1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague West Hodkowitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: here from our studios at lambeau Field, and as promised 5 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: on our last show, today's show will focus on the 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: off season news with regard to the Packers defense and 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: West I need to establish a little bit of a 8 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: timeline here as too, as to how things went, because 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: as the start of the new league year, the start 10 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: of free agency mid March um last month, the Packers 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: had some salary cap issues. They needed to be that 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: three o'clock on March sixteen, they think it was. They 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: had to be in compliance with the salary caps. So 14 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: there were some moves made that that certainly had an 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: impact on the defense. Once Darius Smith was released, Preston 16 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: Smith was signed to a contract extension which created some 17 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: salary cap relief for the current year, and then Dave 18 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: Andre Campbell was signed to a new five year contract, 19 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: and at at the time that the new league year began, 20 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: the Packers had Preston Smith under contract, of Andre Campbell 21 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: under contract, Davante Adams franchise tag number was under the cap, 22 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: and that for the moment was looking like the direction 23 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: the Packers were going to go. But then when it 24 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,839 Speaker 1: became apparent that Davante Adams was not going to sign 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: a long term deal with Green Bay, the trade was 26 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: worked out with the Raiders. Then suddenly more cap space 27 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: became available and Russeul Douglas was resigned and Jaren Reid 28 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: was added as a free agent on the defensive line. 29 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: So some dominoes started to fall after the Davante Adams 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: trade that had have given the Packers defense in a 31 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: look that maybe we weren't a specting because going into it, 32 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: I didn't think both Devandre Campbell and Russell Douglas would 33 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: be back. But it turns out that's where the Packers are. 34 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: And you really think about it, Mike, I think the 35 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: green Bay Packers Devandre Campbell, that's the best situation for 36 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: both players, the green Bay Packers and Russeul Douglass. I 37 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: don't think that's debatable. I think that's the best situation 38 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: for both players in this I'm really excited for what 39 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: this Packers defense has coming back next season. I understand 40 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: they took a big hit at outside Russia. You're losing, 41 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: you know. Zadarius Smith, a guy that in his two 42 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: healthy seasons was went to the Pro Bowl both years, 43 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: was a second team All Pro. The statistics that he 44 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: put together, the sack numbers he put together in those 45 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: first two seasons, they're legitimate, and he was a big 46 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: part of this resurgence that the Packers defense has had. 47 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: Unfortunately for him, he suffers that that back injury last year, 48 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: and I think there was, you know, some structural stuff 49 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: going on there. There was the cap situation, and we'll 50 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: see exactly what happens now that he's in Minnesota. Thought 51 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: he was going to Baltimore for a minute, but he 52 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: ends up in Minnesota. But what happened at that same 53 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: time was the Packers very quietly resigned or should say, 54 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: extended Preston Smith, created some more cap space there and 55 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: took care of Preston for the long term. They were 56 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: able to keep deve Andre Campbell, which, as I've said 57 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: over and over and over again, Mike deve Andre Campbell's 58 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: presence in this defense has altered my belief in the 59 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: inside linebacker position in today's NFL. And and he's talked, 60 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: you know, at quite quite a great length over the 61 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: past year about what his thought process was when he 62 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: came to Green Bay last June, why he picked this place, 63 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: why he felt like this was the right fit for him, 64 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: why he probably left some money on the table to 65 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: come and play in this defense. But the one thing 66 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: he mentioned when addressing the media for the availability at 67 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: the beginning of the off season program here was he 68 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: told the Packers flat out, I want to be a 69 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: MIC linebacker. I want to be the one where in 70 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: the communication had said I want to be the middle 71 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: linebacker in the in the in the heart of the defense. 72 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: He wanted to be the guy running the dfense. He 73 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: felt he felt he could be a star in that position. 74 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: He could he could do everything that was asked of 75 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: him in that leadership role on the field, and he delivered. 76 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: And if you think about it, you go back to Atlanta. 77 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: I've said it a couple of times. I wrote it. 78 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: I mean the two thousand sixteen draft, they hit it 79 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: out of the park with their linebackers that they drafted, right, 80 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: you know, with you know, Keyan O'Neil and uh you 81 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: know um Dion Jones and and just the bodies and 82 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: athletes they had and here's Devondre Campbell in the fourth round. 