WEBVTT - #248 Packers Unscripted: Detroit debrief 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:20.680 Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.720 --> 0:00:24.079 I am Mike Spofford. He is my colleague West Hodkowits, 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:26.080 and we're coming to you here from our studios at 0:00:26.120 --> 0:00:30.120 lambeau Field and West. The regular season finale is almost 0:00:30.160 --> 0:00:33.279 upon us here. Packers Lions will take place Sunday at 0:00:33.360 --> 0:00:37.000 Ford Field in Detroit, a noon Central time kickoff, the 0:00:37.000 --> 0:00:39.280 final game of the season for both teams. Neither the 0:00:39.320 --> 0:00:43.640 Packers nor the Lions has any playoff aspirations at this point. 0:00:44.360 --> 0:00:46.840 As we break down the Lions here on both sides 0:00:46.840 --> 0:00:50.120 of the ball, we know offensively it starts with Matthew Stafford, 0:00:50.200 --> 0:00:53.479 the quarterback. And I'll say this with what Matthew Stafford 0:00:53.520 --> 0:00:56.040 did when he came in here in early November in 0:00:56.080 --> 0:00:58.800 a Monday night game at lambeau Field, I know there's 0:00:58.800 --> 0:01:01.040 going to be different personnel on both sides of the ball, 0:01:01.200 --> 0:01:03.680 Lions offense Packers defense, and we can talk about that 0:01:03.720 --> 0:01:06.440 a little bit, but I think this Packers defense is 0:01:06.640 --> 0:01:08.959 uh is going to be, you know, out to redeem 0:01:09.000 --> 0:01:11.760 themselves a little bit, because that performance on Monday night 0:01:12.120 --> 0:01:15.760 against Stafford out here was not what Green Bay was looking. No, 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:17.479 it really wasn't Mike. And I mean you go back 0:01:17.520 --> 0:01:19.319 and look at that contest and it's it's kind of 0:01:19.360 --> 0:01:22.280 fresh in your memory. How well the Packers bottled up 0:01:22.319 --> 0:01:24.360 a mere abduel on that running offense. I mean, they 0:01:24.400 --> 0:01:28.319 average one point nine yards per carry, but Matthew Stafford 0:01:28.319 --> 0:01:30.399 a hundred and thirty two point four pass rating through 0:01:30.400 --> 0:01:34.479 for three yards two touchdowns. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:37.120 Both had big games. They didn't have to run the 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:41.000 ball because they were able to pass the ball so well. So, um, 0:01:41.080 --> 0:01:42.880 I'd like to sit here and say that this this 0:01:43.000 --> 0:01:45.840 secretary is different for Green Bay, but really they're in 0:01:45.840 --> 0:01:48.920 the same predicament. They were those you know, six seven 0:01:48.920 --> 0:01:52.080 weeks ago in that really banged up at cornerback. And 0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:55.600 obviously they do have Morgan Burnett and Clinton Dick's available, 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:58.040 but Moore is being asked of them too because of 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.560 the domino effect at the cornerback position. Yeah, and when 0:02:00.560 --> 0:02:04.840 you look at this Lions offense, where the personnel will 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:08.120 be very similar to that Monday night game here at 0:02:08.160 --> 0:02:12.040 lambeau Field, is Matthew Stafford's targets. You have Marvin Jones Jr. 0:02:12.240 --> 0:02:14.840 He's over a thousand yards this year. Golden Tate is 0:02:14.880 --> 0:02:17.560 about a hundred yards shy of another thousand yards season 0:02:17.600 --> 0:02:20.560 for him. Tight End Eric Ebron putting together a season 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:23.560 looks pretty similar statistically to what he did last year. 0:02:23.600 --> 0:02:26.080 Maybe a few more targets in the red zone for 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:29.160 some scores, but a lot of changes in terms of 0:02:29.200 --> 0:02:31.560 what the Lions are doing in the backfield and also 0:02:31.680 --> 0:02:34.200 on the offensive line up front because of some injuries. Yeah, 0:02:34.200 --> 0:02:37.880 Tian Green now is the guy undrafted rookie running back 0:02:37.919 --> 0:02:41.200 on a Cincinnati that they turned to. Um. I mean 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:43.320 we all know the history there of the running game 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:45.960 for the Lions. I think it's now somewhere around sixty 