#627 Packers Unscripted: Home cooking

pm kick off. And this is a Seattle team that is three and five, but they're getting their quarterback back Russell Wilson back from the surgically repaired finger that cost him three games. And for as much as even with Wilson in the lineup, the Seahawks were up and down early in the season, kind of riding a bit of a roller coaster. Russell Wilson brings a one point three passer rating UH, ten touchdowns, only one interception on the season.

He was off to a heck of a heck of a start statistically, and that's certainly something he's looking to continue against a pretty good Packers defense. Yeah, I mean, it's so funny listen to Vante Adams discuss it, because he's like, this really almost feels like a division game. How much they've played. I believe in DeVante's career, this is the eighth time. Now he's going to be playing

against the Russell A quarterback Seahawks team. And as we've seen through all these matchups, and there's been so many chapters in this this rivalry. Now, uh, it's always going to be competitive, It's always gonna be probably down to the wire. And in a lot of times too, it comes down to how are the Packles Packers able to contain Russell Wilson. Historically speaking, the games in which they've been able to really put a hat on him, they've

played really well. The results have been in their favor. And but when he gets going, man, when he gets moving, when he gets creating plays out of the pocket, he extends things. That's where he can really hurt you. And as we're learning about the Seattle offense and this era, now, whether it's DK Metcalf, whether you know it's it's Tyler Lockett,

they have weapons that can really hurt you. Yeah, that combination of Lockett Metcalf is a really interesting one because you don't you don't often see a a one to punch at receiver if you will, where the two guys are such different types of players in terms in terms of the body types and the routes they run and what those what the offenses asked them to do. And I think that's what presents such a big challenge in terms of defending Russell Wilson and his passing game with

those two guys on the other side of it. With regard to trying to contain Wilson. Now this is the statistic with Wilson or Gino Smith, but the Shawks have allowed twenty six sacks season in eight games. I mean that puts them on pace for allowing fifty plus this season. Now, obviously about half of those were Wilson, half of those were were Gino Smith. But um yeah, you still even with those sack numbers, though, I think you have to

be careful about how you press or Russell Wilson. This is what is so mind boggling about the season Seattle's had is that Geno Smith played well during that absence. But the problem is they've had a really difficult schedule. When you look at the opponents they've played, I think maybe the Vikings are the one team they lost to that actually has a losing record right now. I mean, it's been a competitive type of schedule in Smith, to his credit, a lot of people, including myself, big time

doubters when he took over, played really well. He had over a hundred passer rating. The thing that is really stands out to me the most about Seattle though, is the years change, but a lot of times the construction of the offense is very similar. It really They've had issues on the offensive line for years now. That hasn't really changed. They've had inconsistency in the backfield now for

years now. That hasn't really changed. But at the same time, when you have somebody like Wilson that can basically create uh, it still makes them an incredibly dangerous team. And I think defensively they've started to find themselves a little bit more. Matt l Lor said it. It It was to your question, Mike, they are expecting a playoff caliber team to step into lambeau Field on Sunday, and anything short of that, I mean, yeah, the Packers will accept it, but that isn't what they're anticipating.

They think that this is gonna be a matchup that's really gonna come down to the wire because at the beginning of this season. Back in September, this was the gauntlet we were talking about. Seattle was a big reason for why we thought November was gonna be as difficult as it's going to be. Yeah. Absolutely, when you look at it from Seattle's perspective, three and five, that's not where they want to be after eight games. They can't

really afford too many more losses. But from their point of view, they're like, hey, we have an opportunity to play the Packers. We they they still have I believe it's two games left with Arizona. They haven't played the Cardinals left they yet. They have one game left against the Rams. So even though they're three and five, they're going to have some opportunities to make some noise here, you know, playing against some of the top teams in

the NFC. As we're in that that that midpoint of the season, I wanted to get back first, second to that receiver tandem, uh lockt in Metcalf and I know there we're not exactly sure what's happening with Eric Stokes. He missed the last game for the Packers, um limited on the injury report. As far as uh Wednesday's practice for green Bay was concerned. So we'll see how that plays out. But how do you think the Packers go

