More questions than answers on backup quarterback after hideous preseason game vs. Broncos

hello Packers fans welcome to the green 19 podcast uh if you are one of the Unlucky ones you just watch the Green Bay Packers lose to the Denver Broncos 27-2 in a preseason disaster I don't I don't know what to make of it I'm joined here by Ryan wood to discuss it to break it down as much as you could possibly want something like that to be broken down you know Ryan I'm glad you're not spooned because he doesn't want to talk about the uniform configurations but I we could talk about the Broncos uniform like orange pants you know accented white jerseys that's a little different we could we could look at that because that's one of the most exciting things that happened on that field tonight I pay zero attention to that I hav't spending too much time around spoon I'll tell you though look anyone that knows me knows that I'm I'm this this rare Bastion of positivity I'm the poster boy for positive J.R when you think of me you think of positive right I'm about to prove that yeah yeah right I'm about to prove that because yeah I mean the the Broncos won the scoreboard the Packers won the night they didn't play anyone that mattered and when I say mattered I I I'm sorry Javon Bard yes he matters Lucas vaness matters but anyone that mattered in terms of could be if there's an injury on this field could alter the 2024 season they didn't play any one with J Alexander Sean Gary Jordan love none of those guys play so they are a team that can get away with that in a way that the Broncos aren't because the Broncos are what the Packers were last year they drafted their quarterback of the future this spring in B Knicks they need all the preseason snaps they can get just like the Packers last year to to sharpen him for the regular season because B Knicks carries the whole weight of Hope for this franchise and and this is this preseason is an accelerated crash course to get a rookie quarterback to play in Denver uh the Packers along those lines did zero favors for the Broncos tonight now the Packers did what they should have done they they they did what was best for them they didn't play anyone that mattered but they you know I I guarantee Aon pyton would have liked B Knicks to go against starting caliber defense and not a backup defense and he got a backup defense so there were no favors made but that's just look the Packers are a contending team they won the night their roster got out of this unscathed their 53 man roster obviously Ray Ry go forth looked like he might have had a concussion there so they won the night you know that's that that's my positivity that's my gift to you Packers fans 31 Packers players did not suit up were listed on the out in the out column many of them of course starters almost every starter that you could imagine did not play in this game uh Broncos like you just said they played a couple series with their starters so that was going to be a difference early uh we will talk about the game itself but I I was struck by one of the names on that list of players who did not start did not appear in this game and that's AJ Dylan because we discussed the backup running back competition and if AJ Dylan's being held out of this game that sure feels like he's got a leg up on Emanuel Wilson who did play in this game and was you know didn't didn't do a whole lot as none of the Packers did I think their their longest gain from scrimmage was 15 yards but not seeing AJ Dylan out there I thought was interesting I thought that sort of a a telegraph that he's got a really good shot of making this roster what do you think yeah you got that too huh I that was the one that surprised me um because let's not pretend like AJ dlin had a great start to his preseason either in Cleveland I would have thought that he would have played tonight but I I if if I had to guess I have to think that it comes down to what is this this is a contending team right you want guys that can do the little things right uh for a running back the little things is pass protection AJ Dylan's very trusted when it comes to that that might be AJ Dylan's path to the roster they have Josh Jacobs they don't need a lot more play big plays out of their running back because Josh Jacobs is here to deliver those they might need some pass Pro on third down they might need some of special teams which AJ Dyan can play um th those trusted little parts that might be what gets him on the 53 but I'm with you uh I think that emanel Wilson and obviously marshan m is injured but when healthy marshan lyd both have more juice than AJ Dylan as a runner it's just that let's not fall in the Trap to think that the Running part of running back is the only thing that's going to get these backup running backs on the roster I I know everyone's going to wake up today wondering about the backup quarterback situation that's going to be the the headline here I know you're writing about it for packersnews.com as well neither one impressed Sean Clifford fumbled the very first snap of this game you know made a little tried to make something out of it for a short loss instead of something that could have been worse but neither he nor Michael