#358 Packers Unscripted: Victory Monday

Hundred forty five rushing yards, two touchdowns, career highs for him and both of those categories. He was the playmaker for the Packers offense on Sunday afternoon. He was Mike, and I go back to something that you and I talked about last week. He stepped out right in front of that fumble against the Patriots. He's said, you know what, I'm gonna learn from this. I'm gonna correct it, I'm gonna be better. I am happy to be here. The Packers showed a lot of confidence in him, feeding them

him the ball the way he did. He got the ball back to back series. I gotta be honest with you, Mike, maybe you can correct me here. I can't remember another time in which the Packers have gone with Jones two straight series to start off a ball game. That first, when he comes out right out of the gate, he does drop a pass on the first play. Yeah, what a way to start your career day, right, you dropped dropped the quick pass in the flat and but didn't

slow him down. Two carries for twenty seven yards to catches for twenty seven yards fifty four total on that series, ends up producing a touchdown, and then comes back on the second series a sixty seven yard run down the field, a career long for him. Two plays later gets into the end zone and just like that, Aaron Jones was often running. It was funny getting a chance to talk to him afterwards. He is the Salute to Service nominee for the Green Bay Packers. His parents, both Army veterans,

had fifty six combined years of service between them. They have since retire They've been going to every single one of his games home in a way this season did the same thing last year, regardless of whether or not he was injured, they still went. They were in attendance in lambeau Field for his first two touchdown game, and he gave those two balls to his parents. A pretty special day for Aaron Jones. Yeah, hundred and seventy two yards from scrimmage, I believe if I did the math

right on adding the rushing and the receiving yards. What I like the most about his game west. Obviously the sixty seven yard run jumps out, But you take away the sixty seven yard run, he still averaged over six yards a carry on his other fourteen carries because um six carries total out of his fifteen for ten yards or more. He was gashing the Miami Dolphins. We talked about it last week going into the game. The Dolphins were not very good against the run and the Packers

were going to have to take advantage of that. And they did because Aaron Jones set the tone, as you said, right from the first couple of possessions, that the Packers were going to control the Linus Grimmage offensively. Give credit to Green based offensive line because as explosive as Jones is and as elusive as he is, he also had some awfully nice holes to run through. He really did. And this is what it was interesting about this matchup for me. Byron Bell was talking about this in the

locker room afterwards. Bell felt like he needed to play better. I know the members that offensive line felt like they need to play better. Coming out of the Patriots game, Aaron Jones felt like he needed to play better, and it seemed like everything was in sync and everybody stepped up when they needed to. Jones was every time he got a compliment in his post game media scrum, he kept deflecting all the praise to the offensive line for the holes that were open for him. But here's the

thing that makes this kid special. He had some great holes to work with, but his ability once he gets into space at the second level is on parallel. In the third quarter, Mike, of that game, right after he came back, and I believe it was the back to back runs for twenty two yards and he had the touchdown twelve yards and ten yards for for the to finish off that touchdown drive. Honest to God, question, Mike, I want to answer. If you can give an answer, give it to me. If not, throw it back at me.

But I was sitting there thinking, when was the last time the Packers drafted a player a running back that was that explosive Eddie Lacey was a great back, James Starks was a great back. I'm on Green was a good back but was traded for I was trying to think of somebody like him. It's and I'm not big on hyperbole, you know, I bring that up every once in a a while, but like, they haven't had anybody like him that they've drafted, specifically in the fifth round that

has this been this kind of spark plug for this offense. Yeah, I was thinking as I was watching the game yesterday, the thought that went through my mind is the last time I can remember seeing a Packers running back who was this combination of explosive and shifty and elusive with the ball in his hands. Aman Green was who came to mind. Obviously, the Packers traded for Green, they didn't

draft him. So to your question, when was the last time the pack was drafted a running back with this type of skill set and and to be able to show it the way he has. Boy, Yeah, You've You've kind of got me stumped, quite frankly, because because human Green obviously the all time leading rushier in in the history of this franchise, but he reminds me of him

in a lot of ways. He's smaller than green not as powerful necessarily, but just the just the shiftiness and elusiveness, but also that first step to hit the hole so quickly. I've never seen running back in my time in Green Bay have the quickness with his first two steps in

the power that Aaron Jones could run with. Rob Dmowski from ESPN dot Com had a stat that he brought up to Jones in the locker room afterwards, the next gen stat that ESPN does, Uh, And he said to him, I believe it was somewhere around twenty one miles per hour is what he the force that he got through the hole on with that sixty seven yard run that he had. Now, mind you, he didn't keep that up the entire time. He ended up getting taken down at

the four. But his short area quickness is incredible. And for this offense. You also look at this game, Mike, they had Davante Adams have two more touchdowns. He has twelve now over the last eleven games that he's played in. Aaron Rodgers made the throws when he needed to make them. Uh. This offense still I don't. Corey Linsley talked about it afterwards. They aren't still where they want to be in terms of the overall consistency. They got off to a fast start.

