#367 Packers Unscripted: Cardinals coming to town

And the first season under new head coach Steve Wilks in Arizona not going according to plan. The Cardinals are two and nine. You brought it up on yesterday's show that offensively, their their rankings are at the bottom in basically every major category. This is a team that is

struggling to score points, you know. And here's the thing, Like, I can't sit here and tell you that I've watched a lot of Arizona Cardinals football this year, and certainly we've seen with a young rookie quarterback how difficult that can be. Obviously, the Sam Bradford experiment did not work there. But I'll be honest when I was just bringing up the the depth chart, the statistics for the Cardinals, the players that are on this roster. I am somewhat surprised

it's two and nine. Um, certainly, you know Josh Rosen going through the the rookie kind of ups and downs, you know, swings that you sort of feel early on David Johnson, it's been difficult for them getting him going this year. Um, he's had some games, but he's also been a non factor. And others. Larry Fitzgerald is there, Christian Kirk, there are pieces. Defensively, there's still the same

playmakers that the Packers face three years ago. When you look at Um, you know Buchanan, Patrick Peterson, Buddha Baker, former teammate of Kevin King, is in that defense, and Chandler Jones is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Be that as it may, it's not led to wins this season, and they're coming into this game after really taking a big shellacking at the hands of the Chargers. Yeah, I mean that's the one everybody's looking

at right now. And you know there's stories out there, the Cardinals already quitting on their first year coach and all that and that kind of thing can happen when you're having a season like this, and then, as you said, you get you get it handed to you pretty good by a team like the Charges. But you mentioned David Johnson. For as much as you say they haven't really gotten him going, this guy still has a thousand yards over a thousand yards from scrimmage right now, combining the rushing

and receiving. He's got eight total touchdowns. Definitely the focal point of their offense. And I agree with us. I'm not saying I saw the Cardinals as a playoff team, but I didn't see this because even early in the year, I believe it was Week three, I watched an extensive highlights package of their game against the Chicago Bears out in Arizona, which the Bears early won. Probed it out fourteen.

That was actually the game that the Cardinals bench Sam Bradford in the middle of it, and they still had a chance to win the game, but they bench Bradford in the middle of it, went to Rose in the rookie, basically threw him into the fire with the game on the line. He made a couple of mistakes and the Bears were able to escape with a two point victory. But I thought then even in week three, okay, this

this Cardinals team will be okay. But then it just hasn't hasn't really come together for him, and um, you know they'll be coming in here lambeau Field obviously a Southern team, a Dome team, warm weather team. It you know, probably be pretty chilly at lambeau Field on Monday. The kind of game really where if you're the Packers, you jump on him, you jump on him early and make them think about the cold and how they just want

to go back home. Yeah. Absolutely, and especially coming on a three game losing streake war those losses to the Raiders, who have had their own issues this year. Looking specifically at David Johnson, as I said, you know, they've had a hard time game going, they've been more dedicated to it. It seems like though since they made a change in offensive coordinator Mike coy was let go mid October, I believe Bryant Byron Leftwitch now is the offensive quarter of

that's the acting offensive coordinator. Um. When you look at David Johnson's utilization carries for hundred thirty seven yards that was against Oakland, seventeen carries for sixty three last week against the Chargers, which obviously when you're that far behind, it's gonna be tough to get the run game going.

Still dedicated themselves to it. It just seems like their goal now going forward, especially with having a rookie quarterback, try to get the ball in Johnson's hands if you can twenty times a game, maybe twenty five times a game, whether it's the as a pass catcher as you mentioned earlier, as a runner, that's the dimension he added before that. I believe there was that risk injury that that held him out last year. UM a dynamic football player and

their primary playmaker. So from the Packers perspective, bottling him up is going to be a big emphasis. Yeah, And I just want to point this out as well. I know Larry Fitzgerald, as he's now in his fifteenth season, he's not who he was. But I made this point in our Insider inbox com I think anybody coming to lambou Field on Sun Day needs to take a moment and just appreciate the chance to see a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer making what is almost certainly going

to be his final appearance at lambeau Field. I've said it before, West, there are certain guys when you get to see them in person, watching from the press box, that just stand out anytime the ball is in their hands. And there are two guys, for me, aside from Packers players, two guys that I have seen come into lambeau Field over the years that have really jumped out to me that way. One is Adrian Peterson and the other is Larry Fitzgerald. I've I've been impressed with this guy's career

from from start to finish. And I know those playoff losses for the Packers in OH nine in Arizona and in fifteen in Arizona, both games, and he played a huge part in both of those in in breaking the

Packers heart so to speak. But but man, you can't, you can't lack any respect for this guy because he he is absolutely consummate professional and for the put up the numbers that he has second all time in the NFL in receiving yards, seventh all time in the NFL in touchdown receptions, and he had a Hall of Fame quarterback for exactly one third of his career. Had Kurt