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:49.280 consecutive games without a hundred yard rusher by far, the 0:02:49.360 --> 0:02:52.080 longest streak right now, the longest skid in the NFL 0:02:52.440 --> 0:02:56.920 without a player you know, crossing that threshold. Um. But 0:02:57.080 --> 0:02:59.440 I do look at the receivers in this matchup and 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:01.200 and certainly you want to make him one Dimentially you 0:03:01.240 --> 0:03:03.359 want to throw The Packers have to have an answer 0:03:03.440 --> 0:03:06.400 answer here for Marvin Jones. They didn't last year. He 0:03:06.480 --> 0:03:09.080 had another big game this season. UM. So whether it 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:11.600 is Devon House, if they could get to Marius Randall 0:03:11.600 --> 0:03:13.919 back after having the knee injury that he was dealing 0:03:13.919 --> 0:03:16.160 with over the weekend that he was unable to play 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:19.359 with one way or another, you have to contain him, uh, 0:03:19.560 --> 0:03:22.680 As strange as it sounds, you want to be able 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:25.600 to take away those perimeter threats. If anything, you want 0:03:25.639 --> 0:03:27.239 to see them run the ball a little bit more 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.600 because I think that plays into the Packers strength, uh 0:03:30.680 --> 0:03:33.440 and what they can do defensively. It's gonna be interesting 0:03:33.480 --> 0:03:36.320 to watch. I mean, Stafford is at a position in 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:39.640 his career where he's kind of entering that that Aaron 0:03:39.760 --> 0:03:43.640 Rodgers Peyton Manning type echelon where he can control things 0:03:43.640 --> 0:03:45.480 that the line of scrimmage he can you know, just 0:03:45.680 --> 0:03:48.200 off of what he's seeing defensively. So those are all 0:03:48.240 --> 0:03:49.960 things that Packers are gonna have to take into account 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:51.760 because as banged up as the Lions are in their 0:03:51.760 --> 0:03:55.280 offensive line, the perimeter threats are certainly still available for Stafford. 0:03:55.400 --> 0:03:57.600 I think that's the biggest thing I've seen with Stafford 0:03:57.600 --> 0:03:59.960 over these last couple of years in terms of, you know, 0:04:00.040 --> 0:04:02.480 we get to see him twice a year and seeing 0:04:02.880 --> 0:04:05.440 his game evolve, is he seems to be doing more 0:04:05.480 --> 0:04:07.520 and more at the line of scrimmage. This offense with 0:04:07.640 --> 0:04:11.000 Jim Bob Cooter as the offensive coordinator, really giving him 0:04:11.000 --> 0:04:13.920 the freedom to to dictate things and run what he 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:16.920 wants and and uh and really run the show there. 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:19.560 And the other thing he's doing if you've watched some 0:04:19.600 --> 0:04:22.960 of their games, he's picked up that Aaron Rodgers thing 0:04:23.000 --> 0:04:25.280 of catching the defense with twelve on the field when 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:27.400 they're trying to substitute, and he'll get the snap off 0:04:27.400 --> 0:04:29.720 and get a free play. He did it on on 0:04:29.839 --> 0:04:33.240 Thanksgiving Day against the Minnesota Vikings and through a touchdown 0:04:33.240 --> 0:04:36.000 pass about a forty yard pass for a TV on 0:04:36.040 --> 0:04:38.080 a free play when the Vikings didn't get their twelfth 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:41.440 guy off the field. So his game, his game as 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:44.080 he evolved, he has definitely worked his way into the 0:04:44.520 --> 0:04:47.840 that upper Echelona quarterbacks. Like you say, he's not Tom Brady, 0:04:47.839 --> 0:04:50.320 he's not Aaron Rodgers, he's not Drew Brees, but he's 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:52.359 awfully close. Yeah. And and the thing is too. I Mean, 0:04:52.400 --> 0:04:54.720 obviously they're coming off what I think they would even 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:57.440 admit it was a tough loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. 