1 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am like Spafford, joined as always 3 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: hear from our studios at lambeau Field, Wes to talk 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: a little OTA action. We were not recording shows last 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: week when the Packers had the first week of OTAs, 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 1: which included the first practice that we got to witness 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: during this OTA period. I'm just gonna throw this out 9 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: there as an open ended question from what you saw 10 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: at practice or the players we talked to, and we 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: talked to a lot of the big name players on 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: this team that first kind of that first big availability 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: of the off season. What was your biggest takeaway from 14 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: that day of access last week. 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: It was a fun day. I think a couple things happened. Obviously, 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: we didn't have the typical first day of the off 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 2: season program where we talked to guys. This is a 18 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: time really chatting with a lot of these guys since 19 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 2: the last locker room session in Green Bay after the 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: last season back in January. Back in January, So this 21 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 2: answer could be give so many different responses to this, 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: but I think there was a reason why. When you 23 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: and I were divving up coverage and we were figuring 24 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: out what to write, the first story you wrote was 25 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 2: on the receivers. It was on Jayden Reid and one 26 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: understanding where he's at because a lot of us forget. 27 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: He did suffer an injury in that game against Philadelphia. 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: I was in the locker room with him afterwards. He 29 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: had the sling on his shoulder, ends up having a 30 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: partially torn labram in addition to a dislocated shoulder. Said 31 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 2: he was pretty much down for most of the off 32 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 2: season program in terms of that. There's other things he 33 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: was able to do, but that did lay him up 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 2: for a couple months. But he didn't require surgery. He's 35 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: good to go there. Obviously, there's been a lot of 36 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 2: conversation outside the building about number one receivers and two 37 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: receivers in all this, and now Matthew Golden being added 38 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: to the mix. But I thought it was really important 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 2: that Reid talked about how, first and foremost the culture 40 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: they have in that room, the culture that seemingly has 41 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: always been there through the different generations and different players 42 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: that have come through there, that's still very much in place, 43 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: and this definitely is an all for one mentality of 44 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: how they're approaching this thing. And then the last thing 45 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: I'll throw in there too before I passed the microphone 46 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 2: back to you, Christian Watson Man, you and I walk 47 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 2: into the practice inside the Hudson Center, and this guy 48 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: is not necessarily, you know, running routes and making huge 49 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: pass catches, but the fact that he was stretching with 50 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: the team and the fact that he was cleared to 51 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: a ten practice. He was out there during the Packers' 52 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: practice at Nichki Field. That's not something typically you see 53 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: a lot of guys coming off ACLS doing. And Matt 54 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 2: Leffuor did say afterwards they think he's ahead of schedule. 55 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: It looks like he definitely put the time into the 56 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: weight room as well. So the Packers' receiving corps if 57 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 2: all together, if all healthy, which again could end up 58 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: being more towards the midpoint of the season. I just 59 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: think there's so many different intriguing options to it, and 60 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: the fact is that group very much is still rowing 61 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 2: in the same direction. 62 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think that was a strong takeaway of 63 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: mine as well as and it's why I wrote about it. 64 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: For those who didn't catch the story, it is on 65 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: Packers dot com. It was posted last week on Wednesday 66 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: evening because there was a lot of stuff going on 67 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: in the off season with regard to the receivers. What 68 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: Josh Jacobs said at the Super Bowl on Radio Row 69 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: about needing a number one, and then the Packers end 70 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: up spending two of their first three draft picks on 71 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: wide receivers. And then there's the story that gets out 72 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: that Jaden Reid's agent had contacted the Packers' front office 73 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: to just clarify like where he stood a couple of 74 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: things on that. For one, nobody's holding anything against Josh Jacobs, 75 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: and in fact, Jaden Reid took the comments as motivating, 76 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, I don't think this is a receiver 77 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: group that necessarily needs any extra motivation. They know the stats, 78 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: the drop passes and all the stuff that happened last year, 79 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: so they know what's out there. And the fact that 80 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: the front office invested two of their top three draft 81 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: picks and wide receivers, it's like, all right, they're bringing 82 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: in as much talent as they can and they're going 83 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: to say, all right, who's who's going to be here, 84 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: who's going to step up to the plate and show 85 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: up and play and provide the production that they're looking for. 86 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: And these guys are going to be competing, you know, 87 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: through these next couple of weeks and then certainly through 88 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: training camp and everything like that. And Reid did clarify 89 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: with regard to his agent he had hired a new agent, 90 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: the contact with the Packers' front office. He clarified that 91 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,559 Speaker 1: that was really just a matter of course in terms 92 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: of his you know, signing up with a new agent. 93 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: But the word got out as far as what happened, 94 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: it was in the context of the two new wide 95 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: receivers in the draft. As far as Reid's concerned, that 96 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: whole report was a misinterpretation of what was going on. 97 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: So just to just to clear all that up. But 98 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: I like what you said about the culture, the rowing 99 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: in the right direction these guys. The biggest thing that 100 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 1: Jayden Reid, what he wanted to focus on with all 101 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: the media questions that were coming his way, is that 102 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: he had multiple exit interviews with his coaches at in 103 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: January after the playoff lost to Philadelphia, and he was 104 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: delivered a very clear message from multiple coaches. We want 105 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: you to be the leader in the wide receiver room. 106 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: They knew Christian Watson's gonna be rehabbing, He's not going 107 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: to be back for a while. They're looking to Jaden 108 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: Reid to be the leader of this group, and he 109 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: is taking that assignment, so to speak, very very seriously. 110 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: And we've heard from multiple coaches about you know, Reid 111 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: is right there with Matthew Golden, you know, helping him out, 112 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: showing him some things, you know, answering questions, whatever the 113 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: case might be. So as competitive as all this is 114 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: and as many questions as there are about exactly maybe 115 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: what the pecking order is going to be come week 116 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: one in September, this is a wide receiver room that 117 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: has that has a lot going for it, has a 118 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,799 Speaker 1: lot of good vibes, and I think it's it's coming 119 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: together the way Brian Gudukunstan vision, which is that competition 120 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: is never a bad thing, and they're gonna find out 121 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: who's gonna who's gonna rise up here and perform. 122 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: It reminded me a lot of basically the same thing 123 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: that Randall said after Jordy Nelson tore his acl back 124 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: in training camp or the preseason more specifically in twenty fifteen. Now, 125 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: certainly that was much later in the process. The Packers 126 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 2: had to quickly adjust to not having Nelson, where I 127 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: think the entire offseason has kind of been structured around Okay, well, 128 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: at the very least, we're not going to have Christian 129 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: Watson for the first part of the season, maybe not 130 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: all of it. But that being said, I just feel 131 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: like this is the natural step for Jaden Reid. He's 132 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: been their leading receiver statistically the past two seasons. I 133 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: think you listen to what people said about him when 134 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 2: he was at Michigan State, the type of guy he is, 135 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 2: the way he leads, He is just a perfect Packers 136 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: person in addition to the fact that he's a really 137 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: talented wide out as well. So nobody I just feel 138 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: like everybody understands the game in Green Bay Tucker Craft. 139 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,679 Speaker 2: Did anything really change that much with the offense last 140 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 2: year that they were just going to continually feed Tucker Craft. No, 141 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: Luke Musgrave got hurt, Tucker Craft got some opportunities. He 142 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 2: made the Mosso's opportunity, and guess what happens when you 143 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 2: make the most opportunities, You're going to get more of them. 144 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: Everybody understands that. That's how Romeo Dobbs came in in 145 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two and made the impact that he did 146 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: right off the bat as a fourth round pick. Yeah, 147 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: as a rookie. That's why Jaden Reid was able to 148 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: be effective right out of the bat. We'll see what 149 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: they get Matthew Golden. This is a young man that's 150 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: coming in. He's a true junior this past year at Texas. 