#429 Packers Unscripted: Keys to victory

Keys to Victory show, So let's start there. Keys to victory here for the Packers. You want to start on the offensive or the defensive side of the ball. I guess I'm starting on the Packers offense technically, but a lot of it has to do with the Chicago Bears defense. And the main thing I look at is Aaron Rodgers. We know his history against the Bears, we know his

history at Soldier Field. The one thing the Packers need to do in this matchup that I think in some ways they weren't able to do last year was get the ground game moving and get it moving effectively and efficiently. Got a chance to be in the huddles of both Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams on what would be Tuesday for the Packers. I wanted to say Friday, Um and you know them talking about Okay, neither of those guys played in the preseason, but they're both healthy, and they

both believe in the system. And as I've said a countless points during this offseason, Mike, the changes that this offense is making, I think you're gonna see some of

it reflected in Aaron Rodgers and his play style. But I think the biggest impact is going to be with the running game, to be quite honest with you, and for Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams, going up against the league's reigning and defending run defense, stopping champion in the Chicago Bears with a unit that brings back pretty much the same parts from last year is to me the biggest key to victory this ball game. Aaron Jones has

had some mixed history there in Chicago. He's had two Nie s brains in two of those games that Soldier field. If you can actually get him going and get him uh the ball in open field, I think that is really the biggest thing that could open up this offense in this game for the Packers. Yeah, And I don't see this as one of those games that you're saying, Okay, the Packers need to run for a hundred and fifty yards, you need to put up like some huge rushing numbers

or something like that. You're probably not going to do that against the Bears, a team that's coming back with essentially their entire defensive unit intact, and they were number one in the league against the run. But you have to be able to do something on the ground to get them to respect it. And I look at this game as having two keys, and I think they play hand in hand. It's run the ball and protect the ball,

and I think run it. Being able to run the football is what's going to help the Packers be able to protect the football because it will protect Aaron Rodgers. It will give him cleaner pockets that will potentially give him better throwing lanes to avoid the deflections and the turnovers and things like that that This Bears defense frankly thrives on thirty six takeaways last year, number one in

the league. They scored six defensive touchdowns, the first being by Khalil Mack with the pick six against Deshaun Kaiser in Week one. That what the Bears defense did in the first half of that game at lambau Field in Week one last year, that set the tone for the way their defense was gonna play all season long. And but the times they did get to watch the Bears last year, Yes, they are a very good defense, but they go from a good defense to a great defense

when they're turning the ball over. So if you protect the ball, they become much more mortal, I guess is what I want to say on defense. And you can't. You can't start turning the ball over and get into this, uh, this situation where they've got their building momentum from their defense because of big plays. You've got to stay away from. Yeah, it's funny you mentioned that too, because Jamal Williams said the same thing. They are mortal. That's the way he

looks at this matchup. He's like, we all bleed read and certainly they are a good defense, but they're not going into this game scared in that regard. The thing that is exciting you remember yesterday I dropped the whole grocery store lying on you, right. My dad really liked that. By the way, I got a props for that as soon as I was able to go home and eat dinner with my parents. But more importantly, this defense that

Chicago has the perfect embodiment of that. Vic Fangio is first year didn't have a lot of weapons to work with on the defensive side the ball for Chicago, but they built a foundation and they found established players and contributors that they felt Adrian Amos was one of them, by the way, that they could build the defense around long term. Well, now they've brought in some veterans, they've obviously made the trade for Khalil Mack, and they've developed

their homegrown talent. It is is picture perfect of a blueprint of how you want to build a defense as there is in the NFL right now. But that being said, the Packers have something new on their side of things and they needed to make adjustments, and that's going to

be the big emphasis going in this game. I just think when you look at that battle in the trenches, especially, you know, if you are able to get to the second level against ro Kuan Smith, against Danny Trevathan, that's where the Packers are really going to need to make their opportunities count. Because it's so difficult. There's gonna be times where you're gonna be running into that wall. It's only gonna get you two yards, but you have to

be able to keep going back to that well. I thought John very articulately put it earlier this week with that stretch zone scheme, the outside zone scheme, you know, finding different ways to get guys moving a little bit so you're not just charging head first into them in wearing down the defense over four quarters, that's gonna be the big key. You and I were talking on our Packers periscope pre game, and the question was asked of us, how many touches do you see Aaron Jones getting this game?

