1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 3 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: West Hodkowits for coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. It's Wednesday, are midweek show, 5 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: and that means we'll take a look at the Packers 6 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: upcoming opponent. It's the a f C West Denver Broncos. 7 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: They will come into lambeau Field on Sunday for a 8 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: noon Central Time kickoff. And the Broncos, like the Packers, 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: have a new head coach, and a rookie head coach 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: in this league. Although Vic Fangio has certainly been around 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: the NFL for quite some time. But the bottom line 12 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: is right now with his team, whether you want to 13 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: talk about roughing the passer and clock controversies that we 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: discus gust on our previous shows, the Broncos are oh 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: and two and they're still trying to get Vic Fangio 16 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: his first win as a head coach. Yeah, and you 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: could talk about all those things. Certainly, we wasted a 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: lot of breath the last few days, you know, expounding 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: upon all those topics. But to me, I expected them 20 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: out of the gates to have some you know issues offensively, 21 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: I think, right now, what are they in the league? 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: Fifteen points a game. What has surprised me is the 23 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: defense though, And we're gonna talk about both sides of 24 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: the ball here, but Vic Fangio, you think, uh, you know, 25 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: he doesn't blitz a lot, but he does generate a 26 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: lot of pressure, generates takeaways. The Broncos right now don't 27 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: have either. They don't have any sacks and they don't 28 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: have any turnovers for us. So, um, that I think 29 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: is going to be an anomaly. I think when you 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: look at the firepower that that defense has, they're going 31 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: to get their opportunities. But for the Green Bay Packers perspective, 32 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: you hope it's one week after this upcoming Sunday. Yeah, 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: I mean, let's go ahead and talk about that defense, 34 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: because you said it. The two statistics that jump out 35 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: at you is that through two games, no sacks and 36 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: no turnovers, which for Vic Fangio defense is almost like 37 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: mind boggling. It's hard to believe. And when you look 38 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: at the players that they have on the edges, you 39 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: have Von Miller and you have Bradley Chubb, and on 40 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: the interior with that pass pass rush. You have Derek Wolf, 41 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: who's being paid as a as an elite interior rusher 42 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: in this league, and Chris harris Um certainly a bona 43 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: fide number one cornerback to to lockdown or attempt to 44 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: lock down an opponent's top receiver. They spent a lot 45 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: of money to get to Bryce Callahan this offseason as 46 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: well from Chicago. That was who was Yeah, and and 47 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 1: Callahan is a guy kind of making that step up 48 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: from being the nickel back in Chicago to being a starter. 49 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: But he obviously has all the knowledge of Fangio's defensive 50 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: scheme and everything, so they felt he would be a 51 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: good fit there. There's talent on that side of the ball. 52 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: But the no sacks and no turnovers through through two 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 1: games is really startling. Yeah, and von Miller, some of 54 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: these guys have talked about it, you know, their need 55 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: to step up and to you know, make some plays 56 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: for this defense because certainly the firepower is there. As 57 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: I just said Bradley Chubb, I mean, I think he's 58 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: one of the top young rushers in this league. Certainly, 59 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: the Denver made a big investment in him a year ago, 60 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: and he paid them off for that. I think he 61 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,399 Speaker 1: had twelve and a half sacks last year. So yeah, 62 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: seeing how these pieces come together and fit into Fangio's 63 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: defense is going to be, you know, one of their 64 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: big storylines for the season because ultimately, while they did 65 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: trade for Joe Flacco, um, you know, they have different 66 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: players there. I think offensively they feel they can win with, 67 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: but the Broncos for the better part of the last 68 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: decade have won with their defense. Um, you know, basically 69 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: since uh, you know, Peyton Manning's MVP season. So um 70 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: for them finding that right rhythm. You know, they're not 71 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: giving up a lot of points. That's kept him in 72 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: these ball games early. But as Mike Petton has said 73 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: time and time again, in order to be a successful 74 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: defense over the course of the season, you need takeaways, 75 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: you need pressure, and right now the Broncos are getting neither. Yeah, 76 