WEBVTT - #333 Packers Unscripted: Keys to victory 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:20.439 Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.560 --> 0:00:23.720 I am Mike Spofford, joined alongside the one and only 0:00:23.760 --> 0:00:26.840 Wes Hodkuits. Were coming to you here from our studios 0:00:26.880 --> 0:00:29.080 at lambeau Field and West. Final show of the week, 0:00:29.120 --> 0:00:32.479 and that means keys to victory for the green Bay Packers. 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:35.960 They will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday noon Central 0:00:36.000 --> 0:00:39.080 time kickoff at lambeau Field. Where do you want to 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:40.839 start with this one? As far as what it will 0:00:40.880 --> 0:00:42.600 take for green Bay to get back in the wind 0:00:42.600 --> 0:00:45.960 column again, I preface this by saying I probably could 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:48.960 start this way for every single episode, every year, every 0:00:48.960 --> 0:00:52.280 you know, every week, every game. But it's Aaron Rodgers 0:00:52.720 --> 0:00:55.040 and this week I think we got a new angle 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:57.639 to this storyline in that he was able to practice 0:00:57.640 --> 0:01:00.720 on Thursday for the first time since he suffered that 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:04.319 knee injury against Chicago. He's out there and pads. We 0:01:04.400 --> 0:01:06.600 joked about it, wrote about it on Packers dot Com, 0:01:06.640 --> 0:01:08.760 Tim Boyle, Deshaun Kaiser giving him the sort of this 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:12.640 ry ovation, which then Rogers played into as he came 0:01:12.640 --> 0:01:15.280 out on the practice field. And the big part of 0:01:15.280 --> 0:01:17.560 this is Rogers talked a day before that. Now, he 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:19.959 did not really say he didn't really hint that Thursday 0:01:20.000 --> 0:01:21.840 was going to be the day, but he did say 0:01:21.880 --> 0:01:23.840 at some point he hoped to be able to practice 0:01:23.880 --> 0:01:27.600 before Saturday. It ended up being this week and one, 0:01:27.640 --> 0:01:30.120 I think that shows progress with the knee injuries he's 0:01:30.160 --> 0:01:32.520 coming back from. But secondly, this is just as far 0:01:32.560 --> 0:01:35.679 as a communication standpoint, a chemistry standpoint with his receivers. 0:01:35.959 --> 0:01:38.600 Mike McCarthy also doubled down on it on Monday. On 0:01:38.640 --> 0:01:41.959 Friday morning, saying, you know, this is something where there's 0:01:42.000 --> 0:01:44.480 an obvious benefit to being able to have the quarterback 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:47.040 that's going under center on Sunday being the one that's 0:01:47.080 --> 0:01:49.840 taking the reps in practice because it isn't so much 0:01:49.840 --> 0:01:52.040 about Aaron Rodgers at this point. It's about the offense 0:01:52.120 --> 0:01:54.680 around Aaron Rodgers. We know what he can do on 0:01:54.840 --> 0:01:57.400 short to no practice, but it's about all the other 0:01:57.440 --> 0:02:02.200 components around it. So I think Aaron rod Jers getting healthier, 0:02:02.560 --> 0:02:04.240 being able to be out there on the practice field 0:02:04.280 --> 0:02:06.400 is going to go uh and and really help this 0:02:06.440 --> 0:02:08.480 offense get to where it wants to be. Because at 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:10.080 the end of the day, Mike, it's all about protecting 0:02:10.120 --> 0:02:12.880 the football. Rogers a hundred and sixteen passes thrown. I 0:02:12.880 --> 0:02:15.720 believe this year does not have an interception yet, really 0:02:15.720 --> 0:02:17.840 been consistent in that and hopefully can you don't get 0:02:17.880 --> 0:02:20.240 some of that explosiveness back now as well. Yeah, as 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:22.120 we've talked about all week, all you have to do 0:02:22.200 --> 0:02:25.360 is turn on the first quarter of Buffalo Minnesota last 0:02:25.400 --> 0:02:27.680 week and it will tell you that the key on 0:02:27.720 --> 0:02:30.320 Sunday for the Packers is to protect the football. Because 0:02:30.480 --> 0:02:33.640 the way the Bills got after Kirk Cousins, they got sacks, 0:02:33.680 --> 0:02:36.119 they got turnovers that staked him do an early lead 0:02:36.160 --> 0:02:39.600 