1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my trusted colleague West Hodkowitz. 3 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: We're coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 4 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: Field West. We are another day closer to Packers Bronchos 5 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: Week three, Sunday noon Central Time, kickoff at lambeau Field. 6 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: And just to give a heads up here, because this 7 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: show is truly unscripted, we're going to combine our Thursday 8 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: and Friday shows into one show because our wonderful producer, Marvin, 9 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: he needs to leave and be out of the office 10 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,639 Speaker 1: on Friday. So today's show we'll go a little bit long. 11 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: We'll try to kind of pack the last two shows 12 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: of the week into one. And I want to start 13 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: with a story that that you've posted on our website 14 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: examining the first two weeks of the season for the 15 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: Packers veteran right tackle Brian Blaga. Because we watched throughout 16 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: o t a s throughout training camp, you know, blog, 17 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: I had a day off here, and a day off there, 18 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: and sometimes even a couple of days off in row. 19 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: This was all part of the plan, wasn't it. Because 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: he got to Week one healthy and ready to go. 21 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: He had He's had two absolute knockdown, drag out assignments. 22 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: He's got another one here in Week three against the 23 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: Broncos as far as his one on one matchup, but 24 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: he is playing some outstanding football for the package. He 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: really is, Mike, And it was interesting when I presented 26 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: this to Corey Lindsley in the locker room on Wednesday, 27 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: Lindsley basically said, I mean, yeah, this is what Brian 28 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: Bolaga does. It's what he's done for the last ten 29 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: years in this offense. A couple of different layers to this. 30 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: The first thing they did have a plan for him, 31 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: and Adam Stanovic actually said it sort of began his 32 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: time with Joe Staley and San Francisco. Staley is one 33 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: of the most durable, reliable and successful left tackles in 34 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: the game. In the San Francisco forty nine for the 35 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: past few years have been very smart about how they 36 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: used him in practice. The Packers took the same approach 37 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: with Brian Bulaga. Now, who's thirty years old. You know, 38 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: in his tenth NFL season, he's seen it, he's done it. 39 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: He's lived at in the NFL. They felt there was 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: a need to be able to push him the way 41 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: they need that he's previously been pushed in practice. He 42 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: can get his work, get his reps, be smart, and 43 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,399 Speaker 1: be healthy for the start of the season. The other 44 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: thing that's impressive about that is it still puts him 45 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: well ahead of where he was a year ago when 46 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: he came back from the torn e c L in 47 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: ten months. He did not actually practice in a live 48 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: capacity until the last week of training camp. He didn't 49 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: play in a preseason game until the finale against Kansas City, 50 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: and then oh, by the way, go block Khalil Mack 51 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: and the opener. Seeing the difference in Bolaga this year, 52 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: it's just incredible where he's at being able to have 53 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: a full off season with those reps. He even put 54 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: it out there he said he took more snaps that 55 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: first week and a half of this year's training camp 56 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: than he did all of last offseason. With those practices 57 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: with the Texans mix J. J. Watt, Whitney Merciless and 58 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: getting live reps against opponents like that and Whitney Whitney Merciless, 59 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: mind you, I think was the reigning a f C 60 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: defensive player of the week. I mean, just the stretch 61 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: that he's had, the competition that he's faced here early on, 62 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: and the fact that he's doing what he's doing a 63 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: big feather in his cap, But to those who know 64 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: him best, it's nothing out of the unusual. Yeah, I mean, 65 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: I remember talking a lot last year just about how 66 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: impressive it was that from when his a c L 67 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: injury occurred in seventeen being late in the season, that 68 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: then he was actually ready for the opener in eighteen. 