WEBVTT - #621 Packers Unscripted: Washington week 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:10.480 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:10.480 --> 0:00:13.520 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spoffer, joined as always 0:00:13.560 --> 0:00:17.800 by the one the only Western hod Cowits were coming 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:20.759 to you here from our studios at lambeau Field. Week 0:00:20.880 --> 0:00:24.919 seven West. The Washington football team is coming to lambeau Field. 0:00:24.920 --> 0:00:28.280 It will be a Neon and Central Time kickoff on Sunday. 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:31.680 And when you look at this Washington team two and four, 0:00:32.040 --> 0:00:35.960 Packers are five and one. I wrote this Wednesday evening, 0:00:36.000 --> 0:00:39.360 posted it on our website looking at this Washington defense, 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:42.120 and I lead the story with a simple line that 0:00:42.360 --> 0:00:47.520 something just doesn't compute, because defensively, this is a unit 0:00:47.600 --> 0:00:50.800 that was last last season, was second in the league 0:00:50.800 --> 0:00:53.519 in yards allowed, fourth in the league and points allowed. 0:00:54.120 --> 0:00:58.120 Led Washington to a playoff spot with a backup quarterback 0:00:58.120 --> 0:01:02.240 actually actually third string quarterback, nearly got a victory in 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:04.480 the first round of the playoffs over Tampa Bay, who 0:01:04.520 --> 0:01:08.400 eventually won the Super Bowl, of course. But yet with 0:01:08.920 --> 0:01:13.200 the bulk of that personnel back on defense, Suddenly after 0:01:13.280 --> 0:01:16.720 six games, this Washington team is thirty one in the 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:19.399 league in yards allowed and last in the league in 0:01:19.480 --> 0:01:23.240 points allowed. It's just a lot of it just doesn't 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:26.160 make sense because because the talent is there on that 0:01:26.200 --> 0:01:28.880 side of the ball without question. It is kind of 0:01:28.880 --> 0:01:30.600 funny that, you know, a few weeks ago we're talking 0:01:30.600 --> 0:01:33.240 about the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Bengals have really come 0:01:33.240 --> 0:01:36.119 on right with a lot of guys that I don't think, 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:39.319 you know, your family members at the kitchen table really 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:42.720 know who they are. Washington, it's not that problem. I mean, 0:01:42.800 --> 0:01:47.040 Chase Young, Montez Sweat, John Bostick is a linebacker for them. 0:01:47.240 --> 0:01:49.680 You know, Jamaine Davis has been a steady middle linebacker 0:01:49.680 --> 0:01:53.840 in this league. Kendall Fuller, William Jackson, the third Landon Collins. 0:01:53.840 --> 0:01:56.360 I mean they have names, you know, Matti and ITAs. 0:01:56.400 --> 0:01:58.200 I mean, they have guys that you know who these 0:01:58.240 --> 0:02:02.120 people are in fast year, I think Rogers even mentioned 0:02:02.120 --> 0:02:04.200 Aaron Rodgers talked about it. You know, they won a 0:02:04.200 --> 0:02:06.920 lot of games last year playing to their defense, I mean, 0:02:06.960 --> 0:02:11.400 being able to, you know, strategically sort of win games, 0:02:11.440 --> 0:02:13.799 allow them to manage things offensively because of what their 0:02:13.840 --> 0:02:17.320 defense was doing. Well this year, that floodgate is sort 0:02:17.320 --> 0:02:20.480 of broken a little bit. Now. The real interesting thing 0:02:20.480 --> 0:02:23.880 about Washington is they still are dangerous they're giving up 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:26.359 a ton of yards forner and twenty three yards per game. 0:02:26.360 --> 0:02:28.679 As you mentioned the scoring defense, but they can get 0:02:28.680 --> 0:02:30.799 after the quarterback, they can find ways to take away 0:02:30.840 --> 0:02:35.040 the football. It's just the big picture sort of statistics 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:37.400 that everybody talks about when you break down total defense, 0:02:37.440 --> 0:02:40.880 total scoring. They're really coming up short in that area. Yeah, something, 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:45.000 something just hasn't come together. Because even just last week's game, 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:49.680 