#327 Packers Unscripted: Adjustments coming

And I'm talking about second year running back Aaron Jones, one of the three running backs drafted in by Green Bay and um, as we've talked about a lot, he's a young guy who brings a different explosive to mentioned. You might say to the Packers running game Jamal Williams time Montgomery, they've done a fantastic job I think the first two weeks of the season, particularly in past protection. I highlighted some of those in my what you might have Missed segment this week on the website, so if

you missed it, check it out. But um, but Aaron Jones, this is uh, this is not only another option for the Packers in the backfield, but the potential game breaker type of guy, don't you think, Yeah, Mike, And and there's some incredible statistics about him and in the times in which he played last year. And you know, I was looking at a couple of things, and I mean just the productivity when he was on the field when

he did get touches um even in a game. I think it was what Tampa Bay, correct me if I'm wrong there where you only had that one carry for yards in overtime. Yeah, the twenty yard touchdown in overtime, first time he touched the ball all day long, right, And it's things like that where Jamal Williams got going

in that game as well. I wrote about this an inbox for Wednesday and that or for Thursday, excuse me, and at all three of those guys when they have them all healthy, and that hasn't always happened so far, but that's when this backfield has at its best. You're right, Jamal Williams time Montgomery have been phenomenal in past protection. I asked Aaron Rodgers about that, and he mentioned how Williams the game tape that he put together just fantastic

as far as from a teaching element. In that game against the Vikings, but Aaron Jones does bring a different dimension. He's an explosive football player. He's a guy that if you give him an inch, he's going to take a yard. And he the way he really came on at the end of midway through last season and seeing him really flourish when he did get the opportunities, and then also the fact that you know, he dealt with that hamstring injury and training camp where he didn't really get a

lot of shots until the end of it. But I thought that Kansas City game in specific really showed you that Aaron Jones is still the player that we saw last season. Yeah, you mentioned the hamstring injury he dealt with in training camp. I think that's the reason in a lot of ways that Jones is going to have

to earn his snaps. He's going to have to kind of steal that playing time back from Montgomery and Williams, just strictly from a preparation standpoint in terms of that making that jump from year one to year two, particularly in past protection, which is the toughest thing for a young running back coming into the NFL from college to learn. He missed a lot of valuable preparation time Let's be honest. That hamstring injury kept him out of a lot of

padded practices during training camp. He missed the first two preseason games, was just kind of getting back into things in the third preseason game. In the fourth one in Kansas City, he showed us that same Aaron Jones that we saw as a rookie when the ball was in his hands. But then now it's also going to be picking up those blitzes and doing all those other things

that go into being a three down back. He's going to have to earn it because Time Montgomery and Jamal Williams haven't done anything necessary to necessarily to lose the playing time that they have earned. Yeah, and it came

up an inbox too. When I was going through some of the questions, somebody mentioned, you know, everyone talks about Aaron Jones, what about Time Montgomery getting more opportunit these in Montgomery's averaging five point five yards a clip right now as a rusher and then obviously what he offers as a pass catcher. Um. The downside to having all three of those guys available as you can't get all three of them on the field at the same time. So there's gonna be some juggling the packers are going

to have to do. But I just like the home run threat that that Aaron Jones provides, especially in early down situations. He's the kind of guy that can take those third and sevens and make him third and fives or third and fours. Uh, and you know, shorten things up for an offense. So uh. The the other aspect of this too. You make some great points in terms

of the time you missed in training camp. But for my liking, if there's any position and I'm not saying it's good to miss time and training camp, but if there's any position where I think it's a little bit more forgiving, it is running back because a lot of this thing is mental. Is you said it is the pass pro It is being able to get those fundamentals down. But how many times might have we seen guys around the league? I mean, I think lady On Bell last

year is probably the best example of it. Not have any reps during training camp and then really hit the ground running wins once week one comes around. Now, Bells at a different stage in his career than Aaron Jones is, but I think it's an opportunity for him like when he does get in there to really be able to get back on that bicycle and keep that momentum going

