1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside the one and only 3 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: West Hodkoits were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. Another day closer to Packers 5 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: Vikings noon Sunday kickoff at lambeau Field, and another day 6 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: of healing for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He spoke with 7 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: reporters on Wednesday after practice, a practice he did not 8 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: participate in. He was rehabbing instead, but he said he's 9 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: feeling a little bit better every day and all indications 10 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: are that his focus is on doing whatever it takes 11 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: to play in this game. Yeah. I think he made 12 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: that pretty clear after the game against Affairs that that 13 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: is what exactly he's wanting to do. Mike Zimmer, as 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: Mike Simmer always does in the conference call with Green 15 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: Bay Media every year, it seems like there's a noteworthy 16 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 1: bit that comes out of it. This year was his reply, 17 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: and that, well, he walks on waters, so we're expecting 18 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: him to play Rogers coincidentally does not in fact walk 19 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: on water. But you know, he is a guy that 20 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: I think when you look at what he's played through 21 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: over the years and how he's overcome those situations. He's 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: gonna do everything he can to be on the field 23 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: on Sunday afternoon. He knows the importance of that game, 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: not only the division implications, but really you're looking at two, 25 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: I think, on paper, two of the better teams in 26 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: the NFC in general. So I'm sure there's no shortage 27 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: and motivation for him to be out there, and we'll 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: have to see all the week goes. Mike McCarthy said, 29 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a day by day process. It's gonna 30 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: be just him being in that rehap group trying to 31 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: get whatever he needs to be ready for it. But 32 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: the history is there. I mean, Aaron Rodgers, the way 33 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: he's wired, he doesn't want to be on the sideline. Yeah, 34 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: no question about that. His for him, the way he 35 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: described it to reporters, his threshold in terms of whether 36 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: or not he feels he can be an effective player 37 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: has to do with his mobility. And now he drew 38 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: a distinction obviously because he's not talking about being so 39 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: mobile as to scramble out of the pocket and extend 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: plays and all those things that we've seen him do. 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: In the past. But it's about having enough mobility to 42 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: be able to shuffle his feet and move in the 43 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: pocket to create the passing lanes that you need based 44 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: on where the rush lanes are and how the pass 45 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: rush is coming after you. He was able to do 46 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: that Sunday night against the Bears. And when you look 47 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: back at the touchdown pass to Geronimo Allison the last 48 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: touchdown to Randall Cobb, both of those were plays where 49 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: he shuffled to his left to create some space for 50 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: himself in order to get off the past that he 51 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: needed to. He feels as long as he can do that, 52 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: he's going to be able to play because he doesn't 53 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: seem concerned about the knee, or at least the doctors 54 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: have told him and everything. He's not concerned about it 55 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: from the standpoint of re injuring it any further. It's 56 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: just a matter of managing that pain and being able 57 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: to move around just enough. Yeah, and that Allison throw 58 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: is probably the big one for me in terms of 59 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: passing the eye test, because hey, you want to do 60 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: quick passes, you want to get the ball move, and 61 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: you want to get into a rhythm. He was able 62 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: to do that. He made a heck of a pass 63 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: to Cob on the seventy yarder, But really it's those 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: downfield threats that are gonna be what opens up the 65 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: Packers offense. He did that got single you know, really 66 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: single separation one on one coverage with Kyle Fuller and 67 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: Allison and I think you go back and look at 68 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: that play and I've I've seen it about four or 69 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: five times now. It looks like an effortless throw for him. 70 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: It looked like he was too discomforted and trying to 71 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: get that out there just seem like traditional Aaron Rodgers football. 72 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: That's the biggest thing for him because certainly there is 73 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: going to be discomfort if he does play, there's gonna 74 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: be some of that pain that goes with the territory. 