151 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: He's going to have time to grow. Certainly, Savion Williams 152 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: is also a guy that is going to need some 153 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: time to grow. They are still counting very much on 154 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: this veteran nucleus that they've been developing for the past 155 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: two to three seasons to come through for them. And 156 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: ultimately that I think is where you're going to see 157 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,239 Speaker 2: the biggest jump. If you can get something from Golden 158 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: and Williams right off the bat, fantastic, That is awesome 159 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: for this offense. But the bottom line is Romeo Dobbs, 160 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 2: Jayden Reed, Dontavian Wicks, this group that's already been here. 161 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: If the Packers are going to make a big jump 162 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 2: offensively this season, it has to start with them. 163 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, and seeing as you mentioned seeing where Christian Watson 164 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: was at. I mean, he's I believe, less than five 165 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: months removed from ACL surgery and it's like you look 166 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: at him kind of jogging around out there, you wouldn't 167 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: think anything was ever wrong. I mean, so that's an 168 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: extremely positive sign, and you know he's he's gonna jump 169 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: through every hoop necessary what we know about Christian Watson 170 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: to get that medical clearance whenever that does come at 171 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: some point later this fall. If I were to point 172 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: to my biggest takeaway, and this comes from, you know 173 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: the fact that we talked to Jaden Reid and Kenny 174 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: Clark and Edrin Cooper and Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney 175 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: and Jordan Love. We talked to all of those guys 176 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: after this one OTA practice that we got to watch, 177 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: and when I kind of walked away from it and 178 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: was processing it over the next couple of days after 179 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: the word hunger is what kept popping into my mind. 180 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: And it's not to say that past teams in Green 181 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: Bay haven't been hungry, that the desire and whatnot hasn't 182 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: been there, but there is there is something about this bunch, 183 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: and I think it's a combination of the fact that 184 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: last season ended with three consecutive losses, including the first 185 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: round exit in the playoffs, and then you don't get 186 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: as far as you did in the postseason a year ago, 187 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: and quite frankly that you know, as opposed to taking 188 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: the forty nine ers down to the wire the previous 189 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: year and almost getting the NFC Championship game, they didn't 190 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: really take the Philadelphia Eagles down to the wire. They 191 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: played them into the fourth quarter, but everybody walked away 192 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: that day knowing that the Eagles were the better team 193 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: and deserved to move on. Having that be the third 194 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: straight loss to end the season, combined with the fact 195 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: of I think everything that has been swirling around out 196 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: there in the various media narratives, whether it's about the 197 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 1: wide receivers that we just discussed, or whether it's about 198 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: you know, did Jordan Love take a step back in 199 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four compared to twenty twenty three, And we 200 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: can talk more about that in a minute, but I 201 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: think it's just it's arned something up in these guys 202 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: that is a little bit different than what we felt 203 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: at this time a year ago, when a lot of things, 204 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: you know, arrows are pointing up all kinds of excitement 205 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: and everything coming off of what was a somewhat surprising 206 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: and unexpected playoff run at the end of twenty twenty 207 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: three and how well the team was playing. There's a 208 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: hunger to these guys that they know what's out there. 209 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: They know that they didn't really live up to their 210 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: own expectations collectively as a team a year ago, and 211 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: I think that's really providing a motivating force for the 212 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: group as a whole. That's just the sense I got 213 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: after talking to all of these team leaders that we 214 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: talked to on the first day. 215 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it isn't even just about that, which certainly 216 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: it is. I mean, this group wants to take another step. 217 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: It's always interesting when you get the new guys into 218 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 2: the mix, like last year when Xavier McKinney and Josh 219 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 2: Jacobs both came in, and both of those guys talked 220 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 2: about their need and their desire to win and how 221 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: much that motivates them and how much it's stung during 222 