about defending Metcalf Unlockett? They are they just gonna have the corners play their sides and you just and you just match up that way. The reason I ask is because we talked about this a lot, and we we always it always seems very rare that the Packers try to just match up, you know, a certain dB. But then we saw Eric Stokes against the Cincinnati Bengals pretty much was kind of matched up against Jamaar Chase for the vast majority of that game. So it just makes

me wonder. But again Stokes that his status is uncertain. He saw a lot of Terry McLaurin as well. I don't know if it was down for down, snap for snap, but he played him and kind of traveled with him a little bit on the field too. And that game it's Washington, so Stokes that possibilities there. It really might get We don't know what the knee is, right, I mean, it was one of the more unique things I think

I can remember, other than maybe an illness. I remember Brian Blog I think dropped out with the flu, right and then that's where Jared Valdeer had to start a couple of years ago, like ninety minutes before the game. I believe it was the flu. If not, I'm sorry Brian from his reporting, but I don't remember an issue where a guy actually like a cornerback guy had a a you know, a fitness position, a finesse position where he has to go out of the lineup because of

a pregame injury. So time will tell. I mean, maybe he was limited. We'll see what the injury report says later this week. To your question, though, I think the one big thing about this, uh, this defense that Joe Barry employs is he trust players to play their positions. And there was a line, it was a very basic line that Deveandre Campbell said, but it really hit home with me in that he trust linebackers to be linebackers,

he trust defensive backs to be defensive backs. And if your assignment is to be the left perimeter cornerback, like we're sold this was last week, He's comfortable just letting that guy be that guy. So I don't think you're gonna see any overwhelming adjustments. I think the bigger thing they have to figure out is from a safety perspective, how they go about trying to put an umbrella over DK Metcalf with also being cognizant of what Lockett can

do both underneath and down the field. Those two guys are really elite weapons and to have, you know, two receivers that have such a juxtaposition in terms of their styles in terms of what makes them great. Davanta Adams even talked about it and was asked about, hey, can you steal anything from DK Metcalf's game? You really can't because the guy's six ft five and as he said, twitter ninety pounds. He's a very unique player to his

own skill set. So that was a really good, very solid But that being said, you look at photos of him, you absolutely believe it. So I'll tell you this, man, it's gonna be a challenge, But I think really it's gonna be more on that back end and how they want to blank at these guys and how they want to cloud them as opposed to what cornerback stokes of

elbow or not. Is gonna be the one drawing those assignments. Yeah, I think it's interesting with with with that pair of receivers because they are so different physically, yet both of them can beat you deep, and both of them can take a short pass and get a lot of yards after the catch, and and you just don't you just don't see that. You just don't see that wide array of of abilities from two guys that that look physically

so different on the field. On the Packer side of things, West David baktr, the five time All Pro left tackle, was activated from the physically unable to perform list his h his three week three week roster exemption. Excuse me, from when he started practicing UM to where you know he did not have to count on the fifty three man roster, that three week exemption expired, so the Packers had to make a decision activate him or not. So

he is on the fifty three man roster. There hasn't been anything definitively said as to whether he is going to start at left tackle on Sunday, but we heard from Elton Jenkins and uh and as I wrote on our website, you can check out the story on Packers dot com. Elton Jenkins is ready to move wherever the Packers need him to move right and and Uh even joked that he thought maybe he was going to be the backup quarterback last week until Blake Bortles was brought in.

But I also like how he said Blake Bortles, not Blake or Bortles. He's like, and then we signed Blake Bortles. It's like that made me chuckle. Yeah. But Elton is ready to Elton's ready to line up wherever the Packers need him when bok tr is ready to go, whether that is this week or down the line. I will say this as it relates to the Packers, as it relates to guys coming off of significant knee injuries or any injury. You know we saw with the collar bones

with Aaron Rodgers. The day that that player runs out of the tunnel at lambau Field or it's maybe potentially a road game, I have full confidence that that guy is ready. I think that has been proven with Pat mackenzie, with this train ning staff here, they are not going to put a guy out there who isn't ready to play. So that's not about David bok Terry. I'm sure if David bok Terry had his druthers about this whole situation, he probably would have played in the last preseason game.