with great field position that they cashed in on. Packers 0:02:39.639 --> 0:02:43.079 have to protect the ball overall. The Packers usually very 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:44.800 very good at that, and this is one of those 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.280 games West that you know what the Packers playing at home, 0:02:47.960 --> 0:02:50.680 Rogers getting back in practice. Like you said, some things 0:02:50.680 --> 0:02:53.120 are on the upswing here. Even though I know the 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:55.680 Packers are coming off a loss, this isn't one of 0:02:55.680 --> 0:02:58.760 those games. As much as the defense obviously would love 0:02:58.800 --> 0:03:01.120 to get some turnovers and rack up a few of 0:03:01.120 --> 0:03:03.800 their own, this isn't one of those games necessarily where 0:03:03.800 --> 0:03:05.639 you have to ask the defense to get a bunch 0:03:05.639 --> 0:03:08.919 of turnovers, but the Packers just can't lose the turnover 0:03:08.960 --> 0:03:11.519 battle here. I think if this if the Packers either 0:03:11.560 --> 0:03:13.720 win the turnover battle or at least stay even if 0:03:13.840 --> 0:03:16.280 even if it's zero zero, when both teams protect the ball. 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.519 I like green Bay's chances here because with the matchups 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:23.760 that Rodgers is going to have. I think Davante Adams 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:26.360 turned Abous White is a really really good matchup on 0:03:26.400 --> 0:03:29.640 the perimeter. But the rest of green Bay's matchups now 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:32.040 Randall Cobby is on the injury report, will see what 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:35.400 happens there. But you know, Jimmy Graham, Geronimo Allison, they're 0:03:35.560 --> 0:03:38.960 what they're capable of producing. I like the Packers matchups 0:03:38.960 --> 0:03:42.040 on the perimeter in this game if Rogers is protected, 0:03:42.040 --> 0:03:44.560 which also goes along obviously with protecting the ball. Yeah, 0:03:44.560 --> 0:03:46.560 and then there was also an interesting stat I believe. 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:47.920 I'm trying to find it here. I think it was 0:03:48.040 --> 0:03:53.640 our you know, PR communications guru, Nate Lacassi. I dug 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:55.120 this one up, and I'm probably gonna mess it up 0:03:55.120 --> 0:03:56.480 now because I can't find it in the dope sheet. 0:03:56.520 --> 0:03:58.760 But I think it was something like the last six meetings. 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:00.920 I believe it was with the Lls have all been 0:04:00.920 --> 0:04:03.160 decided by ten or more points. I mean, it's been 0:04:03.240 --> 0:04:05.440 one team coming out and really, you know, I don't 0:04:05.440 --> 0:04:07.839 want to say dominating, but controlling the tempo of the game. 0:04:08.080 --> 0:04:10.040 The Bills were fortunate enough to do that, you know, 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:13.160 at Ralph Wilson Stadium four years ago. Packers are looking 0:04:13.200 --> 0:04:15.520 to flip that. And when you look at those offensive weapons, 0:04:15.520 --> 0:04:18.280 when you look at Geronimo Allison, how consistent he's been 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:20.960 over the last couple of weeks. Assuming everything checks out, 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:24.760 okay with Graham and his knee and Cobb with his hamstring. Yeah, 0:04:24.800 --> 0:04:27.479 the big money matchup is going to be Davante, Adams 0:04:27.480 --> 0:04:30.560 and White, but it's all about being able to spread 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:34.280 it across. They have two exceptional safety's employer and then 0:04:34.320 --> 0:04:37.680 obviously you know Mike Hide everybody knows well about. But 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:40.360 to be able to prevent them from getting into cover 0:04:40.400 --> 0:04:42.200 two looks, you know, making those guys drop down in 0:04:42.240 --> 0:04:45.320 the box, find ways to beat the secondary. The more 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:48.080 mobile Aaron Rodgers gets, the more dangerous this offense gets. 0:04:48.080 --> 0:04:49.640 But he's also shown when he needs to do be 