of, you know, thirty, 85 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: you know, three thousand yards between the two of them 86 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: this year, you know, kind of metrics that they're putting 87 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: out there that are achievable, not just about what they're 88 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: gonna do and running the ball, but how they can 89 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: affect the passing game. And I feel like the more 90 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: you can keep Aaron Jones healthy, the more opportunities that 91 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: you give Dylan in this passing game. I feel like 92 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: that is going to be the really the recipe here 93 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: for Green Bay early on as you wait for some 94 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: of those young receivers to really develop. Yeah, I think 95 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: I think one of the biggest adjustments schematically that I 96 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: think Matt Lafleur and Adam Stanovich and this offense are 97 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: going to make is in order you had your automatic 98 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: stressor for a defense when Davanta Adams is on the field, right, 99 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: we saw how the Baltimore Ravens would lie, you know, 100 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: line up three guys in a triangle on one side 101 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: of the field to make sure Davantae Adams didn't really 102 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: have anywhere to go. He was the automatic stressor. I 103 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: think the stressor that they're going to try to employ 104 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: in two is make the defense react to both of 105 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: these running backs being on the field at the same time. 106 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: How do you want to match up with an extra dB, 107 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: with an extra linebacker? And you know, and then you 108 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: have a guy like Aaron Rodgers at the controls who 109 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: can look at how the defense is matching up and go, Okay, 110 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: this is what we want to do to get ourselves 111 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: in the best possible play. I think those two running 112 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: backs are the guys that the Packers are going to 113 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: use to try to dictate to the defense or at 114 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: least test the defense see how they react, and then 115 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: you let Aaron Rodgers do his thing, because the more 116 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: eyes that are ultimately going to be on those backs, 117 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: the more opportunities it's also going to open up for 118 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: the passing game. And the Packers have all these guys 119 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: that play different positions and play all those positions differently 120 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: in and of themselves that I think really that's going 121 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: to be a massive opportunity for them. Again, going back 122 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: to that Daguara play Daguia and that f tight end role, 123 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: that h back type role. That was a hallmark of 124 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: what Kyle Shanahan did. You look at what's happening now 125 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 1: in Miami with them signing INGLED and and I see 126 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: Daguires being a guy that can fit into that as well, 127 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: along with Dominic Dafney, depending on all that shuffles up. 128 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: There are so many different mechanisms in scheme variations that 129 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: the Packers can work into this thing. It's just not 130 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: your traditional eleven personnel. Over and over again, the Packers 131 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: are gonna hit you with different waves, and that's ultimately 132 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: what you have to do when you lose a guy 133 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: like Davante Adams. Yeah, well, shifting gears to the defensive 134 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: side of the ball. I don't think we can start 135 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: a conversation about early impressions on defense without mentioning the 136 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: name Rashan Gary. We were there at practice every day. 137 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: We see all of the eleven on eleven reps, and 138 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,559 Speaker 1: the guy's just a presence on the field, play after 139 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: play after play. Now, I think we're going to see 140 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: potentially even more of that now that the pads are 141 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: going on. We're going to see him in you know, 142 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: the one on one pass rush, pass protection, drill. But 143 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: Rashan Gary, the guy just shows up to play every day, 144 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: whether it's a game, whether it's a practice, even in 145 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: the jog through, He's going to find a way to 146 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: make his presence felt on the field. And and you 147 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: can just you can just see now, you know, year 148 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,119 Speaker 1: number four for Rashan Gary, he's growing into that, really 149 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: growing into that stand up outside linebacker, that classic edge 150 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: rusher set the edge player, but also becoming you know, 151 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: I know it's a cliche, but becoming a true leader 152 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: by example on the defensive side in terms of how 153 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: he carries himself. It's the blueprint. It is the way 154 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: in which you not only look for a first round 155 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: pick to to work in to to really harness his technique. 156 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: It's the way you want to see from any player 157 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: to have that much, you know, kind of fire in 158 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: the belly, so to speak. And until he stops playing, 159 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: until he's no longer in Green Bay. That the thing 160 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm always going to go back to with Rashan Gary 161 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: is the first thing that Mike Smith was saying during 162 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: his rookie year. When a guy is that physically gifted 163 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: and he works that hard, those individuals do not fail 164 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: because everything, Every bad box is checked in that way. 165 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: It's just allowing your body to catch up. People forget 166 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: I mean, Rashawn Garry's not going to be what four 167 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: years old until December. I mean this time, he was 168 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: a guy who came into the league making a position transition. 