WEBVTT - #785 Packers Unscripted: Off to Cleveland 0:00:15.520 --> 0:00:19.040 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:19.120 --> 0:00:22.200 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 0:00:22.239 --> 0:00:24.560 by my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you 0:00:24.640 --> 0:00:28.560 hear from our studios at lambeau Field, wess A couple 0:00:28.600 --> 0:00:31.600 more practices in the books since our last show, and 0:00:31.640 --> 0:00:35.320 the Packers now getting ready to head to Cleveland for 0:00:35.520 --> 0:00:40.680 the preseason opener on Saturday afternoon afternoon preseason football. That's 0:00:40.800 --> 0:00:44.800 much preferable to catch the fever from a work standpoint, Yeah, 0:00:44.880 --> 0:00:45.320 no doubt. 0:00:45.640 --> 0:00:49.120 And the fact that wonderful time to spend in Cleveland 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:53.279 and these three preseason games. It's kind of weird how 0:00:53.280 --> 0:00:55.040 it worked out where there's the three to twenty five 0:00:55.080 --> 0:00:58.040 in Cleveland or four to twenty five local right, then 0:00:58.320 --> 0:01:01.120 the night game in Denver. Yeah, and then at the 0:01:01.200 --> 0:01:02.640 end of this thing, the Packers are back at noon 0:01:02.720 --> 0:01:04.959 at Lambofield, so they get a taste of each. 0:01:04.840 --> 0:01:06.399 One of these things. I like that. 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:07.280 I like that a lot. 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:10.760 And it's on the weekend. Yes, no Friday night games. 0:01:10.600 --> 0:01:14.720 Yeah, no Fridays. No Friday preseason games this year. As 0:01:14.800 --> 0:01:17.800 far as the last couple days of practice, A few 0:01:18.160 --> 0:01:20.600 newsworthy items to point out, and then I'll turn it 0:01:20.600 --> 0:01:22.200 over to you to see if you have anything to 0:01:22.240 --> 0:01:26.400 elaborate or to add. Rookie first round pick Jordan Morgan 0:01:26.520 --> 0:01:31.440 currently out of practice with a shoulder injury. Matt LeFleur said, 0:01:31.440 --> 0:01:34.200 probably be about a week or so on that injury. 0:01:34.319 --> 0:01:37.600 Doesn't believe it's anything long term, doesn't believe it's going 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:40.360 to put Week one in jeopardy. If indeed Jordan Morgan 0:01:40.440 --> 0:01:43.800 is going to be starting on this offensive line, certainly 0:01:43.840 --> 0:01:46.840 opens up an opportunity for Sean Ryan, the third year pro, 0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:51.000 former third round pick out of UCLA, who seem to 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:53.920 have fallen behind in terms of that competition at right 0:01:53.960 --> 0:01:56.200 guard with Morgan, but now he is the guy who 0:01:56.280 --> 0:01:59.000 is taking all the number one snaps at right guard 0:01:59.080 --> 0:02:03.400 and a chance for him to reassert himself. Rookie third 0:02:03.480 --> 0:02:05.840 round pick Tyron Hopper, the last couple of days we 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:08.359 have seen him taking some snaps with the number one 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:14.000 defense combination of things there. He's taken some snaps in 0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:17.040 the four to three base in place of Eric Wilson. 0:02:17.120 --> 0:02:19.839 There's been a little bit of a rotation going on there. 0:02:19.919 --> 0:02:23.040 Certainly a spot that Wilson has held on too and 0:02:23.120 --> 0:02:25.400 done a really impressive job so far in camp to 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:28.560 prevent anybody from taking that spot from him. But he's 0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:32.160 also taken some of Kuay Walker's snaps with the number 0:02:32.200 --> 0:02:36.679 one defense as Walker has gotten some rest and Edgar 0:02:36.760 --> 0:02:40.239 and Cooper, the second round draft pick the rookie has 0:02:40.280 --> 0:02:43.000 been injured sidelined with a hip injury and he is 0:02:43.040 --> 0:02:45.600 not back in the lineup yet. And then last, but 0:02:45.639 --> 0:02:49.240 not least a yet another third kicker has entered the 0:02:49.280 --> 0:02:52.480 fray here in Green Bay. It's Alex Hale. He's been signed. 