WEBVTT - #581 Packers Unscripted: What it'll take 0:00:00.720 --> 0:00:14.480 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:18.280 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:20.759 by my partner in crime, West Hodkowits were coming to 0:00:20.840 --> 0:00:24.680 you from socially distant locations at lambeau Field West. The 0:00:24.840 --> 0:00:29.600 NFC Championship Game is almost upon us. It will be Sunday, 0:00:29.680 --> 0:00:33.440 a two oh five pm Central time kickoff at lambeau Field, 0:00:33.840 --> 0:00:36.800 the first time the NFC title game will be here 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:40.879 in Green Bay in thirteen years. And uh, I tell you, 0:00:40.960 --> 0:00:42.519 let's get right into it. Whether you want to talk 0:00:42.520 --> 0:00:46.279 to Aaron Rodgers versus Tom Brady, Packers offense against those 0:00:46.320 --> 0:00:49.680 inside linebackers for Tampa Bay, whatever the matchup is, what 0:00:49.840 --> 0:00:53.400 do you feel is the biggest key to victory for 0:00:53.640 --> 0:00:56.200 Green Bay in this football game? Well, you hit on 0:00:56.200 --> 0:00:58.240 it right there, Mike. For me, it is the Packers 0:00:58.360 --> 0:01:01.680 offense versus this linebacker in it and also Todd Bowls. 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:03.680 I mean one of the stats. And I'm sure you've 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:05.319 got a chance to read in Cider inbox. You have 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:08.040 to edit me. Uh. One of the things I found 0:01:08.040 --> 0:01:11.240 really interesting is Rogers was exceptional against the Blitz all 0:01:11.280 --> 0:01:15.480 season hundred and twenty five passer rating in the fifteen 0:01:15.520 --> 0:01:18.040 games other than Tampa Bay when he sees pressure in 0:01:18.080 --> 0:01:22.640 his face, sixty seven completion percentage yards passing, seventeen touchdowns 0:01:22.800 --> 0:01:26.760 to two interceptions. Then you look at the seventeen attempts 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.040 he had against the Buccaneers the first time, and he 0:01:29.080 --> 0:01:31.080 had a seven passer rating. They got the two picks 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:34.240 on him the only through for sixty three yards. They 0:01:34.280 --> 0:01:36.960 came up with a great adjustment that first time around. 0:01:37.000 --> 0:01:39.199 You tip your cap to them. But as Matt Lafleur said, 0:01:39.520 --> 0:01:41.440 and as also Aaron Rodgers has talked about this week, 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:45.120 that's week six, that's not today, seeing what the next 0:01:45.200 --> 0:01:48.400 move is for both the offense and seeing exactly how 0:01:48.400 --> 0:01:51.200 Bowls uses those linebackers this time around, I think it's 0:01:51.200 --> 0:01:53.960 gonna be really telling because Green Bay needs to be 0:01:54.000 --> 0:01:56.040 able to run the football. It's the top rank run 0:01:56.120 --> 0:01:58.120 defense the National Football League. But they got to make 0:01:58.160 --> 0:02:00.600 their job easy. They have to find ways to keep 0:02:00.640 --> 0:02:03.880 themselves and in manageable second and third down situations, and 0:02:03.960 --> 0:02:06.880 from there it's up to Rogers. It's up to the 0:02:07.360 --> 0:02:11.320 National Football League's likely m v P this season coming 0:02:11.360 --> 0:02:13.800 through and being able to solve this defense, Todd Bowls 0:02:13.800 --> 0:02:15.920 is as good as it gets. Mike I have long 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:18.120 admired his defense is going back to his time in 0:02:18.160 --> 0:02:21.000 Arizona and even before that. I mean, for him to 0:02:21.040 --> 0:02:23.680 be able to dial up and adjust and as Rogers 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:26.120 even said, kind of on the cutting edge, and having 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:30.680 these two really exceptional inside linebackers to work with Devin 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:33.880 White doing things traditional inside backers don't do. Almost sort 0:02:33.880 --> 0:02:36.440 of reminds me a little bit of those Ryan Schizier 0:02:36.760 --> 0:02:39.760 linebackers that sort of penetrated through the league, you know, 0:02:39.840 --> 0:02:43.640 five six years ago. Dynamic players that aren't just coverage, 0:02:43.680 --> 0:02:46.560 they aren't just