they were beating Kansas City thirteen to ten at halftime, 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:52.160 and then Kansas City runs away with it in the 0:02:52.200 --> 0:02:54.760 second half, and and Washington is not even competitive in 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:58.000 the final two quarters after playing a really really solid 0:02:58.040 --> 0:03:01.040 first two quarters. So defense of Lee, it starts with 0:03:01.080 --> 0:03:04.040 that defensive front. With this unit, you're talking about four 0:03:04.080 --> 0:03:07.320 first round picks. They used a first round pick in 0:03:07.360 --> 0:03:11.359 every draft four years in a row, nineteen and twenty 0:03:11.440 --> 0:03:14.919 to get Jonathan Allen Deron Payne. The two inside guys 0:03:14.919 --> 0:03:17.760 were first, then Montes Sweat and Chase Young the two 0:03:17.840 --> 0:03:21.200 edge guys. Now, those edge guys haven't racked up a 0:03:21.200 --> 0:03:24.320 whole bunch of numbers yet this year. But Chase Young, 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:27.480 he has just two sacks, but those two sacks have 0:03:27.600 --> 0:03:30.959 come in the last two games, so that maybe the 0:03:32.160 --> 0:03:35.360 NFL defensive rookie of the year starting to heat up 0:03:35.360 --> 0:03:38.640 a little bit. The two inside guys are really interesting though, 0:03:38.680 --> 0:03:42.760 because Payne and Alan they rank they both rank in 0:03:42.800 --> 0:03:47.720 the top seven amongst defensive tackles interior defensive lineman in 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:50.360 terms of total pressures on the quarterback. Kenny Clark is 0:03:50.640 --> 0:03:53.080 in that top seven as well, in uh in a 0:03:53.120 --> 0:03:56.600 tie for fourth place, but uh, um, but I believe 0:03:56.640 --> 0:04:00.240 it's Alan is third and Pain is tied for even 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:03.880 um on that chart. So this is uh. You know, 0:04:03.920 --> 0:04:07.160 the Packers have faced really good defensive fronts for several 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:11.320 weeks now, starting with San Francisco in week three. Um, obviously, 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:14.360 and we talked about we talked about Pittsburgh and then 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:17.920 and then Cincinnati and then last week with Chicago, and 0:04:17.960 --> 0:04:21.279 this is this is another big challenge up front, and 0:04:21.680 --> 0:04:23.839 you know, the Packers are still dealing with some injuries 0:04:23.839 --> 0:04:25.840 on the offensive line as they navigate them. Yeah, and 0:04:26.080 --> 0:04:28.479 they were fortunate enough as we kind of you know, 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:32.000 prognosticated projected earlier this week with Matt Lafleur that David 0:04:32.000 --> 0:04:34.960 Bock terror by back at practice, which he was on Wednesday. 0:04:35.000 --> 0:04:36.880 But you know, I don't think you can necessarily count 0:04:36.880 --> 0:04:39.560 on him being back this this Sunday. It's mostly about 0:04:39.560 --> 0:04:42.400 getting that window opening, getting some practice reps underneath his 0:04:42.440 --> 0:04:45.039 belt the way I described as maybe simulating a little 0:04:45.040 --> 0:04:47.200 bit of a mini training camp, if you will, after 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:49.880 he's had ten months off. But then you lose Josh 0:04:49.920 --> 0:04:52.479 Myers as well, So that means likely Lucas Patrick going 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:56.360 into that center spot. Good news is Elton Jenkins all 0:04:56.480 --> 0:04:59.000 good on that front. Was removed completely from the injury 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:02.080 report on Wednesday with the ankle injury after missing three games. 