1 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is the 3 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: one and only Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: from our studios at Lambeaufield. Wes three practices in the 5 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: books for the twenty twenty four Packers training Camp all 6 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: non padded practices to this point, basically practices much like 7 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: OTA's and Mini camp and what we saw in the spring. 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: But I'll just throw it out to you open ended 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: right here through the first three practices. What observation is 10 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: at the top of your list. 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 2: The defensive front of the green Bay Packers is a 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: force to be reckoned with right now. And I know 13 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: offensively green Bay is dealing with a lot. They're trying 14 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: to do different rotations. They obviously don't have Jordan Love 15 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: through these first three practices, but I think the way 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: that that defensive line, that front four has performed so far, 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: I think they'd give any team any offense in the 18 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: league fits right now. I've been so blown away, and 19 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: they talked about it in locker room yesterday. The idea 20 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 2: of being able to pass rush in waves in different 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 2: different combinations you're gonna be able to throw at people. 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 2: Rashan Gary, as he often does, has just completely shot 23 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 2: out of the gate in this camp. I mean he 24 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 2: has been almost unblockable. You look at what the interior 25 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 2: defensive line, Davante Wyatt, I think has been really disruptive 26 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: so far. Carl Brooks had some good pass rushes in 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 2: practice on Wednesday, Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, Kingsleyanningbari, the list 28 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: goes on and on and on of these defensive linemen 29 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: and so many guys listening to them talk in the 30 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: locker room this week, mentioning just the excitement that they feel. 31 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: And again they're not trying to bury anything that's been 32 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: in the past, but the idea, especially for a guy 33 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: like Wyatt, where he feels like he's getting more back 34 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: to his room as a pass rusher, as a guy 35 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: that is just going to get off the ball, win 36 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: his matchups, and get to the quarterback. This often this defense, 37 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: I should say, in the way it's constructed, in the 38 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: way they've been building this thing. Outside of Kenny Clark, 39 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: Brian Gudokuntz has drafted all of these guys. Yeah, and 40 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: now seeing that this scheme that Jeff Haffley's you know, 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: bringing together with what they have up front. I think 42 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: it's one of the most exciting things that we saw 43 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 2: throughout the spring and now it's carrying over into the summer. 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, a couple of caveats I'll throw into that. I 45 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: agree wholeheartedly with everything that you're saying. A couple of 46 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: caveats I'll throw into it. One is that the Packers 47 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: have been without their starting right tackle, Zach tom He's 48 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: not out there for eleven on eleven yet, and there's 49 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 1: been some switching going on. It was Andre Dillard at 50 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: right tackle with the Ones. Now it's been Kadeem Telfort 51 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: in the third practice. Will see what happens there going forward. 52 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: There's a first a rookie first round draft pick in 53 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: the mix in Jordan Morgan, who's making an adjustment from 54 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: playing tackle in college to playing guard. He's been all 55 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: of his eleven on eleven snaps, at least that I've seen, 56 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: have been at right guard as he is in that 57 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: competition with h with Sean Ryan, and Sean Ryan has 58 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: also been taking some snaps at left guard when Elton 59 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 1: Jenkins needs a breather, and that's a bit of a 60 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 1: switch for him because all of his playing time last 61 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: year was at right guard, and switching sides is not 62 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: exactly easy. So there are those caveats on top of 63 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: the fact that the pads aren't on yet. I always, 64 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: I always take the pass rushing thing with a little 65 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: bit of grain of salt until the pads go on, 66 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: because I think the pads help offensive lineman help in 67 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: terms of the leverage. It's not to say that that 68 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: defensive linemen don't use the pads for for leverage as well, 69 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: but I think it the pads can slow things down 70 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: a little bit, and slowing things down can help the 71 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: offensive linemen. So I throw those caveats out there. 72 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 2: Elton Jenkins also didn't practice on Wednesday with the veteran resting. 