that he was able to develop last season. Yeah, I think the only reason I'm being somewhat cautious in terms of maybe what the expectation should be for him playing time wise coming right back is that past protection is always such an important part of it. But Aaron Rodgers is also not the fully mobile Aaron Rodgers that we've seen, so that also has to factor into the coach's decisions in terms of, you know, certain play packages and the playing time and who needs to be on the field

in certain instances. So we'll just have to see how it unfolds. But I like the fact that Aaron Jones is coming back. I felt, you know, once we saw him quite frankly in the Dallas game last year, which was Aaron Rodgers you know, last really memorable game obviously

of and what he did in that game. I've been waiting to see Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones and you know the impact that he can have in terms of how defenses have to react to him along with everything Aaron Rodgers can do, and quite frankly, we just haven't seen that yet, No exactly. And it is interesting though, because you know, we always talk about a bit being a numbers game, and we can focus on those three running backs. The Packers also did keep Darius Jackson here too.

He was the guy that they claimed off. I should say they end up signing from the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys during Week one. Uh And I think there were some people thinking, Okay, well, Aaron's when Aaron Jones is back, we'll see what happens with Jackson. Packers thought enough of him to have him involved as well. I thought he did some good things on special teams.

So it's a deep group. There's a lot of options there in the fortunate thing as far as the Packers and in taking this next step with Jones, there's a lot of flexibility and how they want to approach it. Yeah, all right, Well, before we get to a couple of other topics, West a little sponsored business, It's time to enter the Cousins Subs Best Seats in the House promotion. You and a guest could win a chance to kick

back on the fifty yard line in style. Two pairs of lucky Packers fans will be chosen prior to each home game for this v I P experience, enter daily now through December sixteen by completing the entry form and submitting. For complete rules and eligibility, go to Packers dot com slash best Seats cousin subs we believe in Better Okay. Sticking on the topic of young players and development, the Packers two rookie cornerbacks Jiar Alexander Josh Jackson. We've talked

a lot Abottom already. They're certainly off to a great start in their NFL careers, but their responsibilities might crank up just a bit this week because it sounds like second year cornerback Kevin King is not going to be available with that groin injury. So they've gotten a lot of playing time already and they may be getting even more. Yeah,

and then the other thing too. At the time which we're taking this, Packers said yet to practice on Thursday, but Devon House also popped up on the injury part with a biceps injury. He was estimated as a limited Wednesday, so he was actually the first guy up originally when King went out, and then as the game went on,

they started to use Alexander out there as well. The nice thing for the packers here is I mean, if there is a silver lining to it, because I don't think you can just replace King and what he provide ds as a shutdown guy outside. But Alexander and Josh Jackson both have had experience. Joe wo Jr. Did a phenomenal job throughout training camp of rotating those guys inside

and outside to give them some looks. And Alexander feels just as comfortable outside as as I think a lot of people who project him as a nickel slot cornerback. And he was even asked a little bit. Actually he wasn't even asked about it. He brought it up on his own accord on Wednesday, saying that people say I'm short, I'm not sure I'm average sized. Uh. And and you

know he has that chip on his shoulder. He admits he carries that chip on his shoulder and he wants to go up against those six three six four receivers to show that with his athleticism and the way he attacks the game, he can cover those type of players. He has that kind of swagger and that confidence. In Josh Jackson, I mean, he made a living off of that in the Big Ten with eight interceptions a year ago.

So depending on what the availability is for House and if if, if King truly isn't able to go in this game, they're gonna be leaning on those two young cornerbacks, and especially even more so now that they ended up letting go of Deonte Burton. So they have five corners on the roster and potentially one if not too might

not be in the playbook for Sunday. Yeah. Well, as I had mentioned earlier in the week, I think one of the things that was that was lost somewhat in all the controversy over Clay Matthews the roughing the pastor that wiped out Alexander's interception was just how difficult to play that was that he made to catch that ball. As I mentioned, it was kind of an over the shoulder Willie Mays type of catch, and he made it

look awfully easy. I mean, there are a lot of times cornerbacks are in that situation and you know they haven't necessarily been you know, that center fielder type tracking a fly ball, and it's not easy to do, and he made it look pretty easy. Um. I thought that was a really impressive play on his part and then he's a pretty entertaining guy with reporters around his locker.