69 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: It was a tremendous achievement, quite frankly, But as you say, now, 70 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: you look at it this year and there's just no 71 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: substitute for the practice time, for the rest that he got, 72 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: and and also obviously just being another year removed from 73 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: an injury like that. All of that has has added 74 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: up to Brian Bulaga really starting the season off on 75 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: a tremendous foot. Because after the Bears game, we weren't 76 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: talking that much about Khalilick, And after the Vikings game, yes, 77 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: Danil Hunter had a sack, but that actually didn't come 78 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: against Bolag as far as a one on one matchup there, 79 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 1: and both of those guys have been All Pro, either 80 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: first team or second team over the last couple of years, 81 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: and now he's got I'm trying to remember now Miller. Yeah, 82 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: he's gonna be He's gonna be matched with Von Miller 83 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: on Sunday. And from what we understand what the Broncos, 84 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: they don't move their guys around quite so much. It's 85 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: probably going to be seventy five snaps or whatever the 86 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: number is, Brian Bulaga against Von Miller. Okay, here we go, 87 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: and uh, it's it's gonna be a great matchup to 88 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: watch on Sunday because these are these are two season 89 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: pros who have done it and uh and both of them, 90 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 1: quite frankly, are still very much on the top of 91 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: their game. Was interesting when I was talking to Lindsley 92 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: a little bit about this in its comments that Brian 93 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: or I just said David botr Of echoed in the 94 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: past about Bulaga as well. So much of his story 95 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: and the way it's been formatted has been around the 96 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: injuries and the a c L tears and you know, 97 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: and that sort of thing. You could actually see in 98 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: sense because I didn't even ask Lindsley about that, but 99 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: you can see how much that bothers some of the 100 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: people that are you know, friends, colleagues, teammates with Bolaga, 101 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: because as Lindsley said, I mean, you've gotta understand what 102 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: this guy is doing behind closed doors, what he is 103 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: doing to put himself in the position that to make 104 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: him the player that he's become today. You're not going 105 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: to find a harder working athlete in the Packers locker room. 106 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: And really, you know, at his position for the way 107 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: that he approaches this thing at the end of the day. 108 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 1: And I wrote this, and we talked about this couple 109 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, and I wrote it an inbox. But 110 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: I think history will be kind to Brian Blaga's career. 111 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: I don't think people fully appreciate what they've had with 112 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: him over the last ten years. Now, there's been some changes. 113 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: You know, the AP now recognizes the right tackle position 114 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: when it makes their AP teams. Pro Bowl is still 115 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: the same, you know, it's mostly all left tackles. But 116 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: you know, I think when you look at guys like 117 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: Lane Johnson, when you look at guys like Brian Blaga, 118 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: it's showing you what how NFL offenses have adapted in 119 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: the caliber of players that are manning that right tackle 120 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: position now because of the Vaughan Miller's, because of the 121 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: Khalil Max. This is gonna be another big battle. Blaga 122 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: said he doesn't care whether or not he gets the accolades, 123 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: even though if some other people in his offensive line 124 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: room feels like he should get them. His task is 125 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: to go out there and pitch another shut out and 126 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: that's where his sole focuses on. And whatever happens after that, 127 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: he'll let the chips fall where they make. Well. I 128 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: think we're seeing and guys like Bolaga and David Bakti 129 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: have talked about this, that the evolution of defenses in 130 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 1: the NFL, it's not just about getting your one Reggie 131 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: White as your premium pass rusher. And then this is 132 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: I mean, these teams are loading up with past rushers. 133 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: And yes, the guy for a right handed quarterback, the 134 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: left tackle is the one protecting the blind side, which 135 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: is a little bit tougher job, so to speak. And 136 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if tougher is the right word, but it's, 137 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: you know, because the quarterback doesn't have the eyes in 138 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: the back. Yeah, And but that's not to say that 139 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: the guys who are rushing on the other side against 140 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: the right tackle or any are any less caliber these 141 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: days than maybe they were twenty five or thirty years ago. So, um, 142 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: the match up, the matchups on the edges, it's it's been, 143 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: they've been the matchups to watch through the first two 144 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: games when you're talking Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd and 145 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: Everson Griffin and Daniel Hunter, and now it's Von Miller 146 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: and Bradley Chubb. And now I don't know if the 147 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: Packers are gonna necessarily have a three game gauntlet of 148 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: pass