1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: M Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside I trusted colleague west 3 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: Hodkuwitz for coming to you here from our studios at 4 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: lambeau Field West. Another day closer to Packers Lions Sunday afternoon, 5 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: Ford Field in Detroit, and as the Packers get into 6 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: the bulk of their on field practice preparation for this game, 7 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: worth going over the injury report here as we sit 8 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: in week five, because while Randall Cobb and Geronimo Alison 9 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: with a hamstring and concussion, respectively, are not back on 10 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: the practice field for the Packers at the cornerback position, 11 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: Kevin King and Jaire Alexander, both dealing with coroyin and 12 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: reas were on the practice field and that's a potentially 13 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: good sign for this past defense heading into a game 14 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: against Matthew Stafford. Absolutely, and those three receivers that the 15 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: Lions have, certainly the Packers are well acquainted with. Marvin 16 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: Jones Jr. Has had a fair amount of success over 17 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: them the last few seasons. Golden Tate is a type 18 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: of player possession receiver you always have to take into 19 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: account regardless of where he's lining up much like a 20 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb type, you know, impact player for their offense. 21 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: And then also Kenny Gallabay, who's who was their third 22 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: round pick last year, has made an impact. So yeah, 23 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: that's of the passing yards so far for the Lions 24 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: this season, those three receivers. So Packers want to be 25 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: at full strength at cornerback. We'll have to see all 26 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: the rest of the week plays out here. But the 27 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,400 Speaker 1: fact that Kevin King was back in a full capacity 28 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, it was kind of funny because that the 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: actual injuryport gets released later in the day, but he 30 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: was standing at his locker after practice talking about it 31 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: and was basically asked, Hey, if you have to play 32 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: at less than ercent are you able to do that 33 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: with a groin injury? And he thought about it for 34 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: a second, he goes, yes, I can, but I'm a 35 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: hundred so it's all good. So uh, And then as 36 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: it turned out, he ended up being a full participant. 37 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: So I think for Kevin King, I'm not saying there's 38 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: any time in which it's good for a player not 39 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: to be playing, but I think these last two weeks 40 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: are really beneficial for him because certainly he's been able 41 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: to rest up with the groin injury. He also was 42 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: dealing with the shoulder before that. The Packers are gonna 43 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: need Kevin King to be at his full strength to 44 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: be an impact player for this defense, for the Packers 45 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: to get to where they want to be at the 46 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: end of the season. And now him coming back a 47 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: perfect opponent, three really good weapons for the Lions. They 48 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: want to have that secondary at his best. Yeah, we 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: saw when Kevin King left the game in Week two 50 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: against the Vikings. There was a bit of a domino 51 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: effect for the Packers defense there against Minnesota and then 52 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: in the first half against Washington. Still some adjustments and 53 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: and things didn't really settle down in terms of the 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: past defense. From the second half of the Washington game 55 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: now through obviously the Buffalo game against a rookie quarterback, 56 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: mind you, but the Packers seem to settle in with 57 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: their secondary and with the roles. Now you potentially have 58 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: that positive domino effect of King coming back into the 59 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: lineup based on extra options of how to match up 60 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: and and how to use different combinations of players and 61 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: things like that. It's sort of a domino effect the 62 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: other way, he is one of the type of players 63 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: and I'm just projecting this to be what he's going 64 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: to be in this league, I think, to me, looking 65 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 1: at his intangibles and looking at what he's put on 66 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: film in his first ten and a half eleven games 67 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 1: of his career, Kevin King just seems like the kind 68 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: of guy that you plug in at boundary cornerback and 69 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: you just don't think about it. He solves that puzzle 70 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: for you. He's a a guy that's going to be 71 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: able to travel with top receivers if you need him 72 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: to do that. If you want to have him play 73 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: one side, he can do that as well. But he 74 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: has the versatility, the flexibility, and the overall talent to 75 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: be able to match up with the Stefon Diggs of 76 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: the world, as we saw last year with you know, 77 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: Julio Jones and A. J. Green does Bryant. He doesn't 78 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: step away from those challenges. But the nice effect of 79 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: that as well is that R Alexander stepped up and 80 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: I thought played really well in his absence here the 81 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: last two weeks and him being able to get back 82 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: on the practice field after leaving with the groin injury. 