1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is my trusted colleague. Wes 3 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: hodkuwits for coming to you here from our studios at 4 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: lambeau Field West. We got an opportunity to watch an 5 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: o t A practice earlier this week, the one that 6 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: was open to the media and the public. We also 7 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: got to hear from players in the locker room and 8 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: from the defensive and Special teams assistant coaches. And I 9 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: want to start with this. We don't normally start a 10 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: show with something that an assistant coach says on this show, 11 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: but if there is one thing to take away from 12 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: that availability with the defensive assistant coaches, it's that outside 13 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: linebackers coach Mike Smith could not be more fired up 14 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: about Rashaan Gary being in his room with his guys. 15 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: You know what it reminds me of I remember as 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: a kid, right, you have a Christmas morning Santa puts 17 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: out all the presents. I remember there was this one 18 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: year where I think I had said I wanted like 19 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was like a cactus Jack 20 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: or Mick Foley like figurine type deal. For like WWF 21 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: and I really wanted this thing. It was like a 22 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: three different figurines and I got it and as soon 23 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: as I got done, I didn't even touch the other presence. 24 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: I got done with this box, I ripped it open, 25 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: ran downstairs and played with it. Numind I was like 26 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: ten years old at the time, so give me a 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: break here. But I was like ten years old and 28 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: I I just sprinted. Did that not seem to you? 29 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: Like what Mike smith did the night that they drafted 30 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: Rashawn Gary. He actually made a comment that he like 31 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: was running up and down the hallway, which I'm not 32 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: sure if it was too much of an exaggeration. He's 33 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: he's really really excited about the fact that the Packers 34 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: drafted Rashaan Gary at number twelve overall and that he's 35 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: going to get a chance to coach this guy. And 36 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: everybody always says they like their guy, their guys always 37 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the number one player in the position their draft. But 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: Mike Smith Man listen to him talk, I believe it. 39 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: I mean this guy, I mean, I'm a non athlete here, 40 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: five ft nothing, hundred and nothing. I wanted to run 41 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: through a wall for the guy. By the time he 42 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: got done talking, he was fired up, and he's excited 43 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: about Sadarius Smith, Preston Smith, all of the resources they've 44 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: added into that room. But as he said, when he 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: looks at Gary, he doesn't care what the pundits say. 46 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: He's not paying attention to who's writing what about these prospects. 47 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: He's just looking at them at face value. And he 48 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: said afterwards, with all the criticism that Gary received for 49 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: his motor, how much you know, taking plays off at Michigan, 50 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: He's like, you go and find anybody at the University 51 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: of Michigan that said that. He's like, trust me, I 52 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: talked to him, all, you're not going to find anyone 53 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: they believe in the kid. Yeah, he didn't get as 54 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,839 Speaker 1: many sacks as maybe people want for a top you know, ten, 55 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: top pick. But as Smith said, he's like, I'm not 56 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: as interested in that as as much of him affecting games, 57 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: affecting plays, and that's something he did at Michigan. He 58 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: made people around him better. Yeah, I mean that was 59 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: the thing we heard in a very general sense from 60 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: Mike Smith throughout his discussion with the media as he 61 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: talked about affecting the quarterback and there are all kinds 62 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: of different ways to measure it. I know you and 63 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: I had talked about it when the Packers signs Darius 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: Smith and Preston Smith. Neither one of these guys is 65 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: a double digit sacker, you know, doesn't have fifty sacks 66 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: in his career anything like that. But when you look 67 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: at some of the other metrics that are used by 68 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus and other websites and other analysts out there, 69 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: when you talk about pressures and the times that a 70 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: quarterback is affected by a certain individual individual, it's guys 71 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: like the Smiths who ranked pretty high across the league 72 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: in that even if they didn't ultimately get the sacks. 