#452 Packers Unscripted: Ways to win

We'll see come late Saturday afternoon when the final designations are made from Monday night's game how many of those guys end up being removed from the injury report. But some primary updates. First of all, Davante Adams on the injury report not practicing, told reporters he's not sure when he's going to be back. Jamal Williams is back at practice, he's been cleared from the concussion protocol, and center Corey Lindsley also in the concussion protocol, not fully cleared yet

but back at practice on a limited basis. So those are some of the big names as to what's going on, as well as a certain guy number twelve, Aaron Rodgers, cropping up on the injury report with a knee injury. There's been no indication that he's in any danger of missing the game, but he is on the injury report dealing with something in a knee. Yep. If you're dealing

with anything, you got to report it. So the Packers certainly with taking it easy on Aaron Rodgers in their first practice back, um, you know, having him sit out there. Um you know, I should say said out, but just

being able to be cautious with it. Yeah. This week is going to be interesting for Green Bay though, because you look at Davante Adams and he was talking at his locker and you a group that you were a part of, you know, And as he points out, I mean, he's dealing with the pretty significant injury right now and he doesn't want to be back outer until he feels,

you know, just fine about it. And I thought one of his big money lines was basically saying that you can walk around your local store and you could play football. They're two different things. And you did see Davante walking around practice on Wednesday. But yeah, I mean I should say on Thursday, but you know, you have to be

smart with it. The real nice thing, pleasant surprise, mind you, is that Jamal Williams was back out there in a full participant after being cleared from the concussion protocol two weeks after the hit at Philadelphia. I was a part of that media scrum. Jamal Williams basically said much ado about nothing. He's ready to focus on football. He doesn't

care about talking about the hit. But going into this matchup, if you don't have Davante Adams, but you have Jamal Williams and Aaron Jones, that's a big, big plus for this offense. Yeah. Absolutely. I mean you'd like to be able to share some of that workload in the backfield. Obviously Tray Carson spelled Aaron Jones a little bit, But at the end of the day, sixty five plays for the Packers at Dallas, Aaron Jones touched the ball on twenty six of them, and there was another targeted pass

that was incomplete. So that's twenty seven out of sixty five plays that essentially we're focused on Aaron Jones. That's a pretty big workload for one day, and and a difficult workload to sustain. Week after week after week in such a long season. So you want to get Jamal Williams back out there and start to maybe divide up that load a little bit if you can. Yeah, definitely,

and especially considering the stretch that they're on. It doesn't even have to necessarily be in this game against Detroit, but you have Oakland after this at home on six days. You then have two big road trips. You have a game against Carolina next month before you can get to your bye week. So you know, you want to be able to not you know, have to push everyone, not just Aaron Jones, push everyone to that extreme if you don't have to Jamal Williams. You know, I wrote about

this on Packers dot Com. He actually was coming off his best game of the season when he sort of gave the offensive pick me up against Denver, went into that that Philadelphia contest. So if he can you know, get back into a rhythm here, I have no problems, questions, concerns whatsoever about him in terms of the mentality of football. You know, he said he's going right back in there. He's not changing his mindset at all. He's going to

play the same way he always does. And if you know, Jamal Williams, I think everybody pretty much understands that, Um, you know that's not a lie. Yeah. Well, let's stay on the offensive side of the ball here, West as we talk about keys to victory for Monday Night. In this Packers Lions showdown Packers offense. What does it need to do to come out victorious? Well, first off, they need to be able to move the ball all four quarters.

You want to be able to eliminate the lulls. That's been the one thing that through the first five games of the season has kind of been missing for them. They've gotten off to some great starts, which, if you go in contrast the last few seasons, that was sort of an issue for them. They would find their rhythm late, but getting established early was of an issue. It was a problem. Well, this year you come back and their first scripted plays, their first few series drives, they've been explosive.