He was actually asked towards the end of his group interview on Wednesday about the touchdown pass at the end of the fourth quarter where he was guarding Adam thieland kentro o' bryce was the safety trying to come over the top kind of a convergent. So three guys and feeling makes this diving catch right by the pylon for a touchdown, and he's kind of looking, yeah, that play doesn't ring a bell. I don't really remember it. And then obviously he's joking about cornerbacks needing to have a

short term memory in this league. So but trust me, he's looked at the film. If there's anything that he feels he could ever should have done differently, he's filed that away in in his memory. Bad. This is why I've said this before, Mike. I think there's two types of confidence. There's the stuff that just builds you up for the sake of building you up, and then there's the true I have of confidence that if you run that play back, I'm gonna make it, you know, nine

times out of ten. And maybe that's the one that they got me on your Alexander has that And I wrote an inbox Thursday. I don't know if I can think of anybody, and maybe if you can, please jump right in. But I don't know if I can think of anyone, at least during my time on the beat, a rookie that's coming and been more comfortable in his

own skin than Alexander. I think if I were to say one, and I'll just jump in here for a second, if I were to say one might be Greg Jennings in two thousand We had when when when he came in as a rookie in two thousand six, and the way he was running routes on the practice field, catching passes from Brett fav and Aaron Rodgers for that matter. At that time, you just looked at and go, boy, this guy really belongs. And then he stood at his locker and answered questions in front of the media like

he was a five six year veteran. It was pretty impressive. How he came on the scene, obviously had a very productive and he was coming from Western Michigan to you know. But then but but that's the thing, though, The confidence can go so far, and I think it's big for those skill position players or on defense the positions that are defending those skill guys. And Alexander, I just I love the way. There's a fine line there. I get that between confidence, swagger and arrogance, but I just I

think he really straddles that well. And I think in the long term that's gonna make him a better football player. That's gonna make him an elite cornerback if his skills meet up with the development that the Packers and vision he can have at that position. Because you have to have a short memory. It is a cliche, but you cannot let those things bog you down. You have to go out there an attack to play the same way you can ask Trumont Williams that you can ask ha

Clinton Dicks. Any veteran defensive back in this league has to be able to wipe the slate clean and take that next step forward. Yeah, And I think we saw that in what I remember a really impressive sequence in

the preseason game in Oakland. And I don't like to put too much into into preseason action, you know that, but when it comes to rookies and guys trying to feel their way, these things can matter at that game in Oakland, the very first play, Derek Carr chucks it deep to Amari Cooper and you know, Cooper out jumps Alexander deep down the middle, big play. Alexander just he gets up and shakes it off. He's already got the mentality of hey, sometimes these guys are gonna make plays.

I'm not gonna be able to stop everything. The next is either the next series or the series. After Oakland is driving for a touchdown, Car tries to go deep over the middle to a different receiver and Alexander just jumps up and makes the pick by the goal line, and you're kind of like, wow, I mean, you talk about being able to shake off a potentially difficult moment for a young guy, giving up a big play on

the first play of the game. It didn't phase him at all, and we we continue to see that with him, and I think to a certain extent, we've seen it with Jackson as well. He just doesn't talk about it as much because he's a different personality type. But these guys are really starting to understand and feel like they belong. They've had that confidence from the beginning, and the more they continue to play and do their thing, and learn what goes on in this league. I think the more

confident they become. The thing I love about Jackson is he basically has the same mindset, except it's more with an introverted yeah sort of personality. Like you can go to Josh Jackson and talked about things, and he's uber confident about what he can do and and and he answers questions. I think, really, well, it's just that he isn't as demonstrative or just isn't it quite as charismatic