83 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: That he was a solid player, started basically right on 84 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: from his rookie year. But as Preston Smith said, he 85 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: was the kind of guy that you looked at him 86 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: on film was like, that guy's really impressive. He's all over, 87 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: you know, all over the places around the football, but 88 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: he didn't know who he was. The Packers allowed him 89 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: to be the centerpiece of this defense and it let 90 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: not only him really flourished, but it showed a different 91 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,119 Speaker 1: dimension to this Packers defense that I haven't seen really 92 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: in my time on the beat. Not only was the 93 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: inside linebacker position filled, it was one of the best 94 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: positions Green Bay had on the field. Yeah, I mean 95 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: to go from you know, a guy off the street 96 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,679 Speaker 1: as the saying goes to be, to becoming a first 97 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: team All Pro in his first season in a new 98 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: location and a new defense. All of that, it was 99 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: an incredibly impressive year that Devandre Campbell put together. And 100 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: when he spoke with the media this week on Wednesday, 101 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: as we said, there are a few players are made 102 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: available for the start of the off season program. The 103 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: thing that struck me is is I didn't realize when 104 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: when he signed last year, I was like, okay, yeah 105 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: he was. He was in Atlanta. He was drafted in 106 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: Atlanta in ten. Matt Lafleur was there as the quarterbacks coaches. Like, okay, 107 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: so there's a connection there. Well. He sort of explained 108 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: yesterday to the media that it was more than just 109 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: like they knew each other. They they had developed a 110 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: bit of a relationship. They had a lot of conversations, 111 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: they got to know each other a little bit. And 112 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: Campbell made it sound as though that that relationship with 113 00:05:55,279 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur, established way back in had a big impact 114 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: on him choosing to come to Green Bay because he 115 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: wanted to be that guy in the middle. He wanted 116 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: to be the guy running the show. He felt that 117 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: that was what he could do for an NFL team 118 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: and he could become a star in this league. And 119 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: he couldn't get that commitment from anybody else, but Matt 120 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: la Fleur said, we'll give you a chance to do that. 121 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: And his relationship with Matt Lafleur, he took him at 122 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: his word and said and said, all right, I believe you, 123 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: So I am going to come here. I am going 124 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: to trust you. You need to trust me that I 125 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: will deliver what I say I'm going to deliver, and 126 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: it all worked out. I think that that it's interesting 127 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: to me that there was more. What we found out 128 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: yesterday is there was more to that relationship with la 129 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: Fleur in Atlanta six years ago than we ever really knew. Yeah, 130 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: And I got a kick out of him mentioning to 131 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: you know, because Joe Berry is always kind of the 132 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: secondary figure in this because they're really on the surface, 133 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: wasn't a connection there between DeAndre Campbell and Joe Berry? 134 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: But then we found out during that media time on Wednesday, No, 135 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: there was Brandon Staley, who was the defensive coordinator when 136 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: Barry was in l A. Yeah, he recruited dave Andre 137 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: Campbell out of high school. I mean, just how small 138 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: that biosphere is for the NFL and in football is 139 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: just incredible. But the thing I enjoyed the most about 140 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: that story in terms of the relation to La Fleur 141 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: is it shows you not only the importance of relationships 142 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: that that goes without saying, but Matt la Fleur understood 143 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: at a very young age, in an incredibly young age, 144 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: when he was moving into that position as quarterbacks coach, 145 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: as the Atlanta of the at NFL gets quarterbacks, Matt Ryan, 146 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: Matt Shop, maybe a practice squad kid here and there. 147 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: That's it, that's your assignment. Here he is going around 148 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: creating a dialogue with devonri Campbell. Campbell said he didn't 149 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: talk to him over here and there always on the 150 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: staff now every single day he was talking to Matt Lafleur, 151 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: and I would imagine that's probably not the only player 152 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: that la Fleur was talking to. Those are the things 153 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: that position coaches. Sure, you want to build chemistry, you 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: want to be able to those with things, but you 155 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: can see how that kind lay the groundwork for kind 156 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: of the program that the floor has built here in 157 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: Green Bay. I think back to last year Whitney Merciless, 158 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: the first practice he was in Green Bay. Every all 159 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: the eyes are on him and Matt with Fleur sitting 160 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: there talking to him during stretches, not for a photo up, 161 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: not to to look good. I mean, he's like legitimately 162 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: talking to him and having a conversation, and that that 163 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,119 Speaker 1: that aspect of this I don't think can ever be lost. 164 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: In addition to the fact that that's what allows a 165 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: guy like Deveandre Campbell to come in in June and 166 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: immerse himself in the program. It allows Russell Douglas in 167 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: October to come in and feel comfortable in a program. 