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:56.799 An undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State, originally from Australia, 0:02:56.840 --> 0:02:59.720 had his first day kicking in Packers practice on Wednesday, 0:03:00.280 --> 0:03:03.080 went five of six on his field goal opportunities, was 0:03:03.120 --> 0:03:06.079 five for five until he missed his very last one. 0:03:07.120 --> 0:03:10.480 Those seemed to be the biggest news items from the 0:03:10.560 --> 0:03:12.760 last couple of days of practice, unless you have anything 0:03:12.800 --> 0:03:13.400 to add, No. 0:03:13.639 --> 0:03:16.200 I think the just really quickly looking at the offensive 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:18.959 line scenario because we've talked so often about this and 0:03:19.000 --> 0:03:22.040 I think it's gonna be really important for people to remember. Yeah, 0:03:22.120 --> 0:03:24.079 Jordan Morgan, it stinks right now that he's not out 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:26.440 there but the amount of work he's gotten and then 0:03:26.480 --> 0:03:28.480 Sewn Ryan, when you look between what he did at 0:03:28.520 --> 0:03:31.280 guard and the snaps he was taking at center. The 0:03:31.360 --> 0:03:34.920 Packers have really cross trained all these guys at this point. 0:03:34.960 --> 0:03:37.320 And yes it was in the name of competition, but 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:40.240 if a shoulder injury happens in the regular season, then 0:03:40.280 --> 0:03:42.240 it might be Sean Ryan in at that spot. It 0:03:42.320 --> 0:03:44.640 might be some dominoes falling. And I think Sean proved 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:46.960 last year when he did the rotation with John running 0:03:47.000 --> 0:03:48.200 in the second half of the season. 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:50.320 He is ready to take that jump. 0:03:50.920 --> 0:03:52.920 I thought in a lot of ways, when you talked about, 0:03:53.080 --> 0:03:54.960 you know, Jordan Morgan kind of settling into that right 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:57.480 guard spot, that was a testament to the film that 0:03:57.600 --> 0:03:59.680 Morgan was putting together. That was a testament to how 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:02.640 he would settling into that position. I know the goal 0:04:02.640 --> 0:04:03.960 at the end of the day. A lot of these guys, 0:04:03.960 --> 0:04:06.240 and he stated himself, they want to be left tackles 0:04:06.240 --> 0:04:08.040 in the National Football League. They want to be that 0:04:08.120 --> 0:04:10.600 guy that's like the quarterback of you know, in a 0:04:10.600 --> 0:04:13.160 lot of ways, like, yeah, premier position of the offensive line. 0:04:13.920 --> 0:04:15.880 But the Packers want to find their best starting five 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:18.320 and in this scenario. It was Morgan at right guard, 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:20.640 and the unfortunate thing about the timing of that shoulder 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:22.880 injury is I was watching him in one on ones. 0:04:23.200 --> 0:04:26.719 He had a really tough assignment against Kenny Clark on 0:04:26.720 --> 0:04:30.080 one of those past rush drills. He stood right up 0:04:30.080 --> 0:04:33.039 to him, three time pro bowler, held his ground. The 0:04:33.080 --> 0:04:36.039 next one Kenny beat him. But those are the learning 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:37.760 moments that you can have, and just being able to 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:39.400 get that type of work I think shows you how 0:04:39.480 --> 0:04:41.279 far he's come in a very short period of time. 0:04:42.000 --> 0:04:43.919 But with him not in the cards for Cleveland, with 0:04:44.000 --> 0:04:46.440 him likely out for this next week, that means more 0:04:46.480 --> 0:04:49.080 reps for Ryan, That means more reps for Royce Newman, 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:52.920 that whole guard group, especially once we get into this 0:04:53.000 --> 0:04:55.200 game against the Browns, you know they're going to have 0:04:55.240 --> 0:04:55.880 to be called upon. 0:04:56.080 --> 0:04:56.320 Yeah. 0:04:56.360 --> 0:04:59.600 Absolutely, And that brings up what I wanted to get 0:04:59.600 --> 0:05:02.000 to next to sort of the what to watch for, 