0:05:02.560 --> 0:05:04.240 But the fact of the matter is, Mike, you know 0:05:04.320 --> 0:05:06.960 that unit has put together so many strong games this year. 0:05:07.240 --> 0:05:09.360 This is probably one of the stiffest tests they faced 0:05:09.440 --> 0:05:12.920 all season. Um, while you know Robert Quinn and Khalil 0:05:13.000 --> 0:05:16.159 Mack and everybody that you know, Chicago presents in what 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:18.479 is statistically one of the better units in the league, 0:05:18.560 --> 0:05:21.320 I still think that this Washington unit stands right there 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:24.320 with them. Chase Young, you mentioned he only has two sacks, 0:05:24.360 --> 0:05:26.800 but this is a guy that can go off at 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:29.080 any time. I mean those two sacks can become five 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:32.200 sacks on the season real quick. And you know, with 0:05:32.360 --> 0:05:34.760 sweat sweat has been one of my favorite I loved 0:05:34.839 --> 0:05:36.960 him coming out of the draft, I believe, but I 0:05:36.960 --> 0:05:39.039 don't want to be misquote staking here. I believe it 0:05:39.120 --> 0:05:40.920 was the heart condition or that there was some kind 0:05:40.920 --> 0:05:43.680 of medical red flag that that allowed him to kind 0:05:43.680 --> 0:05:45.600 of fall a little bit that he felt he fell 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:47.440 towards the end of the first round. I believe he 0:05:47.520 --> 0:05:50.440 ended up being taken twenty six in the draft was 0:05:50.480 --> 0:05:53.239 a remarkable fine for Washington as long as the medicals 0:05:53.279 --> 0:05:55.640 checked out. This guy was a bona fide top ten, 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.760 top fifteen type talent. He had that ability and he's 0:05:58.800 --> 0:06:01.440 been a really productive player for them. Nine sacks last season, 0:06:01.440 --> 0:06:04.360 I believe, and even this year, yes he only has three, 0:06:04.360 --> 0:06:06.719 but he's been able to hit the quarterback the pressure 0:06:06.800 --> 0:06:09.320 status you outlined in your story on packers dot Com. Like, 0:06:09.720 --> 0:06:14.240 we focus so much about stats, so many stats on sacks, 0:06:14.640 --> 0:06:16.640 but it really is about how you affect the quarterback, 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:19.760 and as Matt Lafloor said, this group definitely accomplishes that. Yeah. 0:06:19.760 --> 0:06:23.320 Well on on the offensive side of the ball for Washington, 0:06:23.560 --> 0:06:27.560 the Taylor Heineke I give. I give this young man 0:06:27.680 --> 0:06:29.760 all the credit in the world. When you I remember 0:06:29.760 --> 0:06:32.080 watching that playoff game that when the Packers had the 0:06:32.080 --> 0:06:36.480 first round buy in the playoffs last year. And obviously 0:06:36.520 --> 0:06:40.640 Alex Smith, who had as a quarterback, had come off 0:06:40.640 --> 0:06:43.640 the bench and completed his remarkable recovery from injury and 0:06:43.680 --> 0:06:47.560 had led Washington to that division championship in the NFC East. 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:49.360 But then he was not healthy enough to play in 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:53.040 the playoffs. So Taylor Heineke gets thrown in there and 0:06:53.040 --> 0:06:55.359 and uh and did a whale of a job. And 0:06:55.360 --> 0:06:58.279 as I said before, they almost pulled the upset against 0:06:58.320 --> 0:07:00.640 Tampa Bay. That game was that game was still in 0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:04.599 the balance with five six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Um. 0:07:04.640 --> 0:07:07.200 But when I look at you look at statistically where 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:10.400 Washington is on offense this year, Taylor Heineke does not 0:07:10.480 --> 0:07:13.000 get sacked a lot. He can run around, he can scramble. 0:07:13.000 --> 0:07:17.200 He's actually the second leading rusher UM for Washington behind 0:07:17.360 --> 0:07:22.680 uh the number one back Antonio Gibson. But uh, but 0:07:22.800 --> 0:07:25.480 when you look at it statistically, there's there's a there's 0:07:25.480 --> 0:07:28.480 an explosive element to the passing game that's just missing. 0:07:28.520 --> 0:07:31.840 They don't Yes, they've had they've had some big explosive plays, 0:07:31.840 --> 0:07:34.560 but on a consistent basis, this is not a passing 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:39.640 game that's been able to produce the five yard completions 0:07:39.680 --> 0:07:42.600 to get those big chunks of yardage to get drives going, 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:45.600 and uh and and as a result, it's it's an 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:48.800 offense that that that's gotten bogged down because it's just 0:07:48.920 --> 0:07:51.520 it's it's been forced to grind things out, you know, 0:07:51.560 --> 0:07:53.400 more than they would like. Yes, And I think you 0:07:53.480 --> 0:07:56.520 make some excellent