83 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: There's just a lot of different pieces for this secondary 84 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: and certainly they did lose Devon House. But then you 85 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: go inside Bashad Brelan, you have Tremon Williams playing how 86 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: he's playing right now as a boundary corner in this 87 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: league at age thirty five. Josh Jackson stepped up, and 88 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: I just think you look at the versatility of guys 89 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: like Jermaine Whitehead and Josh Jones. As the season wears on, 90 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna need to tap into that depth. The Packers 91 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: did it the last couple of weeks. But if you 92 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: have Kevin King healthy, available and ready to go, it 93 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: doesn't get any better than that. This is a really 94 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: good test for him now, you know, hopefully being able 95 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: to get back on the field Sunday and seeing what 96 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: he can do against those threats in Ford Field. Yeah, 97 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: I think it makes the Packers entire defense that much 98 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: more versatile in terms of what Mike Petton can choose 99 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: to do in different situations when you have a corner 100 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: with the just the physical attributes and the skill set 101 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: of the king out there on a regular basis, Right, 102 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: and how soon we forget I mean that game against 103 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: the Bears, the Packers ran seven defensive backs a lot. 104 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: They played six defensive backs in a base defense, so 105 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: it's nice to have that ace upper sleeve again after 106 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: last week where they basically had to finish the game 107 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: and Nickel just because of kind of the attrition at 108 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: that position. All right, well, I've got to catch up 109 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: on a little sponsor business here west because I neglected 110 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: my duty on yesterday's show. So at home or here 111 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: in the stands, we all know that Green Bay fans 112 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: give it their all and that takes a lot of energy. 113 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's 114 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. Try 115 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local 116 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup. Official sup partner 117 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, getting back to the 118 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: injuries at the wide receiver position, Randall Cobb, Geronim Wilson 119 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: not in practice. Davante Adams pops up on the injury 120 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: report with a calf injury limited participant in practice. We'll 121 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: have to see how the wheak goes on. If this is, 122 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: you know, anything to be concerned about as far as 123 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: Sunday's availability. I don't want to speculate necessarily one way 124 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: or the other with that, but regardless, it certainly looks 125 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: like the Packers have a couple of options here in 126 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: terms of how to compensate for some things in the 127 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: passing game. Either you go in with a lot more 128 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: you know, two tight end maybe even three tight end 129 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: packages and work those tight ends even more into the 130 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: passing game, or you turn over a lot of snaps 131 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: to the rookie wide receivers. Valdez Scantling obviously played a 132 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: lot against Buffalo. We talked about the positives and negatives 133 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: of his kind of first real big game on an 134 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: NFL stage. And then you've also got Jamon Moore and 135 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: eq St Brown who were certainly itching for their opportunity 136 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: as well. You have any sense at all of how 137 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: the Packers, may you know, go into this from a 138 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: planning perspective, I really don't like. But the thing I 139 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: like about it, and we talked about this, I don't 140 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: know if you recall I think even in training camp 141 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: about with the two tight end looks and even in 142 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: to some extent the three tight end looks at they're 143 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: able to be use they can be so multiple, especially 144 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: if you're using a guy like Time Montgomery who's a 145 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: pseudo receiver, pseudo running back that could play a multitude 146 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: of different roles for you. It's able to keep a 147 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: defense on its heels a little bit. Meet Personally, I 148 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: still wonder if the regardless of who's available, regardless of 149 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: Allison passed at the concussion protocol like Nick Perry did 150 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: last week where we didn't actually miss a game, or 151 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: Cobs able to get back on the field at some 152 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: point in Davante Adams, this is just a blimp on 153 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: the radar and he's fine. Maybe you do have you know, 154 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: most or if not all, those guys available, But either way, 155 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: I think the game plan for this has to be 156 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: running back heavy base, specifically alone on just the production 157 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: that the lines have been giving up in the run 158 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: game this year. They go into this game thirty second 159 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: in the league. Last week, Ezekiel Elliott ends up having 160 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: a hundred and fifty rushing yards against them in that victory. 