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Watch the menopause is hot story at walgreens.com/slash hot. Good afternoon, everybody. I'm Bart Winkler. Welcome into the Winkler Verse. This is a Brewers Cub series Post-series.
Live stream. Thanks to our friends. Happy place, hemp. Carl's place. Dan Shaney Insurance.
And uh Whoever else. wants to maybe give me 25 bucks a week in the football season so I can Grease up Horvat's pockets to do some picks. The Brewers and Cubs. Interesting series. The Brewers won the first game of which there was supposed to be a double header.
Now If there was a double header, would this have gone differently? Uh maybe. Maybe it would have, but there wasn't. And then I think a lot of people... are pointing to the lack of a double header.
Saying The momentum ran out. Um This is a team that has been playing a lot. Has been playing very well. 14 games in a row with some improbable comebacks along the way. And then they did it against the Reds on Saturday to come back.
And then they did it against the Reds on Sunday, but then the Reds came back. In extra innings. And then he win Monday. And then you don't play at night and I I don't know. If fatigue set in, Or what credit the Cubs?
They got a lot of timely hits in this series. They win the series. Three out of the five games, but the Brewers win on Monday and then on Thursday. Um I th I don't look this was not a must-win game. But thank God we won.
This was not a must-win game. That's foolish to say.
Okay, had they lost. The division lead would be down to five. It's seven. I just didn't want to go through that. I've had a really hard time this series.
Some of these games have felt like October.
Some of these games have felt like October.
We've really like we're the hunted The brewers are the hunted. At this point.
So they're at Wrigley Field. And a lot of Brewers fans went down there, and I heard the Let's Go Brewers chants, and that's great. But you also in Wrigley Field. And You're in enemy territory. And that crowd.
Is looking at this series and looked at this series like this is our best chance to make up games. Because we're playing the team we're chasing, and they don't play again now.
So, this is their best chance a five-game series. A lot could have happened. It's pretty much split down the middle. They do gain a game. In the series, and the Brewer schedule's tough coming up.
So you never know. The Padres erased a big lead on the Dodgers. They, I think, are down one game right now in the NL West. The Blue Jays. They went on a big run to take the ALE's crown right now.
Although the Yankees playing better. But the vision's not wrapped up. Yeah. It is not. uh wrapped up.
At this point.
Winning this game is a lot better than losing this game is the most. Incredible breakdown that I'm ever going to give you. Talk more about that. The thing I want to say the most. Yeah.
Um I don't know how much of your attention I'll have today. But I want to make sure that this Is like I need to, I need to get this out there, and I need you guys to help me with this. What is the big deal about sweeping a double header? That Cubs fans were acting like something different happened. What what what was that?
What what what was that they sweep the double header? As I'm looking on the Dan Shaney YouTube, I think I need to color in my eyebrows because with the darkness of my beard, It looks like I don't have any. Oh my god I need a colour in my eyebrows. I'm going to talk to my wife about that. Geez, it looks like I don't have any.
It looks like I If I back up enough, it looks like I shaved him. Wow, somebody tell me that. I do have a skin tag at the top of one eye, it's getting smaller. I don't know how. That's pretty good.
What is the big deal about sweeping a double header? You got to raise the W flag twice? I retweeted one account that they're like normally First thing Cub staff does is take down the flag when they get there at 9 a.m. But they left, they left the two W's up. And The brewers had to see that the next day.
No, they ended up losing that next game, so maybe it maybe it worked. But I got, you know, people commenting on different social media. Sweep. Sweep Swept um It's a five-game series. They won three of the games.
You won the series. I'm not going to argue math. You won the series. That's pretty good. He won the series.
And you won the two games. That were played on Tuesday.
So yeah, you swept the day. But how I don't understand how that is like The best thing, the best thing that I saw a Cubs fan do to me. Was a Like they've got 2016. And we have nothing. Brewers fans have nothing.
We are going to celebrate this team like they're 1982. This is our 1982. Yeah, I mean it I I it's clear that it is. This is our 1982. They're not going to win the World Series.
Ah. But you know maybe But this is our this is this is our summer of entertainment and passion. We're gonna be like, oh, remember that one game, Andrew Montesterio? Remember that 14? Remember, we got free burgers?
Remember Isaac Collins at a kid and then had a big hit? Remember, remember, remember? I remember. This is our 1982. And the whole reason this fan base has a 1982 is because that's the best we've ever done.
They blew a 3-2 lead in the World Series, hashtag people forget, by the way, to the Cardinals.