And it's been that way since Week one against Chicago. So you know, if you're able too, I should say, after they did get into the rhythm against Chicago, it hasn't really been an issue. Sure, but if you're able to, you know, contour the offense and find different playmakers to emerge here without Davante Adams. And again we'll let the weekend take its course, but let's say you don't have them.

What was what they did so well in that game against Dallas is it was Jimmy Graham making a clutch catch. It was Robert toan you, although he's dealing with a hip, making a really critical catch along the sidelines. It was guys playing well in situational football that lifted the entire boat. That's going to be the key in this one. I think it's gonna be Aaron Jones, It's gonna be Jamal Williams.

It's going to be all those auxiliary pieces coming together if you don't have Davante Adams to really threaten and stress and Detroit defense that has been pretty impressive here, Mike through the first month of the season. Yeah, I mean, I keep coming back to as far as the offense

of the Packers is concerned. What Matt Lafleur continues to harp on, whether he's talking about it in a postgame setting or in a midweek news conference, and that's third down conversions the Packers right around percent for the season. Pretty remarkable when you think about it that you can be at thirty on third down through five games and be four and one. That just tells you how many other aspects of this team, how many things are going

well in order to make that happen. We've seen it West when the Packers get into that rhythm offensively and they're at their best, they're quite frankly, so far this year, they've been avoiding third down entirely. They're having these drives where they're only needing first down and second down and they're moving the chains and they're not even getting into third down situations. I think the biggest thing that sticks

out about the struggles on third down. I saw a stat that I believe the Packers have had eight third and sixteen plus situations through five games, and they're over eight and those There aren't a lot of things in the playbook that are going to be able to convert third and sixteen unless you catch a break on a defensive penalty or something like that. So eight third and sixteen plus situations in five games is way too many,

and that's where La Fleur is focused. It's about getting those third down on situations into into the more manageable down and distance the six yards and under. You know that kind of thing where then your percentage is obviously going to go up and you're going to be able to keep the ball and sustain those drives and avoid the lulls that that seem to be happening when the Packers aren't in the really quick rhythm thing where they're

not even getting the third down. So it's a matter of smoothing all of that out, and I think the Packers offense is going to get there eventually, but you know, the sooner the better. Yeah, when you say the quick rhythm stuff, you look at the conversions of Packers have made during those series. It's second and three, that's third and two. It's being able to keep the chains very manageable. Um. Now,

that's a really extreme example. It's a good example with the with the third and sixteen and plus, but even third and ten. I mean, that's that's an unlikely to convert play for most teams because the defenses are just playing you for a third intense situation. Yeah, they're gonna give you the short field, they're gonna give you the short completion underneath, they're gonna come up and make the tackle.

Usually in those situations you either need a defensive penalty or somebody just flat out missing a tackle in order to be able to convert in those third and double digit types. So that's why so often when they talk about third down efficiency, and it's true it is third down efficiency, but realistically it's more first and second down efficiency. You know, how you're able to get you know, maybe a four yard carry off the bat, a six yard catch.

That's what made James Jones great in my opinion, all those years with those stop routes as he would run. You know that he was always good for eight to ten yards on those plays at critical points in football games. So this is where I think Jimmy Graham can really help them in the long term. You know, you've seen him kind of get going here the last two weeks, over hundred yards in these two games together. You know,

maybe in Marcedes Lewis. He looks so much better in this offense this year with how they're able to integrate him. He's not a sixth offensive lineman anymore. He's a real threat to be able to, you know, move the ball. And honestly, Mike, this is where I think you're really seeing the superstar tendencies of Aaron Jones, because last week's game wasn't just about you know, he had a hundred and eighty two total yards, hundred and seven of that

were rushing. He had seventy plus yards catching the ball, a career high seven catches. They really used him more through these five games as a pass catcher. Then I really remember him being designed as a route runner during his entire time in the last two seasons. It isn't just screen passes, it's put it's flanking him out wide and actually being okay, throwing it to him if he