Pratt really impressed and I I wonder where you're at with the backup quarterback spot how much it matters and how much worry you have that one of these two guys can can seize that and actually be somebody they could count on if they need you know if Jordan love God forbid misses a gameer two or if they have to go out and get somebody else damn it Jr I was trying to be positive I was trying to be positive I was I was off to a good start unlike Sean Clifford tonight I was off to a good start I was positive let the record show right let's let's be very clear you said the Packers won the night and brother that is as positive and optimistic as it gets I don't know anyone else saying those words tonight but you you do you I love that for you let's dive into what else my golly the state of this backup quarterback battle is in in in shambles right now this was not th this was not uh I've seen guys that you know backup FR you know guys that quarterbacks that don't make the roster come into preseason and they'll make plays and you'll be like okay they made a play but they're still not an NFL quarterback these guys didn't even make plays there were no plays made nothing it was and and I get that Matt lefur said after the game that Sean Clifford's interception the ball was thrown in the right spot Luke Wilson needs to flatten that route and okay fine sure make a play the best play anybody made tonight was Sean Clifford running 11 yards on Third and 10 you got to throw the ball in this league and here's why this is a problem this isn't just bemoaning backup quarterbacks this is a contending team everything that we see in the preseason the Packers won the night because they're a contending team they didn't lose anyone but backup quarterback matters for a contending team they might need to get through a week or two this fall without Jordan love they didn't last year but they might and if that happens you better have a guy that could throw the dang football they they they didn't show that tonight between either Sean Clifford or Michael Pratt now all right let's get I want to I want to dig deep here some some positivity all right the Packers I I had this thought the Packers clearly I they might feel more comfortable with it than anyone on the outside because they had Sean they were comfortable enough with Sean Clifford last year to be the number two guy behind Jordan love so it's it's not like he's a known commodity it was close tonight I mean you have to say that I thought coming in the most interesting part of tonight was going to be does one of these two young guys separate they didn't they absolutely did not and if it's close you'd have to think Sean Clifford is going to be the backup because he was last year they he's more of a known commodity there's going to be more trust with him and one more year in in the system than Michael Pratt uh so as as bad as Sean Clifford was this was in a lot of ways a wasted opportunity for Michael Pratt because he comes in into the first half after Sean Clifford does throw the interception a really miserable night for him and and Michael Pratt does nothing to to show that he's going to LEAP FR all SE Clifford so yeah that it it I I was being positive the backup quarterback thing that's that's tough that's tough I think most Packers fans can understand this game is is almost completely meaningless in terms of the results you know it's about player evaluation but I think if there is a sense of unease coming out of this week it's that the reports from practice it wasn't like the Packers dominated the Broncos a team that you know most people think is going to finish third or fourth in the AFC West this year and fight to be a 500 team it sure seems like the Broncos kind of had the better end of all of it so what just as you came through the joint practices and just a you know several days being in Denver what what is your sense of kind of where the Packers are at does this count as like a a quote unquote wakeup call or or how how are people feeling about this that's a good question Matt lefur said after the game that they were humbled in the practice and tonight um and I asked if if he saw them as two in the same he said no not necessarily he took a step back from that I think it's worth noting you know the Broncos do have a good defense Pat rain the second is a phenomenal quarterback and he had a phenomenal practice uh when when it came Friday afternoon and that's good that those are great Reps for for Jordan love to go against a guy like that this is a defense the reason why people think that Denver Broncos aren't going to do anything this season it's two full right it's one that the offense and two they share a division with Pat Mahomes so good luck with that you know the the Broncos defense is is legit it's a solid cor so um I think they got good reps this week here's what we know that the Packers are really talented team they had a poor week but I look at this as it's not alarming as like oh maybe they're not as good as we think they are no I I I don't think it's that at all I think it's they're too good to have a week like this I think there's going to be some harsh truce some butt kicking some some some two and out maybe uh over