161 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: I think this has to be an Aaron Jones type game. 162 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: It has to be a Jamal Williams and in Time 163 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: Montgomery type games. So I think, if nothing else, what 164 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: these injuries are doing in this specific encounter, Is it 165 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: maybe will allow the Packers open up the playbook a 166 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: little bit more. Maybe we see more Marcedes Lewis, Maybe 167 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: we see more of those two tight end looks that 168 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: we saw throughout the preseason. It was probably their base 169 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: package throughout the preseason. They have depth at tight end 170 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: and running back to turn to depending on what they 171 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: want to do with those receivers. Yeah, and as we 172 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: talked about earlier in the week too, I'm curious to 173 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: see just because we haven't seen Marcedes Lewis involved that 174 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: much in the passing game yet for the Packers, if 175 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: if that's something that maybe gets unveiled here out of 176 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: necessity based on your your options at wide receiver. I 177 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: totally agree with you on the running game situation that 178 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: you just have to look at the statistics. The Lions 179 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: are struggling to stop the run. As we've talked about, 180 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: they've changed a lot of things on defense. The front 181 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: four that was so much the foundation of their defense 182 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: in previous years with the and Dominican Susan Nick Fairley's 183 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: and Kyle Vanenbosch's that's not how this defense is built anymore. 184 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: Darius Slay is their playmaker at cornerback. They have Glover 185 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: Quinn at safety. Um, you know guys like that. The 186 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 1: defense is just built differently and they're struggling right now 187 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: to stop the run. So you have to take advantage 188 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: of that. That being said, you know, if these rookie 189 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: wide receivers get an opportunity, they have to cash in, right. 190 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: I mean this is even if if they if if 191 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: it's Jamon Moore or MVS they get one ball thrown 192 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 1: their way in Detroit, make the play because with Aaron Rodgers, 193 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: that's going to go a long way. I mean, that's 194 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: how Geronimo Alison did, right. I mean you brought it 195 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: up in your story on Rogers. He talked about at 196 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: the Atlanta game. Now that's two years ago. Yeah, back 197 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: Cobb ended up being a scratch. I think Time Montgomery 198 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: ended up being a scratch in that game. Jordy Nelson 199 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: I think was I'm trying to remember if he was 200 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: even available for that one. But anyway, they were down 201 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: and they were depleted at receiver, so it ended up 202 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,599 Speaker 1: being Geronimo Allison, Jeff Janison, Trevor Day, Trevor Davis, and 203 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: Alison who just came off the practice squad, ended up 204 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: having the best game out of everybody, and and and 205 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: you wrote about it. We talked about it. That's what 206 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: was sort of his coming out party, and told Rogers, 207 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: this is a guy I can count on, this is 208 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 1: a guy that could be a playmaker in this offense. 209 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: That's a big hit for Alison to be in the 210 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: concussion protocol, just because he's been so darn consistent. I 211 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: know there was a couple of drop passes there, but 212 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: still already had eighty receiving yards in that game against 213 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: the Bills. Well, and you just wonder if the one 214 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: that he took the hit, if he makes the catch 215 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: rather than drops it, does he end up not getting 216 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: that type of hit and and doesn't have a concussion 217 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: One of those things that you just yeah, if the 218 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: drop pass doesn't happen, maybe we're not talking about a 219 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: concussion protocol. But to your original point with MVS. With 220 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: Jamon Moore with a Gunemius st. Brown, if those guys 221 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: do get into this game, if it's one step, if 222 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: it's fifties four snaps like it was for Valdis Scantling 223 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: last week, you have to make sure that you use 224 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: those two the best of your ability to show Aaron 225 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: Rodgers that you know what I can play in this 226 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: offense and I can be your receiver. All right? Well, 227 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: double duty on the sponsor business. Today, West, it's time 228 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: to enter the Cousins Subs Best Seats in the House promotion. 