168 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: You have to feel comfortable before you can be confident. 169 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: And that's one thing with this defense especially has been 170 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: really solid at doing here with these new incoming players. Well, 171 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 1: we mentioned Russell Douglas. Obviously he's he's back in the secondary. 172 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: You look at you look at this defensive backfield that 173 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: the Packers are putting together here. For two, you're hoping 174 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: and planning on having Jr. Alexander back for the entire 175 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: season after he injured that show lder in Week four 176 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: and then was not able to make it back until 177 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: the playoff games, so he essentially missed three quarters of 178 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: the season. Last year. You have Eric Stokes, a potential 179 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: rising star at cornerback, first round draft pick, twenty ninth 180 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: overall pick last year, got thrown into the fire to 181 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: a much greater degree as a rookie than than expected 182 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: because of Alexander's injury. But um, but this young man 183 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: answered the bell every time, his arrow clearly pointing up. 184 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: You have Douglas back now with the new contract, a 185 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: guy that the Packers plucked off of Arizona's practice squad 186 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: and and essentially in three quarters less than three quarters 187 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: of a season, becomes a Pro Bowl alternate with the 188 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: with the type of year he put together, you know, 189 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: pick sixes in back to back games. We all know 190 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: about the interception to h to beat his former team 191 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: in in Arizona one of those first games he was 192 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: playing for the Packers. Channon Sullivan has left as a 193 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: free agent. Obviously, the Packers prioritized resigning Douglas over Sullivan 194 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: as far as the cornerback position in the dollars to 195 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 1: allocate their Sullivan has gone to Minnesota UM, just like 196 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: Darius Smith. And at safety obviously you have ad your 197 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: name is Darnell Savage. Now together as you're starting safety 198 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: pair for a fourth consecutive season, it will be the 199 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: second year in Joe Barry system. There is a lot 200 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: to like about what the Packers are putting together and 201 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: building here for for this secondary. The the experience level, 202 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: the accomplishments, the leadership of those guys. This group is 203 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 1: really going to be one to watch in pound. I'm 204 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: trying to think of a better, uh starting five in 205 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: terms of my time on the beat here in green 206 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: Bay with that secondary, I mean Adrian Amos. I think 207 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: time and time again we've talked about it, Mike, he's 208 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: one of the most underrated safeties in this league. And 209 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: you look at the Pro Football Focus numbers a lot 210 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: of these you know, aggregators that they talk about these 211 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: things that the things that he does that sometimes can 212 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: go under the radar. And he's a fluid tackler, He's 213 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: good in coverage. He has good ball tracking skills for 214 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: a guy playing the safety position and having to be 215 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: center field, and he can also go up into the box. 216 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: Amos is the guy that I think a lot of 217 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: times goes with with people not mentioning how talented this 218 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: young man is. Darnell Savage, you heard Ryan Downard say 219 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: it feels like he still has the potential that there 220 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: to be an elite player, certainly has the speed and 221 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: the makeup the first defensive back that was taken in 222 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: the NFL draft. But the three corners that Green Bay 223 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: has assembled here, that's going to be the biggest part 224 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: that I think if green Bay can make that next 225 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: jump here in your two hunder Joe Barry's defense, it's 226 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: going to start there, because one in a nickel and 227 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: dime package. You have a multitude of options for how 228 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: you want to approach that. We've talked about some of 229 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: them already, you know, going back to the NFL owners meetings, 230 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: Brian Goodkins kind of saying, yeah, we could potentially match 231 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: up JR. Alexander Moore. We could have him trail against 232 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: some of the top receivers if that's the way that 233 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: we want to do things. You know that Douglas can 234 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 1: play outside, but he's also really physical to it the 235 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: point of attack. I was saying it he played maybe 236 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: fifty special team snaps. I would argue he was their 237 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: best special teams player last year. Really good at its solid, 238 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: open field tackling, and Eric Stokes completely jumped off the 239 