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:52.320 quick and decisive. He can play that game too. I 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:54.279 just look at it from the standpoint of assuming you 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:56.839 get Brian Balaga out there working through the back injury, 0:04:57.279 --> 0:05:00.560 you have some semblance of a healthy offense operating with 0:05:00.600 --> 0:05:04.800 its full arsenal of weapons. The table set there for 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:06.839 the Packers to have success of the defense can do 0:05:06.880 --> 0:05:10.720 its job. Yeah, I think so too. Another statistical oddity 0:05:10.800 --> 0:05:13.320 you might say with regards to this Buffalo Green Bay series, 0:05:13.360 --> 0:05:17.120 I believe you have to go back to for the 0:05:17.200 --> 0:05:20.839 last time the road team one when these two teams 0:05:20.839 --> 0:05:23.240 have met, and that was actually Buffalo going into Milwaukee 0:05:23.320 --> 0:05:25.880 County Stadium, and I looked it up this week. The 0:05:25.960 --> 0:05:28.880 leading receiver in that game for the Buffalo Bills Jeff Query. No, 0:05:29.080 --> 0:05:30.480 I'm sorry, I got a hit of myself. Was it 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:33.279 James loft It was James Lofton, the former Packer James 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:36.520 Lofton came back to County Stadium towards the Packers and 0:05:36.600 --> 0:05:39.719 the Bills won that game, I believe was something like that. 0:05:39.800 --> 0:05:41.400 It was a fun box score to kind of look 0:05:41.440 --> 0:05:44.839 back at this week. But you mentioned Wes, the Packers 0:05:44.880 --> 0:05:47.520 defense has to hold up and send of the bargain 0:05:47.560 --> 0:05:49.840 here and I've talked about this a little bit on 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:52.599 our final thoughts video and other things that are going 0:05:52.640 --> 0:05:55.680 to be posted here coming up on the weekend. It's 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:58.560 time for the Packers defense to play a complete game. 0:05:58.680 --> 0:06:02.480 We've seen some growing pains, We've seen some struggles here 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:05.800 and there. We've also seen what this defense is capable of. 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:08.200 You look at some of those stretches in the Chicago game, 0:06:08.240 --> 0:06:11.200 you look at the first three quarters against the Minnesota Vikings, 0:06:11.600 --> 0:06:15.799 you look at the second half against Washington last week. 0:06:16.720 --> 0:06:20.239 There are stretches where this defense has really clamped down 0:06:20.800 --> 0:06:24.720 and done exactly what you would like it to do. Now, okay, 0:06:24.839 --> 0:06:27.840 it's Week four. It's time for those growing pains to 0:06:27.960 --> 0:06:30.720 kind of, you know, be put in the past and 0:06:31.000 --> 0:06:34.479 to put together a solid four quarter game that the 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:37.120 coaching staff that Aaron Rodgers can rely on to give 0:06:37.160 --> 0:06:40.120 this team it's best chance. Yes, Mike McCarthy mentioned this week, 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:41.920 after you get through that first quarter of the season 0:06:42.000 --> 0:06:43.560 is kind of when it starts to be you are 0:06:43.600 --> 0:06:45.960 who you are. So the Packers are trying to show 0:06:46.000 --> 0:06:48.320 that they are that team that played as well as 0:06:48.360 --> 0:06:51.160 they did in the first three quarters of that matchup 0:06:51.200 --> 0:06:53.920 against the Vikings, how well they played in the second 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:56.240 half against the Bears and then how well they played 0:06:56.240 --> 0:06:59.760 in the second half in Washington. It is about stitching 0:06:59.800 --> 0:07:03.039 to other complete performance. I understand it's easier said than done, 0:07:03.400 --> 0:07:05.360 but at the same time, if you're able to control 0:07:05.400 --> 0:07:08.560 the tempo early on and force the opposing offense to 0:07:08.560 --> 0:07:11.040 make decisions and and you know, kind of control it 0:07:11.040 --> 0:07:14.040 from that standpoint, that's ultimately what you're looking to do. 0:07:14.480 --> 0:07:17.000 Obviously they had to overcome some adversity with the Vikings, 0:07:17.000 --> 0:07:18.720 but to be honest with you, up until that point, 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:21.160 I thought that was a blueprint for how you want 0:07:21.160 --> 0:07:24.240 to attack a potentially explosive offense with a quarterback that 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:26.320 you know, I think a lot of people in Minnesota 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:29.520 have their hopes kind of tied to at this point. 