comes on a crosser. That's where I think defensive defensive coordinators now really have their eye on him and what he could potentially present in The more attention he draws, and something I talked to him vote in the locker room after last week's game, the more options it's going to open up your Marquez Valdes, Scantlings and the other real big threats in his offense. Yeah, well, it comes down to, as you said, with the first and second down,

it's about avoiding the negative plays. It's about avoiding the penalties. You know, Packer's offensive line. If there's one thing that's been a little bit of a bugaboo, so to speak, the last few games. It's been it's been some untimely penalties. Um Since the opening game against Chicago when the Bears had five sacks, Rodgers has only been sacked five times since then in the last four games. In one of those was even a give up intentional type of sack

against the Cowboys. The way that play unfolded, So if you can avoid the negative plays and avoid the penalties, then those third downs end up being much more management. And getting back to my original point when you asked me about the key to this victory in this game, the four quartered attack, I just feel like Detroit. While they do have good playmakers on that defense, especially if Darius Slay is able to go, they have given up yards this year. I mean the twenty fifth right now

in the league in total yards. I think they're twenty one against the run. Teams have had been able to have success moving the ball, and when you can move the ball the way that Green Bay does and have protect the football the way they have, that's when you talk about third down efficiency and things of that nature. That's why you're four and one at this juncture because you've consistently made enough plays and protected the football that you know, not every stat has to be league leading.

You can find ways to win. And that's I think been the number one character of this team here through this first month of the year. Yeah, all right, well quickly here, West, before we shift gears to the defensive side of the ball. 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 okay,

defensive keys to victory. West, I'm not sure what you think, but I'm starting on this one with keeping Matthew Stafford from getting into a rhythm. And I'll say that, you know, we haven't had one of those tried and true SPAFF stats and info segments for a while. All Right, I've got one of Yeah, I've got a whole Yeah, I've I've got a whole bunch of them here for you. All right, Okay, the Detroit Lions have beaten the Packers four consecutive games. They've swept the last two season series

in seventeen and eighteen. The first time the Lions have swept back to back season series from the Packers since the early eighties eighty three seasons. So it's been a long time since the Packers have been in this situation in this rivalry, and the Lions have not won five straight in this series since the pre Lombardi era of the nineteen fifties. So um, the Packers certainly don't want

to tread into that territory. But getting back to the here and now, these last four games, and I know the Packers have been missing Aaron Rodgers, and I believe three out of the four if I'm not mistaken, but Matthew Stafford for the Lions Detroit has put up thirty plus points in all four of the victories the last

two seasons. And here are Stafford's numbers, eighty out of twenty, which is exactly two thirds, sixty six point seven thirty three yards, nine touchdowns, no interceptions, a one two point zero passerrating over these four Lions victories the last two seasons. That's like off the charts good and the Packers cannot let him get it into that type of rhythm and have that type of game. Here's the other interesting thing. Too. Though.

West Matthew Stafford's first thirteen games, He's now played seventeen games against the Packers. His first thirteen games against the Packers, green Bay intercepted him nineteen times. Zero interceptions of Stafford over the last four That's that's the trend the Packers have to change in order to get this rivalry flip back in the other direction. So if you ask me, just very quickly, what's the first thing that comes to mind in these last four losses the last two seasons,

it's been efficiency for Matthew Stafford. Absolutely, he's not been challenged. And as much as we want to talk about Aaron Rodgers and whether he did or didn't play in these games, or who the head coach was, or what what the scenario was going to be and what the implications were, fact of the matter is Aaron Rodgers doesn't rush the passer. Aaron Rodgers is not a boundary cornerback. He's not a safety,

he's not a linebacker. He's a quarterback. He would have to go tip for tat with Stafford playing excellent football. That's where I think the defense has to rise to the occasion. And I'm really intrigued to see it, Mike, because I think with Sadarius Smith and Preston Smith and the pressure they've been generating, they're gonna be able to get after Matthew Stafford more than he has been the last two seasons. There were some sacks, but the pressure

wasn't consistent and not at all. And the more you dial up the pressure, the more the opportunities open up for themselves downfield. Now here's the number one question mark. We talked so much about Davante Adams, and rightfully so, but there are a lot of missing pieces here for green Bay's defense in the secondary going into this game. Raven Green They've already been without him. That pushes Adrian