They want to maintain that more. But what impressed me about this performances they started fast and they finished fast. They did the two things that this offense had been struggling to do, get out of the gates and close it. Yeah, there was some stuff in the middle, but they did the three things that you and I discussed last week. They protected the football, they took it away, and Aaron

Jones had a career day. If they can keep that going, much like Eddie Lacey in two thousand thirteen and in different intervals where they've gotten those type of performances out of running backs, that's how you build a foundation, and that ultimately is how you find your consistent one to punch with the offense run and past. Yeah, this game was a story of the value of the explosive play, because you mentioned the Packers went through a bit of

a lull in the middle of the game. They were in some short yardage situations offensively in the second quarter, some second and two is third and ones, weren't able to convert even a fourth and two. They went for it near midfield didn't get it. Some short yardage failures were bogging down the offense. But I tell you what that in the third quarter, third and short, the play

action passed to Marcedes Lewis, nobody's covering him. Thirty yard, big explosive play, thirty yards down the field, a third down conversion, and an explosive play on top of it. It's like it totally jump started the offense again. Then Aaron Jones finishes that drive with a touchdown. Bashot Brelan gets the interception, the Packers get another touchdown. I really thought the thirty yard catch and run by Marcedes Lewis, when the Dolphins quite frankly, just forgot about him and

left him all alone. I thought that was really the the turning point of the game because because the Dolphins had worked their way back into it with their field goal. I tweeted this during the game too, and Marcedes Lewis talked about it throughout the summer about don't sleep on him. Yes, I'm a blocking tight end, but if you go back and look at some of his explosive plays the last few years, last two years with Jacksonville, they were basically off of defense. Is just not quite taken in him

into account and he slides out. That was sort of the look, sort of the rope adope you keep them, you know, Okay, it's a running play. They're gonna run the ball. They're gonna run the ball. He leaks out, and I swear, Mike, we're taping this now on Monday morning. Marcedes Lewis might still be open on that play. I mean, it was incredible how much green space there was. And then right after that they feed Aaron Jones twice they get back in the end zone. Right from that point

it was pretty much afford on conclusion. The the underlying storyline to this game to me was that it wasn't Davante Adams had a great game. Again, Aaron Rodgers made plays, but it was really the young sung heroes in the depth offense defense into some extent special teams with Raven Green having the twenty six yard gain off the direct snap on the fake punt. Yeah, it was the guys that aren't necessarily on the marquee that made the difference

for the Packers in this game. Getting those type of performances across the board, that's how you win, that's how you're able to keep defenses and offenses, you know, on their heels a little bit because you can't cue, you know, kind of just zoom in on one guy. Packers did it in this game against the Dolphins. They finally picked

up a win they desperately needed. Yeah. Well, and we're gonna be following the story of some of these unsung heroes that you talked about, because on the short week here, the Packers have some injuries they're dealing with. And we'll find out later today tomorrow as this short week goes along, just where the Packers are healthwise, but quickly, what's the Green Bay Packers get ready for game day with the powerful noise canceling technology of Bo's Quiet Comfort thirty five headphones.

To learn more at www dot bos dot com. Slash Packers Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, if you want to look at one statistic aside from Aaron Jones numbers as the star of the game, if you want to look at one statistic that decided this game west, it is the red zone. Packers were four for four, the Dolphins were oh for three. That really, in essence was the ballgame. The Packers were finishing drives. The Dolphins were not it started, Dolphins were taking it

right down the field. Packers catch a break on that opening drive. Dolphins have first down in the red zone at the fourteen yard line. The shotgun snap flies right past brock Oswiler's shoulder. He can't recover it. Reggie Gilbert falls on a Packers get a big turnover, just a gift wrap one there. But after that, give credit to the Packers defense because three times they were put in some really really difficult field position situations. There was the

fumble by Trumon Williams on the punk return. There was the failed fourth down at midfield. There was the block punt early in the third quarter. Dolphins had great field position after all three of those, and all three times the Packers defense rose up, got the stop and made them kick a field goal. And the Dolphins didn't find the end zone all day long. So here's the thing. We're not going to talk to Mike Petton, uh with the way the schedule lines out in a short week