run stoppers. They can blitz to. Seeing 0:02:46.600 --> 0:02:48.640 how Green Bay adjust to that is going to be 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:51.239 a real telltale sign, I think on who ultimately comes 0:02:51.240 --> 0:02:53.480 out on top. Yeah, I mean, I think we saw 0:02:53.560 --> 0:02:55.880 over the course of this season how good the Packers 0:02:55.919 --> 0:02:58.400 offensive line was and what it has done along with 0:02:58.440 --> 0:03:00.800 the running backs, the tight ends picking up the blitzes 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:03.320 and stuff. They had a bad day against Tampa Bay 0:03:03.320 --> 0:03:05.640 back in Week six. That was that was the anomaly. 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:09.040 Because the protection of this unit has been has been 0:03:09.080 --> 0:03:12.280 really really strong all season long. But on the other 0:03:12.320 --> 0:03:14.520 side of that, you you hinted at it as well. 0:03:14.560 --> 0:03:17.639 I think this game, maybe more than any other this season, 0:03:17.760 --> 0:03:20.640 is going to test the Packers true commitment to the 0:03:20.720 --> 0:03:24.040 running game, because this Tampa Bay defense is the best 0:03:24.040 --> 0:03:27.839 in the league against the run statistically, and we've seen 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.360 it west. We saw in the second half about a 0:03:30.400 --> 0:03:33.639 month ago against Carolina when the Packers got away from 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:36.840 that commitment to the run. They were trying to force things, 0:03:37.000 --> 0:03:40.360 you know, certain ways, and things didn't go well. And 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:44.280 since that game, the Packers of the offensively, Matt Lafleur, 0:03:44.320 --> 0:03:47.200 Aaron Rodgers, everybody, they've recommitted to the run. And you 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:50.240 saw Green Bay ran all over the Tennessee Titans, they 0:03:50.320 --> 0:03:54.200 ran all over the Los Angeles Rams. When this is 0:03:54.240 --> 0:03:56.640 the game because of this Tampa Bay defense and how 0:03:56.680 --> 0:03:58.640 it's constructed, this is a game that is going to 0:03:58.720 --> 0:04:01.120 test that commitment to the run on It may not 0:04:01.200 --> 0:04:04.680 be shiny and flashy to get three and four yard 0:04:04.760 --> 0:04:07.080 carries all the time when you're handing off on first 0:04:07.160 --> 0:04:09.600 or second down, but the Packers are going to have 0:04:09.680 --> 0:04:12.280 to stick with it because that's the only way you're 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:15.640 going to keep Todd Bowl's defense honest and not let 0:04:15.720 --> 0:04:18.360 him just dial up and scheme up whatever he wants 0:04:18.360 --> 0:04:20.800 and have his guys pin their ears back, as they say, 0:04:20.839 --> 0:04:23.400 and come after the quarterback. You've got to stay committed 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:26.320 to the run to keep that defense guessing a little bit. 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:28.640 And I think if the Packers can do that, they 0:04:28.680 --> 0:04:32.080 can find some efficiency against a really, really good defense. Yeah, 0:04:32.120 --> 0:04:33.880 and that's why I love being able to see, you know, 0:04:33.920 --> 0:04:36.599 a J. Dillon be back at practice on Wednesday, and well, 0:04:36.600 --> 0:04:39.080 obviously that's just one practice. Where's two more to go. 0:04:39.120 --> 0:04:40.440 At the time in which we're taping this, you have 0:04:40.440 --> 0:04:42.680 to see if he'll be available for Sunday. But if 0:04:42.720 --> 0:04:46.160 he is, the different versions of that backfield that they 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:48.280 can deploy is going to be really essential. I feel 0:04:48.279 --> 0:04:51.320 against Tampa Bay. For starters, you know this is an 0:04:51.320 --> 0:04:53.440 outside zone team. There are a wide zone team. That's 0:04:53.440 --> 0:04:55.200 what Green Bay wants to do. But you and I 0:04:55.279 --> 0:04:57.720 both know when you have linebackers that can play sideline 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:01.440 to sideline, like both Lavonte David and Devin White can 0:05:01.520 --> 0:05:04.040 that challenges that. But think back to some of the 0:05:04.120 --> 0:05:06.120 runs the Green Bay Packers did have in that