Amos up into the box. Now you have Darnell Savage missing some practice time with his ankle injury, so does that push Amos back? You have Will Redmond stepping up, but there's only one Will Redmond, so you need to make some decisions there. The one real positive thing for green Bay is that Kevin King was back on the practice field on Thursday. A little bit of concern there with him already dealing with the growing injury and then dealing with the knee injury. The fact that he was

able to be out there is great. So if you can have Alexander and King allow those guys to work on islands in free up the safeties in the slot cornerbacks a little bit more, that's going to be the biggest key here, because, as we've been talking about for the last three seasons now, this new Matt Stafford, the one that's been able to have the success he's had, it's because he spreads the football around and makes guys better. That's how Detroit's winning and that's how they're the number

eight ranked our offense in the league at this point. Yeah, I mean, I just think this game for the Packers, as much as we talked about everything on the offensive side, I just really think it comes down to not letting Stafford get into a rhythm and control the action at the line of scrimmage. And you know, the way he has performed against the Packers over these last couple of years, that's what needs to That's what needs to change. And as you said, he spreads the ball around. He's got

the weapons. Kenny Golladay I mentioned the other day his twelve point eight yards per catch this season is a little bit misleading because Golladay has had two games against the Packers so far in his career, and he has a sixty yard reception and a fifty four yard touchdown against the Packers. He's a big play guy. Hockinson has been added to that mix now at tight end the draft pick. It looks like he's going to be back from his concussion and most likely playing on Monday Night.

That's an interesting matchup as you talk about all those defenders in the middle of the field as opposed to those corners on the islands. How are the Packers going to to match up there? We've seen, We've seen Matthew Stafford the one that always sticks out to me, and it also happens to happens to be a Monday night game from two years ago in he was just lined up in shotgun at lambeau Field and pointing his fingers, you know, here and there. I mean, he knew absolutely everything.

He was in complete command of that entire game. And this is a different defense, different coordinator, different personnel. Everything about the Packers defense is so different now than it was two years ago. And that's what I'm going to be watching is how comfortable is Matthew Stafford going to look against this defense compared to what we've seen the

last couple of years. Absolutely, Now, the one thing you have a great statu it's incredible that it's been this long since the Lines have had a stretch where they've won five straight games over Green Bay. Yeah, you're trying to avoid that part of that. You're trying to avoid it exactly going into this matchup. But the thing that stands out to me too, is there Mason Crosby field goal away. You know, from having one of those wins. Absolutely, there are things that Green Bay has done that they've

been still in these games. Now. Weeks seventeen last year, I think that was somewhat anomaly. Everybody's bags were sort of packed at that point. It was what it was, and you didn't have Aaron Rodgers available. So yeah, and the week's seventeen game in was was pretty ugly as well. Yeah, Yeah, and that was the one in Detroit. But getting back to just being in Green Bay, I mean, I think there's there are veterans on this team, guys that are in their six seventh eighth NFL season that they went

years without losing to Detroit at home. You just got to get back to that, So seeing what the crowd environment is like, seeing you know, if you get off to a fast start, how that changes the temple of a football game. All those things are gonna be critical factors.

And you know, first and foremost too, I think you know, you look at this matchup having Aaron Rodgers healthy relatively speaking, and just being able to get the offense moving right the bat with weapons that weren't there last season at the end of the year, with like Aaron Jones, this is a more dynamic, multifaceted team than just number twelve.

Now they can beat you in different ways. And I think that's the X factor in this matchup for both sides is which team is able to actually utilize their full contingent, their full roster to be able to build a victory because this is a critical game in October for the NFC North in the implications for the next two months. Yeah, that's what I was going to get at.