before the Seattle game. So I mean, in terms of what the overall plan was left to wait and see. But for my money, Mike, this might Mike Petton the stretch that he's been on here with these defensive game plans is pretty impressive. The Packers went into this game without Kevin King, So what does that mean. That means that you have Josh Jackson starting in the boundary or so you thought, Well, then it ends up being Jaire Alexander and you have Bishod bril in work in the

slot a little bit. You have Josh Jackson moving all those guys around. Well, then you have Kentroll, Bryce goes out, Raven Green comes into the ball game, and then you had Bishod Brilan go out with a groin injury. Tony Brown comes in the ball game, Truman Williams is suddenly playing the slot. They had to do so much mixing and mashing, and yet they finished really strong. They we look at the sacks down the stretch uch that they

had to put this game away. You look at the opportunities that they were able to execute on early on. What was the last thing I said on our pregame periscope. They needed to take the football away. That was what was missing in New England and what was missing in Los Angeles. Yes, they got a gift wrap with Gilbert, but those are the plays that make the difference in ball games. And you could just see the momentum turn in that instant. And it also took the Miami Dolphins

out of their no huddle for a bit. They stopped going up tempo. After that, they started to slow things down. The Packers controlled it from there. But what considering they were basically out of their dime package at the end of the game because of the injuries the secondary. What Mike Penton was able to do in pressuring Oswilers, getting six sacks nine quarterback hits, I mean, you got to tip your cap to them because they did it without a lot of the main people that in week one.

I think you and I were thinking, we're going to be the real hallmarks of this defense. Yeah, and we saw unfortunately Nick Perry go down with a knee injury. We haven't received an update on him just yet, but some of these injuries now the Packers trying to sort through to see who might be available. Thursday night in Seattle, Breland, who had the big interception, he left the game in

the second half with a groin injury. Jayear Alexander was being evaluated for a concussion, though he did speak to reporters after the game, so hopefully that's a good sign that he's actually not in the protocol. Normally, if you're in the protocol, you're off limits to the media, So

we'll take that as a positive sign for now. Um, you mentioned Ken Troll Bryce going down with the ankle injury looks like the same ankle that he had the surgery on in the off season and that he had re injured in training camp but came back in a couple of weeks from that. But but again, we're on a real short week here with the with the trip to Seattle, so you said it, West, Raven Green, Tony Brown, whoever,

Tremont Williams moving around, playing different spots. Whatever it takes here, the Packers and Mike Petton have to put it together and they have to do it quickly because because, let's face it, the Seattle Seahawks, they lost to the Rams yesterday, they are four and five. This game is just as important for them as it is for the Packers. To teams in the NFC on the fringes of the playoff race trying to you know, kind of one one team trying to knock the other one out in a sense, absolutely,

and the one, uh like underrated aspect too. I think of that game with with Um you know on Sunday against the Dolphins, was the fact that I think you got to tip your cap two to Josh Jones. And at the time I we were talking, I haven't had a chance to rewatch the game, but to my naked eye, it was pretty impressive what Josh Jones did because they still did run a lot of that dime look where you had him in the box with Blake Martinez, he

had to play back safety. When Raven Green comes into the game, well then suddenly it's Green and then ends up being Jones in some instances when Tremon has to go back down to the slot. They've needed those secondary guys that haven't played at all really until the last two weeks to step up. Jones did that. Raven Green did that getting the sack to on a cover zero look in which Petton teased eight guys at the line of scrimmage and he said, you know what, sent the house.

Let's send them all. Let's see what happens in all three of the cornerbacks that was on a third down got got the got the stop and knocked them out of field position. Out of field goal position as well. So, I mean, it's just it's those type of things that Peton showed a lot of confidence and guys that have not really been on the field much, and you have to do that over the course of season. That's how you get to where you want to be. To your other point, though, we're gonna have to see what this

injury situation looks like for the Packers. You know, if if Perry's down, they're gonna need more sacks out of Kyler Facral now tied with Kenny Clark for the team lead with five. It appears like Blake Martinez got out okay with the the ankle issue that he had from last week. Antonio Morrison ended up having to play a lot down the stretch again due to the injuries at secondary.

