1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my trusted 3 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Collige West Hodkowits. Were coming to hear from our studios 4 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field, back from the nation's capital West and 5 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: Uh an old group called the Carpenters. They made a 6 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: lyric rather famous and it goes, rainy days and Mondays 7 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: always get me down. And I think that pretty much 8 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: sums this one up. It was a rainy day at 9 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: FedEx Field and uh kind of rained on the Packers parade. 10 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: Just uh, not one that anybody's gonna remember for for 11 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: a while. No, not for the right reasons. And uh, certainly, 12 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: Uh it was weird, Mike. I woke up on Sunday 13 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: morning and we actually stayed like directly downtown where like 14 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: two blocks from the White House. Looked out my window 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 1: the moment before, and I knew it was gonna rain, 16 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: but just the amount of consistent rain throughout the day, 17 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: it just it it's sort of underscored what this game 18 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: was gonna be for the Packers and and and it's funny. 19 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: I You're always learning things, right, you know, in my 20 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: thirty years I think of every year I've covered the 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: NFL and I've had a thought or I've had a 22 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: you know, kind of an analysis hypothesis for how things 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: were gonna go, and everybody talked about, you know, while 24 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: coming off of a tie road teams, teams that then 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: go on the road, or like, oh, in thirteen or fourteen, 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: I actually thought the Packers are gonna be the ons 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: a curb that uh. And certainly I'm not saying that 28 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: that's the reason why they lost, but you could see 29 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: what how difficult it is in those circumstances to go 30 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: out there and play well, and in the Packers case, 31 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: particularly in that first half, just not enough. Yeah, it 32 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: was a rough start on both sides of the ball 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: for the Packers. No mistake about a defense was not 34 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: playing well, offense was not playing well. You get down 35 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: into a ten hole at time the and as the 36 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: second half unfolded, you know, the defense boat up and 37 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: got a series of stops, and the bottom line is 38 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: the offense had its opportunities to get back in the game. 39 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: You had the feeling if the Packers could just get 40 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: it to a one score game, that was going to 41 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: flip some of the pressure back to Washington's offense to 42 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 1: have to try to seize the momentum back that that 43 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: that unit had clearly lost. But the Packers never got 44 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: it to a one score game. They never, they never, 45 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: you know, turned up the screws in that respect, so 46 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: to speak. And you know, whether you want to talk 47 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: about the penalties, the drop passes, all kinds of opportunities 48 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: were there for Green Bay and the Packers just didn't 49 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: cash in and and walked out of there with a 50 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: with a really tough loss. Yeah, it's funny, you're the 51 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: big baseball guy. I don't know as much about anymore, 52 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: but it did seem to seem to me like a 53 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: game where there was a lot of runners left on 54 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: base ye in that the Packers defense. I mean, that 55 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: was about as bizarre of a game as I think 56 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: I've seen in a long time in terms of the 57 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: difference between the first and the second half. Total yards 58 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: in the first half sixty three and the second. Now, 59 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: mind you, Washington had a lead, they were protecting the lead, 60 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: but just how they didn't really do much in the 61 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: second half. Alex Smith had six passing yards after halftime, 62 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: four possessions. Four possessions. Washington had one first down and 63 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: it was on the Clay Matthews roughing the passer penalty, 64 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: which is a whole another discussion I'm sure we can 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: touch on again. But um, but no, the Packers defense, 66 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: for as much as the unit struggled in the first half, 67 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: it gave the offense a chance in the second half 68 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: and and it just didn't come together. Yeah, And all 69 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: five explosive plays the defense allowed were in the first 70 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: two quarters. They settle in, but then offensively, every time 71 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: it looked like the Packers were about to mount a rally, 72 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: that Aaron Rodgers was going to lead the troops again, 73 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: just something happened there. It was a drop pass, a fumble, um, 74 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: you know, just things didn't quite go their way. And 75 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: in this in a road environment, playing a team that 76 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: I think, as you've seen with Washington, is as game 77 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: as they are, and their defense, which is pretty stingy 78 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: that I mean, they're playing, they're playing good ball right now. 79 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: When you get an opportunity to to seize momentum, to 80 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: to seize an opportunity to to put some points on 81 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: the board, you have to execute on it. And the 82 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: Packers just weren't able to do that. Yeah. Well, to 83 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: give you another baseball analogy, I wrote flying back on 84 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: the Plane. Last night, I was working on the Insider 85 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: Inbox column for Monday morning, and I said, you know, 86 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: in a baseball lineup, you have to string the hits together. 