1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: I'm Mike Spofford alongside Wes Hodkowitz here at our studios 3 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: inside lambeau Field and West. It's that time of year, 4 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: within the last couple of weeks before training camp begins, 5 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: you start to think about who are some of the 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: young players, the guys who aren't really the household names 7 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: yet amongst the fan base who might start to emerge 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: might start to make a name for themselves as we 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: get into training camp in the preseason, maybe grab a 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: little bit larger role on offense or defense. Let's start 11 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: with the offense. Is there a guy that stands out 12 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: to you as maybe one you're going to keep your 13 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: eye on as training camp begins? You got a risk. 14 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: He has the name, he has the look, and more importantly, 15 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: I thought he showed a lot of bright spots during 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: that rookie season. Now we didn't get to see him 17 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: a whole lot on offense, you know, he had John 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: Kuhen there, but the times that we did see him, 19 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: I think I go back to Carolina and seeing him 20 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: in that nineteen yard reception he had completely bowling over 21 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: one of the defensive backs help to forget that play 22 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: from Carolina. Yeah, and it's those type of plays I 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: think can really show you the power that he has, 24 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: what he brings um, you know, as a potential run 25 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: blocker and and even in a situation like that. I mean, 26 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: that's what for so many years made John Kuon so 27 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: versatile and important, was what he could bring in so 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: many different areas of the offense. Now he's not currently 29 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: on the roster, Rakowski is the only established fullback that 30 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: the Packers have UM and you tie in his contributions 31 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: on special teams, I thought he did a lot of 32 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: good things there last year. Basically when you look at 33 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: a six round pick, it was think it was the 34 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: first time since maybe five or six years of the 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: Packers that drafted a fullback. It seemed like he did 36 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: everything you look for in year one. Yeah, I would 37 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: I would say so. And looking at some of his 38 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: film on special teams from last season, not only in 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: coverage does he get down the field, you know, get 40 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: in there on tackles and and things like that, but 41 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: in the return game he's a good blocker. He threw 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: a lot of key blocks for some of these returns 43 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: that you know, Jeff Janis and Micah Hyde and guys 44 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: like that had for the Packers. And you know, you 45 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: really like the the buy in that he's had on 46 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: special teams. And I think a lot of that comes from, 47 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 1: you know, playing a position like fullback. He comes from Oklahoma. Yeah, yeah, 48 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: I had to earn everything, everything that he got in 49 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: college there for the Sooners. And when you talk about 50 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: a position like fullback, it almost lends itself to a 51 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 1: cult following. In Green Bay, you had William Henderson for 52 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: those ys. You know, then John Coon. We'll see if 53 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: there's any kind of a chant the fans can come 54 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: up with for for Aaron Ripkowski. But uh um, But yeah, 55 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: a sixth round pick, you know, developmental guy who I 56 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: think could very well take on a bigger role this year. Absolutely, 57 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: And as you said to when you have a guy 58 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: that's a eight round pick or maybe not, as you know, 59 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: he's gonna have to really get what he earns, you're 60 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: gonna need to play on special teams. And I thought 61 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: one of the things too about him that that really 62 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: stood out was just how eager he was to take 63 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: on that role. Another guy that I think that was 64 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: eager to do that was time Montgomery, and I know 65 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: that's that's something that you've kind of pointed out is 66 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: someone that could potentially be maybe moving into that household 67 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: role this season. Yeah, provided he comes back from you know, 68 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: the ankle surgery. We didn't see him at all during 69 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: O t A S and mini camp. He was still 70 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: sidelined from the injury that cut his rookie season short 71 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: after six games. But you know, Montgomery stepped right in 72 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: last year as the kickoff return guy. Had a couple 73 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: of big returns in Chicago in Week one. He was 74 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: off to a great start as a rookie fifteen catches, 75 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: two touchdowns in the first six games before he got hurt. 76 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: And I think I kind of felt like as the 77 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: season went along last year without Jordy Nelson in the 78 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: offense started to struggle. Fans were talking about all the 79 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: Packers need to rebuild that receiver, they need to draft 80 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: some new receivers. It's almost like they forgot that time Montgomery. 