229 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: You and a guest could win a chance to kick 230 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: back on the fifty yard line in style. Two pairs 231 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: of lucky Packers fans will be chosen prior to each 232 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: home game for this v I P experience. Enter daily 233 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: now through December sixteen by completing the entry form and submitting. 234 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: For complete rules and eligibility, go to Packers dot com 235 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: slash Best Seats Cousin Subs. We believe in better. Okay, 236 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: you mentioned the Detroit Lions being last in the league 237 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: at defending the run over the last handful of years, 238 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: they've been last or close to last in the league 239 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: at running the ball on offense. That is not the 240 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 1: case anymore. Looking up the statistics, they're actually up to 241 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: twenty in the league in rushing yardage and even more impressively, 242 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: seventh in the league in yards per carry. As far 243 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: as running the ball. Hey, but those are those are 244 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: not rankings that the Detroit Lions are used to with 245 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: running the football. They've been last in the league in 246 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: rushing yards two of the last four years, and they've 247 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: been in the high twenties the other two years. They've 248 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: been anywhere from six to last in the league over 249 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: the last four years in yards per carry. They are 250 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: emphasizing the run game. They're trying to develop that complementary 251 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: running game for a quarterback like Matthew Stafford. And this 252 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: is a this is a type of preparation week that's 253 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: a little different for the Packers going up against the 254 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: Lions because really they're in my opinion, They're rushing statistics 255 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: become even more impressive when you look at the fact 256 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: that they've been behind in the fourth quarter in the 257 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: majority in basically three of their four games where they 258 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: haven't had a chance to continue running the ball because 259 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: they because they've been behind. They racked up the big 260 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: rushing yards in the win over New England. But this 261 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: team is showing a determination to run the football and 262 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: the Packers have to be ready for it. Yeah, and 263 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: this is in ever since. I mean, you can always 264 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: draw the comparisons between them at the running back position 265 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: and what Cleveland has gone through at the quarterback position. 266 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: They lost Barry Sanders. I think that was James Stewart 267 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: that came after him had a thousand yards season. But 268 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: ever since then, it's been a carousel. They've used second 269 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: round draft picks, they've used first round draft picks on 270 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: the position. Well, and and they and they thought they 271 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 1: had a future feature back in job at best, and 272 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: concussions and ended his career because he was looking like 273 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: a very promising prospect for them. Absolutely So now they 274 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: got Carrie on Johnson. And it's funny, Mike, because so often, 275 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: you know, we talked about as recently as these last 276 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: couple of days, people ask about the Packers in the 277 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: running game and who are you going to feature, Well, 278 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: look at what Detroit's also doing. They have Carrie on Johnson, 279 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: who's you know, the spark plug is the big hitter, 280 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: home run hitter. Yeah, he's he's speedy guy, he's fast. 281 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: You have obviously, um, you know Blunt who has been 282 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 1: a big power back all these years, the Hammer, the Hammer, 283 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: his last name fits his running style exactly. And then 284 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: you got theoretic, who's more of the complimentary receiving type 285 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: of it almost mirrors what Green Bay is doing, which 286 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: almost mirrors what the NFL is doing in two thousand eighteen. 287 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: It's just the way things go. But I mean, getting 288 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: back to the original point, Johnson has been a revelation 289 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: for this offense. He finally ended that streak of of 290 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: that skid. I guess you could say of them not 291 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: having a hundred yard rusher, which at the end of 292 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: the day, it's not a big deal with has went 293 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: through it a number of years ago too, before Eddie 294 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: Lacy got here. But it is a question you have 295 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: to keep answering. It's a question the head coach and 296 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: the offense has to keep addressing. It's something that takes 297 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: on a life of its own in certain and to 298 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: a certain extent, they ended that. So you're out of 299 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: that that equation now for the next season or two. 300 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: But the thing what Johnson is is you can tell 301 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: this is a guy that isn't a that isn't a fluke. 302 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: He's gonna get his yards, he's gonna get his production. 