87 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 1: It doesn't do any good to get a hit in 88 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: the first inning, one hit in the second inning, one 89 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: hit in the fourth inning. You have to string him together. 90 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: And the way this game went, the Packers couldn't string 91 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: anything together. You get an interception from the defense, but 92 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,799 Speaker 1: then the offense has great field position and can't take advantage. 93 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: The special teams pins Washington on the two yard line. Well, 94 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: that's time for the defense to do it's part, but 95 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: to plays seventy five yards and Washington's right in scoring 96 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: range again. You know, the offense hits the sixty four 97 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: yard touchdown, but then the defense allows another oring drive 98 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: right back the other way. Right after that. The Packers 99 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: couldn't string anything together, and the result is then you're 100 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: scrambling in the second half to try to get back 101 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: in the game, and it just didn't happen. It's an 102 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: eleven on eleven game. It's offense versus defense, and in 103 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: too many phases, the Packers just got beat just enough 104 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: that ultimately it would end up being the result that 105 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: it was. The difficult thing is is there were positives 106 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: in this that that get lost. And I'm sure we'll 107 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: talk about the Clay Matthews uh penalty here in a moment, 108 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: but I mean the fact that Clay Matthews finally did 109 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: get a sack or it looked like he was that 110 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: that looked like vintage Clay Matthews on that play gets 111 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 1: wiped out. Nimo Allison has a sixty four yard touchdown 112 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: past Doronimo Allison is leading the Packers and receiving right now, 113 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: and you know it's it's all for not Mark Quisvelde. 114 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: Scantling looks like he can be the gunner that the 115 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: Packers need to compliment J K. Scott, who had another 116 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: strong game. Aaron Jones is back involved. But all those 117 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 1: positives didn't ultimately help the Packers get to where they 118 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: needed to be and what you need to do more 119 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: than anything else, and you I talked about before it 120 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,799 Speaker 1: came in here. As great as those those moments are, 121 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: it comes down to fundamentals across the entire offense and defense, 122 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: and we could talk about it to where the blue 123 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: in the face and people get you know, tired of it. 124 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: But it's true if you go back and look at 125 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: some of the areas where the Packers came up short, 126 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: it's fundamental mistakes and not being able to either protect 127 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: the football, secure the football, or you know, just just 128 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: losing their technique. Yeah, obviously and and technique that that 129 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: is a key thing. Mike McCarthy, you know, after the game, 130 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: said hey, you know, we had too many penalties, and 131 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: it does go back to the fundamentals because whether you're 132 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: talking about the hand placement of offensive linemen when they're 133 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: getting called for holding, or the techniques in the defensive 134 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: backfield when you're getting multiple pass interference penalties on one drive, 135 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: those kinds of things just they take the wind out 136 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: of the sales of of any team. There's only so 137 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: there's only so many times you're gonna get that opportunity 138 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: to seize the momentum and uh and when you let 139 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: it slip away like that, and then on top of it, 140 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: you have a couple of veteran players in Randall Cobb 141 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: and Lance Kendricks, and I don't mean to single them 142 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: out because other guys had penalties other guys had past 143 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 1: interference calls and all that, but the drop passes when 144 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: it's veteran, proven veteran players. These guys are gonna atone 145 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: for their mistakes. We know that. But that's tough because 146 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: you know, the past narrative around here has been, well, 147 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: it's young guys who make mistakes and you have to 148 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: live with them. In this case, there was a lot 149 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: of veteran players unfortunately that let the Packers down. And 150 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: and you know their pros, they'll bounce back, they'll they'll 151 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: get the job done. But it's it's it's a you know, 152 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: a tally market in the al column because of because 153 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: of a lot of guys that that you know, no, 154 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: they didn't play up to their own standard. Yeah, and 155 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb is about as even keel as they come, 156 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: and was beating himself up about it afterwards, you know, 157 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: having the fumble in that series, the really close forth 158 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: and to play looked like he had the catch upon 159 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: further review, ball did come out and to touch the ground. 