the next couple days and then we'll see how they come out against Baltimore in the joint practice the preseason game next week of note I asked Matt lefur tonight if he' made up his mind on how to handle the preseason finale against the Ravens they're going to be starters uh unlike tonight or if they're going to just want it back with the backups he said not yet so he's very much he was non-committal he's very much considering uh both ways to either play the starters or go back with the backups would not close the door on the starters getting snaps in the preseason finale that of course that game will be at Lambo field against Baltimore their lone home preseason game for the year shouts to Zack Morton who is responsible for the only points tonight for the Green Bay Packers with a tackle in the end zone I'm wondering if there's anybody that's closer to making this team that we maybe haven't talked about or thought about you know one of those undrafted free agent guys or anybody that you saw it's tonight maybe not the night but any night recently a name that has jumped to the Forefront that maybe this person has an outside shot of making the roster nope I'm G to call it not a single undrafted rookie is going to make this 53 man roster the streak is over the streak is over I'm gonna call it we'll see we'll see is that negative or is that positive I I mean it speak well to their draft and develop St you know there go yeah I'm being positive thank you I appreciate that um not a single not not a sing this this is an here we go positive it is an incredibly deep and young roster you've had gosh darn near 40 players drafted the last three Springs and Brian gakin has been on a tear it's not just quantity it's a lot of quality there too uh I I don't I don't see where they're getting an undrafted rookie on this roster Jr that's it's pretty impressive that is that is indeed what about going the other way what about players that are in danger of missing this roster maybe somebody we haven't even thought of yet certainly I know there's some lower tier draft picks that are just maybe gon to get into a numbers crunch but but is anybody really starting to look like maybe this just maybe they're going to be practice squatter bust can we say the two quarterbacks tonight I think we did yeah I think we did if they have look if they have another outing like this is Brian gakin going to have to go get a veteran anyone that's available I mean maybe this was bad this was bad man um so I'd put them on notice this big week coming up for them uh yeah who was look I yeah I I not only I do I think that there's not going to be an undrafted rookie making this 53 man roster I think you're going to see some drafted players over the last couple years not make the roster two and go on practice block because you know Grant the bows like what do you do if you're granted Bon I'll even say this what do you do if you're Samari T who I think on some other teams around the league might crack a 53 man roster on this team he's number eight like what do you do you're an NFL caliber receiver you just have no the the numbers game you know Grant de bose has made plays and I'm not saying he won't make it I don't know they could keep seven but they'd have to keep seven for him to make that's it's going to be interesting you know I think that there's going to be some numbers games uh at certain positions to trim under you know to get to 53 that you're you're you can't keep everybody no for sure uh Wisconsin native Christian Welsh had an interception tonight if we're looking for uh for positives that's uh that's something uh we could we could spend a little time in kicking Corner we have uh discuss the wait you know what's funny about that play you know what's funny about that play uh obviously Mosby had the uh the pressure that forced the interception on that was almost The Identical play to the Jordan love pick Friday from practice where Nick Bonito comes he came around the edge Aaron Mosby is more up the middle uh the ball hit off an offensive lineman it looked like or someone in the trenches uh for uhh stum where but it was almost identical play the difference is Jared S wasn't wearing red you know so as much as like look Nick Bonito cannot touch the guy in red you cannot touch Jordan love in a practice absolutely not Matt MF had every reason to be ticked about that uh beyond that it was otherwise a really good football play and um you know it it was it was clean I mean it was it was a clean interception other than the the red jersey so just a little note yeah it seemed like the joid practice was pretty minimal on fireworks other than that play that you're talking about where Bonito maybe made contact with Jordan love got people up in a in a tiff but uh the goal the goal of of eliminating that second day definitely worked you know because yes nothing ever nothing escalated there was no actual brawl type fight but if they had a second day Jr the the temperature was going to be high going into that SEC that potential second day uh they it was probably it was preent not to do to mhm not a not a bad idea all right kicking Corner as I said Greg Joseph misses a what is it 46 Y in this game 49 y I forget