game 0:05:06.160 --> 0:05:09.000 against Tampa Bay that we're successful. It was running north 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:11.599 and south, it was Jamal Williams breaking into the second 0:05:11.680 --> 0:05:14.119 level and making guys pay, dipping his shoulder and really 0:05:14.360 --> 0:05:17.120 laying into some defenders. And that's what they did last 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:19.880 week very well against the Los Angeles Rams. I'm not 0:05:19.920 --> 0:05:22.480 saying the Packers have to get outside of themselves, but 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:25.680 if you're able to kind of plow forward with Williams 0:05:25.720 --> 0:05:29.480 and Dylan, find ways to get Aaron Jones open in space, 0:05:29.520 --> 0:05:31.880 whether it's with the passing game or finding ways to 0:05:31.920 --> 0:05:34.159 get him the ball as a runner, that's going to 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:36.520 be critical because that's what allows Green Bay to not 0:05:36.560 --> 0:05:39.479 only protect the football, manage the down and distance in 0:05:39.560 --> 0:05:42.000 time of possession in this game. Green Bay this year 0:05:42.080 --> 0:05:44.719 has been so good at shortening ball games. They need 0:05:44.760 --> 0:05:47.800 to do that today or I should say, on Sunday 0:05:47.839 --> 0:05:52.000 against this opponent, because you saw last week they ran early. 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:54.640 It wasn't big runs, was it. It was a sixty 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:57.840 yard or after halftime, But before that it was fourteen 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:01.560 fifteen carries, gritty yards, seven many you know yards early 0:06:01.600 --> 0:06:04.719 on and then the dam broke. So I feel like 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:06.560 that's the number one thing that's gonna help set up 0:06:06.560 --> 0:06:08.960 Aaron Rodgers Davante Adams in the passing game is coming 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:11.280 out and imposing that will. But I have to mention 0:06:11.960 --> 0:06:14.680 Vita Vea changes this a little bit. If there wasn't 0:06:14.720 --> 0:06:17.839 a via Veta question question question mark earlier this week, 0:06:18.360 --> 0:06:21.120 if he was still not designated to return, I think 0:06:21.120 --> 0:06:22.320 it's a lot easier to do that. But when you 0:06:22.320 --> 0:06:25.400 put a three pound defensive tackle out there, it's going 0:06:25.440 --> 0:06:26.920 to be a challenge in Green Bay has to be 0:06:26.960 --> 0:06:29.479 ready for it. Yeah, I'm really curious what's going to 0:06:29.520 --> 0:06:32.440 happen with Vita Vea with him having been out really 0:06:32.520 --> 0:06:34.960 upwards of three months now and the fact that he 0:06:35.080 --> 0:06:37.960 is just now being designated to return from i R. 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:42.680 That's only three practices after three months away and essentially 0:06:42.720 --> 0:06:45.359 the you know, Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said on Wednesday, 0:06:45.400 --> 0:06:48.320 all they really had was was a walkthrough having played 0:06:48.400 --> 0:06:51.600 late in the day on Sunday. So, um, I'm I'm 0:06:51.960 --> 0:06:54.800 Vita Via may play and and and they may activate it. Right, 0:06:54.839 --> 0:06:56.919 how many how many snaps is he really going to 0:06:56.920 --> 0:06:58.800 be able to play after a three month layoff and 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:01.080 hardly any time on the practice this field, We'll see. 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:03.520 This is the NFC Championship. This is not a mid 0:07:03.520 --> 0:07:06.359 October game where you're looking at you know, getting a 0:07:06.360 --> 0:07:08.360 guy back for the long haul and all that. So 0:07:08.880 --> 0:07:11.320 some of the conventional thinking maybe goes out the window. 