#662 Packers Unscripted: Getting into game action

the ball. What will be what will your eyes be on? What's your biggest headline going in here? Well, assume I can keep my eyes open. That's gonna be the biggest challenge I think this week, not necessarily because of the game, but just for myself trying to get some sleep here. Yeah, you're going on a second road trip here in a span of you know, eight or nine. I'm not built for that, Mike. Yeah. We went two years without traveling at all, and now here I am. They can't stop

getting me on planes. Um No, it's Jordan's love. And again this is my eleventh training camp, now twelve if you call it my part time year, I helped out the press Causeette the back of quarterbacks always do get a lot of headlines. They get a lot of spotlight because it's quarterback play and that's where the ball starts and you're trying to see what you have here behind Aaron Rodgers. But maybe more than ever, this is going to be a critical preseason for the Packers number two quarterback,

and Jordan's loved. He's going to play a lot. I mean we watched the practice with them going out there on Wednesday, and he took a lion share of the team reps Danny Etling beyond just the young guys sort of scout team stuff down the other side, Uh, it was all Rogers in love taking all the snaps. So, and he's going to get a chance to work with the preferred you know, the starting line that is likely going to be the ones, at least most of them

that will be protecting Aaron Rodgers in Week one. He's gonna have the young receivers to work with. There's gonna be a lot of those tools for him to build with in this game against the forty nine is regardless of what San Francisco lines up with, So seeing how Love is able to carry over some of the positive things he's done in practice so far and minimize some of the turnovers, minimive son of the broken plays. That's what I'm looking for you and I have said it, Mike.

There's no different way to say it than what we've already been stating. It's about being you know, consistent, baseline par for the course. That's what you're looking for here. Because greatness is there in that young man. He's going to have exceptional throws. He's going to be able to make plays. I have full confidence in that. It's about making sure that down after down, he's going to be able to be a guy that's going to rally the troops. Yeah. Absolutely.

And we've heard from from Rogers, from Matt Lafleura, from Brian Goodakunst on how how much more confident Jordan's Love looks in his own game this summer about how you know he he really is letting it loose, He's cutting it loose. Everything about the footwork is more comfortable, the

decision making and all that. Now, the thing is, when you get to that point, you can get yourself in trouble, right, you can get you can you can let it rip and and you're going against a pretty good defensive practice and they're gonna make you pay every once in a while. So even though we're I think we've seen Jordan's love, you know, reach a different level in training camp than than certainly we've seen the first two summers that he's

been here. But in gaining that confidence, he's he's still going through some of the ups and downs because uh, um, because that boldness, you know, sometimes can bite you right. So it's it's all part of the growing process, it's

all part of the learning process. And now that he's going to be going up against a defense that doesn't know him, whether it's the starters for the Niners or a second team unit, whatever it might be, but it's a defense that doesn't know him and doesn't know his game, and and uh, you know, he's gonna have to deal with those ups and downs during a game. But just exactly what level is he going to be playing at?

And I think that's uh, he has to establish where he's going to be for this preseason going forward and then work on either at least either staying there or pushing it even further. In preseason games, number two and three three words, Mike, let her rip. That's what I want to see from Love because I don't care about the interceptions in these three games, doesn't matter. I want to see Jordan's Love play like Jordan's Love because I think personally, when he's actually playing on tempo, when he's

playing free, that's the best version of him. You can deal with the interceptions and learn from those interceptions when you go to back and break down the film, when you go back and go through the fundamentals, what it's more difficult is you just don't want to see him playing rigid. You don't want to see him, you know, exercising the checkdowns. You want to see him being able to operate the offense as it's intended to be functioned. So that that's really where I look for in this game.

I want him to play free, play confident, and just try to be the best Jordan's Love he can be out there, because that's where you're going to learn the most.

It's where he's going to improve the most, and it's where these coaches are going to be able to go back through the film and tell him, Okay, this is where this is what we like that you did, and this is how we have to harness some of those gifts because realistically, like I go back to that Kansas City game last year, it was a very conservative type approach and he was dealing with a short week. He did not want to make mistakes, and I'm totally with

him on that. But it's allowing yourself to make those downfield throws that that going back to the one he had to Sammy Watkins last week, going back to some of these throws that he's made to to Romeo Dobbs. It's there and I want to see if you can put that on the field in San Jose. Yeah, absolutely, Well you mentioned, uh, the offensive line that will be in front of him, that that is another element that

will definitely be watched closely. Here in this preseason opener against San Francisco, Packers are going to line up with yosh Naimanett left tackle, John Runyon att left guard, and Josh Meyers at center, and they're working three guys essentially