81 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: You a third round draft pick out of Stanford, is 82 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: a guy who presumably will be back this year, and 83 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: I think he can make a big difference in this offense. Yeah, 84 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: And how many times have we talked about I know 85 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: I've I've mentioned this quite a bit that that sort 86 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: of backfield dual role that we saw with Randall Cobb 87 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: time Montgomery was doing that, I thought pretty well in 88 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: terms of it gave them another option for if they 89 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: wanted to bring somebody back to to kind of look 90 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: for a mismatch of the defense. Um, if you can 91 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: get both of those guys going now, they really didn't 92 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: have both healthy at the same time, and they did 93 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: test drive it a little bit, I'll be very interesting 94 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: if he can come back and play at a high 95 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: level this year and obviously put all that behind him, 96 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: what he could potentially add to the offense in that 97 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: sort of dual threat hybrid role. Yeah, there will be 98 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: the question with as much time as Montgomery has missed 99 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: with the injury, when he does get cleared, you know, 100 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: how soon will he reacclimate himself to the offense to 101 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. But you go back to the start of 102 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: training camp last year, there aren't a whole lot of rookies, 103 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: especially at receiver in this offense, who look like they 104 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: belong right away and look like they know what they're doing. 105 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: When I saw Time Montgomery the first few training camp 106 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: practices last summer. I was like, Wow, this kid gets it. 107 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: You know, obviously comes from Stanford. He's smart. The playbook 108 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: is not a problem for him. But he reminded me 109 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways in terms of that that 110 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: quick early impression. He reminded me of Greg Jennings when 111 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: Jennings showed up on the scene in two thousand and 112 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: six and just looked like he belonged right away, and 113 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: that can be rare in an offense this complex. Yeah, 114 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,679 Speaker 1: and keep in mind too time Montgomery missed a large 115 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: majority of the off season program as a rookie because 116 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: I think he was still finishing up at Stanford's right. 117 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: So for him, I believe this is I think it 118 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: was just mini camps he was here for last year 119 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: and to be able to sort of hit the ground 120 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: running like that move. I think he was pretty much 121 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: cemented in that number four role within the first week 122 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: or week and a half a camp. That that boat 123 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: as well, I think for what he can bring the 124 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: table both now and what he has to build off 125 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: now moving forward, Yeah, definitely. Well, a couple of two 126 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: thousand fifteen draft picks Ripkowski in Montgomery to keep our 127 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: eyes on and we'll switch gears to the defense. After 128 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: the break. We'll be back with more on Packers Unscripted 129 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford 130 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: alongside Wes Hodkowitz. Let's shift gears and talk about some 131 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: players to emerge potentially on the defensive side of the ball. 132 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: A lot of young guys, a lot of young prospects 133 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: of the Packers always have in training camp. Who's the 134 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: one that jumps out at you. Darius Gunter is the 135 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: one for me. And here's the thing. There's a lot 136 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: of cornerbacks for the Packers right now. They have a 137 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: lot of depth at position. So it's not a given 138 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: that he's gonna be able to get on the field, 139 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: even if he has a great training camp. Again, it's 140 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of factors that will play into that. 141 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: But the thing I liked about what Gunter did last year. 142 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: In my time covering the Packers so far, I don't 143 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: know if I've had anybody that has been I don't 144 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: want to say is is highly touted, But I mean, 145 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: I think the Packers felt pretty good about this guy 146 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: coming in. They thought there was some unfinished business he 147 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: had there from Miami and maybe hadn't reached his full potential. 