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:14.040 But I am curious just exactly how that's going to 0:07:14.080 --> 0:07:16.600 play out and and what impact that will have on 0:07:16.840 --> 0:07:19.840 the Packers running game and the Buccaneers ability to stop 0:07:19.880 --> 0:07:22.280 the running. Yeah, and I don't know Arians and Bowl's 0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:25.120 philosophy either with guys coming off injured reserve. Certainly Green 0:07:25.160 --> 0:07:27.000 Bay has done it both ways. There's been times where 0:07:27.000 --> 0:07:28.880 guys have been activated. I think Alan las Art and 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:31.559 then he used the full twenty one day window before 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:33.920 he returned to the roster. At the same time, I 0:07:33.960 --> 0:07:35.720 can think of other guys that have come up, and 0:07:35.760 --> 0:07:37.840 I think Kamal Martin being one of them that just 0:07:38.160 --> 0:07:40.920 practice that week and then played. So there is an 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:43.240 adjustment there. But certainly, I mean when you look at 0:07:43.320 --> 0:07:45.320 Jason Pierre Paul and a Dominican Sue, I mean, this 0:07:45.440 --> 0:07:48.320 defense is just name after name, and in Green Bay, 0:07:48.760 --> 0:07:50.480 you know this is gonna be a challenge. You know. 0:07:50.520 --> 0:07:52.200 The way I laid it out was they were able 0:07:52.240 --> 0:07:54.280 to in the five things story I did, they were 0:07:54.280 --> 0:07:57.000 able to beat the league's top ranked scoring defense, the 0:07:57.040 --> 0:08:00.000 top ranked total defense and in the top rank passing defense. 0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:02.480 Now you get the run defense. Can you find a 0:08:02.480 --> 0:08:04.880 way to solve that? Yeah? Absolutely, And of course on 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:07.800 the offensive side of the ball. Will repeat what we 0:08:07.880 --> 0:08:10.240 said on our last show, which is that the Packers 0:08:10.280 --> 0:08:13.360 have to protect the football, because look, the bottom line 0:08:13.400 --> 0:08:15.200 for me is this West. I don't think the Tampa 0:08:15.200 --> 0:08:17.800 Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints last week if 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:20.000 the Saints protect the ball. You look at that game, 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:23.640 the Saints were already down one nothing in turnovers, but 0:08:23.800 --> 0:08:26.000 had a seven point lead in the second half, and 0:08:26.040 --> 0:08:29.000 we're headed for a two score lead even being down 0:08:29.040 --> 0:08:32.160 one to zero and turnovers. Then the second turnover happened 0:08:32.200 --> 0:08:35.040 and it was like everything was all downhill for the 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:37.920 Buccaneers from there, and the Saints were fighting uphill and 0:08:37.920 --> 0:08:40.720 they just and and they couldn't overcome it. I'm not 0:08:40.760 --> 0:08:43.200 saying the Packers have to win the turnover battle. I 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:46.240 honestly think if this game is zero zero and turnovers 0:08:46.280 --> 0:08:48.679 like last week week was against the Rams, I think 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:50.959 if you're the Packers, you take that. I think that 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:53.240 puts you in a really, really good position to win, 0:08:53.480 --> 0:08:55.440 without question, Mike. I mean that's why green Bay one 0:08:55.480 --> 0:08:57.360 last week. They didn't turn over the football, they didn't 0:08:57.400 --> 0:08:59.959 give the Rams any chances to kind of seize the 0:09:00.040 --> 0:09:02.640 field position and that matchup, and you saw when it 0:09:02.679 --> 0:09:05.760 just came pushed, came to shove Remy Packers have assumed 0:09:05.760 --> 0:09:08.040 to be three time m v P quarterback, they have 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:10.600 a four time Pro Bowl receiver, and they had weapons 0:09:10.640 --> 0:09:13.240 galore that we're able to matriculate the ball down the field. 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:15.319 So I mean for them to be able now to 0:09:15.679 --> 0:09:17.440 come out and do that again, that's going to be 0:09:17.440 --> 0:09:21.000 the ultimate key in this, Mike, because Tampa Bay is really, 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.320 really good. I said this to a buddy mine last 0:09:23.400 --> 0:09:25.800 night in attacks. These are the two top teams in 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:28.920 the NFC. I firmly believe that the cream has risen 0:09:28.920 --> 0:09:30.280 to the top here at the end of the season. 