73 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: Where Shawn Gary by all accounts that it sounds like 74 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: it sounds like he had a very similar type of 75 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: career at Michigan, but also in the sense that there's 76 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: a lot of film that shows him being double teamed 77 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: and whatnot, you know, freeing up his teammates to to 78 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: do things. I don't see Rashan Gary as a rookie 79 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: in the NFL getting double team So if he's single blocked, okay, 80 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: let's see what happens here. And Mike Smith's biggest point 81 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: at the end of it was if I've got a 82 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: bunch of guys in that room that are all worried 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: about how many sacks they're gonna have, they're gonna be 84 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: really disappointed football players because it's hard to get him 85 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: in the NFL. The way they're going to be evaluated 86 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: is how they affect the quarterback. And he's excited about 87 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: the group he has. Yeah, And one thing I thought 88 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: was really interesting too that he pointed out he looked 89 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: at de Ford and Justin Houston to Pro Bowl pass rushers, 90 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: edge rushers, outside linebackers that he had his book ends 91 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: in Kansas City, his time in Kansas City, and he mentioned, 92 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 1: you know, when you look at the getoff that Ford 93 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: had and just the pure power that Houston had, he 94 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: sees both of those trades in Gary. And another thing 95 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: he mentioned as well, when people want to talk about 96 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: the sack numbers at Michigan, they had him playing with 97 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: his hand in the dirt is a six It's really 98 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: difficult to get pressure on the quarterback as a five TECH. 99 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: That a five tech you're already on the outside shoulder, 100 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: you know, basically lined up with the tackle. Six tech 101 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: you're even wider as a defensive alignment in terms of 102 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: what his assignments are there. He's not just an edge 103 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: rusher in a two point stance, just jet rushing towards 104 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: the quarterback. There are assignments that go along with that. 105 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: He said that that also factored in in Green Bay, 106 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: as I believe it was. Also it was either Smith 107 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: or it was Jerry Montgomery had mentioned, you know, they're 108 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: already in some of these practices, Zadarius Smith and in 109 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: Rashaun Gary, they're working with the defensive alignemen and some 110 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: of these drills, uh, these positional drills. They're trying to 111 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: cross train these guys and working together to make sure 112 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: that yeah, they're good on their stunts, but also so 113 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: that when Zadarius Smith has to go inside or when 114 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: Gary's going to go inside, those guys can you know, 115 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: fit the bill and those one and three techniques and 116 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: sub packages. So it's a very interesting blend of talent 117 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: that they had. I think the biggest change that you've 118 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: seen from last year this year. Claim Matthews was very versatile. 119 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: Claim Matthews wasn't gonna play one tech nos in a 120 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: dime package. Nick Perry did a little of it, but 121 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: in the in the end he was mostly an outside guy. 122 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: Both of the Smiths Gary they're gonna move around, They're 123 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: going to use these guys in different ways, and as 124 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: Mike Smith said, they're gonna have four outside linebackers on 125 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: the field again. Packers at times last year didn't have 126 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: four outside linebackers on the fifty three man roster. So 127 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: I just think it's a it's a new day for 128 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: the defensive line. There's an energy there in Mike smith Man. 129 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: We've only had two interactions with them so far in 130 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: the media, but this is the type of guy that 131 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: I think i'd want to play for. Well, this is 132 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: another interesting thing I'm gonna throw out there too, because, 133 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: as you know, about a week ago, I got a 134 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: one on one interview with Mike Petton for a Packers 135 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: yearbook story that I'm working on that will be published 136 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: in the Packers Yearbook later this summer, and just going 137 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: over different things, different position groups, all the change that's 138 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: going on on the defense, and completely unprompted, Mike Petton 139 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: said he called Mike Smith the best outside linebackers coach 140 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: in this league. Now, he wasn't as animated about it 141 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: as Mike Smith was at the podium talking about Rashaan Gary. 142 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: But Mike Petton's been around the block. This this is 143 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: not his first rodeo, and I sense just from that 144 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: comment how excited he is as a defensive coordinator that 145 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: a guy that played for him and a guy that 146 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: he knows as well as he does and has followed 147 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: Mike Smith's coaching career, even if they haven't worked together 148 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: at every stop, that this is the guy that's coaching 149 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: his outside linebackers in this defense. There is definitely, uh, 150 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: