1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my trusted colleague West 3 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: Hodkowits were coming to you here from our studios at 4 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: lambeau Field and West. We are one day closer to 5 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: the Packers getting back in action from their bye week. 6 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: It's Packers Rams at the l A Coliseum Sunday afternoon 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: Central kickoff, and at this stage of the week here 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: some good news on the injury front for the Green 9 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 1: Bay Packers. Um no guarantees. Obviously, players are still limited 10 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: in practice based on how they're listed on the injury report, 11 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: but Mike McCarthy has indicated that receivers Randall Cobb and 12 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: Geronimo Allison, as well as rookie cornerback ja Year Alexander 13 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: all kind of on track to play on Sunday. This 14 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: would be pretty significant because when you look at what's 15 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: been happening injury wise, that those two positions, the Packers 16 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: haven't had their top three veteran receivers Adams, Cobb and 17 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: Allison on the field together since Week three at Washington, 18 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: and at the cornerback position, the Packers haven't had their 19 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: top four of Williams, King, Alexander, and Jackson on the 20 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: field together since Week two against Minnesota. So in that respect, 21 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: as they say, the bye week maybe came at a 22 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: good time and the Packers hopefully getting getting healthy and 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: getting their top players out there for this big game 24 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: against the Ramps, and to throw one more out there 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: at the veteran edition that they made they lost Von 26 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: House for the years, they go and get Brilan and 27 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: they were hoping that he might be the guy that 28 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: could step in when some of those other guys are hurt. 29 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: He ends up dealing with the hamstring issue that's kept 30 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: him out a couple of weeks. Now, whatever way you 31 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: want to slice it, though, Mike, this is big for 32 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: the Packers offense and defense. This game the way it's 33 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: structured right now, so much of it's played on the boundaries, 34 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: So much of it is played ten to fifteen yards 35 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: down field now, and you have to be able to 36 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: defend it and you have to be able to attack it. 37 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: I think the one positive for the Packers when you 38 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: look strictly at the offense in the passing game is 39 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: the fact that Okay, Equanimius st Brown, Marquis Valdez Scantling. 40 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: Both of those guys have been thrown into the fire 41 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: now and the Packers have seen how they can step 42 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: through it. On the other side, they've made significant progress, 43 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: There's no doubt about it. They certainly have now. When 44 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: you get back to the timing what Aaron Rodgers looking 45 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: for at the offense, there's a reason that Randall Cobbin 46 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: and Geronimo Allison were the two three. However you want 47 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: to slice it at the beginning of the season, those 48 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: guys have been with him. They know what to expect 49 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: getting them back and then may be able to being 50 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: able to sprinkle in those young guys is going to 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: be what's ultimately going to help keep those defenses on 52 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: their heels. As far as the secondary, though Mike we 53 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: set it from the first game against the Chicago Bears 54 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: the strength of this defense, one of the strengths was 55 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: going to be their options in the secondary. The depth. 56 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: The depth they've been I don't want to say minimized 57 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: in that regard, but it has been challenged in terms 58 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: of the combinations that Joe wit Jr. And Mike pettn 59 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: have had to work with. Well, if you get Jr. 60 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: Alexander available. Now that you have Kevin King back in 61 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: the lineup, that's optimal and I think the Packers. Whether 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: or not it happens all this weekend, we'll have to 63 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: wait and see in a couple of days, but it's 64 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: inching closer to that. Yeah, And we've seen the type 65 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: of plays that these guys like Alexander and King who 66 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: have been dealing with the injuries and are getting back, 67 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: the type of plays they can make. We all know 68 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: the interception Alexander had that was wiped out by the 69 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: by the bogus penalty on Clay Matthews against Minnesota, but 70 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: then he also had an interception in the end zone 71 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: on that errant throw by Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. 