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:04.840 what we'll be keeping an eye on in Cleveland from 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:07.680 the press box, things will be paying attention to with 0:05:07.720 --> 0:05:10.800 regard to this first preseason game, And one of the 0:05:10.800 --> 0:05:13.640 things that jumps out at me is just is the 0:05:13.960 --> 0:05:18.360 backup situation at offensive tackle. The Packers have had you know, 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:23.040 Andre Dillard, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telford, Luke Tanuda, although Tanuda 0:05:23.040 --> 0:05:26.120 has also been playing some guard. You have Travis Glover, 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:29.039 the rookie six round pick out of Georgia State. A 0:05:29.080 --> 0:05:31.520 lot of guys here to sort out. There won't be 0:05:31.600 --> 0:05:35.560 room for all of them on the roster, but nobody 0:05:35.600 --> 0:05:38.960 has really emerged as sort of the front runner of 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:41.719 that that reserve tackle group, and I think the Packers 0:05:41.720 --> 0:05:44.719 would like somebody to step forward and take that. 0:05:44.839 --> 0:05:45.039 Now. 0:05:45.080 --> 0:05:49.080 Obviously, one option when you get into a game, if 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:51.800 something were to happen at tackle, I mean Zach tom 0:05:51.839 --> 0:05:54.360 could flip over to left tackle, or Elton Jenkins could 0:05:54.360 --> 0:05:57.320 bounce out there, maybe Jordan Morgan bounces out to tackle, 0:05:57.680 --> 0:05:59.919 and then you know somebody comes in and takes their place. 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:04.839 That's always an option. But ideally, if something happens on 0:06:04.880 --> 0:06:07.800 the offensive line, you have somebody ready to step into 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:10.000 that spot, so you don't have to play this musical 0:06:10.080 --> 0:06:12.400 chairs right type of game. Now, if they have to 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:15.039 do that, because those are their best players, that's what 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:18.400 they're going to do. And we've seen Matt Lafleur, Adam Stenomich. 0:06:18.400 --> 0:06:21.520 They don't hesitate to play that way when it's clearcut 0:06:21.560 --> 0:06:24.240 who the best players are. But if somebody from that 0:06:24.360 --> 0:06:27.840 backup tackle group can emerge as the guy who can 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:31.680 step in at offensive tackle if something happens and everybody 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:34.360 else can just stay in their place, that I think 0:06:34.360 --> 0:06:36.640 would be the ideal scenario for the Packers. 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:38.839 One hundred percent, Mike. And it's funny too on the 0:06:38.880 --> 0:06:41.440 outside looking in. I think when you talk about the 0:06:41.480 --> 0:06:44.440 keys of victory, the key matchups in this game against Cleveland, 0:06:44.880 --> 0:06:47.600 what they do at tackle from the very beginning of 0:06:47.640 --> 0:06:49.120 the game to the end of game is going to 0:06:49.120 --> 0:06:52.000 be so interesting because Zach Tom's not going to play, 0:06:52.400 --> 0:06:55.000 so somebody's gonna have to start right tackle, Zakadeam Telford. 0:06:55.240 --> 0:06:57.599 We saw Caleb Jones getting first team reps this week. 0:06:57.680 --> 0:06:59.520 Is it a guy like Andre Dillard who has done 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:02.280 this in the NFL for four years now but has 0:07:02.320 --> 0:07:03.880 been more of a left side guy than a right 0:07:03.920 --> 0:07:07.080 side guy throughout the course of his career. So a 0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:09.320 lot of things they have to go through. But when 0:07:09.320 --> 0:07:12.440 I was watching practice earlier this week, I'm sitting there 0:07:12.440 --> 0:07:15.440 looking at the team periods and just the size of 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:18.040 these guys. You know, when you had Caleb Jones on 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:20.320 the left side and Condeemed Telford on the right side. 0:07:20.640 --> 0:07:23.440 Luke Tanuda, as you mentioned, at right guard