for two spots on the right side of the offensive line. Now, Jake Hansen has been playing some right guard, the rookie fourth round pick Zack tom has been playing some right tackle, and then Royce Newman, who started the bulk of the season last year at right guard, has been playing both of those spots depending on which other guy is is in the lineup at that particular time. So it's sort of three guys for two spots um and Aaron Rodgers

said it at his locker after Tuesday's practice. Everybody's waiting to see if somebody's going to take it over. Who is who is going to step forward amongst those three guys, you know, take the bull by the horns, so to speaker whatever and say and say I'm the leader of this trio, and uh, you know, go ahead and get in line and follow me, and let's uh and let's

get this thing figured out. So what I've learned through the first two weeks of training camp is that the left side of the offensive line right now is Yosh Dieimon, John Runyon and Josh Myers second year former second round pick at center. If Boxr can get back out there sooner rather than later. To me, Yoshneimann is the right tackle. I think. No matter what way you slice this thing, Yosh Steiman has performed in a way in that he

is one of the top five starting offensive lineman. They have to find a way to get him on the field, I would agree. The real question is, Okay Royce right guard, right tackle, left guard. You know, you look at Zack Tom coming in and getting some reps now at right tackle. And then obviously Jake Hansen's probably leading the Packers right now in team reps so far, uh this summer, which is a stark contrast to his first two summers in

Green Bay. This is a guy that when it is his day, in the last couple of days it has been he's been at right guard, and then with the twos he's going to center. Because the Packers, regardless of what happens with Hanson and the starting equation, they have to identify the backup to Josh Myers as well. Yeah, so and and as and to further that point, this is a guy who is first two summers in Green Bay hardly took any eleven on eleven reps unless it

was the number three unit that was out there. And now this summer he's He's out there with either the ones or the two's for pretty much every team snap. So the right side of the line is where I think my eyes are going to be the most in this in this thing because I think both of those guys Newman and Jake Anson are going to play quite a bit. I'd be curiously how much they do play

Josh Myers too. I mean, certainly you want to get Myers some work as a young second year player, but it's also so critical to have him healthy and ready for this this stretch here this season. So a lot

of decisions the Packers have to make there. But again, if there was one big takeaway from me in this opening week, opening two weeks of training camp, is that Yoshneiman in his fourth NFL season, his third accruede season, uh he, he has really continued to look the part and has really continued to really blossom as what has

turned into becoming this emergency left tackle. Yeah. Absolutely, yosh Yoshneiman has uh Um has really has really performed well and I think solidified himself as as without a doubt on a regular NFL offensive lineman. However, that ends up shaking out here in the coming weeks. The other part on offense, the other element that we need to talk about, of course is the wide receiver position and a few

things to keep an eye on here. One, you know, the star of the first couple of weeks of training camp has been Romeo Adopts, the rookie fourth round pick out of Nevada. Is he going to carry over the production and the playmaking that we've seen on the practice field. Will he perform in that fashion? Um in a game setting when the lights go on Friday night? Um, a seventh round pick like Samari Tourey, He's had his moments in training camp, Yes, but then when the lights came

on for family Night, suddenly he was the star. So is he one of these guys that, you know, like Aaron Rodgers talked about, there's some guys who just rise to the occasion brighter the lights get right, And so I think that's something to watch from him because he he's a rookie, seventh round pick who's had his ups and downs in the garden variety practices. But boy, on Friday night, you know, in front of fifty thousand at lambeau Field, he looked, he looked like a different player,

you know. So packers are going to look and and and see what what they've got there. Um, we still haven't seen Christian Watson yet, But then of course we also want to see Amari Rodgers, Juwan Winfrey. UM, not sure if Malik Taylor is going to be deemed healthy enough to play it. He was back in practice a little bit this week with Red Jersey on that's uh,

that's wait and see there. But hold over players like Rogers and Winfrey, who they've gotten their feet wet in the NFL, They've made some plays in regular season games, but as very much as part time players thus far, are they going to show the strides? Are they going to show that, especially if they're going against potentially reserve unit defense players. Are they going to make the plays that are expected of them, because maybe they should be a half a step or a step ahead of some

of those guys. So those are the things to watch. At the receiver position, yeah, because you know those top three vets aren't going to play in this game. And even you know Randall Cobb was out with the foot injury on Wednesday, so certainly you know you're not going to see cops. So those four or five six receivers if you want to throw Danny Davison there too from Wisconsin, they're all going to get plenty of looks in this matchup.