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: page to me, kind of like JR. Alexander and his 240 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: rookie year. There are a couple opportunities that he wasn't 241 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: able to completely cash in on when it came to interceptions, 242 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: but his coverage ability and more importantly, Mike, the number 243 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: one thing I always look for for these young guys 244 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: coming in is the situation too big for them? Because 245 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: we know what his speed is, we know what he 246 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: did in college, especially his last year at Georgia. But 247 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: when you start having to match up with some of 248 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: these top receivers and they're not always going to be 249 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: able to flank out a safety over the top of you, 250 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: can you stand up to that challenge Stokes did? I 251 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 1: thought it was robbery that he wasn't on the All 252 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: p f w A All Rookie team. But I don't 253 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: think he really cares. But I mean, I just feel 254 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: like this thing is set up for him to have 255 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: a really solid career here. Yeah, I agree with you. 256 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: I thought Eric Stokes should have been on the p 257 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: f w A All Rookie team with the with the 258 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: type of season he had, and you talked about from 259 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: you know, from that makeup standpoint, the other thing you 260 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: always watched for where the young cornerback is when he 261 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: gives up a third down conver Ursian completion or gives 262 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: up a touchdown pass. How does he react, how does 263 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: he how does he come back? Nothing phase this kid, 264 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, it was really it was really 265 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: impressive what he did. And getting back to your comment 266 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: about this starting five in the secondary, you look at 267 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: the nickel defensive backfield, I think you have to go back. 268 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: You have to go back more than a decade, quite frankly, 269 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: to find one that was this talented and this potentially impactful. 270 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: And I'm talking about the time when the Packers their 271 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: top three cornerbacks were Charles Woodson, Al Harrison, Tremont Williams. 272 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: The number one safety was Nick Collins, and then that 273 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: second safety kind of shifted around there. It was maybe 274 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,599 Speaker 1: a Tari Bigbie or Charlie Pepper was supposed to be 275 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: Morgan Burnett his rookie year in two thousand and ten, 276 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: but then he ended up blowing out his knee and 277 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: and uh, and Burnett didn't really establish himself until a 278 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: little bit later. But you have to really go in 279 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: my in my estimation, you have to go back that 280 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: far to find a nickel secondary the top five guys 281 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: that are potentially as as talented as as this group 282 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: as I think it bodes I think it really bodes well. 283 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: I want to touch on the defensive line here as well, 284 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: because we'll talk next week in our draft preview show. Certainly, 285 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: defensive line is an area that I think the Packers 286 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: are going to start to look to build for the 287 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: future here. There there may be some opportunities in this 288 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: draft to do that. But signing a free agent in 289 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: Jaren Reid, a guy who's, you know, much like Sammy 290 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: Watkins in a sense. And what I mean by that 291 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: is a veteran guy who's been there and done that. Right. 292 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: He's he's he's been through the wars, he's been through 293 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: the battles. He knows what it takes to to to 294 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: be a pro, to show up every day and and 295 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: all of that kind of stuff. And and this is 296 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: a guy that you know. When you have Kenny Clark, 297 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: Dean Lowry, a you know, a rising, improving young player, 298 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: and t J. Slaton who was drafted in the fifth 299 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: round last year. Read reads of a veteran guy who 300 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: can come in and play a rotational role and and 301 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: help to fortify that unit when whatever you do bring 302 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: in from the draft, these other young guys like a 303 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: Slate and from La you were going to need to 304 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: be brought along. You don't need necessarily to grab that 305 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: defensive lineman say okay, we need you to play fifty 306 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: snaps a game. The Packers, because of a signing of 307 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: a guy like Read, they don't have to worry about that. 308 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: It's the number one hallmark that I think has been 309 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: carried on from the Ted Thompson era into the Brian 310 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: Gooda consera. Don't go into a draft with glaring needs. 311 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: You might have needs, but don't go into it where 312 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: it's like, Okay, you have to take a player here. 313 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: You're gonna be in trouble right where if you had 314 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: to play a game tomorrow, like you don't have you 315 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: don't really have the horses to do, you know, yeah, 316 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: because what's gonna inevitably happen is some guys are gonna 317 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: surprise you and they'll all play that veteran right away. 318 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: Some guys are gonna need more time, some guys are 319 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: gonna get hurt. You need to create options for yourself 320 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: and for the Packers on the defensive line. I can't. 321 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: I can't think of another two guys in the NFL 322 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: right now, and especially at the same position that came 323 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: in together in sixteen like Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry 324 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: have and have played down going into their seventh season together. 