getting some work. 0:07:23.840 --> 0:07:25.960 This guy's six 's eight, six ' seven. I mean, 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:29.040 these are different types of bodies. When you look at 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:31.720 the offensive line position. There was a time when the 0:07:31.960 --> 0:07:34.800 Brendan Curtains of the world really caught your eye because 0:07:34.800 --> 0:07:36.360 it was six to nine. You don't see anybody like this, 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:38.880 and now, at least in the last five years, we 0:07:38.960 --> 0:07:41.400 saw Jared Valdier at six seven six eight. I mean, 0:07:41.440 --> 0:07:44.000 like that's just the way this position is played in 0:07:44.040 --> 0:07:46.400 a lot of realms. So it's going to be so 0:07:46.520 --> 0:07:49.680 critical and blocking for Sean Clifford and the number two 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:52.280 offense I think is going to be essential. That's be 0:07:52.320 --> 0:07:53.880 one area where the Packers are going to be looking 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:57.160 for production. I would imagine you're going to see some 0:07:57.280 --> 0:08:00.200 Marshawn Lloyd in that capacity. I would imagine you're to 0:08:00.240 --> 0:08:04.720 see that the young receiver battle continue in those second 0:08:04.720 --> 0:08:06.920 team reps, which could take you know, half the game 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:08.360 depending on how this all works out. 0:08:08.480 --> 0:08:11.160 So, yeah, when you're talking about guys like Malie Heath 0:08:11.200 --> 0:08:14.800 and Grant Dubo's and and Bo Melton or whoever you know, 0:08:15.000 --> 0:08:18.800 whoever's going to get opportunities. This is this is that 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:22.040 step up from practice to to make a statement, to 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:25.280 get recognized, to give yourself something to build on for 0:08:25.360 --> 0:08:27.360 the rest of training camp as you're fighting for that 0:08:27.480 --> 0:08:29.200 roster spot and fighting for playing time. 0:08:29.720 --> 0:08:30.360 And it all. 0:08:30.240 --> 0:08:32.760 Starts on the offensive line. It all starts with protecting 0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:35.040 your quarterback. And we've seen it on both sides of things. 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:38.400 When when these young quarterbacks have time to work within 0:08:38.440 --> 0:08:40.400 the preseason, what they can do to cut up a 0:08:40.440 --> 0:08:44.320 defense and conversely, if they don't, how quickly that can 0:08:44.360 --> 0:08:46.920 sort of unravel everything. So it'll be interesting to watch. 0:08:47.040 --> 0:08:49.840 Yeah, the other thing I'm going to be definitely keeping 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:53.439 an eye on, and again it with three preseason games 0:08:53.440 --> 0:08:56.679 here and so many young players, I don't know if 0:08:56.679 --> 0:08:59.640 anything is necessarily going to be one or lost in 0:08:59.720 --> 0:09:03.960 Kallee Eveland on Saturday afternoon. But what we've seen at 0:09:04.000 --> 0:09:06.880 the safety position, this is the next step in the 0:09:06.880 --> 0:09:10.880 competition right now. Based on the way the reps have 0:09:10.960 --> 0:09:13.560 been divided up in practice at least of late, it 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:18.800 would seem that Javon Bullard is ahead. But we saw 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:24.280 Evan Williams make another athletic, really really impressive interception of 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:27.240 Jordan Love, the number one offense in the two minute drill. 0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:31.880 In practice on Wednesday, Williams gets another interception. Anthony Johnson 0:09:31.960 --> 0:09:35.479 Junior is getting his still continues to get his opportunities, 0:09:35.480 --> 0:09:38.400 and the coaches seem pretty comfortable with him back there 0:09:38.400 --> 0:09:42.800 as well. This I don't know how much Xavier McKinney 0:09:42.880 --> 0:09:45.040 necessarily is going to play in this game. If the 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:47.079 starters play, you know, maybe they're in there for a 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:50.400 short period, but the bulk of the work at safety 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:54.360 is going to be these young guys who are battling 0:09:54.720 --> 0:09:57.360 for that starting spot next to McKinney. And it'll be 0:09:57.400 --> 0:10:00.840 really interesting to see with all all these guys having 0:10:00.840 --> 0:10:03.240 made plays in practice, who can go out and make 0:10:03.280 --> 0:10:03.920 a play in a game. 