#312 Packers Unscripted: Raider review

you're Alexander and Josh Jackson. They continue to look like keepers, they really do, Mike, and the other thing that Josh Jackson looks like he was a first round pick. Yeah, people just happen to be sleeping on for one reason or another. I mean, basically, every single thing I think was seen as a weakness for Jackson has really been somewhat of a strength in this preseason. And I get it. These aren't the starting quarterbacks out there, these aren't mostly

the number one offenses. But when they have been on the field, he's played pretty darn well too. I love the versatility of him, and I love his playmaking ability and and everything he showed in that one year as a starter at Iowa. It's transitioned into the NFL. Now the record books ten fifteen years down the line. People might forget that he had another pick six in this game, but that interception in thirty six is return yard returned

for a touchdown. Had nothing to do with the Herb Waters holding call on the other side of the field. He just made a play on the ball and was unfortunately an unlucky participant there. But back to back pick sixes and and also JayR Alexander finally get his first extended action getting his first interception in the slot. Very exciting about what what these guys have put on film so far. Yeah, what I really liked about what Alexander did is that he was tested right off the bat

in this game. First play, he's lined up across from Amari Cooper. Derek Carr goes eap Alexander's right there. You can't really cover the play any better. You just got out jumped for the ball by a bigger receiver and a Pro Bowl caliber receiver at that. Hey, that's gonna happen. That's how That's how this league has played. But you know what, it didn't bother him. He just he got up.

He kept playing and then later on when the Raiders are driving for a potential touchdown, makes a really a tremendous catch to to snag that interception on on that middle steam route. And uh, you know, Mike McCarthy said it. You know, the ball skills of Alexander and Jackson were um the biggest selling points, I guess you might say

heading into the draft. And these guys have come as advertised that that catch that Alexander made, the catch that Jackson made on his pick six the previous week, and then the fact that he just took the ball away in the Raiders game by the sideline for what should have been another pick six. These guys know how to play the ball that just and those are the kinds of things you can't necessarily coach it. You can't teach it. It's instinctive and it's the way they play the game.

And I think these guys are going to see the field plenty for the Packers. And that's the exciting thing too, is because you have Joe wit Jr. There and obviously him now working with with Jason Simmons as the position coaches for that room. There's things that they're going to work with both of those young players about what the thing you got to like about, especially in Jackson's cases, that this one month that he's been in Green Bay and training camp, you've seen the progression. I asked him

about that after the game in the locker room. It just so happened the two were actually sharing a visiting locker in a very small Oakland Colisseum locker room, and he said it too, is that he's this past month has allowed him to get into a rhythm, get back to feeling comfortable in playing instinctual because you can rep fundamentals as much as you want, you can do all the drills that you want during these training camp practices.

It's all intended to guys playing fast and playing with their instincts and playing disciplined football, and they've both done that in the small sample size we've seen. I wrote about this to an insider inbox from day Mike, the thing that I think is the most exciting right now for the Packers is, for the first time ever, at least I think since maybe two thousand fourteen, I would argue the Packers really don't feel a rush to get

any of these rookies on the field right away. If you feel like Josh Jackson's ready, sure put him out there. Same thing with Joie Alexander. But as it stands right now, these guys aren't just gonna have to get thrown out there by attrition or just a lack of depth at the position. You have Tremont Williams, who's playing some pretty

good ball right now at thirty five years old. I thought Devon House has put together a pretty good camp coming back, and if Kevin kings shoulder checks out, he can get into the regular season and there's no issues there. That's a pretty good starting point for a starting cornerback corps.