325 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: That's almost unheard of. You be able to hit on 326 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: two guys in the same draft class and have them, 327 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: you know, get second contracts and and be real pivotal 328 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: players for your defense. The problem for Green Bay is 329 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: basically since Mike Daniels left, they've had a hard time 330 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: filling that third spot of who that other guy is 331 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: going to be. Moe Wilkerson was in here, Montrevius Adams 332 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: was drafted. Um, you know, you go back. You know 333 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: Kingsley Kiki kind of flirted with that spot for a while, 334 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: but ultimately wasn't the answer. You tip your cap to 335 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: Tyler Lancaster because he is a lunch pale kid that 336 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: brought it every single time, was durable, was able to 337 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: work through things. But ultimately, when you look at the 338 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: difference between Jarren Reid and his makeup and where he 339 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: comes from, his stat line in the NFL compared to 340 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: a Lancaster, it's just a different caliber of athlete that 341 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: you're dealing with. This is one of the guys that 342 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: was highly touted coming out of Alabama. He was a 343 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: guy Mike I remember when we were doing our draft process, 344 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: I honestly knew more about Jarren Reid than I knew 345 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: about Kenny Clark at that stage, just just based on 346 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: the Alabama connection and what they were building there, and 347 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: I remember that name and thinking could he be an 348 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: option there At the end of the first round, he 349 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: ends up going into the second two thousand and eighteen, 350 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: ends up having a and and a half sack year 351 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: for the Seahawks. But even like last year where it's 352 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: only two and a half, he's still a guy that 353 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 1: can play on first and second down as well at 354 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: six ft three and he played every game, every game 355 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: in ten pounds and to be able to do that 356 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: at that size is remarkable. Eighty nine careers games, eight 357 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: one starts, He's only missed eight over the last six seasons. 358 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: And when we talk about staples of the Packers, when 359 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: they look to bring in veterans, Mike, what are they 360 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: looking for? Guys that have been available, Guys who have 361 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: been durable and read checks that box. So yeah, if 362 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: they want to draft a defensive lineman this week, awesome 363 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: or next week awesome, go for it. But with those 364 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: three guys, and with the t J. Slaton there, that 365 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: gives you a rotation to work with while also developing 366 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: that next group. Yeah. Absolutely, a little bit of sponsored 367 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: business here. West Sirius x M NFL Radio delivers hard 368 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news that 369 00:17:55,320 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: true football fanatics need seven three, six and at cousins. 370 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: We have something for everyone, like our Wisconsin cheese curds, 371 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: mac and Cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 372 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs. 373 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: We believe in better. A few other things to touch 374 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: on here. On today's show, we talked about the the 375 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: situation that some of the changes adjustments with the coaching 376 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: staff on the offensive side. On the defensive side, you 377 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: mentioned Ryan Downard, he has been UM Jerry Gray's assistant 378 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: defensive backs coach. He got an internal promotion. He is 379 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: now specifically the safety's coach in that UH defensive backfield. 380 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: Jerry Montgomery, who has been the defensive line coach for 381 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 1: quite some time now here in Green Bay, he has 382 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: added has a run game coordinator added to his title 383 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: on the defensive side of the ball. And then Jason 384 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: Rebervich ReBs as he asked us to call him, is 385 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: the new off Sorry excuse me, outside linebackers because a 386 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: lot of words. You just had a scored replacing replacing 387 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: Mike Smith who who departed and has actually joined Zadarius 388 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: Smith over in uh UM Minnesota. So those are the 389 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: uh those are the changes. Those are the changes on 390 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball. And Rebervich. Rebrovich is 391 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: an interesting guy because you look he you you look 392 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: at his his track record. He's actually mostly not to 393 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: say that he hasn't worked with outside linebackers, because he has, 394 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: but throughout his coaching career he's mostly worked with defensive 395 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: lineman and he was the position coach for a Jacksonville 396 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: Jaguars defensive line about four or five years ago. I 397 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: want to say it was maybe that that that