73 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: That's right, he took he took An took a veteran 74 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: rest day. So Sean Ryan actually pretty much played the 75 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: entire Premitta set at left guard on Wednesday. But all 76 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: that being said, you cannot help but be impressed with 77 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: how Rashaan Gary looks right now. And what it's made 78 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: me think about is, you know the old adage that 79 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: gets that gets talked about quite a bit in this 80 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: league that it's the second year back after an ACL 81 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: injury where a guy is really one hundred back to himself. 82 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: And I think in part that's what we're starting to 83 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: see with Rashaun Gary here. 84 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I go back to last season and think 85 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 2: about just how impressive it was that he made it 86 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: back as quickly as he did. But the first five 87 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,119 Speaker 2: six weeks of the season, he was in a pitch count, 88 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: so to speak. He had three sacks against the New 89 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: Orleans Saints on twenty three defensive snatch. Yeah. In week 90 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: week two, Yeah, and he's just he wasn't getting that 91 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: type of work week three, but it was it was 92 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: the home open. So those are the aspects of this 93 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: thing I think you have to consider. But more importantly, 94 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: it goes back to what he said when we talk 95 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: to him in the offseason. He got back here in April. 96 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: He remembers seeing the training staff the first time, Basically 97 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: that fork in the road where you're not going to 98 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 2: go work with the training staff, You're going to get ready, 99 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: you're going to go practice, you're going to go through 100 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: the three phases. And he's like, I miss that, And 101 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 2: if in watching any of his videos, the way that 102 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 2: he goes about his offseason training. The mindset that he takes, 103 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 2: this guy is all football. Everything that he has, every 104 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 2: minute in his day is geared towards football. And Mike 105 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: Smith said it, it's almost six years ago now that 106 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 2: when you have a guy that is that physically talented, 107 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: the former number one recruit in the country when he 108 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: went to Michigan, and he has that type of worth 109 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 2: work ethic, those guys do not fail. And more and 110 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: more he's been building up towards this thing. We're still 111 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: waiting for that, like big, massive breakout. But when you 112 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 2: look at his numbers, when you look at the quarterback hits, 113 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: when you look at the pressures, true media at him 114 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 2: down for sixty three pressures last season, this guy eats 115 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: away at a quarterback's internal clock. 116 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. 117 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: And I think also on the other side of this thing, 118 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: that's valuable work for Rashid Walker, that's valuable work for 119 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: Andre Dillard, and when he gets back out through, that's 120 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: valuable work for Zach Tom because that's about as good 121 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: of a defensive end as you're going to see in 122 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 2: this league. 123 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. I liked what you said about DeVante Wyatt too, 124 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: because it looks to me and again this is just 125 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: a few practices in and whatnot, and you know why, 126 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: it is nowhere close to you know, his ceiling and 127 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: the player that the Packers hope he's going to become. 128 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: But he looks like he is sort of back in 129 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: a system or responsibility, a mode being asked to do 130 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: things like he was asked to at Georgia instead of 131 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,679 Speaker 1: like constantly feeling like he's making this adjustment to doing 132 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: something new. There's a not just because it's now his 133 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: third year in the league, there's a comfort level that 134 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: seems to be emerging with DeVante Wyatt that I think 135 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: is going to serve this Packers defensive front very well 136 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: as we move into twenty twenty four. 137 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: And we touched on briefly on Tuesday, but the extension 138 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: with Kenny Clark. Yes, Kenny is an exceptional football player, 139 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: and he's a three time Pro Bowler and he's done 140 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: so much on the field. But I was talking with 141 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: Wyatt about him at his locker on Wednesday, and you 142 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: could just see how excited he was to be able 143 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: to continue to work with him, to play with him, 144 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: because he feels like the growth that he'd made last 145 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: year and certainly You give credit to Jerry Montgomery for 146 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: a lot of that, but a lot of it was 147 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,559 Speaker 2: going back to Kenny Clark and asking him about the scheme, 148 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: asking him about his responsibilities. Those two guys in more 149 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: of that read and react front combined for thirteen sacks 150 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: last season. Again, you don't want to set expectations too high. 151 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: You have to go out there and play the games. 