0:04:57.440 --> 0:04:58.960 That's a game I think they were expecting to win 0:04:59.040 --> 0:05:01.000 to stay in that play off hunt. Yeah, they were 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:03.480 expecting to be playing the Packers this week. It's still 0:05:03.480 --> 0:05:05.600 a shot at a playoff spot, and that went out 0:05:05.600 --> 0:05:07.240 the window with a loss to the Bengal. It went 0:05:07.240 --> 0:05:09.640 out the window, Mike, And but I mean offensively, eighth 0:05:09.640 --> 0:05:12.599 and in scoring this year twenty five points per gamete 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:15.279 and total yards, they're they're passing game six. It's that 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:17.680 thirty second rushing offense that's kind of dragged them down 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:20.480 a little bit. But overall the offense has been effective. 0:05:20.760 --> 0:05:23.240 The seventh ranked defense that we'll talk about in a second, 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:24.520 I think it's kind of been a little bit of 0:05:24.520 --> 0:05:26.960 a letdown for them. But offensively, I think you got 0:05:26.960 --> 0:05:29.520 to give Stafford a lot of credit again, especially considering 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:32.440 those moving parts on the offensive line. Travis Swanson still 0:05:32.480 --> 0:05:34.680 in the concussion protocol at the time that we're taping this. 0:05:35.240 --> 0:05:37.440 Rick Wagner, the big signing and right tackle, has been 0:05:37.440 --> 0:05:39.479 dealing with an ankle injury. I think missed three or 0:05:39.480 --> 0:05:42.200 four games now. In t J lang Uh, you know, 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:44.080 obviously one of the toughest guys I think you and 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:46.479 I have ever probably covered, but he's dealt with a 0:05:46.520 --> 0:05:48.440 litany of injuries as well this year. I believe it's 0:05:48.520 --> 0:05:50.280 the foot right now. He had some issues with this 0:05:50.360 --> 0:05:53.359 fibula at the shoulder, um so, and then Don Barklay 0:05:53.360 --> 0:05:55.880 replaced him, and then he's to stand a concussion. So uh, 0:05:55.880 --> 0:05:58.360 And it'll be very interesting to see what this offensive 0:05:58.360 --> 0:06:01.120 line looks like on Sunday and if the Packers potentially 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:04.279 could take advantage of some of those uh, you know, replacements. Yeah, 0:06:04.320 --> 0:06:06.360 really quickly before we go to a break. There are 0:06:06.400 --> 0:06:08.520 some clips out of coming out of Detroit in the 0:06:08.520 --> 0:06:12.440 media wondering whether Jake Ruddock, their backup quarterbacks, should play 0:06:12.480 --> 0:06:14.760 instead of Stafford just because the playoff stuff is out 0:06:14.760 --> 0:06:16.279 the window. Do you think they're going to go that direct? 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:18.720 I don't think so. And listen to Jim Caldwell talk 0:06:18.760 --> 0:06:21.840 in the conference call. He said, we already play plenty 0:06:21.839 --> 0:06:23.760 of rookies the way it is, so it's not like 0:06:23.760 --> 0:06:26.360 we're gonna approach this game any differently. And I think 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:28.720 it's the same thing with Stafford. Stafford has been kind 0:06:28.760 --> 0:06:30.039 of banged up this year. I think there was a 0:06:30.080 --> 0:06:32.240 hand injury, some other things he's been playing through. But 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:34.640 I would think that they're going to give him the 0:06:34.680 --> 0:06:37.120 opportunity to still be out there with this offense. Well, 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:39.920 you never know. You see how the game situation plays out. 0:06:39.960 --> 0:06:42.880 But as far as this game starting on Sunday, I 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:44.680 really do think that he's going to be the guy 0:06:44.720 --> 0:06:46.640 that the Packers are gonna have to go up against. Okay, 0:06:46.640 --> 0:06:48.320 and with that, we'll toss it to a break back 0:06:48.360 --> 0:07:08.800 with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome back 0:07:08.800 --> 0:07:12.080 to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford in this chair, West Hodkowitz 0:07:12.080 --> 0:07:14.480 in that one in West, shifting gears to the Detroit 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:18.760 Lions defense. There's one guy that definitely jumps off the page, 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:20.680 