160 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: Those are plays that that Cobb prides himself on, and 161 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: he knows the offense and needs those moments, and certainly 162 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: Lance Kendricks that was a great opportunity for a big play, 163 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: and and he did a phenomenal job to it. It 164 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: appeared like it was sort of an extended scrambled drow 165 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: where he was out in the flat, that he turned 166 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: it up field, almost turning it into a wheel route 167 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: gets behind the linebacker coverage, And the most frustrating part 168 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: of that, and I know he talked about it. It's 169 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: all focused is that it wasn't even like it was 170 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: broken up, like he actually had the separation. He pulled 171 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: it down the linebacker fifty four. I think that was 172 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: faster Foster. He didn't actually touch him until really he's 173 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: on the ground. It just wasn't able to secure it. 174 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: Moments like that that I think Aaron Rodgers talked about it. 175 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: The guys talked about the locker room afterwards, separates the 176 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: winds and the losses, and unfortunately for the packers, this 177 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: one goes down as an owl. Yeah, well, a little 178 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: bit of sponsored business here quickly West at home or 179 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: here in the stands. We all know that Green Bay 180 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: fans give it their all and that takes a lot 181 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: of energy. So grab a warm bowl Campbell's Chunky soup. 182 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: It's meaty goodness. Fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. 183 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your 184 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: local supermarket and asked for Campbell's Chunky Soup, the official 185 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: soup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, to add 186 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: injury to insults, so to speak, the Packers left Washington 187 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: rather banged up. Here we saw Maha mid Wilkerson, veteran 188 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 1: defensive lineman, get carted off the field, which with what 189 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: looked like a pretty nasty ankle injury. Brian Bulaga left 190 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: the game with a back injury. Also on the right 191 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: side of the offensive line, Justin McCrae left the game 192 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: with a shoulder injury. Towards the end of the game, 193 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: Nick Perry on the defensive side, was being evaluated for 194 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: a concussion. We'll see as the week goes along what 195 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: kind of updates we get on those injuries. But but boy, 196 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: those are those are some some key veteran players that 197 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: you know, you hope, you know, things obviously don't look 198 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: good with Wilkerson when the cart comes out like that, 199 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: but with some of the other guys, you hope maybe 200 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: none of these are long term deals. Yeah, and and 201 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: blag is certainly the way he was able to come 202 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: back from the knee injury and and be a starter 203 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: for this offense and be accountable at that position, and 204 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: in moving back in at right tackle. It's it's tough 205 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: to see, you know him have to go out, Certainly 206 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: Jason Spriggs, who actually thought looked pretty good at the 207 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: end of training camp working mostly on the left side, well, 208 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 1: now he has to go back to the right side, uh, 209 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 1: and gets worked there. Justin mccrawe actually said afterwards, this 210 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: is the shoulder injury. He's kind of been dealing with 211 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: the going back to training camp, and he sort of 212 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: tried to muscle through it. There was a point in 213 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: time in that game, though, where he started to realize 214 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 1: subconsciously he wasn't really getting his hands behind his blocks anymore. 215 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: He was doing things that compensate for that. And because 216 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: he wasn't in his you know mind, you know, being 217 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: able to help the offense at his full full pressure, 218 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: full you know, full accord, he pulls himself out by 219 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: Ron Bell ends up being the guy that finishes the 220 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: game there. It's tough because the Packers offensive line, I 221 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: thought one of the big positives these first two weeks 222 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: they had all five guys, they were able to start 223 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: working together, building that rapport, and then you lose some 224 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: of that. As far as Wilkerson, that one's really tough 225 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: because we've seen Mike in these first three games were 226 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: probably more specifically the Vikings game, how big the Packers 227 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: plans are for him with this defense and the ways 228 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: that they can use him. And and he actually had 229 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: a pretty good pressure earlier in that game that I 230 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: thought kind of helped contribute to the Clinton Dick's interception 231 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: being able to get in Alex Smith's face. Yeah, he 232 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: was lined up as a five tech on that play 233 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:02,599 Speaker 1: and he was he was coming around the edge and 234 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: Kenny Clark had some pressure up the middle, and then 235 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: Smith gets rid of that ball, the tight end doesn't 236 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: break off his route, and you know, the pressure through 237 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: the timing of the playoff ends up being a pick 238 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: for the Packers, and Smith is standing in the heart 239 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: of the pocket at that time. He can't throw it away. 240 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: So it's things like that, man, where it's just the 241 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: Packers defensive line. We talked about it all summer long. 242 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: It was going to be a strength for them. I 243 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: think they've had their moments. But we'll have to see 244 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 1: what happens with Wilkerson. That's a big chunk of it though. 