But the fact of the matter is they needed to be able to give him this window once he started practicing again, to simulate these practices, to get him ready for playing seventy offensive snaps. That's all a part of the process, just as much as rebuilding up the strength and that knee was. But I'll say this, Mike, to have a guy like Elton Jenkins step up and then also an honorable mention to yosh Naim and being able

to to eat up three games as well. The Packers went seven and two missing their five time all Pro left tackle. That's not to say they didn't miss him. They still missed him mightily because I think this offensive line is better when you have Jenkins and bok Try

both there. But to be able to stem this tide, I think that's something regardless of what the final record is of the season, regardless of whether or not the Packers Holy stuff at Lombardi Trophy, Elton Jenkins in the Yoshiman to be really proud that they were able to get them this far because it shouldn't have looked this easy. Yeah, teams lose, not even guys of the caliber of David bok tr and it can be an absolute disaster. Packers were able to keep this thing going. And if you

get boxed, you got back MVS. Last week, you got back Kevin King, you get box tr e back Jayres being around practice again, doesn't have a sling one hanging around just Sari. Darius Smith is back in Green Bay. Easy for me to say, every single you know guy that they add back into the fold of this caliber, it's going to make this team better for the long run. Yeah, no, I hear you. And and obviously, well we will see what the Packers decided to do when bok tr does

come back. With regard Dalton Jenkins, the first decision is do you put Elton Jenkins at left guard, which is his Pro Bowl position, even though maybe he was headed for a Pro Bowl at left tackle I don't know, Or because Josh Myers is still out and Jenkins was your guy who filled in at center last year when Corey Lindsley went down for three games late in the season,

do you put Elton Jenkins at center? And then obviously you're sorting out amongst Lucas, Patrick Royce, Newman, John Runyon, those other interior guys who will be your best five um in the starting lineup, so um. The versatility that Elton Jenkins has gives gives the Packers a um almost an unmatched luxury in in this game when it comes to injuries on the offensive line. And obviously other guys

are cross trained at at different positions as well. But as Adam Stanovich said last week, all you have to do is give Elton Jenkins a couple of days of practice at any spot on the offensive line and you can put him out there in a game and you

know he's gonna do just fine. And and and you don't you don't hear that about about guys in terms of just being able to train and grasp everything so quickly and understand the techniques and then execute those techniques as well as you know the playbook based on your responsibility of guard versus tackle and all of that kind of stuff. And so we'll see. We don't really know what the Packers are going to do, but the fact that they have so many options at their disposal is

a credit Elton Jenkins. Yeah, and and even this year doesn't I think fully encapsulate what he brings. It was last year that I think my eyes really opened up to it, because that was a position where Lucas Patrick had to start it right guard. They had already lost Lane Taylor for the year, so when when Corey Linsley got hurt, they didn't really have a backup center so to speak. It needed to be Elton Jenkins and the guy slid in there. And then three starts played at

a Pro Bowl level at that position too. So, uh, you don't you hope at some point you're going to see a relatively healthy line that Josh Myers can get back at some point this season and the Packers start to look more like themselves again. But to be able to do what they've done in spite of all these injuries, it has been probably one of the top five storylines I'd say as far as this Packers season has been concerned. Yeah,

asolutely well. A shout out to our spotsors here West Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to them in NFL News that true football fanatics need seven three and at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese curts, mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin subs we believe in better all right, last thing before we move on to the other games around the NFL in Week ten,

The keys to victory here for the Packers. When you look at this game, Packers are starting a stretch here of five out of seven. Five of their next seven games are at lambeau Field, after the stretch of playing four out of five on the road. What do the Packers have to do to get back into the wind column after taking a loss last week? Goes back to what your key to victory was last week. I think they have to protect the football, and I need to

think they need to take the football away. Seattle is one of the more unique teams I think I've ever seen this particular team this year. They don't give the ball away, but they also haven't really taken it away this season. They only have three interceptions among thirty four defensive passes defense, and I believe they all belong to Quadri Diggs. Yeah, they do. Diggs. Diggs has all their interceptions,

and again it's a good defense. But their inability to take the ball away I think has been one of the reasons why you've seen all these yards being put up against them this year. Um and offensively though they only have what four giveaways. I mean, it's been pretty remarkable, even with Gino Smith taking over the fact that they've been able to protect the football as well as they have. So I think that's gonna be a catalyst in this game.