0:09:30.559 --> 0:09:34.720 Two very complete units, not flawless, but have earned their 0:09:34.760 --> 0:09:38.600 way to this opportunity. And then, Mike, first and foremost lastly, 0:09:38.679 --> 0:09:41.160 I have to say, this game is being played at 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:44.440 Lambeau Field. This is not Raymond James Stadium. Could be 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:47.520 in two weeks, but it's not Raymond James Stadium today. 0:09:47.679 --> 0:09:50.080 Green Bay needs to use that their advantage. They know 0:09:50.240 --> 0:09:54.679 this field they know these weather conditions, and there's it's undeniable, Mike. 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:57.520 When you play in the environment like this, it's going 0:09:57.559 --> 0:10:01.319 to slow the game down. That works to Green Bay's benefit. Yeah, 0:10:01.360 --> 0:10:03.880 and it sounds like there is snow in the forecast 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:06.959 for Saturday night into Sunday morning. Maybe the snow will 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:09.840 have stopped by the time kickoff rolls around. We will 0:10:09.880 --> 0:10:13.079 just have to see. But again, when you can win 0:10:13.120 --> 0:10:16.120 a playoff game in the NFL by fourteen points, when 0:10:16.120 --> 0:10:19.640 the turnovers are zero zero, that tells you you don't 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:22.520 have to take the ball away to win. The Packers 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:24.360 don't have to do that. They just have to protect 0:10:24.400 --> 0:10:27.679 it like they did last week quickly. Here West Series 0:10:27.840 --> 0:10:30.240 x M, NFL Radio Channel eighty eight is the only 0:10:30.360 --> 0:10:33.240 radio outlet dedicated to the National Football League seven days 0:10:33.280 --> 0:10:36.960 a week, three hundred sixty five days a year. All right, Well, 0:10:36.960 --> 0:10:38.800 as we know, the Packers are trying to get back 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:40.960 to the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade. 0:10:41.200 --> 0:10:44.440 The Buccaneers as a franchise trying to get to the 0:10:44.520 --> 0:10:46.200 back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 0:10:46.360 --> 0:10:50.479 eighteen years. Defensive side of the ball, here Mike Patton's 0:10:50.520 --> 0:10:54.480 crew against Tom Brady and company. What do you see 0:10:54.520 --> 0:10:59.679 as the keys on in this scenario for for the 0:10:59.760 --> 0:11:02.920 Pas to keep the edge in this ball game. Remember 0:11:02.920 --> 0:11:05.920 when you you got your kids to learn how to 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:09.760 ride a bicycle, Mike, Remember those days. The great thing 0:11:09.840 --> 0:11:13.520 about that is that every day's improvement. Right. You might 0:11:13.559 --> 0:11:16.040 be at uncertain the first time you get on there, 0:11:16.400 --> 0:11:18.920 maybe take your knicks and your bumps and bruises, but 0:11:19.240 --> 0:11:21.600 it all leads into eventually being able to kind of 0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:24.000 just push them off and let them go. You don't 0:11:24.040 --> 0:11:26.800 work your way backwards for green Bay's defense, don't work 0:11:26.800 --> 0:11:29.439 their way backwards. This is a much better defense than 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:31.480 it was in week six. It's a much better defense 0:11:31.480 --> 0:11:34.720 than it was in week twelve. I feel like Green 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:37.080 Bay needs to keep the ball rolling on that side 0:11:37.080 --> 0:11:39.160 of the ball. If you were looking at from a 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:41.680 swag rating, like if if Matt Irvin could put up 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:44.440 like a swag graphic. Green Bay's at its at its 0:11:44.440 --> 0:11:47.800 peak right now. I mean, they have serious confidence heading 0:11:47.800 --> 0:11:50.880 into this game, and rightfully so, Mike. They've gone now 0:11:51.400 --> 0:11:55.200 to almost two full months of playing really high level 0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:59.040 defense in exceptional run defense, and they haven't ruptured. You 0:11:59.080 --> 0:12:02.080 can't rupture you can't allow them to have those big plays. 0:12:02.480 --> 0:12:05.680 And I feel like that does start up front. Ronald Jones. 