points there. While there's a bigger question 0:07:56.600 --> 0:07:58.480 mark with what's going on right now with the Washington 0:07:58.560 --> 0:08:01.080 defense and why it hasn't all clicked, I think there's 0:08:01.080 --> 0:08:04.760 a lot more understanding of where Washington is at offensively 0:08:04.880 --> 0:08:07.680 right now. They made a big shift obviously, a lot 0:08:07.720 --> 0:08:10.440 of a lot of changes with the quarterback position. I 0:08:10.440 --> 0:08:12.800 mean the fact that you had Heineke, who was brought 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:15.320 in last December on the practice squad was the only 0:08:15.400 --> 0:08:18.560 quarterback I think they retained throughout their off season. That 0:08:18.560 --> 0:08:21.560 that that's one and obviously you know Alex Smith retired, 0:08:21.600 --> 0:08:25.040 But that shows you the seismic shift you saw with 0:08:25.120 --> 0:08:29.240 Washington's personnel. I like Heineke a lot, though I still do. 0:08:29.360 --> 0:08:31.280 I mean, this guy is a grinder. He's sort of 0:08:31.800 --> 0:08:34.599 reminds you of some of these quarterbacks of yesteryear in 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:37.240 the two thousands and two thousand tents, that guys just 0:08:37.320 --> 0:08:39.640 who kind of come out of obscurity and find a 0:08:39.679 --> 0:08:42.920 way to make plays. But to your original point that 0:08:42.960 --> 0:08:46.720 you presented the start and stop right now, this Washington offense, 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:50.640 I think you're seeing that in Terry mclaurin's stats this season. 0:08:50.920 --> 0:08:54.360 McLaurin had a huge game against Atlanta hundred and twenty 0:08:54.400 --> 0:08:57.520 some yards, two touchdowns. The last two weeks I think 0:08:57.600 --> 0:09:00.679 eight catches total sixty eight yards. I mean, it's been 0:09:00.720 --> 0:09:03.640 a difficult kind of sledding there. And unfortunately for their 0:09:03.679 --> 0:09:07.480 backfield situation now, Antonio Gibson is dealing with a shin injury. 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:09.800 He did not practice Wednesday. You don't know what his 0:09:09.640 --> 0:09:12.640 status is going to be. They do have j D. Mckissic, 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:14.600 who's been a veteran that's been around this league, but 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:17.360 he was more of a past catching option for them. 0:09:17.400 --> 0:09:19.280 I I don't know if that's going to be their 0:09:19.320 --> 0:09:21.800 bell cow back if Gibson can't go in this thing. Yeah, 0:09:21.880 --> 0:09:24.280 that's not really a role that mckissic has had in 0:09:24.840 --> 0:09:27.240 his career. He's been more of he's been more of 0:09:27.280 --> 0:09:30.200 that that change up back receiver out of the backfield 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:32.400 type of guy, and been very productive in that role. 0:09:32.480 --> 0:09:35.600 But he hasn't really been a twenty five carrier game 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:38.640 type running exactly, and just overall this is just a 0:09:38.640 --> 0:09:40.880 really beat up unit there. Tight end position has been 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:45.000 just hampered by injuries. McLaurin even is also dealing with 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:47.800 a hamstring. He miss practice on Wednesday. So mclauren is 0:09:47.800 --> 0:09:50.800 an impressive receiver though. He incredible, He really is. He's 0:09:50.840 --> 0:09:53.480 a He's a he's a dynamic He's a dynamic guy 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:55.640 who can, as I said, even though some of the 0:09:55.679 --> 0:09:58.360 explosive players have been missing, this guy can explode on 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:01.360 you as well as be it also be a possession 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:03.719 guy to move the chains. He's a young receiver who 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:05.560 really can do it all. He's kind of in that, 0:10:05.840 --> 0:10:07.839 you know, sort of six ft six one range that 0:10:07.920 --> 0:10:10.760 Davante Adams falls into. Two very different type of players. 