Jacksonville 398 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: defensive line had like three guys that went to the 399 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl and had fifty five some sacks, which was 400 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: one of the highest totals um in the league. So 401 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: this is a guy you I didn't know his name 402 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,479 Speaker 1: until Matt Lafleur hired him, and you may not know 403 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: his name, but he's worked with some pretty darn good 404 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: defensive front players in the NFL well. And the thing 405 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: that's funny, Jacksonville threw all this money out at all 406 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 1: these different players they did again this offseason. The one 407 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: thing they've probably done well over the last ten years 408 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: is what they did up front. You know, when you 409 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: think back to when they got Calias Campbell and Malik 410 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: Jackson and all those guys. Uh, they flourished down there, 411 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: and it had a lot to do with the success 412 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: they had while it wasn't sustainable for them during that 413 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: run there in sixteen seventeen and beyond. Okay, this is 414 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: what I love one In addition to him saying revs. 415 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: The guy that often goes by hot fully respects that move. 416 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: And also going from Mike Smith to Jason rebro Vitch 417 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: is going to be a big ask from a guy 418 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: that with a with a big last name himself. But 419 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: what I like about what the Packers did with these moves, 420 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: kind of echoing what I said the previous day, is 421 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: that there's a pattern to it, right and being able 422 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: to have basically a philosophical foundation for what Matt Lafleur 423 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: is trying to do. This was a big off season 424 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: off pensively and defensively for different reasons. But defensively it 425 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: is about trying to keep this train on the tracks 426 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: and just picking up even more steam. And I feel 427 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 1: like the moves that they made this has enabled them 428 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: to kind of do that and bringing in some new 429 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: ideas too, I mean, as talented in as much of 430 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: a whisperer as Mike Smith was for Rashaan Gary Gary. 431 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: Now going into year four, he's starting to become a 432 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,880 Speaker 1: made man a little bit. What can a new guy 433 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 1: with some new thoughts and philosophies and also a guy 434 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: with Gary's talent that is sort of you know, he 435 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: could play defensive end too if he needed to. What 436 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: what can he draw from that? What can Preston Smith 437 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: draw from that? So I really like that idea. And 438 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: also Kudosa Downard, you talked about him being an assistant 439 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: for Jerry Gray. He actually came in with Mike Pett 440 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: and staff. He was a guy that sort of followed 441 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: Patton around, was with him in Cleveland. The Packers think 442 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: a lot of the young man, and I really feel 443 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: like giving him that specific group. He said he's been 444 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: given assignments before, but being able to give this get 445 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: him the safeties right now. I think that's a great 446 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: foundation for him now moving forward. Yeah, we also need 447 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: to talk about what has gone on with regard to 448 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 1: special teams here. We will work that into this show 449 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: as well, because the last couple of years on special 450 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: teams it has not been up to uh, up to 451 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: an acceptable standard here in Green Bay, Matt Lafleur still 452 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 1: trying to find the right formula. He has hired Rich 453 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 1: Besaccia as the new special teams coordinator. And this is 454 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: a guy, my goodness. Not only has he been coordinating 455 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: special teams on the NFL level for about twenty years, 456 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: but he was even a special teams coordinator coach at 457 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: the college level before he got into the NFL twenty 458 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: years ago. And the track record this, this is this 459 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: is a guy. He he had a he had an 460 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: absolutely unbelievable season, you know, running the Raiders special teams 461 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: and then taking over as the interim head coach after 462 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,719 Speaker 1: John Gruden's departure with all the controversy that surrounded that, 463 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: and then he, you know, gets things together enough with 464 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: that Raiders team that they make a run in December, 465 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: in you know, early January, the final month of the 466 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,479 Speaker 1: regular season, to land a playoff spot. And then they 467 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: actually come, you know, within a fourth and goal play 468 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: in the wild card game against Cincinnati from being able 469 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: to to get to overtime against the team that ended 470 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: up representing the a f C in the Super Bowl. 471 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: UM a tremendous coaching job by Bisacci. He uh did 472 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 1: not get the um the full time job as the 473 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: as the head coach for the Raiders. So he started 474 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: looking at other opportunities. And Matt Lafleur wanted wanted to 475 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: find somebody who was going to come in here with 476 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: with his own philosophy, with an established way of doing 477 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: things on special teams, and uh, and this is the 478 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: guy the Packers are counting on to turn this around. 