75 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: He's done it before, but it's really been able to threat, 76 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: you know, threaten the downfield. Uh, And you know that 77 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: it's gonna be one of those things that if Rogers 78 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: does go in this game, it's gonna be on the 79 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: offensive line, it's gonna be on the receivers every but 80 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: he has to step their game up to make sure 81 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: that he's in a favorable spot for you know, seventy 82 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: eight plays whatever it takes. Yeah, Well, another injury update 83 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: that nobody was necessarily aware of until Wednesday's practice. Wide 84 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: receiver Davante Adams did not practice on Wednesday. Turns out 85 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: he banged his shoulder a little bit on that fifty 86 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,679 Speaker 1: one yard catch and run in the fourth quarter. Said 87 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: when he got tackled, it was kind of an awkward collision, 88 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: and like with Rogers, he had the adrenaline to play 89 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: through it. He actually caught another past two plays later 90 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: for a short game, and then the next play after 91 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: that he got his touchdown there at the pylon. So 92 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: he played out the rest of the game. But he 93 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: woke up on Monday a little stiff and sore with 94 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: the shoulder. He sounded rather optimistic about being able to play, 95 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: but being cautious right now in practice as far as 96 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: making sure he gets to heal up as well. Yeah, 97 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: I mean, adrenaline, man, it's just so there's nothing better 98 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: than it. I mean, it's what the kids gets it 99 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: through those kind of instances. But him, you know the 100 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: way he's wired, much like Rogers, He's gonna want to 101 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: be out there. And I took my cap to him 102 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: for I mean, the fifty one yard catch was great. 103 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: That was a fine play and one of the biggest 104 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: ones of that entire contest. But he had to work 105 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: for that. Twelve year touched on him. You gotta remember 106 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: that was kind of a sort of almost a receiver 107 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: screen in some ways, and kind of had to make 108 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: that play happen, had to make a guy miss and 109 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: had to dive into the end zone. So, knowing what 110 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: we know now about that, it's kind of a gut 111 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: check for him to be able to pull that through. Again. 112 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: Though this isn't Davante Adams and year one or year two. 113 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: He's a veteran. He's been around this thing. If he 114 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: doesn't get all the reps, it's not the end of 115 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: the world. It opens up more opportunities for Alison, Marcus Velde, 116 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: Scantling and those other young receivers on this roster. The 117 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: biggest thing for Adams though, is going to be being 118 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: available and potentially, you know, getting to even if he 119 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: has to play through certain things, being able to have 120 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: that full of assortment of reps that he's used to. Yeah, 121 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: he had said when the play happened, he didn't even 122 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: think much of it in terms of his shoulder, like 123 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: it really didn't feel like anything had happened or that 124 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: the tackle was anything out of the ordinary. It really 125 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: wasn't until the next day, or maybe late that night 126 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: before he went to bed, or whatever the case was, 127 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: that he started to feel like, oh, my shoulders a 128 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: little sore, you know, so one of those things that 129 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 1: obviously get him the rest and recovery needs nippet in 130 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: the bud. Now, let him get through another game, hopefully 131 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: nothing gets worse, and then you know, Davante is good 132 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: to go for a while. He's kind of cut from 133 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: that same Randall Cobcloth too. It's like, I mean, those 134 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: guys are you're pretty much gonna have to take a 135 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: limb off for them not to play through something. So 136 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: and they don't exactly enjoy talking about their injuries. They 137 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: realize it's part of the deal that you know, whether 138 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: you're practicing not practicing, or something's going on, you're on 139 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: the injury report, reporters are going to come up to 140 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: you and say, hey, what's going on. So, I mean, 141 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: they get it, but they would just as soon you know, 142 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: nobody even know, because they don't want it to come 143 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: off as like an excuse for their play and everything. 144 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: We've heard that from these guys all the time. The 145 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: only analogy I've been able to throw up people because 146 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: people often ask this in the Fantasy football eras what's 147 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: affected all this? Probably absolutely, But it is funny because 148 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: I said, just imagine going to work and having a cold, 149 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: there's some kind of illness and being sick about it, 150 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: and having every single one of your coworkers come up 151 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: and ask you about it, every single person you come 152 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: across to ask you about it. Yeah. Yeah, over time, 153 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: you're not gonna want to talk about it that much. 154 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: So be that as it may. Like I said before, 155 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: I mean Adams the way he's wired, the way he 156 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: approaches this game, assuming he's cleared to go, I mean 157 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: he's he's met. From a mental perspective, he's gonna be 158 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: worried he needs to be going into Sunday. Yeah, definitely. 159 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: Well with that, West quickly a little sponsor business, It 160 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: is time to enter the Cousins Subs Best Seats in 161 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: the House promotion. You and a guest could win a 162 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: chance to kick back on the fifty yard line in style. 