there's a there's a palpable excitement to how this is 151 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: starting to come together. And the other thing you have 152 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: to take in consideration too, I mean, the proof is 153 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: in the pudding when you look at some of the 154 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: guys that Smith has developed Kansas City. I know they 155 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: had their ups and downs as an overall defense these 156 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: past few years, but they've had so many young pass 157 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: rushers emerge underneath him, and before that during his time 158 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: with the New York Giant New York Jets being able 159 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: to have the success that they did. So oh, I 160 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: just think it's a new day. I think there's a 161 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: lot of excitement and anticipation that you know, whether it 162 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: is you know, we Shan Garry. We're not expecting him 163 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: to come out and have fifteen sacks out of the gate, 164 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: but as he develops and having Kyler Faco coming back 165 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: after ten sacks. They were both both Petton and Smith 166 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: were reffusive in their praise of of Gilbert, Reggie Gilbert 167 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: and being assignment. Sure, there's five guys there now in 168 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: addition to some you know, returning players, that all are 169 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: going to be competing for snaps in there, and the 170 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: figure that that rotation gets, the fresher that guys get, 171 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: and the more that you can do with them in 172 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: the third and fourth quarter. Yeah, Well, staying on the 173 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: defensive side of the ball, and speaking of competition, one 174 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 1: of the things that we had discussed in our O 175 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: t A preview was was how things we're gonna look 176 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: at the safety position. Darnell Savage is indeed with the 177 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: number one defense right from the get go. He's paired 178 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: with Adrian Amos when the ones are out there, it 179 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: is those two guys. But the other thing that's interesting 180 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: here West because as we had mentioned, Josh Jones is 181 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: not at O t A s there are reports that 182 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: he's potentially requesting a trade. We'll see what happens as 183 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 1: the rest of the spring goes along. We get to 184 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: the mandatory mini camp when all players are required to 185 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: be here later in June. But in Josh jones absence, 186 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: you talk about opportunity knocking on the door. Raven Green, Um, 187 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: this is the guy coming off of an injury last year. 188 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: You wouldn't know he missed a bunch of time with injury, 189 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: just based on physically like how he looks. And then 190 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: another young guy, Natrelle Jamerson, who came out of the 191 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: University Wisconsin, has bounced around to some different teams and 192 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: bounced around between cornerback and safety. He's also now getting 193 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: a look at safety with Josh Jones not being around. 194 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: So Um, there's definitely even though Amos and Savage they're 195 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 1: your they're your top pair, there's some legitimate competition in 196 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: that safety group for playing time. And Mike Petton said too, 197 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: I mean safeties are still going to be in play 198 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: at that inside linebacker position as well. I think if 199 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: they had their druthers, you're gonna have quit, i should say, 200 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: or in Burke settling in there. Yeah, but they still 201 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: need that hyper tendencies and some of these guys also 202 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: work the slot as well, So you need to have 203 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: a really good core of four and sometimes more at 204 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: that safety position. Jamerson and I think is one of 205 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: those guys that fits into what Jason Simmons, the defensive 206 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: backs coach, was talking about. There's no qualifications, no position 207 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: listed on him. They just want to get these guys 208 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 1: out there, give them the most opportunities they can. If 209 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: Josh Jones isn't here, that's gonna open up reps in 210 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 1: that second team defense. It's gonna open up and really 211 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 1: afford Darnell Savage the majority of the reps next to 212 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: Amos who those two guys are being viewed as the 213 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: cornerstones now for this defense and providing stability there. But 214 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: getting back to Raven green Man, I mean that reminds 215 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: me of a young Mike Spofford on the campus of 216 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: Lawrence University. Shot, got the sleeves up, the guns are out, 217 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 1: you know, kind of just putting out a vibe. I mean, 218 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: as I wrote an inbox, that's a young man that 219 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: did not take his offseason lightly. I mean he went 220 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: and put in some work. He did finish last year 221 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: on injured reserve, but he did some really good things 222 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: to make this roster as an undrafted rookie and to 223 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: be able to