0:07:30.160 --> 0:07:33.480 Last week, Alex Smith throws for six past six receiving 0:07:33.520 --> 0:07:36.160 yards in the second half. So Josh Allen is a 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:38.880 is a dynamic football player, and we've seen that he's 0:07:38.920 --> 0:07:41.240 not afraid to run. He's he isn't a scrambler by 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:43.720 any means, but he has that component to his game, 0:07:44.240 --> 0:07:46.000 uh to to be able to move the change. So 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:48.600 being able to queue in on that and being able 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:50.880 to actually, you know, make sure you're not giving up 0:07:50.920 --> 0:07:53.640 those explosive plays is going to be important because there 0:07:53.720 --> 0:07:56.320 is dynamic football players in this offense. I just think 0:07:56.960 --> 0:07:59.640 it's probably not what it's been the last you know, 0:07:59.760 --> 0:08:03.640 few weeks in terms of the potentially explosive Pro Bowl 0:08:03.680 --> 0:08:07.000 type elements that they've seen in Washington in Minnesota. Yeah, 0:08:07.120 --> 0:08:12.840 with regards to Buffalo's offense and quarterback Josh Allen, the Packers, 0:08:13.120 --> 0:08:16.240 I know Packers fans are are waiting hoping for the 0:08:16.280 --> 0:08:18.520 pass rush to kind of find its groove and start 0:08:18.880 --> 0:08:21.400 racking up some sacks. And obviously without the roughing the 0:08:21.400 --> 0:08:25.320 passer penalty, you don't need to get into that. But honestly, West, 0:08:25.360 --> 0:08:27.240 this is one of those games where I don't think 0:08:27.240 --> 0:08:29.960 you need to sack the quarterback. I don't know if 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:32.960 you necessarily want to go you want to go blitz 0:08:33.000 --> 0:08:35.320 crazy and and try to go sack crazy in this game. 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:38.280 Because Josh Allen, he he's leading this team in rushing. 0:08:38.600 --> 0:08:40.960 He will take off and run with the football. This is, 0:08:41.440 --> 0:08:43.920 in my opinion, because he's a rookie, he's only got 0:08:43.920 --> 0:08:46.520 a couple of starts under his belt. You rushed to 0:08:46.559 --> 0:08:49.880 contain him. You don't don't let him bail himself out. 0:08:49.920 --> 0:08:52.280 With his legs. Make this guy beat you with his arm, 0:08:52.440 --> 0:08:55.839 Make him beat you with decisions against you know, some 0:08:55.880 --> 0:08:58.199 different coverage looks and some things that I'm sure Mike 0:08:58.240 --> 0:09:01.280 Petton has designed to confu use him. You get into 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:03.160 those if you get him in a second and long 0:09:03.280 --> 0:09:05.400 or a third and long situation, don't let him talk 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:07.840 the ball and run. Make him, you know, contain him 0:09:07.840 --> 0:09:09.520 in the pocket, make him throw the ball and beach 0:09:09.520 --> 0:09:11.120 you that way. Yeah, and I'll be interested to see 0:09:11.120 --> 0:09:14.120 how much of the spy element doesn't play with this game, because, 0:09:14.120 --> 0:09:16.160 to be honest with you, Mike, the first three contests, 0:09:16.360 --> 0:09:18.559 Alex Smith, don't get me wrong, he's in some ways 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:20.560 as as Jake Gruden said last week, he has that 0:09:20.679 --> 0:09:23.920 similar sort of mindset mentality that Rogers has where he'll 0:09:23.960 --> 0:09:26.160 scramble when he needs to to extend to play. But 0:09:26.200 --> 0:09:28.720 they hadn't really faced like a guy that that potentially 0:09:28.760 --> 0:09:30.679 is putting up the numbers that Alan is right now, 0:09:30.679 --> 0:09:34.360 it's twenty two carries for ninety seven yards and two touchdowns. 