148 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: Now a lot of people locked onto that forty time, 149 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: but the reality was is that he's a pretty good 150 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: cover cornerback and fitting into the Packer system, the press coverage, 151 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: you know, kind of tendencies that they have. He's a 152 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: strong guy, he's a lengthy guy, and I think he's 153 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: somebody that the Packers field fits pretty well into the secondary. Yeah, 154 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: undrafted cornerback from Miami. That's uh, that's worked. That's worked 155 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: here before with number thirty seven Sam Shields. But before 156 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: we we were not putting Gunter in that category just 157 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: yet obviously. But I remember last year in training camp 158 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: when he was making an early impression as an undrafted rookie. 159 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: You know, we start wondering, Hey, is this an undrafted 160 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: guy who could make the roster, And you know, we 161 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: start going around and asking the wide receivers like, hey, 162 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: you know, can this kid covers? He legit? And the 163 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: wide receivers on this team said, hey, in press cover 164 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: or a jaman to man, He's physical the line of scrimmage, 165 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: he's got long arms, you know, strong guy. Um, he 166 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: has he has the tools to make it in this league, 167 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: he does, and and the Packers kind of expanded his 168 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: repertoire a little bit this offseason. He learned that inside 169 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: cornerback position, which he's picked up really well, which could 170 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: really help him, I think, get on the field more 171 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: because typically when he was only playing on the boundary, 172 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: that's a tough spot to get on the field because 173 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: you usually have your top two cornerbacks in those positions. 174 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: So for him, learning that inside spot, I think will 175 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: increase those opportunities, give him a chance to compete for more, 176 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: you know, a bigger role in this defense. But as 177 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: Joe went talked about too, and when I mentioned it 178 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: with him, Yeah, there were concerns about his speed and 179 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: if he could stand up to like high you know, 180 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: top receivers in the league. Really doesn't have a concern 181 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: with that right now. That there might be a few 182 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 1: exceptions that I think everybody struggles within this league, But 183 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: for the most part, he believes he's smart enough that 184 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: will put himself in positions to really be able to 185 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: hang in there with the best of the best. Yeah, 186 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: and Joe Wit has certainly proven himself as a coach 187 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: in terms of developing young cornerbacks and guys coming in 188 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: with maybe not a whole lot of pedigree, you might say. 189 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,599 Speaker 1: I remember in the playoff game, I believe it was 190 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: at Washington in the wild card round last year, Gunter 191 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: got thrown in there, uh, thrown into the mix, and 192 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: to his credit, it was almost unnoticed. And you know, 193 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: it's almost like an offensive lineman. You know, if you 194 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: don't hear their name, that's probably a good thing. And 195 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: that was the way it was in a sense with 196 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: Gunter against the Redskins. I believe he was matched up 197 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: a few times with Pierre Garsona. Yeah, yeah, and uh, 198 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: you know, really held his own pretty well. Another defensive 199 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: guy that I'm going to watch as as training camp 200 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: unfolds as j Rhne Elliott, now not quite as young 201 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: third year guy um but was undrafted out of Toledo, 202 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: made the roster with a big preseason two years ago. 203 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: We saw him last year early in the season against 204 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: Seattle in Week two, has the interception in the fourth 205 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: quarter when the Packers are protecting the lead, gets a 206 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: forced fumble that creates another turnover on the very next 207 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: Seahawks possession to seal the game. Then he has back 208 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: to back sacks in consecutive games, against the Chiefs and 209 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the forty nine is the next two weeks and then 210 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, kind of fell off the radar a little bit. 211 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: Do you think jay Ron Elliott is a guy who 212 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: maybe can build on those things he did last year, 213 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: even though they were early in the season. I certainly do. 214 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: I Mean, there's that old adage that if you contribute 215 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: on special teams you've become a you know, a factor 216 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: on special teams. That usually is a good precursor you're 217 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: having a bigger roll down the line and defense defensively. 218 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: I mean, you look at Desmond Bishops and the other 219 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: guys have done that in the past in Green Day, 220 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: although it wasn't at j R. Owen's position. But the 221 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: thing I like about him is he's been a natural leader. 222 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: He's been a guy that stepped up and fit well 223 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: into ron Zooks units. And you can see that playmaking ability. 