169 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: He went. He was a down lineman at Michigan, not 170 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: a nose tackle, not saying he was an interior guy, 171 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: but he was a down lineman, hand in the dirt, uh, 172 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,679 Speaker 1: down lineman at Michigan, and the Packers drafted him twelfth 173 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: overall with the immediate plan to convert him into a 174 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: stand up outside linebacker, slash pass rusher and UH and 175 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: the transformation, yes, it did take some time, and he 176 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: is there now. But yet at the same time, you 177 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: can see the transformation isn't totally complete because he hasn't 178 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: he hasn't reached his peak yet. I don't think it's 179 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: just watching him. We had our first opportunity to see 180 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: the one on one pass rust trails and I wrote 181 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: in our insider inbox, Colum, I mean, the guy is 182 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: just shot out of a cannon. And I understand it's 183 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: a drill that is designed for the defense. They they 184 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: they're the ones jumping it. It's a one on one 185 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 1: situation there, pinning their ears back. They don't have to 186 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: worry about the run, but it's when the whistle blows 187 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: and the ball is snapped. The amount of kinetic energy 188 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: that this young man develops in an instant is special. 189 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 1: I've never seen anything quite like it. I wasn't here 190 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: for Clay Matthews and like his absolute zenith and oh 191 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: nine and ten in those years, maybe that's how it looked. Yeah, 192 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: he was. He was pretty darn impressive right from the gift. 193 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: But the speed to power of this kid is just 194 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: off the charts. And again, as long as he can 195 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: stay healthy and as long as the Packers can find 196 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: a way to get some snaps off of him throughout 197 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: the course of the season, I mean, the sky is 198 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: the absolute limit. Yeah. Well, also worth mentioning a couple 199 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: other things on the defensive side. One with regard to 200 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: the two minute drills that we've seen the last few 201 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: days in practice, Very very competitive. It's always my favorite 202 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven to watch is the two minute because 203 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: you know they'll pit ones against ones and you know 204 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: there's seventy seventy yards to defend. The clock is running, 205 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: there's time outs, whatever, here we go. The d fence 206 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: has had really really good opportunities to win those uh shama. 207 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: John Charles and Adrian Amos in the last couple of 208 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: two minute drills both had great chances for interceptions to 209 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: beat Aaron Rodgers to win to win that that two 210 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: minute drill against the number one offense, but came up 211 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: just a little short. John Charles was ruled to have 212 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: bobbled the ball and was out of bounds out the 213 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: back of the end zone. And then on the next 214 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: play Aaron Rodger sits Alana's arn't for the touchdown. Then 215 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 1: yesterday Adrian Amos has a great chance for an interception 216 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: at the goal line, can't quite bring it in. Still 217 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: a solid pass break up, but because the offense only 218 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: needed a field goal, they send out the kicker and 219 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: they win the drill, whereas the defense is kicking itself 220 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: because because the unit knows that it should have had 221 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: an interception there. That's been fun to watch. The other thing, though, 222 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: I want to touch on, is a story that you've 223 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: got on our website now with regard to the defensive line, 224 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: and we talked about this leading up to training camp 225 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: and the changes personnel wise that were made in the 226 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: off season, but those the two biggest personnel additions to 227 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: that defensive line, Jarren Reid and Davante Wyatt, both starting 228 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: to show up in practice. They really are. And this 229 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: is the part of it that I wrote this in 230 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: the story. I mean, every year around this time, you'll 231 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: hear Jerry Montgomery talk about it. You heard Mike Petton 232 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: talk about it, and obviously you know the transition to 233 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: Joe Barrier's defensive coordinator finding ways to to kind of 234 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: reduce the workload on Kenny Clark and by proxy, you 235 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: know Dean Lowry, and it's just been so difficult to 236 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: get those guys off the field. I mean, they basically 237 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: both played every snap just about in that playoff game 238 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: against the forty Niners. Trying to find ways to deepen 239 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: that rotation. Well, they did it this offseason, and it 240 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: came from three different levels. It was draft taking t 241 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: J Slaton, a guy that projects as a true nose tackle. 242 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: We had really some explosiveness and twitch, a guy who 243 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: was really coming on late in his rest season. Took 244 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: him a little while to get there, to kind of 245 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: get his feet under him, but we saw Slaton making 246 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: more of an impact later in the year than in 247 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: the early part of his sure And then you know, 248 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 1: you go and get Jarren Read, a guy that was 249 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: in that NFL draft class with Clark in Laurie, a 250 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: guy that's had ten and a half sacks in this league, 251 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: a guy that's also been a run stuffer and has 252 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: only missed I believe it was eight games in six 253 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: NFL seasons. And then lastly, it was getting Davante Why 254 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: for the first time in six years since Kenny Clark 255 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: actually investing a first round pick into that position, And 256 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: what stood out to me in practice on Monday, it 257 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: was twofold one. Just what Jaren Reid could potentially give 258 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: them in a base front when you when you mix 259 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: in Clark at a nose tackle position, when you have 260 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: Laurie had a four or five technique. Jared Reid is 261 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: a guy that's going to hold his own on his 262 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: side of the line. You're not gonna have to worry 263 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: about him. I think we already knew that going in, 264 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: but actually seeing him in the paths really shows you 265 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: how he can really eat up some space with his 266 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: body type. And Davonte Wyatt again going back to those 267 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: one on one drills. That does not make a defensive lineman. 