And for me, I think It's really interesting to watch Winfree right now because this is a guy, Mike that has put together two of the more impressive offseason programs, especially during this age where you're not seeing as many of the proven veterans at those practices. Last year, I think, really Malik Taylor was the most veteran player that attended from the receiving corps this past summer. Obviously, Alan Lazar

hadn't signed his restrict attender, he wasn't there. So you know, Winfrey has gotten a lot of reps and he's looked good. I mean, even in this act as we watched on Wednesday, I really liked his approach. Um, you see the natural ball skills, but can he can he get that going in the games, because last year when he did get thrown into the fire, there were some hiccups, there were some drops. But everybody, including Aaron Rodgers, sees the potential in this young man. This is a guy that was

a draft pick into the National Football League. He's not some Johnny Come Lately that was just trying to be an undrafted free agent that's stuck around for a few years. This guy came in as a Day three pick with Washington and he wants to prove that he can still play in this league. So a lot of very hungry young men and and certainly seeing if Love and Winfrey can get that connection going again. That's been a really good one to punch here for Green Bay and some

of these offseason practices the last two years. Yeah, well, I want to switch gears to the defensive side of the ball, but I'm gonna take care of some sponsor

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Cousin Subs fifty years of better. All right, on the defensive side, this is where things always get interesting for me when you make that transition from training camp into the first preseason game, because guess what, They're gonna have to tackle guys now, right, Um, none of the none of this, you know, just thud up and tag guys and whatever. Like, Okay, the task is, you got to

get them on the ground. And so, um that being said, I think the first the first place that my eyes will go on the defensive side on Friday Night in this preseason opener is the two first round picks Kway Walker Davante Wyatt. Um. Those guys I thought both, you know, raise the level of their games on Family Night when the lights came on at lambeau Field. So I'm curious to see exactly what they look like and what sort of impact they have on the action when they're in

their first NFL preseason game. Absolutely, and Quay Walker has just been off the charts here this last week. I mean again, we've talked about the speed, the explosiveness, the size, but the way he's standing up to the run, it looks really intimidating. I feel like he's been a good one to punch inside. Certainly, Chris Barnes is more than capable as well. I would imagine there'll be points where he's probably calling the defense if Dave Andre Campbell either

doesn't play at all or plays minimally. Um, DeVante Wide, I hope we see now he on Wednesday, uh, you know, kind of going through the concussion protocol there to figure out exactly what was happening and if he if he's good to go, we'll have to see where that was kind of up in the air at practice. But but certainly you go back to the family now, you go back to some of these one on one pass rush periods. He has all the ability in the world, and I think this is the type of stage where he could

really shine. But let's talk a little bit about farther down the depth chart there, because you know, t J. Slayton is a guy that I think he can really benefit from work this preseason. He got quite a bit of it last year. To Jack Heflin is still here, the undrafted free agent last year. Um that that kind of caught on and really caught some eyes. Uh. And then even a guy like Jonathan for the seventh round

pick that's competing for spots. Kenny Clark and Dean Laurie and Garre and Reid are not playing in this game. I would not anticipate they play in this game. That's a lot of snaps that these big guys are gonna have to eat. And there's still some guys in those fIF five, six, seven spots trying to show that they could be a factor for this defense. Yeah. Absolutely. And I think another another thing we'll be watching for two because the competition has been has been somewhat heated as

well as entertaining. And when I say heated, I don't mean in a nasty way, but but in a in a very entertaining and spirited way in terms of what's going on at the safety position. Because we saw in Wednesday's practice we had talked earlier this week, with Darnell Savage being out with the hamstring injury, Vernon Scott has been the one stepping in with the number one defense.

He seemed to have moved past Sean Davis as the number three safety when Davis, uh seemed to have ended the spring workouts, O t S and minicamp as the number three safety. Well, then in Wednesday's practice, we saw Davis intercept Jordan's Love. We saw him make a diving interception on on an overthrow by Aaron Rodgers, and uh, he was having himself quite a day. And then all of a sudden, Vernon Scott Answers by getting an interception

against Rogers to to end the two minute drill. Now Rogers in the offense they were objecting to that interception by Scott believing that he didn't get both feet down in bounds. We'll have to ask somebody later on who checked the film whether that was an interception or not. Rogers wanted to keep that drill going and uh, and he was told to head to the sideline because it

was a pick. But anyway, my point is these two young players, Vernon Scott and uh and Sean Davis um really kind of duking it out, so to speak, to see who's going to be the umber three safety in this defense. And I know that the Packers aren't playing as you know, with the addition of Kay Walker at inside linebacker, the Packers aren't playing as much dime defense with the six dbs. You're not seeing um a third safety maybe as often as as we've seen in past

years around here. But that being said, not only from an injury perspective, but you're still gonna want to have that guy when you want to go to that package. Right, they may not run it as often as as they did last year, and Uh, this is a this is an interesting competition that feels like it's far from over, yeah, for sure. And and for Vernon Scott to bounce back

the way he has. I mean, this is gout that played in practically every game his rookie season in two thousand twenty, and then last year, I think with the hamstring and some other ailments, only played in three games, but was on the fifty three all season, and green