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: when you want to look at a statistical comparison, the 77 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: Broncos obviously played the Bears last week after the Packers 78 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: played them in Week one, and really from a yardage 79 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: standpoint other than core Darrell Patterson ripping off about a 80 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: forty six yard run for Chicago in one of those 81 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: funky formations out of the backfield. The Broncos defense really 82 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: did to the Bears offense statistically, you know, the same 83 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: type of job that the Packers did. Rabinsky didn't have 84 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: a pass I don't believe of more than twenty five 85 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: yards a completion, that is. And the Bears running backs 86 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 1: other than I said, the one long run by Patterson, 87 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: the Bears running backs did not have any other explosive 88 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: games really, but not having any sacks and turnovers has 89 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: been the difference. Even though, um to the Broncos credit, 90 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: they did hold the Bears to just thirteen points until 91 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: the last play of the game. Yeah, and that's all, 92 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 1: you know, that's where the difference is going to be 93 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: made again. Up until that last play. Mitchell Robinsky had 94 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: ninety passing yards in that game. But I think what 95 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: it shows you, though, Mike, is that you can play 96 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 1: really stout defensively, but if you don't get the takeaways, 97 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: or you don't get those critical stops when you need 98 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 1: them the most, how it's going to impact the final 99 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: outcome up games. So I expect there's gonna be a 100 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: hungry team coming in here. And I wrote about this 101 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: an inbox this week. I think it makes that Broncos 102 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: really dangerous because they didn't we'll move on to offense 103 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: here in a second, but they didn't trade for Joe 104 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: Flacco thinking that this is just gonna be a total 105 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 1: rebuild here. John Elway wants to find a quarterback. The 106 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: Broncos want to return to being a contender, and let's 107 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: be honest, that division has suddenly become a real juggernaut 108 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: now in the NFL and they're trying to keep up 109 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: with the Joneses. So yeah, this is, uh, this is 110 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: gonna be a tried and true test. You win with defense. 111 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times in this league. The 112 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: Broncos won a Super Bowl a few years back based 113 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: on that defense. We remember that team that the Packers 114 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: had that win into Mile High and you know, they 115 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: struggled to pass the ball on this defense, and that 116 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: was when the Packers were six and oh and writing 117 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: high and that Broncos defense that ultimately ended up winning 118 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl that year. That Broncos defense completely shut 119 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. I was four years ago, 120 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: yeah right, and you know right now, the Bronco Broncos 121 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: do technically have a top ten defense, but if you're 122 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers, if you're Aaron Jones, you want to protect 123 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: the football. That offensive line needs to protect the quarterback 124 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: because this little mini gauntlet that they're on here facing 125 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: defenses that can hurt you. You know, the Packers haven't 126 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: escaped that yet. Yeah. Well, you mentioned Joe Flacco on 127 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: the offensive side of the ball for the Broncos, and 128 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: as you said, John Elway made the trade, brought him 129 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: in because they feel like they can contend now in 130 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: a in a tough division with Kansas City Chiefs, Los 131 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: Angeles Chargers and whatnot, and Flacco his numbers so far 132 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: this year statistically things look okay, but much like the Packers, 133 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: the Broncos aren't scoring enough points. They are trying to 134 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: get their running game cranked up. Interestingly, though, the guy 135 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: who made all the headlines for them last year in 136 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: the ground game, Philip Lindsay, isn't really producing to the 137 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: level he was last year. But the number two guy, 138 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: Royce Freeman, is the one who's you know, kind of 139 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: been a bright spot offensively. They're gonna have to make 140 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: a decision here on what they want to do unless 141 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: they are fully committed to this committee approach, because right, 142 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: I mean Philip Lindsley, you know, one of the top 143 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: rookies in the league last season. I think he was 144 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: the only undrafted rookie that made the All Rookie Team 145 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: didn't go to the Pro Bowl. Yes, correct, and the 146 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: only one to make the Pro Bowl. Carries seventy nine yards, 147 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: only has a long of nine right now, three point 148 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: three yards per carry. Then you have