and he's got one of the best nicknames in all 0:07:20.760 --> 0:07:23.880 of football. They call him Darius Big Play Sligh, the 0:07:24.120 --> 0:07:27.120 star cornerback, and he's living up to that nickname this 0:07:27.200 --> 0:07:30.760 year seven interceptions, leading the league all by his lonesome, 0:07:30.840 --> 0:07:34.280 the only player in the NFL with seven picks this year. 0:07:34.680 --> 0:07:36.520 You gotta watch out for this cat, you really do. 0:07:36.720 --> 0:07:41.520 Mike seven interceptions in fifteen games this season, comparatively six 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:46.240 interceptions during his first four seasons combined. I'll say this, 0:07:46.840 --> 0:07:49.360 when they gave him that extension, I was actually somewhat 0:07:49.840 --> 0:07:51.880 you know, skeptical of that. I was trying to determine 0:07:51.880 --> 0:07:54.160 whether or not he was really or could be viewed 0:07:54.200 --> 0:07:57.080 as one of those top upper echelon cornerbacks. I think 0:07:57.120 --> 0:07:59.720 him and Xavier Rhodes the pacar Cy two of the 0:07:59.720 --> 0:08:01.600 best that there are, not only in the NFC but 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:04.160 in the NFL now in this division. And really how 0:08:04.200 --> 0:08:07.200 he's modified his game this year and how he's come on, Yeah, 0:08:07.240 --> 0:08:09.160 you had that game against the Bears. He got two 0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:11.600 picks off at Rubiskie. You can say what you want 0:08:11.600 --> 0:08:14.160 about that. You need to get the interceptions when they're there. 0:08:14.520 --> 0:08:17.040 He certainly made those plays, and I think that's probably 0:08:17.040 --> 0:08:18.840 one of the more I don't want to say confusing, 0:08:18.840 --> 0:08:21.040 but one of the more confounding things about this defense. 0:08:21.080 --> 0:08:24.840 I mean, I believe they're twenty and passing in total yards. 0:08:25.560 --> 0:08:28.080 The passer rating has been affected. It's fifteenth in the 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:31.080 league thanks to those seven interceptions contribute to their team 0:08:31.120 --> 0:08:33.760 total of seventeen. But I have been surprised when you 0:08:33.760 --> 0:08:35.400 have it, and we just got done talking about it 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:38.200 before the segment, when you have Slay, when you have 0:08:38.240 --> 0:08:42.439 Glover Quinn, that that hasn't resulted in in a little bit, 0:08:42.760 --> 0:08:45.360 you know, I guess less production than what it has 0:08:45.400 --> 0:08:48.080 so far for the for the Lions. Yeah, you're surprised. 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:51.720 I certainly, I'm surprised when you look at individually seven 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:55.080 interceptions from Slay Ziggy as has got nine sacks. They've 0:08:55.120 --> 0:08:58.480 you know, they've had some some pass rush there upfront. 0:08:58.480 --> 0:09:01.920 I think Glover quinn is is a quality safety in 0:09:01.960 --> 0:09:07.480 the NFL. But overall, the team statistics haven't really added 0:09:07.559 --> 0:09:10.080 up to maybe what some of those individual efforts you 0:09:10.080 --> 0:09:12.880 you think they would so to be as you say, 0:09:12.920 --> 0:09:14.880 and you know, essentially in the bottom kind of the 0:09:14.880 --> 0:09:18.920 bottom ten percent bottom of the league and passing yards allowed, 0:09:18.960 --> 0:09:22.520 total yards allowed. It's really been the biggest downfall of 0:09:22.559 --> 0:09:25.040 this team. I know. A lot obviously was put on 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:27.760 Matthew Stafford to continue the ascent in his career and 0:09:27.800 --> 0:09:30.440 he's done that. Although offensively they have had some games 0:09:30.440 --> 0:09:33.640 where they've fallen short and uh and really that's the 0:09:33.679 --> 0:09:36.160 reason that they're not playing for a playoff spot now 0:09:36.160 --> 0:09:38.840 where they expected to be in the hunt here heading 0:09:38.840 --> 0:09:42.200 into this final game against the Packers. But defensively, I 0:09:42.240 --> 0:09:44.840 think if the if the Lions are gonna undergo, you know, 0:09:44.880 --> 0:09:47.520 any kind of an overhaul in the offseason personnel wise, 0:09:47.520 --> 0:09:49.000 I think they're going to focus on that side of 0:09:49.040 --> 0:09:51.319 the ball. Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see exactly 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:53.880 what their thought processes because you have to weigh who 0:09:53.920 --> 0:09:56.480 they lost. You know, hello, Ti Nadas out for the season, 0:09:56.600 --> 0:09:59.960 Carrie Hyder was lost right off the bat, Tavon Wilson 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:01.960 and who we had a role in that defense in 0:10:01.960 --> 0:10:04.920 the secondary. He's gone, so they've had to make some 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:07.959 adjustments there. So naturally there's going to be somewhat of 0:10:08.000 --> 0:10:10.720 a drop off, but um it is. It is confounding 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:13.120 because I thought when we saw them earlier this season, 0:10:13.160 --> 0:10:15.360 I even going back to last year, I thought they 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:17.960 were really on the cusp of something special, which is 0:10:18.360 --> 0:10:21.880 a lot testament to them, you know, after losing nodami Ensue, 0:10:21.880 --> 0:10:24.560 after having to transition to a different type of defense 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:27.520 built around other players, that they were able to do that. 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:29.920 You know, certainly Ziggy Ans is still a part of 0:10:29.920 --> 0:10:32.880 this equation nine sacks on the season, leading them at 0:10:32.920 --> 0:10:35.360 their team total of thirty one. But they've had to 0:10:35.360 --> 0:10:38.280 find production from different spots this year than I think 0:10:38.400 --> 0:10:41.520 what we've grown accustomed to in years past. Yeah, I'll 0:10:41.559 --> 0:10:45.439 be curious to see, you know, with the Packers, does 0:10:45.520 --> 0:10:49.440 Davante Adams come back, you know from his injury to 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:53.120 uh to play in this final game, because if he does, 0:10:53.200 --> 0:10:55.320 then you know that matchup is going to be Slay 0:10:55.360 --> 0:10:59.360 against Adams, you know on the outside. If Adams doesn't play, 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:01.720 then you know, then what is the matchup that the 0:11:01.800 --> 0:11:04.800 Lions want to to use with Sligh Because at the 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:07.240 end of the day, Um, you know, Slay is going 0:11:07.320 --> 0:11:10.000 to be looking for any throws from Brett Hunley that 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:11.839 come his way. He's going to try to attack. He's 0:11:11.840 --> 0:11:14.760 gonna he's gonna try to finish his season on as 0:11:14.840 --> 0:11:17.120 higher note as possible. And he's a guy I think 0:11:17.160 --> 0:11:18.920 that Brett Henley has got to be careful of. Yeah, 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:21.080 And I don't want to turn this into every single week. Okay, 0:11:21.160 --> 0:11:22.920 the Packers need to run the ball, but I think 0:11:22.960 --> 0:11:25.880 there is an opportunity there. Uh. The Cincinnati Bengals had 0:11:25.880 --> 0:11:27.920 a lot of issues this year with their backfield. They 0:11:28.040 --> 0:11:31.079 drafted Joe Mixon, things didn't really come together, I think 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:33.560 as they hoped. But Giovanni Bernard ends up getting the 0:11:33.559 --> 0:11:36.360 call last week in that matchup, runs for hundred sixteen 0:11:36.400 --> 0:11:39.000 yards at five yards per carry, So I think this 0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:41.560 is an opportunity for Jamal Williams to get going. Certainly, 0:11:41.600 --> 0:11:43.280 we're gonna have to see where Aaron Jones is at 0:11:43.280 --> 0:11:46.720 with that knee injury. But the Packers have shown at times, 0:11:46.800 --> 0:11:49.480 especially in these dome type environments, that they can run 0:11:49.480 --> 0:11:52.600 the football when they have to. So to your original point, yeah, 0:11:52.640 --> 0:11:54.920 Bred Huntley has to be cognizant of where the football is. 0:11:55.200 --> 0:11:57.480 He's played well on the road this season. For everything 0:11:57.520 --> 0:11:59.560 that's been made out of what's happened at lambeau Field, 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:03.240 he has been solid, particularly in those those dome type environments. 