163 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: Two pairs of lucky Packers fans will be chosen prior 164 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: to each home game for this v I P experience, 165 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: enter daily now through December sixteen. By completing the entry 166 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: form and submitting. For complete rules and eligibility, go to 167 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: Packers dot com slash best Seats Cousins subs. We believe 168 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: in better Okay. Sticking with the topic of the Packers 169 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: offense right now, we actually both a little bit from 170 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy and then also from Aaron Rodgers in terms 171 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: of how Rogers injury aside, how that game unfolded for 172 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: the Packers offensively against the Bears. With regards to tight 173 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: end Jimmy Graham. You look at the statistics, Jimmy Graham 174 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: to catches for eight yards, not exactly what people were expecting, 175 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: but Randall cob nine for a buck forty two, Davante 176 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: Adams five for eight eight. I think it was Geronimoy 177 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Allison five for fifty nine, all three sixty nine. All 178 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: three of those guys have a touchdown reception. So it's like, well, 179 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: what happened with Jimmy Graham. Well, the Bears made him 180 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: the focal point of their defense and in terms of 181 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: their coverage, Aaron Rodgers talked about how their whole game 182 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: plan was out in the middle of the field, they 183 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: had an outside linebacker who was disrupting Graham at the 184 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage, not letting him get a clean release 185 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: into his route. And then when the Packers were close 186 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: to the end zone, down in the red zone area, 187 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: they were simply double teaming. They had either a cloud 188 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: cover to his side or they simply bracketed him with 189 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: with one coverage guy up front and then another guy 190 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: in the back. So um, not the type of start 191 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: to his packer's career that Jimmy Graham was looking for. 192 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: But the guy was affecting the game because he was 193 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: affecting how Chicago was playing its defense. And Marv up 194 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: in the control room, if we could, I'm guessing we 195 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: can't bring up my clip from I think May talking 196 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: about how the addition of Jimmy Graham is going to 197 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: be the best friend for Randall Cole exactly. I'm not 198 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: sitting here trying to act like I'm some kind of 199 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: you know, psychic with this stuff nostradamus exactly. But it 200 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: was obvious that this is gonna be one of the 201 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: beneficiaries of this approach. It's not a coincidence. I mean, now, 202 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: Randall cop did a lot of great things on his own, 203 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: but it's not a coincidence that Jimmy Graham gets entered 204 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: this offense and Randall Cobb has a career day. This 205 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,719 Speaker 1: the way that defense are gonna have to approach this, Mike, 206 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: We've talked about it since the day that Graham was signed. 207 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: They have to make a decision. If Auntie Adams mentioned 208 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: this in the post game too, when he was talking 209 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: his locker. There were times where he got double team. 210 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: There were times where Cobb got double team and we 211 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: saw a lot of double teaming or as you said, 212 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: some of the cloud coverage that they did to Graham. 213 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: That's what opened up the opportunity on that one series 214 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: to Geronto Willison to win his one on one. That 215 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: is ultimately what's going to be able to assuming they 216 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: can keep all these pieces healthy, make this offense what 217 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: they think it can be. This week, a lot of 218 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: emphasis on Jimmy Graham. Next week that might change. Maybe 219 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 1: that's when Jimmy Graham breaks out, but whatever the case 220 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: may be, there's so many different components in the middle 221 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: of the field. Mike McCarthy's wanted to attack that area. 222 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 1: They did it in that game against the Bears, and 223 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: they did it through Randall Cobb. In a tip of 224 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: the hat to Jimmy Graham for being able to divert 225 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: some of that coverage. Yeah, and I'm really interested to 226 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: see comes Sunday afternoon what the Vikings decided to do, 227 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,319 Speaker 1: because you look at Minnesota's first game against the San 228 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: Francisco forty Niners. A little known tight end, a guy, 229 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: I'll admit I ever heard of him? Is it George Kittle? 230 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: Is his name? Five catches for ninety yards? He was. 231 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: He was Jimmy Garoppolo's go to guy, was the tight end. Now, 232 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: I don't know enough about the XS and os, and 233 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: I don't watch all of Minnesota's game film, but they 234 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: were probably presumably more focused on Garoppolo's outside targets, the 235 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: guys on the edges, the wide receivers, and so that 236 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: tight end. Kittle had some matchups that he was able 237 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: to take advantage of, and Garoppolo took advantage of ninety 238 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: yards from a tight end. That's a pretty big game. Now, 239 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: what will Minnesota do with regards to Jimmy Graham? And 240 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: you know what the Packers having, assuming Adams is able 241 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: to play in Adams Cobb and Allison how all this unfolds. 242 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: As you said, defense is going to have to make 243 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: a choice. It's an eleven on eleven game. It's a 244 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: numbers game. Anybody, any defense can take away anybody else 245 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: on offense if they want to. It's how this league works. 