Royce Freeman on 149 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: the other side of the carries for hundred and ten 150 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: yards along of twenty six in an average of five 151 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: point two. I think there's a lot of people, you know, 152 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: when you look at the way that this backfield is constructed, 153 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people, I think, including myself, that 154 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: thought Royce Freeman this was his backfield. They were going 155 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: to turn the keys over to him. And then Lindsay 156 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: kind of came out of nowhere last year to be 157 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: that guy. So what they want to do there is 158 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: going to be interesting to watch and how they approached 159 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: this game and how those reps are divvied up. Because 160 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: again getting back to what point I made a few 161 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: minutes ago, you know this team since that Super Bowl 162 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: run or even before that, really, because there were some 163 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: quarterback questions that year, going back probably even to when 164 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: Manning was an m v P. You know, they've been 165 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: built around the run, and there's been a lot of 166 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: different guys that have carried that mantel for them. Yeah, 167 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: they're trying to figure out who that guy can be 168 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: for Joe Flacco on this offense right now, as far 169 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: as the weapons in the passing game. Emmanuel Sanders, who 170 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: was a free agent signing. I guess it was a 171 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: year or two ago. I'm trying to remember my timeline exactly, 172 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: a free agent signing from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's there six? 173 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: Is that really help? Are you serious? Okay, well, sorry 174 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: about that, folks. I thought it was just a couple 175 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: of years ago. Um, But he came over from the 176 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers. He's been a pretty steady consistent presence for 177 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: them in the passing game. Two years old already? Wow? 178 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: And yeah, well, clearly I didn't realize he was that old, 179 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: or I would have thought he had been there longer. Um. 180 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: But aside from Sanders, who else has Joe Flacco at 181 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: least in this early going. He's only got two starts 182 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: under his belt as a Broncos quarterback. But who else 183 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: is he looking at it? Well, Cortland Sutton is the 184 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: other person in this uh, in this offense, you know, 185 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: since the Damerius Thomas Emmanuel Sanders era kind of went 186 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: by the wayside, and he is kind of a young guy, 187 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: right like Sutton actually is young. Let's let's get an 188 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: official ag. I want to see twenty three years old. 189 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: Last year, really promising rookie season, forty two catches for 190 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: hundred seventy four yards out of SMU. He was one 191 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: of my favorites at the combine and he's off to 192 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: a nice start and had a hundred and twenty receiving 193 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: yards against Oakland. Six ft four two sixteen pounds. Uh, 194 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: you know, really dynamic player. I think without having in 195 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: front of me, I think he ended up going in 196 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: the second round. They have high aspirations for him. He's 197 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: been a favorite target so far early as I was 198 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: just saying with Joe Flacco in this offense, and the 199 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: thing I love about Sanders is that he was one 200 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: of the rare exceptions where a guy reaches free agency 201 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: at that position and really hasn't kind of reached his 202 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: ceiling yet. Uh. He had four fine seasons with Pittsburgh, 203 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: but it was when he got to Denver that he 204 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: really took off. I think he had a fourteen hundred 205 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: yards season during one of those years. His numbers have 206 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: kind of plateau the last two seasons, but still a 207 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: very dynamic guy that the Packers are gonna have to 208 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: bec started with. Well here's an interesting stat I'll just 209 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 1: throw at you, and I don't want to get into 210 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: too long a discussion about it, but Garrett Bowls, the 211 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: left tackle for the Denver Broncos. Through two games, he's 212 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: already been flagged five times for holding. Now three of 213 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: those were declined, excuse me, but the bottom line is 214 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: five flags for holding in two games. We've seen there's 215 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: been this emphasis on holding. Holding calls are up around 216 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: the league. We've seen we saw David Bactieri in WELAK 217 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: one in Chicago and All Pro the number one left 218 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: tackle in the league last year, first team All Pro guy, 219 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: got flagged for flag twice for holding in Week one. 220 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: But this is one of those things when when if 221 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: a guy starts to get that kind of reputation amongst 222 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: the officials, the officials look at the stats and stuff 223 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: too to know who's out there and what's going on. 224 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: Be interesting to see just what Mike Petton dials up, 225 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: so to speak, or who he wants matched up against. 