So, not only do you lose the World Series, but you're eventually going to be division rivals with that team. That's not fair. And so we don't have anything more than that. The Cubs have a World Series in 2016. I thought they'd get more.
I thought that unit would get more, but they didn't keep them together. And they only got the one. But some some Cubs fan goes to me. Three rings, bitch. Ha ha ha.
Three rings. Three rings. Three rings. 1906, 1907, three rings? You're claiming those?
You won't let Packers fans claim thirteen world championships. Ask any ask any fan. I got no Fighted Jerry World about this once. Cowboys fans like, we have five Super Bowls. I'm like, okay, Packers have 13 world championships.
Doesn't count. Does it count? All right. It was actually more violent than that. I was ready to throw hands.
I was ready to throw hands. Three rings. Come on. And they have that over us, you know? You don't need to say, oh, we won the season series.
You have the World Series over us. You don't need to macro it down. You don't need to macro it down. Or micro it down. Um You've already got the thing.
You don't you're you're you're not You're the Chicago Cubs. You don't need to be saying we swept a doubleheader and rubbing it in our face. It's very This rivalry sucks. I hate it. I don't enjoy these games.
This felt like death by a thousand paper cuts. Thursday because they kept getting their first runner on. Thankfully, the Brewers.
Somehow, find a way to win that game. Even when Monasterio fell down at second, I was like, Oh, jeez. That run's gonna cost us. But it did. We eventually got it in 1-4-1.
For those of you waiting on the score. I'm not going to read the box score because I don't have to fill time on a radio show. That's a good radio show fill in. Uh segment. Um But they won they won four to one.
They won four to one. Austin, I don't know if you want to come in, but nothing's connected on your end. Maybe you're just here to view. Uh there's no camera or Video. Be nice to see ya.
Brew City 414 says it's far-fetched saying this is our 1982. That means this Brewers team makes it to the World Series, would still take a miracle to get there. Yeah, I suppose. I mean If We get into 1982. I mean, if we get then then.
Then, but right, I don't I don't know what this is gonna be. Is this gonna be our 1987? That team didn't make the playoffs, but It was a fun, magical year. They had the burgers. Is it going to be our 19...
Well, not 92. That team didn't make the playoffs. This team will. 2011, they made the NLCS. 2018, they made the NLCS.
They don't really make the NLDS. They get to the wild card and lose. Maybe it's fresh. Maybe 2025 is fresh. Maybe it's a fresh Situation.
But this is going to be a team that is remembered fondly. No matter where they fall. Ty wants to know why it would take a miracle.
Well, I mean, it wouldn't take a miracle, but. The Phillies are good, Dodgers are good, Padres are good. If if there's a playoff series with the Cubs, it's gonna be hell. That's gonna be pure hell. Do not want that in any way, shape, or form.
I just I can't with this series anymore. I got mad the other night. I left to go to work. Kicked my leg pillow. I like to sleep with a little pillow in between my knees.
Don't like my knees to touch. And I kicked the leg pill and my son got all like. Mad.
Now, I'm not. I don't want to tell this story and make you think that I. Beat up my family because I don't, but he went into fight or flight mode like I was gonna. And that's something psychological that I need to discuss with him. Also, have I already broken my son?
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Now that one, but I gotta go pick up my kid. Yeah. Yeah, that looks like something I got to try. I'm off work for the day, so uh. The citrus is the 10 milligrams.
That was a little natty light. Yeah, yeah. It's gonna get the cherry, but those are 20 milligrams. And the last, you know, when I have these, they work a lot quicker than. The gummies.
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Where's the party? What do you think of the series? I mean, most of it sucked, but Monday was good. And today, they ruined Craig Council's. Double nickel birthday.
Yeah. Mm-mm. Am I echoing? No, you're good on my end.
Okay, okay. Yeah, most of it. Most of it sucked to watch. Today was the one fucking game. There's the swear word.
Today was the one game that I couldn't. Couldn't watch, and I've watched all the other ones, and I was like, especially on the double header when you lose twice, and then you got to go on Twitter and see that they're hanging a double. Double W flag, like way to go, you're seven games back. I just don't understand how they always accuse us of being the little brother. But the actions of the fan bases They act like the little brother.
Mm. Yeah, did you see? But they don't need to. They have a bigger payroll. They took our manager, they won a World Series.
And yet, maybe it's 'cause they haven't won a division title in five years. I don't know. They they really act um Little Brothery. Yeah, and even did you see the Rizzo clip where he was like, no, the Cardinals weren't our biggest rival. It was the brewers 'cause they were the most annoying.