152 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 2: But when both of these guys are being able to 153 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 2: sort of pin their ears back a little bit more 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: and push those guards and those centers back where you 155 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: just wonder what the possibilities are for both of them. Again, 156 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 2: there's always going to be a counter to that. There's 157 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 2: going to be things they're going to have to take into, 158 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: you know, make an adjustments with. But DeVante Wyatt was 159 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 2: brought here because of what he did, largely that final 160 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: season at Georgia, and it took him a couple of 161 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: years to build up to that. I think where we're 162 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: at right now with him going into year three, it's 163 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: a very similar pattern of his growth and maybe seeing 164 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: if he can take that thing to the next level. 165 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: Either way, him and Kenny Clark together here for the 166 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 2: foreseeable future, I think that's a really formidable duo to 167 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: round out obviously the rest of that deep rotation. 168 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that was what I was going to get 169 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: at too. The Packers feel good about what they have 170 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 1: depth wise. When you look at a guy like TJ. 171 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: Slayton now in his fourth year in the league as 172 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: a as a run stopper, a guy that can eat 173 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: up blockers, and you know is going to try this, 174 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: you know, get up the field, you know, more attacking mode. 175 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: On the defensive front, He's been a really really solid 176 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: run defender. You don't expect that to change. And in 177 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: the past rush You've got these two second year guys 178 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: and Carl Brooks and Colby Wooden who can also rotate 179 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: in you know the I mean, I've been really impressed 180 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: with Brooks. Certainly, he had a really really strong rookie season. 181 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: I thought as a six round pick out of Bowling Green, 182 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, coming out of a place like Bowling Green, 183 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: you're making a bigger jump to the NFL than that 184 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: in terms of the competition and whatnot. Then the guys 185 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: you know who are coming from those Power five conferences. 186 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: But Carl Brooks looked like he belonged very very early 187 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: on his rookie year and I think he's one of 188 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: those guys that the year two jump is going to 189 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: be noticeable and it's going to make a difference for 190 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: this Packers front. 191 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: We always hear Brian Goodokuntz and these gms and these 192 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 2: scouts talk about how when you have a guy that 193 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 2: didn't maybe face the top caliber competition week in and 194 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 2: week out, you want to see them dominate at that level. 195 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: What stands out to me in particular with Carl it's 196 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: not even just necessarily the production, it's the swagger with him. 197 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 2: He played at Bowling Green, he had some big game 198 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 2: performances in non conference action, but it's and he got 199 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: into this stage where it all just seems like football 200 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: for him, Like there's nothing there that makes you think that, Okay, 201 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 2: he was a really good MAC player. Well we'll see 202 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 2: what happens the NFL. Now. Man, if you strip away 203 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: the college from the bio, I think you think this 204 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 2: kid played at any you know, major power five conference 205 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: in this in the country. Yeah. Uh. And then the 206 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: other give credit to Colby Wooden two because again and 207 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: he's you know, it's tough until these pads come on, 208 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: but the offseason program he put on more weight to me, 209 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 2: looked more like a defensive lineman last year. Last year, 210 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: standing next to Lucas Fanis, they almost both looked like 211 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: edge rushers. This is a guy that has fluctuated in 212 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: his weight a little bit, but now he's back more 213 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: in that two eighty five to ninety range, and it 214 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: seems like that made a difference for him as well. 215 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 2: In the offseason. I was in the locker room on 216 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 2: Wednesday and Jonathan