I thought last week, you know, and I think it proved out that if the Packers protect the football, if they don't lose the turnover battle two to nothing, and then the points that were generated off of that for Kansas City, I think that's a different football game. So, especially if Aaron Rodgers is back in the fold. The big day on that is obviously going to be Saturday.

But if Aaron Rodgers is back and the Packers can get back into the groove that they were in before this whole, you know, Davante Adams is gone and then Rogers has gone. If they're able to look like the offense they did in Week seven, I think they were very easily able to win this game and continue on building on what they did in the first half of

the season. Yeah, and I think offensively, and I say this, whether Jordan's Love is the quarterback or whether Aaron Rodgers does come back and get cleared on Saturday and is is under center on Sunday. You got to get back to running the football. We've we've been saying this since since Matt Lafleur got here in twenty nineteen, and we've seen the implementation of this offense. The Packers have won plenty of games. You know, when Aaron Rodgers has just

done his thing right, like we've seen that. But when this Packers offense has been at its best is when the running game is the foundation and it sets up the play action and it just opens up so many more things for the quarterback. And especially when that quarterback is Aaron Rodgers with his mastery of the offense and what is going on. And we heard we've heard Matt Lafleur many times when he when he's critical of himself about his game plan, his approach, and he and he says, yeah,

I got away from the run too early. When we've heard him say that, he's usually made a recommitment to it again right after that. I think the Packers are going to come out on Sunday with with Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon, whatever rotation whoever is going to

be first second, whatever. I think the Packers are going to show that commitment to the run game on Sunday, and I appreciate that they probably weren't going to be able to run the ball thirty five times against Kansas City with Kansas City playing as many guys in the box as they were with their single high which you which you can do when it's a guy's first start as opposed to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. But the encouraging thing about what they did accomplished was they still move

the ball really well against a loaded box. Yeah, they did, and that's a credit to both Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon. They both where he had some nice runs in that game. But I go back to and Mike, I want to say it's Detroit. Correct me if I'm wrong, But that was the game where I believe A J. Dillon just took over in the fourth quarter, like the fourth quarter or the four minute offense, just kept pounding the ball, pounding the ball, pounding the ball. This kid can take it.

He did it at Boston College. I just I want to see more of those opportunities for I think I think A J. Dillan's earned them to be able to just to continually get those reps and then being able to be really pragmatic about how you utilize Aaron Jones. I want to see more of the pony packages. I want to see the offense run more through those guys, because I think one of the issues they've had in this first half of the season is trying to get the play action going because we haven't seen it in

the same form that we did last year. If that happens, and I still think there's a lot there for this Packers offense to accomplish this season, I really believe that that's gonna be what's gonna put them over the top, because right now the defense has to be able to still weather these injuries and keep building. But this is the best Packers defense I've covered in my time here. It just is. And it's not I'm not saying it's

the most talented. I'm not saying that they just but the way that they're playing is they're playing dominant football, and I think it's right there for Green Bay right

now from a championship perspective. If they can get some of these things squared away with the offense and get this thing rolling, and obviously the special team's considerations as well, it's it's all there, yeah, and you're and you're playing at home here for for this next next stretch of games to uh, to keep yourself where you are in in those NFC rankings and with regard to the NFC North as far as the division is concerned, here week ten,

the Chicago Bears on a by Minnesota Vikings with another tough, tough They're they're on the road. They're they're on the road out at Los Angeles to play the Chargers. So the Packers, with that three and a half game lead in the NFC North, as far as division hopes are concerned, Minnesota has to feel like now that it's it's back is against the wall. They they the Vikings have got to start stacking some victories to be able to put any pressure on the Packers. Obviously they're playing the Packers

um very soon coming up here. But but this is a this is a tough road trip for the Vikings. I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I forgot that Chicago was on a bye this week. You and I always discussed the whole thing about like, oh man, you know, go that last game before the bye week. From an insider inbox perspective, you always want to, you know, either a VIC three or a nice performance man of life. The Bears get to stew over that one for Mondays.

