1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined by my trusted colleague West Hodkowits. 3 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: We're coming to you here from our studios at lambau 4 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: Field West. It is week three of O T as 5 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: the final week of O T A S for the 6 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: Packers before they transition to the mandatory minicamp next week, 7 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: which is what will conclude the off season program. But 8 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: we have an injury to talk about, and it's actually 9 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: not to a player. It is to new head coach 10 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur. Apparently a basketball mishap of swords resulted in 11 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: a blown achilles tendon and the new head coach had 12 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: surgery on Sunday. And I guess we'll see this means 13 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: he's going to be cruising around on a golf card 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: on the practice field to see his players and communicate. 15 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,919 Speaker 1: I don't know, We'll have to see how this unfolds. 16 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: But um, but the new head coach got a bit 17 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: by the injury bug this spring. So I obviously was 18 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: not a collegiate or professional athlete at any point in 19 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: my lifetime. I did play in the city league here 20 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: in Green Bay for basketball for three years though, And 21 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: I'll be honest with you, Michael, every single time I 22 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: walked into that gymnasium, whether it was Green Bay Southwest 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: or Franklin Middle School, I always thought to myself, I 24 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: just want to walk out with all my tendons and tact, 25 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: all my legaments intact. I succeeded at that, but unfortunately 26 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: for Matt Lafloor, not so lucky. A knockout game. I 27 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: don't even know if I ever played knockout. I wasn't 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: quick enough to play it. Uh, And that that certainly 29 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: did it. Walking around with a boot throw out throughout 30 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: the opening pitch at the Soft Charity softball game on Saturday, 31 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: A real trooper pushing through that. And now for the 32 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: time being, now post stop surgery is gonna, you know, 33 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: be a little encumber here for the next couple of 34 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: weeks and months. Yeah, I guess we'll see, Uh, we'll 35 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: see what happens. But a coach who likes to be 36 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: obviously highly involved in practice A kind of feel like 37 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: he's almost that the doctors are going to have to 38 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: have to chain him down like an animal or something, 39 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: because he's gonna want to do more than he's really 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: allowed to do. And you know he'll be post surgery 41 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: this week. He needs to let the thing hell and 42 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: and get himself better. But you know he's going to 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: be eager and want to be up and running around. 44 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: So I'm in a much better mood today. At the 45 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: end of last week, I was really stewing because I 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: was getting these questions and inbox like does this mean 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: the practices are gonna go longer? Yeah? Is this gonna 48 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: How is this gonna affect the preparation of the football team? 49 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: And I was getting so annoyed. He might have sensed 50 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: it in Saturday's inbox where it was just like, you 51 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: gotta be kidding me. They've been playing this game for 52 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: a century now. Not every coach has to throw to 53 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: the quarterback. They've got plus assistant coaches on the staff. 54 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: These things can be handled well. And the other thing 55 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: I wrote an inbox too, I can guarantee you I'm 56 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: not going to name names. There has been much more 57 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: important health issues that have happened with the Packers coaching 58 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: staff over the last ten years. Then a ruptured achilles 59 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: tended it never bubbled to the surface. So for Matt Lafleur. 60 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a little bit more challenging. It's gonna 61 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: it's gonna make him have to alter his coaching style 62 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: a little bit. But I have pretty good confidence he's 63 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: still gonna be able to lead practices without having to 64 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: throw a football. Yeah, I think he'll be okay in 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: that respect. Turning our attention to the players and the 66 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room. Um story that I posted 67 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: late last week on the website, just taking a real overview, 68 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: bird's eye view, so to speak, of this revamped outside 69 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: linebacker corps for the Green Bay Packers. A few of 70 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: them talked last week after the open practice, and it's 71 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: interesting less I'm trying try to paint a picture here 72 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: for the fans, those who know something about the Packers 73 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: locker room. It's in the shape of a football, and 74 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: so if you picture it, at one end of what 75 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: would be sort of like one of the semi pointed 76 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: ends of the football is where the majority of the 77 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: outside linebackers are. And it just so happens that the 78 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: top four outside linebackers right now on this team have 79 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: their lockers all right next to each other. So you 80 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: look up at the name plates and it goes Smith, Gary, 81 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: Smith and fact Girl like right in a row. It's 82 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: kind of interesting, kind of cool the way it worked out. 83 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: But but the other thing I want to point out 84 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: with regards to this is that it's not an accident 85 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: that Rashan Gary, the first round draft pick at number 86 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: twelve overall, that they placed his locker right in between 87 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: Preston Smith and Zadarius Smith, the two guys who are now, 88 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: yes they're new to Green Bay, but they are the 89 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: veterans at the position there in their fifth year in 90 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: the NFL. They have the most accomplished resumes in this league. 