0:12:05.920 --> 0:12:09.520 It was a very good performance, but it's not the 0:12:09.559 --> 0:12:11.679 type where you're you're gonna remember five years from now. Man, 0:12:11.720 --> 0:12:14.200 do you remember when Ronald Jones gash Green Bay in 0:12:14.240 --> 0:12:17.400 Week six? No, it was just a really consistent twenty 0:12:17.480 --> 0:12:21.319 kerry twenty yard day and Green Bay didn't have a 0:12:21.320 --> 0:12:24.600 consistent answer for him in that game. And that's what 0:12:24.640 --> 0:12:27.560 you talk about the turnover battle. That's what allowed Tampa 0:12:27.559 --> 0:12:30.439 Bay to control the tempo of that game. They got takeaways, 0:12:30.640 --> 0:12:32.760 they got solid field position, and they ran the ball 0:12:32.840 --> 0:12:35.760 really really well. That's where Green Bay has to start 0:12:35.760 --> 0:12:37.680 this thing. You're gonna see both Jones, and you're gonna 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:40.800 see Leonard for Net. For Net has looked better the 0:12:40.880 --> 0:12:42.640 last couple of weeks and and it's allowed him to 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:45.920 get more snaps. That's the one to punch. Yes there's Brady, 0:12:46.040 --> 0:12:48.800 Yes there's Mike Evans, all these other weapons that they 0:12:48.800 --> 0:12:52.640 have grounk, but being able to continue to play solid 0:12:52.760 --> 0:12:55.520 run defense is going to be critical. And from there, Mike, 0:12:55.920 --> 0:12:57.440 you and I have seen it. We've seen it for 0:12:57.480 --> 0:12:59.520 two years now and We've really noticed that the last 0:12:59.600 --> 0:13:02.120 few weeks. When you get to third and seven plus, 0:13:02.160 --> 0:13:05.040 this defense is different. There is just a look in 0:13:05.080 --> 0:13:09.040 their eye that is just a feeling that not only 0:13:09.040 --> 0:13:11.760 are we going to get a stop here, but we 0:13:11.800 --> 0:13:14.440 could potentially get a takeaway. We could potentially get a 0:13:14.440 --> 0:13:17.040 sack that takes away ten more yards. That's where this 0:13:17.160 --> 0:13:19.200 defense is at right now. It's as good as it's 0:13:19.200 --> 0:13:22.280 been all season. Gotta keep that going, yeah, absolutely, And 0:13:22.320 --> 0:13:25.640 I think when it comes to obviously you've got you've got, 0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:27.960 you've got to stop the run, you can't. You can't 0:13:28.040 --> 0:13:31.120 let Tampa Bay dictate things with that running game with 0:13:31.240 --> 0:13:35.160 Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette because they they've they've discovered 0:13:35.200 --> 0:13:37.720 something here, you know, the whole playoff lennything that's going 0:13:37.760 --> 0:13:39.720 on with with four Nett and what he's been able 0:13:39.760 --> 0:13:42.719 to produce in the postseason. While Ronald Jones has not 0:13:42.840 --> 0:13:46.200 quite been a hundred percent with that with that leg injury, 0:13:46.240 --> 0:13:48.360 but it's developed into a pretty good one to punch, 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:52.400 and the Packers can't let that ground game dictate things 0:13:53.280 --> 0:13:56.000 when it comes to Tom Brady passing the ball. It's 0:13:56.040 --> 0:13:58.600 been the age old story as far as I'm concerned. 0:13:58.600 --> 0:14:01.199 When you can pressure Tom Brady in his face, when 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:04.360 you can get pressure on the interior, that's what can 0:14:04.360 --> 0:14:08.040 really disrupt Tom Brady's rhythm and disrupt his accuracy and 0:14:08.120 --> 0:14:11.400 all those things that that you know his He's made 0:14:11.400 --> 0:14:14.080 a Hall of Fame career out of doing and so 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:16.559 to me, a lot of that falls on Kenny Clarke. 0:14:16.640 --> 0:14:19.680 He's the packer's best interior rusher. But also when it 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:24.320 comes to passing situations, We've seen Zadarius Smith move inside 0:14:24.360 --> 0:14:27.239 as a rusher. So then Preston Smith and Rashawn Gary 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:29.560 are on the edges and Zadarius Smith got a sack 0:14:29.600 --> 0:14:32.400 of Jared Goff last week right up the middle, you know, 0:14:32.520 --> 0:14:35.720 coming up with the interior pressure, that's where the packers 0:14:35.760 --> 0:14:38.000 have to have to get at Brady. He can he 0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:40.480 can sidestep the edge guys, he can step up in 0:14:40.520 --> 0:14:43.000 the pocket if there's room there. When if the edge 0:14:43.000 --> 0:14:46.480 guys are winning, he doesn't have as far, doesn't have 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.440 those kind of options when that pressure is in his face. 