303 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: And as he gets more established in his offense, is 304 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: they get more confidence in him. He's going to be 305 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: a guy that not only the Packers, but the NFC 306 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: North in general is gonna have to deal with. Yeah, well, 307 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: certainly something the Packers will be prepared for on Sunday 308 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: before we go today West. Though it is Thursday, I 309 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: wanted to touch on the Thursday night football matchup this 310 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: week because one of the things that's happened here in 311 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: the NFL this season with Fox Major Network taking over 312 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: the Thursday night television package, is these matchups on Thursday 313 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: nights are they aren't just like throw aways of some 314 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: sort of you know, let's give so and so, you know, 315 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: a primetime game that doesn't normally get one. We saw 316 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: the Rams against the Vikings last week, got the Colts 317 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: against the Patriots this week. Now this is no longer 318 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning against Tom Brady, but it's Andrew Luck against 319 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: Tom Brady and two guys who have faced each other 320 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: in the postseason, including in an a f C championship game. 321 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: And you have all the drama of what happened with 322 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: the coaching search in the off season with Josh McDaniels 323 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: and and GM Chris Ballard for the Indianapolis Colts. So 324 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: are really interesting. Another interesting Thursday up matchup and one 325 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: that could have some significant implications in the FC. It's 326 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: a must win game for both teams. I mean, you 327 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: look at the Patriots, they're trying to get back on 328 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: the positive side of five. In the Colts with Andrew 329 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: Luck coming back, this is supposed to be okay, well 330 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: we're back to being a contender again. Well they're sitting 331 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: one in three. The other storyline that I don't think 332 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: is getting talked enough about this week is the fact 333 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: that this is Andrew Luck's return against New England. That 334 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: was that looked Mike, when you go back to those 335 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: a f C Championship games, when you go back to 336 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: where things were headed in two thousand, twelve and thirteen 337 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: and fourteen, it looked like Tom Brady versus Manning was 338 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: just gonna shift to Tom Brady versus Love and then 339 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: he deals with the shoulder injury. They obviously go through 340 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: their issues. Jacoby Brissette comes in, who has ties to 341 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: New England, and things kind of get jumbled a little bit. 342 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: But as Chris Ballard said, the rivalries back on after 343 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: everything that happened with Josh McDaniels. Obviously, Frank Wright coming 344 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: in has a lot of familiarity. Now you know with 345 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: that that New England Patriots team. It's gonna be a 346 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: really fun game to watch, And to be honest with you, 347 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: I I from a player perspective. I've always felt for 348 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: the players. I think it's a tough turnaround for guys 349 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: to make it almost you know, kind of a natural 350 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: just just for them to be able to be expected 351 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: to play again on three days rest. But I'd be 352 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: lying to you if I told you I wasn't watching 353 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: these games. For me personally, especially with us covering games 354 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: on Sundays, it's really difficult to sit down and watch 355 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: NFL football, uh if you're specifically honed in on one team. 356 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: So I'm always tuned in and I'll be tuned in again. 357 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: I think it's a really fun matchup between two teams 358 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: that have a really interesting backstory. Yeah. Well, the rest 359 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: of the Thursday nights late this year, there are a 360 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: lot of interesting matchups, so we'll keep talking about them 361 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: as we go along, including the Packers. I know the 362 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks are going through some tough times right now. 363 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: We'll have to see where things are at a month 364 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: from now, but there's a lot of history in that 365 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: stadium with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. You're 366 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: not even just counting the NFC, the NFC Championship game, 367 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: Century link with the Packers. There's there's a story there. 368 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 1: So again me personally, if you're gonna have Thursday night 369 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: football games, make them compelling, make them watchable, and you know, 370 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,239 Speaker 1: let the chips fall where they may. All Right with that, 371 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: We'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 372 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 373 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com. On Twitter, you can still 374 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: follow him at west Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at 375 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: Packers is still the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 376 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: See you next time.