1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 3 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: wes hodko Wits. We're coming to you here from our 4 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: studios at lambau Field and West. A little bit more 5 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: coaching staff news to talk about here on the set today, 6 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: and that is because the Packers and new head coach 7 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur make an official this week. Offensive coordinator for 8 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: the nineteen Packers will be Nathaniel Hackett, most recently from 9 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: the Jacksonville Jaguars. Why don't you give us the brief 10 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: rundown on Mr Hackett? Yeah? What's interesting, Mike, And you 11 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: wrote this better than anybody our five things on the 12 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: website right now in reducing the Packers fan base to 13 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: their new offensive coordinator. It's interesting all these things work 14 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: at times because Nathaniel Hackett, the son of Paul Hackett, 15 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: a mentor from Mike McCarthy uh in another disciple that 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: Bill Welsh uh coaching tree. Yeah, that West Coast office, 17 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: the West Coast scheme that he did, and now he's 18 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: here in Green Bay, thirty nine years young, same exact 19 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 1: age as Matt Lafour at this point in time. Haven't 20 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: had to get an official comment yet from Lafour as 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: far as what his thinking was here with his first 22 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: official outside higher but when you look at his resume 23 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: where he's been, I think the exciting thing is is 24 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: that he's accomplished some stuff with quarterbacks that aren't quite 25 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: at the level of Aaron Rodgers. And seeing now with 26 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: him getting a chance to work with someone like that 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: so fresh ideas coming into this building and what that 28 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: partnership is going to be like, I think it's gonna 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: be fun to watch. Yeah, it's interesting. You want to 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: go down a rabbit hole, so to speak. You start 31 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: looking at all these coaching connections and how small a 32 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: world this can be. Paul Hackett at the University of 33 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh when Mike McCarthy really gets his first big break 34 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: into coach back in the I believe it was nine 35 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: the late nineteen eighties, Paul Hackett was the was the 36 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: head coach at that time for pit and uh, now 37 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: here we are basically twenty years later and Paul Hackett's 38 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: son is the offensive coordinator for the head coach who's 39 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: replacing Mike McCarthy Green Bay. So go figure it's one 40 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: of those things, and they are all kinds of connections 41 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: like that. That's why I set out an inbox. When 42 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: someone asked about how many former head coaches kids, I'm like, man, 43 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: there's too many. It's a it's a it's a league, 44 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: and it's a game where you're gonna see a lot 45 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: of those bloodlines. Yeah, it's a it's a small world, certainly. 46 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,079 Speaker 1: But when you look at Nathaniel Hackett, what stands out 47 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: the most is obviously his work with the Jacksonville Jaguars 48 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: in sen Obviously, that is a team that made it 49 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: all the way to the a f C Championship Game, 50 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: and many would say if not for a somewhat inadvertent 51 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: early whistle on a fumble play, they might have beaten 52 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: the New England Patriots and gone to the Super Bowl 53 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: last year. But with Blake Bortles and a rookie running 54 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: back in Leonard four Nett in seventeen with Jacksonville, the 55 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: Jaguars had one of the best offenses in the league. 56 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: I believe it was fifth is at fifth in points 57 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: in sixth in yards um, and the number one rushing 58 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: offense in the league. They certainly leaned on their rookie 59 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: running back in four net considerably There, things didn't go 60 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: as well in the reports were a lot of regression 61 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: from Blake Bortles. He wasn't living up to his standards. Obviously, 62 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: injuries can affect anybody. Um, Nathaniel Hackett ends up getting 63 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: relieved of his duties there in Jacksonville, But it sounds 64 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: like Matt Lafleur is pretty excited to bring another I 65 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: guess I would say fairly young, up and coming coach 66 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: on board. Yeah, I think so. And in looking at 67 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: where he's come from and in the road he's taken 68 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: to get here, it's also interesting we're talking about how 69 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: how small the coaching circles can be. Well, look at 70 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: the fact that Nathaniel Hackett was the offensive coordinator for 71 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: the Bills in two thousand thirteen. Who was the defensive 72 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: coordinator that year for Buffalo, Mike Pett. So, I mean, 73 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: it just goes to show you that you know, these 74 