0:10:10.800 --> 0:10:13.080 But you know, for so long everybody had this idea 0:10:13.120 --> 0:10:15.080 that it's just you gotta be Megatron, right, you gotta 0:10:15.120 --> 0:10:16.680 be six five. You just gotta tell her over people, 0:10:16.679 --> 0:10:19.440 you gotta run a four four. There's a kind of 0:10:19.440 --> 0:10:22.400 the shiftier, sort of hybrid type receiver that's developed in 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:24.720 recent years. I think McLaurin is the perfect example that 0:10:24.760 --> 0:10:27.360 because he wasn't a highly touted guy coming out of college. 0:10:27.520 --> 0:10:28.920 I think he was a third round pick if my 0:10:28.960 --> 0:10:31.680 memory serves me correctly, and he has just stepped in 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:33.960 from day one and been a playmaker for Washington and 0:10:34.000 --> 0:10:36.840 a badly needed playmaker too, for an offense that has 0:10:36.880 --> 0:10:39.040 had a lot of changes in their backfield, has not 0:10:39.160 --> 0:10:41.719 had a lot of stable personnel from year to year, 0:10:41.760 --> 0:10:44.960 and and certainly Heineke has developed that rapport with them. 0:10:45.360 --> 0:10:47.560 The Packers main key, though, is going to be making 0:10:47.600 --> 0:10:49.480 sure that they don't allow him to get back on 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:52.199 the tracks this week. They got to delay that impending 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:55.160 storm one more game. Yeah. Well, I want to get 0:10:55.200 --> 0:10:57.160 to some more of those keys to victory for the 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.480 Packers here. But first a shout out to our sponsors. 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:03.120 Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and 0:11:03.200 --> 0:11:06.640 up to the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need. 0:11:07.400 --> 0:11:10.880 Seven three and at Cousin Subs, we have something for 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:14.240 everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, 0:11:14.240 --> 0:11:16.480 and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 0:11:16.559 --> 0:11:20.080 sub in a bowl, Cousin subs we believe in better 0:11:20.520 --> 0:11:24.120 all right, keys to victory here for Green Bay. I 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:26.600 just want to throw this one out there, because you know, 0:11:26.640 --> 0:11:28.520 when the Packers get on a winning streak like they 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:30.880 are now they've won five in a row, you start 0:11:30.920 --> 0:11:34.720 to take for granted sometimes how well this team offensively 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:37.400 protects the football. And this is one of those games. 0:11:37.480 --> 0:11:40.880 In my opinion, I think the Packers are the better team. 0:11:40.920 --> 0:11:42.880 You're playing at home, you know, back at home after 0:11:42.920 --> 0:11:44.760 a couple of weeks on the road and all that. 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:48.280 This is definitely a game the Packers should win. Do 0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:52.920 not give Washington those turnover opportunities that can really start 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:55.479 to swing a game, and give that give that underdog 0:11:55.520 --> 0:11:58.080 team on the road the belief that they can steal 0:11:58.080 --> 0:12:01.560 a victory. Um for from you, the Packers have to 0:12:01.600 --> 0:12:04.680 continue to protect the football the way they have. Yeah, 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:07.880 And and for me, it's just pressuring Heineke. I mean, 0:12:08.160 --> 0:12:11.640 there's no coincidence, Mike that the games in which Heineke 0:12:11.720 --> 0:12:13.319 has played the best, those are the two games that 0:12:13.400 --> 0:12:15.960 Washington has won this year. The games from which he's 0:12:16.000 --> 0:12:18.840 had big passing days are the days in which Washington 0:12:18.920 --> 0:12:22.480 has won especially if Gibson can't go in this one. 0:12:22.679 --> 0:12:24.400 You know, there's still sounds like there's still some tests 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:25.920 they're doing on the ship. I think that's an injury 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:28.960 he's been dealing with before. But they're gonna be really 0:12:29.040 --> 0:12:30.880 restricted in terms of what they're going to be able 0:12:30.920 --> 0:12:33.400 to do offensively. I think in those instances, you look 0:12:33.440 --> 0:12:36.080 at Ron Rivere and what he's done throughout his coaching career, 