#445 Packers Unscripted: Second quarter

are three and one. You don't want to make too many over arching conclusions after just four games of a season, but the sense that I get listening to Matt Lafleur talk, listening to some of the guys in the locker room talk, is that this week of preparation here leading up to the Cowboys is going to focus on two things that the Packers are not doing as well as they want to right now, and it's about running the ball and stopping the run. Do you get that sense that this

this week one quarter of the season done. The opponent that's coming up, the Dallas Cowboys, These are really high priorities here for absolutely, to be fair. If you have the number one run defense in the league and you have Zeke Elliott coming up on your schedule, It's gonna be a big moment. But but that being said, I mean, you look at some of even the stories that I've

written so far this week. You know, with or and Burke's returning to practice, people are asking Montrevius Adams how he's doing with the shoulder because there is that emphasis there, and you understand that. You know, these last few weeks, the Packers have talked about it. This is not the type of run defense that they feel they can be.

You know, one of the things I think is really important to point out with this is I guess maybe I'd have a little bit more concerned if the Packers were running traditional base and traditional nickel and they were unable to stop this. But the reality is is because of the injuries they've had it inside linebacker and now at the defensive line, they've had to kind of shift a little bit. We've had to see them use more

hybrid packages. Raven Green, who I thought did an exceptional job against the run in the first game against Chicago for being a box safety, sort of reminded me that Morgan Burnett type of guy that is quicker, faster, can go with the tight ends. But also can take on a running back charging full steam at him, Well you lose him. So you have to adjust there, and there really isn't a backup so to speak, at that hybrid

safety spot, so they've had to get creative. But here's the thing, Mike, is that when all the chips are on the table, you look at Ezekiel Elliott coming up on the schedule. You have to be on top of your p's and ques with this matchup because he can hurt you in so many ways. He can burn you for the short yardage, he can get the third and shorts, he can break a big run. The New Orleans States

did an exceptional job of defending him. So for Mike Petton and his crew looking at that film last week and see how that can translate, that has to be a big, prime, primary objective for how you attack this football game. Yeah. I mean, when you look at football just in general, there may be nothing more team work oriented then running the ball and stopping the run. Because and the reason I say that, when you're trying to run the ball, I say, if you're the Packers, you're

trying to get Aaron Jones on an outside zone. If one guy in the run blocking unit breaks down, the play can get blown up and by the same token on the other side, when you're trying to stop the run, if one guy gets pushed out of his gap too far, or say one guy takes a chance and shoots one gap when maybe he's got a two gap responsibility, but he takes a shot and then boom, the run hits in the area that he vacates. All it takes is one guy to mess up, essentially, and uh, and things

can start to get sideways in a hurry. I think in some ways that's what happened against Philadelphia. And when Philadelphia got that momentum going running the ball, they just kept after it. And on a short week, and you know, you have defenders who are wearing down and all of that kind of stuff. So the Packers they've got some injuries to deal with, but hopefully the extra rest, all the extra film study and everything that can go into a game like this against Ezekiel Elliot, They've they've got

to get it short up. Yeah, And I don't want to be a victim of the moment here with some recency bias. But the thing is, Mike, I looked at that Philadelphia game from the beginning. And I'm not saying the Packers obviously there were seven points away from winning it, but I just thought that was gonna be troublesome because of the way the defense is configured, in the way

that they're running these rotations. Right now, you play those you know, there's seven eight core guys that play relatively every snap, and now you've got to come back on four days, you know, three days rest and play again in that type of environment against another run heavy team. It's not like they went up against Arizona. I mean, this is a unit with Tug Peterson. Again, they're off to a slow start with some of their running concepts, but when they're at their peak, they want to be

able to push the ball. That's why they brought in Jordan Howard. That's one of the focuses and emphasis that they've had for this season is to play the way they played on Thursday night. Now you're gonna get a couple of days to decompressed, and you're gonna get a full week of preparation for this matchup for Alice. The way I look at it, and again, you need to get it short up. We're a quarterway through the season,

right now. But it is team fundamental football. When guys are fresh and playing together, and you know they're playing in Unison, that's when a run defense is at its best, and that's what the Packers are looking for right now. Yeah. Well, both teams, the Cowboys and the Packers have some injuries