We talked about it earlier in the week that this is an opportunity for the Packers to get to three and o in their division games at the midway point of the division matchups. After this one, no more NFC North matchups until the final three weeks of the season when you play everybody for a second time. So the way the schedule sets up is really interesting because there'll

be a big gap now between NFC North matchups. The flip side of it is, this is the first division game for Detroit here in the sixth week of the season. Now it's only their fifth game because they've had their bye week, but their schedule very different in that respect. This is their first division contest, it's the third one

for the Packers. And if we look elsewhere at what's going on around the league here in week six, the Chicago Bears are on their by coming off of their trip to London, and the Minnesota Vikings have a big NFC matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Obviously, lots of common opponents and everything there that we're looking at, and uh, and that will be one to to watch closely on Sunday since no one can watch the Packers. Yeah, and

it's that was actually really interesting. I'm glad you mentioned the parody there, you know, just with everybody kind of seeing Philadelphia here earlier, that's sort of been the X. That's the difference right now in this division is that you know Philadelphia was able to you know, Detroit was able to get past you know, some of these teams, and you have Philadelphia and there and they're the ones

that were actually able to knock off the Packers. So um, yeah, that that NFC East kind of you know series this year. It's gonna be really interesting to watch because, yeah, you have washing toon. The New York Giants are working through some of their issues. But Dallas and Philly are two tough teams on everybody's schedule. The Packers got through them already, but and got through them at one and one. Obviously had a chance a great chance to be too and oh there, but you got through it at one on

one and uh. And now the Vikings are going to play the first of their two against Philly and Dallas this weekend. I'd be remissed before we enter Mike to ask you what do you make of the schedule? Cork. I mean, there's a lot of people insider inbox that have talked a lot about this, the fact that Detroit's coming off the by, Oakland will be coming off the by, and then Kansas City with an extra mini by. Yeah, coming off of a Thursday night game. Yeah, that it's

an interesting streak here. The Packers three games in a row are going to be facing teams that will be coming off of significant rest um, and you know, I don't know what to I don't know what to make

of that. I guess the one thing the Packers have had, if there's been something in their favorites that in playing to Thursday night games, they've had a little bit of a mini by or a mini rest weekend, you know, heading into two of their games, and those ended up both being victories over Minnesota and Dallas coming off of Thursday night contests. So but yeah, it's it's weird how how this fell that the Packers are going to be

facing three consecutive opponents on extra rest. I still think if you give me the choice, though, I'd rather have the Week of Love and By or whatever it is rather than the Week four by that Detroit got set. Oh, I totally agree. I think the schedule set up nicely for the Packers from the standpoint of the week one kickoff opener side that you have your Thursday night game early in the season, and you get a little bit of a mini by that weekend off, and then you're

full by is later in the year. I think that's a pretty decent set up for Green Bay. So, regardless of everything going on with the opponents of the Packers are in good shape. But certainly big weekend for the NFC North in more ways than one. And you know, Chicago has questions to answer. Minnesota's worked through some stuff. We'll see how it'll turn. Shuffles out. Yeah, well, and you've got something to uh to show us I do well. We Also this is again the NFL you know, critic

catch month for all types of cancer. Yes, month of October topic I know obviously close to all of our hearts. The Packers Versus Camper cancer campaign got kicked off week ago. I don't know if Marvin is able to zoom in on that at all. But the Packers knit cap for this season available in the Packers Pro shop and also Packers dot com. Five dollars from every purchase. That's a

nice little cap, isn't it? It is nice? Is it is a nice I'll get one of those for my snow shoveling, which it sounds like I might be doing that sooner. There might be coming soon enough. But five dollars of every cap going to benefit the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, a cool initiative the Packers have had the last three years. Also, if you're in the Packers Pro Shop, an option to add a dollar to every purchase. Maha

did that last weekend. Also with the proceeds Way to Go Maha, Way to Go Maha proceeds benefiting the Vince Lombarti Cancer Foundation. It's gonna be a cool event on Monday night, 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 and certainly everything going on with Monday night's game and Packers dot Com. Subscribed to us, like us on iTunes

and other podcast services. 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.