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: their time at the Giants and their time with the 223 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 2: Raiders to not have that type of success. Then you 224 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: get somebody like Aaron Banks, the Packers k new left 225 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: guard that they signed from San Francisco, and listening to 226 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: him talk and just the kind of cerebral tone that 227 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 2: he spoke with when discussing how he's been as close 228 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: as you can get to winning a Super Bowl championship 229 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 2: without actually having that ring on your finger, and how 230 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 2: much that drives him now, how much he's been pursuing 231 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: that And certainly there's money involved with it, and you 232 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: want to take care of your family and you have 233 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: to take care of yourself. But he said when he 234 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 2: was finding that next spot to sign, when he was 235 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 2: looking at where it was going to be, he sees 236 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 2: a place in Green Bay that has been close as well. Now, 237 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: certainly there's only five players left from the last time 238 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 2: the Packers got to an NFC Championship game, but they 239 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 2: know those stories and they know what the standard has 240 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 2: been here for so long. That is the chase. And 241 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 2: last year, depending on which way you want to slice it, 242 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 2: they had a first round exit, which is one round 243 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 2: earlier than the previous year when they got to the 244 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 2: divisional round after they pulled off that upset of the Dallas. 245 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 2: Last year, they didn't get back to the divisional round, 246 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 2: but they also won two more games in the regular season. 247 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 2: They also didn't perform as well in the NFC North. 248 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 2: All these things kind of factor into this idea. I 249 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 2: think that has been sort of following Green Bay all 250 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: off season of this is what we've built toward this season. 251 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: It's not that they're all in, it's not that it's 252 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 2: everything about this year, but this is why you were 253 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 2: the youngest team in the NFL the back to back 254 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: years to get you to this point. You want to 255 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: win a super Bowl every single year, but a lot 256 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: of teams would struggle to even be competitive being as 257 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 2: young as Green Bay was the past two seasons. The 258 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: Packers not only did that, they made two postseason runs. 259 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 2: In Jordan Love's first two years as a starting quarterback. 260 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 2: Everybody wants to talk about Aaron Rodgers was twenty seven 261 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 2: years old when he won a Super Bowl. Brett Favre 262 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 2: was twenty seven years old when he won a super Bowl. 263 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 2: You know what Aaron Rodgers didn't do. He didn't get 264 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 2: to the playoffs the first two years as a starting 265 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 2: quarterback in the NFL. Well, Jordan Love did. Yeah, And 266 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 2: you you got to take your own pace and you 267 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 2: got to follow your own path as it comes. But 268 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: when you when you talk about hunger and desire and motivation, 269 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: I think this roster, especially with the way that last 270 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 2: season ended and losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion 271 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 2: in the wild card round in Philadelphia, I think those 272 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 2: are that's sort of that fuel that's firing into the 273 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: engine right now trying to get these guys going into 274 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five. 275 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we'll talk a little bit more about Jordan 276 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: Love in a minute, But on the playoff thing, I 277 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: think I think one thing that that could be really 278 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: really important for this Packers team moving forward. When you 279 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: talk about the first two years, after two years as 280 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: a starter, Aaron Rodgers had one playoff game under his belt. 281 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: Jordan Love has three that I think can matter. If 282 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: the Packers are in the position that they hope to 283 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: be in, you can you you can bank Jordan Love 284 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: can bank on that that playoff experience. And even if 285 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: he's say if he's not going to be the next 286 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,719 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer like Aaron Rodgers is, the next time 287 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: Jordan Love gets to the playoffs, if he gets there 288 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: again in year three, he's in a better spot than 289 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers was in year three, and I think that 290 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: could pay dividends for this club. I'll take care of 291 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: some sponsor business quick. Here West Serious XMNFL Radio delivers 292 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news 293 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: that true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, three 294 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: sixty five. And at Cousin Subbs we have something for 295 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: everyone like our Wisconsin cheese Kurts, mac and cheese, golden fries, 296 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 297 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: sub in a bowl. Cousin Subbs fifty plus years of better. 