224 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: We saw it his first year. You know, the five 225 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: sacks in the preseason that got him onto the roster. 226 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: This past season, three sacks the game against Seattle where 227 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: he made such a big impact. What kind of hampered 228 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: him and I know you talked about it was that 229 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: quad injury, and you know that was something that sort 230 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: of lingered down a stretch and sort of inhibited him 231 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: a little bit. Yeah, he never never quite came all 232 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: the way back from that, I don't think, at least 233 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: not until at the very end. But he also talked 234 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: in the offseason not only about trying to stay healthy, 235 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: keep keep his body healthier, but two on the defensive side, 236 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,839 Speaker 1: not to chase plays. He almost he almost confessed that 237 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: when he made those big plays early in the season, 238 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: then he started to chase those big plays instead of 239 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: just staying within the scheme and doing his job. And 240 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: if you chase plays and get out of position, that's 241 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: a quick ticket to the bench because because a good 242 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: offense is going to exploit that. And I think he 243 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: learned something last season. And depending on how much the 244 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: Packers use Clay Matthews an outside linebacker, you can make 245 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: a case at that position, the edge rusher, elephant, whatever 246 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: you want to call it, is the most deep spot 247 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: they have right now. So it's gonna be something where 248 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: j is going to have to obviously earn those reps 249 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: and when he does get them, make the most of 250 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: them because you're dealing with, you know, Matthews and Peppers 251 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: and Nick Perry and all these other guys at that 252 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: position as well. Yeah, but it's I think it's a 253 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: nice luxury, you might say, for Dom Caper's to have 254 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 1: a guy like that who hasn't necessarily reached his full potential, 255 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,199 Speaker 1: but he already knows the system because he's been here 256 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and so maybe there is that 257 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: greater opportunity for him to jump in and do something. Yeah, well, 258 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: with that, we'll throw it to a break and we'll 259 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: be back with more to talk about a couple of 260 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: other young guys on defense here on Packers Unscripted. Right 261 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: after this, Welcome back to Packers Unscripted Mike Spofford alongside 262 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkwitz and Wes. You mentioned Ladarius Gunter in the 263 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: last segment. I want to go back to the cornerback 264 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: position and the top two draft picks from last season, 265 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: Damarius Randall Quentin Rollins in the first and second rounds. 266 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: And they were brought along very quickly by Joe Witt, 267 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: but brought along quickly because they showed right away that 268 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: they belonged in the NFL. And the thing that really 269 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: stood out to me the most about both Rollins and 270 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: Randall is the fact that you have two guys that 271 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: were pretty raw to the NFL cornerback position. You know, 272 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: Rollins only played quarterback one year at Miami of Ohio, 273 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: four year starter otherwise in basketball, and then you had Randall, who, 274 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: in addition to playing baseball at one point in his 275 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: college career, played safety the past two years at Arizona State. 276 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: How quickly both of those guys jumped in and contributed 277 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: to this defense, I thought went a long way to 278 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: what the Packers were able to do. Considering you lose 279 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: Hermont Williams, you lose Devon House, there's a lot of 280 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: questions in that secondary. In those two guys, especially Randall, 281 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: being able to contribute almost from day one, I think 282 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: they went a long way to what the Packers were 283 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: able to accomplish. What was I think the NFL six 284 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: ranked past defense, Yeah, no doubt about it. And they 285 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: both had their really big playmaking moments. Rollins was the 286 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: first one. He had the pick six against St. Louis. 287 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: Then Randall matched him with a pick six later in 288 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: the season against Oakland. The Packers had not had a 289 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 1: rookie return an interception for a touchdown since two thousand 290 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: and two. Safety Marcus Anderson, and then suddenly they have 291 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: two rookies who do it in the same season. Pretty remarkable. 