1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:21,240 Speaker 1: M Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting next to the one and 3 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: only West Hodkowits were coming to you here from our 4 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: studios at lambeau Field and West. The preseason is almost over, 5 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: one game left to go. Next week it will be 6 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: the regular season. It will be more Packers Unscripted more often. 7 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: But before we get to that, we do have one 8 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: preseason game remaining against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday night 9 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field, after which the Packers will trim the 10 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: roster to fifty three players also build a ten player 11 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: practice squad over the weekend. As we head into this, 12 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: we know the starters are not going to play against 13 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,959 Speaker 1: the Chiefs. The ask majority of your regulars are are 14 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: going to be on the sidelines. So who are some 15 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: of the guys to watch for to keep an eye 16 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: on here as the preseason wraps up? Well, it's really 17 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: interesting way because I know some people when you look 18 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: at the final preseason game, there's some trepidation. There's people 19 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: that get anxious. They just want to get to that opener. 20 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: I personally, and this is just maybe my own personality 21 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: coming out. But this is to me the most compelling 22 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: week of the entire season, probably other than if you 23 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: get to the playoffs or a week seventeen down the 24 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: line kind of matchup. And the reason is is because 25 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: you have ninety players on this roster right now, fifty 26 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: three will be on the roster going into Chicago, forty 27 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: six are gonna play. That's almost less than you know, 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: almost half. So the stakes are so high. And the 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: NFL there's no minor leagues that's an affiliate. You're either 30 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: in or you're out, or you're on a practice squad. 31 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: So seeing who steps up in these circumstances is always 32 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: the most compelling thing to me. Now beyond that, I 33 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: have to go back to the wide receivers, just because 34 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: it's been such a tight knit competition from beginning to end. 35 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: So I look at a guy like Darius Shephard trying 36 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: to make his final statement of this preseason. I look 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: at you know, if Alan Lazar doesn't play, that maybe 38 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: means more reps for Jamon Moore trying to still state 39 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: his case to be on this roster. If Jake Kumero play, 40 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 1: see if he can make a couple more catches here 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: and there, I think we're gonna see all three of 42 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: these quarterbacks, the backup quarterbacks Deshaun Kaiser, Tim Boyle, Manny Wilkins, 43 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: seeing which receiver that they can develop a poor with 44 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: and kind of get some momentum built that position. For me, Mike, 45 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: the receiver spot has been the one I followed this 46 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: entire camp, and I'm excited to see how it finishes 47 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: out on Thursday night. Yeah, and I think the one 48 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: that a lot of people are going to have their 49 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: eye on. You mentioned it at the backup quarterback spot, 50 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: Deshaun Kaiser, Tim Boyle, Manny Wilkins. Tim Boyle made as 51 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: strong a statement as he could in Winnipeg that he 52 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: should be the number two quarterback on this route Suster. 53 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: We don't know if the Packers are going to keep 54 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: two or if they're going to keep three. That's another 55 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: decision that will have to be made over the weekend. 56 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: Deshaun Kaiser brought up with reporters. He's perfectly aware of 57 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: the situation. He knows this is his first time of 58 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: his three years in the NFL that he's going into 59 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 1: the final preseason game and he doesn't actually have a 60 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: roster spot locked up. He has to convince the brass, 61 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: so to speak, that he should be on this fifty 62 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: three man roster. So it's a different circumstance, a different 63 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: situation for him as well. I'm not sure Matt Lafleur 64 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: did not reveal this week with reporters who's going to 65 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: start the game, whether it's going to be Boil, whether 66 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: it's going to be Kaiser. My guess is that it's 67 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: going to be Kaiser because Boyle got the start last week. 68 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: I think he probably goes back to Kaiser for this one. 69 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: But regardless if your Kaiser, you need to state your case. 70 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: If you're Boil, you need to follow up what you 71 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: did in Winnipeg and show that that one really, really 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: good quarter of a ball was not just some flash 73 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: in the pan. It's a great point. And the thing 74 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: that stands out to me most about this position in 75 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: particular is Brian Goodicin has talked a little bit about 76 