1 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 2: Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 3 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my partner 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: in crime, Weston had Quitz. We're coming to you here 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: from our studios at Lambeufield, coming off of the bye week, Wes, 6 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: how is your time off? 7 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 3: Not long enough? Enough of it? But man, I always 8 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 3: say I hate the bye week. I always say this, 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 3: hate the bye week because you start to remember what 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 3: it's like to live a normal life again. 11 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then and then it changes right. 12 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 4: Back, and it goes right back. 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 3: When do you have a responsibility at nine am on Monday? No, 14 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 3: it was great. It was a great week. I got 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 3: to spend some time with the kiddo. I got to 16 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 3: catch up on Peaky Blinders. I finished an entire season 17 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 3: at Peaky Blinders. Work, watched a little bit of football, 18 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 3: didn't do anything too extravagant. But you know what I 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 3: did do. I got my life in order and I 20 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: was really excited about that. 21 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: Well, that's always helpful for the second half of the season. 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: So I managed to take a trip back home. I 23 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 2: went to visit my visited my. 24 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: Old high school. 25 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, how are the children. 26 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: I actually didn't even see my children. 27 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 4: Oh no, I met the platfilms. 28 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: Oh, the Platvial children. 29 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 4: I hope your children are doing well though. 30 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, my children are doing just fine. The platvil children are, 31 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: They're in good shape. They they were excited to uh, 32 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: they were excited to hear. I was one of dozens 33 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: of presenters at career day Nice High School, so it 34 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: was a big, big crowd of us, but I was 35 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 2: one of the few who was actually a platfl High 36 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: school graduate, so that sort of like got their attention, like, oh, 37 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: you actually went to school. 38 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: Here kind of thing. 39 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 4: So it's pretty nifty man. 40 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 41 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I went back and spoke at Bayport once. I 42 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 3: asked to never do it again. I love Bayport, but 43 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 3: I'm never gonna I'm never speaking again. 44 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: Well, this one was a first for me. We'll see 45 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: if they invite me back. I'm not entirely sure. But anyway, 46 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 2: so it's time to talk about date the state of 47 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: the Green Bay Packers six and three, and I think 48 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: the hope here we'll talk about things kind of on 49 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 2: both sides of the ball, but I think the biggest 50 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: thing that both sides of the ball for the Packers 51 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 2: are looking for offensive and defensively, is one to get 52 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: back to full health or as close as possible to 53 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: full health, particularly with regard to some very key players, 54 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 2: but then also to find a way to play that 55 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: complete game, that full four quarter performance that becomes something 56 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: you can hang your hat on, that thing that you 57 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: can that your side of the ball can build on. 58 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: As we get closer to the stretch run of the 59 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: season here, it kind of seems like in different ways, 60 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: both sides of the ball for the Packers are still 61 00:02:58,840 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: looking for that. 62 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 3: Nice thing about the bye week is you get a 63 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 3: chance to sort of take stock of everything. And I 64 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 3: know I was hitting everyone really hard with the fact 65 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 3: that the Packers are six and three right now through 66 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 3: nine games, as opposed to three and six last year 67 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 3: and already had the bye week behind them and then 68 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 3: ended up having to play I think maybe it was 69 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 3: thirteen straight games to finish out the season and get 70 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 3: on that run that they did. 71 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 4: There's so much better position this year. 72 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 3: But another thing I've been kind of drilling home with people, 73 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 3: and something I truly believe is once you kind of 74 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 3: get away from the Detroit loss a little bit, you 75 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 3: start to realize at least in my own opinion, how 76 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 3: close this Packers team is. They're close, I think Offensively, 77 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: you look at what they were able to do Michael 78 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 3: and the fact that they ranked top ten, top five 79 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: and so many offensive categories despite not having Jordan Love 80 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 3: for three games, despite not being able to get over 81 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 3: this penalty thing, and having these ebbs and flows to that, 82 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 3: you know, some drop passes, some miscommunication and they're still 83 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: producing at that level of efficiency. The amount of people 84 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 3: that gotten involved in this thing, the fact that there 85 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: was that little bit of a situation with Romeo Dobbs, 86 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 3: but it seems like everybody has moved past that. I 87 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 3: just there's so much like offensive bit of what Green 88 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 3: Bay is doing. And defensively, I think is the area 89 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 3: where they really as important as the Jordan Love situation 90 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 3: is and getting him healthy at this knee and all 91 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 3: these other things that he's dealt with now more recently 92 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 3: the groin. Defensively, if you can get Evan Williams back, 93 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: if you can get jay r Alexander back, if you 94 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 3: can get some of these stalwarts now on your defensive 95 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: side of the ball that have really emerged in the 96 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: first half of the season. Again, there's a lot of 97 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 3: improvement that has to happen. But considering where Green Bay 98 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 3: was and how daunting it looked at being three and 99 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 3: six last year, I think six and three is a 100 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 3: massive opportunity for this football team. 101 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you. I think the Packers are close. 