It's because we Actually Give them a hard time and make them compete for a division. They can't just sit and. Just walk in. And be like, oh, this is ours. They don't.
Rule the central. They just don't. And they know it. And they're seven games back.
So they're taking a little. A little Win a series, but you're still you're seven games back. It is August 21st, so. You're going to need the Brewers to really start losing. And you're going to need to start winning, which it just doesn't look like the Cubs.
Are going to do? I mean, granted, saying that, they they can. It's very possible, but I don't know.
So you beat the Brewers in a series. Game a game, game one game. Yeah, you gained a fucking game. I don't know. I think they go out west now.
I think the Cubs have the Angels. Angels and then Giants. We get the Giants and they go play the Giants. Then the Rockies. Then the Braves and the Cubs and the Braves.
Yeah, I mean the rest the next couple of weeks, Cubs have an opportunity to maybe pick up even more, which is why that series was so Important because we've got the Giants who've been bad. William Damas returns. I like totally forgot he existed, to be honest with you. Diamondbacks come next week. I'm gonna try to take my kid to one of those.
Then we go to Toronto, Phillies come here, man, on Labor Day. Oof. That'll be massive. Pirates, Rangers? Yeah, and then yeah, and then you got then you got your Cardinals, Angels, Padre.
Yeah, I mean, we got a. A tough stretch, but I really don't see Granted, what the brewers have done since like July what, 10th? I mean, they don't take a back seat to anybody. And so I don't. Like Everything that we've been saying about the Brewers is still true.
Like they If you make errors, they'll make you pay for it. They're still gonna I don't I didn't So, you lost a series to the Cubs. I don't see where anything changes in this team's identity and, like, Yeah. Their managers, it's still Pat Murphy, it's still the same philosophy, it's the same everything.
So.
So he lost the series. I mean, yeah, it would kind of suck to see the. Cubs in the playoffs, but even then, I guess then it's kind of like that whole. That old thing from the 90s, which I Was like five years old when the Packers won that Super Bowl, but like everybody wanted to see Dallas. Like, I wouldn't mind if we go see the Cubs.
I would no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that, that, that, that, that, what, the, the Super Bowl, people were not as people want, people wanted to go Jordan, beat the Pistons. That's what I'm saying right now. I don't want that, I don't want to play this team. I cannot, I cannot, like, it felt playoff-y. This, the, the, I enjoy, and I'm so thankful.
You know, every night I'm signing on nationally, even though people pretend like I don't exist. I'm signing on, and I'm like, all right, this is a great, this is a great job to have here on the Infinity Sports Network, but there's. Games going on. And it felt like a playoff series. And it's really hard for me to have the game on this screen while I'm facing the microphone and being like, Yeah, I just don't understand why Anthony Richardson's not starting.
Like, I don't give a shit. Yeah, you're talking preseason. I mean, I was listening to that. Although, I am really pissed about that. with the Richardson thing.
I was listening to you last night. It was pretty good. The the radio stuff. I do wish you had some of those old things from when you were like ten or eleven, whatever. That would be hilarious to listen to.
But yeah, I used to record stuff in my room and then I scrubbed it all when I was fifteen because I was trying to be a cool teenager. I did recently come across A 10-minute mega mix of every scrubba dub song we've ever aired. Back at WSSP.
So I will be. I will be publishing that soon. Not just Tim Shea, but me, Toby, Adam Roberts, the whole gambit. Hell yeah. That was a hell of a stretch.
So I want to go back to this. What you don't want to. Face the cubs. Is it just because you would. Preferred Not to deal with like the rest of that series.
So, yeah, yeah. Cause even. Like The joy Because this is what you know Pablo I'd love to crush the cubs in the play. Hell yeah. I think a lot of you would.
I think a lot of you would. But whatever joy And dopamine, I'm going to get out of that moment. will not equate To the stress. An agony. I mean, every pitch.
I'm living and dying with every pitch in this series. Mm-hmm. Like in the sun, like they terrain kids at home run them like Okay, little breathing room, but then they keep they keep getting guys on first base today. It was excruciating. Maybe I'm glad I missed today's game.
Well, I'm glad they won, but I'll like. They like the journey is the reward, okay? And the journey was tough today. And it's a relief that they won. Yeah, right, right.