268 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: It does not make you a pro bowler. But I 269 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: remember watching him on the sled in the off season 270 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: program and just seeing the way his feet work, the 271 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: amount of mass that he has there, and how quickly 272 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: he can get from one side to another. Devonte White 273 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: looked really good in a three technique in the in 274 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: the one on one spot as well. So the Packers 275 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,599 Speaker 1: need to find ways to to lessen the load on 276 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: Clark and Lowry, to to not only just keep them fresh, 277 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 1: but make them even more impactful when they're on the field, 278 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: and for the first time in a few years, they 279 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: might really have the core to do it. Yeah, the 280 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: way I look at the way I look at this 281 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: unit in this day and age, of the vast majority 282 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 1: of snaps, only three or two down linemen defensively are 283 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: on the field at any given time. That when the 284 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: Packers have a five s some of Clark, Lowry, Wyatt, 285 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: Read and Slaton, whatever order you want to put him in, 286 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: that's that's as deep a five at that position group 287 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: as I can recall being around here, probably since you 288 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: know the days of the old four three before Don 289 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 1: Caper's even even walked in the door, so to speak. 290 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: So um, that's that's going to be interesting and exciting 291 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 1: to watch. I do want to get to some sponsor business. 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I want to hit 299 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: on a few guys that I that for right now, 300 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: these early stages of camp, I consider sort of these 301 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: intriguing individual stories and I'm gonna throw one name your 302 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: way because you wrote about him. The story is still 303 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: on our website for those who want to go find it, 304 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: and I'm talking about Rico Gafford. Um interesting young man 305 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: with an interesting backstory. Here tell us what you've learned. 306 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: He's the hopeful right twenty six years old, was signed 307 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: as a futures signing back in January. Patricks have actually 308 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: had some good luck with that the last years, finding 309 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: guys on the practice squad in the end of the 310 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: roster um after the seasons over guys that are just 311 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: on the street. Gafford is so interesting to me, Mike. Obviously, 312 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: the four to two speed, going back to his Wyoming 313 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: pro dade. That's how this guy got on the map. 314 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: That's why the Raiders invested three years into him and 315 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: ultimately tried moving him to the receiver position. The Packers 316 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: have moved him back to cornerback. That started with a 317 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: conversation with Matt Lafloor Enrico this offseason, right after they 318 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: draft three receivers. You kind of look at the lay 319 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: of the land, you look at the investment the Packers 320 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: have made at that position. With Sammy Watkins also be added, 321 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: it was gonna be up, you know, uphill sledding there 322 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: for for Gafford to make the rosters. So what about cornerback, 323 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: the position he originally played to begin with. We're seeing 324 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: him being used on some of these special teams units. 325 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: You saw him going back for some some returns the 326 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: last few days. But really it's how he's performed in 327 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: these number two defensive periods that have impressed me. The most. 328 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: The guy's made quite a few, you know, past deflections, 329 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: broken up some stuff. He's not been an easy guy 330 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: to complete against. And when you look at speed, when 331 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: you add in the technique and you maybe give a 332 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: guy with those type of intangibles and you add him 333 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: with a Jerry Gray, you do kind of wonder what's 334 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: possible there for this young guy. Now again, this is 335 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: his fifth NFL training camp. He's trying to make this 336 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: thing work. I feel like the hunger is there with 337 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: Gafford knowing that he isn't sure how many more of 338 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: these opportunities he's gonna get, and he wants to find 339 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: his way on to the fifty three. And for the 340 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: first week of training camp, I think he's done everything right. Yeah, 341 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: that guy is he's lightning fast man cow. He can, 342 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: really he can. You're not going to get a goal 343 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: ball on him. I mean you might get him with 344 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: some stuff off the line of scrimmage, but if you're 345 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: trying to go downfield, he's going to catch up. It's 346 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: Harry Sam Seals esque. Yeah, and he's wearing Sam Shields No. 347 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: Number thirty seven, So go figure um. A couple of 348 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: guys I want to mention one we talked about on 349 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: our last show, and that's Jake Hansen on the offensive line, 350 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: and I wanted to bring him up again. He's he's 351 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: in one of the two main number one line combinations 352 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: that we talked about on our last show. I talked 353 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: with him yesterday and he's the lead item in yesterday's 354 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: five Things Learned from Training Camp for those who want 355 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: to check that out. He brought up a really interesting point, 356 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: and it's the kind of thing that even as long 357 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: as you and I are around this and we talked 358 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: to guys and we cover you know, the team on 359 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: a daily basis year after year, that we forget about. 