298 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: All right, Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. We talked to 299 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: both of those players after practice last week, and I'll 300 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: let you go whatever direction you want to go with this, 301 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: but I will just say this. Anybody who thought that 302 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: Josh Jacobs was gonna rest on his laurels with a 303 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: thirteen hundred yard, fifteen touchdown season or whatever he ended 304 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: up with, and that Xavier McKinney was going to rest 305 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: on his first team All Pro honors and just collect 306 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: paychecks the rest of his time with that big contract 307 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: in Green Bay, that is not how those two guys 308 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: are wired. And they made that pretty clear. Whether it's 309 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: McKinney talking about, Hey, his ultimate long term goal. Individually speaking, 310 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: he wants to put on a gold jacket and can 311 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: like he's going to be striving to be that type 312 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: of player. And Josh Jacobs, for all of his success 313 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: and how much he was the straw that stirred the 314 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: drink of the Packers offense for quite a while a 315 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: good chunk of the season last year, the first thing 316 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: he's talking about is he feels like he left a 317 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: lot out there. You know that he didn't really maximize 318 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: on everything he could have done. As much of a 319 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: workhorse as he was, you can't have You can't have 320 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: better guys than that in terms of their mentality, in 321 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: terms of their being the leaders in that locker room. 322 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: When you're talking leaders aside from the quarterback natural leader 323 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: in that position. 324 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: It's crazy, man. When you think about the fact that 325 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 2: we covered Aaron Jones as long as we did, and 326 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 2: Aaron moves on and goes to Minnesota in that same offseason, 327 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 2: then we get Josh Jacobs. I mean, just how impressive 328 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: these guys have been in terms of locker room character guys. 329 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 2: In terms of obviously the type of performers there. We're 330 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 2: talking about Pro Bowl running backs here, but I mean, 331 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: they're just cut from the same cloth. And it was 332 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 2: interesting too. Jacobs is so articulate and he's so thoughtful 333 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 2: in how he answers things, much like McKinney. But I'm 334 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 2: pulling off the number eight thing over here. Listen. He 335 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 2: had such an in depth, thoughtful answer. I felt when 336 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: people talk about, oh, well, the receiver thing, he wanted 337 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 2: a number one receiver. He wanted this in that Josh Jacobs, 338 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 2: so much of what he discusses is based on that 339 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 2: sense of urgency that he understands the position he plays. 340 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 2: He understands tomorrow is never a given and if he 341 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: wants to win a championship, if he wants to take 342 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 2: that next step and make a deep playoff run, he 343 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 2: has to do it today. He can't. Maybe you can 344 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 2: do it tomorrow, maybe you can do it the day 345 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 2: after that. But the only thing can be sure of 346 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 2: is right now, this moment. And I felt like the 347 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 2: reason why no one took offense to it, or whatever 348 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 2: people wanted to blow it out to be, was the 349 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: fact that this is a guy that won talked at 350 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 2: the end of last season about wanting to get more 351 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: guys here, wanting to get you know, proved players that 352 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: you can come to Green Bay and win here and 353 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: find a future here and make money here. Advertise it 354 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: to free agents that way, advertise it to incoming draft 355 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 2: picks that way. And certainly I think he's the guy 356 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 2: carrying the flag right now for the Packers in terms 357 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 2: of we are going to do something special here and 358 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 2: he wants to be a part of it. And also 359 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 2: that never undying chip on his shoulder that comes along 360 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 2: with this. You know, there's a lot of questions that 361 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 2: were asked to him about you know, Derrick Henry and 362 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: Saquon Barklay and all this publicity a lot of these 363 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: other backs have gotten. Maybe there hasn't been that type 364 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: of narrative with Jacobs for everything accomplished, and honestly, he 365 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,199 Speaker 2: doesn't care. The only thing that matters to him him 366 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 2: is can he win a Super Bowl here? In what 367 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: can he do, to your point to maximize the opportunities 368 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 2: he's been given? He said, that comes down to breaking 369 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: an extra tackle that might have taken a twenty yard 370 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 2: gain into a sixty yard game. That maybe is making 371 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: a guy miss. And meanwhile, on the opposite side of 372 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 2: the room, you had a guy like Aaron Banks talking 373 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 2: who's blocked for Christian McCaffrey the last four years, talking 374 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 2: about the offensive lines role in making Jacob's job easier. 