0:09:34.360 --> 0:09:36.319 So it is gonna be interesting. You know, how the 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:38.200 Packers want to attack that is that where you know, 0:09:38.240 --> 0:09:40.640 a guy like Blake Martinez gets called into duty. Do 0:09:40.679 --> 0:09:43.360 they find a defensive back that they feel could potentially 0:09:43.360 --> 0:09:46.520 have that kind of flexibility as well, or do you 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:48.800 just try to rush to contain, you know, keep him 0:09:48.800 --> 0:09:50.760 in the pocket and see what develops. Those are all 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:53.320 the little chess games that Petton is going to have 0:09:53.360 --> 0:09:56.360 to play. But I think the hope is from the 0:09:56.360 --> 0:09:59.320 Packers perspective, even though you do lose Mohammed Wilkerson now 0:09:59.320 --> 0:10:01.959 in certain like you know, Devon houses On, I R 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:04.960 Kevin King. You'll see whether or not he's available on Sunday. 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:07.400 But they still feel really good about the group they 0:10:07.400 --> 0:10:09.880 have and in these these playmaking abilities that they have 0:10:09.960 --> 0:10:12.920 in this this defense. But it really it does and 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:14.559 they needed they know they need to play better and 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:15.920 they know they got to put you put it on 0:10:15.920 --> 0:10:19.000 the field. Yeah, just statistically speaking, I did look up 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:22.360 some numbers this week as far as the Packers facing 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:25.800 rookie quarterbacks in the Mike McCarthy era, And it's a 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:29.000 good time to talk about it because the Packers are 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.360 potentially going to see Josh Rosen from Arizona, Sam Donald 0:10:32.360 --> 0:10:34.080 from the New York Jets, who are both on the 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:37.480 schedule in December. If those rookies continue to be the 0:10:37.520 --> 0:10:41.040 starting quarterbacks of those teams. Since McCarthy took over in 0:10:41.080 --> 0:10:44.360 two thousand six, the Packers have played fifteen games against 0:10:44.360 --> 0:10:47.760 a rookie starting quarterback and the Packers are ten and 0:10:47.840 --> 0:10:50.880 five in those games, they've won two thirds of them. Ironically, 0:10:51.000 --> 0:10:53.719 the last one, the most recent one was against de 0:10:53.760 --> 0:10:56.280 Shaun Kaiser, who's now in the Packers locker room, when 0:10:56.280 --> 0:10:58.960 he was a rookie for the Cleveland Browns last year. 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:01.960 But it's been kind of a mixed bag because for 0:11:02.800 --> 0:11:05.199 some of those some of those games, when I look 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:07.240 back at the statistics in the past, I think it 0:11:07.280 --> 0:11:10.040 was Matthew Stafford his rookie year in two thousand nine 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:13.280 through I think it was four interceptions against the Packers 0:11:13.320 --> 0:11:15.439 in the one game that he started against Green Bay 0:11:15.480 --> 0:11:17.640 as a rookie. But then just a couple of years ago, 0:11:17.720 --> 0:11:20.000 we saw Dak Prescott as a rookie quarterback for the 0:11:20.080 --> 0:11:23.240 Dallas Cowboys come into lambeau Field, put up a sparkling 0:11:23.240 --> 0:11:25.960 passer rating of like a hundred and seventeen, obviously had 0:11:26.000 --> 0:11:28.160 a great running game to go with it, and the 0:11:28.200 --> 0:11:31.559 Cowboys came in here with those rookies on offense and 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:33.600 beat the Packers. So it has been kind of a 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:37.040 mixed bag. But overall ten and five Packers are gonna 0:11:37.040 --> 0:11:41.160 face potentially three rookie quarterbacks now over the next few months, 0:11:41.160 --> 0:11:43.520 and you know these are games you you got to 0:11:43.559 --> 0:11:45.240 get the job done. Yeah, and this will be actually 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:47.080 a good opportunity for if you want to look at 0:11:47.120 --> 0:11:49.600 it from the Bills prospective perspective or Josh Allen, because 0:11:49.600 --> 0:11:51.760 it looks like Shady McCoy is gonna play in this game, 0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:54.080 so that that, by far, that's your top playmaker if 0:11:54.120 --> 0:11:55.840 you're the Bills in the offense, both as a pass 0:11:55.880 --> 0:11:57.319 catcher and what he does on the back field. So 0:11:57.400 --> 0:11:59.160 that'll be his best friend. How did how did he 0:11:59.200 --> 0:12:01.800 get that nickname? By the way, Lashawn McCoy shady Like, 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:03.520 I don't. I think it's a cool name. I just 0:12:03.520 --> 0:12:07.360 don't know. Is that is that an old Western reference? Anyway? 