Bay stay committed through him through it all. So for him to step up and be that guy that was next to be called upon, because keep in mind with Sean Davis being the number three, but you also had in his games back that was competing for spot down. Levitt came in, I mean, they drafted Tree Carpenter. I mean there are a lot of guys trying to clamp

onto those three and four spots. And while you are right about that necessarily not having as much dime cornerback this season, you see what happens when darniell Savage goes down with the hamstring. That's an open spot among the eleven on defense that has to be on the field at all times. You need to have accountability there. You need to have somebody that you feel confident with. And that's really where I think, you know, Scott's fills in the most because what people don't realize is this kid

coming out of TCU. He had his combine, we didn't get invited to combine. The proteint gets canceled, all these different things working against him. There were a lot of people in that program that felt like he easily could have ran a four four if he was just given the opportunity to. So Green Bay sees that speed. As Jr. Alexander said to us on Wednesday, he's you know, he can tell that he's more confident. He's getting this thing down a little bit more. It's gonna be a great

guy to watch. And Sean Davis, much like on the opposite side of the ball with Jowan Winfrey, a guy that also came in former draft pick in was trying to work his way into this lineup from the practice squad. The Packers felt confident enough about him at the end of last season they didn't want to lose them, so they elevated into the fifty three, even though they only

played in one game. A lot of bodies there at that position to really consider not only for the third fourth safety role, but also potentially playing for Ritz Pacci on special teams. Yeah, and that was the last thing I wanted to get to here before we go was with regard to special teams, but also yeah, Sean Davis, fifth round pick by the Indianapolis Colts last year, ended up in late September joining the Packers practice squad and then as you said, elevated to the active roster at

the end of the season. But this is the guy who was a fifth round pick just a year ago. So uh so that's something to keep in mind with regard to Davis. But for special teams, it will be the debut so to speak, if you call it that, in the preseason of the Rich Pisacci a tenure here on special teams, and as I said at on you know our pre one of our preview shows at the start of reigning camp, Bisaccia and the special teams coaches are going to be looking for the guys that they

want to perform. Yes, there they want they want to create a culture around special teams and the accountability and all of that kind of stuff. But the goal isn't necessarily or or I should say that the top priority is not necessarily for all the special teams to look perfectly smooth and all of that right out of the gate in the first preseason game. That's not what they're after.

They're searching for the guys that they want, that they can count on, that they feel they can trust to do certain jobs and and to and to plug into certain roles. And that's what these preseason games are going to decide. Who Ken Rich Posaccia and his Special Teams coaches count on um and who do they believe in with regard to the culture and everything that they are

creating in that third phase of the game. Well, and think about it from you and I put ourselves in the position of some of these young guys looking to play teams, looking to earn a job starting without you know, with the special Teams unit. You see Rich Pisacci. I'm talking about legacies here. I'm talking about guys that came back off last year's team. Rich Pisaccia comes in, he brings on Keishan Nixon, he brings in love that he gets reunited with Rico Gafford, who signed your two weeks

before Pisacci was hired. Those are guys that are known commodities. He understands their play style, he knows their strengths, and Levitt and Nixon played on basically every unit for him with the Raiders, So for a guy like Shamar John Charles, how much more is that going to draw to him? Looking to show besacci looking to show these coaches, no, I can be on your teams. It doesn't matter if you have guys that came in before I can can contribute to and seeing how that really brings the most

of these guys. I look about a guy like a Marii Rogers, even on punt returns. Rogers was drafted in the third round a year ago in part because of his return skills. He wants to prove to Besaccia, to these coaches that he can still handle that up. That's the most exciting thing to me. It's not a matter of building a fifty three and okay, well, then whoever's left over and isn't starting you can play on special teams.

Now the Packers want to have a core special teams unit, and as Bryan Gudkins talked about on Wednesday morning, there is more flexibility now than ever before with how you build your fifty three, with having the sixteen spots regardless of veteran status in some cases for the practice squad, for the practice squad, and being able to call those guys up up to three times throughout the course of this season. There's a lot of different ways to slice

this pie. And I feel like that when you see these special teams, when you see these gunners going down the field, when you watch this punt unit, they're going to feel like they have a lot to prove coming off a very forgettable two thousand one season. Yeah, we've seen some different guys being tried out in the return spots. You mentioned Mari Rogers, Romeo Dobbs, We've seen Rico Gafford, some other guys as well. So this will be, you know, that,

that opening trial for them. With two more preseason games and obviously several practices yet to go, including practices next week, the joint practices against the New Orleans Saints, there's gonna be a lot of evaluation going on um there as well. So with that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team everything with Friday night's preseason game against San Francisco. We'll have it for you on

Packers dot Com. I promised to wake up West when the plane lands so that he doesn't sleep through it. So for West, I'm Mike. Thank you for tuning in. Everybody, We'll see you next time.