375 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 2: The Packers have never been bigger on paper in this 376 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 2: offensive line. That's what it could potentially be with this 377 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 2: starting five. You look at where Josh Jacobs is as 378 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 2: a running back. This is a combination that Green Bay 379 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 2: has not had during my time covering the team. They 380 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 2: are a power running offense that has a pretty good 381 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 2: quarterback behind it as well. Yep, so, yeah, Jacobs is 382 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: twenty seven years old. The guy hopes to play another 383 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 2: eight years. I'm sure of it. But the fact is 384 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 2: he knows you never are always in a position to 385 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 2: be competitive and be aiming for championships. He saw what 386 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: that was like at the Raiders. When maybe you go 387 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 2: into a season you're not thinking you're going to win 388 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: a Super Bowl, it would be a surprise if you 389 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 2: make that type of run. That isn't the case in 390 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: Green Bay. 391 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you wrote a story about Jacobs which is 392 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: on the website posted last week for those who want 393 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: to check it out. And on Monday morning, a story 394 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: that I wrote on Xavier McKinney and the defense. You know, 395 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 1: McKinney has all kinds of high hopes for this what 396 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: is essentially the year two for him in Green Bay, 397 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: the year two for Jeff Haffley as defensive coordinator, the 398 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: year two for Edgrin Cooper as a potential centerpiece and 399 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: playmaker in this defense. But you know when you actually listen, 400 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: when you listen to the things that Xavier McKinney talks about, 401 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: and yes, he's got the high hopes and the high 402 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: aspirations both individually and collectively, but in the same breath, 403 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: he's also always talking about how much work it's going 404 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: to take to get there. Like for him, he's like, hey, 405 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: my job right now, we still got you know, a 406 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: lot of young guys in the secondary, and you know 407 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: my job is to is to get them up to speed. 408 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: Make sure you know everybody's still staying on the same 409 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: page that we can all, you know, continue to make 410 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: this progress together. Like he's you know, he's taking that upon, 411 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,479 Speaker 1: he's taking that upon himself as a leader. And I 412 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: had asked him specifically about Edgern Cooper when he thought 413 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: was ahead for Cooper in year two, and one of 414 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 1: the first things he says was, we collectively as a defense, 415 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: the veterans on defense have to keep pushing him because 416 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: they can see what's potentially out there for Edgern Cooper. 417 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: And as much as the coaches are going to do 418 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: that pushing, the veteran players are going to push the 419 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: guys where they see the talent. And that's the kind 420 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: of work that Xavier McKinney wants to do for the group, 421 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: as well as the work he feels he needs to 422 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: put in individually in order to potentially earn another All 423 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: Pro selection or whatever that might be. He talked about, 424 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: you know, his intensity can't change. He sees a guy, 425 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: a free agent like Nate Hobbs come in playing cornerback, 426 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: you know, in the same secondary and the only thing 427 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: we've heard from people about Nate Hobbs is really two 428 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 1: words intensity and energy and what that guy brings to 429 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 1: the practice field. And Xavier McKinney sees that and he's like, 430 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: you know, I can't let somebody else on this team 431 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: have more intensity and more energy than I do. I mean, 432 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: you know, So it's it's these veteran guys trying to 433 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: trying to push each other, and obviously it's it's the 434 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: off season. We are a long long way from week one, 435 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: but I think collectively, the message, the message that I 436 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: felt that what I walked away from talking to all 437 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: the all the team leaders, is that is that these guys' 438 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: minds are in the right place. They know that they 439 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,360 Speaker 1: can do something, but there is not a single one 440 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: of them that takes anything for granted, let alone even 441 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 