0:12:07.360 --> 0:12:09.480 I didn't follow the Philadelphi Eagles enough, I guess. But 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:12.200 be that as it may make. Uh, it is also 0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:14.760 interesting to me and that you have all these teams 0:12:14.760 --> 0:12:16.600 that said and did all the right things. The Jets 0:12:16.600 --> 0:12:20.679 they had Josh McCown. They went and obviously signed Teddy Bridgewater, 0:12:21.160 --> 0:12:25.600 these guys originally brought in a J mccaren. You had 0:12:26.400 --> 0:12:29.600 the Browns just continue to stick by to Rod Taylor. 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:31.680 But at the end of the day, I think with 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:33.640 the pressures of the NFL and the way that things 0:12:33.640 --> 0:12:36.959 happen in injuries to sometimes play into it, the rookies 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:38.880 end up being out there, and I just I don't 0:12:38.880 --> 0:12:41.680 think we're ever gonna see quite a day again like 0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:44.400 Aaron Rodgers or Tony Romo sitting behind guys for three 0:12:44.480 --> 0:12:47.000 years and then becoming starters. It just seems like there's 0:12:47.000 --> 0:12:49.000 going to be that pressure to get guys on the field, 0:12:49.240 --> 0:12:51.520 get them out there early, and see how they respond. 0:12:51.559 --> 0:12:53.440 And you have a guy like Baker Mayfield that really 0:12:53.440 --> 0:12:55.280 stepped up in his game. You had a guy like 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:57.680 Sam Donald that didn't play too hot during the final 0:12:57.720 --> 0:13:01.120 stretch a week ago either. So seeing where Josh Allen 0:13:01.120 --> 0:13:03.760 fits into this, uh, it's gonna be very interesting to 0:13:03.800 --> 0:13:06.160 see where he is today and where that maturation process 0:13:06.160 --> 0:13:08.240 will take him right and the other part of it too, 0:13:08.280 --> 0:13:11.200 as we're seeing what really is becoming the trend around 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:14.160 the league, and it was on display in Thursday Night 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:16.760 Football with the Los Angeles Rams against the Vikings. And 0:13:16.760 --> 0:13:18.400 we'll get to that in a minute. But when you 0:13:18.440 --> 0:13:22.400 talk about playing these high draft pick rookie quarterbacks, right away, 0:13:23.240 --> 0:13:26.400 the formula, the way things of the way these teams 0:13:26.480 --> 0:13:30.720 have built themselves to compete for championships with the likes 0:13:30.760 --> 0:13:33.000 of the Tom Brady's and the Aaron Rodgers of the world. 0:13:33.440 --> 0:13:36.400 You find out if that rookie quarterbacks got it, and 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:39.240 then if he does, you know you're not paying him 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:42.600 the big franchise quarterback money for a few years until 0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:45.160 he gets to that second contract, so you have a 0:13:45.240 --> 0:13:48.040 chance to build a team around him and spend your 0:13:48.040 --> 0:13:50.920 money elsewhere, not quite so much at the quarterback position. 0:13:50.960 --> 0:13:53.800 And boy, is that working out for the Los Angeles Rams. 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:55.880 Right now, we can talk about that Thursday night game. 0:13:56.840 --> 0:13:59.720 Jared Goffel was at four hundred and sixty five yards, 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:03.199 five touchdowns, a perfect passer rating R one fifty eight 0:14:03.240 --> 0:14:06.120 point three against the defense. That's not too shabby in 0:14:06.120 --> 0:14:08.760 the Minnesota Vikings. I know that you know, Everson Griffin's 0:14:08.760 --> 0:14:11.040 not on the field right now and some other injury 0:14:11.080 --> 0:14:14.959 issues in Minnesota, but still three receivers with over a 0:14:15.040 --> 0:14:18.480 hundred yards in one game. Um, this uh this Los 0:14:18.559 --> 0:14:21.320 Angeles Rams team, you know, they're they're they're off to 0:14:21.360 --> 0:14:24.000 a four and no start at the quarter pole, undefeated. 