226 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: Bowls at left tackle for a guy who is struggling 227 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: a little bit to stay away from the penalty FLA yeah, 228 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: overall pick in two thousand and seventeen. He was an 229 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: All rookie member of the p f w A during 230 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: his rookie season. But yeah, he's it's it's one of 231 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: those rocky stars that you sometimes deal with. You look at, 232 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: you know, the way that this offensive line has been 233 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 1: built over the years. Um that was one of the 234 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: reasons why they were able to win a Super Bowl 235 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: with Peyton Manning with some of the issues that they 236 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: did have in the passing game, is what they were 237 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: able to do with that line and what they were 238 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: able to do with that run game. Bowls has been 239 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: kind of a part of that next guard. There really 240 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: has been a passing of the torch in the last 241 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: couple of years. You know, Ronald Learry, the former Dallas 242 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: Cowboys guard. I've always been a big fan of his work. 243 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 1: They signed him a couple of years ago. He's been 244 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: kind of moved in there at right guard. Certainly Dalton 245 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: Risner is the guy that you and I have talked 246 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: a lot about over last year. He was one of 247 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: my favorites at the combine this uh this this past year, 248 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: and they're currently using him at right guard I should say, 249 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: excuse me, left guard. So they have some pieces there, 250 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: But you know, the the lynch pinned all this is Bowls. 251 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: He was the first round pick. He was seen as 252 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: the franchise left tackle, and this is where if your's 253 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: a Darius Smith, Preston Smith and the rest of those 254 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: edge rushers, you want to be able to give them 255 00:11:58,679 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: a run for their money a little bit and make 256 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: things uncomfortable for Joe Flacco because, as we've seen over 257 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: the years, Flacco can hurt you. But he's also a 258 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: guy that pretty much stays to that pocket. So I 259 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: think in some way it's a very similar matchup to 260 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: what they saw a week ago with Kirk Cousins. Yeah, 261 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: I think that's a matchup to watch definitely in this game. 262 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: Real quickly, here, West Select Cousin Subs locations are now 263 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your favorite sub, 264 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: they're delivering right to you when you order online at 265 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: cousin Subs dot Com cousin Subs, we believe in better 266 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: all right. Another aspect with regards to the Packers and 267 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: this most recent victory against the Vikings that I want 268 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 1: to get back to. You posted a story on Packers 269 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: dot com yesterday. It's your weekly or sometimes semi weekly 270 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: Player on the Rise feature, and you actually selected two 271 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: players in talking about the tandem and presses have at cornerback, 272 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: the young cornerback tandem of Jayar Alexander and Kevin King, 273 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 1: and we talked a lot in the offseason West As 274 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: you know, we mentioned I wrote its story in the 275 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: yearbook about it. Talking to both of these guys, they 276 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,199 Speaker 1: feel like when they are on the field together, they 277 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: can be one of the top cornerback tandems in the league. 278 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: This Mike Petton defense. In the little that we saw 279 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: last year when these two were on the field together, 280 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: the defense was playing at a different level. Through two games, 281 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: both of these guys have been on the field, knock 282 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: on wood, playing their fair share of snaps and it's 283 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 1: making a big difference for Mike Petton's crew. I'll be 284 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: honest with you one thing, I am kind of kicking 285 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: myself with and certainly our offseason was pretty busy. Um, 286 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: I know there's a couple different projects I worked on. 287 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: I am sort of kicking myself. I didn't do a 288 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: little bit of a study on where these where this 289 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: defense was at when King was available, because I even 290 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: think I go back to that second game of the 291 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: season against Minnesota when King played to when he left 292 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: the game, and just a real big difference there. Yeah, 293 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 1: Minnesota's fourth quarter comeback, and I know, you know there 294 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: was the penalty controversy, but Minnesota's fourth