102 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: And let's stay on the defensive side of the ball 103 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: for a minute, because while I think the story of 104 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: the first half of the season, if you want to 105 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 2: call it that slightly more than half, has been the 106 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 2: turnovers on defense, the takeaways, and the aggresive nons with 107 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: which they have played, I think this is a defense, 108 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 2: as you say, that is close in the sense that 109 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 2: it's right there to where you don't feel like you 110 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: have to go into a game counting on getting takeaways 111 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 2: to be successful. For that defense, I think they're getting 112 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 2: closer to the point. Of course you want them. They're 113 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: the game changing type of plays, but I think this 114 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: defense is getting closer to where it doesn't have to 115 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: rely on them. 116 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: I think health will have a lot to do with that. 117 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 2: But the big question is can the pass rush establish 118 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: a certain level of play in a certain consistency that 119 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: can be relied upon. And since our last show the 120 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: Packers traded Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 121 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: seventh round draft pick. Found out then the next day 122 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: that Preston Smith had actually requested the trade. Didn't feel 123 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: like he was fitting in with the transition from the 124 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: three to four front to the four to three. It's 125 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: a ten year vet. He's played his whole career as 126 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 2: an edge rusher in a three to four. So the 127 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: Packers accommodated that they got a seventh round draft pick 128 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: in return. What that does, is, of course, open a 129 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: tremendous window of opportunity, not only for guys who have 130 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: already been playing regularly in kings Leannigbari and Lucas van 131 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: Ness behind Rashaan Gary, who's certainly the leader of that 132 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: group now and has been for a while long with Preston, 133 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: but also a window of opportunity for younger guys who 134 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: have either barely played or haven't played. And of course 135 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 2: I'm talking about Aaron Mosby and Brenton Cox junior. So 136 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: the Packers didn't go out and add an edge rusher 137 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: at the deadline. They ended up they traded one because 138 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: he requested it. It's interesting to me because the more 139 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 2: I thought about this trade and its ramifications, moving on 140 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 2: from Preston Smith and everything over the bye week, it 141 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: took me back to last season and to a lot 142 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 2: of the things that Brian Gudakunt said after the season 143 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 2: was over over in that from a personnel side of things, 144 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: if the Packers feel they have young players who are capable, 145 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: then the answer is they have to let them play, 146 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: and they have to let them grow and develop by playing. 147 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: There's a lot to be said for watching the veterans 148 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: do it, for watching the Preston Smiths and the Rashan. 149 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: Garys of the world do it. 150 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: But if these guys are going to become the players 151 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 2: that the personnel department believes they have and believes they 152 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: can become, then they have to play. And this is 153 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 2: opening that window of opportunity for guys like Mosby and 154 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: Cox to play. 155 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 3: It's an astute point and I will dive into that 156 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 3: fully here in one moment, but before I do so, 157 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 3: I just need to say one last. 158 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 4: Word here about Preston Smith. 159 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 3: Sure, because in a day and age where guys raise 160 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 3: hell and if they don't like something, they make it 161 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 3: known in the media, They make it known in the public. 162 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 3: They take it out in channels in which should not 163 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 3: be explored. Preston Smith very quietly said to the Green 164 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 3: Bits his representation of the Packers, Hey, you know what 165 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 3: I'm not fitting in? I don't you know nobody knew 166 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 3: about that? 167 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: Yep. 168 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 3: The guys in the locker room said no, I was not, 169 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 3: you know, talking to basically all these edge rushers saying no, 170 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 3: I mean he never made that known. That was something 171 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 3: the personnel department dealt with, something Brian Dudekunz dealt with. 172 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 3: Something Preston Smith dealt with. If he got traded, great, 173 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 3: If he doesn't, no one would have ever even knew 174 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 3: that that situation was broach. My hat goes off to 175 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 3: Preston Smith. Five and a half years here, he finishes 176 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 3: his time here, six all time in sacks since nineteen 177 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 3: eighty to two. And the fact that this guy gave 178 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 3: so much to this team and had such an impact 179 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 3: on all these young pass rushers and still went about 180 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 3: his business the way he did. I've said it before, 181 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 3: I'll say it again. He never wore a captain's patch 182 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 3: in Green Bay. But I will tell you this man, 183 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 3: in terms of people that absolutely represented what that was 184 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 3: Preston Smith was that person and everybody in that locker 185 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 3: room knew that absolutely. 