also contribute the way he did on 224 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: special teams. The Packers like him. I mean, coming out 225 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: of James Madison, he didn't have a whole lot of buzz. 226 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: He was viewed as one of those kind of diamonds 227 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: in the rough type player. But they've had success finding 228 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: those guys in the undrafted ranks that have been able 229 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: to contribute on special teams and at the safety position, 230 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: and right now, with the way that that depth chart looks, 231 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: the positions there for him to really, you know, solidify 232 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: himself in that number three role on the back end. Yeah, well, 233 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: you mentioned special teams and that's the point I was 234 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: going to make as well. When you're talking about these 235 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: guys who are getting their reps in the eleven on 236 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: eleven and the practices we watch when we see them 237 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: getting reps with the twos and the threes, especially the 238 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: guys who are with the two's, if that's where they 239 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: are on the depth chart right now, then it's like, Okay, 240 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: those are the ones you make the note of and 241 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: go Okay, when the preseason games roll around, we're gonna 242 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: be watching punt return, punt coverage, kickoff return, kickoff coverage. 243 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: Because if those guys who are with the two's are 244 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: also making a name for themselves on special teams and 245 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: getting noticed there, those are the guy eyes who are 246 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: gonna make the fifty three. We've seen, We've seen it 247 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: every year. They might not get a snap with the 248 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: number one defense or the number one offense all training 249 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: camp or even in any preseason game, but if they're 250 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: making plays on special teams in the preseason and they're 251 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: holding onto the number two spot at their at their 252 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: position with the second unit, those are the guys. Those 253 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: are the guys who make the fifty three, and they're 254 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: the guys that the coaching staff is counting on to 255 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: be impact players on special teams and to be able 256 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: to step in when somebody goes down. And one of 257 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: the things people always ask, especially in the days leading 258 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: up to final cuts and that last preseason game, is Okay, 259 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: who's in and who's out, who's on the bubble. There 260 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: is one litmus test for you to be able to 261 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: figure that out, and it's how specifically that I've always 262 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: the thing I've always used is how their kickoff coverage 263 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: unit looks, How their kickoff returning unit. Looks who's on 264 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: those number one teams. That's where we started to get 265 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: a hint that, yeah, James Crawford really has a chance 266 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: of this thing. Yeah, a guy that showed up two 267 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: weeks into training camp and all of a sudden, the 268 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: last preseason game, he's on all the number one special 269 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: teams units. He's making a bunch of plays, and you 270 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: and I are looking at each other in the press box, going, hey, 271 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: when this guy showed up, we didn't even give him 272 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: a second thought because it was September eight or September ten, 273 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,679 Speaker 1: I mean sorry, August August eight, August tenth, whatever day 274 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: it was that he showed up all of a sudden 275 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: at the last preseason game. We're looking at each other going, 276 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: this guy's got a legitimate chance to make the teams 277 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: the one per center because there's so many guys that 278 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: get added after training camp starts. And to be honest 279 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: with you, Michael, I can only think of to him 280 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: and Chris Band. Chris absolutely, But getting back to that 281 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: point I was making about special teams, and I know 282 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 1: this will bring up some bad memories for Packers fan. 283 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: But Brandon Bostick in two thousand fourteen, d J. Williams 284 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: was the number one guy in the little posse on 285 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: that kickoff return unit, and then suddenly Brandon Bostick one 286 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: day at practice overtook him. Bostick made the fifty three 287 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: Williams didn't. So that's the thing to track. I mean, 288 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: there is some validation to what you see on the 289 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,719 Speaker 1: field when you get to training camp. So whether or 290 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: not it's a Raven Green or James Crawford, when those 291 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: guys start to get that work, especially late into the summer, 292 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: that's when you can start to feel not necessarily good, 293 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: but start to get an idea of you know what, 294 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: I have a real chance making this thing happen. Yeah, well, 295 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: it's definitely something that we watch, you know, right from 296 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: the get go and training camp when the pads go on. 297 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: But quickly here West, the powerful noise canceling technology that 298 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: helps NFL coaches block out eighty thou screaming fans can 299 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: get you closer to the music you love. Learn more 300 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: at www dot bos dot com. Slash Packers Bows the 301 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, and add Homer 302 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: here in the stands. We all know that Green Bay 303 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: fans give it their all and that takes a lot 304 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: of energy. So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. 