quarter comeback. They 295 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: suddenly became this explosive offense in the fourth quarter to 296 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: get that aim to overtime, and Kevin King's absence was 297 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,599 Speaker 1: a huge part of that. All you have to do 298 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: you look at you look at the second half of 299 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: the first Minnesota game and then the entire second Minnesota 300 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: game when the Packers did not have both King and Alexander, 301 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: and look at the numbers that Digs and Theeland put 302 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: up against the Packers compared to what they did on 303 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: Sunday in the first matchup of twenty nineteen. Night and 304 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: day difference in terms of production, it was pretty incredible 305 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: when I looked it up. I mean it was like 306 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: almost like four and er in sixty yards or something 307 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: like that in two games. Two receivers, and they had 308 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: five touchdowns and they were all pretty much balanced across 309 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: both games. So yeah, they were a big problem. And 310 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: you know, suffice it to say, King and Alexander took 311 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: care of that issue, and this is going to be 312 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: something as long as those two are on the field. 313 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: I think the Packers are very confident about putting either 314 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: of those guys outside on anybody in this league and 315 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: being able to be up to the task. And Aaron 316 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: Rodgers comment after the game was very telling as well, 317 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: where he said, you know, we've had, you know, various 318 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: guys who have come through here over the years that 319 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: maybe they don't really want the at that smoke with 320 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: the top receivers in the league. And he wasn't singling 321 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: on anybody, but he's been around for fifteen years. He's 322 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: seen a lot of ball. Kevin King, not that guy, Jr. Alexander, 323 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: not that guy. They want the challenge. And you know, King, 324 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: when I was in his huddle and talking with him 325 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: a little bit after the game, he echoed the same 326 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: thing because he was asked, He's like, you know, do 327 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: you do you feel pressure in these instances? He's like, 328 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: we don't feel any pressure. You know, you see us 329 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: in the way we act. They want that challenge. Jyr 330 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: Alexander does not back away from that challenge. I think 331 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: the way he played in that game, you know, he's 332 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: within a you know, two eyeballs and a fingertip of 333 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: catching that interception that ended up being on the forty 334 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: five yard touchdown pass for Digs, and he didn't bat 335 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: an eye. He came right back with a short memory 336 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: of the next series. As long as those two guys 337 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: are healthy and in that secondary, I think the Packers 338 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: really like where they stand right now at their cornerback position. Yeah, 339 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: I mean they're Their approach, their attitude throughout the whole 340 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: offseason was evident, was palpable in a sense. Anytime you 341 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: talk to him. I know, we keep referencing the yearbook 342 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: story that I wrote, but I had separate one on 343 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: one interviews with the two of them for that story, 344 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: and in separate conversations, they both talked about how they 345 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: want the challenge of taking on that number one receiver 346 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: to the extent that you know, behind closed doors, they 347 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: were joking that you know, they they'd probably be fighting 348 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: with the other guy over over who was going to 349 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: get it, or they'd be making their please to Mike Petton, 350 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, give me this assignment kind of thing. 351 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: And and yeah, that's what you that's what you love 352 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: to see and love to hear. Aaron Rodgers was making 353 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: reference back to the days of when the three the 354 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: top three cornerback group for the Packers was Charles Woodson, 355 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: Al Harrison, Tremont Williams, when he was the you know, 356 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: the young up and coming guy behind the two veterans. 357 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: Now he obviously couched at. Charles Woodson is going into 358 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. He's you know, Rogers considers him, 359 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: you know, maybe one of the best football players he 360 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: ever played with. I think even said the best words 361 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: at all. And uh, but that being said, it's the 362 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: it's the attitude and the approach that, you know, whether 363 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: you're talking a future Hall of Fame wide receiver on 364 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,239 Speaker 1: the other side or whoever it is, that there's no 365 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: backing down, that it's like, all right, this is my job, 366 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: let's go, let's play and um and these guys, these 367 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: guys take that approach every single time. And one of 368 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: the things that's exciting about this particular duo is they're 369 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: both right in the same you know, generational gap in 370 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: terms of NFL careers. And when Rogers made that analogy 371 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 1: with Woodson, Treman and al Harris, it's a good analogy. 