So to be able to incorporate those guys in the fact that the Packers, as we'll talk about, shortly traded Lindsay Pipkins over the weekend really speaks the fact that this is a deep position for them now and it's a lot better situation they were putting going in the

last year. Yeah. I think it's interesting what you said about Josh Jackson that he looks like first round pick that maybe people were sleeping on kind of a double edged sword there in the sense that I think the fact that he was only a starter for one year in Iowa, I know there were some questions about his speed and all that, but when you look at it, he was a starter for one season in college in

the Big Ten. I think that scared some teams off from taking him in the first round, but you mentioned it, Look how much progress he's made already in the NFL. He only started for one year in college, so the ceiling is so much higher. There's so much further that he can potentially go because he's not a polished, finished product coming out of college. So I just think that's something that's interesting to keep an eye on as we

go forward with Jackson. When you and I were in Indianapolis in February, who are the two cornerbacks that everybody was looking at is potentially the top two in this draft class? It was Denzel Ward and it was Josh Jackson. Josh Jackson had a huge horde of media around him at that podium, and I've just remember Draft night, especially after the first round passed, you saw he was still on the board, and then you get in the middle of the second round. Sometimes it's like you do wonder, Okay,

is there something that everybody missed on this guy? And other times it's like why is this guy still available, and is this a potential potential diamond in the rough. A long way to go here with both of these young players, with JayR Alexander as well, but sure, I just think Alexander fits the prototype for what you want to look for. And maybe a slack cornerback that Casey Hayward type that can be a playmaker there but also give you some versatility outside. And a guy like Josh

Jackson with his size. I said it from the beginning, Mike, even if he isn't a prototypical press man corner in his terms of his background, he has that build to play that position. Yeah, he does. He definitely has the physical characteristics you mentioned before. The trade of Lenzy Pipkins,

so let's update everyone on that. For those who aren't aware, the Packers trade cornerback Lenzy Pipkins to the Indianapolis Colts for inside linebacker Antonio Morrison, now third round draft picking rookie or In Burke's from Vanderbilt injured his shoulder in pregame warmups in Oakland on Friday night. But this trade for Morrison not necessarily just a reaction to the Burk's injury. The m R I came back sounded it sounds like

things are fairly positive with Burkes. They're not They don't have any long term concerns at this point with regards to the shoulder, but acquiring Morrison an experienced inside linebacker to throw into a very young group that has a third year pro and Blake Martinez at the top of it. Jake Ryan, as we know, was out for the season with the torn a c L and then you have Burks and a whole bunch of other guys who basically haven't played regular season NFL snaps yet. So what's your

initial take. And I know we haven't even really talked to him yet as far as an interview at the time that we're taping this, but what's your initial take on the acquisition of Morris. It made a lot of sense, I think for both teams because, as I also wrote on Inbox on Monday, I do think Lindsay Pipkins as an NFL player. I think the Packers found something when they when they signed him as a uf A last year out of Oklahoma State, because I think he has

the build for it. But where he was playing and how they were using him it was very similar to what they're doing with Alexander and with with Tremont Williams. I just don't know if the spot was there. Conversely, you look at what the Colts are going through right now. They need help at cornerback. They were hurting it that spot, and they're transitioning into a four three defense where maybe Morrison didn't fit, you know where he did the previous

two years underneath the Chuck Pogano. So now that you have him available and you had Pipkins available, it made sense for both teams to make that trade in a better opportunity for both players. Morrison's twenty three years old. He was taken six spots before Blake Martinez back in the two thousand sixteen NFL Draft and has played over a thousand defensive snaps in the NFL. That's a lot of experience for a twenty three year old NFL football player.

So now being able to come into this defense, I said it from day one, Mike, you might have a starter. You might have maybe maybe Burke's is fine, and he and he's your start of the whole year, and you have him in Martinez, but you need somebody else available there. Joe Thomas has been that guy in the past. Jake Ryan was that guy his rookie season. You need a guy that could potentially step into either of those positions

if there's an injury. I think Morrison is an opportunity for get, for him to get back into a defense probably he's more comfortable with, and also for the Packers to get another look at a veteran in addition to these undrafted free agents that they have currently competing for a spot behind Burkes and Martinez. Yeah, and the Packers like what they've seen certainly in this training camp in preseason so far from a mod Thomas who is a hold over from the practice squad, and then from Greer Martini,