0:12:03.280 --> 0:12:06.240 So a lot of things to play into there as 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:08.760 far as the passing games concerned. But I really do 0:12:08.840 --> 0:12:11.200 believe when you look at how they've been banged up 0:12:11.200 --> 0:12:13.000 on the offense or the defensive line this year, for 0:12:13.040 --> 0:12:15.400 the lines, there's an opportunity there for Jamal Williams to 0:12:15.440 --> 0:12:17.480 really finish this season on a high note. Yeah, no 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:19.960 question about it. With that, we'll throw to a break 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:40.520 back with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome 0:12:40.520 --> 0:12:43.640 back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford here, Wes hod Kuits 0:12:43.720 --> 0:12:48.040 all the way over there, Um, West a story that 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:50.840 that you're posting this week on Packers dot Com, A 0:12:50.880 --> 0:12:54.280 special story I think, at least in my opinion, on 0:12:54.440 --> 0:12:57.439 Vetor cornerback Devon House, and you kind of went back 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:00.760 into a little bit of the history as to why 0:13:00.880 --> 0:13:03.400 he wanted to come back to Green Bay in the offseason. 0:13:03.440 --> 0:13:06.800 He jumped at the opportunity to do so after two 0:13:06.880 --> 0:13:10.440 years in Jacksonville. One of the reasons being cornerbacks coach 0:13:10.559 --> 0:13:13.640 Joe Witt Jr. And the bond that he had with 0:13:13.720 --> 0:13:15.920 his position coach for four years in Green Bay, and 0:13:15.960 --> 0:13:19.520 that bond had a lot to do with some off 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:21.840 the field things, not just the on the field coaching 0:13:21.880 --> 0:13:23.360 part of it. Tell us about it, Yeah, I think 0:13:23.400 --> 0:13:26.600 that this is a good illustration of what this game does, 0:13:26.840 --> 0:13:29.360 not only on the field between the you know, the 0:13:29.400 --> 0:13:32.719 sidelines in terms of Devon House the football player, but 0:13:32.800 --> 0:13:35.280 Divon House the person. Now, one of the things that 0:13:35.280 --> 0:13:37.160 that Joe Witz said, and this is a story I've 0:13:37.200 --> 0:13:39.240 been working on really since the beginning of the season. 0:13:39.760 --> 0:13:41.280 You know, a lot of different things happened with how 0:13:41.320 --> 0:13:43.280 it's with his injuries that it kind of delayed a 0:13:43.320 --> 0:13:45.880 lot of these processes, But talking to him after the 0:13:45.920 --> 0:13:47.760 game a little bit. It brought a lot of this back, 0:13:47.800 --> 0:13:52.040 and it starts really with just his battle with dyslexia. 0:13:52.400 --> 0:13:54.160 It's something that he dealt with going all the way 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:56.959 back to high school um and and really it was 0:13:57.000 --> 0:13:58.600 one of the things that was really challenging for him 0:13:58.600 --> 0:14:00.560 when he went to the college level because he never 0:14:00.600 --> 0:14:03.800 really got a firm grasped of what he needed to 0:14:03.800 --> 0:14:06.640 do to overcome it. He said, even in his senior 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:08.280 year of high school, he was really reading at a 0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:11.120 fourth and fifth grade reading level. He would read the words, 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:13.599 they just didn't quite make sense and with it was 0:14:13.640 --> 0:14:16.520 fascinating talking to him about this because he battles it too, 0:14:16.800 --> 0:14:20.200 and his parents are pretty proactive with it. He was 0:14:20.240 --> 0:14:23.640 held back in kindergarten and really I had a lot 0:14:23.640 --> 0:14:25.680 of resources, a lot of people that helped him out 0:14:26.040 --> 0:14:27.920 so that he, you know, even though there were some 0:14:27.960 --> 0:14:31.280 difficulties along the way, he always felt empowered by it. 0:14:31.480 --> 0:14:33.680 So I think that was the biggest thing for House 0:14:33.760 --> 0:14:35.560 when he got to Green Bay. He credits his wife 0:14:35.560 --> 0:14:38.240 a lot for helping him get through college books on tape, 0:14:38.280 --> 0:14:41.560 all that fun stuff really helped him and his learning process. 