186 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 2: And it's worth saying, and I'm glad you pointed it out. 187 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 2: It's worth saying. The way this went down, I think 188 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: not only says a lot about Preston Smith, but it 189 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 2: also said a lot about the mutual respect that existed 190 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 2: between Preston Smith and this organization. Because if Preston smith 191 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 2: representation goes to the packers and requests a trade, if 192 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 2: the packers are really upset about it and they don't 193 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 2: like it, they could very easily leak it to the 194 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: media and put Preston Smith on notice, and they make 195 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: him look like the bad guy for requesting a trade. 196 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 2: That didn't happen either. These were two sides that respected 197 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 2: each other and understood the situation, and it just very 198 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 2: quietly got resolved. And that's it's refreshing. I guess I'll 199 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: just say, though, without getting into other examples, in. 200 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: Preston's a guy that is going to be thirty two 201 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 3: years old next week. He still has a lot of 202 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 3: football ahead of him. If he feels like this scheme 203 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 3: in that system is going to what's going to help 204 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 3: him propel him to having a longer career. All the 205 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 3: credit to him for that. That being said, to your 206 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: original point, I think this is a massive opportunity and 207 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 3: I think Aaron Moseby's a really interesting guy. I thought 208 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 3: that was really cool. On his third snap on defense 209 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 3: with the Packers, he hits his first sack or shares 210 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,599 Speaker 3: a sack with Rashan Gary. The guy I'm excited to 211 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 3: see is Brenton Cox Junior. Because the thing is is 212 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 3: the Packers use pretty much all those outside linebackers are 213 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 3: they have on their special teams units. Lucas Banas has 214 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 3: a role, kings Leanningbari has a role. Certainly, Moseby's a 215 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 3: four core. 216 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 4: Guy for them. 217 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 3: That being said, Brenton Cox just hasn't been able to 218 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 3: get into that GameDay situation because a lot of that 219 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 3: is the special teams a lot of it. The guys 220 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 3: ahead of him on the depth chart on defense are 221 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 3: also ahead of him on the depth chart on special teams. 222 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 3: This is a massive opportunity for him. This is a 223 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 3: guy that has flashed so many times as a former 224 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 3: five star recruit. Everybody knows his story, knows what he's overcome, 225 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 3: knows the professionalism I think he showed in one and 226 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 3: a half years here in Green Bay. Now he potentially 227 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 3: has an opportunity to get some snaps on the field, because, 228 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 3: as you said, Michael, that's where ultimately this learning has 229 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 3: to take place. That's where you have to cut your teeth. 230 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 3: That's where you have to sink or swim. Now, both 231 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 3: him and Moseby, you'd imagine we'll get some of those 232 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 3: snaps as well in that re Yeah. 233 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's where it's It's how the Packers found out 234 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: last year what they had in the rookie receivers and 235 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: the rookie tight ends and the young guys that the 236 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: personnel department believed in and said, hey, all right, like 237 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: there are gonna be some bumps in the road, but 238 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: you have to let these guys play, you have to 239 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: let them develop. In this case, guys like Moseby and 240 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 2: Cox undrafted guys not to not chosen in the draft. 241 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 2: But I think the actions over the trade deadline certainly 242 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: indicate that the Packers believe in these guys, and they 243 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: believe that given the opportunity, Yes there are going to 244 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 2: be some mistakes, Yes there may be some setbacks along 245 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 2: the way, but given the opportunity to grow and develop 246 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 2: that these are guys who can contribute to a contending team. 247 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: So we're going to we're going to find that out. 248 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 2: Shifting back to the offense for a second, and I 249 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 2: wrote a story after our first kind of open locker 250 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: room after the bye on Monday afternoon and looking into 251 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 2: looking in this the statistics, and you mentioned offensively, how 252 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: you know, the Packers have very very in some cases high, 253 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 2: in other cases very respectable rankings in the offensive categories. 