72 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: Kevin King, this is a couple of weeks he comes back, 73 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: and the play he makes on the ball in the 74 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, you know, the zero blitz with Mark mark 75 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: Quis Goodwin trying to streak by him down the middle 76 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: of the field and King finds the ball, makes the picks, 77 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: sets up the game winning drive. The Packers get all 78 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: for these cornerbacks back out there against an offense, obviously, 79 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: with the array of weapons that the Rams have it, 80 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: it can only be a good thing and and help 81 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: their chances. And when you look at wide receiver Geronimo Allison, 82 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: before he went down with the concussion and the hamstring injury, 83 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: he was averaging seventy plus yards per game through the 84 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: first four games of this season. Randall Cobb had the 85 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: hundred and forty yard game and the game winning touchdown 86 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: in Week one against Chicago, had a rough game in 87 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: Week three against Washington. Hasn't had an opportunity to atone 88 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: for that yet. And he's a veteran player, takes a 89 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: lot of pride in what he does. You know, he's 90 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: going to go get back out there for his first 91 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: opportunity and want to make up for what happened the 92 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: last time he took the field. So a lot of 93 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: positive signs here. And I know a lot of Packers 94 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: fans very you know, trepidacious so to speak about this 95 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: game with the Rams being undefeated and being on the 96 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: road and all that. But the Packers are putting themselves, 97 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: at least healthwise, in the best position they can to 98 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: try to take this one. Yeah, and the Rams, I 99 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: do like what they do defensively. You and I talked 100 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: about that on yesterday show. But there are yards to 101 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: be gained, there's production to be had. So I mean, 102 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: when if you can get Randall cob back in there, 103 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: and you get him working one two again with Jimmy 104 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: Graham and being able to maybe use Graham more in 105 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: the middle of the field than they've been able to 106 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks. I like that combination there, Geronimo, Alison, 107 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: Mike We kind of forget about it with the concussion 108 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: and with the hamstring injury, but before that, he arguably 109 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: was one of the top more consistent performers on this 110 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: entire roster. Those first four games of the season. You 111 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: can pretty much jot him down for sixty seventy yards 112 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: and four or five catches a game, which is ultimately 113 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: what you're looking for out of your number three receiver. 114 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: Guy that's gonna be able to keep defenses honest and 115 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: was having a pretty decent game at the time of 116 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 1: his concussion. So to get him back it is going 117 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: to be good. I go back to that secondary though 118 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: you mentioned. If the Packers can get healthy there, then 119 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: you look at the other side of the ball game 120 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: here for the Rams, they very well might be going 121 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: into this game without Cooper Cup So if they don't 122 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: have him available, Sean McVeigh mentioned he's probably doubtful for 123 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: this matchup right at the time when we're taping this. 124 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: That takes away one of those big three options for 125 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: them downfield. And I'm not saying you're still gonna be 126 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: able to zone in on and everybody there's there's gonna 127 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: be other challenges, but a full slate of weapons against 128 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: an offense that's missing one of their top red zone 129 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: targets could be beneficial for Mike Petton's crew. Yeah. Well, 130 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: when you talk about a guy who has been healthy, 131 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: healthy as a horse, as they say in this Mike 132 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: Petton defense, Kenny Clark, he's been right in the middle 133 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: of it all season long, West And I tell you 134 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: what you don't hear Mike McCarthy say these kinds of 135 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: things very often when he's asked about players, But he 136 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: was asked this week about Kenny Clark and he didn't 137 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: hesitate at all. He said, Kenny Clark is a Pro 138 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Bowl player. He's playing at a Pro Bowl level. You 139 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: and I have talked about it. It's certainly they're on film. 140 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy is seeing how opposing offenses are building their 141 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: game plans around trying not to let Kenny Clark be 142 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: as disruptive as he's been both against the run and 143 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: the past. This is a key player. We talked a 144 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: lot about Aaron Donald obviously and what he does on 145 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: on that rams D defensive front. Take nothing away from that, 146 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: but Kenny Clark might be the most important player for 147 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: this Packers defense right now the way it's playing. Yeah, 148 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: I think so, Mike, And They've had a lot of 149 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: great defensive linemen in here through the years. They have 150 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: several of them on this roster right now, and you 151 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: look at Mike Daniels, you go back to what Ryan 152 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: Pickett did for a number of years against the run. 153 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: B J. Rodgi his first few seasons, maybe as as 154 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: impactful as any defensive tackle in the three or four 155 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: defense at that time. But what I like about Clark 156 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: is I think he's probably the most balanced, the guy 157 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: that could potentially hurt an offense in a multitude of ways, 158 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: where there isn't one specialization with him. I think one 159 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: of the reasons why I know we're talking with Clark 160 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: about that this week, it's been tough to get him 161 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: off the field is because he's basically just as effective 162 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: as a run stuffer as he is as an interior 163 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: pass rusher. Going into the season, I think the Packers 164 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: plans there was that Moe Wilkerson was gonna be handling 165 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: a lot of those third down reps, being able to 166 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: use him inside outside how they want to, you know, 167 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: be able to flex him around well without Wilkerson, Clark, 168 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: Mike Daniels, those are your pretty much your two top 169 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: guys in third down defenses and Nickel in dime if 170 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: they go to defensive linemen. So it stands to reason 171 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: why they want him out there, and the stats do 172 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: represent that. I mean, he's played the third most amount 173 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: of defensive snaps among defensive tackles this year, at least 174 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: guys that play that role in their defense. And then 175 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: also another stat I dug up when I was working 176 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: on a story on him this week. If he stays 177 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: on this pace that he's on right now, he's routinely 178 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: getting six, seven, sometimes nine tackles a week. He would 179 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: become the first Packers defensive linemen to go over seventy 180 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: official tackles in a season since Aaron Campman in two 181 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: thousand and six. Uh. Last year, with his fifty five 182 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: tackles were the most official by a defensive lineman in 183 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: the three four defenses. The Packers made that move in 184 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: two thousand nine. He finds ways to get to the ball, carries, 185 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: he's strong, he's good at the point of attack, and 186 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: he are seeing an evolution of a playmaker at only 187 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: twenty three years old. Yeah, it's a tough balance here 188 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: the Packers are are trying to find because, as you said, 189 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: it's tough to take him off the field. But at 190 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: the same time, now that the bye week is in 191 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: the rear view mirror, the Packers have ten consecutive games 192 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: here without a break. You're gonna have the Thursday night 193 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: game against Seattle and sort of that mini by when 194 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: you get a few days off over the weekend, but 195 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: basically ten straight weeks with a game to play and 196 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: UH and no significant time off there. So his his 197 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: snap count is high, and yes he's young, and if 198 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: there's anybody who can handle it for an entire sixteen 199 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: game season, it's probably Kenny Clark. But at the same time, 200 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: the Packers do need to find a way to get 201 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: him some rest and get a little bit more of 202 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: a rotation and be able to rely on some of 203 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: those other younger guys like Dean Lowry montrevious Adams players 204 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: like that Tyler Lancaster who's now on the active roster, 205 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: coming up from the practice squad, Because I just don't 206 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: know if you can play Kenny Clark of the defensive 207 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: snaps for an entire season. I just I think that's uh, 208 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: I think your potential asking for trouble there. Yeah. The 209 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: one thing that's been really interesting, Mike, I have to imagine, 210 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: and you're obviously watch these games just as much as 211 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: I do. I don't know if it's like this in 212 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: the league in general, but the Green Bay Packers have 213 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: probably played their most base defense that I've seen during 214 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: my time here since probably two thousand twelve, maybe two. 215 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: I think that's part of the equation here. You can 216 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: talk about the rotation and trying to get other guys involved, 217 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: but the thing is is that in a lot of 218 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: first down, early down situations these first three or four games, 219 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: the last three or four games, it's been Lowerie Daniels Clark, 220 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: you get to the nickel and dime packages, you're going 221 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: down to two. It just seems to me, and again 222 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: I don't have stats to back this up. We don't 223 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: have an intern running you know, Spofford stats and info 224 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: for us. But it does seem like they've had to 225 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: go with more of the base look than we've probably 226 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: seen the last few years when that number was dipping 227 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: closer to fifteen percent of the time. I would argue 228 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: it's probably closer and maybe even above thirty of the 229 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: time this season, just based on how things have kind 230 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: of worked out for them. So be interesting to see, Yes, 231 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: in addition to trying to get a real tation going 232 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: at that position. Also as the season wears on, if 233 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: we're gonna start seeing more of the run Nickel looks 234 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: and and things of that nature. Yeah, Well Clark Clark 235 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: may be the most important guy the Packers have in 236 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: terms of trying to contain Todd Gurley and not let 237 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: Gurley get going, which sets up all that play action 238 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: and everything else that the Rams want to run. Yeah, 239 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: and this is gonna be one of those games that 240 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: you look at him in particular. He kind of need 241 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: one of those Ryan Picket games where he's gonna be 242 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: taken on double teams. He needs to be disruptive, He 243 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: needs to glide with the line of scrimmage and follow 244 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: him outside the tackle box. It's gonna be a big 245 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: challenge for him. He's going home, first time back in 246 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: l A since he got drafted in two thousand and sixteen. 