to deal with heading into this one. We don't necessarily have full and complete updates on everything going on, but with regards to the Cowboys, they're all Pro left tackle Tyron Smith, it sounds like from reports that are leaking out that he is going to miss the game against the Packers. Although the long term prognosis for Smith and that Cowboys off offensive line it doesn't sound as bad as initially feared. But that could be a big loss for Dallas here as they're trying to get Ezekiel Elliott

going after a rough game against the Saints. And on the Packers side, you mentioned Orn Burke's is back in practice. This is a player who's missed more than a month and a half, almost two months really since getting injured in the preseason opener back in early August, so it's hard to say just how soon he's going to be completely back up to speed. And ready to contribute defensively.

Jamal Williams is back with the team, though he's not back on the practice field because he is officially in the concussion protocol, and then other guys were just going to be waiting. As the week goes along here, the Packers will be back on the practice field on Wednesday. They had a short practice Monday Tuesday as an off day for the players. But on Wednesday, Davante Adams, Brian Blaga, and Kevin King, all of whom were injured against the

Philadelphia Eagles. We don't really know the status of those players yet and we'll just have to see if they'll be held out of practice with limited participants. But really, for the first time this season, the Packers kind of dealing with with an injury list that raises your eyebrows a little bit because it's coming to multiple spots and on different sides of the ball. Yeah, the biggest positive coming out of this weekend was the fact that Jamal

Williams was walking through the locker room. Yeah, because his typical smiling self. Uh. The thing was is that you know, because you're in the concussion protocol, how that procedure works for the league you're not allowed to speak to the media, so we didn't talk to him yet, But just seeing him come out of the meetings with the other running backs like it's any other day. When you see that type of blow, I mean, that's that's what you hope

to eventually see as him to be continuing. Well, and I'll clarify too, I don't want to read too much into it, but we know with this concussion protocol stuff, sometimes guys aren't even in the meetings because of the severity of what's going on. So the fact that he was in the meetings with the team. No, he hasn't been cleared from the concussion protocol yet, but he's at a certain stage where he's not being completely held out of all activity, which is something that we've seen in

certain instances in the past. I mean, I go back to the Sam Shields thing. I go back to Jamichael Finley in two thousand thirteen when he had that hit across the middle and then he kind of just disappeared for a bit. You weren't sure what was going to happen there. So just to see I mean, for what that could have potentially been a big sigh relief from just a human standpoint, seeing Jamal Williams, you know, appearing

to be okay. From that perspective, Matt la Floor is saying, you know, by all accounts him walking around the building good signs there or in Burke's is interesting because he was the one that returned to practice on Monday, and as you pointed out, this is gonna be you know, those soft muscle injuries, Mike, especially when you're coming off a terror like he did with his pack. It's not a bone, right, it's not six weeks. You've got to play it by ear. You gotta go by how you feel.

You have to communicate that to the trainers. The big goal and emphasis for Burkes this week is just being able to redevelop the strength start to bang again if you can get some of those reps in there he's had.

You know, it's been about six seven weeks now since it happened against Houston, So just trying to gain the confidence back because as he mentioned and I asked him this in the locker room on Monday, now, he was feeling really comfortable in the scheme and what they were asking him to do after you know, kind of being thrown into the fire and then sort of having to take a backseat to Antonio Morrison. He felt prepared and

ready to be that secondary option to like Martinez. So just seeing how this plays out for him is going to be critical because I really do believe not only does it give you depth at the position, but with some of these things that are ailing the Packers trying to find a hybrid safety, trying to find a coverage linebacker that can play next to Blake Martinez. If Burkes can be you know, solid against the run, I mean that's a major upgrade for this defense moving forward. Yeah,

I think it could be as well. I just, uh, I think it's it's smart to temper the expectations a little bit because, I mean, let's face it, a guy who's missed as much time as he has, and once you get into the regular season where the Packers are, they're only putting the pads on once a week in terms of when you talk about the banging and really

trying to get back into football shaped. So to expect a guy to just you know to walk back into practice for a couple of days after seven weeks of very limited and sometimes no activity and then uh, you know, walk out there on Sunday and try to tackle Ezekiel Elliott doesn't really work that way. So there'll be a process here to get Burke's back up to speed and ready to go, and we'll just see week to week, um how things go in terms of getting him ready.