rushers in a row quite like this later in 149 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: the season, just the way this season has started, but 150 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: it does seem that more often than not, you're not 151 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: just talking about one edge rusher from another team, You're 152 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: talking about both of them. And that's how the Packers 153 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: have built their defense now as well. It's funny you 154 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: mentioned that too, because while they're not going to get 155 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: a stretch of three like this again, they do have 156 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: another stretch of Chicago and Minnesota in December. That's right 157 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: back back back to back in Dember. In regards to 158 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: having Van Miller on the end of that, that's a 159 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: different type of problem, but it is coincidental how that 160 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: schedule works out that you get Chicago Minnesota in September 161 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: and then Chicago Minnesota in December. Be that as it may. 162 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: And you talked about it when you when you mentioned 163 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: the right tackle position. Just ask Aaron Rodgers how important 164 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: it is too, I mean, for him in this offense 165 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: and even in Mike McCarthy's scheme, the the offensive lineman, 166 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: this is a tough task for them and enabling him 167 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: to have the time in which he wants to work, 168 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: uh in giving him a clean pocket to you know, 169 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: be able to execute the plays under. Bilaga has seen 170 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: it for the last ten years, and we talked you 171 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,319 Speaker 1: know so furvishly uh you know about you know, Chad 172 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: Clifton and Mark Tauscher and a lot of these great 173 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: offensive linemen that the Packers have had over the is 174 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: I really do believe when it's all said and done, 175 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: you gotta put Bryan Blogg in that conversation too, because 176 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: this is when you use a first round draft pick 177 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: on the tackle position. You want a decade from that player. 178 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: You want to be able to plug that guy in 179 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: and not worry about it again. And you know, with 180 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: a few little bumps in the road, mostly on the 181 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: injury side of things, Bolaga has given that to Green 182 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: Bank well, and I still remember Bologa being I still 183 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: believe he's the youngest player ever to start in a 184 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. He was barely over one years old as 185 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: a rookie and he got matched up with James Harrison 186 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: on a fair number of snaps as a rookie in 187 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. And yet nobody was talking about James 188 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: Harrison after that Super Bowl. So, I mean, the guy 189 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: has been doing it. And yes, there have been some 190 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: bumps in the road with the injuries and whatnot, But 191 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: regardless of the the accolades and some of that is 192 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: just circumstance, as you mentioned, with how the voting and 193 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: things like that go, this guy has been doing it 194 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: since he came into the league, and very quietly, Mike, 195 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: I mean, the guys started ninety seven hundred and one 196 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: regular season games with the Green Bay Packers. I mean 197 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: that is a heck of a career. And as he said, 198 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: I mean he has no plans on stopping. He sees 199 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: himself with the bright future here in Green Bay and 200 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: a lot of more football games to play this season 201 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: to continue to live up to that type of playing potential. Yeah, Well, 202 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: as the Packers get ready for the Broncos here on Sunday. 203 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: It's been a little bit of an adjustment to the 204 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: practice schedule, and the Packers are not alone here. The 205 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: fact is Matt Lafleur and his staff they're looking ahead 206 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: to the fact that there's a short week next week 207 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: with the Philadelphia Eagles coming in on Thursday night. And 208 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: we saw on Wednesday both the Packers and the Eagles 209 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: essentially canceled or adjusted their normal Wednesday practice to go 210 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: to a walk through to save a little bit on 211 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 1: the players bodies and whatnot. In that sort of with 212 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: that lens looking ahead to knowing that that next week 213 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: is a short week, trying to plan ahead from a 214 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: physical recovery standpoint. Now, it's it's an interest sting approach, 215 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: does not not all teams have done this with Thursday 216 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: night games over the years. I think it's a great approach. 