91 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: Kyler Facl right behind them. So the rookie is right 92 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: in between those two guys, and boy, if he's got 93 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: any questions, he's got plenty of ears that are willing 94 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: to listen and take in what he has to say. 95 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: And each of these guys are going to be their 96 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: own football players. I don't want to paint it as 97 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: you know, Rashan Gary is going to be a prototype 98 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: of Zadarius or anything like that, But I just think 99 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: about the amount of knowledge in the backs, the background 100 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: that you know, Smith has in this offense now, in 101 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: what he's going to be able to relay to Gary 102 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: because I think when you when you really break it down, 103 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: Michael Preston Smith is a really important piece. He's gonna 104 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: be a player that's gonna play a lot for them 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: this season, a good track record with durability. Kyler Facra 106 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: came on last year ten and a half sacks, But 107 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: Sadarius is the guy. Sadarius Smith that is, is the 108 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: guy that was the first signing right, the one that 109 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: drew the headlines. And Rashan Gary is the first round 110 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: pick twelfth overall, that's the future of this defense, not 111 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: only just in terms of what they bring to the 112 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: table athletically, but the way that they're going to use 113 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: these guys. So seeing those two build off each other, 114 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be really important. It's gonna be 115 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: important in two thousand nineteen. It's gonna be portant moving forward. 116 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: And the thing I like the most out of all 117 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: my years covering this team, there's just so many different 118 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: facets to that pass rush. Now when you look at 119 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: Kenny Clark inside, the way Dean Lowry's mon Mike Daniels 120 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: coming back from injury, and then this plethora of outside 121 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: backers that brings so many different skill sets in strength 122 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: to the table. Jayer Alexander mentioned this a little bit. 123 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: I believe it was Jayre talking to the media saying, 124 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, those guys are gonna get after it there. 125 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: There's a lot of talent up there. It's gonna open 126 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: up things for us on the back end as well. 127 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: So seeing how those two areas play off each other, 128 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: the pass rush, trying to get more takeaways, it's gonna 129 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: be fun to watch. Yeah. And one thing I want 130 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: to clarify a little bit or maybe differentiate uh this 131 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: year compared to last year and in season's past, we're 132 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: hearing a lot of the talk about versatility with these 133 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: outside linebackers, that they can line up on the edge, 134 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: they can also kick inside and attack as a pass 135 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: rusher from the interior. We heard a lot about that 136 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: over the last several years as well. And I don't 137 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 1: mean this. I don't want anybody to take me the 138 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: wrong way here. This is not a criticism of Clay Matthews, 139 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: but I'm going to use him as an example here. 140 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews was two pounds off the ball, you know, so, 141 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: but you take a look at this now, Preston Smith 142 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: is t sixt Zadarius Smith is two seventy two where 143 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: Shawn Gary is to seventy seven. You kick those guys inside, 144 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: they're a little bit more equipped physically to take on 145 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: the guards and the centers when it comes to providing 146 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: that interior rush. The Packers like to move Matthews around 147 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: a lot because they didn't want an offense to just 148 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: zero in on Okay, Clay Matthews is lining up here 149 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: every play, and if we want to do a chip 150 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: with a tight end or a running back or a 151 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: double team of some kind, like they knew where he 152 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: was going to be, the Packers wanted to move him around. 153 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: But I think the body types the Packers have now 154 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: at this outside linebacker spot that they brought in lends 155 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: itself to a little bit more effectiveness with the versatility 156 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: in terms of if a guy is gonna be one 157 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: on one with a guard, Yeah, having an extra ten 158 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: or fifteen or twenty pounds, it's gonna make a difference. 159 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: In Kyler factrol for that matter. At two forty five, 160 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: he doesn't necessarily have to kick inside to to add 161 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: to this verse utility thing, but he can stay on 162 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: the edge where he is the best when he rotates 163 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: in and let those other bigger guys go inside if 164 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: Mike Petton wants. It's a great point you bring up, 165 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: because and I don't want to make any comparisons between 166 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: Kyler Facral and Matthews. Matthews was his own player, but 167 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: but Facral has more of that skill set in terms 168 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: of the athleticism at the position. That's why the Packers 169 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: drafted him. Yeah, they wanted him to be a really 170 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: good solid member that rotation as a pass rusher. But 171 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: you heard Mike Smith talk about as well. He's also 172 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: their best zone dropping guy. He's a guy that can 173 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: move around at that second level like Matthews did. The 174 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: difference with these guys is it's in the trenches. It's 175 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: in a three point stance, to be perfectly honest with you, Mike, 176 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: and all my years covering the team, I felt like 177 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: they had one guy that did that very well, and 178 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: it was Julius Peppers. Otherwise, yeah, you had Mike Neil 179 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: do it a little bit. They tried it with Nick Perry. 