But I agree with you that, I mean with the way things started with Raven Green in that spot and then he gets hurt, and there's been kind of some mixing and matching going on with Mike Petton in terms of personnel and how they want to do things. Just getting another option available for the different packages he wants

to run. I think it's going to help us, and just getting back to a preferred starter, right, I mean, when you originally line up your depth charger, O, T A S and in minicamp, the way you want things to align, the way you prepare, and and how you're figuring in your mind you're gonna move the chess pieces around. Raven Green was a major chess piece. Mike. I just thought, I mean, people, that's not gonna be a name that's gonna, you know, sound off a lot of alarms. Yeah, it's not.

It's not like he was suddenly going to become a pro Bowl player anything. But you're right in terms of the usage and the way Mike Patton wanted to employ him in different situations. He was a key piece take because it wasn't just him being the hybrid linebacker. He was the next man up with the two safety spots. And now you saw Will Redmond come down, you know, working through something. Now I believe he was in the

getting evaluated for concussion. I don't know where that went after that, but you know, he was the guy that sort of moved in and Green was out. But then that pushed Adrian Amos to the you know, to the box. I've wrote about this an insider Inbox, looking specifically at offensive line because people are asking about Alex light a

little bit. I cannot stress to you the value of being able to take a backup and plug them into a starting spot because it allows you to stay strong at your other points and doesn't diminish you at two different spots. That's not an indictment against Adrian Amos, but everybody understands he was brought in for what he provides, as you know, that strong, traditional strong safety type role, you know, not just moving the box and playing the

hybrid linebacker. Spot. You know, if you have to end up moving Billy Turner to right tackle because you don't have Brian Blog and then you have to put in another guard at that spot. It there are so many different variations of it, but when you can just go to one specific player, that's so valuable for Green Bay.

So seeing how all this works against Dallas again, there's four or five days separating today in that game, but what the Packers can potentially have and who could potentially play in that game is gonna be critical for that matchup at and T Stadium. Yeah, definitely what we'll certainly be talking about it a lot as the week continues. Um. Before we go here today though, wes uh. Shortly before we came into the studio here to tape this episode, you were you were in attendance at a press conference

involving Mason Crosby October. UM, the month of October, the Packers will be involved in some different cancer awareness initiatives and things like that as the month goes along, and a little bit of news coming out of of of this news conference with Mason Crosby. What did you find out? Yeah, so well, for first and foremost Packers versus cancer. This is an initiative they've been doing for the last three years.

Mason is one of the heads of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, something he's been doing for a number of years. I can't even tell you, probably six seven years at this point. He's been heavily involved with that and as one of the spokespeople for this campaign along with Blake Martinez. Each person was allowed to come up and sort of speak very quickly. It's well documented by now, obviously what Mason's sister in law, Brittany has been battling over the

last three years. I wrote about it two years ago. Um, you know, in her condition and being diagnosed at a very extremely young age with a varying cancer and how that sort of impacted their lives. Well unfortunately now, Mason's wife was diagnosed with a lung tumor during the summer, which she ended up having removed at the I think it was the day after the Packers preseason finale. So a couple of different layers to this one is Mason pointed out this was not a cancerous tumor. You know,

there was cancer like, but it wasn't. It hadn't metastasized, so We didn't want to put it in the same category as you know, what the drastic nature of what Brittany is dealing with. But at the same time, I also thought it was a somewhat heartwarming story because, um, this sort of shows you the tight knit nature of

the Packers, especially with those players. Um Molly actually sees one of the team doctors as a physician of Prime Ry Care, physician Dr Evan, So it was Dr Gray, John Gray and Dr Even that Actually she was complaining of some discomfort. She'd been dealing with some sinus infection type stuff. They end up running some scans on her and she was dealing with this, um very healthy, you know,

lady in her early thirties, mother of five. I was going to say, with a lot of kids running around the house, the big message that and I'm going to write about it for our website. We'll get in all the details there. But I mean, the message that Mason wanted to convey was the importance of screening with things like this and in early detection. And you know, certainly it's timely giving what they've gone. You know that the Packers first Cancer campaign, the emphasis in the month of

October throughout sports and entertainment media. UM, in the emphasis that has been placed now in all cancers, not just you know, one specific variety. UM. Just another wake up call and unfortunately for a family that probably didn't need another one. But certainly the positive aspect of it is Molly's doing well. They don't believe she's gonna need the additional treatment. She had it removed through a surgery. Actually the day after the Kansas City game and the Saturday.