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: relationships that you build over the course of time and 75 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: then getting those opportunities. The thing that I like though, 76 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: looking at this scenario now, is you you see la 77 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: Fleur coming from being the play caller uh in Tennessee 78 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: hack and getting the chance to do those sort of 79 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: things with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and obviously, as we both mentioned, 80 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers wasn't the head coach or wasn't the you know, 81 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: the quarterback for either of those teams. But what they 82 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: did with the running game to set things up for 83 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: their passing game. That's why the Jaguars, ultimately we're able 84 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: to get as far as they did last year, was 85 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: with Havin Leonard for net being able to develop that 86 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: and playoff that. And then you look and see the 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: success that the Titans had during down the stretch this season, 88 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: it was Derrick Henry opening that door. So I think 89 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: that's gonna be one of the big hallmarks of this duo, 90 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: and and it's obviously gonna be a big point of 91 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: emphasis for any head coach, any offensive coording to establish 92 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: the run. But you have Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams 93 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: and being able to get those guys going to make 94 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: Aaron rodgers life easier. Mike, how many times have I said, 95 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: over the last three years of doing this show, when 96 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: you look back to Aaron Rodgers strongest seasons, he's always 97 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: had a complimentary running game back or just somebody that 98 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: can make impact plays out of the backfield. I think 99 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: the Packers have that. It's gonna be up to Hacket 100 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: in La Florida get the most out of that. I 101 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: think that is the most interesting part of this as 102 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: as we're going to see and obviously talk plenty about 103 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: the evolution of this Packers offense and where it's going. 104 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: When you look at what Hackett did with for Net 105 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville, you look at what Matt Lafleur did with 106 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: Derrick Henry in Tennessee. Packers have Aaron Jones, they have 107 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: Jamal Williams. Maybe they'll add some others this this offseason 108 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: to that depth chart at running back. We'll have to see. 109 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: I I think that's a very interesting um part of 110 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: this as as we follow it moving forward with regards 111 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: to the running game. The other thing I'll say, and 112 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: this is interesting because I saw the question in Insider inbox. 113 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: I believe you were the one who answered it. On 114 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: your day. There was a and who wrote in and said, 115 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of Packers fans are are kind 116 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: of on edge, a little bit disappointed or upset that 117 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: you know, Matt Lafleur is coming from Tennessee with an 118 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: offense that was ranked in the twenties and now Nathaniel 119 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: Hackett's coming from the Jaguars after being relieved of his 120 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: duties mid season in ten. But if you actually go 121 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: back a year, Nathaniel Hackett with what he did in 122 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: Jacksonville in seventeen, and then Matt Lafleur as Sean mcveigh's 123 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator with the Rams in seen if this were 124 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: a year ago, these would have been two of the 125 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: most talked about offensive candidates to UH to move up 126 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: or to move on in their NFL careers. So this 127 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: is what the Packers are banking on, essentially, that that 128 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: both of these guys are um are going to be 129 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: able to UH to continue what they had done in 130 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: the past, and that the rankings and just the flat 131 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: out numbers of teen obviously don't reflect the types of 132 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: coaches that they are. Yeah, and I think it's important 133 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: to remember too in this business, very rarely are you 134 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: going to find a coach at any level that has escaped, 135 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: you know, being fired. At some point in time. They're 136 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: hired to get fired. I mean, that's the that's the 137 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: old saying, right. Bill Belichick fell into that. Andy Reid 138 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: experienced it with Philadelphia after he had built all that. 139 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: Even I think the story always is of Sean Payton 140 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: and where things were heading with the Giants when he 141 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: got hired away. You know, whether or not he would 142 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: have been there long term, that's just the way this 143 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: game goes, and there's so much parody sometimes it's inescapable. 