372 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: He's talking about three of the best cornerbacks to do 373 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: it in Green Bay. But they were all at various 374 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: different points of their careers. Treman was right at the beginning, 375 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: Al Harris was pretty near the end, and you know, 376 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: Charles Woodson was probably and maybe the early fourth quarter 377 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: at that point when he kind of had his late resurgence. 378 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: These two guys are both young, twentysomething you know, guys 379 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: that have a lot of athletic ability. I thought you 380 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: had a really astute observation about the interception that King 381 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: had where he was actually when he caught that pick. 382 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: He wasn't even high pointing the ball at that point. 383 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: He was actually on his descent along with Digs. And 384 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 1: that's just what you get from him though at six 385 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: ft three, The the rang nous, the catch radius, the speed, 386 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: the quickness, just how long he can keep his body 387 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: in the air when he elevates like that. That he 388 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: was still that he was able to stay in the 389 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: air long enough to still get his hands on the 390 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: ball even though he was coming down and crashing to 391 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,199 Speaker 1: the ground. And the point I want to make with 392 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: this is when you look at this defense the way 393 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: it's structured right now, you don't just have good defensive tackles, 394 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: good outside linebackers, and good cornerbacks. You have players who 395 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: play a position but are also incredible athletes. Kenny Clark 396 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: is not your traditional defensive tackle. He has more speed 397 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: and quickness than most at that position. You've seen it 398 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: with Preston Smith. Preston Smith has an interception in his 399 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: last five seasons now or whatever that is. I mean 400 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: za Darius Smith, what he can do. The athleticism. These 401 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: are guys that are that test off the charts and 402 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: play at a different level. If these guys can stay healthy, 403 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 1: I think ultimately that's what's gonna help the most. You 404 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: Off the chemistry that's incredibly important. You have the guys 405 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: playing discipline football incredibly important. But when you talk about 406 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: an absolute athletic perspective with guys like King and Clark 407 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: and Alexander mixed with some of these veterans they brought 408 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: in the Packers are just a cut above right now. 409 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: I mean, we're talking about a defense that you know, 410 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: you can make an argument is one of the most 411 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: talented that they've had since the Super Bowl, if not 412 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: the most talented. And a lot of these guys are 413 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: in the prime of their careers. Yeah, I mean that's 414 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: how that's how this thing has been built. When you 415 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: combine all the investments in the draft picks in recent 416 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: years with then that free agent class of signing three 417 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: um as, you say, prime of their career starters to 418 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: come in and start right away and be leaders. Zadarius 419 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: Smith voted a team captain when before he even plays 420 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: his first game essentially as a Green Bay Packer, he's 421 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: voted the permanent captain on the defensive side of the ball. 422 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: That says something about about these guys and and about 423 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: their presence since the day they arrived. And it makes 424 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: for some fun banter between King in Alexander, But okay, 425 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: which guy is the number one shutdown guy? But the 426 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: real serious note to that is that then you have 427 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: a game like Adam Feeland Stefon Diggs coming in and 428 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: you need two guys are gonna be able to match 429 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: up with those guys the Packers had that they're gonna 430 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: see Sutton and Sanders this weekend. You're gonna see a 431 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: litany of those other combinations to come those guys around 432 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: the field. I think Mike Petton likes his chances. Yeah, 433 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: I think he does too. With that, we're going to 434 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: call it a wrap on this edition of Packers on Scripted. 435 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 436 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com, Subscribe to us, like us 437 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: on iTunes and other podcast services. On Twitter, He's at 438 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: west Hot, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the 439 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.