an undrafted rookie in the mix here. But this really was about adding some experience to a position that that overall just had very very little, you know, basically no regular season NFL experience outside of Blake Martinez. So I'm sure we'll have more to talk about with Morrison as uh as things move along. Another thing I wanted to get to though. We spent a lot of time through the off season on our shows, on the website, everywhere

talking about the receiver competition for the Packers. On offense, and it's too Geronimo Allison's credit that we haven't really talked about him much because frankly, he simply hasn't done anything to lose his hold on that number three spot. And the way the game against the Raiders opened up with Brett Hunley, he hit Allison on a sideline route, a nice tiptoe catch there, and then hit him deep down the sideline um for a big gainer that helped to set up a field goal. Geronimo Allison is the

number three receiver on on this team. They're simply in my in my opinion, not taking nothing away from what Jake Crumo has done. What nice game from Jamon Moore in Oakland, other things we've seen from Velde Scantling and e q st Brown, But Geronimo Allison's your number three. I love the camp that Geronimo put together, especially after losing Jordy Nelson, and I know he's spent such a big part of that room, a big part of this offense,

and obviously a close confident of Aaron Rodgers. But I think in the aftermath of that, it's really allowed Allison to shine. He did it throughout the off season program and he's done it in training camp. Now is he making these big, spectacular fifty yard catches, you know, like Marcus Velde Scantling made in the first preseason game, or even some of the stuff that Jamond Moore did last weekend.

Maybe not, But I still think that thirty one yard catch that he had against the Raiders and some of the things he's done in practice, he's just been so steady, so consistent, And when you talk to Aaron Rodgers, that's the number one thing he wants out of his receivers. He wants consistency. He wants him to be in the

right spot at the right time. I think what you see with Alison is a really talented young man that was coming into his own somewhat learning a new position, considering how lady came to being a receiver and playing football in high school. And you've seen him mature over these past two years, and you cannot overstate, uh, just how important that time has been with Rogers in this offense and getting the opportunities he's had and being able to capitalize on him. So, yeah, going in the regular

season right now, he's the guy. He's the guy that I think you're looking at to really be the one that's going to be the biggest beneficiary of of that

number three spot being open. Yeah, and I think the I think the other thing that it kind of goes without saying in the Green Bay locker room, but it's an example of just how well he fits in this receiver group that whether Geronimo Allison goes through a practice where the ball never comes his way, or if he catches five or six balls in one practice, you never hear about it necessarily one way or the other out

of him. It's not about, oh, I'm gonna I'm gonna pound my chest when I have a great day or a great game, or I'm gonna wine and complain when nobody throws me the ball. He just goes about his business. He he is. You know you've written about it during the offseason. This guy has become very much a serious student of the game. He really took everything from the guys like Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, the things that those veterans teach the younger players about how to be a pro.

And Geronimo Allison now is one of those pros. And we talked earlier this week about our last week it was rather about Reggie Gilbert and how I said, I think Reggie Gilbert's the best of the litter. When you look at the outside linebackers, undrafted rookie linebackers they've had that have come through the program, Allison has really been that.

As far as the receivers are concerned, they've had some good ones, you know, Uh, you know Brett Swain, you think about Ruevel Martin, even you know a guy like Jared Boykin lash very quickly. But I just the overall consistency of Allison. Uh, and we talked about it from the beginning. It's not like this guy just started. He played well in the first preseason game two years ago

and I was like, oh, this guy could make the roster. No, I mean right after he was signed, like people thought, this is a guy that could potentially make an impact, and he certainly has. And he plays special teams. He has been working on the coverage units too. It is always a big bonus for trying to get on the field. Yeah. Well, with one preseason game left to go, the Packers heading to Kansas City this week for the preseason finale, looks

like the backup quarterback competition that that number two. Competition between Deshaun Kaiser and Brett Hunley is going to come right down to the wire here. Frankly West a tough night in Oakland to really evaluate what was going on at with the two quarterbacks because they were just under siege all night. The backup offensive lineman had a rough night. Mike McCarthy flat out admitted it. It was maybe the poorest performance that they've had as a path protection unit.