217 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: I thought it was very interesting that both Green Bay 218 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: and Philadelphia both took the same attacked without, you know, 219 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,439 Speaker 1: presumably conversating about it. Because here's the thing, Mike, I mean, 220 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: you go into this next week, once that game gets 221 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: played on Sunday afternoon, you're already into the region mode. 222 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: You're already having to get ready for practice on Tuesday 223 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: and a little bit on Wednesday, and then hey, by 224 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 1: the way, Thursday night, you're playing football again, So it 225 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: comes it comes fast. Next week is going to be 226 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: a short, fast week if you look at an eight 227 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: day schedule. Yeah, your biggest shot to be able to 228 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: take a little bit off of players is going to 229 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: be that Wednesday, we're shooting this before practice on Thursday, 230 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: conceivably players will be in pads. They won't be in 231 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: pads next week. So I mean, just kind of figuring 232 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: out those pieces. I think it really shows, you know, 233 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: Matt la Floor, what they thought about this, how they 234 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: wanted to approach this thing, and making sure that Okay, 235 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: if you have some bumps and bruises coming out of that 236 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: that Minnesota game, you give the guys an extra twenty 237 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: four hours, you do the mental stuff. They called it 238 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: a mental day out on They're still presenting the game plan, 239 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: going through the basics of the game plan for the opponent, 240 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 1: They're just not doing it at full speed on the 241 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: practice field. Yeah, Because I mean, it is the biggest 242 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 1: challenge in the National Football League is having to go 243 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: from Sunday to Thursday and being able to make sure 244 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: that you're right for that game. Remember how many times 245 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: guys in the past have talked about it really isn't 246 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: until Thursday till Wednesday that you start to actually feel 247 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: recovered from that from the previous game. Anything that the 248 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: team can do to kind of lessen that burden on 249 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: guys is valuable. Fortunately, as Aaron Rodgers pointed out, the 250 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: Packers have been very lucky that they've been able to 251 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: do these swings mostly at home. So you're gonna play 252 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: against Denver, you're gonna be able to you don't have 253 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: to travel, you sleep in your own bed. You're gonna 254 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 1: have that same opportunity going into the game. So there 255 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: is that advantage because Mike, the reality is by September, 256 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: if you can get through these next seven days, the 257 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: Packers are in a real good position to be able 258 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: to be, you know, three and one, four and oh 259 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: somewhere in that realm to kind of leap frog yourself 260 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: into that second quarter of the season. Yeah, exactly. Well, 261 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: speaking of which, leap frogging, let's start our Friday show 262 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: right now. How about that? Okay, So Keys to Victory, 263 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: that's how we always end the week. It's Packers Broncos, 264 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: an uncommon opponent. The Broncos have not played at lambeau 265 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: Field since two thousand eleven, if I have that correct. Yeah, 266 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven was the last time the Broncos were 267 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: here in the regular season. So what stands out to 268 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: you as the key, whether you want to talk offensive 269 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 1: or defensive side of the ball, what are the Packers 270 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: need to do to win this game? You and I 271 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: discussed this week a lot of different scenarios Mike with 272 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: the Packers and especially how Denver's playing right now. Joe 273 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: Flaccos off to a slow start. We talked about, you know, 274 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: Lindsay off to a slow start in his second season. 275 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: Certainly Miller Chubb no sacks at this point for the 276 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers. There's gonna be certain things that are 277 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: going to go right for the Broncos in this game. 278 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: The law of averages says that's gonna happen. But you 279 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: want to make sure you don't allow all those pieces 280 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: to go off. You want to make sure that you 281 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: can you you, you know, you carry on for another 282 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: week here being able to either stop Flacco or Lindsay 283 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: or those pass rushers and do what you have to 284 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: do to win this football game. Because here's the facts. Now, Mike, 285 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: You've just won two games in the NFC North. You 286 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: are out front in the division. You look at those 287 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: NFL power rankings. Suddenly the Packers, who were sort of 288 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: left for dead by some people going into the season, 289 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: now they're back in the driver's seat. You're taking on 290 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: a Denver Broncos team that's OWEN two at this point. 