0:12:36.400 --> 0:12:38.599 that's where he's going to adapt. And in Heineke is 0:12:38.600 --> 0:12:40.559 a big part of that. His scrambling ability is a 0:12:40.600 --> 0:12:42.680 big part of it. Last week, they did such a 0:12:42.760 --> 0:12:46.520 great job of rushing to contain Justin Field's not allowing 0:12:46.640 --> 0:12:48.560 him to burn you, uh and you know, kind of 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:50.800 break your ankles and put on some bad film. Green 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:53.400 Bay played very discipline. They played very discipline and the 0:12:53.440 --> 0:12:56.400 penalties side of things as well. You have to keep 0:12:56.440 --> 0:12:59.480 that momentum building in this game. In first and foremost, 0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:02.679 you're five and one. The Washington football team is two 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:04.880 and four. Right now, you have to play like a 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.200 five and one football team at your own home field 0:13:07.280 --> 0:13:10.240 at noon start time. Everything working in your favorite on 0:13:10.280 --> 0:13:13.160 a five game winning streak. Be who everybody thinks that 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:16.240 you are. Yeah, I agree, And when I especially when 0:13:16.240 --> 0:13:18.480 I look at the offensive side of the ball for 0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:20.720 the Packers, and we've talked over the weeks about all 0:13:20.760 --> 0:13:23.360 the shuffling on the offensive line and the injuries they're 0:13:23.360 --> 0:13:26.600 dealing with, but with this string of tough defensive fronts 0:13:26.600 --> 0:13:30.760 that they have faced, Matt Lafleur, Nathaniel Hackett, Luke Getzi, 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:35.080 Adam Stanovitch, the coaching staff, Aaron Rodgers and company. Out 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:39.559 in the field, there's they're they're developing. They're developing an 0:13:39.600 --> 0:13:42.840 offense that uh, that travels, so to speak. And what 0:13:42.880 --> 0:13:44.880 I mean by that is is you know you can 0:13:44.960 --> 0:13:47.440 line it up against a lot of different opponents. Because 0:13:47.840 --> 0:13:51.160 over these weeks here, with with facing these defensive fronts, 0:13:51.160 --> 0:13:54.720 the injuries on the offensive line, the Packers have they 0:13:54.800 --> 0:13:57.920 they've they've gone to sometimes a quit game with the 0:13:57.920 --> 0:14:00.800 passing game, get the ball out of rogers handily. They've 0:14:00.840 --> 0:14:03.760 relied on the running backs. They've let Aaron Jones and 0:14:03.800 --> 0:14:06.720 a J. Dillon grind out yards. They've used those running 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:09.640 backs in the passing game to keep those linebackers, keep 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:12.640 the pass rushers honest, because they have to honor whatever 0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:18.720 and wherever those running backs are going to go schematically. Schematically, 0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:21.800 the Packers are are developing an offense that they can 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:25.120 take up against almost any opponent and and and also 0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:28.360 reflexively deal with whatever injuries up front. Now you're hoping 0:14:28.760 --> 0:14:31.520 in the coming weeks here that this Packer's offensive line 0:14:31.600 --> 0:14:35.800 is going to eventually look like the one that that 0:14:36.080 --> 0:14:38.280 you thought it would be at the beginning of the season, 0:14:38.400 --> 0:14:42.280 or you know, aside from box trs injury obviously, but 0:14:42.360 --> 0:14:44.520 I like what Green Bay is doing on offense, and 0:14:44.560 --> 0:14:47.240 as you said, just be who you are, keep keep 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:50.640 this up, keep developing what you're doing with this balanced 0:14:50.640 --> 0:14:55.640 offensive attack and making defenses play you, honestly, because when 0:14:55.680 --> 0:15:00.320 you produce on the ground and with the just just 0:15:00.400 --> 0:15:03.840 the skills and the masterful mind of Aaron Rodgers and 0:15:03.840 --> 0:15:06.960 how he gets this offense into the right play at 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:09.600 the right time, with the