It was kind of wild because in the same day in which they were told by the doctors that you know, everything was looking good, they felt like they got everything. They were able to save more of her lung than they were initially anticipating. Uh. Shortly after that, he ended up getting a call from Brian Goodkin's telling him he was gonna be the Packers kicker again here for fourteen season.

Well that that That's what I wanted to point out, is that now that now that some of this news and what what Molly Crosby was dealing with throughout the summer and a lot of uncertainty is to exactly what was going on and what was ailing her. You know, Mason Crosby was fighting for his job in training camp with Sam Ficken and everything, and and Mason was dealing with an injury of his own he missed some time

with with a strained calf. I mean, you look back now at the month of August and everything that was going on. I mean the uh um, I don't want to, you know, stereotype. Mason Crosby is sort of that you know, ice in his veins type of you know, kicker, you

know that whole cliche that you hear. But when you look back at the month of August and everything that was going on in Mason Crosby's life, um and uh and and the fact that that he came through it and obviously kept his job, the packers are thrilled that he has remained their kicker. But then u um, but now fortunately some really good news at least coming out of coming out of Molly's procedure to get the tumor removed. Yeah.

I can't say enough of at Crosby's mindset and and Molly's as well, obviously, you know, having to battle this and and go through this mentally during a training camp. They found out shortly before camp started they were actually initially planning on having surgery straight away, and then it was during that process that they discovered that she actually had a blood clot in her abdomen as well, just

through doing the full body examination. So not that that necessarily would have turned in anything, but you know, immediately, but long term, it's just it makes you and and one of the things that Mason really conveyed was that it makes you grateful for your family and also, you know, for things like playing for the Packers. He said there were a lot of days where he would come in and you know, this was sort of a little bit

of a safe haven for him. He got to focus on his job and in doing something that he loves and being around a team that he really appreciates. So a team captain this year on special teams. I mean just uh an incredible summer that um, I mean, you really tip your cap to the Crosby family and just their mental you know, headspace and strength to sort of for the fortitude to get through everything that that that

they were dealing with as a family. And obviously, you know, you and I have both known Mason for a really long time. I've been here since uh, you know, since before he was drafted. I've covered his entire career and seven he was drafted in two thousand seven in the sixth round. There's there's never been There's never been a

more stand up guy from the very beginning. Um, because he's dealt with position competitions at different stages throughout his career, and to think of he was dealing with that as well as as well as a lot of uncertainty with what was going on with Molly. I just, uh, I'm glad, I'm glad it's all worked out the way that and

didn't lead on at all. I mean, it's not something that they were They were kind of playing it close to the you know, the vest a little bit and then um, you know, obviously his involvement went this and he was explaining the reason that came up. He was

just kind of explained the ways it's impacked him. He lost grandmother to cancer, his sister in law, dealing with this and unfortunately tumor situation with his wife that you know, knock on wood, we don't have any available to us right now, but you know, I'll be able to work through that well. Certainly, the message of the month in this cancer we're in this month is if you got anything going on get it checked out. Absolutely. I want to mention to the Packers Pro Shop again, we'll be

selling the Packers Versus Cancer Vince Lombardi caps. It's actually a knit cap this year, so for the chilly out. Yeah, five dollars from each of those purchases goes to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, and then people that are shopping at the Pro Shop also have the option to add a dollar to their purchase and support of that. So a very cool measure and in a neat cap too. If I don't have one with me, I wish I did, but yeah, well maybe we'll bring one on later this month.

Turn on the air conditioning a little bit here. There we go get the full effect. Okay, let's do that. 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. Like us, subscribe to us on iTunes and other podcast services if you will. 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.