291 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: They've had some bad luck go their way, but it's 292 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: still an OWEN two football team. You have to take 293 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: care of business, so I you're you're not gonna be 294 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: able to plug every hole. I understand that the game 295 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: there's too many variables to it, but if they're able 296 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: to make sure that they continue the slow start at 297 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: little bit farther for the Denver Broncos, I think the 298 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: Packers were able to hold serve here against them. I 299 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: think for me that what I look at on the 300 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: offensive side of the ball. It really my thoughts for 301 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: this game stem from what happened in the Minnesota game, 302 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: and it's a couple of things that stick out to 303 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: me because while Minnesota did make some adjustments defensively and 304 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: started to clamp down and obviously slowed down the Packers 305 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: after that fast start. There were two things that I 306 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: There are two areas that I felt the Packers still 307 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: should have been able to control better and not let 308 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: Minnesota necessarily get the momentum and get back into the game. 309 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: And what I'm talking about is protecting the ball, because 310 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: I thought Allison's fumble and then the fumbled snap in 311 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: the second half were the fumbled shotgun snap. Those were 312 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: both huge turnovers in the game that that really kind 313 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: of gave Minnesota life. And then the other thing was 314 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: the short yardage stuff, because Matt Lafleur had talked about, 315 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: you know, hey, let's stay in third and manageable, let's 316 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: not be in these third and long situations. Well, sometimes 317 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: you are going to get third and long situations that happens. 318 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: You're not gonna play four quarters of football and not 319 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: have a holding penalty or a sack or something that's 320 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: gonna put you in a bad spot. But the Packers 321 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: had their share of short yardage opportunities against the Vikings 322 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: and they didn't convert them. And this Broncos defense is 323 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: not off to a very good start early in the 324 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: year as far as stopping the run and the way 325 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: the Packers ran the ball last week against Minnesota, I 326 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: think Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams are gonna be able 327 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 1: to churn out the yards that the Packers need on 328 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: first and second down. But if the Packers get in 329 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: the third and one or third and two, they've got 330 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: to convert those short yardage situations. They can't let those 331 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: opportunities get away because you're gonna run into some third 332 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: and tens and third and twelves where the Bradley Chubbs 333 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: and von Miller's of the world are going to affect 334 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: the game at some point. And this is where everything 335 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: comes back together. With the no takeaways, the no sacks 336 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: for Denver's defense, they've been, you know, fairly stingy, given 337 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: up yards, but their third down percentages not what they're 338 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: looking for right now. I mean, they have three of 339 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: twenty five opponents are thirty excuse me, of twenty five 340 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 1: opponents are on third downs right now, and it's an 341 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: even mesh. Fifteen of those first downs off the rush, 342 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: eighteen off the past four due to penalties. So I 343 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: think that that's a huge opportunity for the Packers going 344 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: into this game because when you look at vic fan 345 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: Joe's defense, you think of pressure, you think of takeaways, 346 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: and you think of stout third down play. Think of 347 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: how many nightmares that he gave the Packers when he 348 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: was in San Francisco, in Chicago through those three things. 349 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: So no doubt, I just I really when you look 350 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: at whether it is you have to win on first 351 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: and second down, that's what makes your life easier. But 352 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: even you know, in some of those third and long situations, 353 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: looking to get some of the route concepts together, and 354 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: even if they know the past is coming, being able 355 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: to still succeed and thrive. That's when this offense is 356 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: at its best when you do move the ball appropriately. 357 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 1: But in those situations where you've got to confer to 358 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: third and nine, you do it. So I think you're right. 