Warner for five years other than that. Other than that, he hasn't had any superstar quarterbacks and look at what this guy's does and think about that realistically, Kurt Warner was there for five seasons. He was really his starting quarterback honestly for what three of them because they did that strange platoon thing with Matthew and then they finally went to Warner and then they've had they had their most success. I think that organization has really, you know,

had the last thirty years at that point. So, UM, it's gonna be really interesting to see him come into lambeau Field one more time. As you mentioned, Mike, let's see now he is thirty five years old. UM. An incredible career that he's had. Him what stands out to me the most when you think back to that season, this is a guy I think, if you're going to succeed in the NFL past your thirty one, thirty second, thirty third birthday, at that position where you're taking on

the JayR. Alexander's of the world, these young bucks that that are so just at their athletic prime, I really think you have to be able to reinvent yourself. Larry Fitzgerald did that probably three times throughout the course of his career. That latest one in fifteen, and he had that three that stretch of three thousand yard seasons from fifteen to seventeen. I believe it was an incredible thing for him to be able to. He was a big play receiver early on, he became more of a possession receiver.

And the thing I will always remember the most in terms of just the most fun I think as a as a kid that I enjoyed watching football was when you had him and Kwan bolden Um. You know, almost like a mini Greatest Show on turf going there for a while down in Arizona. With what they can do with their passing game, especially, you know, once you know Carson Palmer got into that offense, it's been really exciting to watch. Certainly they've had some issues, but he's still

a really shifty player. He's has three touchdowns in the last three weeks. If you get him inside the red zone. He's really savvy in that area and something Packers legitimately they are gonna have to take. And you know, keep in mind, Yeah, and you talk to any folks back in Pittsburgh, they will say that he should have won the Heisman Trophy his last year in college. They're still bitter in in the city of Pittsburgh about about that one, the the old pitt Panther and uh um, the great

career he had there. But real quickly, what's the powerful noise canceling technology that helps NFL coaches block out eighty thou screaming fans can get you closer to the music you love? Learn more at www dot bos dot com. Slash Packers Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, defensive side of the ball for the Arizona Cardinals, the statistics are pretty stark west in terms of yardage allowed.

They're ranked fairly high in terms of clamping down on teams passing games, but that's in part because this is a defense that hasn't been able to stop the run, one of the worst run defenses in the league. Be interesting to see how the Packers go about is here, because as much as Green Bay wants to find that rhythm and the third down conversions and everything with the Packers passing game, the statistics tell you that this this ought to be a game for Aaron Jones and Jamal

Williams to get the ball in their hands a lot. Yeah, it really really does, Mike. I mean when you look at where the Cardinals have been at this point of the season, certainly being dashed for a lot of yards offensively, but especially against the run, it's been a it's been a big thing for them, trying to, you know, find ways to get stops. They still have a lot of

playmakers in this defense. I said to this to you as we were coming into the studio, if you look at the name type players, Um, now certainly you don't you know, Class Campbell, those type of players are gone. But when you talk about you know, you're Patrick Peterson's your Buchanans, Um, you know one of you know, Chandler Jones, one of my favorite players in the league. Just an exciting pass rusher. Um. They have guys that can get

after the quarterback and take the ball away. It's just been it just seems to me like that that middle phase, the consistent phases where they've been lacking King this year, just trying to find some of those road greater type defensive linemen, linebackers, guys that can bottle up the run. Because in that regard, it doesn't really matter if you have Patrick Peterson on the perimeter or something. You know, Buddha Baker what he can do as a as a

multidimensional safety defensive back. If you can't stop the run there, it's gonna put you in a bad spot. Yeah, and you mentioned Chandler Jones. And if there's a matchup here Packers offense versus Cardinals defense, that maybe is the one to watch. It is Chandler Jones. He's got eleven sacks this year. And we'll see as the week goes on what the word is with David Baker and the knee injury or injuries he's potentially dealing with, and what his

availability will be for Sunday. So that's definitely something to keep an eye on heading towards Sunday. Yeah, it is. And that's gonna be a paramount thing for the Packers and James Camp in this offensive line depending on who's available there. Again, something will get a better idea of after watch some of the practices this week with everything that David Botier has been dealing with to this point of the season. But Chandler Jones has been really impressive

to me for a number of reasons. One, I mean, he comes from an athletic family. You know, his brother's a UFC champion. His older brother, Arthur was, you know, a defensive lineman in this league for very for many years. Um, just an athletic bloodline. And and he's sort of, you know as the baby of that family, uh, you know, kind of been the stud and and you saw him have some success early on with the Patriots. Patriots obviously made a decision there that they were going to move

on from him and turned into a tremendous pickup. I believe it was for a second round draft pick. I want to say, I think it was a second round draft picks that the Cardinals were able to acquire him. And he's been so consistent eleven twelve sacks of season since he's gotten to Arizona. A guy the Packers are going to have to keep in mind and really, uh you know, put their clamps on depending on what that's gonna be like, is is box tr available as Lane