0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:44.280 But it was when he met Joe Wit in that 0:14:44.360 --> 0:14:47.320 year that they spent together, that first season, that he 0:14:47.440 --> 0:14:50.840 really started to gain a deeper appreciation for it, in 0:14:51.280 --> 0:14:53.720 kind of understanding that this isn't something that necessarily has 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:55.360 to define you as a person, and that you can 0:14:55.400 --> 0:14:58.040 overcome it and learn in different ways. Yeah. I was 0:14:58.080 --> 0:15:00.600 really fascinated by some of the stuff you brought out 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:03.320 in that story, going back to when House was a 0:15:03.360 --> 0:15:05.480 fourth round draft pick out of New Mexico State in 0:15:05.480 --> 0:15:08.240 two thousand eleven making his way into the NFL. He 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:11.880 gets to know his position coach, and I mean right 0:15:11.920 --> 0:15:13.920 from the get go when Devon House got here, I 0:15:13.960 --> 0:15:17.000 was impressed with how articulate he was, you know, and 0:15:17.120 --> 0:15:19.400 same with Joe Wit and getting to know him over 0:15:19.400 --> 0:15:22.240 the years when he does press conferences, interviews with reporters, 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:25.920 very articulate, very well spoken. You would never know that 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:30.320 either of these men had dealt with something like this, 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:33.920 you know, a disability for lack of a better word 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:36.840 at this point, but something like dyslexia that that can 0:15:36.880 --> 0:15:38.920 be so difficult to handle it and can be so 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:41.960 difficult to overcome. I had absolutely no idea, and I 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:45.240 was fascinated to hear how they You know how House 0:15:45.600 --> 0:15:48.920 used a lot of tips and tools and and other 0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:51.840 things from Joe Witt, who would who had gone through 0:15:51.920 --> 0:15:53.640 much of what he did in his younger days to 0:15:53.640 --> 0:15:55.920 help him out. Yeah, and it's interesting too because there's 0:15:56.000 --> 0:15:59.040 numerous different aspects of this story. Like it's not like 0:15:59.120 --> 0:16:01.200 Devon House just came in and lit the world on 0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:03.880 fire either as a football player. With said, I mean 0:16:03.920 --> 0:16:06.680 he had a lot of natural god given ability, but 0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:08.360 as he even joked with me and that he was 0:16:08.440 --> 0:16:11.280 lazy from the get go, and and he said, I mean, 0:16:11.320 --> 0:16:13.440 as much as you know they had that bond off 0:16:13.440 --> 0:16:16.120 the field, he pushes him even to this day. And 0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:17.600 you know, he even said, I mean, if there was 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:19.160 any player that I was ever gonna hate me, it 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:21.240 was gonna be Devon House because of how hard he 0:16:21.280 --> 0:16:23.560 was on him those first two seasons, because he could 0:16:23.560 --> 0:16:26.440 see the natural ability and House, you know, he didn't 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:28.360 really have a chance to get that extended playing time 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:30.240 in his time in Green Bay, but he became a 0:16:30.240 --> 0:16:32.800 better cornerback obviously, had the season that he did with 0:16:32.920 --> 0:16:35.840 Jacksonville in two thousand fifteen and came back this year 0:16:35.920 --> 0:16:38.560 really wanted to be that veteran presence that you know, 0:16:38.600 --> 0:16:41.960 Trumon Williams and Jared Bush and Charles Woodson were to 0:16:42.040 --> 0:16:45.240 him to this younger group. So while things on the 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:47.640 field might not have gone every way that the Packers 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:49.960 wanted to, Devon House wanted certainly wanted to chase that 0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:53.360 Super Bowl ring. He's really grateful dozen second guess that 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:56.240 decision and was very happy to have that opportunity to 0:16:56.320 --> 0:16:58.400 be back in Green Bay. And also he mentioned that 0:16:58.400 --> 0:16:59.960 was one of the reasons why it was so important 