292 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: Then Randall against the Chargers in Week six, breaks up 293 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: the fourth down pass to save a seven point victory 294 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: down there on the goal line. And and uh, what 295 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: those guys did. And the fact that really you talked 296 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: to Joe Wit about them, they're just scratching the surface 297 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: perhaps as to what they can do and and their 298 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: ability to perhaps move around play inside and outside in 299 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: the defense. A lot of possibilities here. Yeah, and and wait, 300 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: evens mentioned you know Randall actually talked to him last 301 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: year about wanting to play inside a little bit. I 302 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: mean that traditionally has been a big playmaking position. When 303 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: you look at what Charles Woodson's did their Casey Hayward 304 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: in his rookie season the six interceptions, that's been a 305 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: spot for young guys to make a pretty big impact 306 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: right away in this defense. The thing for the Packers 307 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: is they didn't have anybody established outside when they lost Williams, 308 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: so Randall kind of ended up falling in that spot, 309 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: right Heyward's best position being the nickel as well. So 310 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: this offseason has allowed them to sort of expand his horizons. 311 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: Now we saw Rollins play both inside and outside last year. 312 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: Um so working under Joe Wit and really taking in 313 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: all of those positions, that's something that I think is 314 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: really exciting for the secondary as far as where they 315 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: could all fall in two thousand six. Yeah, and talking 316 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: to Randall and I think this goes along with that 317 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: potential playmaking opportunity in the slot that you're talking about. 318 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: Talking to him during the off season, he said what 319 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: he wants to do in year two is get to 320 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: the point where he knows the defense so well that 321 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: he can start to show the quarterback one thing when 322 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: he's doing another, you know, disguising what he's doing. And 323 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: that's what creates those potential opportunities for big places. And 324 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: you saw last year that's what ha ha Clinton Dicks. 325 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 1: He started moving more into that realm. And he mentioned 326 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: this offseason plays where maybe you know, somebody else is 327 00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: supposed to blitz out of the slot. I think he said, 328 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: Mike go was it against Minnesota and he ended up 329 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: switching the call because Bridgewater could see that was coming. 330 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: Those are the things that when you can start to 331 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: play the game within the game, can really help a 332 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: cornerback or defensive back in general take their game to 333 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: another level. Yeah. Now, we didn't see Rollins really during 334 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: the off season through O t S and minicamp. Had 335 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: a nasty little dislocated finger injury that kept him sideline, 336 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: nothing that I guess has been ruled as anything serious. Well, 337 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: we expect him back for training camp. But aside from 338 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: maybe that, you know, disguising and playing tricks on the quarterback, 339 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: what do you see as maybe the next step for 340 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: these two in their games? Yeah, it probably is going 341 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: to come down to maybe the more regular playing time 342 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: because you lose Casey Hayward, who actually led the secondary 343 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: and snaps at the cornerbacks and snaps last season. That's 344 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: defensive plays that they're gonna have to find guys for. 345 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: And more and more we're seeing defense has moved to 346 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: these spread offenses. They're playing nickel and dime packages of 347 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: the time. At least you need to be able to 348 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: expand that. You need to have to be able to 349 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: go pretty deep into that depth chart. How will Rowlins 350 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: respond when he's actually a week to week contributor, You know, 351 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: he even you go to the Washington game and in 352 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: the playoffs, he really wasn't still uh consistent guy. I 353 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: mean he there were opportunities for him, but you know 354 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: there was also Micah Hyde and and Casey Hayward. Well 355 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: where did those guys fit now when you take away 356 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: Heyward snaps and how will they respond to that extra 357 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: playing time? I know Randall even talked about working on 358 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: his conditioning to to put himself in a better spot. Yeah, 359 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: and it's really interesting with these two as well. They're 360 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: good friends, and not just because they were drafted one 361 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 1: two by the Packers. They actually met at the Senior 362 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,959 Speaker 1: Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. They were roommates at the Senior 363 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: Bowl and Randall actually joked at the time, you know, 364 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: telling Rollins, Hey, we're gonna end up on the same team, 365 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: and Rollins was like, Oh, you're crazy, that will never happen. 