Could very well see it in being a fifteen touch Aaron Jones twelve touch Jamal Williams kind of game because their styles play off each other perfectly. And I think this is the perfect opponent to use that kind of

juxtaposition of talented running backs in tandem. Yeah, and I think you want to try to keep those running backs if you're if you're gonna pound into that wall, as you say, and try to get them to respect the run, you're gonna need to do it with a couple of guys over the course of four quarters, not just feed one guy over and over. I don't think that's gonna

work against this defense. And I don't know the exact statistics like I do the Packers defense, but to me, at least the way I looked at it, the Bears don't have like this big rotation of guys. I mean a lot of these guys play a lot in their condition their well conditioned. They hold up in the fourth quarter. It's the reason they were one of the top defenses in the league last season. But you're going to see very many of the same looks once you get into

the second and third quarters. Finding your opportunities, finding the holes and capitalizing on those is going to be critical. Yeah, Well, switching to the defensive side, I see a couple of keys here for the Packers. One is to be sound tacklers, and we that that goes for any game. But when you look at this Bears offense, specifically Tarik Cohen and the new rookie running back David Montgomery, the third round

pick out of Iowa State. He was actually the Bears first draft pick because they did not have a pick in the first two rounds. They took Montgomery in the third round as their opening pick. These two guys are they are a combination of both fast, but they've got a little bit of power to him too. They are not easy to get on the ground. And you can't

let these guys break tackles. You can't let them turn a three and four yard gain into the seven or eight or twelve, you know, the explosive type of gains on the ground. So I think that's one of the keys. The other thing, and this this one comes with a bit of a caveat because Mitch Trubisky is now in his third year. We're going to see just how much

progress mits Trubisky has made. And I think because the Bears didn't have a first or second round draft pick, I think Trubisky's trajectory here is really going to determine just where the Bears are gonna ultimately go. But I think you've got to keep this guy in the pocket. You have to make him beat you from the pocket

until he proves that he can. Because the Bears games that I did watch last year, I thought Whisky was that as most dangerous when he was allowed to scramble out and whether he was running for first downs or just scrambling out and then being able to throw the ball on the run. He was really really good and he hurt defenses that way. If I'm the Packers, I don't want to let this guy get out of the pocket. Make him beat you from the pocket first, and then

maybe you're just from there. And I do I have respect for what um they did in terms of building up the receiving corps here. Certainly they got Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel who has a history with Matt Laflour and Atlanta. I did like the draft pick of Anthony Miller. I know he's been off to a slow start, but let's be honest here, the way that Mitchell Robinsky plays this game, what are the biggest points of emphasis in this offense. It's a multifaceted, versatile run game, running backs

that can do different things. I think the one thing that the Bears on the offensive side the ball have done a phenomenal job of the last two years is they've built up running backs that compliment robisky skill set. And this year with bringing in Mike Davis uh In, you know, seeing where he's come from and the kind

of bell cow back that he can be. I'm not anticipating that he's gonna be the guy getting the most touches out of that group, but they just all three of those guys have such different styles in David Montgomery is sort of a little bit of a blend of everything. And then the other key to this game, like is gonna be Trey Burton, and he's been dealing with the

growing injury. He has been limited in practice, but I think everybody understands and sees that that tight end position, especially with the way that Trubisky does this thing, is gonna be really critical in this offense for the long run. So if Burton doesn't play or he's limited, I think that's gonna be a big thing to keep an eye on with this matchup. And then from there, just not allowing as you said, Trubisky to get outside the pocket, extend plays and get the ball in his running backs hands.

If you can shut down that component of it and get pressure on him, it's gonna make your life a lot easier. Yeah. Well, the latest we heard out of Chicago as they're saying Burton could be a game time decision, So we may be finding out ninety minutes before kickoff on Thursday night when the inactives are turned and whether Burton is available for Mr Bisky or not, and there's

a big drop off after him. I mean, he's their guy. Um, you know, Adam Sheheen was was a mid round I think the second round pick last year, but he's gotten off to a slow start with his career. There isn't like a big go to receiving target in this offense beyond Burton at the tight end position, So that's gonna

be a big one to track. Even though I know there was such a discrepancy between the size of the two injury reports, the fact that Burton's on there and is a game time decision is one of the more important prevalent ones this matchup. H I would agree with that. Um quickly here West Select Cousin Subs locations are now offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your favorite sub, They're delivering right to you when you order online at

Cousin Subs dot com. Cousin Subs. We believe in better all right, I'm gonna throw a couple of game preview questions that you hear whether that I honestly didn't prepare, prepare you for. We talk a lot about matchups. The NFL is a game of matchups. It's one on one in certain situations, you have to beat the man across from you. What's the one on one matchup that has

your attention the most heading into this game. It's a great question, and it would be very easy for me at this point in time just say, Khalil Mack against the outside tackles, the offensive tackles of the Packers. If you want to talk about that later, by all means, that's your prerogative. But I want to talk about Aaron

Rodgers in the safeties of the Chicago Bears. Another question was asked us a good question in our lives, our pregame lives, live stream periscope about you know, you look at the history that both adrian names has, you know, the year that he's spent with Mitchell Drobiski and then the time that Aaron Rodgers spent with Ha Ha Clinton Dicks. Is sure that matchup favors I always feel like the burden of proof is on the defense to stop the offense.