Ford was walking through the seventh rounder 217 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: from two years ago. Just a massive human being as well. 218 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: The Packers and Matt Lafleur touched that they're as deep 219 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 2: as they've probably ever been, at least in this era 220 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 2: of defensive line play, and especially when you factor in 221 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 2: the edge rushers and the different combinations they can run. 222 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: There are so many different avenues for this defensive front 223 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 2: to succeed. You have to do it, you have to 224 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: execute it. Words can only do so much, but my goodness, Michael, 225 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: I think there's that's a group right there that definitely 226 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:16,559 Speaker 2: could push the pace. Yeah. 227 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: I know, we started this discussion talking about Rashaun Gary 228 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: and we haven't really talked too much about Preston Smith 229 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: and Lucas Fan x Van s and and In Kings Leannigbari. 230 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: But I'll just close with this that taking away the 231 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: defensive ends and the edge rushers, the interior defensive linemen, 232 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: defensive tackles, whatever you want to call them, I think 233 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: this is as strong and deep a group as I've 234 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: seen in Green Bay that I can recall in quite 235 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: some time. Whether you're talking four three or three four base, 236 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: you know, it doesn't matter those into the interior defensive line. 237 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: That group they have right now, I think it's it's 238 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: really impressive. And uh and if you're you know, you're 239 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: not gonna want to take Kenny Clark off the field, 240 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: You're gonna want to get DeVante Wyat, you know, as 241 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: many snaps as he can handle in a lot of respects. 242 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: But that being said, when you have these other guys 243 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,719 Speaker 1: on the interior where the where the game can be 244 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: so physical and so exhausting, and when you when you 245 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: have those opportunities to rotate guys in and not take 246 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: such a you know, such a significant step back, I 247 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: think that really bodes well for these guys. 248 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 2: And it helps Kenny too, because that has been for 249 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 2: eight years and definitely six the cat and most game 250 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 2: of figuring out when to utilize him. Yeah, and I 251 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 2: think it's been unfair sometimes you know that he either 252 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 2: the gas tank is a little bit more empty on 253 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 2: third downs or he just doesn't get as many those 254 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 2: opportunities because he's been consistently the Packers' best run defending 255 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: defense attack. I mean, you see the statistics, Mike. I 256 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 2: believe I didn't come up with this paperwork coming into 257 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 2: this thing, but it was somewhere around I think point 258 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: eight or one yard per carry fewer when Kenny was 259 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: on the field against the run last season. 260 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. 261 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: He has been such a lynchpin there. So Yeah, if 262 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 2: a TJL Lighton emerges as a guy that can be 263 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: or your nose tackle in those situations, or your your 264 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 2: one tech that can handle you know, those type of 265 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 2: double teams, if you can have a guy like Carl 266 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 2: Brooks help on on third downs, it just makes Kenny 267 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 2: Clark that much more dangerous. And that's the balance that 268 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: Green Bay has been trying to strike for several years now. Yeah. 269 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely. The other thing, I will say, shifting gears a 270 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: little bit that has really jumped out to me in 271 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: these first three practices, is the competition going on at safety? 272 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: We talked about it was going to be a big 273 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,599 Speaker 1: story from the beginning. Who's the guy who's going to 274 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: be lining up next to Xavier McKinney, lining up alongside 275 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: McKinny when the Packers are playing the Eagles in Brazil 276 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: in Week one and there's a steady rotation going on 277 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: right now between with Javon Bullard, with Evan Williams, Anthony 278 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: Johnson Junior is getting himself in the mix. And now 279 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: these last two practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, Evan Williams 280 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: got an interception in each practice. Anthony Johnson Junior got 281 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: an interception in each practice. Xavier McKinney is the you know, 282 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: he's he's the new he's the new guy. But yet 283 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: he's clearly the leader of that room and the leader 284 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: of that bunch, and those guys are are are following him, 285 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: certainly with all the knowledge and everything that he's able 286 