as I think Alexander carries himself with. But at the end of the day, you see the parallels in their games, and I think why they've actually clicked personality wise, uh during these first you know, five six months that they've been together in Green Bay and why I think the Packers in the long term feel really good at about that position, especially if they can get Kevin King pass

some of these injuries that he's been dealing with. Yeah, well, we'll see how that unfolds at at that position, because in the coming weeks here the Packers are will certainly continue to adjust with whatever gets thrown their way. One other topic I want to get to today West before we go and that's uh some of the thoughts from Aaron Rodgers at his locker on Wednesday. Now, he talked a lot about the toughness aspect of things, both from an injury standpoint and with regards to these roughing the

passer calls. And I don't want to revisit all the stuff with Matthews and the roughing the passer if anybody wants to go back to our Monday and Tuesday shows, I think we exhausted that topic for now. But with regards to Rogers and his knee injury, something that's going to be interesting to watch here because he didn't exactly say, you know, well, I feel much better this Wednesday than

I did last Wednesday. At this time, he's in some ways still waiting to see if if continuing to play on this knee, if it's potentially going to get worse and he's going to have more to deal with, or if it is going to heal up a little bit and get better. Now, as we talked about, he had way more mobility in the Vikings game than we thought

that he would going going into it. But then it looks like now that's something to watch on a week to week basis here because there's really there's no blueprint exactly for how this knee injury, whatever strange thing it is, is going to react to what Rogers does with it on the field. So something to keep an eye on once again starting Sunday in Washington. Yeah, and and and Rogers didn't want to get too much into the rehab

and the plan. The one thing that I think everyone's sort of on the same page about is they basically are keeping the same script as last week Thursday's practice, sitting out of that again being in the rehab group, will see what his availability is and if you could potentially do work again on Saturday like he did last week.

The only part of this that I think kind of got blown out of proportion as he was asked if he's concerned at all that the knee injuries could get worse throughout the course of the season, and he said yeah, and that kind of got started being push notifications for different media outlets and that I really didn't like that because to me, he was just answering the question, Well, certainly there's a concern it's gonna get worse. If if you were at playing racquetball and you hurt your hand

like you did last year. Aren't you concerned the next day later that hey, maybe something will happen that I'll get worse. Yeah, that's a natural thing. I don't think Rogers was I think the way it was presented is that there's a there's a concern there. I think the concern is just what the concern is. It's not anything

over and above that. But to your original point, you're right, this is the Packers are kind of everyone's in the same boat here in terms of trying to understand, Okay, if he plays on this, what is it going to mean for Buffalo? What is it going to mean for Detroit? And we just have to wait and see. And the biggest thing is Mike McCarthy said on Thursday morning, is that it comes down to the communication with Rogers, Dr.

Pat Mackenzie in the training staff. You can't just have one player walk into there with an injury, walk into the training room with an injury. The doctors tell him what to do and he goes back into the locker room, and that's the plan. There has to be a back and forth. Rogers has been working with Mackenzie for fourteen years now. Those two have such a big report, and ultimately that's gonna be what's gonna really tell the Packers and tell Rogers what he's gonna be able to do.

Having that back and forth, Yeah, and I think we have to We have to also realize that for the sake of Aaron Rodgers left knee, the first full game after the injury, playing an overtime and all those extra snaps didn't didn't necessarily help things. So um, okay, let's just make it a sixty minute game instead of a seventy minute one on Sunday. How about that? Yeah, exactly, And I think that's gonna be the big thing is

to see how this plays out. Certainly, we didn't see him on practice in the practice element yet because he the only time he did was on Saturday, so it's so hard to say what he's doing, how he looks. But I'll say this, as far as the guys that were there, the teammates, the coaches, every and he was sold on what Aaron Rodgers did on Saturday, and there was a confidence that if he did play, he was going to be able to play well in that game Sunday.

It's week to week, it's day to day, it's not a great, amazing headline, but it's the truth right now, in the reality for the Packers as they pressed forward through September. All right, Well, with that, we will call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com on Twitter, He's at west hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.