144 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: So I think the important thing when you look specifically, 145 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: not that la Fleur has bet well, he has been 146 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: on that side, but if you go back to Washington 147 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: but now with Hackett, is trusting yourself, trusting your principles, 148 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: trusting your system, and being able to implement that in 149 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: a new place. This is gonna be a really important offseason. 150 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: And you know, in the next couple of weeks here 151 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur will be finalizing that coaching staff. I'm sure 152 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a lot of back and forth conversations 153 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: with Hackett, with Mike Petton whoever comes in as their 154 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: special teams coordinator, to figure out what that was gonna 155 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: look like. But once that staff is finalized, you and 156 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: I have been around this long enough, Mike, they're gonna 157 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: be spending two months developing that playbook. They're gonna be 158 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: spending time getting those players, getting their preparation ready for 159 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: when the players get back in the building on April one, 160 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: because it is the Packers haven't experienced the off season 161 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: like this in the new CBA environment of being able 162 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: to you know, change up the head coaching, you know, 163 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: stint and and look at a new program here in 164 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 1: Green Bay. So I think for Nathaniel Hackett again, without 165 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: having spoken to him at this point in time, you 166 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: have to imagine he's energized by this idea of working 167 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers, challenging Aaron Rodgers and trying to get 168 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: this Packers offense back on track. Yeah already, um quickly 169 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: west here before I forget the powerful noise canceling technology 170 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: that helps NFL coaches block out eighty thou screaming fans 171 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: can get you closer to the music you love. Learn 172 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: more at www dot bos dot com, Slash Packers Bows, 173 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, and at Homer. 174 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Here in the stands, we all know that Green Bay 175 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: fans give it their all and that takes a lot 176 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: of energy. So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. 177 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. 178 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: Try to try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just 179 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's chunky soup. 180 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, you 181 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: said it, West. There's a lot of machinations here to 182 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: figure out with regards to how this coaching staff is 183 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: going to come together, but I think it's worth mentioning 184 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: one assistant coach here in particular, who has left Green 185 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,719 Speaker 1: Bay after a very long and prosperous tenure. He has 186 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: moved on to the Cleveland Browns. I'm talking about long 187 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: time offensive line coach James Campon. And for those who 188 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: don't know coach Campon's full story. First of all, as 189 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: a player, he was a center for the Green Bay Packers. 190 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: And if you look back in uh in when Brett 191 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: Farve began his consecutive start streak, that NFL record that 192 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: I don't think we'll ever be broken. Um, when he 193 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: began that consecutive start streak at quarterback in Green Bay 194 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: in his entner was James Campon. Um. Fast forward from 195 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: there to two thousand and four, James Campon returns to 196 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: Green Bay as an assistant coach on Mike Sherman's staff. 197 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: He's with coach Sherman for the final two years of 198 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: his tenure and then for the entirety of Mike McCarthy's tenure, 199 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: um starting out as an assistant offensive line coach and 200 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: then taking over as the offensive line coach in two 201 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: thousand and seven when Joe Philbin was promoted to offensive 202 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: coordinator and boy fifteen years as an assistant coach in 203 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: one place. That doesn't happen very often in this league. 204 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: And I can't say enough about what a great guy 205 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: James Campon is, let alone a very very accomplished football coach. 206 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: It's interesting because now with his new title with the 207 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: you know, Cleveland Browns's associate head coach, offensive line coach, 208 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: and you know, and there's so many different ways to 209 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: rise up the ranks. You know, you look at what 210 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur has done, you know, being a quarterback driven 211 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: type coach and and being able to go from one 212 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: spot to another and kind of have that gradual incline. 