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: it when he was addressing the media on Tuesday and 77 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: saying that you know, there's always times where you know 78 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: guys are gonna surprise you. Matt Lafleur touched on it too, 79 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: and you know a guy jumps off the page and 80 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: makes the roster. Quarterback to me is the position that 81 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: perfectly encapsulates that. In my time on the beat, I've 82 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: seen guys win their job. In that last preseason game, 83 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: Graham Harold did it. I think you look at Scott 84 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: Tolzien solidified himself and some of those matchups. Brett Hunley 85 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,919 Speaker 1: did it a few times as well. And then you 86 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: also saw a guy like Vince Young who looked poised 87 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: to be that number two quarterback. Things kind of fell 88 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: apart in the preseason finale against Kansas City in two 89 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: thousand and thirteen and he was cut. So for Kaiser 90 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: and Boyle, Boyle said it perfectly, I mean, there can 91 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: be no let up. He doesn't care what his passer 92 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: rating is. He doesn't really care about what's going to 93 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: happen this weekend. He has one thing that he controls 94 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: and that's how he performs in this game on Thursday. 95 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: And for Kaiser, you were the huddle with him this week. 96 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: I mean he understands a sense of urgency that goes 97 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: along with us the media huddle, by the way, not 98 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: the huddle on the field. But he's a smart guy. 99 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: He knows what happened last week. He knows he needs 100 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: to be able to come out and and turn that 101 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 1: around and kind of rebuild some of that momentum and 102 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: show that he is the quarterback that the Packers traded 103 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: for last year and then lastly Manny Wilkins. I'm sure 104 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:25,799 Speaker 1: it's kind of champing at the bit right now hoping 105 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: to get an opportunity as well. I mean, his his 106 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: chances have been kind of, you know limited here due 107 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: to the competition between Boyle and Kaiser. So yeah, I 108 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: think that all three of those guys are gonna have 109 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: a chance to ball out, and whoever comes out of 110 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,679 Speaker 1: that most likely is going to be on this roster 111 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: in a couple of days. Yea, And those quarterbacks are 112 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: going to have a different voice in their helmet. Uh 113 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: as far as the play calling goes on Thursday night, 114 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: because Matt la Fleur told reporters he's stepping back from 115 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: the play calling for this final preseason game, which is 116 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: a common practice amongst head coaches who are play callers. 117 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: They like to in that final priest season game take 118 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: a little bit broader view, a different get a different 119 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: perspective during a game of their team. Matt Lafleur saying 120 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: he wants to see just how the whole operation is going, 121 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: how the communication is working between players, between coaches, from 122 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: players to coaches and all of that. So he's handing 123 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: off the play calling duties two quarterbacks coach Luke gets 124 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: for this game, and he specified he didn't choose offensive 125 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: coordinator Nathaniel Hackett simply because Hackett has called plays in 126 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: NFL games before. So this is an opportunity to for 127 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: Gets to spread his wings a little bit, get his 128 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: feet wet in um a new coaching duty, so they'll 129 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: be that dynamic as well. The quarterbacks position coach is 130 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: going to be the one calling the plays in the helmet, 131 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: but a lot of NFL coaches do this, and Matt 132 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: Lafleur even said two years ago when he was Sean 133 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: mcveigh's offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, what McVeigh 134 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: was the play caller that for two of the preseason games, 135 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: McVeigh handed off the play calling to him. So that's 136 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: how he got started with learning that whole aspect of things. 137 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: So a neat opportunity for Luke Getsy, but also uh 138 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: for Matt Lafleur as a first time a head coach 139 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 1: to step back a little bit and just see really 140 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: get a look at what he's built over the last 141 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: few months and where his team is before those roster 142 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: decisions are made. And that's important word you through in 143 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: their Mike team. This is the first time that Matt 144 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: Lafleur has been responsible for the entire operation offense, defense 145 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: and special teams. So one of the reasons I always 146 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: like this when Mike McCarthy would do it and he 147 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: would usually hand the reins of the offensive coordinator is 148 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: it not only allows him to look at the skill 149 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: position players and the offensive