180 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: The only one that I thought was truly like a 181 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: big difference maker at that spot was Peppers and what 182 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: he was able to do and I think the stats 183 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: bear that out. What's exciting about Perkins and also in 184 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: this Perkins excuse me, wow, Gary, I don't want to 185 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: thinking Perkins. And also what Smith is that those guys 186 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: can move inside and they can still be at home. 187 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: And I think that's gonna be a big thing for 188 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: what Mike Pett wants to do with this defense. Yeah, 189 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: I think so too, And I'm really interested to see 190 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: how this shakes out because when you look at the 191 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: depth of the unit, and we'll see beyond these top four, 192 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: where you have Reggie Gilbert, you have Kendall Donnerson, you know, 193 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: you have a couple of undrafted rookies that were brought 194 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: that were brought in and we'll see how that shakes out. 195 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: But when you look at these top four, there's a 196 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: couple of different ways you can go with it. You 197 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: can have Smith and Smith and then if your number 198 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: two set or your number two pair is Gary and Factul, 199 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: you have a bit of a rotation there. Or you 200 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: can have three of those guys or maybe even all 201 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: four of them on the field at once in a 202 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: certain package. As I said, because the body types lend 203 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: themselves to a little bit more of the shifting around. 204 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: So that's where I think all the talk about versatility, 205 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: it's it's not just a word, it's a word that 206 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: we hear a lot. I think the application of it 207 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: is going to look very different this year and hopefully 208 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 1: more effective this year than perhaps what we've seen in 209 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: the past. Yeah, and you have to cross your you know, 210 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: your fingers a little bit that you can get through 211 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: the offseason program and training camp without injuries to actually 212 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: see that come to fruition. Yeah, you want to see 213 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: these guys stay healthy because I mean, how many times 214 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: and we talk about it, I'd be great to see 215 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers both rushing from the inside 216 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: for from the outside. Very rarely didn't end up working 217 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: out that way over the three years with Matthews moving 218 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: inside back or for a year and a half of it. 219 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: So again, there are gonna be so many different things 220 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: that play into that. But as I was talking about 221 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: last week with Brian Goodakin someone the interviews I did 222 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: with them, if you're able to actually do that, the 223 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: waves of pass rushers that you can send at teams 224 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: with the crescendo being third down dime packages and potentially 225 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: having all four of them on the field. That's that's 226 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: how it's drawn up right now, with with with what 227 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: the Packers want to achieve. Yeah, and as I like 228 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: to say, one sack in the worth quarters worth two 229 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: in the first quarter. It really, it really can be 230 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: in this league. And it sounds like the thing is too, 231 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: is that it's not even just about what the impact 232 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: of that play but the position that players have to 233 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: put themselves in to still be able to bring it 234 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: that way in the fourth quarter as well late in 235 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: the game. You've been out. You know, the game has 236 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: been going on for two and a half, two and 237 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: three quarter hours, and you got to make a play 238 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: defensively when the game is online. You want those pass 239 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: rushers to have some juice. They need something in their 240 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: legs for the finishing kick. Yeah, alright, West, The green 241 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 1: Bay Packers get ready for game day with the powerful 242 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: noise canceling technology of Bo's Quiet Comfort thirty five headphones. 243 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: To learn more at www dot bos dot com. Slash 244 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: Backers Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, 245 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: and ad Homer Here in the stands, we all know 246 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: that Green Bay fans give it their all and that 247 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: takes a lot of energy, So grab a warm bowl 248 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of 249 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: Packers fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. 250 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup. 251 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Staying on 252 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball, here's another player who 253 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: spoke to the media after last week's open practice. Had 254 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: some interesting comments to deliver. And I'm talking about second 255 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: year cornerback Jaiyear Alexander. And strictly from a demeanor standpoint, 256 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: you mentioned it. This is a guy who's after practice. Boy, 257 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: he was all business. All business. Yeah, a very straight 258 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: laced probably the most serious I've ever seen Jaire Alexander, 259 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: because usually you know he's he's fun. He still was fun, 260 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: but I mean he's he's very just just confident and 261 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: just just sort of like takes everything and relaxed luson relaxed. 