247 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: He's gonna have over thirty, you know, somewhere thirty thirty 248 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: five people there, So there's gonna be plenty people cheering 249 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: them on, and the Packers are gonna need a big 250 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: performance out of the young guy. Yeah, all right, Well, 251 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 1: a quick bit of sponsor business here west at home 252 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: or here in the stands. We all know that Green 253 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: Bay fans give it their all and that takes a 254 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's 255 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers 256 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just 257 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup, 258 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: Official suit partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, another thing, 259 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: we didn't have a chance to get to it in 260 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: our earlier shows this week coming off of the bye, 261 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: but this is the time of year during the regular 262 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: season when the Packers coaching staff and players they take 263 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: a day and engage in what's called the across the 264 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: hall meetings. This is a really interesting concept West because 265 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: to try to put it in a nutshell, what it 266 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: is is the Packers offensive coaches devise, essentially what would 267 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: be their game plan to go against the Packers defense, 268 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: and the Packers defensive coaches devise their game plan for 269 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: how they would attack the Packers offense. And then they 270 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: share all the information in the sense of saying, hey, 271 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: this is where we see the weaknesses. This is how 272 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: individually talking to a defensive lineman or a cornerback saying 273 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 1: this is how we would attack you, and a defensive 274 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: coach then also saying to an offensive lineman or to 275 00:12:58,040 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: a wide receiver, this is what we would try to 276 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: do against you, because this is what we see on films. 277 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: So it's a it's a collaborative thing, you know, with 278 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: within the building. And it's called across the hall because 279 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: the offensive and defensive meeting rooms are literally across the 280 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: hall from one another, um as far as the big 281 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: group meeting rooms down in the bottles of lambeau Field. 282 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: So an interesting process, and you've talked to some of 283 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: the guys about you know what they get out of this, uh, 284 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: in terms of their own individual development and progress in 285 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: the season. Yeah. And some of the things I focused 286 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: on were with the younger players on the roster and 287 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: specific some of the rookies. And one of them that 288 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: I was asking about this was Orren Burkes, and he 289 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: came from Vanderbilt. He said he did have some of 290 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: those experiences. They did have some things where he would 291 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: work with the running backs coach who was was very vocal, 292 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: very communicative with them in terms of telling them what 293 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: to look for and and how they would attack them. 294 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: But it it gets ramped up a notch at this level, 295 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: and I think it's a good review process for guys 296 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: like Burke's who, as we saw before the bye week, 297 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: he's getting thrown in there more and more started playing 298 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,559 Speaker 1: and starting right from the beginning, and some Bay snaps, 299 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: uh and and you're seeing, you know, kind of the 300 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: maturation of him as a football player. And then even 301 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: these young receivers trying to go back and look at 302 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: their film now that they got some Aaron Rodgers competitive 303 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: first team stuff on on tape, you know, hundred fifty 304 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: snaps at this point where I think a guy like 305 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: Mark wisveld is scantling and seeing exactly what they can 306 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: take away from that. And one of the other comments 307 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: I believe was Davante Adams was discussing this week how 308 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: beneficial it is to take that step back and sort 309 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: of you you kind of can fall in your own 310 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: silo in terms of just focusing on what you're doing 311 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: and what your responsibilities are, but outside perception is important, uh, 312 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: you know, being able to uncover some of those blind spots. 