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:05.680 And there's a pretty good chance that in the nickel 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:06.760 will see all three of them. 0:10:06.840 --> 0:10:09.480 Yeah, you know, with Bullard having the capabilities of moving 0:10:09.520 --> 0:10:12.520 down to the slot, it's it's unlike anything I've seen. 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:14.800 I wrote about an insider inbox. I know you and 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:17.679 I have discussed it a lot. I mean, for as 0:10:17.720 --> 0:10:19.920 much as you go back to twenty fourteen when the 0:10:19.920 --> 0:10:23.040 Packers drafted haw Clinton Dix and they moved Micah high 0:10:23.120 --> 0:10:25.720 to safety in how deep they made a position that 0:10:25.880 --> 0:10:27.640 was a weakness in the span of, you. 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:31.080 Know, one year. This is just incredible the way that 0:10:31.160 --> 0:10:33.319 you drafted three rookie safeties. 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:36.440 Katan Ola Dappo just because of injuries still hasn't been 0:10:36.440 --> 0:10:39.000 able to really get involved in that yet, but Packers 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:40.400 are credibly high on him as well. 0:10:40.520 --> 0:10:43.600 Yeah, Ola Dappo has worked his way into team reps. 0:10:43.600 --> 0:10:46.160 He is doing eleven on eleven now after all of 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:49.480 his time off. Will see what amount of playing time 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:51.520 he may get on Saturday in Cleveland as well. 0:10:51.760 --> 0:10:55.160 But with these these three young safeties, they're all involved 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:57.920 with this every single time. Like, you're right about Bullard, 0:10:57.920 --> 0:11:00.200 He's made some incredible plays. I thought he was really 0:11:00.240 --> 0:11:01.040 good on Family Night. 0:11:01.160 --> 0:11:01.880 I thought so too. 0:11:02.960 --> 0:11:05.200 But as soon as I'm like, okay, so Bullard'll probably 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:07.320 be the guy, then Evan Williams goes and makes a 0:11:07.360 --> 0:11:10.520 fifty to fifty interception in the end zone against Christian 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:12.160 Watson off of Jordan. 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:12.920 Love and a red zone period. 0:11:13.040 --> 0:11:16.800 Yeah, Anthony Johnson Junior has been incredibly consistent and has 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:19.200 made some plays this camp. It is what you want 0:11:19.200 --> 0:11:20.800 to see. I mean, all these guys are going to 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:23.760 be on the active roster. You're going to need that versatility, 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:26.880 much like the offensive line. But it's it's a great 0:11:26.920 --> 0:11:28.760 position for the Packers to be and it's just funny 0:11:28.800 --> 0:11:32.520 considering how much and how far they needed to come 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:35.080 in the last six months at that position and here 0:11:35.120 --> 0:11:35.400 we are. 0:11:35.720 --> 0:11:39.040 Yeah, anything else you'll be looking for Saturday afternoon? 0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:40.520 What where will you? 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:42.559 Where? Will your eyes be trained? 0:11:42.679 --> 0:11:44.400 Well to two things? 