245 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: If if he's not able to go, Yeah, well we'd 246 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: be remiss if we didn't at least discussed to some 247 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 1: extent the Clay Matthews ready passer third straight week. Now, 248 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews first nine years of his career, he has 249 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: four roughing the passer penalties. The last three weeks he's 250 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: had three. Now we all know, as we've said, the 251 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: one against Chicago, and Matthews has admitted it multiple times 252 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: that was on him. He knows he shouldn't have done it, 253 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: perfectly legitimate roughing the passer call. But these last two 254 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: weeks and you can you can just see the frustration 255 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: right there on the field. He's sacks Smith. He looks 256 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: at the referee right away, you know, because he's actually 257 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: worried that maybe a flag is going to come out, 258 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 1: and then sure enough the flag does come out. I Joe, 259 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: I was, you know, I say, maybe half joking in 260 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: my chat or an inbox wherever I wrote it last 261 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: week that you know it's time to just bear hug 262 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: the quarterback and hold on like I I don't. I 263 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: don't know what else Clay Matthews is supposed to do. 264 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: Not that being said, you have to try to do 265 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: something different because you can't keep getting flags. So you 266 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: can't just keep doing the same thing because the flags 267 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: are gonna keep coming out. But I'm not sure what 268 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: the answer is West. I'm really not get the flags out, 269 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: the flag, the red flags, throw them on the quarterback. 270 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what, Mike, Um, here's what's funny about this. 271 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: Here's the feeder of it. Week one egregious. You know 272 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: everyone understands that just because I mean, even if he 273 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: wasn't trying to be malicious in it, you go up 274 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: near the quarterback's head and the balls out, they're gonna 275 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 1: throw the flag. Matthews got that last last week is 276 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: last week wasn't a penalty. This might have been the 277 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: first week that the referees got the call right in 278 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: terms of the letter of the law. But that doesn't 279 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: change the fact it's a terrible foul. It's a terrible call. 280 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: But it is funny in that claim Matthews. After three 281 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: straight weeks, the referees actually got the call probably right, 282 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: and it doesn't change the fact that it's terrible and uh, 283 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, But here's here, here's the things. 284 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: And this is interesting because after after we got back 285 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: last night, after the plane landed, got home, I'm looking 286 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: through some different things on the internet. I got my 287 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: eye on Sunday Night Football. I saw I saw a 288 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: discussion that happened on the Sunday Night Football pregame show 289 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: and apparently they had Terry McAuley, the former official who's 290 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: now kind of one of these rules analysts for the networks, 291 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: and he pointed out something very interesting that there is 292 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: language in the rule as far as this whole body 293 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: weight thing on the quarterback. There's language and the rule 294 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: about it being unnecessary, you know. And that's the part 295 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: I think that's getting lost here. Is that. Okay, so yes, 296 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: by the letter of the law, Clay Matthews landed with 297 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: all of his body weight on the quarterback. But it 298 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: was necessary for him to make the play. It wasn't 299 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: some unnecessary act that was outside of the play that 300 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: he was trying to make. And I think that's what's 301 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: getting lost here. And as as we've talked about all 302 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: of this focus on the rules and the changes in 303 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: the rules and all this kind of stuff. It has 304 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: the the officials hyper focused on finding reasons to throw 305 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: flags instead of stopping to think about the reasons not to. 306 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: That's what's going on here, and unfortunately the Packers seem 307 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: to be the team that's right in the middle of it. Now, 308 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: not long before the Clay Matthews sack, Aaron Rodgers gets 309 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: basically tossed like a rag doll on a sack, actually 310 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: really lands on his head, his helmet goes right into 311 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: the turf. And then we in the press box were 312 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: treated to a little conversation between Rogers and referee Craig 313 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: Rolstad where he had left his microphone on during the 314 