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:51.760 And that's how teams have beaten Tom Brady in big 0:14:51.760 --> 0:14:53.840 games in the past. Yeah, they really have Mike and 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:57.000 and that's why I really do look at this matchup like, yeah, 0:14:57.000 --> 0:14:58.720 I mean, it's gonna matter. You've got to make sure 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:00.600 that you know that the edge of shures have to 0:15:00.640 --> 0:15:03.760 still hold, you know, hold there, you know edges and whatnot. 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:06.600 You can't let guys get stretched outside. You have to 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:08.280 be cognizant of all that. You need a lot of 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:12.680 the traditional type defensive success in this game. But ultimately, 0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:14.680 I just think this game is one between the hashes. 0:15:15.080 --> 0:15:17.320 I really do, Mike. I think it's gonna be stopping 0:15:17.360 --> 0:15:20.480 them when they're trying to plow forward. You mentioned with 0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:23.040 for net and playoff Lenny and everything like that. It 0:15:23.120 --> 0:15:25.480 honestly reminds me a lot of La Garrett Blunt when 0:15:25.600 --> 0:15:29.200 and maybe that's just the Tom Brady comparisons with the 0:15:29.240 --> 0:15:32.240 success they had with Blunt in New England, but just 0:15:32.280 --> 0:15:33.960 the guy that Okay, you might look at his regular 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:36.160 season statistics and not be wild, but none of that 0:15:36.240 --> 0:15:38.240 matters in the playoffs. If you can't stop him, if 0:15:38.240 --> 0:15:40.160 you can't hold them to three yard two yard games, 0:15:40.360 --> 0:15:43.000 it's gonna be a long afternoon. And that's what gets 0:15:43.000 --> 0:15:46.160 Brady into a rhythm that game, the way he bounced back. 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:48.240 You want to talk about mental toughness you want to 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:50.840 talk about resolve. That game could really have not had 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:54.280 started much worse for the Buccaneers absent take a giveaway 0:15:54.600 --> 0:15:57.640 in the early going there against the Saints, but they 0:15:57.680 --> 0:15:59.760 got that sneak as I talked about earlier this week, 0:15:59.800 --> 0:16:02.560 and after that they started throwing the ball better in 0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:05.120 their throw pass set up the run and it was 0:16:05.200 --> 0:16:07.680 just this snowball that just kept rolling and rolling and 0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:10.200 rolling until the next thing you knew it really wasn't 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:14.080 that close of a game. So yeah, Brady upfront, Kenny Clark, 0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:16.720 exceptional performance last week. So Darius Smith, if they do 0:16:16.800 --> 0:16:18.680 some more of the Rover stuff with him hovering over 0:16:18.720 --> 0:16:21.400 the top of the center knifing through. Those are all 0:16:21.400 --> 0:16:23.360 the looks I want to see from this defense. Because 0:16:23.600 --> 0:16:26.840 the other thing to talk about quickly, everybody practiced on Wednesday, 0:16:26.840 --> 0:16:28.560 will see what Thursday looks like. But the fact that 0:16:28.600 --> 0:16:32.280 everybody was back out there. Kingsley Kiki limited participant after 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:35.560 missing three weeks here with the concussion. It's all right 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:37.440 there for Green Bay. This is as healthy as they've 0:16:37.440 --> 0:16:39.400 been all season. You have to make sure that you 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:41.720 get