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:46.520 One if I can go back to the inside linebackers 0:11:46.520 --> 0:11:48.680 for a minute, because it's not just about who's going 0:11:48.720 --> 0:11:50.240 to be out there, it's going to be who's the mic? 0:11:50.360 --> 0:11:52.400 You know, is Tyrone Hopper going to get an opportunity 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:54.800 at that? I'm wondering watching him in practices this week 0:11:54.840 --> 0:11:56.719 if that was one thing they're sort of prepping him for. 0:11:57.080 --> 0:11:59.440 I'm guessing we'll see a lot of Eric Wilson because 0:12:00.040 --> 0:12:01.679 he is sort of the general back there. I think 0:12:01.720 --> 0:12:04.120 he is one of those guys that has been there, 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:08.560 done that. He's a preseason competitor, a former undrafted free 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:11.200 agent that I think also can help keep the troops 0:12:11.320 --> 0:12:13.400 together in the second and third team units if they 0:12:13.440 --> 0:12:17.360 need it, but that competition is another one, Michael, where 0:12:18.760 --> 0:12:21.160 Edrin Cooper unfortunately out right now with the hip injury. 0:12:21.200 --> 0:12:24.160 But this is a huge opportunity for Tyron Hopper who 0:12:24.440 --> 0:12:26.480 for a few weeks there because of just the way 0:12:26.480 --> 0:12:28.360 the rotations go in the fact that you know, Christian 0:12:28.360 --> 0:12:30.600 Welch is also in this was the other veteran the 0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:33.680 Packers re signed it inside linebacker. This offseason, we didn't 0:12:33.679 --> 0:12:35.760 get a chance to see a lot of Hopper, whether 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.640 it be in the off season program or these first 0:12:38.640 --> 0:12:41.760 two weeks of training camp. So seeing how that young man, 0:12:42.280 --> 0:12:45.440 I was super impressed by him, watching just his you know, 0:12:45.480 --> 0:12:47.320 some of the double a gap stuff that they were 0:12:47.400 --> 0:12:50.240 testing with a little bit in practice and seeing the 0:12:50.320 --> 0:12:52.800 explosiveness and how quickly he can collapse to the ball carrier. 0:12:52.840 --> 0:12:54.120 A lot to learn yet for him, but. 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:56.959 You could see those blitz tendencies that he could potentially 0:12:57.000 --> 0:12:59.079 be used for and what sort of made him the 0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:02.560 you know linebacker that he was at Massoo. And then 0:13:02.960 --> 0:13:06.440 to wrap it all around Sean Clifford with this offense, 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:09.960 seeing how he handles this whole thing. That's where really 0:13:10.040 --> 0:13:12.680 last year he separated himself and yes, he made mistakes. 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:14.840 But even when he had that one interception against Cincinnati, 0:13:15.000 --> 0:13:16.880 came right back let him down the field against So 0:13:17.960 --> 0:13:25.040 this is a time where whether it be quarterback, play linebackers, receivers, safeties. 0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:28.040 We've seen these guys Mike in one capacity or another 0:13:28.080 --> 0:13:31.319 in practice for the last three four months. Now, how 0:13:31.320 --> 0:13:34.840 does it translate when you're actually up against an opponent. Well, yeah, 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:37.560 Jordan Love's going to play, some of the starters are 0:13:37.559 --> 0:13:40.400 going to play. We'll see how long they play. But 0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:41.880 at the end of the day, it's about what the 0:13:41.920 --> 0:13:44.160 rest of those ten eleven drives look like. And then 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:45.600 a lot of it's going to be Shonan Clifford and 0:13:45.600 --> 0:13:46.320 some Michael Pratt. 0:13:46.400 --> 0:13:48.599 Yeah, And I think the thing that can't be discounted 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:51.280 here when we're talking about the linebackers and you mentioned 0:13:51.440 --> 0:13:54.480 Marshawn Lloyd at running back, you know, him getting his opportunity. 