1: just getting back to the playoffs again. They know they 442 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: just slipped in as the seventh seed last year. They 443 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: almost didn't make it, you know, And and so they 444 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: know how precarious this can be over the long haul 445 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: to give yourself that opportunity at the end, They're taking 446 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: it one step at a time. They're going to put 447 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: in their work in the offseason, they're going to take 448 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: their break, They're going to come back for training camp 449 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: fired up and ready to go. 450 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 2: And this is where I've always come back to. Certainly, 451 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 2: was great the Packers' top five defense last year, first 452 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 2: time they've done that in what fifteen years? Yeah, something 453 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 2: around that, and the fact that their run defense was 454 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: as good as it's been in fifteen years. But it 455 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 2: was not just like, Okay, well they rolled the ball 456 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 2: out there, and that's what happened. No, they had a 457 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 2: lot of playmakers. You had guys like Xavier McKinney that 458 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: are making a difference that are seen as the best 459 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: at their position in the National Football League. Watching Nate 460 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 2: Hobbs in practice, the one that we've watched at the 461 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 2: time in which we're taping this, seeing him play the 462 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 2: star position, that nickel position in the sub package, and 463 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 2: he had multiple pass breakups on slants intended for Tucker 464 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 2: Craft and Luke Musgrave, and you start to understand the 465 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,159 Speaker 2: method to the madness and why Green Bay gos and 466 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 2: signs a player like that, because one, it's a long 467 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 2: season and you got to have guys who can play 468 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 2: multiple positions. But you also see what the Packers saw 469 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 2: on film with Hobbs, and obviously the emphasis there to 470 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: feature or can you know Keishaw Nixon potentially as a 471 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 2: boundary cornerback, a perimeter cornerback. That's another factor in this 472 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,399 Speaker 2: as we wait for, you know, some resolution here with 473 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: Jyry Alexander situation. But more than anything, Mike, what my 474 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 2: biggest takeaway was when I was after we got done 475 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: with all the availability and the fact that edgern Cooper 476 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 2: was one of these star players that the Packers' pr 477 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 2: staff made available. This is a guy that has been 478 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 2: in this uniform for barely a year. And in my 479 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 2: head I was hearing Mike Smith, even though he was 480 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 2: an outside linebackers coach here in Green Bay, but when 481 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 2: he was talking about Rashaun Gary and how Gary, you know, 482 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: the way that he performed, the way that he prepared, 483 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 2: the way that he worked at it. This is a 484 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 2: guy that just is not going to fail. And I 485 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 2: get a very similar feel with edgern Cooper. If he 486 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 2: can stay healthy, this guy is legitimate. This guy is 487 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 2: a problem for opposing offenses. And when you're talking about 488 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 2: making that next step defensively, yeah, maybe the Packers can 489 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 2: do better than a top five defense, but it also 490 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 2: so can this be a unit that can be feared 491 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 2: when it's on the field, And I think with number 492 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 2: fifty six out there it can be. And I don't 493 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 2: know if there's been a guy in the defensive front 494 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 2: since Clay Matthews prime that has kind of given me 495 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 2: that feel. Drin Cooper gives me that type of motivation. Yeah, 496 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 2: and I'm very excited to see where he goes from here. 497 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: I am too, I mean the Yeah, the excitement is 498 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: in that regard is kind of off the charts. I 499 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: want to wrap up with one last thought, because we 500 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: started the show talking about a little bit about that 501 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: leadership mandate that's been placed on Jaden Reid with regard 502 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 1: to the receivers, there's a leadership mandate that's been placed 503 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: on Jordan Love as well as the quarterback of this team. 504 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 1: And obviously he's you know, when you play quarterback and 505 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: that's who you are, you're naturally a leader. But we 506 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: heard at the end of last season Matt Lafleur say 507 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 1: he wants Jordan Love to be more vocal, to speak 508 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: up more in meetings and on the practice field sets. 509 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: He sets the example that every leader should set in 510 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 1: terms of just his approach, his demeanor, I mean his 511 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: as we've talked about many times, his uh, his steadiness 512 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: and and sort of unflappableness of lack of a better word, 513 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: is something I think that serves this team really well. 514 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: That being said, Love is being pushed to to be 515 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: to be a little bit more vocal, to take charge 516 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: in maybe some different ways, and from everything we heard 517 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: from him, he's totally embracing that he's not he's not 518 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: shying away and just saying, you know, I'm just going 519 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,560 Speaker 1: to be you know who I'm going to be. He's saying, yes, 520 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: it's it needs to be genuine and he needs he 521 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: needs to step forward a little bit. He's he's not 522 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: going to fake it, but he is embracing the idea 523 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: of kind of taking another step as a as a leader. 