305 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. 306 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your 307 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: local supermarket and asked for Campbell's Chunky super official sup 308 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: partner of the Green Bay Packers. I have to be 309 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: my own own buds, been here to make sure I 310 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: get this right. I don't anything to be inaccurate. That 311 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: was two thousand thirteen, not two thousand fourteen when Bostick 312 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: overtook d J Williams. Yes, d J Williams was what 313 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: did not make the team in Well, we're all about 314 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: accuracy here on Packerson's We do our best we and 315 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: we know people will call us that when we're wrong, 316 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: so so yeah, we definitely try to stay on top 317 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: of that. Shifting gears quickly was to the offensive side 318 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: of the ball. We did hear from quarterback Aaron Rodgers 319 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: at his locker after that open practice earlier this week, 320 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: and he was asked a lot of questions, obviously about 321 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: learning and processing the new offense and how's it going, 322 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: and he's reserving a lot of judgment, you know, as 323 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: far as eleven on eleven type stuff. They had a 324 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: couple of days of a veteran minicamp before the draft. 325 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: There just a couple of days into O T A S. 326 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: He's not gonna draw any grand conclusions, but he did 327 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: say he's sort of laying it out there for himself 328 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: that by the end of these O t A s 329 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: and then that mandatory mini camp in the middle of June, 330 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: he wants to be at a certain comfort level with 331 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: this offense so that he can come back in training 332 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: camp and just be in a very different place. Now 333 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: they're still gonna be learning and installing and all of 334 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: that that goes on in training camp as well. But 335 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: I kind of get the sense, I'll just bounce this 336 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: off of you to see if you agree. I get 337 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: the sense hearing from Rogers the other day that he 338 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: knows that he has a lot to learn, but he's 339 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: also kind of looking at he he's like the kid 340 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: who has to go home every night and is doing 341 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: all of the extra studying and the extra homework so 342 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: that he comes back to the classroom the next day 343 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: and is raising his hand all the time because he's 344 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: taking what I'm saying is he's taking the leadership responsibility 345 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: of this, of the transition to the new offense, very 346 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: very seriously. He knows he's the singal signal caller, He's 347 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: got the ball in his hands every play, he's the 348 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: two time m v P. He's the guy who's got 349 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: to lead the charge here. The coaches are only going 350 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: to be able to do so much to teach these 351 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: guys this offense. Aaron Rodgers knows that there's a lot 352 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: on his shoulders, and he's not backing away from any 353 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: of it. No. It is funny you bring that up 354 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: because the way I did read that, especially if to 355 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: listen to the defensive assistant coaches, there were two players 356 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: on this team. They're probably the acception. Everybody else is 357 00:16:57,880 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: trying to learn the playbook. Then you have Aaron rodd 358 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: Is on offense in Blake markin defense, and it's like 359 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,719 Speaker 1: they have to be the master level, like the AP style, 360 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: like the one that's above that, and certainly both of 361 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,959 Speaker 1: those guys embrace it. Rogers. It's very interesting to another 362 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: degree because, like as Matt Lafleur has said numerous times 363 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: this offseason, he's gonna still have a lot of freedom 364 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: at the line of scrimmage to check out of things 365 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: and to try to get the Packers offense into the 366 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: best play possible. Well, in order to do that, you 367 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: need to know this offense inside and out. And for 368 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: people unfamiliar with what the off season program is as 369 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: compared to training camp, at least during the time that 370 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy was here, those O t A practices and 371 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: then into the mini camp, those are basically used as 372 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: a avenue towards installing the entire offense. Then by the 373 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: time you get done, you dismiss players. They come back 374 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 1: five years later, and then you go through the process again. 