your players out there, get them feeling good, and 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:44.120 you get after that quarterback. Yeah. One other thing I 0:16:44.160 --> 0:16:46.240 want to ask you about with regard to the defensive 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:48.800 side of the ball. We saw last week when the 0:16:48.880 --> 0:16:51.520 Los Angeles Rams kind of went to the up tempo, 0:16:51.640 --> 0:16:54.640 the no huddle, muddle huddle type of stuff. That's when 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:56.440 Jared Goff kind of got into a rhythm. Now was 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:58.720 a lot of short passes, it was dinking and dunking, 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:02.640 but that's when the Rams were moving down the field successfully. 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:04.720 I know the weather could have a factor here, whether 0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:07.119 it's snowing, you know, ten plus degrees colder than it 0:17:07.240 --> 0:17:09.720 was last Saturday in Green Bay. But do you think 0:17:09.760 --> 0:17:13.160 the Packers defense has to be prepared for Bruce Arians 0:17:13.160 --> 0:17:16.440 and Tom Brady maybe trying to replicate some of what 0:17:16.520 --> 0:17:19.159 the Rams and Golf did with that up tempo stuff 0:17:19.359 --> 0:17:21.560 to keep Green Bay's defense on its heels. Is that's 0:17:21.560 --> 0:17:24.200 something you have to be prepared for the Rams and Golf, 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:26.520 I mean Trubisky and the Bears the week earlier. I mean, 0:17:26.560 --> 0:17:29.840 the completion percentage has been really high here. I mean now, again, 0:17:29.920 --> 0:17:32.440 credit to Green Bay's defense. They haven't let those things rupture. 0:17:32.480 --> 0:17:35.240 Guys have tackled to the ball, They've minimized those those 0:17:35.280 --> 0:17:37.879 things you look at that I have mentioned you, uh Mooney. 0:17:37.920 --> 0:17:40.040 I think it was against the Bears had the fifty 0:17:40.040 --> 0:17:42.240 four yard catch still was held underneath the hundred yards 0:17:42.280 --> 0:17:44.119 even though he had nine catches for the game. So 0:17:44.240 --> 0:17:45.760 green Bay has done a good job of that. But 0:17:46.560 --> 0:17:49.760 I mean that's ultimately I think what arians in environ 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:52.720 Leftwich and and Brady are looking at this week. Okay, 0:17:52.760 --> 0:17:54.680 this is the way it lines up for us. How 0:17:54.720 --> 0:17:56.440 can we find ways to get the ball down the 0:17:56.480 --> 0:17:58.879 field in an opposing venue that's going to be somewhat hostile. 0:17:58.880 --> 0:18:00.480 I mean there's gonna be nine thou and people in 0:18:00.520 --> 0:18:02.879 there again, and and they're gonna be playing in that 0:18:02.960 --> 0:18:06.480 environment in the cold. It's a different situation. So what's 0:18:06.520 --> 0:18:08.560 the thing that allows you to get into a groove. 0:18:08.840 --> 0:18:11.000 It's the underneath passing game. It's being able to get 0:18:11.080 --> 0:18:13.520 Grounk involved. It's being able to find ways to get 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:15.719 Mike Evans the ball. Last week, Evans was pretty much 0:18:15.760 --> 0:18:18.080 held in check. What will his success look like this week? 0:18:18.119 --> 0:18:21.679 Potentially seeing Jaire Alexander. All of those things play into it. 0:18:21.720 --> 0:18:24.840 But yeah, you're absolutely right. I mean green Bay can't 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:27.480 let Brady get into that groove because when he does, 0:18:28.240 --> 0:18:30.200 it's gonna be a long night and they and they 0:18:30.560 --> 0:18:33.240 hurry up offense. It was a good adjustment. The one 0:18:33.280 --> 0:18:35.199 thing I think Green Bay is gonna have maybe a 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:37.919 better opportunity with is I don't think they're gonna get 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:40.080 caught in the base look as much. That was one 0:18:40.080 --> 0:18:42.760 of the issues there when when the Rams went hurry up, 0:18:42.920 --> 0:18:44.600 they still had their base personnel on there and they 0:18:44.600 --> 0:18:47.080 couldn't get them off before they could get Christian Kirksey 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:49.399