0:13:54.480 --> 0:13:56.559 I think I think Packers fans are interested to see 0:13:56.600 --> 0:13:59.600 Emmanuel Wilson get back in action at running back as 0:13:59.640 --> 0:14:01.800 well after what he showed as a rookie. But then 0:14:01.880 --> 0:14:05.120 you know, dealing with uh with injuries later on in 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:08.560 his rookie season. But when it comes to looking at 0:14:08.760 --> 0:14:12.079 these linebackers and the running backs, there's finally gonna be 0:14:12.120 --> 0:14:14.320 some tackling, you know, you find you really get to 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:17.520 see what do these guys bring to the table. We 0:14:17.559 --> 0:14:20.160 had the one live tackling period toward the end of 0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:22.560 the Family Night practice and I thought Tyron Hopper made 0:14:22.560 --> 0:14:24.880 a heck of a play near the goal line there. 0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:26.920 Now that was just the number three units, it was. 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:29.440 It was all kinds of young guys out there. But 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:32.320 it's a play like that that that gets a young 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.960 guy more opportunities. And I think, I think what we've 0:14:35.000 --> 0:14:38.240 seen and where Hopper has been, you know, worked into 0:14:38.280 --> 0:14:40.360 the mix this week. I don't think it's an accident 0:14:40.400 --> 0:14:42.600 that it comes after he makes a play like he 0:14:42.640 --> 0:14:44.800 did at the goal line, the hit that he made, 0:14:44.800 --> 0:14:47.200 He stands up the running back after a short reception, 0:14:47.360 --> 0:14:49.920 pushes him back from the one two yard line, make 0:14:50.000 --> 0:14:53.000 sure that he doesn't get in the end zone. Those 0:14:53.000 --> 0:14:55.120 are the things you get to see on a play 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:58.480 by play basis in the preseason because it's live, because 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:01.600 it's the because there's tackling out there, and a guy 0:15:01.680 --> 0:15:05.240 like Marshaun Lloyd or Emmanuel Wilson gets a chance to 0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:08.040 show the you know, the make a miss capability, the 0:15:08.320 --> 0:15:10.960 you know, the moves in the hole to try to 0:15:11.040 --> 0:15:14.720 avoid getting tackled. Those kinds of things become a bigger 0:15:14.760 --> 0:15:17.920 part of the evaluation process in these preseason games for 0:15:18.040 --> 0:15:21.200 those positions in particular than some of the other ones. 0:15:21.440 --> 0:15:23.640 It's funny too, and you're a little you got a 0:15:23.680 --> 0:15:25.000 few more IQ points than I do. 0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:27.160 You have a master's degree. I only have a bachelor's. 0:15:27.840 --> 0:15:31.120 But listening to Matt Lafleur talk this week about that 0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:34.920 live tackling period on Family Night, I because it's just like, well, 0:15:34.920 --> 0:15:36.600 they're going to go live tackling, you'll just throw out 0:15:36.640 --> 0:15:38.640 some of the guys near the bottom of the roster's room. 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:41.200 And he actually brought up he mentioned how it's like 0:15:41.400 --> 0:15:43.120 they wanted there was certain guys they wanted to see 0:15:43.120 --> 0:15:43.600 get work. 0:15:43.720 --> 0:15:46.040 Yeah, so it was very intentional. 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:48.760 It was very intentional, and some of it is going 0:15:48.840 --> 0:15:50.840 to be. Yeah, some of the guys, these younger the 0:15:50.920 --> 0:15:53.240 guys that the Waynes of the world, some of these 0:15:53.280 --> 0:15:55.440 young guys that came in late, they're probably not going 0:15:55.520 --> 0:15:57.000 to play in a lot in the preseason, so you 0:15:57.000 --> 0:15:59.480 want to give them that period. But it also gives 0:15:59.480 --> 0:16:01.760 a guy like Iron Hoppers some snaps. It gives him 0:16:01.760 --> 0:16:03.280 a chance to be out there and show what he 0:16:03.320 --> 0:16:05.920 can do. You know, even you know, look at like 0:16:05.960 --> 0:16:08.960 the Jonathan Fords of the world. You know, these defensive 0:16:09.000 --> 0:16:11.600 tackles and these guys that are are pretty well credentialed 0:16:11.680 --> 0:16:14.680 and I think are making bids for roster spots, but 0:16:14.840 --> 0:16:17.280 just be at the depth of their position, maybe not 0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:21.520 getting all those reps in