375 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: It's almost like researching and then implementing. Now, Matt Lafleur said, 376 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: the way I understood it when he talked at the 377 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: podium a couple of days ago, was that, Okay, maybe 378 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: they won't have everything in, but we're gonna know what 379 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: this offense is by the time they break after mandatory 380 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: mini camp on January from June, and from Roger's perspective, 381 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: he wants to be on top of that because once 382 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: they get back July got that date right, it's it's 383 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: you know, your all systems go. Yeah, it's full speed 384 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: ahead come July. You know Rogers, he had said earlier 385 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: in the offseason program, he's talking about having You know this, 386 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: this is not a grace period year. I mean, this 387 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: is a veteran quarterback, a lot of veteran players on offense. 388 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,120 Speaker 1: When you look at the offensive line, you look at 389 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: your number one and number two receivers, you look at 390 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: your number one running back. These are all guys who 391 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: have been in the NFL. Your top tight ends, guys 392 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 1: who have been in the NFL for a long time. 393 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: This is not this is not some kind of a 394 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: red shirt year for the for the offense just because 395 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: it's new. Come training camp, Rodgers wants to be able 396 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: to hit the ground running. And that's what makes this. 397 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: These three weeks of O t A s and the 398 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: mandatory mini camp when they get they get a lot 399 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,120 Speaker 1: of eleven on eleven makes it so important because as 400 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: you said, West, first they install the offense in the 401 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: classroom through a lot of the O t A they have, 402 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: they have a lot of meetings I'm sorry, through the 403 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: off season program. They have a lot of meetings through 404 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: phase one, in phase two, then in phase three, they're 405 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: still having meetings, but they're also getting to do the 406 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven stuff. It's the first time to try 407 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 1: that all out. Then you get to training camp and 408 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 1: it kind of all gets crammed in together where you're 409 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: having because the days are longer, the players are here 410 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: a lot longer throughout the day, you're having the meetings 411 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 1: and the practices, and then meetings that are reviewing the 412 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 1: practice film, and you're cramming all of all of that installation, 413 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 1: classroom and on the field into those first few weeks 414 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: of training camp. Then to get ready for the preseason games. 415 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: So this is where they get to take it slow 416 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 1: and learn it, and then the pace of everything is 417 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: ramped up come late July. Absolutely, I mean that's the 418 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: way it has to be in this environment now with 419 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: the e b A and being able to kind of 420 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: maximize those days. It's one reason why too and Matt 421 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: Lafleur was asked, you know, is the team going to 422 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: break during mini camp? Mike McCarthy always, Actually, the last 423 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: couple of years, I don't know if the veterans were 424 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: even participating in the mini camp, they'd always break and 425 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,479 Speaker 1: do team building exercises well, floor basically put it out 426 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: there saying, no, we need all three of those days 427 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: to be able to get to where we want to 428 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 1: get to, not only with his offense, with Mike Petton 429 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: and his defense. He has new players coming in Rashawn Gary. 430 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: All these free agents in addition to the guys who 431 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: are back, are only one year in the scheme, so 432 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: time is so valuable right now. It is voluntary. Players 433 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: are not obligated to be here. But you look at 434 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: that receiver battle, which we'll talk a little bit about 435 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: next week. You tell me you don't want to be 436 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 1: the young receiver that's not here for that being able 437 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: to try to carve out the number two or number 438 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: three starting spot in this offense some high stakes. Yeah. Absolutely, 439 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: Well with that, we will call it a wrap on 440 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers on Script. Would be sure to 441 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team on Packers 442 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: dot com. Subscribe to our podcast, like us on iTunes 443 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: and other podcast services. If you're so inclined on Twitter, 444 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: you can follow him at west Hot I'm at Mike 445 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 446 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: Enjoy the holiday weekend to see him as ye