254 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 2: There is a bit of a discrepancy though, in the 255 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 2: fact that the Packers ranked third in the league in 256 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 2: yards per game offensively, but only ninth in the league 257 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 2: in points per game. And I think that discrepancy in 258 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: those two rankings, both of which are plenty solid, of course, 259 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: but the discrepancy in those two rankings, I think is 260 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 2: an indication of the opportunities that the Packers offense has 261 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 2: let get away. And those opportunities have gotten away for 262 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: the reasons that we've discussed the drop passes and the 263 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: penalties and the interceptions, because we talked about, you know, 264 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 2: Jordan Love's number being too high there, I think what 265 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: the Packers feel like offensively in the sense that I 266 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: got in the locker room on Monday talking to Josh 267 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: Jacobs and talking to Jayden Reid and talking to Josh 268 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 2: Myers about what's out there for this offense. Not a 269 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 2: one of them said anything about the schemes that defenses 270 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 2: are playing and what the other team is doing to them. 271 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: They're all looking at it as this is right in 272 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 2: front of us. Yeah, we can fix this, we can 273 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 2: perform better, we can put better numbers on the board. 274 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 2: This is very much this is very much an inward 275 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 2: looking team on offense saying it's all right in front 276 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: of them to get it going to where they believe 277 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 2: they can go. 278 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 3: The number one thing when I looked at the Packers 279 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 3: offense and going back and going through NFLGSIS twenty ninth 280 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 3: in red zone offense right now, twenty fourth and goal 281 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 3: to go in nineteenth and third downs, that's really the 282 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 3: only area where Green Bay's kind of come up short 283 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 3: is the situational stuff. Obviously, we make a lot out 284 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 3: of the penalties, but if you look at the penalties 285 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 3: green Bay, it's not like they're demonstrably higher than the 286 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 3: rest of the NFL. 287 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 4: It's just that they've had them happen at the wrong time. 288 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 2: Right, it's the way, it's the when they've occurred, and 289 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 2: a lot of them, particularly early in the year, were 290 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 2: occurring in the red zone, which is then affecting the 291 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 2: the point production at the end of the day. 292 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 3: Had an impact, I think in the Detroit game as well, 293 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 3: and being able to sustain drives and you know, it's 294 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 3: one thing to move the football, it's another thing to 295 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 3: be able to get the full six points out of it. 296 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 3: And I feel like that's where Green Bay still has 297 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 3: a lot left out there for them. I look at 298 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 3: a guy like Romeo Dobbs, who has been just an absolute, 299 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 3: you know, dream for a quarterback in the red zone. 300 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 3: Can they get more opportunities for him. We'll see how 301 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 3: everything goes here. With Christian Watson in the second half 302 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 3: of the season, I think there's a lot out there 303 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 3: for him as well. Josh Jacobs has been the third 304 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 3: leading rusher in the National Football League. He finally got 305 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 3: his first receiving touchdown during the first half of the season. 306 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 3: Where can the Packers build this offense out with him 307 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 3: as well? And as it sounds like from what Brian 308 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 3: Gudkuin said last week, there's a potential that Marshawn Lloyd 309 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: here will be back shortly as he works his way 310 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 3: back from the ankle injury. So green Bay offensively should 311 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 3: have their full allotment of weapons. That the other thing. 312 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 3: And we'll preview the Bears game on Thursday and we'll 313 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,239 Speaker 3: get into this little bit more. But Green Bay's quarterbacks 314 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: are the least sacked quarterbacks in the National Football League. 315 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 3: They've had twelve sacks this season. The Bears have had 316 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 3: the most. Now as far as this individual position, I 317 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: think maybe Cleveland between the two quarterbacks, has more, but 318 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 3: nobody's taken more sacks than Caleb Williams. The Packers' ability 319 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 3: to keep the pocket clean give whether it's Jordan Love 320 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 3: or Malik Willis, giving them a workable pocket and allowing 321 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 3: playmakers to make plays. It's all been there for Green Bay. 322 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 3: Can you finish these drives? That's where ultimately they need 323 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: to get to. 324 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 4: Yeah. 325 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think it's out there. It's out there for 326 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 2: the Packers. They know it, they see it. But as 327 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 2: Josh Meyer said, you know when he was then asked 328 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: as a hobb Okay, what does it take to get there? 329 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 2: What does it take to really put yourself up there 330 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: as one of the best offenses in the league. And 331 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: he said it takes an intentionality every day to what 332 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 2: you do and how you go about your work. And 333 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: I think that's the you know, the inward looking message 334 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 2: is is that that's the approach. And we'll see, I 335 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: mean in a sense, we won't see because we don't 336 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: get to watch practice, but maybe will hear and perhaps 337 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 2: see in the results if some of the things that 338 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 2: Matt Lafleur talked about in terms of changing the structure 339 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: of practice a little bit, emphasizing certain things over others, 340 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: if that ends up, you know, perhaps changing the results 341 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: a little bit. 342 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: For the better. 