313 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: And I think it probably is also probably pretty beneficial 314 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: for the coaching staff as well. For the offensive coaches 315 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: and defensive coaches. You know, they're they're in their own 316 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: deal during the season. It's difficult to get them going 317 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: and discussing other things because you're so focused on the 318 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: week to week game plan that they're able to go 319 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: back and get a macro view of their players. So 320 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: a very interesting concept that Packers have been doing it 321 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: for a number of years now, but a good way 322 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: to kind of use that bye week to to keep 323 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: your you know, keep your head in the game plan. Yeah, 324 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: and this is something that the Packers do actually three 325 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: times a year. But Mike McCarthy emphasized this week that 326 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: the bye week. This is the most important, the most 327 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: valuable one they do because the other ones one is 328 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: during the off season program, one is during training camp. 329 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: But when you do it now during the bye week 330 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: in the regular season, you have in this particular case, 331 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: six weeks of game tape of actual regular season games, 332 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: the same type of stuff that opposing teams are looking at. 333 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: Their looking at that film and formulating their game plans 334 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: and their thoughts on how to go about attacking certain 335 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: things within the scheme and with individual players. So it 336 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: is something that they do multiple times a year, but 337 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: this is the most important and most valuable one. And 338 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: and the fact that you are in it now, I mean, yeah, 339 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: and then there is something to be said for the 340 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: off season and trying to you know, kind of figure 341 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: out tendencies, But that's all revisionary, you know. It's it's 342 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: going back and looking at what you've done. It doesn't 343 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: necessarily always mean how things are going to play out 344 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: once the next season begins. This is an opportunity. You're 345 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: in the heat of battle, it's the eye of the 346 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: storm of the season, a chance to really understand what's 347 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: happened in what you could potentially change to make an 348 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: adjustment going into the second half of the season. Yeah, 349 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure exactly how many years now that 350 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy has been doing this, but the track record 351 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: for the Packers, I believe in the last ten years 352 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: it's seven two and one in the game coming out 353 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: of the bye week. So Mike McCarthy and his staff 354 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: they've always used this time. They put it to good 355 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: use and uh and it's translated to some good results 356 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: on the field. This may be the toughest game the 357 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: Packers have ever had coming out of the by facing 358 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: the only undefeated team in the NFL and on the road, 359 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: and you know, a two time zone trip and all 360 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: of that stuff that's involved. But Packers, the plane is 361 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: leaving Friday, trying to get out there, get acclimated to 362 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: not only the time zone but the weather. It's about 363 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: forty degrees warmer I think in Los Angeles than it 364 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: is um. You know, Sunday afternoon, it could be it 365 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: could be a hot one at the Calseum. Yeah, spot's 366 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: gonna be walking around Rodeo Drive. I'll have the boom 367 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: box behind them with pretty women going on there. You 368 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: can enjoy everything with the sunlight and the palm trees. 369 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: Uh No, but it is, and and some of the 370 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: guys even talked about that, I mean, just trying to 371 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: Kenny Clark mentioned, I mean when he was asked if 372 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: he's still a California guys like, well, I still like 373 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: the warmth, you know, getting a chance to feel that again, 374 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: because if you think about it, Michael, I mean you haven't. 375 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: They really haven't had a lot of warm weather games 376 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 1: so far. Washington was sort of miserable. They were out 377 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: there with the rain and everything, and they were in 378 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: a dome in Detroit. So yeah, it's gonna be a 379 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 1: big challenge. But I think the thing that I'm most 380 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: looking forward to seeing you do go back and again. 381 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: I don't take away anything from the Rams. You're right, 382 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: they are the best team in football right now. This 383 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: the record shows it. But the Packers Mike McCarthy Aaron 384 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: Rodgers have done some of their best work coming out 385 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: of bye weeks. I think back to two thousand fourteen, 386 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: everything was crashing down after that game against the Saints. Yeah, 387 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: the New Orleans primetime game at the super Dome. They 388 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: made a huge adjustment. Clay Matthews started working inside the defense, 389 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 1: turned it around was one of the top five top 390 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: six defenses in the league. The second half of that season, 391 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: the offense got going. They made a run towards an 392 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 1: NFC Championship game on the precipice of a Super Bowl. 393 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: This is a different challenge. Every year is different, but 394 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: it does show you that when you get a chance 395 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: to make some adjustments and look at what's happened, it 396 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: allows you to reset a little bit and try to 397 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 1: figure out your focus for the rest of the way. 398 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: All right, and with that, we'll call it a wrap 399 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 1: on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be should have follow 400 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot 401 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: com on Twitter. You can still find him at west 402 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. 403 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.