262 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: It just looked to me like a guy that he 263 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: knows what he did last year p f W. A 264 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: all rookie team member, certainly you know, a team later 265 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: even though he was only two years old, and now 266 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: he wants to make that next step. He didn't talk 267 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: for long, but I thought the words that he said 268 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 1: were power full. Yeah, you know, he looks at he 269 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: wants to be a pro bowler. He wants to be 270 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: an all pro. He looks at last year is a 271 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: good starting point for him, but as he said, now 272 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: he wants to put his stamp on it. He also 273 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: had a phrase of saying that this is his dog year. 274 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: I have no idea what that means, but it sounds 275 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: pretty cool. And the fact that you look at the 276 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: way that this defense is structured right now, this young man, 277 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: with the impact he was able to make moving around 278 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: as much as he had to last year, there's a 279 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: lot of reasons to be excited about Jarey Alexander. And 280 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: I think from a mental standpoint, it's only June right now. 281 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: There's so many things that have to happen between now 282 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: in that first game against the Bears on September five. 283 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: But I just think that this is a guy with 284 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: that is just primed to achieve those goals. Yeah, I mean, 285 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: I really like the the attitude, the approach that we're 286 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: seeing and hearing from a guy like Year. As you said, 287 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: he makes the All Rookie team, but you know, certainly 288 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: not satisfied with that by any means he's got. He's 289 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: got much larger, loftier goals for himself. I think I 290 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: mentioned this on the show before. Earlier spring, I did 291 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: interviews with both Alexander and Kevin King for a feature 292 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: story I'm working on for the Packers yearbook about them 293 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: being the two young you know, one to punch at 294 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: at cornerback and how unfortunately they weren't on the field 295 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: together all that much last year because both were dealing 296 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: with injuries at different times. But one thing that stood 297 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: out to me in the interview that I had with 298 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: Jayar I asked him about that game out in Los 299 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: Angeles against the Rams when he had the five deflecting 300 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: passes um five broken up passes in that game, which 301 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: is probably the one game of his rookie year that 302 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,479 Speaker 1: sticks out in your mind the most as far as 303 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: a complete and total perform other than that interception that 304 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: ended up getting called. Well, yeah, the interception that didn't count. 305 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: We talked about that one too, and yeah, But the 306 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: thing that I really liked and that was interesting to 307 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: me when I asked him about that game is almost 308 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: the first thing that was out of his mouth is that, hey, 309 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: if I can get my hands on the ball five times, 310 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: I gotta get one or two picks out of it. 311 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: Like he's looking back at that game and saying, Okay, yeah, 312 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: great performance, And everybody was talking about it for a 313 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: long time and everything, but to him, it still wasn't 314 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: good enough, because, as he said, get your hands on 315 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: the ball a handful of times, he wants to have 316 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: one or two turnovers out of that. That's the next 317 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: step that he wants to take. Yeah. And as he 318 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: mentioned too, as I talked about in our last segment, 319 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: the pass rush and and the amount of bodies that 320 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: the Packers have right now, if you can keep those healthy, 321 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: he thinks that's going to help them on the back end, 322 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: you know, shorten up that play clock, forcing the quarterbacks 323 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: to make errors, and then if the ball is in 324 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: the vicinity, going up and getting it. The thing I 325 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: really like about Alexander though, in terms of his skill set, 326 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: we saw it so far in the offseason program. He's 327 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: been lining up a lot outside, seeing a lot of 328 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: Davante Adams in practice. I really like the idea of 329 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: keeping him out there and and having Kevin King on 330 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: the other side, And then when you get into situations 331 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: when you want to trail guys, when you want to 332 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, shadow them, then you start moving Alexander around. 333 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: He can play the slot. He probably can be an 334 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: All Pro player in the slot if you want him there. 335 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: But I just think there's a real value and having 336 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: a guy that doesn't appear like there's really a let 337 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: up at either position, you know what I'm saying. The 338 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: Mary's Randall had a lot of skill in the slot, 339 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: and I think but it was it was a better 340 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: spot for him than when he was on the boundary. 