479 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: But Sacci wanted to turn the page to two thousand 480 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: twenty two as well. I hear momentarily talking about the 481 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 1: Packers special teams and what he brings to that, but 482 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: he didn't want to say that he wanted to go there. 483 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: I will, I'll put my name behind it. I don't 484 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: know how he wasn't the Raiders pick as the next had. 485 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:03,400 Speaker 1: I agree with you that it blew me away. That's 486 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: his challenging of a situation that I think anyone is 487 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 1: really inherited here. He he came through that with flying colors, 488 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: and yet and yet somehow the Raiders still wanted to 489 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: go in another direction. The playoffs is one thing. The 490 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: close loss in the playoffs is another thing. The fact 491 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: that he was able to help them keep that team together. 492 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: I think speaks everything you need to be said as 493 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: far as what he's like as a coach in what 494 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: he brings to the table. And it wasn't just the 495 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: Gruden thing. Of course, there were issues with off the field, 496 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: issues with players and coming and going on the roster, 497 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 1: all sorts of all sorts of craziness that season for 498 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: the Raiders had every reason to go off the rails 499 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: and never come back, and he got them into the postseason. 500 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: It was impressive. Yeah, And I'm sure that's something that 501 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: looking back on his coaching career, he can definitely be 502 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: proud of. Here's what I liked about what Matt Laflora 503 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: said when we were when we were down at the 504 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: I believe it was the owner's meetings. He mentioned, you 505 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: know you're in for a treat when you meet Pistac 506 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: because at that point we hadn't talked to me, and 507 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 1: he's like, he's a fiery guy and his accurate. He 508 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: was accurate in that description. But what stands out to me, 509 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 1: it wasn't all hell fire and brimstone, right. It's almost 510 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: like when you when you when you get your fire 511 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: started at home, or if you have the gas one too, 512 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: and it just has that blue sort of line. Everybody 513 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,239 Speaker 1: knows that's where the hottest part of the fires. Right, 514 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: it's not the red, it's the blue. Right, that's Rich 515 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: Pisaccia because it's not just this in your face, I'm 516 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: gonna go and just start screaming at everybody. It's this 517 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: quiet intensity. When we were talking to him, that really 518 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: stood out to me. And the way he speaks about 519 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: special teams. It was like listen to a physicist talk 520 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: about you know, their field, you know, or somebody that's 521 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: just like minutely instrumentally invested into the details. And I'm 522 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:50,959 Speaker 1: not saying that that's what's been missing, but it just 523 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: shows you the level to which this guy thinks of 524 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: that phase of the game. He talked, it's not offense, 525 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: it's not defense. It's defense. He said, it's the one 526 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: as man where you bring in a running back and 527 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: a linebacker and you got them lined up next to 528 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: each other for the betterment of the team, and they 529 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: have to execute. They have to execute. And his vision, Mike, 530 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,120 Speaker 1: this wasn't a guy that just came in and said, Okay, yeah, 531 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: where's the contract, I'll sign it. I'm gonna go up 532 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: into my office, grab some coffee. I'll see you at four. 533 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: This guy actually was like Pat o'donald. I like this guy. 534 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: Packers need a punter. We tried to sign him four 535 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: years ago and didn't get him. Let's go take a 536 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: look at him. Keyshan Nixon, a kid that came in 537 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: as an undrafted free agent three years ago with the Raiders. 538 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 1: He gets non tendered the Raiders. I don't know if 539 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: you know this or not. Mike Las Vegas had like 540 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: twenty six restricted free agents. I don't even know how 541 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: that happens, but they non tendered a bunch of these guys. 542 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: Nixon was one of them. Besaccia the Packers, they call 543 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: him into Green Bay. We need core guys. We need 544 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: six core guys, as he said, on our punt coverage team, 545 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: and then we'll build out the rest from there. The 546 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 1: vision is in place, and I really like that because 547 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: when you have a vision and you have discipline to 548 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 1: match that, that's how you get stable units. Yeah. Well, 549 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: and you mentioned we've already we've already seen Bisacci's influence 550 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 1: on the personnel on special teams. With the acquisition of 551 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: O'Donnell as the new punter, a guy that, as you said, 552 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: he tried to get him a handful of years ago 553 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: when when he originally got the Raiders special team's job, 554 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: and that didn't work out on O'Donnell stayed in Chicago. 