343 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 2: Because and I say all that going back to your 344 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 2: original point very early in the show talking about both 345 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: sides of the ball, the Packers are close, like they 346 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: are close. They are not far away from where they 347 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 2: need to be and where they believe they should be, 348 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 2: but they haven't gotten there. 349 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 3: And you're never going to play a perfect game. There's 350 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 3: going to be things that Green Bay did really well 351 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 3: in the first half of the season that they maybe 352 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 3: won't do as well in the second half, because that's 353 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 3: just how this game is played. To the variables that 354 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 3: are in play with it. But that being said, there's 355 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 3: things that happened during the first half of the season 356 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 3: that you just don't expect to happen over the course 357 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 3: of an entire year. The receiver drops, right, I mean, 358 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 3: there's guys in that equation that you expect they're going 359 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 3: to be able to make those plays here going forward. 360 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: Yea, guys who have been more reliable than they've shown 361 00:16:58,440 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: in some of their worst moments. 362 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 3: And the other thing is too And I'll close on this. 363 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 3: I wish people maybe sometimes they get to see. 364 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 4: These locker room interviews. 365 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 3: Maybe they don't if you're on Packers dot Com or 366 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 3: some of the local television stations, But like, I wish 367 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 3: everybody could watch the six ten minutes whatever it was 368 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 3: that Sean Ryan talked after the game against Detroit, Because 369 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 3: when you talk about when fans get so upset and 370 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 3: we see things in insider inbox and they don't like this, 371 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 3: So why isn't this being fixed? How come they haven't 372 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 3: gotten better in this area? If you would have listened 373 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 3: to Sean Ryan after that game discussing his false start 374 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 3: that ultimately pushed the Packers back from a third and 375 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 3: three to a third and eight and then they end 376 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 3: up having I think they punted on that one. Then, Yes, 377 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 3: how seriously these guys take this and how much that 378 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 3: bothered Sean afterwards. I'm sure it's something that still said 379 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 3: he was thinking about going into the bye week. These 380 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 3: guys want to get it right and they want to 381 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 3: get things fixed, and they're not going to make excuses 382 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 3: when you don't have Josh Myers and the communication changes 383 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 3: on the offensive line and guys are trying to do 384 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 3: different positions that they haven't normally played, they won't use 385 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 3: those excuses. But at the same time, when you hear 386 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 3: them lament their errors, hearing them for that understanding the 387 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 3: emphasis in the intentionality to use that for a phrase. Again, 388 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 3: these guys take this so serious. Yeah, and they want 389 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 3: to come through for your team. 390 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. And we'll see when the team gets back on 391 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 2: the practice field on Wednesday. We'll see where things are 392 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 2: health wise with Jordan Love and with Josh Myers at 393 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: center with the wrist injury, and as you mentioned that 394 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 2: defense with jay r Alexander and Evan Williams, and hopefully 395 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 2: the health report sort of turns in a more positive 396 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 2: direction here. As the Packers hit the second half of 397 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 2: the season, so I'll take care of a little bit 398 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: of sponsor business here. West Sirius XMNFL Radio delivers hard 399 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 2: hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news that 400 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 2: true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, three sixty 401 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: five and at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone 402 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 2: like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, 403 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 2: and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 404 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 2: sub and a bowl Cousin Subs fifty plus years of better. 405 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 2: All right, Well, we sort of covered the state of 406 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 2: the Packers at six and three, so let's shift gears 407 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 2: into the state of the NFC nose because the Detroit 408 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 2: Lions are eight and one, the Minnesota Vikings right behind 409 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 2: at seven and two, the Packers right behind them at 410 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 2: six and three, and the Chicago Bears this week's opponent 411 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 2: for Green Bay, now four and five. And as we 412 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 2: had talked about Wes, you know, they lose. They lose 413 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: the game on the Hail Mary in Washington and suddenly 414 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 2: everything is going haywire with their season. They've lost two 415 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 2: more in a row since then. They've now fired their 416 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 2: offensive coordinator, turned over the offense to the passing game 417 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 2: coordinator Thomas Brown. So Shane Waldern is out, Thomas Brown 418 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: is in trying to figure out trying to get the 419 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 2: number one overall draft pick Caleb Williams going. But there 420 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 2: is just there's a lot of turmoil. 