246 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: So what is Minnesota going to decide? That's what we 247 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: have to wait and see. And you mentioned the red 248 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 1: zone some of the double coverage that got there. That 249 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: the exciting thing I think if you're Mike McCarthy and 250 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers in this offense, is that Davante Adams and 251 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: Randall cop are really proficient in that area of the 252 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: field as well. I don't know if that's just the 253 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: product of the scrambled drill or just the roads that 254 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: they're running, or the Christmas of it, but they have 255 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: been effective without that kind of threat. Now that you 256 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: put Graham and that equation, there are a lot of 257 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: things that didn't go right for the Packers in two 258 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: thousand seventeen. Nobody's denying that they were pretty good as 259 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: far as red zone offense, though, and now that you 260 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: have Graham added into that mix, I think it's only 261 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: gonna take them one step farther and and to be 262 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: honest with you, Mike too, and I'm glad you brought 263 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 1: that up. Kittle him and Garoppolo last year they started 264 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: to develop a little bit of rapport. You could tell 265 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: that that's a guy that Garoppolo has a lot of 266 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: confidence in. Aaron Rodgers has really developed a good chemistry 267 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: with Jimmy Graham. And we'll see exactly how this situation 268 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: unfolds on Sunday. But I think, honestly, it's only a 269 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: matter of time before you really start to see that 270 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: production maybe swerve its way a little bit towards Graham, 271 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: just based on the fact that there were so many 272 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: opportunities for them throughout training camp, throughout the preseason that 273 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: they really did capitalize on. Yeah, there are a lot 274 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: of different ways this could play out schematically. Now what 275 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: I know about the Minnesota Vikings, they will certainly have 276 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: no problem leaving Xavier Rhodes one on one, their top 277 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: cornerback will play one on one. They won't worry about 278 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: safety help for him. But then if you're talking about 279 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: wanting safety help on you know, Cobb or Allison, but 280 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: then also wanting it for Graham potentially, well, does that 281 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: take Sendejo and Harrison Smith out of the blitz packages 282 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: and out of the pressure packages, which then leaves the 283 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: Packers offensive line and the protection unit just dealing with 284 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: the front four, maybe not so much the extra rushers 285 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: those This is all part of the chess match. It's 286 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: it's and and the way things start in the first 287 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: quarter is not necessarily how the game is going to 288 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: be played in the fourth quarter. These three hours out 289 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: there on Sunday afternoon, a lot of adjustments back and 290 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: forth and everything. And with this this addition of Jimmy 291 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: Graham being new to the Packers offense with the vikings 292 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: and you know, wanting to do what they do on 293 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 1: defense and do so well because they've had this unit 294 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: together for so long, it just makes for a really 295 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: intriguing matchup all the way around. And we'll get into 296 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: some of like the what it's going to take to 297 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: win this game stuff on Friday, But for me, I 298 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: think the biggest decision, one of the biggest decisions that 299 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer has to make, is how they're going to 300 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: use Mike Hughes. And it's by all accounts, it sounds 301 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: like Trey Wayne's is gonna be Okay, I think he 302 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: was a full participant on Wednesday. But Hughes appears to 303 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: be that that slock cornerback. So is he going up 304 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 1: against Graham's he going up against Randall Cobb. That's gonna 305 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: be a big piece that they're gonna have to figure out. Yeah, Well, 306 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: switching gears to the defensive side of the ball here quickly, 307 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: wes um the uh we saw at least in our 308 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: first introduction to Mike Petton's defense, and it may have 309 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: been partly driven by the fact that orn Burke said 310 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: inside linebacker was injured and the other inside linebackers aside 311 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: from Martinez haven't been with the team very long. But 312 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: we saw Mike Petton put a lot of dbs on 313 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: the field against the Bears, a lot of six dbs 314 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: and even in some cases seven dB packages depending on 315 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: high you want to classify Jermaine white Head and how 316 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: he was used. But the depth of the Packers secondary 317 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: was needed in Game one, and Mike Petton used every 318 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: just about every inch of it. Yeah, he did. And 319 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: I thought it was really interesting listen to Kirk Cousins 320 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about it, because he was asked 321 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: about those seven dB packages and how that stress as 322 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: a quarterback. And and he made such a great point 323 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: is that Petton really was indiscriminate when he used it. 324 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: I mean he would use it in a variety of 325 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: different ways in different situations and down in distances. I 326 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: think the most common version of that is going to 327 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: be in the you know, the dime and some of 328 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: the sub package stuff. But we saw packages Mike that 329 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: I think Blake Martinez referred to as like a base 330 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: sub where they had three down linemen, two inside or 331 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: one inside linebacker, two outside linebackers, and then just five 332 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: defensive backs. They pivoted so many different ways with their packages. 