So I feel like you've said this before with the Packers. It's like. Yeah, you're just more relieved than you are excited about it. But I think a lot of people, like, I get what you're saying, 100% get it. But I do think a lot of people are like, So pissed at the Cubs that they're like.
F them. Bring it on in the playoffs. And And I don't want to risk the alternative. I don't want to risk Craig Council beating us in the playoff series. Right.
Yeah, that would suck. But, I mean, it would. I I do think that it would be really freaking sweet to do it. It would be, it would be, but it's not like you're betting. You're like, how much can I wager?
How much can I lose? you know, and how much you're gonna earn from the wager. Is not enough to cut to to like if you lose. It's not worth it. I don't want to get in that situation.
But if we get the one seed, let's say they got 80 wins, so already smashing their Pakota projection, and right around where I thought they'd be. Um Well they've already they've already got that So if they get the one seed. You're going to play The winner Two would play three. No, two's off.
So three, three would play six. The third division winner would play the six in terms of the wild card. Cubs. would be four, five. And then they would play us.
So, where the Cubs are positioned. Uh they would play us if they win. If they win. Yeah, if they win and right now I think it's the Padres. Or Dodgers, if they can get back.
And then, or a Cubs Dodgers series to take on the Brewers would suck. And then. The Mets are hanging out for dear life. Because they're like allowing the reds to come back in. Yeah, they suck.
Um.
So, okay, well, again, no, like. Yeah, the Dodgers are Another great team, but didn't. Didn't we get the whole Series Season again or season series against them too? Yeah, but we didn't. And that doesn't really matter because we'll be the higher seed.
Yeah, no. I mean, I'm just like, I'm not afraid of him. Like, doesn't Pat Murphy? Oh, but I don't know that the Dodgers are. I don't know that they're.
I mean, they just lost two or three to the Rockies. I don't know that they're focused each and every night. They focused against the Padres and swept them when they needed to. And then just piss on their pants in the rock. Yeah, I don't know.
I don't know what's in there. I don't know what that is. But like. Oh, they're winning today. They're beating the Rockies today.
Okay, well, still, you lost two already to him. But Another thing, like The team I'm just I guess this is a year that. I was really confident in them. In 2018. Oh, yeah.
and 2021 just because of their pitching lineup.
Okay. But I did know that they couldn't swing the Goddamn bat.
So I was like, okay, so if they give up. Two or three runs, that's probably enough to beat them.
So, what are some, yeah, some concerns right now, Austin, are um. Mizorowski, people are like, ugh, I think, you know, that'll be fine. Yeah. And then and then are we peaking too soon? Either way, Like if we're continuing this, they're going to have about a week off.
After the season.
So The momentum might come to a natural end anyway. And I'm not worried about that because they had a. 11-game win streak. And we're like, oh no, we didn't get burgers. And then they lost.
Then they did the 12-game win streak and won 14.
So they've shown. That they can You know pick up the momentum when it's seemingly has run into a wall. The problem that you would have is And maybe like rest would be good because they played 14 in a row, played the Cubs. Clearly You know, this is a draining schedule on them, and then they lose three in a row.
Well, if you lose three in a row, In the NLDS, you've lost the series. Because it is only a five-game series, which that should be said. It's fucking stupid. Yeah. Yeah, 100%.
Brewers and Cobbs, if they're going to face in the playoffs. You should just look at that and be like, no, that needs to be seven. That's bullshit. It can't be five. You know, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Padres.
Oh, fuck it. Make it up, but who cares? Brewers cubbies, man. We need a seven-game set there. We need ample time for people to go back and forth, and you need to really know that there's a true winner there, not some sort of fluke on either side.
So I you know their their lineup is They got to figure out Kyle Tucker. This Owen Casey guy. It's pissing me off. Uh Yeah, the rookie. Thank God we got him out today, but.
Yeah, that's pissing me off. The other thing, like. Did you see Murph stands in the dugout? He's got that little tattoo that says no retreat, no surrender. If you notice that, he's got it on his arm, right?
Like right here. And I just I I'm just not. Fearful that this team is going to, if they do. Lose like they lost those whatever three games to the Cubs. I just don't.
Think that they're going to let. I don't think that they have the give-up mentality of like, oh, throw my hands up, like, like Craig Counsel. Come to lunch of this game. Didn't he just do that when he had to do a challenge? He's like, I'm going to lose this, but I might as well.
Exactly. Murphy still. would have challenged it. Council, even though they're gonna lose, council's just like, it's just, it's just the image of like, And that's why. Uh this take that I shit on.