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:02.360 him to play in that game against Minnesota, despite the 0:17:02.360 --> 0:17:06.399 back injury had sustained, despite the lingering shoulder problem that 0:17:06.520 --> 0:17:08.159 might have been. He's a free agent after season. That 0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:10.160 might have been his last chance again at lambeau Field, 0:17:10.320 --> 0:17:12.000 and he wanted to take advantage. Yeah, we don't know 0:17:12.080 --> 0:17:14.359 exactly what's going to happen now with Devon House in 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:16.800 the off season. He did just sign a one year contract. 0:17:16.800 --> 0:17:19.199 That could have been his last game at Lambeulfield. I 0:17:19.280 --> 0:17:21.480 give the guy a ton of credit because boy, looking 0:17:21.520 --> 0:17:23.479 at him, as we talked about last week, looking at 0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:26.280 him coming off of the field in Cleveland when he 0:17:26.320 --> 0:17:28.480 got kicked in the back there by Josh Gordon, just 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:32.600 an unfortunate collision that was really nobody's fault. But but 0:17:32.720 --> 0:17:35.200 the way it happened, the fact that he just missed 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:36.760 one game and got back out on the field, I 0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:38.560 give him a lot of crepe. And he's been dealing 0:17:38.560 --> 0:17:40.960 to with that hamstring quad injury earlier in the season, 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:42.840 he said even last week and he was still wrapping 0:17:42.840 --> 0:17:44.240 that up. So, I mean there's a lot of things 0:17:44.240 --> 0:17:46.640 that he's played through because of how much it means 0:17:46.640 --> 0:17:48.960 to him. Despite the fact that obviously it doesn't matter 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:51.240 right now for the Packer's playoff implications, he wanted to 0:17:51.240 --> 0:17:53.879 be out there. Yeah. Absolutely. Before we go to our 0:17:53.880 --> 0:17:56.840 break West attention, Packers fans were calling you to fill 0:17:56.960 --> 0:18:00.560 up with Campbell's Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup. We're talking delicious, 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:04.000 hardy SUP packaged in an exclusive Packers super Fan can. 0:18:04.359 --> 0:18:07.320 These cans are limited edition for all you football fanatics 0:18:07.359 --> 0:18:09.919 out there, so don't miss out. Go on, huddle up 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:13.000 and fill up with this hearty soup. Chunky Soup, the 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:15.199 official SUP partner of the Green Bay Packers, back with 0:18:15.240 --> 0:18:35.399 more on Packers Unscripted right after this Welcome back to 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:39.240 Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford alongside West, Hodgkowits and West. Before 0:18:39.240 --> 0:18:42.399 we go, a roster moved the Packers made earlier this 0:18:42.440 --> 0:18:44.119 week that we need to mention, and that is that 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:47.600 Jason Spriggs, coming off of what Mike McCarthy termed a 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:51.320 rather serious knee injury, is officially on injured reserve. He 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:55.159 will miss the regular season finale here against Detroit and 0:18:55.480 --> 0:18:59.399 Mr Jack of all trades Justin McCrae. Uh, you know, 0:18:59.480 --> 0:19:02.040 he just raises his hand and goes in wherever he's 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:04.560 asked to play, and uh, and for everything that he 0:19:04.600 --> 0:19:08.320 has done this year, he will now finish the season 0:19:08.480 --> 0:19:11.480 as the starting right tackle. Yeah, it's pretty incredible how 0:19:11.520 --> 0:19:13.560 this journey has played out for Justin McCrae. If you 0:19:13.560 --> 0:19:16.760 look at his last twelve to sixteen months working at 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:19.399 a hotel, playing the Arena Football League, doing whatever he 0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:23.840 can to revitalize his hopes for the NFL, and then 0:19:23.880 --> 0:19:26.359 he ends up, you know, likely starting half the games 0:19:26.359 --> 0:19:28.680