360 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 1: And what he talked about is how last year he 361 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: pretty much spent all of the regular season practices on 362 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: the scout team. He was he was scout team offense, 363 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: either at center or guard, depending on you know, how 364 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 1: they were using him that particular day. Well what did 365 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: that mean for him? That meant every single day in 366 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: practice he's going up against Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry, 367 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: you know. And so when we talk about how Jake 368 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: Hansen is suddenly now because of you know, Elton Jenkins, 369 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: David Botr being out in the line being shuffled around. 370 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: Jake Hansen is one of the guys being looked at, 371 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,719 Speaker 1: you know, ad guard on the offensive line. How does 372 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: a guy like that just come out of nowhere? Sixth 373 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: round pick? A couple of years ago practice squad, had 374 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: some injury, had a had an injury as a rookie, 375 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: hip injury that required surgery. All of this, then last year, 376 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: you know, barely appears in some games that you know 377 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: for some special team snaps. How does he get to 378 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:08,120 Speaker 1: this point? It's because he spent every day in practice 379 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: last year going up against Clark and Lowry because he 380 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: was a scout team offensive lineman. He's a better player 381 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 1: now than he was, and the coaches are giving him 382 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: a chance to show that. So I wanted to just 383 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: try to expound a little bit on what we talked 384 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: about with Hanson last time in terms of how he's 385 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: gotten to where he is right now. And the other 386 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: one I'm gonna keep my eye on the rest of 387 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: training camp is Randy Ramsey at outside linebacker. This is 388 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: a guy he went down in the fifth training camp 389 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: practice last year a really nasty ankle injury. It was 390 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: a couple of torn ankle ligaments, as well as a 391 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: fractured fibula. He ended up being out almost to the 392 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: day a calendar year, and he's now returned to practice. 393 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: He's back out on the field. And while the Packers 394 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: know that they're one and two edge rushers are Rashawn 395 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: Gary and Preston Smith, number three on down the depth chart, 396 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: however far it's going to go is absolutely wide open. 397 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: And Randy Ramsey is a guy now that he's back 398 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: on the field, and with how much this organization believes 399 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: in him. When you only spend a fifth round pick 400 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: at edge rusher and you don't sign any free agents 401 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: in a year that you lose the Darius Smith and 402 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: you really only have those top two guys has proven 403 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: it says something with Brian gudokun Sen, the personnel department 404 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 1: in Matt Lafleur, what they think of Randy Ramsey and 405 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: what he could bring to this unit when he's healthy. 406 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 1: So he's a guy in my mind to keep an 407 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: eye on these next several weeks. Yeah, keep in mind too, 408 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: I mean Randy Ramsey, this isn't his first rodeo. This 409 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: is his fourth year in Green Bay now, I mean 410 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: he was an undrafted free agent in two thousand nineteen 411 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: that was on the practice squad and an impact player 412 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: on special teams two years ago. He made that job 413 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: the following year. He you know Ramsey, we talked to 414 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: him a little bit before the injury, and you can 415 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: tell his story and where he comes from, just just 416 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 1: how motivated he is to make this thing go. And 417 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: if you're gonna be an undrafted guy, or you're gonna 418 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: be a late round pick like Jonathan Garvin was, or 419 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: even to some you know, some extent kingsley A Nabari, 420 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: these guys you couldn't ask for a better opportunity because 421 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: the packers are literally saying, we got a guy in 422 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: Preston Smith and another guy a budding star in Rashaan Gary, 423 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: and when they're off the field, we need one of 424 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: you young guys to relieve them. So that's where I 425 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: feel like this competition it almost is somewhat like the 426 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: receiver competition to some extent, where it's like guys need 427 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: to step up and they're not gonna bring in somebody 428 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: to take their place. They're asking you to give your 429 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: best side of yourself to contribute to this cause. So 430 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: teep A naly I, you look at a guy like 431 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 1: Ladarius Hamilton's came in last year. I thought Hamilton's had 432 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: some pretty good one on one reps. Opportunity is knocking 433 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: big time at that position. These preseason games, Mike are 434 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: going to be critical because for Ramsey's case, we got 435 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: to see how they integrate him into this thing. But 436 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: the truck's already moving with special teams, so it's like, 437 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: you know, where are you going to be able to 438 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: add potentially to this defense too? So and that that's where, 439 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: you know, I feel like with him being off, there's 440 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a little bit of a curve there to 441 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: get back in this thing. But but certainly the Packers 442 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: believe in the kid. They wouldn't have been along on 443 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: this right as long as they have if they didn't. Yeah, 444 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: absolutely well with that, We're up against it, So we'll 445 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 446 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of training 447 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: camp all kinds of stuff for you on Packers dot com. 448 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: For West, I'm Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. 449 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.