213 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: What's interesting about James Camping story is he basically became 214 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 1: a high school coach once his playing career was done. 215 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: He was settled out I believe it was in California, 216 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: and then he got an opportunity to come to Green 217 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: Bay and he started from the bottom to get where 218 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: he's at today over the last fifteen years. The thing 219 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: that was really special with him when you dealt with him, 220 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: whether it was professionally personally, he always was that high 221 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: school coach. If you could take out all the layers away, 222 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: you know, take off the packers hat, just put on 223 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: a regular starter jacket James Campon, you would have thought 224 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 1: he was the Bayport high school football coach, just the 225 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: way he carried himself, how personable he was. Even in 226 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: the interactions with the media. You and I covered our 227 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: share of high school football games, and in interactions with 228 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: the media and interviews, it was he was still that 229 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,719 Speaker 1: high school football coach. When you'd ask him questions, the 230 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: way he talked about his players, the way he would 231 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: he would answer those questions and interact just um a 232 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: tremendous guy on a personal level. I'm certainly going to 233 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: miss him a lot. I know you will too, but 234 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: certainly wish him the best and hope that he continues 235 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: to find a lot of success in Cleveland. Yeah, two 236 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: of my favorite stories about Campy. One goes back to 237 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve, my first official year on the Beat. 238 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: This is back when the Green Bay Packers, the way 239 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: they handled assistant coaching availability, they would you'd sign up 240 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: for specific coaches, you go interview him in the hallway 241 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: outside the locker room. Offensive coaches on one day, defensive 242 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: coaches on the other. So I'm going around with Rob Demowski, 243 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,839 Speaker 1: my former colleague who now works at ESPN dot com, 244 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: and we basically I'm just making the rounds, introducing myself 245 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: and I introduced myself to Campy and right away and 246 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: he wasn't joking. He's like, oh, so is this is 247 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: this your intern? He says, Rob, mind you. I was 248 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: twenty four years old at the time. I still tend 249 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: to be a younger looking fellow, especially on the days 250 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: I decided to shave uh And so I go and 251 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: we had a good laugh about it. I'm like, no, 252 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: I'm actually the new guy that's coming in for Kareem Copeland. 253 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be the third beat writer here. And we 254 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: had a good laugh about it. I put it out 255 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: on Twitter, and I don't know how. I don't know 256 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: if camp he had Twitter I don't know if somebody 257 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: from the PR staff had learned it to him, but 258 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, next interactually had with him like, oh yeah, 259 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: so you go and you know put that out there. 260 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: And I looked like the dumb but you know, a 261 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: coach that doesn't know that you're an intern or not. 262 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: We had a good laugh about it. The second story 263 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: I want to tell very quickly was after I came 264 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: on board here in two thousand sixteen. Um James Camping 265 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: was one of the guys that I, you know, kind 266 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: of had bounced some stuff off of about all this stuff, 267 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: and I was at a I wrote about this an 268 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: insider ran box. I was at a local pizzeria that 269 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: I don't think I could actually say the name because 270 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: of sponsorship deals, but I can't be just happened to 271 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: be up at the bar waiting for his pizza. I 272 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: was waiting for mine. And this was probably, I want 273 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: to say, a couple of months into the job. And 274 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: and the thing about James camp and I'm sure you 275 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: have experiences like this too. He had a way of 276 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: listening to you, and I think his players experienced this too. 277 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: It wasn't waiting for his turn to speak, It was 278 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: really clearly listening to what you were feeling. And and 279 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: I think he knew my reservations when I came over 280 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: here with this position, and he knew, you know, some 281 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: of the it's difficult. You did it too, going from 282 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: a journalism background to to working for a website team website, 283 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: and he had a way of kind of seeing through 284 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: me to have those conversations on a deeper level. I 285 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: will always appreciate it, and and just being able to 286 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: get that feedback from him at times. I don't know 287 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: if there's anybody in this building that made me feel 288 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,400 Speaker 1: more welcome about joining the Green Bay Packers and James Camping, 289 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: and I doubt he's watching this, but if he is, 290 