So I believe that matchup probably favors both of those quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers has played against his practiced against ha Ha Clinton Dix in all these years. It's gonna be really interesting to see what that dynamics like. If there's certain areas of Clinton Dix's game that Rogers looks to exploit, if there's certain things that Clinton Dix looks out of

Rogers to potentially capitalize on. But then Eddie Jackson too is back there, and he's one of the top young safeties in this league as well that the Packers have become pretty familiar with the last few years. Jackson's a big time and he was a big time playmaker for this Bears defense. I don't remember exactly how many of the six defensive touchdowns he had, but I know he had. I know he had multiple. Um it was quite a few.

But be that as it may, that cat and mouse game that Aaron Rodgers is going to play with those safeties. The only thing that's different really about this Bears defense this year is the secondary. With you know, Bryce Callahan is now in Denver. Buster Scrin appears to be the nickel for them now. So the new positions there are the unknowns are the areas that you aren't quite sure what you're gonna get because let's be honest, even though

Chuck Begano is the defensive coordinator. Now, when you have the type of athletes that the Bears have, I don't expect wholesale changes from this unit. I expect him to look at the film and try to put those players a lot them in the prime of their careers back in those positions. The question is, now, how does Clinton Dick's match up with his former teammate at Alabama and Eddie Jackson, And then also what is Buskers grind offer in the slot? Seeing how Aaron Rodgers plays against those

components to be very intriguing. Yeah, and I think it it definitely goes almost without saying the Khalil Mac against the offensive tackles, I think based on the way the Bears used Mac last year. Yes, he will move around, he won't always be lining up in the same spot. But if there's one guy who's going to get him the most out of the Packers offensive lineman, I think it's going to be Brian Blaga. And I think this

is obviously a really interesting matchup. We all know what Mac did in the first half last year at lambeau Field. He had just joined the Bears a week earlier. He was a one man wrecking crew in the first half of that game. All the Packers, obviously they made some adjustments, they were able to limit his impact in the second half. I think potentially his conditioning played into that as well, because he had basically missed the higher training camp in preseason.

But the thing that's interesting that we talked about earlier in the week, obviously, with this Bears defenses, you can you could stick a tight end over there, you can ship block with a running back. You can do whatever it takes to take Khalil Mack out of the game. Anybody can do that. The reason you can't just necessarily sell out to do that is because of a chem Hicks and Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith and these other

guys that they have in their defensive front seven. But I still say, if you're walking out of if you're walking out a soldier field. At the end of Thursday night, saying Khalil Mack didn't have a big impact on this game, I like the chances of the Packers coming out on top. That's a win. I mean, that's gonna be the starting point. And again, you have to be able to Curtail Hicks. We know the dominating force that he can be. The

NFL saw it last year. But there's a reason why Khalil Mack is the one that brought the headlines to this unit. I think there was a lot of people, Vic Fangio among them. It felt like they were just that one piece short of becoming a really dominant defense this last season, and Mac put them over the top. So for Brian Balaga, David Botr the rest that offensive line, understanding where he is at all times and being able to neutralize that threat is going to be imperative for

the long term success of this team. And then also in certain opportunities, you know, being able to you know, come up with some midgame adjustments. I mean, Matt Laflour

talked about that at the podium this week. I mean, how much in these type of matchups is going to be based on seeing something that maybe you weren't entirely prepared for not that's the wrong word, but entirely anticipating, but using something else that you've prepared to counter that expect the same thing on the Packers offensive side the

ball as well. So, uh, it's just that that's the chess game you play, especially early on here when everything is scouted looks and just kind of unveiling it for the first time, and again for it being the kickoff to the hundredth game, you know, the hundredth season in the NFL. I don't think you could ask for more a better matchup to see exactly two teams that with the rivalry, the history that these guys have, and also what the ramifications for a game like this is in

this division right off the bat. All right, Well, one other question I want to throw at you, and I was asked this by a couple of different readers in our Insider Inbox column. In a few different ways. We've talked about Aaron Rodgers, Mitch Dubiskie, Davante Adams, Khalil Mack, Adrian amos Zadarius Smith. You know, all of the big

name components that go into this game. Is there a guy that nobody's talking about that maybe ends up having an impact on Thursday Night that potentially swings this game one way or this? Do you say Preston Smith in

that litanium name? I didn't. Actually, that's probably because so much of the spotlight is going to be on Amos just because of his history with the Bears, and I know Eddie Jackson holds him in a really high regard for, you know, the chemistry that they built and how he helped him along despite Amos being kind of a young guy himself. But Preston smith Man, I've said this at numerous turns, and I'm really glad that Larry Mcareiron mentioned this in one of our Last Three Things episodes of

the season of Training Camp. You know, all the headlines pretty much have gone towards Zadarius Smith, and rightfully so he's gonna be a big player in this offense. I think there's people that feel like this is a guy that has legitimate Pro Bowl potential and the chance to be a perennial you know, eight ten sac guy a year. But Preston Smith is really well cut for this defense. I think more than any other signing the Packers made this offseason. This guy just makes sense for what Mike