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: to share. But man, this safety competition, this could end up, 287 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: this could end up going all the way through the 288 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: month of August before we know who the starter action is. Well. 289 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 2: Shoot, Matt Lafleur said it could go into September. I mean, 290 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: he said, you know, there's a possibility that multiple these 291 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 2: guys could be playing back there, especially with the slot 292 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 2: versatility of a guy like Bullard or even some of 293 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: the stuff that Evan Williams has done in the past. 294 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 2: You know, it's not just about Okay, who lines up again, 295 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 2: Savor m next to Zavier McKinney. It's about, hey, how 296 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: can these defensive backs help us in our sub packages? 297 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 2: And I think with Bullard and Williams, what you like 298 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 2: the most about those two together is they offer such 299 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 2: different ways of sort of succeeding at the safety position. 300 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: I mean, I've said it numerous times now. I watch 301 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: Williams out there here, minds me a lot of Micah Hyde, 302 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 2: not just his build, not just the fact he's wearing 303 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 2: thirty three, but just an extremely intelligent player that just 304 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: seems to know where the ball is going to be 305 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: and how he needs to get there. In Bullard, this 306 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 2: is a guy that, like kway Walker, like Devonte Wyatt, 307 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: like Eric Stokes, played football at the highest level at Georgia, 308 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 2: won two national championships, played two different positions, started at 309 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 2: two different positions. And so while these guys are rookies. 310 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 2: These are guys that played a lot of football next 311 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 2: to Xavier McKinney, and then McKinney again is sort of 312 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: the thing that is going to bring all of this together. 313 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 2: I mentioned that story. It was the biggest offseason play 314 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 2: that the Packers made in the practices that were open 315 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: to the media. Xavier McKinney's out there for the first step, 316 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 2: he goes trotting off because you're watching your veteran work. 317 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 2: Bo Melton goes for a seventy five yard touchdown the 318 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 2: exact play that McKinney leaves the field. I mean, he 319 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 2: is the and asking Eric Stokes about this on Wednesday. 320 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 2: He is the guy that is making sure that people 321 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 2: are where they're supposed to be. He's the guy that's 322 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 2: communicating the assignments on the back end in his vocal. 323 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: So when the Green Bay Packers went into this offseason, 324 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 2: more than anything more than offense, defense or special teams, 325 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 2: they knew they had to make repairs at safety. They've 326 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 2: done that and now we have to see how it 327 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 2: all looks come Brazil. But they're in a much better 328 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: spot right now than if you're just wondering, Okay, well, 329 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 2: let's throw on somebody else and see what happens. Now 330 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 2: all these guys are earning their playing time. 331 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: I think what's been most impressive about the two rookies 332 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: Javon Bullard, second round pick out of Georgia Evan Williams, 333 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: fourth round pick out of Oregon. I think what's been 334 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: most impressive is that, you know, while they've been rotating 335 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: and each getting there, getting their cracks with the ones, 336 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: and sometimes they're in the box, sometimes they're playing deep. 337 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: And Xavier McKinney is challenging himself in the same way 338 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: where you know, some plays he's deep, some plays he 339 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, moves up into the box depending on the call, 340 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: the personnelity offense. But these two rookie draft picks, they've 341 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: really picked up the system. You're not seeing, you're not 342 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of confusion out there. You're not seeing 343 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: missed assignments, and you know, guys immediately talking to each 344 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: other after the play because you know this or that, 345 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: and it was interesting. It's been interesting over the course 346 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: of time talking to both of them about about picking 347 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: things up. Williams, I remember telling me back during the 348 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: rookie mini camp when I asked him about you know, 349 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 1: the playbook and trying to get acclimated to, you know, 350 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: an NFL defense, and he says, well, you know, I 351 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: played for you know, four different defensive coordinators and you 352 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: know my time at Fresno State and then at Oregon. 353 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: So he's used to learning a new system. He's got 354 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: his own process. He knows he's been through this before. 