right checks and adjustments, the 0:15:10.040 --> 0:15:12.600 Packers are on their way to, you know, to the 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:14.600 offense that they want to have. They've been doing it 0:15:14.640 --> 0:15:16.120 more and more, and Mike too, whether it's the way 0:15:16.160 --> 0:15:18.320 they protected the football, the way the defense has taken 0:15:18.320 --> 0:15:20.600 the ball away. Even last week, you know, a big 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:22.960 uptick for Green Bay in the in their own you know, 0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:25.560 with their offensive red zone, you know, being able to 0:15:25.560 --> 0:15:27.840 actually get scores and all four of those trips getting 0:15:27.880 --> 0:15:30.600 touchdowns on three of them. That's the recipe. It was 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:33.840 the recipe last year, controlling the time of possession. I 0:15:33.920 --> 0:15:36.280 just feel like Green Bay, you know, Aaron Rodgers was 0:15:36.320 --> 0:15:38.600 talked about this upcoming slate of games that came that's 0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:40.800 coming up, and people talk about trap games, and I 0:15:40.880 --> 0:15:44.040 really enjoyed Rogers perspective on that when he mentioned that. 0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:45.880 He's like, of course, we know what the schedule is. 0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:47.480 You have to know what the schedule is, but you're 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:49.720 not gonna say some cliche about you know, it's all 0:15:49.760 --> 0:15:52.800 about washing all of our focuses on Washington. That's the fact. 0:15:53.240 --> 0:15:55.960 It has to be about Washington this week, because otherwise, 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:57.800 if you're five and two and you just lost to 0:15:57.840 --> 0:15:59.680 a previously two and four team and now you're taking 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:01.240 on our probably the best team in football in a 0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:03.760 short week, you're not really setting yourself up for success 0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:06.960 very well. Everybody in that locker room understands where Green 0:16:06.960 --> 0:16:08.800 Bay is at. They understand this is the one little 0:16:08.800 --> 0:16:11.160 oasis here at home before they get back out on 0:16:11.160 --> 0:16:13.400 the road again. You have to make it count. And 0:16:13.440 --> 0:16:15.000 I think for the most part, as long as you 0:16:15.040 --> 0:16:18.960 protect the football, control the possessions, Green Bay knows the 0:16:19.000 --> 0:16:20.600 recipe here what it's going to take to be the 0:16:20.640 --> 0:16:23.400 team like Washington that's gonna come out with nothing to lose. Yeah, 0:16:23.720 --> 0:16:26.440 quick thought before we talk about the rest of the 0:16:26.560 --> 0:16:30.800 NFC North Um. The nineteen fifties classic uniforms will be 0:16:30.880 --> 0:16:33.840 on display Sunday at lambeau Field. From the pictures, we've 0:16:33.880 --> 0:16:38.000 only seen pictures really, but what do you think? Pretty shnazzy. Yeah. 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:40.000 I liked them, you know, and especially it was a 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:42.240 change of pace, right. I mean, as much as I 0:16:42.720 --> 0:16:44.720 really do hate not being able to wear the ACME 0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:47.200 Packers stuff on camera was like my favorite. But you 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:50.160 like wearing all that blue, the blue and gold stuff. 0:16:50.200 --> 0:16:52.120 You were You've been big into that. Love it. I'm 0:16:52.160 --> 0:16:54.000 still trying to work on it when the days in 0:16:54.000 --> 0:16:56.160 which we don't have to be on camera. But I 0:16:56.200 --> 0:16:59.680 will say when the uniforms got announced, with our wonderful 0:16:59.760 --> 0:17:02.960 video department Adam Howell Heinrich and his team Tyler Geiski, 0:17:03.000 --> 0:17:05.840 they put together some amazing packages. It did get you 0:17:05.880 --> 0:17:08.199 excited for it because the other thing I like too, 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:10.960 is the NFL finally in addition to relaxing a lot 0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:13.800 of different things, Um, they relaxed