524 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 1: And uh and this team, this team has a lot 525 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: of leaders on it, but those who are not the leaders, 526 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: I think this whole team is ready to follow. 527 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 2: El Elton Jenkins presently is not here. Right. That means 528 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 2: that Jordan Love is the longest tenured player on the 529 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 2: offensive side of the ball currently with the Green Bay 530 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 2: Packers in Green Bay for OTAs, that's something. It's something. 531 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 2: I mean, if you count the defensive side the ball, 532 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 2: with JayR not being here presently, he's the third longest 533 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: tenured player on either side of the ball. Yeah, that 534 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 2: counts for something. That has to count for something. This 535 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 2: isn't a standard business where it's like, Okay, well you've 536 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 2: been around for six years or three years as a starter, 537 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 2: you know you probably get still get your feet wet. 538 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 2: You aren't necessarily in that manager, No, dude, this is NFL. 539 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 2: It's like dog years. This guy's been here for like 540 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 2: forty two years now. I mean, like that's the way 541 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: this business runs. And he is the face of the franchise. 542 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 2: And there was reason why, Like I did an insider 543 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 2: inbox column where I'd lead with him on doing that 544 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,639 Speaker 2: because everybody it was so funny to me. Everybody was 545 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 2: kind of picking on his pitch at the Brewer game 546 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: and everything like that on Memorial Day. But it's like, 547 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 2: that's the franchise right there doing that. That's Jordan Love 548 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 2: going around and doing these things, doing all this charity 549 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 2: work this offseason. You're watching the maturation and evolution of 550 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 2: a guy that this generation of Packers' football is going 551 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 2: to be based around. It's going to be centered on 552 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 2: and having that voice in the locker room is important 553 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,199 Speaker 2: and at the same time, as Jordan also warns, you 554 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: don't want to be someone you're not, but you can 555 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 2: still be yourself while also giving more your viewpoints in 556 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 2: your opinions, not just on your position, not just on 557 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 2: the offensive line, not just no the entire operation. The 558 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 2: Packers want that type of feedback. Matt Lafleur wants that 559 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 2: type of feedback. He wants a guy that's going to 560 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 2: rally those troops in the good, the bad, the in between. 561 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 2: Jordan Love can be that individual. And I think that's 562 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 2: the exciting thing because the way Jordan leads is with authenticity. 563 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 2: He's very genuine in the way he acts and the 564 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 2: way he handles people, the way he conducts himself on 565 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 2: a daily basis, and just seeing him mature and just 566 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: see him come more into his own skin now it 567 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,160 Speaker 2: going on twenty seven, it just shows you. I mean, 568 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 2: this is the Packers made the right call in twenty twenty. 569 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 2: It was a difficult call at the time, but they 570 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 2: found their guy. Now hopefully can stay healthy and obviously, 571 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 2: you know, and find improvements in some of his own 572 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 2: areas of his game, but as far as a locker 573 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 2: room leader, it's all right there for him. It's just 574 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 2: kind of realizing that you're like, you're that really impressive dog, 575 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 2: right and it's just realizing what your bart can do. 576 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 2: And I think I think Jordan's in that process right now. 577 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: I like that, and I'm gonna call it on that 578 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: comment right there. We will call it a rap. On 579 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscripted, we have another open Ota 580 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: access to practice this week, so on our next show 581 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: in a couple of days, we will talk about what 582 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: else we learn and what else we see. Keep you 583 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: updated on everything going on here with the Packers for WES, 584 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in. Everybody, We 585 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: will see you next time.