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: I have to say thank you to camp Be for yeah. Absolutely, 291 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: And I'll say this about his coaching tenure here as well. 292 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: A lot of teams spend first round draft picks on 293 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: offensive life, and throughout Mike McCarthy's tenure here, James Camping 294 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: only had two first round draft picks to work with. 295 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: One was Derek Sharad, whose career unfortunately didn't work out 296 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: because of a really nasty leg injury at the end 297 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: of his rookie season, and unfortunately, UM that ended things 298 00:14:56,040 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: for Derek prematurely, the other one being Brian Bulaga. But 299 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: James Campon has whether you've given him fourth round draft 300 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: picks like Josh Sitton, T J. Lang and David Baktari, 301 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: whether you've given him undrafted guys like Lane Taylor, whether 302 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: you've given him second round picks like Darren College. He's 303 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: always had this Packers offensive line in UH in tremendous shape, 304 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: ready to adjust, UM guys, being cross trained at multiple positions, 305 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: all of that, and I just think he deserves a 306 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: ton of credit for what he accomplished. Now people may 307 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: be wondering, well, well then why isn't he staying with 308 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: the Packers. Well, a new head coach comes in, he's 309 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: gonna have his own ideas. He's going to have ideas 310 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: of people he wants to bring in and ways he 311 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: wants to do things. This is I mean, the fact 312 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: that James Campon is leaving is nothing against him and 313 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: UH and I wish him all the success in Cleveland, 314 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: but his tenure here as an offensive line coach. You 315 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: talk to any player who was in that offensive line 316 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: room with him, they have nothing but respect and glowing 317 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: things to say about him as you and I do 318 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: as well. Yeah, and I'm glad you brought up the 319 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: Sharad thing because it actually does lead me to one 320 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: more story. I don't so it's it's obviously you get 321 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: Brian Balog in the building. He ends up becoming the 322 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: youngest right tackle or whatever it was, or starter in 323 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: Super Bowl history at one years old in two thousand 324 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: and ten. But I don't you look at Derek Sharrod 325 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: for example, Sharrod had a devastating injury. I don't know 326 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: if there was anyone anywhere in any profession that was 327 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: more invested into trying to get Derek Sharad back on 328 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: the field and make him the player that they thought 329 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: he could be than James Camping. H just I know 330 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: how much he cared about Derek, how much he cared 331 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: about him as a person in trying to help him. Now, 332 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: ultimately it didn't work out, but I'll say what. I'll 333 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: say this, it wasn't for a lack of trying from 334 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: either Sharad or James Campin's perspective that meant a lot 335 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: to him to be able to get him back on 336 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: a roster whatever the situation may be. However, long he 337 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: may have lasted. That was a difficult injury, an injury 338 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: that required two separate surgeries for Sharade to come back. 339 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: And those are the stories you don't hear about. Whereas 340 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: you look at David box Tr, David Botr was a 341 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: fourth round draft pick in a draft where I believe 342 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: it was seventeen or eighteen different offensive lineman, guards, tackle 343 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 1: centers that were taking ahead of him. You go back 344 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: and look at his scouting page, as NFL dot Com 345 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: scouting page, people saying that this guy needs to move 346 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: to guard. James Camping helped make a franchise All Pro 347 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl left tackle out of David box Tr, a 348 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: position that if you redraft that box Tr is a 349 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: top five picks maybe a top three pick. Yeah, he's 350 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: absolutely a top five draft pick if you if you 351 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 1: re select from. And that was where I know a 352 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: lot of people things went a certain way nor near 353 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: the end with Ted Thompson and in you know, in 354 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: frustrations about things. But that was the draft in developmentality 355 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: at its finest, especially that two thousand thirteen draft. JC Treader. 