A lot of things to work on their um. It looks like Kyle Murphy's dealing with an injury. Now you don't know how much that was affecting his play out there. It sounds like Jason Spriggs started to play a little bit better, but overall is a unit, there were definitely issues and uh really not a great look at the quarterbacks. Packers hoping to get another evaluation on these quarterbacks in Kansas City. Yeah, and you know the way they split

it up. You had Bred Huntley and you had to Shaun Kaiser, and each one basically got a half to work with a little bit no action for Tim Boyle in game number three, So we'll see what happens in game number four if he gets some work in that fourth one, But I mean, yeah, it was tough to kind of look at and try to understand exactly what they were seeing just because of you know, the pocket and and some of those things. I go back to what has sort of been on film so far during

this camp. I think Deshaun Kaiser has a massive arm. I think he has great athleticism. You can see it when he gets out of the pocket. He's fast, he's quick, uh, and you know he's made good decisions. Now there's a lot of raw features to that as well, But overall, I mean, as I said last week too, you see why he was drafted where he was. You see why he's the prospect that he is. Bred Hunley I thought had two really solid performances to start off with in

those first two preseason games. This one a little bit more on. Even the first series actually went pretty well for the offense. And yeah, the first the first drive was a good one and should have been a touchdown. Unfortunately Lance Kendricks could pulled onto that ball in the end zone or you put seven on the board right away. Yeah, so he I think he completed four or five on that and just after that it was kind of a

work in progress. That the one thing that's gonna be nice for the Packers once you do get into the regular seasons, you're gonna have Brian looks like they had box Yard for sure, Brian blogging, you hope would also be able to get some you know, get back in there after coming back off that a c l You got to see where Justin mccraze at with that calf injury.

But overall, everything they've done, even though they haven't been able to get that group together, like I know, Mike McCarthy wants to be able to get them some reps. They're experienced. I mean, Corey Linsley started in this league with an m v P quarterback in two thousand and fourteen without having any preseason reps with him at all once however, so they've been able to adapt their veterans.

The big key is just trying to figure out who those two or three, maybe even four guys are that okay, who can be the next Justin McCrae, Who can be a guy that's gonna step up in a pinch. Because as much as you want to repeat two thousand fourteen, where you're basically you're starting offensive line plays together for all but one game turn out of nineteen games that year. It's hard to accomplish in this league. So you need that number six and seven guy to be able to

step up, and uh, we'll see what happens. So one positive I will say for the offensive line, I think Lucas Patrick looks at home as a center and he's probably that number six guy right now on that line. So I think i've kind of you remarked him as the guy that could potentially be that next Justin mccraig, just because of the flexibility he gives you at those interior positions. Yeah, as far as those two quarterbacks go, this is just my untrained eye, my my bird's eye

view analysis. I felt bred Hunley was ahead of Kaiser after Game one of the preseason. I felt Kaiser closed the gap in Game two against the Steelers. I thought maybe Hunley re established his lead after Game three, and now we head into game four. Is that a fair way to look at you think? I think so. And I mean you just see the experience with Hundley. I mean he's been in this offense now for three years. He's put together some pretty darn good preseasons. Two. I

mean he was exceptiontionary. His first year in two thousand fifty seven passer rating, did a really fine job, got hurt two years ago, so it wasn't really able to do much. Last year was consistent. I just I think that's the difference you're going to see with the guy that's been in the league a couple more years, and it's the reason why you still see him with those number two. Yeah. All right, With that, we will sign

off on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and this final week of training camp on Packers dot com. On Twitter, you can find him at west hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.