practice. So again, I'm super 0:16:21.600 --> 0:16:24.040 excited for it. I we can go off on a 0:16:24.040 --> 0:16:26.400 different tangent about this, I'll avoid it, but I love 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:29.080 the preseason. I've always loved the preseason. I think there's 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:32.160 things you learn in those preseason games that you don't 0:16:32.200 --> 0:16:34.880 see anywhere else because everybody always talks about, well it's 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:37.680 vanilla and it's predictable. But to me, it kind of 0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:40.120 reminds me a little bit of the AAU basketball circuit, 0:16:40.120 --> 0:16:41.960 where you go out there and you see what guys 0:16:42.000 --> 0:16:44.120 can do and who's gonna make plays and who gets noticed. 0:16:44.560 --> 0:16:47.920 That's how Allen Lazar got noticed back in twenty nineteen. 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:52.200 That's how these guys differentiate themselves sometimes. Who shines in 0:16:52.240 --> 0:16:52.840 those moments. 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:57.160 Yeah, and it's a it's a whole different evaluation process 0:16:57.200 --> 0:17:00.440 and an evaluation tool for the coaches, the personnel apartment, 0:17:00.480 --> 0:17:02.680 because what a lot of people don't understand is is 0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:06.359 in training camp, in these practices, the eleven on eleven, 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:08.960 that's what we watch, that's what we report on. It's 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:11.800 where all the action is. But a lot of those periods, 0:17:11.840 --> 0:17:13.880 not all of them, but a lot of those periods 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:17.159 are essentially scripted. Yes, where both on the offensive and 0:17:17.200 --> 0:17:20.600 the defensive side, those guys know what play calls are 0:17:20.640 --> 0:17:23.440 coming in the sequence that they're coming in. If they've 0:17:23.480 --> 0:17:25.879 done their homework the night before, they know how to 0:17:25.920 --> 0:17:28.679 get ready to execute those calls. I'm not saying that 0:17:28.720 --> 0:17:31.960 the defense knows what the offense is running. I'm saying separately, 0:17:32.119 --> 0:17:35.719 they know they individually know with their units what the 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:38.359 call is going to be, and the coaches have matched 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:41.440 up certain play calls against this or that, And that's 0:17:41.440 --> 0:17:44.119 how a lot of training camp practices are run. In 0:17:44.160 --> 0:17:47.760 the preseason games, it's call it everything is happening live, 0:17:47.880 --> 0:17:50.480 it's you know, nothing is like scripted ahead of time. 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:53.560 So you find out more about these young players in 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:56.320 in terms of how do how do they react? Can 0:17:56.359 --> 0:17:58.919 they you know this call that might come in. They 0:17:59.000 --> 0:18:01.240 might not have practiced it for four or five days 0:18:01.240 --> 0:18:03.240 in training camp. Now they have to go out and 0:18:03.280 --> 0:18:05.400 execute it. And I mean that both on the offensive 0:18:05.400 --> 0:18:08.440 and the defensive side of the ball, so it cranks 0:18:08.520 --> 0:18:11.119 things up a notch. It's not just getting ready to 0:18:11.119 --> 0:18:14.160 play regular season games. It's also finding out with these 0:18:14.240 --> 0:18:17.960 young players who can take the step forward and show 0:18:18.000 --> 0:18:20.119 that they're ready to play in the regular season if 0:18:20.119 --> 0:18:21.000 they're needed. 0:18:20.760 --> 0:18:22.960 And to bring it all full circle. That's why the 0:18:23.000 --> 0:18:25.320 starters are playing in this game. That's why Matt Lafleur 0:18:25.359 --> 0:18:27.920 said he wants to have Jordan Love out there. He 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:29.800 liked what he saw last year from that group. He 0:18:29.880 --> 0:18:31.760 felt like that helped them get off to a faster 0:18:31.840 --> 0:18:34.520 start last season and his words, knock the rust off. 0:18:34.920 --> 0:18:38.600