line, but it gives him 150 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: a chance to take a look at the defense. And 151 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: as much as you and I were just talking about 152 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: the position battles on the offensive side of the ball, 153 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: the stakes are even higher defensively, with you know, the 154 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: cornerback position, inside linebacker. There's so many different spots that 155 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: that guys want to prove themselves and Matt Lafleur wants 156 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: to get an eye on those guys as well. For 157 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: gets these perspective. This is incredibly valuable for him to 158 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: have this opportunity because he is a quarterback at heart, 159 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: and obviously he has the report that he does with 160 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: these guys in the quarterback room. But the fact that 161 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: now he's gonna be able to actually be in their 162 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: headset go through these plays that he's been installing with 163 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: him for the last couple of months. I think that's 164 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: going to be an interesting dynamic, and I'm sure the 165 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: quarterbacks are looking forward to being able to have that 166 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: sort of take on things as well. Yeah, well, a 167 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: couple other positions I want to talk about. You mentioned 168 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: one of them inside linebacker, because there's some uncertainty here 169 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: or in Burke's it sounds like his injury is not 170 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: necessarily long term. Yet there isn't a specific timetable on 171 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: exactly when he's going to be back from that chest injury. 172 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: We haven't really gotten any kind of definitive update on 173 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: Curtis Bolton and what's going on there so with his knee. 174 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: So you have Ty Summers the seventh round pick. You 175 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: have James Crawford the special teams as, you have Brady Sheldon. 176 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: It's a really interesting mix of guys and you don't 177 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: know who all is going to make this roster and 178 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: who isn't. Because out of this bunch, I thought Crawford 179 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: had the best bring through the o t a s 180 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: we We've seen Thy Summers come along and really show 181 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: up in the preseason games, but now Brady Sheldon in 182 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: this last preseason game also showed up and now he's 183 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: got something to build on here going into the fourth one. 184 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: So I'm not sure how this inside linebacker position is 185 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: necessarily going to shake out, and the injuries will factor 186 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: into it, but the Packers are going to be taken 187 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: a close look. I think at all three of these 188 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: guys in this final preseason game. They are And it's 189 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: not even really to me about even that second inside 190 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: linebacker spot right now, the guy that's in with Blake 191 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: Martinez and first and downs, first and second down situations, 192 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: to me, Mike, is the Packers trying to identify. Okay, 193 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: knock on wood. Blake Martinez plays every single snap you 194 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: want them to the season, But do you have somebody 195 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: on this roster that can handle that job, can handle 196 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: those responsibilities being the communicator in that inside linebacker room. 197 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: I think that's the task that Tye Summers, James Crawford, 198 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: and Brady Shelton have to step up to right now, 199 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: because without Martinez being in this game, they're probably all 200 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,319 Speaker 1: going to get an opportunity here there to lead their 201 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: respective units. Who's going to step up to that challenge. 202 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: I really liked how to Tie Summers responded. Last week. 203 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: He had a rough outing against Baltimore. There were some 204 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: issues that he had late in the game against Houston, 205 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: but he chimont. He had ten tackles. Nobody else on 206 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: the defense had more than four, basically played the entire 207 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: game due to some of the situations they fell into. 208 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: Your heart hurts for Curtis Bolton. You hope he gets 209 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: another opportunity here to showcase what he's doing, because he 210 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: got off to a really good start. But the fact 211 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: of the matter is the Packers have a game to 212 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: play now and in a week and they need somebody 213 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: that's gonna be able to step into that role. Tie Summers, 214 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: Brandy Shelton, and James Crawford have to show in this 215 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: game that they can be accountable and do that and 216 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: not make the the Packers think about that waiver wire 217 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: this weekend. Yeah, and another spot, getting back to the 218 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: offensive side for a minute here before we move on 219 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,479 Speaker 1: West at the running back position, Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams. 220 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: Both of those guys are going to go into the 221 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: regular season without having carried the ball in the preseason. Yeah, 222 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: Jones not playing. And I actually asked Matt Lafleur in 223 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: one of his press conferences this week about Jamal Williams, 224 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: because of all the time he had missed during camp, 225 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: is he going to, you know, get him into a 226 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: game here before the preseason's out and he's and he 227 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: said no, they don't really have any plans to play 228 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: Jamal Williams either. So how is how does this uh, 229 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: you know, settle itself with the third running back spot. 230 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: You've got Dexter Williams, the sixth round pick out of 231 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: Notre Dame. You've also got Trey Carson, who has carried 232 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: quite a bit of the load here in the preseason. 