421 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: In Chicago right now. 422 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 2: And even I mean when the home fans are channing 423 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 2: for the head coach to be fired after a loss 424 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 2: to the New England Patriots over the weekend, that's just 425 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,479 Speaker 2: that's a lot to deal with for the Packers neighbors 426 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 2: to the south. 427 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 3: They sure are, but the groom at Packers they is 428 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 3: they're still looking for that first NFC North wind too. 429 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: Very true. 430 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 3: So kind of like the situation I look at with 431 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 3: what happened to Jacksonville, this is another ponent you're not 432 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 3: going to be able to just look past. You have 433 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 3: to be able to go out there and set the tone. 434 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 3: Matt Lafleur has yet to lose to the Chicago Bears 435 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 3: as the head coach. Unfortunately, Preston Smith is no longer here. 436 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 3: He had never lost at all at any interval of 437 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 3: his career to the Chicago Bears, and unfortunately, I don't 438 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 3: think we'll play them again this season. But all that 439 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 3: being said, here's the thing that I look at this 440 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 3: as sew or excuse me, Josh Jacobs said it as locker. 441 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 4: I think it was after the Houston game. 442 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 3: How football is a crazy game because you can almost 443 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 3: see the momentum, you can feel it more than anything else. 444 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 3: Doesn't matter what the box score says, doesn't matter what 445 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 3: the statistics say. It's all momentum in that very moment. 446 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 3: And it feels like the air got let out of 447 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 3: the balloon for them in Washington, YEP, with that loss 448 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 3: to Washington, and it had. 449 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 2: They were four and two, on the verge of going 450 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 2: to five and two and beating one of the up 451 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 2: and coming teams in the league and the Washington Commanders, 452 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 2: and as it was like the balloon popped on that one. 453 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 3: Play in the craziest thing of all, Mike, I know 454 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 3: you had to read my inbox when I was going 455 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 3: off about this. Either twenty three straight drives now without 456 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 3: a touchdown, but this stat about how Caleb Williams has 457 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 3: neither a touchdown nor an interception in these last three games, 458 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 3: it's it is mind boggling. 459 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's bizarre one way. 460 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 4: Or the other. 461 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 3: Like just that it goes three straight games with none 462 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 3: of those scoring statistics. And that being said, I mean 463 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 3: the other thing I look at for as much flak 464 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 3: as Williams got, as much as the Bears offensive line 465 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 3: got in that game against New England, the Patriots are 466 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 3: a team that really have struggled to protect their quarterback, 467 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 3: and the Bear's got one sack on Drake May So 468 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 3: I mean there's a lot of things happen in that 469 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 3: universe right now for Chicago, and none of it looks good. 470 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: Well, we'll talk more about this on Thursday as we 471 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 2: as we more directly preview the game. But it's really 472 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: interesting from a preparation standpoint because it's not as though 473 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 2: the Bears can completely, you know, overhaul the playbook because 474 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 2: they fired their offensive coordinator and turned it over to 475 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 2: somebody else. But that being said, you kind of have 476 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 2: to be prepared maybe for some unscouted looks and for 477 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 2: you know, some changeups and and things like that, some 478 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 2: some out of character stuff maybe in the offense, because 479 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 2: the new offensive coordinator is going to be looking for 480 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 2: some kind of a jump start, something that's going to 481 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 2: energize the offense and and get them going. So on 482 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 2: the Packers side, from a preparation standpoint, it's not as 483 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 2: easy necessarily as saying, oh, look the Patriots got like 484 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: nine sacks of Caleb Williams, and you know we can 485 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: we can you know sort of you know, look at 486 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 2: look at what they did and see how that fits 487 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: what we do, and that's going to be the plan. 488 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 2: When there's changes like this going on, you can't just 489 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 2: make assumptions like that. That being said, you don't want 490 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 2: to be chasing ghosts trying to guess or figure out 491 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 2: what they're. 492 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 1: Going to do. 493 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 2: But it becomes a very a very different kind of 494 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 2: week from a preparation standpoint. And that being said, this 495 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 2: Bears defense is no picnic. 496 00:22:58,880 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: It's not. 497 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 2: I mean, they didn't have a great game, certainly in Arizona, 498 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 2: but in Washington and against the Patriots, the Bears defense. 499 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: Played pretty darn well. 500 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. 501 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: I mean it's a solid unit. 502 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,880 Speaker 3: It's a unit that if you allow I mean, it's 503 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 3: the way it's been with Matt ebraflus Over. I mean, 504 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 3: they're going to play you competitively. It's just been a 505 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 3: matter of what's going on with their offense and are 506 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 3: they basically able to generate points in yards and production, 507 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 3: and they were not able to do that against New England. Now, 508 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 3: all that being said, what's funny to me in these 509 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 3: instances is there's nothing more dangerous than a team or 510 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 3: a person with nothing to lose. And we're entering those 511 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 3: waters now for the Bears, because if this thing continues 512 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 3: to turn, there won't be a year four for Ebraflus. 