341 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: In some ways. It was similar with like Micah Hyde, right, 342 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: but with Alexander, it just feels like, whether he's in 343 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: the slot or he's outside, he's the best cornerback on 344 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: the field. He's the best player, one of the best 345 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: players on the field. And then with having King and 346 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: six three and four four you're going to write about 347 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: in your story, but I asked him to and he 348 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: gave a really quick answer, but it was truthful, and 349 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: that what does King give you when he's healthy and 350 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: on the field to shut down cornerbacks? And if you 351 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: ask any head coach and he defensive coordinator in the league. 352 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: That's what you want. Yeah, And I think and I 353 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: think what I like the best about them as a 354 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: pair is the two different physical body types. Kevin King 355 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: and JayR Alexander can probably you put him in a 356 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: forty year dash and it's a photo finish. But Kevin 357 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: King is the sixth at three and Jaire Alexander is 358 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 1: is the shorter but quicker and shiftier in the short 359 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: area type of thing. From a defensive coordinator's perspective, Mike 360 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,719 Speaker 1: Petton really likes almost in almost in the way that 361 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur was talking about wide receivers last week and 362 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: in that discussion about you know, having different areas of 363 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: expertise so that you can look for certain matchups. Defensive 364 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: coordinators want to do that too, They want to match 365 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: up certain guys on certain guys. And yeah, it'd be 366 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: great if you can have, if you could have a 367 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: whole stable of six ft three, six ft four cornerbacks, 368 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: but they're pretty rare. You're not gonna you're not gonna 369 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: have three or four of them on the same team. 370 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: You have to have that coordination, yea. Yeah, So having 371 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: having those different body types. Again, it just gives Mike 372 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: Petton more options in terms of looks at the receiving 373 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: core of the opponent. Okay, how do we want to 374 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: match these guys up? I think from my discussion with them, 375 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: I think Alexander and King are going to argue a 376 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: little bit over who should get the number one guy 377 00:17:56,400 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: because they both have that competitive mentality. That's really gonna 378 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: be up to Mike pett and I think it's going 379 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: to be a matchup issue based on physical characteristics in 380 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: a lot of ways totally, and it's something will probably 381 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: get set a little bit in training camp if King 382 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: is able to stay out there and put you know, 383 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: some of those soft muscle injuries behind him into some regard. 384 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: The same thing with King, he I should say, with 385 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: Alexander had to battle through some groin injuries. But the 386 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 1: thing I that really stood out to me with well, 387 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: how much we saw Alexander last year. I don't know 388 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: if you feel differently about this, but maybe Trumon Williams 389 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: and his prime, But I'm just trying to think of 390 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: anyone that's played that position that is able to stay 391 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: step for step, not necessarily with the receiver down the 392 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: sideline on a go route, but when they get that break. Uh. 393 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: Alexander was like glue on receivers last year that if 394 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: you know, if they do a quick out or they 395 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 1: do an out and in, he's able to stay stride 396 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: for stride and contest those catches. That's special because a 397 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: lot of times what happens, you gotta play your certain leverage. 398 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: You've got to know where you're gonna be able to 399 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: to get to. Alexander actually seems to have the quickness 400 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: that if there is an error, he's going to be 401 00:18:57,680 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: able to make up for it. Not just going down 402 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: the sideline to catch up to a football, but when 403 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: the ball is there, it's on a diamond, it's a 404 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: seven yard or out route trying to get a first down, 405 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: that he's going to be able to put himself in 406 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: the position to get the ball. Yeah, he's got a 407 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: He's got a unique skill set in that regard because 408 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: because of that quickness, he plays bigger than the five 409 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: nine or whatever it is that he that he's listed at. 410 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: He doesn't play like a five nine cornerback that teams 411 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: will look at and say, oh, well that's a matchup 412 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: we can go after they have to be careful. If 413 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: you put yourself in the vicinity of the football, it 414 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: does not matter how big you are, how tall you are, 415 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: It matters on what you can do in that instance. 416 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: And I just think that that's the impressive thing about 417 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: Alexander and hopefully now if you can get if you 418 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: can get Kevin Kane back on the field and healthy. 419 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: We saw some of those traits too, especially during his 420 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: rookie season. All right, well, it's about time for us 421 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: to get out to another o T A practice and 422 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: with that we will call it a wrap on this 423 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of 424 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 1: our coverage of the team on Packers dot com. If 425 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: you're a podcast listener, subscribe to us, like us on 426 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: iTunes and other podcast services. On Twitter, He's at west Hot, 427 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: I'm at Mike Spoff to at Packers for the team Accoal. 428 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time. H 429 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: m hm.