233 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: With Danny Vitally presumably on this roster, with the way 234 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: we've seen Matt Lafleur in this offense want to use 235 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: the fullback, and with what Vitality has done, even though 236 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: we missed some time in camp with an injury, with 237 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: what he's done on the practice field. If Danny Vitality 238 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: is on this team, and if you're keeping upwards of 239 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: potentially four tight ends, I'm not sure you can keep 240 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: more than three traditional running backs, which means between Dexter 241 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: Williams and Trey Carson, who are the guys really kind 242 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: of in the running for the number three spot, one 243 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: of them has to go. I agree because the Packers 244 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: that was one of the things last year is that 245 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: they were able to go a little deeper on tight end. 246 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: They were able to go a little bit more at 247 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: running back because they didn't have a fullback. I didn't 248 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: carry one through the final cuts, so vitally. The one 249 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: thing you really like about having vitality too is that 250 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: he can give you a guy that potentially could play 251 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: on third downs, could be accountable in pass protection, and 252 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: also really Flash is a pass catcher as long as 253 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: he's healthy. He's got that all around skill set. I 254 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: think he has a skill set that you really want 255 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: from the fullback position in two thousand nineteen. That being said, 256 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: I think last year in the past couple of seasons 257 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: have proven why you need a number three running back 258 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: as well. Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams their opportunities as 259 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: rookies came from being the guys that were sort of 260 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: working their way up the depth chart. So yeah, Dexter 261 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: Williams has flashed as a runner. I really think he's 262 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: very instinctive. I love what he does between the tackles, 263 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: but there's been some drops and there's been some past 264 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: protection issues. Trey Carson is sort of the antithesis of that. 265 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: I mean, he's been the guy that's and really strong 266 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: in terms of what he's done as a pass protector. 267 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: But the yardage in yards per carry aren't really um 268 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: you know, maybe what jump off the page to you. 269 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: So those two guys are and you know they're gonna 270 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: be running this thing right down to the wire. And 271 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: don't forget about Keith Ford too. This is a guy 272 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: who played in the NFL last season, and if he 273 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: has a couple of big carries in this game, that's 274 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: gonna make the Packers think about that as well. So 275 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: it is. It's gonna be a really interesting battle to 276 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 1: see all three of those guys and what they potentially 277 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: could do in this ball game. Yeah, all right, Well, 278 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: before we move on to what's going to be happening 279 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: this weekend at twelve sixty five here West Select Cousin 280 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 1: Subs locations are now offering delivery, whether you're ordering catering 281 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: or your favorite sub they're delivering right to you when 282 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: you order online at Cousin subs dot com. Cousin Subs, 283 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: we believe in better. Okay, So, the final preseason game 284 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: will end somewhere in the neighborhood of ten thirty PM 285 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: on Thursday. I'll try, I'll try to make sure that 286 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 1: happens between then and three o'clock Central time on Saturday. 