359 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: I think that that's one of the things that I 360 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: really you know, Earmark going into this game, is if 361 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: the Packers can succeed it that way, they're gonna have 362 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: you know, things are going to happen. Yeah, well on 363 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball. Again, my my thoughts 364 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: for this game stem off of what happened in Minnesota, 365 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 1: Because Minnesota got all of its points off of the 366 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: big plays seventy yard touched on run, sixty one yard 367 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: catch and run that led to a field goal, and 368 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: then a forty five yard touched on past that Unfortunately 369 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: Ji Year Alexander lost in the sun, or you might 370 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: have picked it off, if not at least knocked it away. 371 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: But through two games, and two games is not a 372 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: huge sample size, But through two games, I think the 373 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 1: evidence is there that if if this Packers defense is 374 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: making teams put together a methodical drive down the field 375 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: that takes eight or nine, ten or eleven play, if 376 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: they're gonna make them take that many snaps in order 377 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: to score, this defense has a really good chance to 378 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 1: get the stop. I mean that that's what we've that's 379 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: what we've seen so far. I actually looked. I think 380 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: all of the scoring drives through the first two weeks 381 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: for the opponent have in six plays or less, and 382 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: it's because of a chunk play, you know, of of 383 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: of a big play. Particularly against the Vikings, those big 384 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: plays were what produced the points against this Broncos offense. 385 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: And as you said, with Joe Flacco, he's not lighting 386 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: the world on fire right now. He's obviously an accomplished 387 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: quarterback and the guys won a Super Bowl, and he 388 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: does have a couple of really good weapons in the 389 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: passing game. But I think if the if the Packers 390 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: don't allow the big play, then I like their chances 391 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: of of getting stops or at least forcing field goals 392 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: and not letting a team into the end zone too often. 393 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: So that that is the blueprint. I mean, that's what 394 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: they have to do in this game. Because you also 395 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: can't get down on yourself. Joe Flacco is completing passes 396 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: almost se so far. But one of the reasons why 397 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: defense have been successful against the defense the offensive front 398 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: of the Broncos is because they're tackling the receiver. They're 399 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: not allowing big plays to happen. The few big plays 400 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: that Denver has had with you know, you look at 401 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: some of the things that Emmanuel Sanders has done have 402 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: been off making guys miss and getting to the second 403 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: level the yards after the running. So that's where I 404 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: think the Packers got to stay stout. They gotta stay fundamental. 405 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: And then also you know, Zadarius and Preston Smith, they 406 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,719 Speaker 1: got to keep this pressure coming. I mean, they know 407 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: that that's what their job responsibility is. That's not breaking news. 408 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: But you know, we talked about Garrett Bowls some of 409 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: the issues he's having right now. Five holding calls right 410 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: off the bat. It's been a big topic in the 411 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: Broncos locker room that they've had to discuss. You know, 412 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: five sacks allowed so far on Flacco. You want to 413 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: keep it, you know, keep that coming because if you 414 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: get that pressure in Flacco's face, we know what the 415 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: type of quarterback he is. He likes to be in 416 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: the pocket, He likes to be comfortably, likes to step 417 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: into those big throws. That limits that and it also 418 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 1: creates more opportunities for your gire Alexander's and Kevin King. 419 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: So I still think and we're probably every single week 420 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: we do this. Might we're gonna be talking about the 421 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 1: Smiths as long as they're on the field, but they 422 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: really are a big catalyst to this defense accomplishing what 423 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: it wants to accomplish. Yeah, no question about it. Well, 424 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: looking ahead to the rest of Week three in the NFL, 425 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: I want to get your thoughts on a game here 426 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: that I don't think it's necessarily going to attract a 427 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: lot of national attention, so to speak. But for Packers fans, 428 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:08,679 Speaker 1: I think it's one to keep an eye on. And 429 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: I'm talking about Detroit going on the road this week 430 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: to play Philadelphia. Obviously Detroit being a division opponent. Uh 431 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: they are. The Lions are one oh and one after 432 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: a home victory over the the Los Angeles Chargers last 433 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: week that a lot of people, including me, didn't think 434 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: they were going to win. But the Lions here with 435 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: an opportunity to stay undefeated, I guess if you want 436 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: to put it that way, and the Philadelphia Eagles being 437 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: the team that the Packers are going to play on 438 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: the short week on Thursday night, the Eagles are coming 439 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: off of a tough road loss at Atlanta in prime 440 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: time when they had a chance to win that game 441 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 1: and get to two and oh, instead they are one 442 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: on one. They had a really impressive Week one comeback 443 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,159 Speaker 1: against Washington, one of their rivals from the NFC East, 444 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: but then when they had a chance to come back 445 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 1: against the Falcons, a couple of misquse a couple of 446 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: the plays got away from him, and uh, the Eagles 447 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,239 Speaker 1: are one on one with with a big home game here, 448 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 1: and the Eagles are hurting unit right now. Mike, if 449 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: you watch that game from a week ago. I mean, 450 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 1: they were banged up. They with their injury report, like 451 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: the Packers, they estimated it because they did not actually 452 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: practice Corey Clement, Dallas Goddard, uh, Sean Jackson, Elshan Jeffrey, 453 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,400 Speaker 1: Tim Jurgen. I mean, uh, there are so many guys 454 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: that would not have practiced for them. In addition to 455 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: the fact that, you know, you also had the quarterback 456 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: Carson Wentz leaving temporarily. So who's going to be healthy 457 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: for this game on Sunday and then by proxy, who's 458 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: going to be available on Thursday night. That's gonna be 459 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: a big thing for the Packers. If you're the Lions, 460 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: who are still six and a half point dogs going 461 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: into this game, I mean, this is gonna be a 462 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: big moment for them. I mean I have to imagine 463 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: that whatever feelings they had or whatever disappointment there was, 464 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: you know, giving up that lead to the Cardinals, they 465 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: got some of that back by taking the wind out 466 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: of the Charger sales a little bit. I'm just very 467 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: interested to see which team is available for Philadelphia and 468 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: that after all those injuries that they suffered, and exactly 469 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: how the Lions respond to it. Yeah, well, a couple 470 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: of other games that I think we'll have our eye 471 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: on Sunday that involve the quarterback injury situations. With regards 472 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: to the Saints and Drew Brees being out and the 473 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger out for the rest of 474 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: the season, sounds like Breeze for the Saints will be 475 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: out roughly six weeks or so. But New Orleans going 476 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: on the road to Seattle. Where I mean, could the 477 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: schedule have set up any nicer for the Seattle Seahawks. 478 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 1: They get They get Zach Taylor for the Bengals as 479 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: a rookie head coach. He gets sent to Century Link 480 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: Field for his first game. Okay, the Seahawks survived that. 481 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: When they're want to know, they go to Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger 482 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 1: gets hurt, so they win that one. Now they're too 483 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: you know, coming back home for what looked like a 484 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 1: huge game against the New Orleans Saints when you originally 485 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: look at the schedule, and now Drew breezes out, so 486 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: the Seahawks have a huge opportunity to get to three 487 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: and oh while the Saints Sean Payton is talking about 488 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: using potentially two quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill. He's not 489 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: announcing who the starter is gonna be or anything about 490 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: his his specific plans. This is a really interesting one. 491 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: It is really interesting. I mean, Teddy Bridgewater will be 492 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: the starter. I mean, it's just that he's one of 493 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: the highest paid, if not the highest paid backup quarterback 494 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,239 Speaker 1: in the league. They are credibly high on him. I 495 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: still imagine he's going to be the guy. But Taysom 496 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: Hill is a great accessory piece to what they can 497 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 1: do offensively as a receiver, as a tight end, as 498 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: everything you can use him as, and at times a quarterback. 499 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: So I bet you're going to see both of those guys. 500 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: But for Bridgewater, this is such an important time, Mike, 501 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: because this is a guy that had to get his 502 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: career back on track. The Saints bring him in, and 503 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: now he actually has a chance to prove here in 504 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: this next month and a half that he's still a 505 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: starting quarterback in this league and he can be a 506 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 1: franchise quarterback for somebody, maybe even the Saints someday. So 507 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: it's a great opportunit the downside of it for him, 508 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: while the Seattle defense isn't maybe as lockdown as it 509 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:07,399 Speaker 1: used to be. You're still playing in Century Link and 510 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: you're still playing that is a tough place to play. 511 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: Bobby Wagner, can't