355 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: Then you ask Javon Bullard kind of the same thing 356 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: about how he's picking things up, and his answer, he's 357 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: picking it up much, you know, in the same fashion 358 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: with the same speed that Williams is, but his answer 359 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: is completely different. His answer is, Jeff Hafley's a dB guy. 360 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: So was Kirby Smart at Georgia. They build their defenses 361 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: with the know in some senses, with the DBS in 362 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: mind in terms of how you process things. And he 363 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: said it, the similarities in that regard have made it 364 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: pretty easy for him to make this transition to Halfley's defense, 365 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: because it really is not about the concepts, it's about 366 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: the It's just about the terminology. It's what do you 367 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: call something? And he has to forget the terminology from 368 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: Kirby Smart's defense at Georgia and just apply Halflee's terminology 369 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: here in Green Bay. My point is both of these 370 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: guys have picked things up pretty quickly, and that's that's 371 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: how you get reps with the ones in training camp, 372 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: is because the coaches trust that you know the calls 373 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: and you know the playbook, and now it's just a 374 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: matter of seeing who perform. 375 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 2: And the motivation that that group feels. I mean, even 376 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: listen to why it talk about it. I mean, they 377 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 2: know it's Green Bay, Wisconsin, they know it's quarterback capital 378 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,360 Speaker 2: of the United States almost with the way the developed 379 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 2: guys here in the last thirty years. But defensively, they 380 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 2: feel like they can be a team that is one 381 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: that sets the tone for their football team and they're 382 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,360 Speaker 2: chasing that right now. And dude, come Week one, come 383 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 2: that game against the Eagles, there's going to be eleven 384 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 2: defenders on the field. There's going to be probably be four, five, 385 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 2: maybe six, probably four or five defensive backs. But at 386 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: the end of the day, it's about what you have, 387 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 2: how that group is pushing each other, and then when 388 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 2: the injuries come, when the adversity comes, who can you 389 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 2: turn to. And you look at last season, especially at safety, 390 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 2: it got a little precarious at times. Again, we're one 391 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 2: week into this practice of training camp and a few 392 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 2: months into what this twenty twenty four season is going 393 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 2: to look like. But I think the Green Bay Packers 394 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 2: have to feel good about where they're sitting right now, 395 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 2: considering all the investment they've made into that position. 396 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, Well, I'll take care of a little sponsor 397 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 1: business here West, so I don't forget serious. XM. NFL 398 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute 399 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: NFL news that true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, 400 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: three sixty five. And at Cousin Subs, we have something 401 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, 402 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 403 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: sub or sub in a bowl a Cousin Subs fifty 404 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: plus years of better. All right, Another thing I wanted 405 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: to touch on because actually shortly before we came in 406 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 1: here and turn the cameras and the microphones on, you 407 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: posted a story on Packers dot Com with regard to 408 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: AJ Dillon. Now on the health end of things. Marshawn Lloyd, 409 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: the third round draft pick at running back, He has 410 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: not practiced yet because of a hip injury. We did 411 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: see Jaden Reed, the second year receiver, back on the 412 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: practice field from his toe injury. Limited at least initially, 413 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: but he's back and there aren't a whole lot of 414 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: major concerns with regard to that toe. But getting back 415 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: to running back, aj Dillon went about this past off 416 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: season not just in terms of, you know, signing a 417 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: contract to come back to Green Bay after his rookie 418 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: deal expired and all that. That was all part of 419 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: his process, but he went about this off season in 420 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: terms of in terms of his body and his preparation 421 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 1: in a very different way. And you got some of 422 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: the details on that. 423 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it was really interesting to listen to ag 424 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 2: and then you know, listen to where he last year 425 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 2: was a problem for him, Like he went through the 426 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: neck injury, he broke