356 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: You know Eddie Lacy, the players, the Packers personnel department 357 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: in and Thompson was able to identify and given him 358 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,479 Speaker 1: to someone like James Campon that was able to develop them. 359 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: It's a great story. I think Campi is going to 360 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: go down as one of the all time best assistants 361 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: that this organization has had. And as you said, though, 362 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: you wish him luck in the next phase, because that's 363 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: what this game is. It's moving and shaking, and now 364 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: he has a good opportunity in Cleveland, which last for him. Well. 365 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: Before we go west, I know, we've got the conference 366 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: championships in the a f C and the NFC coming 367 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: up this weekend. For those who want a little bit 368 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: more of a breakdown. Our previous episode, we talked a 369 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: lot about what was going on in the playoffs through 370 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: division a weekend looking ahead of these conference championships. So 371 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: quickly here before we go today, I'm just gonna put 372 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: you on the spot. Who are you picking. I'm gonna 373 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: go with the Saints and I'm gonna go with Kansas City. 374 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: And I know the stats, I understand how good Tom 375 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: Brady has been in Cold Weather, But as I said 376 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: on our previous episode, there's just something about this Kansas 377 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 1: City team. Even though Pat Mahome the The coldest game 378 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: he's ever played in was twenty seven degrees and it 379 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: happened once. There's still something about the way that that 380 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: team is structured. I think they're going to find a 381 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: way to win. It will not be easy. You're gonna 382 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: be playing the Patriots and all Pro mode, all Madden Mode, 383 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 1: but it's gonna be exciting to watch. As far as 384 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: New Orleans, I've said it all along. Why change the statement? 385 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: Now you have to beat them in the Superdome. Nobody's 386 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: been able to do it. Yeah, I'm with you on 387 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: both games. I've I've been bullish on the New Orleans 388 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: Saints since last January when I thought they were the 389 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: best team in the playoffs, and I think they might 390 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: have won the whole thing if not for that Minneapolis miracle. 391 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: I think the Saints are going to the super Bowl. 392 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: I don't see them losing in the Superdome. With regards 393 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: to the Chiefs and the Patriots, I agree with a 394 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,959 Speaker 1: lot of things that you said with regards to the 395 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: cold weather and Mahomes young quarterbacks, when they get into 396 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: that freezing cold weather, and even if they're not used 397 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: to it, it doesn't seem to affect him. As much, 398 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: at least from what I've seen as as the older quarterbacks. 399 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: Not that Tom Brady is any stranger to cold weather, 400 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: certainly coming from New England. But I'll also say this, 401 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: the last two times the New England Patriots have played 402 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 1: on the road in the a f C Championship, they 403 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: lost both of them to the Denver Broncos. I've been 404 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 1: saying a lot in Insider, in box and elsewhere there's 405 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: a lot of this dynasty of the Patriots that has 406 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: been built on being able to play home games in 407 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And there's nothing wrong with that, but it's 408 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: just a fact. You look at the number of the 409 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: vast large majority of home games they've had in the playoffs, 410 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: that is what has helped build the dynasty. They're on 411 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: the road for this one, so I think I think 412 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: Kansas City beats him because you look at New England's 413 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: road record in the postseason over time, they're not really 414 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: that much better than anybody else when they play in 415 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: the playoffs away from Foxborough. So I'm going with that. 416 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: I think Kansas City gets to the super Bowl. And 417 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: so much was made this past week Mike about now 418 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: a week ago about Sean Payton bringing in the Super 419 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 1: Bowl Trophy, the money, all that stuff. Is there anything 420 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: more motivating right now for Andy Reid than the Lamar 421 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: Hunt Trophy being there right now on the podium with 422 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 1: the two helmets for first time that that's happened in 423 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: in the team that Lamar Hunt built, the organization, the stadium, 424 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: and have a chance to play for that trophy at 425 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: your home. Yeah, no question about it. I think it's 426 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: gonna be a great Sunday of NFL football. Hope everyone 427 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: enjoys that. I know I will. So with that, we 428 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: will sign off on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be 429 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage continuing coverage of 430 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: what's going on here at five on Packers dot com. 431 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: On Twitter, follow him at west Hot I'm at Mike 432 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 433 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: Enjoy Championships Sunday. We'll see you next time.