287 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: The Packers will have to trim their roster to fifty 288 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: three players. Now, this can happen a number of different ways. 289 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 1: And what I mean by that is there are guys 290 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: who are hurt who could go on injured reserve that 291 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: trims a roster spot. There will obviously be guys who 292 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: are released. There's always a chance you could see some 293 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: trades for a draft pick or something like that. All 294 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: those kinds of things could happen. But it all has 295 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: to happen by three o'clock on Saturday afternoon because the 296 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: Packers have to be at fifty three. And presumably you're 297 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: gonna see two players, Greg Roberts and Ibrahim Campbell go on, pup. Yes, 298 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: that's it's gonna be just a myriad of all these 299 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: different things happening that the Packers are gonna have to 300 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: start through. It was interesting though, because I went to 301 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: the locker room and I talked to a couple of 302 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: guys this week about what that experience has been like. 303 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: Robert Tony, and I thought was one of the guys 304 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: I really wanted to go to because his first two 305 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: seasons he got cut by the Detroit Lions and then 306 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: he ended up and the Packers roster and back to 307 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: back years. There are actually a very few of those 308 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room if you really think about it. 309 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: Tremont Williams is one of them guys that have been 310 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: on both sides of that equation, and it's just so 311 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: one of the when I opened the show talking about 312 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: why this is such a compelling time of the year 313 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: for me, it's so interesting listen to what that day 314 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 1: is like for people, and in two thousand nineteen, everybody 315 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: wants to be on their phones, everybody wants to be connected. 316 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: Most of these guys are completely withdrawn. Tyler Lancaster spent 317 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: his morning the day he got cut last year in 318 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: the weight room at lambeau Field, eating breakfast, just around 319 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: the facilities, doing everything he could to keep his mind 320 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: off things until he ended up getting the bad news. 321 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: Robert Tanian and Jake Kumero. They went to a driving range, 322 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: they played video games and waited out the entire day 323 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: until both of them realized that they had made the team. 324 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: So it's just it's one of these things that you 325 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: put all your focus. Like I said with Tim Boyle, 326 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: everything is on this game on Thursday night, but as 327 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: soon as it ends, there's sort of this adrenaline dump 328 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: and now you're just kind of waiting to see exactly 329 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: what's going to happen. And to throw one more wrinkle 330 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: into that equation, Packers have a to prepare for on Thursday, 331 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: so it's gonna be cut your team, and then you 332 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: know you're running a hund twenty towards the Bears. Yeah, 333 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: with the shortened week, with the Packers opening the season 334 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: against the Bears in Chicago on next Thursday, everything gets 335 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: compressed and the other part that will be happening over 336 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: the weekend while the bulk of the team is going 337 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: to start its practice week on Sunday to prepare for 338 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: the trip to Chicago. You have I believe it's a 339 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: twenty hour waiver period from that three o'clock on Saturday 340 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: afternoon until eleven am Central Time on Sunday morning, that 341 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: all players who are not vested veterans who have been 342 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: released are on the waiver wire. Teams can make waiver 343 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: claims base and the claim order is essentially the same 344 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: as the draft order. So the Packers are twelve in 345 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: the waiver claim order, just as they had the number 346 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: twelve overall pick in the draft. And that's the other 347 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: thing that can factor in here, West is that guys 348 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: can make the team on Saturday, but then if the 349 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: Packers claim somebody and then they are awarded that claim, 350 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 1: that player has to go on the fifty three man 351 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: roster and then somebody else has to go. So a 352 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: player can make the team on Saturday and then find 353 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: out on Sunday that they aren't on the team. Then 354 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: what happens after that is after eleven am on Sunday, 355 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: then you can start signing guys to practice squad contracts, 356 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,719 Speaker 1: and you could build up to a ten player practice squad. 357 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: Two of the veteran exemptions that are allowed on the 358 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: practice squad. So there there's gonna be a lot of 359 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: it's for is it okay? Because originally it was it 360 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: was two and now okay, so now they've increased it. 361 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: See I learned something. No, that's okay. But there will 362 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: be a lot of roster maschinations and everything going on 363 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: over the weekend at the same time that the team 364 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: is going to start preparing for this trip to Chicago. 