Those are the type of things that are going to happen when you get into Week eleven now and on a short week, and they're gonna need to be able to keep that up in a real hostile environment now in Seattle on Thursday. All right, Well, before I forget here west at Homer, here in the stands, we all know that Green Bay fans give it their all and that takes a lot of energy, So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the

greatness of Packers fans every where. I tried the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Sup Official SUP partner of the Green Bay Packers. A couple of other stats I wanted to hit on. You mentioned one of them, Kyler Facral and Kenny Clark now leading the team tied for the team lead with five sacks at piece. They each get a sack on what was a six sack day. We also saw Raven Green Montravius Adams both get their first

NFL sacks in this game. And Davante Adams not a huge game in terms of the catchers in the yards, but two touchdowns He's got nine on the season. Here was he's He's leading the Packers one of the league leaders. I didn't see exactly with what happened yesterday where Antonio Brown is still ahead of him, but but Davante Adams here on the verge of his third consecutive double digit touchdown season. If I'm not mistaken, right, um so I tell you what the the way the way some things

came together for the Packers yesterday. I know there's some health issues, there were some miscuse on special teams that obviously are concerning, But the Packers played the kind of game they needed to play. They started out fast, they finished it strong. Now it's it's just hey, it's onto Seattle and you roll the dice in a place that hasn't been kind to you. But but the Seattle Seahawks they lost their last home game there too, to the Chargers. Packers. This,

this is the opportunity they've needed. They need to go to Seattle and get this. I hate throwing out the eye word identity. I think it's an overused term and media and I've been guilty of myself over the years, and I'm gonna be guilty of it right now because I'm gonna say this. I feel like on both sides of the ball, they not that they found identities, but I think it was really well established what the identity was.

Corey Lindsley and Environ Bell talking to them after the game, they both mentioned what that our first see he's did establishing Aaron Jones out of the backfield and not allowing the Dolphins have pin their ears back. How that made things easier on the past game. That's something to build on. You look defensively, Mike, I know, it's really fun when you have a guy that has twenty sacks in a season or fifteen sacks in the season. It doesn't look like that's what this defense is going to be though

they're gonna end up getting. You know, however, many sacks are gonna get out of Kenny Clark, which is somewhat peculiar for his position. They're gonna get a number of different guys at edge rusher. You're gonna have a guy like Blake Martinez with four plus now at this point of the year, Mike Penton is making those pieces work, whatever those pieces are, on a weekly basis. They're a top ten defense again right now after that game, moving up six spots. This is what they need to do

again on Sunday night. I said to you last week, and you wrote about it in your editorial. This is a huge opportunity. You can look at everything that happened against New England in l A and you can be labor it and you can talk about what went wrong whatever, But the fact of The matter is, you have two games in a span of five days that is a

season defining stretch. You pick up those two wins, things starting suddenly start to look a little different for you now going into this final stretch and seeing what December is gonna look like. Right now, for the Packers, this is a big opportunity. Now in Seattle, you took care of the first half of business. Now it's a second Yeah, Packers have a chance to get back above five for the first time since the victory over San Francisco right before the bye. Packers four four in one. Right now,

you get this one against Seattle. I know what easier said than done, but you get this one against Seattle, you get to five four and one. Then you're watching over the weekend as either the Bears or the Vikings will pick up their fourth loss because they're playing their Yeah well yeah, but I'm not gonna get into that one of them theoretically is going to get a fourth loss. Bears beating the Lions yesterday to get to six and three, the Vikings on there by there at five three and one.

So if you get out of Seattle and you're still sitting at four losses and then one of the those two teams ahead of you takes their fourth loss. It's it's right there for the taking. I don't want to make this in the Green Bay for Seattle with all the history that they have there. As I mentioned an inbox a couple of days ago, I think there's twelve or thirteen combined players on both teams that were actually

on the field during the failed merry game. But I'm not going to also act like this isn't an opportunity for the Packers to get a little bit I don't want to call it revenge, but maybe just a shot of confidence, a little bit being able to go into Century Link. The Packers have actually had Seattle's number for the most part, particularly when they've been playing here the last couple of years, but Central Link has been kind

of a different animal. But if you're able to win on the road on a short week, yes, this is a really tough call for the Packers, having to go from Green Bay, Wisconsin all the way to Seattle. And when you haven't won a road game, you haven't won a road game this year. You've got to get this first one. But the Rams are traveling to you know, they had to make you know, they had to go down to l A and they went back up and

there on a short week. They have the flight too, and maybe not as long, but there's still some considerations there. I'm really interested to see what this looks like because I think a lot of times and it doesn't always come down to preparation with these games. Sometimes it's a little bit of luck, sometimes it's a little bit of health. And I think, really, if you can get off to a fast start against Seattle, take that crowd out of it early on, we'll talk about them in a couple

of days and you know, the upcoming days. But I think that that is really going to be a big thing for the Packers, doing what they did at lambau Field and now taking it on the road. Yeah, that's that's That's what it comes down to is take take it on the road and get that first road win of the year. So with that, we're going to 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.