That Monday night loss, that Monday night loss in Pittsburgh is the one they have to sit on for two weeks now. There's not enough breath mints in the world to get the face out of that one out of it. But Minnesota perspective, this is a really difficult matchup for them, and and certainly going into l A is not like

a lot of other teams. I don't think it's gonna be a noise barrier issue there for them, But they do need to find a way to win some of these games because they've played a number of teams tough this year, but they just haven't been able to close this thing out. Credit to them, it's a difficult schedule. It's been a really tough year for them as well with how things have lined up. But at some point, if they're going to make a run at Green Bay here, they have to pick up some ws and from Detroit,

you know, having to go to Pittsburgh. Now, um, they got a week to kind of regroup a little bit. You think I heard a little. Bertie told me that Tim Boyle was maybe potentially designated to return, Hey, Lions, it sounded like they opened the they opened the practice window as far as bringing him off of injured ors or so. Yes, we will see. We will see what happens with the Laser show number twelve, number one in

your hearts. Yeah, just saying, well, elsewhere in the NFC, just to give folks a sense of what else is going on amongst those other contenders. Atlanta is playing at Dallas. Arizona is hosting Carolina, and Carolina going through all sorts of quarterback stuff and everything right now. Tampa Bay is at Washington, both of those teams coming off of by that's actually a playoff rematch, playoff rematch game from the from the first round last year. And then the Rams

are at San Francisco on Monday Night Football. I have to say I was I was surprised and somewhat disappointed in a sense that San Francisco didn't give the Cardinals more of a run for their money when the Cardinals were missing all the players that they were last week.

So I'm not really sure what's going on with the forty Niners, but uh, they will be hosting the Rams on Monday and at football, So your thoughts on any of those games you're talking about Matt Lafleur in the run game, Kyle Shanahan getting away from the run in San Francisco has been one of the more surprising things. Now. Obviously I know what happened with most are but I mean, how many times did they carry the ball last week?

Like and I mean you look at you look at what they did in nineteen when they did go to the Super Bowl. They it was it was a stable of backfield and it didn't it didn't matter, it didn't matter who he was handing the ball off. So it is it is curious what's been going on out there with the Shanahan's offense. It doesn't get it easier for them. I'll tell you what, man, Atlanta is a team we gotta stop sleeping on. Uh. They're making a run there. And and you know, Arthur Smith, I believe in them.

I think he's usializing his weapons. Matt Ryan NFC Offensive Player of the Week. I believe Matt Ryan. When this thing is all said and downe with Matt Ryan, it's gonna he's gonna have one of those careers where it's like man, when he was great, he was great, and then when it wasn't working out, it wasn't working out. I mean, the contrast between winning and losing seasons on the end of his resume is gonna be something interesting.

But I think Kyle Pitts has given them some more energy. Certainly, I think that they have a new vision with that offense. So Dallas coming off their own loss that it's a big game. That's one that I don't think you can say that when that was a tough loss for Dallas. They fell behind thirty to nothing at home to the Denver Broncos before they even got on the board and made the score respectable at the end, but they got

they got it handed to him at home. Now they're at home again against against the Falcons team that is kind of on the rise, and Mike Rabel I think I need to give him some credit because I was asked an insider in box about my favorite teams or what I think of the top four teams in the a f C. And I didn't put Tennessee in that conversation because I felt like without Derrick Henry, they aren't a top four team last week they looked like it, and now they're gonna be taken out the New Orleans

Saints hosting them. I think these are the moments where head coaches really, you know, prove their weight, you know, and in terms of what they can accomplish. And seven and two of the Titans are what they are, and even if they don't have Henry, you know, they're still trucking along. Yeah. Absolutely, Well with that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted'd be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and

everything from Sunday's game at Lambeufield against the Seahawks. Will have it all for you on Packers dot com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time. M HM.