365 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: It's going to be a total cluster. And the one 366 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 1: thing that's nice for the Packers is the Bears are 367 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: gonna be going through the exact same thing. It does 368 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: make you wonder. For the most part, the Packers filled 369 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: their practice odd with guys that were with them in camp. 370 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: They'll bring in a few guys here and there. I 371 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: think this year, more than any other, it's probably gonna 372 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: be really important to be able to keep as many 373 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: in house guys as you can so they know the system, 374 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: so they can get right into practice on Sunday and 375 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: not let there be any kind of, you know, let down. 376 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: The other thing that's interesting too about this particular year. 377 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: You're absolutely right that is one of the most heartbreaking 378 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: things about the fifty three is the guys that lose 379 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: their jobs the next day. It happened to b. J. 380 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: Coleman in two thousand thirteen. He ends up being the 381 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 1: number two quarterback for a day, and then they went 382 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: and signed Seneca Wallace and then he was let go. 383 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: Miles White and two thousand and fifteen finally made the 384 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: initial roster on his third try, and then James Jones 385 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: comes in. The one thing that is nice though with 386 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: it isn't nice because I'm sure Brian Goodaquin would rather 387 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: just be able to designate players right now. But you know, 388 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: you're probably, you know, maybe going to carry through a 389 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: guy like Econimius st Brown through the final cuts and 390 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: then you can put them on I R. You can 391 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: designated a return. That's just an example. I'm not saying 392 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: that's what they're gonna do, depending on what the timeline 393 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: is with Warren Burkes. So there is one thing that 394 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: if you do claim a player, that's another thing you 395 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: could potentially do is moving those guys to I R 396 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: and have him designated to return and having that flexibility, 397 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,199 Speaker 1: right and as we know, it's it's the nature of 398 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: the Beast. But the way the injury situation and as 399 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: you say, the designated to return, the guys that aren't 400 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: necessarily out for the entire season but the Packers want 401 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: to keep them have a chance to get them back 402 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: on the field in October and November. That all plays 403 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 1: into these roster decisions and the waiver claims and who 404 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: maybe ultimately ends up on the practice squad as opposed 405 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: to the fifty three because a guy can be on 406 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: the fifty three then he gets waive, but then if 407 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: he clears waivers, maybe they want to bring him back 408 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: to the practice squad. So there's all kinds of things 409 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: that are going to be going on over the weekend 410 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: and uh um. But at the same time, the personnel 411 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: department is dealing with all that, the coaching staff and 412 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers and company so to speak, are going to 413 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: be dealing with Hey, got three days of practice Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, 414 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: and that plane leaves for Chicago on Wednesday. And that's 415 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: the number one thing that I'm excited about. What this 416 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: whole thing is that all the focuses going to be 417 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: on that matchup, that game, and all those guys trying 418 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: to make the roster. And once they figure out that 419 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster, a lot of those guys on 420 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: the bubble, well then they moved to the background and 421 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: everything's on Aaron Rodgers and these starters that we haven't 422 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: seen this preseason. It's exciting. It's exhilarating. And I'll tell 423 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: you what, Mike, I mean. You want to talk about 424 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: the most anticipatory you know, seven eight days that you're 425 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: gonna have all season. Um, this is going to be 426 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: quite the turnaround. But as Matt Lafleur also mentioned the 427 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: fact that they were able to go on a normal 428 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,479 Speaker 1: schedule and have Thursday after Thursday after Thursday games, he 429 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: feels like that sets him up pretty well for being 430 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 1: able to get in a remotely normal schedule. Then going 431 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: into that game against Chicago, Yeah, then you get to 432 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: at least take a little bit of a breath for 433 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: a couple of days after a Thursday night opener before 434 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: guess what, the Minnesota Vikings are coming to Lambo in 435 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: week two. So no rest for the weird and we're 436 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: often running all right well with that, we will call 437 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be 438 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage of the team 439 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: and of all the roster decisions and the fifty three 440 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: man roster, everything like that on Packers dot Com on Twitter. 441 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: He's at west Hod, I'm at Mike Spofford at packers 442 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: for the team accounts. Subscribe to us like us on 443 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: iTunes and other podcast services if you will. Thanks for 444 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: tuning in everybody. We'll see you next time. H