Petton wants out of the outside linebacker position. The multitude of ways that you can use him. So I'll be honest with you, Mike, I would not be surprised in the least if after all this conversation about the changes on offense and everything that you see a guy like Preston Smith who's sort of you know, he's quiet, he's soft spoken, but he just does his job, you know, makes an impact with a sack or two at keep

points of this game. And on top of that, when you have a running game like the Bears have, you need to be able to shut down the edges, and Preston Smith's a guy that can help you there as well. Yeah, and my guy is on the other side of the ball. If I were to pick sort of a quiet, potentially unsung hero in this game, I'm going with Geronimo Allison because you mentioned as we talked about, one of the only position changes personnel changes on defense for the Bears

is that nickel corner. And I think the way the Bears potentially match up here against the Packers, I'm not sure if Kyle Fuller is going to travel and match up play after play with Davante Adams, or or if Prince of Mukamara will take his share. That's the way they've done it against Adams in the past. They've used both of those guys. But then I think the other guy probably as far as your starting corners has to be on MVS because he's the speedster who could take

the top off the defense. So I think Allison, with his experience and as comfortable, in my opinion, as comfortable and potentially productive as he's looked from what we've seen in Matt Lafleur's offense, I think Allison against that new nickel corner for the Bears could be a matchup that

the Packers are going to go after. Yeah. Absolutely, And in scrin I know there was questions about him in the free agency this year and some of the plays that have been given up, some of the penalties that have been amassed, you know, they feel like he can be a guy that's going to settle in there. The problem for the Bears is that Callaghan had just become

such a consistent guy for them. I mean you talk about, you know, maybe he's not a perennial pro bowler, but just a guy that fits your defense a lot like you know, Morgan Burnett. I felt like a number of years fit the Packers defense and what they wanted to do. Callahan was sort of a safety valve there and now he's gone, and that's just the game you're gonna lose guys here and there, so with with scrind coming in there, and if that's who ends up getting that matchup against Alison,

that will be a good one to watch. Yeah, well we're real quickly here West before we go, because it is our last show heading into the game. Just taking a look ahead at Week one in the NFL other games that maybe are worth watching, worth keeping an eye on as the Packers are going to have the first Sunday of the regular season off. The two that jump out at me in the NFC are the Rams playing at Carolina and then Atlanta playing at Minneso Soda to

open things. I think those are both pretty intriguing, especially Atlanta, a team that a lot of people are saying, Hey, they weren't a playoff team last year, but they still have a lot of really, really good pieces. And if there's gonna be any faltering by the Saints at all in that NFC South, Atlanta is maybe the team that jumps into that spot. It's funny, man, the NFC South. I've never been able to keep real good tabs on

in any given year. You think I figure out a Super Bowl team and now they're gonna get on a run they didn't, Atlanta makes its run, almost wins a super Bowl, and now they've been up and down. I don't know what to expect, but I will say for a Week one matchup, I'm not ever gonna throw out must win, but there's a reason for both of these teams to want to win that game. If you're the Vikings, you want to you want to get this after how last season ended, because the next week you're coming to

lambeau Field to take on the Packers. For the Falcons, you want to actually be able to sort of rinse your mouth of what happened last season and just legitimately say, Okay, we're gonna be a from team, our defense is going to be better, We're going to be able to make another run at this thing. And it starts with that matchup.

For me personally, if I can throw this one in there, New York Giants versus the Dallas Cowboys, the reports out there, I know we don't usually get into reports, but the reports out through that Zeke Elliott reaching an extension there with the Cowboys. He's on my fantasy team. But even more than that, him versus Barkley, that that's the match up now year in and year out in terms of arguably the two top running backs in this game. That

is going to be fun to watch. And also seeing how again a running back or a player performs after not being in the camp and if you can just hit the ground running, I think that's gonna be uh something you have to really keep in mind here as we get started now in Week one, Yeah, and Sunday Night Football, Ben Roethlisberger against Tom Brady doesn't get much better than that in terms of that first Sunday Night.

I mean, this Thursday night opener, the Sunday Night. It's it's gonna be a pretty good opening weekend of NFL. And there's a part of me too that at this juncture in our lives, in their careers, that you don't know how many more times you're gonna get Roethlisberger, Roethlisberger versus Brady again. So each one of those you you cherish and you appreciate for what it is. All right, Well, with that, we will call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted because we got a plane to catch.

Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and of Thursday night's big kickoff opener on packers dot com. Subscribe to us, like us on iTunes and other podcast services if you please. On Twitter, he's at west Hot, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, We'll see you next time.