555 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: But now the Packers have him as the new punter 556 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 1: and Nixon a reserve cornerback and a regular on special 557 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: teams for him there with the Raiders. So and I 558 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: think that influence in personnel on special teams is going 559 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 1: to continue with uh with Pisaccia as far as his 560 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 1: track record goes. The for the for the fans, for 561 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: the fans who aren't aware, there's a long time NFL analyst. 562 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: He's worked worked for the Dallas Morning News. He is 563 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 1: a highly respected member of the Pro Football Hall of 564 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: Fame selection Committee. I'm talking about Rick Goslin and for 565 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 1: years and years and years, and Rick is a great guy. 566 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: Rick has put together he has a statistic focal formula 567 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 1: whereby he sort of throws all the numbers together, shakes 568 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: them all up, and and ranks everybody's special team. So 569 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: it's it's combining all of your units, your punt, your kickoff, 570 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: your return units in both ways, your field goal unit, 571 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: all of all of anything that goes into special teams 572 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,360 Speaker 1: goes into his formula and then and then he ranks them. 573 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: Bacci has been a special teams coordinator in this league 574 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: for twenty years. Eight times out of twenty, Bisacci's units 575 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: have ranked in the top ten in Goslin's rankings, and 576 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: he just missed another top ten ranking last year because 577 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: the Raiders finished eleventh in his rankings. Now, you might say, well, 578 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: you know, eight out of twenty, Well, when you look 579 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: at the fact that you have punt return, kickoff return, 580 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: punt coverage, kickoff coverage, field goal, any one of those 581 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: five units goes south, and it's really hard to finish 582 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: ranked in the top ten when everything is packaged together. Right. 583 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: So the fact that eight out of twenty and almost 584 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: nine out of twenty um he's had his units for 585 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: various teams across the NFL rank in the top ten 586 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: in Goslin's rankings, I think that's that's a that's a 587 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: track record that stands on its own. And let's be honest, Mike, 588 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: it's been what fifteen years since the Packers have been 589 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: in the top ten. I think they've been a one year. 590 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: I think they were able to creep up the eleventh 591 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: or twelve, But otherwise it's been kind of a grind 592 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: here for the Packers to the two thousand seven special teams. 593 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: I've been here since two thousand six. The two thousand 594 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: seven special teams were the highest that I can recall 595 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: where the Packers ranked. They were. They were up there 596 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: in the top in the top eight or top nine 597 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: or something like that of the league. But since then, yeah, 598 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: it's been it's it's been a tough slog to try 599 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: to get amongst those league leaders. So trying to to 600 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: get some you know, some momentum built here. I think, 601 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: as I was saying at the end of the last season, 602 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:51,719 Speaker 1: and it went from a time of, oh, could they 603 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: mix in a fake field goal or hey, you know 604 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: they haven't had a punt return for a touchdown in 605 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 1: a while, it's kind of shifted to can you just 606 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: get you know, the eleven out there playing together, playing 607 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: as one and minimizing the mistakes. And it's not easy, 608 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: you know, as Randall Cobb was saying when he was 609 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: talking about some of the offensive things and the young 610 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: guys coming up on that side of the ball, this 611 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: thing ain't easy. It's not easy to recover an on 612 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: side kick it's not easy to prass protector, you know, 613 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: punt protect all these things. Definitely not easy to catch 614 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: a punt return, but it's a part of the game 615 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: and you need to be able to have that consistency. 616 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: So I think that's the exciting thing that Packers needed, 617 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: something that was going to change the wins here. And 618 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: it's gonna take work, and it's gonna take some months 619 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 1: here to be able to build this next phase up. 620 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: But you're seeing the commitment now, and I think you 621 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: pay enough into that you're gonna see it by the 622 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 1: time we get to the regular season. Yeah, well, West, 623 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: the draft is a week away. We will preview the draft, 624 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: take a look at the picks the Packers have, what positions, 625 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: maybe you know, drop some names of players that might 626 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: be available in those early rounds. We will do all 627 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: of that on our next show, but for now we're 628 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: calling it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 629 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team, 630 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: lots of draft preview information, prospect primer's position by position, 631 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: roster series, all of that stuff is out there for 632 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: you on Packers dot com. For West, I'm Mike. Thank 633 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: you for tuning in everybody, We'll see you next time.