333 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: When when you look at how they were able to 334 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: utilize Jermine Whitehead as kind of that Nitro Nickel kind 335 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: of linebacker next to Martinez. Josh Jackson, who I mean, 336 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: where's all the people now talking about how he couldn't 337 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: play the slot, how he was a boundary cornerback, a 338 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: zone boundary cornerback. He's basically dispelled each one of those 339 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: things every single time he's taken the field for Green Bay. 340 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: And we all know what Jr. Alexander can do. So 341 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: I had a really big question. I said it last 342 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: week on the show, Mike how this was all gonna 343 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: look with all these cornerbacks, how Mike pett was going 344 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: to use him because to me, I didn't want Josh 345 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: Jackson if I'm if I'm pettent, I didn't want him 346 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: sitting on the bench most of that game. I wanted 347 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: him involved in Kudos to him he found out a 348 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: way to get Tremont Williams and Kevin King playing the 349 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: entire game, but then also get upwards of forty five 350 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: snaps for both Alexander and Jackson. We talked about it 351 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: being a strength, that the strength as it stands today, 352 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: and he put it to use against the Bears. Yeah. Well, 353 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: we talked about how some of the different ways the 354 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: chess match could unfold with the Packers on offense, the 355 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: Packers on defense. The way this, uh, this chess match 356 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: could go if I'm the Vikings and Kirk Cousins and 357 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: I'm seeing the six and seven dbs out there in 358 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: a lot of different situations, the way you get the 359 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: Packers out of that as you're on the ball with 360 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook, because because six seven dbs on the field, 361 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: your light in the pants, so to speak, in terms 362 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: of being able to stop the run. Now, if you can, 363 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,360 Speaker 1: if you're the Packers and you can stop the run 364 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: and contain Dalvin Cook with those kinds of packages, that 365 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: gives you an advantage. But if you can't, then you 366 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: need to get a little bit more beef up front, 367 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: so to speak, in that front seven in order to 368 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: contain the run. And then the advantage shifts to Kirk 369 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: Cousins with Stefon Diggs, Adam Thiel and Kyle Rudolph and 370 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: all the weapons in the passing game. So there there's 371 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: a lot of different ways, just as we talked about 372 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: on the other side of the ball, a lot of 373 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: different ways that this could play out, and over the 374 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: course of four quarters and and three hours, there's gonna 375 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: be a lot of shifting and changing going on. I 376 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: think the exciting thing if you're a Packers fan right 377 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: now with this defense is I think there's a really 378 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: good chance that we don't even see those kind of 379 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: packages again in this game. I think you could see 380 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: pett and potentially and this is just speculation on my part, 381 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: but I think you could see him take more of 382 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: that New England approach where your tailor and game plans 383 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: to specific opponents absolutely in really marching things up a 384 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: little bit. It is going to be interesting to see, though, 385 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 1: exactly what that plan is going to be for Cook 386 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,719 Speaker 1: and and certainly the defensive front. They know he's going 387 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: to be a big challenge for them and seeing how 388 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: they respond to it. Lastly, Blake Martinez, I think that 389 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: had to be one of the finest games he's played 390 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: in the Packers uniform because for fifty nine of those 391 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: seventy snaps he was on the field. He was the 392 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: loan inside backer. He was working with guys he wasn't 393 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: used to working with, and he was the primary communicator. 394 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: That was a big assignment and that's a big moment 395 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: that he's going to grow from as this season where's on. Yeah, 396 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: it was like he was a ship's captain with a 397 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 1: whole new crew. Absolutely, and he was the guy tying 398 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: that defensive front to kentroll o'brice Hahak, Clinton Dicks in 399 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: the secretary. That was such a big role for him. 400 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: It wasn't really talked about much, but that was a 401 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: huge assignment and he stood up to it. Yeah. Alright, Well, 402 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: with that, we're going to call it a wrap on 403 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all 404 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com 405 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: on Twitter, He's at west Hot I'm at Mike Spofford 406 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 407 00:18:58,840 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: you See you next time.