513 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 3: There's going to be another change over again, and they're 514 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 3: going to try to find another head coaching staff that 515 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 3: can work with Caleb Williams to try to build him 516 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 3: up the quarterback they feel. 517 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 4: He can be. 518 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 3: But all that being said is that's stuff for down 519 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 3: the line. What the Packers have to worry about is 520 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 3: this game at Soldier Field and again needing to pick 521 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 3: up not only wins in this division, but wins in 522 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 3: this conference. And Green Bay schedule as far as wins 523 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 3: and losses are concerned, looks favorable during the second half, 524 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 3: But you look at a San Francisco team that now 525 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 3: has Christian McCaffrey back, You look at you know, how 526 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 3: the Miami Dolphins look with Tua and the beaten that 527 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 3: they put down on the Rams, and certainly we're gonna 528 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 3: have another matchup with Detroit, this is going to be 529 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 3: a challenge, and I feel like moments like this, going 530 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 3: down to Soldier Field, this is where you can own 531 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:27,719 Speaker 3: it and sort of set your tone and build yourself 532 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 3: up during this final stretch, much like they were able 533 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 3: to do last year during that big run they got on. 534 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 2: Well at the top of the NFC North. If you 535 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 2: had told me Wes going into the bye weekend that 536 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 2: the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings were going to 537 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 2: combine to throw eight interceptions on Sunday and that they 538 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 2: were both going to win, I was gonna, you know, say, huh, like. 539 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: What are you talking. 540 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 2: Well, that's exactly what happened. 541 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 4: Now. 542 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 2: Granted, one of Jared Goff's five interceptions was a hail 543 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 2: Mary at the end of the first half, sort of 544 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 2: meaningless in that respect, but still, even if you take 545 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 2: that one away, Jared got through four other interceptions. Sam 546 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 2: Darnold threw three for Minnesota. The Vikings didn't even get 547 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 2: a touchdown in Jacksonville. But the defensive performances of both 548 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 2: of those teams. What the Vikings did. Now they were 549 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 2: facing Mac Jones, the backup quarterback for Jacksonville, it wasn't 550 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 2: Trevor Lawrence, but Minnesota's defense. Other than one drive in 551 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 2: the game where Mac Jones got a touchdown, they just 552 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: completely shut the Jaguars down. And the Detroit Lions, after 553 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 2: some real shaky moments in the first half and falling 554 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 2: behind by sixteen points, they pitched a second half shutout 555 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 2: on the road at Houston against a first place team 556 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 2: and a quarterback in CJ. 557 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 4: Stroud who looked. 558 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 2: Like he was getting back to being at NFL offensive 559 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 2: Rookie of the Year that he was last year, and 560 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 2: Detroit's defense just completely locked it down with the help 561 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 2: of one very very poorly thrown pass that should have 562 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 2: been a fit fifty yard touchdown that turned into an 563 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 2: interception for Stroud when he had a absolute layup for 564 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 2: a bomb for a touchdown and through a terrible ball, 565 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 2: and that really ended up being the difference in the 566 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 2: game because the Lions are not going to be able 567 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 2: to overcome one more touchdown by the Texans, and Texans 568 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 2: had their opportunity. That being said, though the top of 569 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: this NFC North eight and one, seven and two, six 570 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 2: and three, the numbers are right there. It's a it's 571 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 2: going to be it's going to be quite the fight, 572 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 2: but the Detroit Lions are the team that remains in 573 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 2: control of this division. 574 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 575 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 3: And if if you want a quick synopsis of how 576 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 3: you managed to lose a game in which he led 577 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 3: twenty three to seven and a half time, this is 578 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 3: what will suit you. Zero net yards interception, one net 579 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,679 Speaker 3: yard punt, forty net yards interception, six net yards, punt, 580 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 3: one net yard punt, four net yards punt, thirty net yards, 581 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 3: missfield goal. That's how you lose a football game. Uh, listen, good. 582 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 2: That was just a train wreck of a second half. 583 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 2: Not good by the Houston Texans offense, and they're defense 584 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 2: was trying to keep them in. It's not it's not 585 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 2: like the Lions just exploded for a whole bunch of points. 586 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 2: The Lions got enough points and got what they needed 587 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 2: to make the comeback and win the game. The Texans 588 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 2: defense is fighting and trying to hold them in there 589 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 2: while the offense was just absolutely self destructive. 