Taylor available? What kind of shuffling has to occur if you want or both of those guys are missing or limited? So we'll we'll have to see. But um, but yeah, he's gonna be a focal point for sure. Yeah, alright, uh West at home or 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 everywhere. Try the delicious classic

chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local supermarket and asked for Campbell's Chunky Sup. Official Sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, I want to go back to Arizona's offense for one second, because they're at this rookie quarterback and Josh Rosen. We've talked for the last several weeks, almost till we're blue in the face in a sense, about how if there's one element that is missing with

this Packers defense. As much as I think this defense has turned a corner this year, I think this defense has kept the Packers in games and given them a chance to win some of these games. The missing pieces, turnovers, they haven't they haven't happened. But you go back to the last rookie quarterback who came into lambeau Field, that being Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. The Packers defense

had its best turnover game of the season. I believe there four was it three or four that day against Buffalo? Total total turnovers, I think it was four. Um. So with a rookie quarterback Rosen has I believe eleven interceptions this year, I'm not sure how many fumbles lost. Okay, so thirteen total turnovers from a rookie quarterback who didn't uh didn't take over the starting job until Week four.

So um, if the Packers defense is going to try to generate some momentum here in the turnover department, a rookie quarterback coming into lambeau Field is exactly the recipe you're looking for. Yeah, and Mike, you mentioned the eleven interceptions, the two fumbles. The bigger stat for him right now is last five games. Eleven of his turnovers have come in those five games. So the last two weeks specifically, only a hundred two one passing yards for him along

with three interceptions to three touchdowns. So, uh, yeah, this is gonna be a big thing for the Packers. You have to be able to take away the football. Um, not not just this week, It's it's something we talked about every week. There's a big emphasis on it. But there's something about getting it started, isn't that. I mean, when it comes to whether whether you're talking sacks or turnovers, it's like you have to get it started to then try to get on one of those roles, get that

momentum going in in that particular direction. And the Packers need to do this well. Any streaks starts with one, right, So I mean that's what they're gonna be looking for in this matchup. The big thing with rosen uh and I do think he has upside and I don't fault the Cardinals at all for going the direction they did and pushing him into lineup, especially with some of the salary considerations that were at hand with Sam Bradford, compensatory

questions that were at hand with Sam Bradford. And if they've got rid of them at a certain point, they'd be able to keep you know, their equation and formula to potentially help them in the compensed story process they're

building for the future. Now. So this is the guy you dedicate yourself to, an ultra confident individual, guy that obviously has some connections with Aaron Rodgers based on you know, where they both went to cal Um But the bigger thing and play here for the Packers, as you mentioned, Mike, is they've allowed just too many guys, too many quarterbacks to get into a comfort zone. Kirk Cousins is as as difficult as that start was for the Vikings. He got into a zone. Um Golf in the second half

got in the zone. Tom Brady stayed in his own. So they the more sacks, the more pressure, the more hits you get, the more it's gonna take any quarterback off his game. But when you look at a young rookie quarterback, much like Josh Allen in that game against Buffalo, that's where you really make them start thinking and question themselves because there isn't that experience, there's not that backstory

to maybe mentally persevered through that as much. The thing I'm gonna be looking for, Mike, much like that Week four game against Buffalo. If Josh Rosen hits me in the calf with a pastor in pregame warmups, we might know this is gonna be a long day for the Cardinals. Yeah, we may have to set up our pregame periscope Facebook Live in a different spot just to make sure you don't get you don't get drilled. Well, I mean, if I get drilled, that might mean a good day for

the Packers. I mean, you go back and you say you're willing to make the sacrifice, is what you're saying. It's been what now nine weeks. I mean, my my calf is compertly healed, so we're we're good from that perspective. But all kidding aside, I mean that this is the biggest thing, and is if you allow him to get comfortable. Cause the thing is Mike. We saw it with Carson Palmer.

We saw it when Kurt Warner was the quarterback. If you get Larry Fitzgerald comfortable, they have some weapons there that can hurt you, specifically David Johnson if they get him going as a passer. But if you can get some pressure going early on and make things uncomfortable for Rosen, that's where you might not have, uh, you know, a quarterback that can maybe rise to that occasion like some

of those other veterans have. Ye, we'll see. The Packers need to win out and it starts with winning one game, which starts on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. 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 mccau. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.