the helmet stuff. You know, 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:15.440 they got to a point there where they're saying no 0:17:15.560 --> 0:17:17.320 changes with the helmets. Well, now the Packers are gonna 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:19.199 be able to go without the logo, give it a 0:17:19.280 --> 0:17:22.359 real clean look. Altogether, I'm just really excited for it. 0:17:22.440 --> 0:17:25.000 And the fact of the matter is the the inspiration 0:17:25.040 --> 0:17:26.280 of it. I think they came up with a pretty 0:17:26.320 --> 0:17:30.120 cool design. You don't see many versions and variations from 0:17:30.160 --> 0:17:32.919 such a traditional football team. Why would you. The Yankees 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:35.600 aren't going to go out and neon you know, green 0:17:35.680 --> 0:17:39.280 and blue anytime soon. But it still holds true to 0:17:39.520 --> 0:17:41.600 the feeling of the Packers, but also give you a 0:17:41.640 --> 0:17:44.160 kind of a new vibe as well. Yeah, it's I think. 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:47.360 I think the uniforms look really sharp. Um, I'm I'm 0:17:47.440 --> 0:17:50.119 interested to see just really out on the field in 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:53.680 a game what the green pants look like, because it's 0:17:53.760 --> 0:17:57.080 just not something we've seen the Packers where it's always 0:17:57.119 --> 0:17:59.760 been the gold pants except for the color rush the 0:18:00.119 --> 0:18:05.280 white when when they've had the white pants and what's that, Well, 0:18:05.320 --> 0:18:07.520 we haven't had color Russia they haven't. They haven't. I 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:10.280 mean this uniform in a sense is because it's green 0:18:10.359 --> 0:18:13.520 jersey with green pants, you know, so there is there 0:18:13.600 --> 0:18:15.879 is kind of a color rush element to it. But 0:18:16.119 --> 0:18:20.880 uh yeah, Well elsewhere in the NFC North, actually, with 0:18:20.920 --> 0:18:23.479 the Packers two games up on both the Bears and 0:18:23.560 --> 0:18:26.600 the Vikings, Chicago Minnesota both three and three, Minnesota's on 0:18:26.600 --> 0:18:30.560 its by Chicago, a really tough assignment. A road game 0:18:30.600 --> 0:18:33.560 at Tampa Bay. So if you're the Packers here, you're 0:18:33.680 --> 0:18:37.640 you're at home against Washington. If Tampa Bay holds, serve 0:18:37.720 --> 0:18:40.040 at home against the Bears, and with Minnesota on the 0:18:40.040 --> 0:18:42.679 bye week, you can come out of this week with 0:18:42.840 --> 0:18:45.400 a two and a half game lead on Minnesota. Any 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:48.840 three game lead on the Bears through seven games, that'd 0:18:48.880 --> 0:18:50.720 be a nice spot to be, but obviously you got 0:18:50.720 --> 0:18:52.399 to take care of business at home. Your thoughts on 0:18:52.440 --> 0:18:56.440 Bears Buccaneers, Yeah, a really difficult test for for Chicago 0:18:56.480 --> 0:18:59.560 because offensively, I think, uh, I think Tampa is going 0:18:59.600 --> 0:19:01.639 to give them a lot of problems with what the 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:05.040 scheme that they run, how fast those linebackers are. That's 0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:06.960 gonna be an uphill battle. I actually will be really 0:19:06.960 --> 0:19:09.560 interested to watch that Bears defense. Well, we'll see whether 0:19:09.600 --> 0:19:11.919 or not Robert Quinn is going to be in the 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:14.679 concussion product or not concussion the COVID protocol or not 0:19:14.720 --> 0:19:17.400 if he's available. But even still, you know, Khalil mac 0:19:17.440 --> 0:19:19.440 against that line. And but it also looked like a 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:22.760 chem Hicks reinjured that growing against the Packers when he 0:19:22.800 --> 0:19:25.200 had that when he had that one. Yeah, so maybe 0:19:25.200 --> 0:19:27.439 it won't be as formidable as I was forecasting just 0:19:27.480 --> 0:19:30.119 a second ago. But be that as it may. You know, 0:19:30.359 --> 0:19:32.399 two of the best inside backers in the league in 0:19:32.440 --> 0:19:34.520 that game. It's gonna be it'll be a fun matchup 0:19:34.520 --> 0:19:37.480 and certainly for Green Bay, uh you know, some potential 0:19:37.520 --> 0:19:40.320 distance there. And then you know, the Detroit Lions gonna 0:19:40.320 --> 0:19:44.080