590 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 4: Yeah. 591 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 3: I mean this is they started the first touchdown of 592 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 3: the second half. You know, the Lions started at the 593 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 3: Houston forty four, right, Just that's just the way it goes. 594 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,880 Speaker 3: But anyway, that's neither here nor there. Good teams find 595 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 3: ways to win games, and Detroit is a very good team, 596 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 3: and I still think Minnesota is a good team. Sam Donald. 597 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 3: The shine is starting to come off of it a 598 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 3: little bit, but there's there's. 599 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 2: A lot of a lot of you know, we obviously 600 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: talked a lot about the interceptions with Jordan Love. There's 601 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 2: a big turnover and interception discussion going on in Minnesota 602 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 2: with Sam Donald right now. And because the last two 603 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 2: games against the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 604 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 2: Vikings have won those games because of their defense and 605 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 2: not really because of anything Sam Donald has done. 606 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 3: You know, and I look at it that it's becoming 607 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 3: more evident to me as much of a star as 608 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 3: Justin Jefferson is, and certainly TJ. Hockinson now that he's back, 609 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 3: but Aaron Jones is something that really does drive that offense. 610 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, he does. 611 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 3: They are a different team when he's unavailable, and unfortunately 612 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 3: he left for a little bit. I think came back 613 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 3: dealing with maybe a rib issue. Aaron Jones might be 614 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 3: their most As much as they were talking about Sam 615 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,919 Speaker 3: Darnold as a possible like MVP candidate, Aaron Jones might 616 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 3: be the most important asset to that offense right now 617 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,159 Speaker 3: with what they're doing. But Donald has to figure some 618 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 3: stuff out because he went from looking like a guy 619 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 3: that could really bring them somewhere to okay, can we 620 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 3: win and despite this guy? And that's something Minnesota's going 621 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 3: to figure out now. To their credit, they do not 622 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 3: take the wins off the board. You are seven and 623 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 3: two right now, you still have a lot of momentum, 624 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 3: and they've been in the front before with Kevin O'Connell. 625 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 4: Then let that thing go. 626 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 3: They have to be able to find ways to keep 627 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 3: the winnings coming. It just so happened they're playing a 628 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 3: Jacksonville team with as many issues that they have, yep, 629 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 3: and if not more, and they found a way to 630 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 3: tek out that victory. Yeah. 631 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 2: Well it's gonna be h It's gonna be an entertaining 632 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 2: second half of the season, no doubt about it. We 633 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: will dive more into specifically the Bears and this matchup 634 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 2: of the Packers and the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. 635 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 2: Will do that on our next show in a. 636 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 3: I'm surprised you didn't want to talk about Baltimore and Cincinnati. 637 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 4: Oh, too far away. We can go. It's time to go. 638 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 4: Let's talk about the draft. But how about that? Huh yeah, 639 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 4: that was a game. 640 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 2: That was a game I remarked to, Uh yeah, that 641 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: was way I forgot about it because I was moving 642 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 2: back on Thursday night, you know, before all of the 643 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: craziness and one score close games on Sunday. 644 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 3: I watched the end of this shows you the ultimate 645 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 3: bye week experience. I watched the end of that game 646 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 3: from Shoots bar in Swama Goo there you go, like, 647 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 3: and just seeing the the the way that both of 648 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 3: those teams are thinking down the stretch to end up 649 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 3: being a very probably probably one of the better Thursday 650 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 3: Night games ever. 651 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 4: Yeah. 652 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: Absolutely well. 653 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 2: And to be honest and not to go off on 654 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 2: a complete tangent here, Yeah, but that's what Thursday night 655 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: football should be is division rivals. Yes, because of teams 656 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 2: that know each other, you don't need all the the 657 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 2: extra preparation that goes into playing the more unfamiliar opponents. 658 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 2: Thursday night games should be division games because then that's 659 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 2: what makes for much better Thursday night football, yes, than 660 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 2: when you randomly pair the Los Angeles Rams and the 661 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 2: you know, Cleveland Browns. 662 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 4: Yeah. 663 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 2: No, I mean it's just you know, division games on 664 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 2: Thursday night makes for better Thursday night football. I think 665 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 2: the NFL needs to needs to understand that. 666 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 4: All right, I'm with you before we go. 667 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 2: The home of the twenty twenty five NFL Draft is 668 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 2: right here in Green Bay April twenty four through April 669 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 2: twenty six of twenty twenty five. Visit green Bay dot 670 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 2: com slash Draft twenty five for more information, and with that, 671 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 2: we'll call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 672 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 673 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 2: team on Packers dot com For Wes, I'm Miike. 674 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in, everybody. We will see you 675 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: next time.