the thumb, not the type of 427 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: season you want heading into unrestricted free agency and listening 428 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 2: to what his thoughts were and how he approached it 429 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 2: and the vision he had for what he wanted twenty 430 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 2: four to be. Again, this is a guy that already 431 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 2: kept himself in really good shape. He was at two 432 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 2: fifty at eight nine percent body fat, but he thought 433 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 2: and He challenged himself, how can I get better? How 434 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 2: can I make sure that when I look back on 435 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 2: this thing ten years from now, I know, Okay, whatever happens, 436 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 2: I gave it my best shot. He cut down on 437 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 2: the carbs, He intook more grass fed beef. He traded 438 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 2: in all the soda for water. He started running the 439 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 2: steps with a weight vest like Jared Bush used to 440 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: do out in the stadium. Boulder, You're at lambeau Field. 441 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 2: He got a whoop band that showed him how much 442 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: he's sleeping, what his respiratory rate was, all the different 443 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 2: things that he's doing. And when he came back to 444 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 2: the Packers during negotiations in March, when he went back 445 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 2: and visited a couple other teams and talked to some 446 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 2: other teams, he said, I want to play at a 447 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 2: Pro Bowl caliber level in twenty twenty four. It's not 448 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 2: saying he's going to make the Pro Bowl. He just said, 449 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 2: whatever role you want me in, if you want me 450 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 2: as a running back, if you want me as a 451 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 2: special teams player, whatever you want me to do, I'm 452 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 2: going to give it everything I had. The phrase he 453 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: kept saying over and over again was two yards two 454 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 2: thousand yards, two million yards, whatever it is that it 455 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 2: ends up being, he's comfortable with that. So with all 456 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 2: the work he did physically, as he said, what he 457 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,199 Speaker 2: feels like is he actually chased down the part of 458 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 2: the game he was trying to master mentally, which was 459 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 2: taking out the thought process into anything, taking out the worry, 460 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 2: taking out the pressure. He knows there's pressure. The football 461 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: is pressure. Marshawn Lloyd got drafted, Manuel Wilson is there 462 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 2: packers have they brought in Josh Jacobs Like it is 463 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 2: a business where you can never get complacent, But in 464 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:05,719 Speaker 2: terms of executing what his assignment is, aj Dylon feels 465 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 2: more at peace right now than he's ever felt in 466 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: his NFL career. In in addition to that, you know, he 467 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 2: accomplished a lot off the field. Him and his wife Gabrielle, 468 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 2: they started their own foundation, the Dylan Family Foundation. 469 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: Started their own family, started their. 470 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 2: Own family, which is Ray A year ago. Two Yeah, 471 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 2: there's he said, it's been only five years. But the 472 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 2: growth that he's made as a man, he hopes to 473 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: now channel that into being growth as a player. And 474 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 2: talking with Josh Jacobs a little bit about it too, 475 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 2: he said, you know, this is a guy that, even 476 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: for me, a guy that has been a Russian champion, 477 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 2: a two time All Pro, how helpful AJ has been 478 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: in getting him acclimated to Green Bay. So there's a 479 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 2: lot of levels to this. But at the end of 480 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 2: the day, yeah, again, as Matt Lafleur said at the 481 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 2: podium earlier this week, the best he's ever looked, hands down, 482 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 2: and certainly mentally, I think he's as clear as he's 483 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 2: ever been. 484 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: It's interesting because you know, you and I get all 485 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: the questions in insider inbox, and one that's been very 486 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: frequent throughout the spring and early summer since the Packers 487 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: drafted Marshawn Lloyd, which is after Josh Jacobs was signed. 488 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: After AJ Dillon re signed with that special fifth year deal, 489 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: a lot of fans were kind of trying to write 490 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: off AJ Dillon in a sense and just say, well, 491 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: it looks like he's going to be the odd man out, 492 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: like is he going to be the is he going 493 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,199 Speaker 1: to be the surprise veteran cut that everybody seems to 494 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: wanting to try to pinpoint like well in advance, and 495 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: I don't know how this thing is going to shake out, 496 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: But what I tried to emphasize in answering those questions, 497 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: is that, look, you have to look at this from 498 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: a very realistic perspective. Josh Jacobs is new to Green Bay. 499 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: Marshaon Lloyd is new to Green Bay and this offense. 