0:14:24.360 --> 0:14:27.760 They really are announcing themselves right now as the team 0:14:27.760 --> 0:14:29.520 to beat in the NFC. And it's interesting you bring 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:31.520 that up too much because for me, there's two types 0:14:31.520 --> 0:14:34.280 of rookie quarterbacks. There's the ones like, you know, a 0:14:34.280 --> 0:14:36.680 guy like Carson Wentz who comes in and plays really well, 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:38.840 makes a Pro Bowl in his first year. There's a 0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:41.040 guy like Jared Goff that had his share of struggles 0:14:41.200 --> 0:14:43.920 and there was some real questions about you know, was 0:14:43.960 --> 0:14:46.320 this guy when when? When Wentz is playing that well, 0:14:46.360 --> 0:14:49.200 people asking it was golf the right guy to pick 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:52.280 number one overall, the right right, But they can go 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:54.960 to directions. You saw what happened with Aaron Rodgers, played 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:57.800 waited a couple of years, played well. Alex Smith had 0:14:57.920 --> 0:15:01.760 some horrific seasons at the Big getting missed the whole 0:15:01.800 --> 0:15:03.960 year I think with injury at one point. But golf 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:06.920 is showing the potential there in Sean McVeigh has been 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:09.720 able to really develop a system in a scheme that 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:12.120 seems to really tailor him. Mike, I'll be honest with 0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:14.520 you I didn't think we'd ever see a day where 0:15:14.520 --> 0:15:18.400 Mike Szimmers defense would have twenty six completions only seven 0:15:18.400 --> 0:15:21.880 in completions fo sixty five yards and five touchdowns for 0:15:21.960 --> 0:15:24.600 one fifty eight points re passer rating and one sack 0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:27.640 and one sack. So that is that is startling numbers 0:15:27.640 --> 0:15:31.160 with or without Everson Griffin. So uh, it's a gut 0:15:31.240 --> 0:15:33.040 check right now for the Vikings because they have a 0:15:33.040 --> 0:15:36.080 lot invested into this season in particular, they're gonna have 0:15:36.120 --> 0:15:37.800 to bounce back. It's a tough start to be one 0:15:37.840 --> 0:15:39.480 two and one at this point of the year. Yeah, 0:15:39.480 --> 0:15:41.600 and that's obviously a big result as far as the 0:15:41.680 --> 0:15:44.400 NFC North goes. The Minnesota Vikings one two and one, 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:48.320 the Packers with a chance to get to to one 0:15:48.360 --> 0:15:52.080 and one, and uh, the Chicago Bears hosting a team 0:15:52.080 --> 0:15:55.480 with a pretty explosive offense so far this season in 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:58.480 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That game in Chicago had Soldier Field. 0:15:58.480 --> 0:16:01.040 Tampa Bay Chicago not one that at the beginning of 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:03.160 the season, a whole bunch of people would have circled 0:16:03.600 --> 0:16:05.800 as a as a big matchup in Week four, But 0:16:05.880 --> 0:16:08.560 it's turning into what's going to be a game with 0:16:08.600 --> 0:16:10.840 a lot of eyes on it. So who's starting that 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:12.640 game for the Bucks? Do you know yet? Is that 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:15.600 even out there? I believe they're staying with Fitzpatrick, but 0:16:16.160 --> 0:16:18.600 I I guess I haven't heard. I haven't. I certainly 0:16:18.640 --> 0:16:21.280 haven't heard anything that they're switching to Winston at this point. 