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: TV time out, and we heard Rogers asking the referee 315 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: about hey, like, did you know do you see me 316 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: get thrown down on my head there? And the referee said, well, 317 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: I couldn't see it through all the pile of bodies 318 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: and whatever based on his angle, so he couldn't, so 319 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: he couldn't throw the flag. So that again brings me 320 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: back to the point I've been making all along, which 321 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: is if you want to protect these players, then you 322 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: have to have replay to look at this, because if 323 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: one guy is in charge of throwing that flag and 324 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: he can't see what happened, then how are we How 325 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: is anybody's supposed to get anything right and trust that 326 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: the calls are all going to be legitimate and fair. 327 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: It's it's it's not happening correctly, and the league needs 328 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: to do something about it. Ding ding Ding. Yeah. I 329 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: can't add much more to that. You're right. Here's here's 330 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: the one thing I will say though. Uh, this is 331 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: the one thing I really appreciated about Clay Matthews. Afterwards 332 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: he said he did not he did not agree with 333 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: it obviously. Uh. And he handled it all, in my opinion, 334 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: handled it very professionally. You could tell his frustration, considering 335 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: he comes from a third generation football family, has an 336 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: uncle that played in the league for twenty years, a 337 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: father that played in the league for nineteen years. He's 338 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: been playing this game for twenty years. He said, this 339 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: is the way I play it. I almost wish, though, 340 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: he would have did one thing differently, And and I 341 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: understand that the games played at a million miles prower 342 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: there's nothing to do. I think it would have made 343 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: a great statement to the league if he would have 344 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: bear hugged him and stopped and then to getting back 345 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: to the original thing, because one they would have had 346 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: to he had his arms covered, so there's nothing Alex Smith. 347 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: If you if you can get the quarterback in a 348 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: bear hug, he's not He's not going. And I think 349 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: that would have been a great statement in terms of 350 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: the I'm not saying this is how you should do it, 351 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: but I'm saying I think that would have been a 352 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: great moment for people to really look at be like, 353 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: is this the league you want? Is this the play 354 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: you want? Do you want your your your faces, your 355 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: celebrity pass rushers that the guys that Sunday Night Football 356 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: is gonna put their promotions. Do you want him going 357 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: up to Alex Smith and bear hugging him until the 358 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: ref calls end of forward progress, until they blow the whistle. Yeah, 359 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 1: And I think that might be what's gonna happen because 360 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: getting back to you original thing about unnecessary, you know, penalty, 361 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: Clay Matthew said he could have made it unrest unnecessary. 362 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 1: There's things he could have done that would have been 363 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: absolutely specific plays. But he got inside leverage on the tackle, 364 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: He had a straight line to the quarterback. You're telling me, 365 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews is going to be able to get his 366 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: hips around on that play. And by the way, you 367 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: get your hips around too much, you know what you're doing. 368 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: You're soup plexing them. You're gonna do the same thing 369 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: that happened to Rogers, but now you don't have the 370 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: clutter and you're getting the play. Yeah yeah, yeah, what 371 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,479 Speaker 1: what what Doron Payne did? If Rollsdad can see it, 372 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: he's throwing the flag and and that potentially changes up 373 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: changes a possession of possible scoring opportunity. So here's Packers, 374 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: here's the here's the lesson. Here kids, make sure there's 375 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: a scrum around the quarterback. They take your what you will? Yeah, yeah, yes, well, 376 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: I tell you what was We spent more time on 377 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: that than I thought we were going to. And there 378 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: was a lot that happened elsewhere in the NFL, And 379 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,360 Speaker 1: let's save a lot of that discussion and where things 380 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: are in the NFC North for tomorrow's show. And there's 381 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: some other things obviously to follow up on this game. 382 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: But you know what, we're just gonna what. I'm gonna 383 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: interrupt you one more time, you know, the ultimate travesty 384 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: with this Matthews played two pretty good games. He played 385 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 1: well against Minnesota, got wiped out. He got a sack 386 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: in this game and got wiped out. Okay, all right, 387 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: but we do have to call it a wrap on 388 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all 389 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: of our coverage of the team on the website packers 390 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: dot com. On Twitter, you can follow him at west 391 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. 392 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.