366 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: And then sure enough it happens. The Packers take them 367 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: in the first and second rounds and a lot of promise, 368 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: a lot to watch in the future from those two guys. 369 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 1: So with that, we'll throw it to a break and 370 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,479 Speaker 1: we'll be back with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. 371 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford alongside Wes hod 372 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: Kowitz and Wes. Let's wrap up the show with a 373 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: quick look back at a big moment from the Rogers 374 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: to Rogers Hail Mary in Detroit. It wins the sp 375 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: for Play of the Year. You and I were both 376 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: in the press box at Ford Field when this happened. 377 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: So what do you remember most about that moment? Well, 378 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: I remember my laptop just completely, you know, incinerated in 379 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: front of me. It's on fire. We were doing a 380 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,680 Speaker 1: running games story that night, so I had to send 381 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 1: as soon as the game ended, and obviously with how 382 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: things turned out, there was even an overtime, it was 383 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: like the game was over. I had to reconstruct my 384 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: entire at least the first two words of my game story. 385 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: And I went and took a picture down at the 386 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: spot that Richard Rogers caught the ball afterwards, with the 387 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: photo that said, this is where my game story died. 388 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: Just an iconic moment, one that I'll never forget. And 389 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: I know everybody associated with the Packers. For everything to 390 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: fall the way it did in the game, to end 391 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: in that fashion, it's gonna be one for the history 392 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: books for sure. Yeah, and I remember processing everything that 393 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 1: had happened because you talk about deadlines and getting your 394 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: work done and getting your story written right away. As 395 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: I'm flying back on the plane from Detroit late that night, 396 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: I started thinking about all the things that had to 397 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 1: happen in order for the play to even take place. 398 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: I go back to when the Packers are down one, 399 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: after Rogers had scrambled and scored the touchdown by the 400 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,360 Speaker 1: pylon there. Detroit had third and twelve on their own 401 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: eighteen yard line with about three minutes left to go, 402 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,479 Speaker 1: and I'm thinking, Packers stop him here and make them 403 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 1: punt from inside the twenty. Rogers is going to drive 404 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: the Packers down. Crosby's gonna kick a field goal, and 405 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: the Packers are gonna and come back from this twenty 406 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: to nothing deficit. Matthew Stafford threads an absolutely perfect throw 407 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: against great coverage by Quentin Rollins over the It'll for 408 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: a big game. That picks up a first down, and 409 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: you're thinking, that's it. The game is over. Detroit's Detroit's 410 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: got it now, and the Packers fortunately got the ball back. 411 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: But then even when they got it back, it takes 412 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: a face mask call on a whole botched lateral goofy 413 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: play for the Packers to get the untimed down for 414 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: Rogers to even be able to make the throw. It's incredible. 415 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: And the throw I've never seen anything like. It's sixty yards. 416 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: I mean, however high it went in the air. You know, 417 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: it almost took out a rafter light up there. What 418 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 1: you would have thought. So few human beings on this 419 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 1: planet can throw a football like that. And afterwards, if 420 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: there's any question about how much that game meant to 421 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: the Packers, how important it was that turning the season, 422 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: just remember all the players converging on Richard Rodgers on 423 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: the field, who ended a career day eight catches, five yards. 424 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: It was just one of the most joyous moments I 425 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: think you're ever going to see on a football field. Yeah, 426 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: that was That was really you know, as you say, 427 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: unbridled joy, just spontaneous celebration. You know, Mike McCarthy even 428 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: talked about he was is wrapped up in the moment, 429 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: but he's also looking around the field to make sure 430 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: there are no flags down and make sure that it 431 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: to make sure that it counted, you know, because because 432 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: if it didn't, the Packers weren't going to get another 433 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: chance with with no time on the clock, so just 434 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: just a remarkable moment to remember. So that's a wrap 435 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: on today's edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow 436 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com. 437 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: On Twitter, He's at west Hod, I'm at Mike Spofford 438 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: at Packers for the team account. Thanks for watching, everybody, 439 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: and we'll see you next time.