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:23.480 That's the that's the two headed coin of this when 0:16:23.480 --> 0:16:26.160 you're when when you're a coach and you have to 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:28.240 go with a veteran backup like that who plays well, 0:16:28.280 --> 0:16:32.320 and then the original starter comes back, it's gonna be yeah. 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:34.720 There there's still some debate over there what's going to happen. 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:38.000 But the Bucks are off to a great start. I 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:40.160 know they did lose to Pittsburgh, but they played him tough, 0:16:40.360 --> 0:16:42.560 right and and I know Fitzpatrick had a rough first 0:16:42.600 --> 0:16:44.840 half in that game, but you look at what he's done, 0:16:46.560 --> 0:16:48.440 You look at what he's done over the first three 0:16:48.480 --> 0:16:50.320 weeks of the season. I just don't I don't see 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:52.240 how you could pull him out Right now, I say, 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:54.600 I say, you keep rolling with them with those weapons, 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:57.600 Mike Evans and those guys that he's got on that offense. 0:16:57.880 --> 0:16:59.920 If if I'm Tampa Bay, I'm not turning it over, 0:17:00.120 --> 0:17:02.280 turning it back over to Jamis Winston right now. For 0:17:02.360 --> 0:17:05.520 my money, I think Ryan Fitzpatrick, this guy would have 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:07.760 been perfect in nine in the nineties, if you would 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:09.240 have been able to get out in the league then 0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:12.320 because he is he to me, he's the biggest gun 0:17:12.359 --> 0:17:14.760 slinger right now in the NFL. He has that Brett 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:17.159 fa mentality. He's going to challenge downfield. He's gonna have 0:17:17.160 --> 0:17:20.080 a short memory. Unfortunately, there's gonna be some takeaways there, 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:22.679 there's gonna be some turnovers and ultimately that's all what 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:24.760 kind of cost him the job and with the Jets 0:17:24.760 --> 0:17:28.080 and with the Bills. But he really knows how to 0:17:28.080 --> 0:17:30.320 to get this offense clicking and moving. And it's exact 0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:32.119 type of player I'm sure the Bucks wanted to have 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:34.560 for Dirk Cutter. This is a big year man. They 0:17:34.600 --> 0:17:36.720 got to make progress. They gotta pushed for a playoff 0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:40.520 spot in a really competitive division. But yeah, getting back 0:17:40.520 --> 0:17:42.240 to your original point. For the for the Bears, this 0:17:42.280 --> 0:17:43.560 will not be a walk in the park. And for 0:17:43.600 --> 0:17:46.439 the Packers, even though I think everybody projected that the 0:17:46.520 --> 0:17:48.280 Vikings are gonna be the team, you're gonna be chasing 0:17:48.440 --> 0:17:51.520 the leak switches fast. You have ebbs and flows every 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:53.520 single week right now. The Packers need to get a 0:17:53.520 --> 0:17:55.439 win to get back up there with Chicago. Yeah. Well, 0:17:55.440 --> 0:17:57.320 in the bottom line is, if you're looking at it 0:17:57.400 --> 0:18:00.560 from the best case scenario for the Packers, you went 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:04.200 at home against Buffalo. If fits Magic does this thing 0:18:04.240 --> 0:18:07.120 at Soldier Field, you're at the quarter pole in first 0:18:07.119 --> 0:18:09.000 place in the NFC North at two one on one 0:18:09.119 --> 0:18:11.400 there there, there would be worse places to be. Yeah, 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:13.200 and I think we've already seen you talked about the 0:18:13.240 --> 0:18:16.439 parody last week, Mike. It's just it's so it's so 0:18:16.480 --> 0:18:18.760 weak to week at this point, and it always is 0:18:18.880 --> 0:18:21.880 every year we're talking about you know, you know, you're look, 0:18:22.000 --> 0:18:24.360 you got the you got the Dolphins playing the Patriots. 0:18:24.440 --> 0:18:26.360 Dolphins are three and no. New England's one and two. 0:18:26.480 --> 0:18:28.560 Can you imagine, I mean, can you if Miami wins 0:18:28.560 --> 0:18:30.560