500 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: Emmanuel Wilson was an undrafted rookie last year who missed 501 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: a ton of time. AJ Dillon is a guy who 502 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: has been in this offense for multiple years. He has 503 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: done the two minute stuff. He's done, He's done the 504 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 1: hurry up stuff. He he knows all of the pass 505 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: protection calls to protect your franchise back there. Even if 506 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: AJ Dillon is only going to play ten to fifteen 507 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:12,159 Speaker 1: snaps a game, and I have no idea, I'm just 508 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,239 Speaker 1: pulling a number out of a hat, but even if 509 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: AJ Dillon might only be playing ten to fifteen snaps 510 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: a game, I think he can be a really, really 511 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: valuable piece to what's going on here. And I don't 512 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 1: think that can be dismissed just because there are some 513 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: younger guys who are showing a lot of promise. And 514 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: certainly you may have both both I'm talking about Lloyd 515 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: and Wilson may have futures in Green Bay. But right now, 516 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty four, there's a lot of value in 517 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: having AJ Dillon not only in that running back room, 518 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: but on that field. 519 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and just for anybody out there that wants to 520 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 2: have this conversation with their friends so you don't sound stupid. 521 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 2: AJ Dillon's the only one that play special teams right now. 522 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 2: Out of this group with Patrick Taylor now in San Francisco, 523 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 2: AJ Dillon is the guy that it works on the 524 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 2: punt coverage unit, the guy that is back as one 525 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 2: of the guys while he was, however it looks now 526 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 2: he was historically a guy that could play in the 527 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 2: posse back on kickoff returns, as a blocker, as a 528 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 2: blocker right now, just where it's at. I mean, Emmanuel 529 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 2: Wilson did, I don't think played special teams last year 530 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 2: in a regular season game. I could be wrong on that, 531 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 2: but I'm pretty sure I'm right. Marshawn Lloyd is now 532 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 2: coming into this thing for the first time, has been 533 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 2: some things have been flowing about maybe him helping out 534 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 2: kickoff returns. But AJ Dillon is a is a guy 535 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: that can be a four core player for you in 536 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 2: that phase two, just the way he's built at two 537 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 2: hundred and forty five pounds. I mean, AJ Dillon brings 538 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 2: a lot to this football team, and I understand the 539 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: pressures that go along with playing a skill position and 540 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,719 Speaker 2: how everybody looks at the numbers and they look at 541 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 2: the touches and they look at the touchdowns and that's 542 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 2: what they equate to what is a good football player. 543 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 2: But as Matt Lafleur said, I remember sitting at the 544 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 2: table with him in Orlando weeks after he was signed 545 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 2: that AJ was re signed, and he made sure to 546 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: mention that was a pivotal signing for them. He came 547 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:59,119 Speaker 2: back on a very unique contract, which I think was 548 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 2: somewhat spurred on by his desire to be here in 549 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 2: Green Bay, to stay in this community. But all that 550 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 2: being said, Uh, this is a guy that I think, 551 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, you want to have 552 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: on your roster, and you want to have him for 553 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: a full season. And if he can truly be able 554 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 2: to put the injury stuff behind him from last year, 555 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: if he can get the body thing tuned in the 556 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 2: weight it peers that he has. Yeah, there's still a 557 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: lot out there for him too. At twenty six years old. 558 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you. Well, with that, we're going 559 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: to call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 560 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: When we're back for our next show early next week, 561 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: we'll have another three practices in the books because the 562 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: team is going to practice Friday, Saturday, Sunday before the 563 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: next off day from the field on Monday, So we 564 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: will look forward to that and discuss things at that point. 565 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 1: But for Wes, I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in. Everybody. 566 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,399 Speaker 1: We've got all your coverage of training camp on Packers 567 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: dot com. Check it out and we will see you 568 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: next time.