exactly 47 I I was in the ballpark uh in the ballpark is not where you want to be though if you're talking about kickers you want to be through the uprights I I feel like the pendulum has swung for Anders Carlson the way that this post or uh preseason has developed but I'm sure it's still up in the air I don't know what do you think uh it's not over yet uh but I do get the sense that look Craig Joseph had a score scorching start to Camp uh it it was he was kicking the heck out of the ball and it's come back down to earth now and what have we always said Jr if it's close it's Anders Carlson and it's close again there was a time there it was kind of was kind of getting to be not close maybe a week ago and I was I was thinking how close is close like how close does it need to be to still be close because we're on The Fringe there it's close now so you know there's another week left though Andre Carlson cannot fall apart in the final week here he has to keep going strong I don't think there was time to evaluate the offensive line play tonight I do feel like having Andre Dillard to left tackle I feels like he's going to be kind of indispensable because they just don't have the people who can play that position I don't know if you feel differently if may maybe that is a position they somehow try to acquire as as cuts are made I don't know but if feels like he's he's got to make this team right yeah I mean yeah if if they have a great swing tackle on the open Market at the end of August I'm sure that they'll try to sign them they don't exist they're unicorns that time of year you know so I think look Andre Dillard is comfortable at left tackle he is not comfortable at right tackle if you had a swing tackle if you had a guy that you kept as your third guy you'd rather him be comfortable at left tackle than right like if he could only be comfortable at one you'd rather be The Blind Side than the right side you wouldn't say I'd rather be right tackle comfortable and not left t no so he has that going for him I think he's going to be the third tackle yeah most let me ask let me ask you about one of the draft picks this year teron Hopper I believe led the Packers tonight with 11 tackles um I know I saw some comments that maybe in space he wasn't wasn't as confident but he's kind of an interesting player he was a guy that was drafted in a place where I think a lot of analysts thought he would go later in the draft so you know seen as a little bit of a a reach or a project but he's he's a guy that seems to have been pretty consistent so far this preseason did he flash for you was there anything that jumped out about him to you tonight you know there was I forget the exact play but there was one play where he came in and he put a wall up on the ball carer I was like oh that I was like it was one of those where I didn't see the number at first like who was that looked up at the TV screen above me you know oh that's Tyron Hopper you know he he put a he he he can hit um I it's early it's just it's too early for me to say one way or the other he had a nice night tonight for sure I I've got to see more yeah totally what else is there uh we could keep it short because there wasn't much in terms of highlights but what else what else popped for you uh on the on Sunday evening I think the takeaway that I have from this is the Packers got a bit of a wakeup call I think they're a really good team I I think they're they're a Bonafide contender in the NFC they got a nice wake up call this week as a young team right the type of wake up call a young team might get that you you need to bring it against everyone they didn't do that so much in practice on Friday tonight you got to reminder that backups are not starters in the NFL there is a gulf between guys that are going to be starting even for a team that might not be playoff batt we'll see in the Broncos they're going to be starting games on Sundays in the fall against guys who are not going to be starting games that that was what tonight was about right um I think I don't want to minimize the backup quarterback for a contending team is significant but I think that if that's the burning issue coming out of the second preseason game you're in good shape you're in good shape they're a healthy roster which is why I say they won the night uh they they've they've really been in good shape from a health standpoint um in a perfect world the two glaring issues tonight Sean Clifford Michael Pratt don't play a lick of meaningful football this fall because it's Jordan love show they're they're they're going to be okay I I I I don't think this is an alarming situation and if anything I think this was a good week for them to get a wake up Cola you know there sometimes the best things that can happen to you at this time of year are adverse things adverse situations instead of everything going smoothly all the time he has Ryan wood find everything he has from this game at packersnews.com another week of practice ahead and then this Baltimore Ravens matchup coming up at Lambo field uh we will surely be back with you in short order with another green 19 podcast Ryan thank you for joining us safe travels home we'll talk to you very soon take care J.R