chancer. All those guys are gonna be 512 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 1: gunning for you. But you know it's it's gonna be 513 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: a good one to watch as well. Yeah. Well, with 514 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: regards to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they've lost Ben Roethlisberger for 515 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: the season. The other reason I bring them up this 516 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: week is because they are on the road at San 517 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: Francisco to face a forty Niners team that is two 518 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: and oh with an opportunity to go to three and oh. 519 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: And this is a forty Niners team the Packers are 520 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: going to visit later this season. The forty Niners are 521 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 1: with Jimmy Garoppolo, uh the second year with Kyle Shanahan 522 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: as the head coach. This is a franchise that looks 523 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 1: like maybe they're starting to put things together the way 524 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: they wanted to look. We've talked a lot about Shanahan 525 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: and La Fleur and mcvag and all these guys, but 526 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: I just I have so much respect for Kyle Shanahan. 527 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 1: I mean, you look at their roster, you look at 528 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: at offensive roster, you know, certainly you have George Kittle, 529 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: who opened a lot of eyes last year, but there's 530 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: not a lot of like household names, and yet he's 531 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: still with his scheme with what they want to do 532 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: effectively on offense, they hit all the notes to a 533 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: t in Garoppolo. Now that he's healthy again, you know, 534 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: there's gonna be some take you know, turnovers here and there. 535 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 1: He looks like he's gonna be that type of quarterback 536 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: that might end up with like ten, twelve, fifteen picks 537 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: a year. But he can throw it, man, and he 538 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: isn't afraid to so seeing how they match up now 539 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: against the Pittsburgh team that while they did, you know, 540 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: make this trade for makeup Fitzpatrick for a first round pick, 541 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: there's a lot of questions there with Mason Rudolph. Now 542 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 1: is their quarterback that is going to be a big 543 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: one to follow. Yeah, one other game I want to 544 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: get your thoughts on quickly. Has nothing to do with 545 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: the Packers because it's two A f C teams and 546 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: the Packers aren't necessarily involved here. But the two and 547 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: oh Baltimore Ravens, the two and O Kansas City chiefs 548 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes really really interesting matchup here. What 549 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: do you think, real interesting matchup and two teams that 550 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: do it completly different. I mean, Patrick Mahomes is gonna 551 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: throw for five thousand yards again this year. Lamar Miller 552 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: has proven he can throw. But their ground game is 553 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 1: to be feared. Kansas City. The one question mark they 554 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: had coming off the last season was their defense. They're 555 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: going to be stressed in this game against mark Ingram 556 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: and all those weapons that they have on the ground. 557 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a fun one to watch. Unfortunately you 558 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: and I won't be able to, but I have to 559 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,199 Speaker 1: be scoreboard watching online with that one. But I mean 560 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: we saw, yeah, we saw Lamar Jackson in the preseason. 561 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 1: The Packers are gonna see Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs 562 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 1: in that offense mid season this year in a in 563 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 1: a big Sunday night game down to Arrowheads. So this 564 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: this is this is one of those that got to 565 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: make sure we catch the highlights. I guess when we 566 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: get a chance, right. I'm just surprised they didn't put 567 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: this on Sunday night for Monday Night football, like off 568 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: the bat with the schedule, I know there were some 569 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: questions about Baltimore and what they were to look like 570 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 1: last year. But I also think we saw enough to 571 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: know that Lamar Jackson was for real and they were 572 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: a playoff team. And so this is again it's one 573 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 1: that I wish, I wish I would be able to 574 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: check out. But seeing how they you there and if 575 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: he can go tip for tat with the m v P, 576 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 1: it's a big test. Yeah, all right, Well with that 577 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 1: we will call it a rap on this combo edition 578 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our 579 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: coverage of the team and of Sunday's big Week three 580 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 1: matchup with the Broncos at lambeau Field. Will have all 581 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 1: of it on Packers dot com. Subscribe to us, like 582 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: us on iTunes and other podcast services. On Twitter, He's 583 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: at west Hod, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for 584 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, We'll see 585 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: you next time.