Then I want to play if you didn't see it. This show on ESPN Madison, which I've always played nice with ESPN, Milwaukee and Madison. But I decided to burn those bridges prior. If I ever lose this job that I have, it's only podcasting because I'm unhireable at this point, especially in the state. Listen to this bullshit.
I'm not talking. Alex Strove's take, Ben Brest's obsession, Brewer.
Okay, why do we got to name everybody on the fucking lineup? Just get your take out, Jim. Ben's obsession with Pat Murphy. Is all because they're not over Craig Counsel. And egregious behavior.
And you should be over Craig Counsel.
So do you think that they're doing the whole like? I really miss my ex, but I'm going to pretend like I really like my current significant other. I'm going to go unconscious bias in this. I don't think they realize that they are. You know, it's like projection.
Like they're mad at Craig Council, so then they're gonna hype up what they have. To use his analogy, Alex Stroth about the girlfriend or whatever. You're in love with Alex Stroth.
Okay, screw you. You are honestly like.
Well, I think Bart uh Just closed out of there.
So I think I'm just sitting here by myself. Um So, what can I say in the meantime? Oh, Jesus, I've never done that before. Oh, there we go. Try to make you host.
I was going to try to host it. I thought I was closing the browser a bit. No, you closed the whole shit. And you were going to keep going. I was going to keep going.
Yeah, yeah. I've always wondered. If I would ever do that and I did.
Well, at least it wasn't on national. National radio. Oh no, that happened the other day too. Oh, I uh programming note. I'm only gonna eat beer another few minutes.
I gotta get my kid. Um But on the audio, if you're listening on the audio. Coming up next will be an interview with Ryan Wood. Packersnews.com that I taped for the podcast to air on my show. But then he couldn't do video 'cause he was having sinuses.
So I then I did it for my show. I'm going to air it on my pocket, but it's still Ryan Wood, PackersNews.com on the audio.
So get that wherever you get yours. And then I don't know that I'm going to do. I think I'm going to do like Monday afternoon quarterback shows instead of jump on live postgame. For Packers. Hell yeah.
TBD. You were saying. Do you want to host? I'll leave. Uh No, no, no, no, no, don't oh Jesus Christ.
All right. Um okay. Funny guy, funny guy. Um What was I saying? Jesus Christ.
Uh I I guess I guess my main point is that I know you gotta go.
So, I guess my main point is that. Couple losses to the Cubs. I'm not concerned. What the Brewers have done in the last like 50, 60 games. Is more than enough of a track record.
For me to not let a few games Bring it down. And I know that that can happen in the playoffs, but we're probably used to that happening anyway.
So if it happens, I mean, God, what's another loss? If they would have lost today, people would have panicked. Then we all would have said like. Don't panic. But if they would have lost today, that would have been bad.
It would have been a bad day. It would have felt bad. People probably still would have overly panicked to it, but I wouldn't have felt good. No, I mean, I get the not feeling good about it, but the difference between five and seven. Austin, the difference between five and seven, it's It's two.
Yeah. And that's a big difference. It's yeah, I I know five seven minus five. What uh what grade am I in? Second.
Yeah. No, I don't Is that your cutout from the COVID year? Yeah. That's fantastic. They put you in the four hundreds too.
Fucking assholes. Yeah. I mean, I'm just my baby. I I can't For the track record of what they've done for 60 games, I can't let four games. Five games get in get in the way of that.
I can't let it impede it. And I'm just, I mean, you're, you want to. I'm not going no no no no no no I'm not I'm not going I understand I understand where you're coming from You know, people are like, oh. Oh my god. But I get it.
Prob Comedy's back, maybe. Yeah, when are you gonna open packs again? I don't have any. All right. Yeah, well, you got to start bringing the packs back.
I found some 1992 top stadium clubs at the state fair, where I found that Ryan Braun. starting lineup but I opened those all and they were all they were like fake. It was like NFL people have never heard of. I don't know what to tell you, but I'm going to let you go pick up your kid. I think we're.
we're winding down.
Okay, I got one more prop comedy.
Okay. I've never done this. I've been waiting to do it. for a long time. But I've never had a reason.
Got a new host of the show. New host. The motherfucking brewers, man. What a game. What an absolute treat for the Brewers today.
Four to one the final. What are you looking at? I'm glad I'm glad propaganda. How many years back that It's ridiculous. They're Halloween decorations.
We put them out on the porch. Yeah, well, I'm glad that you're not one of the people that are using like the blow-up dolls. That that's such a We do blow-ups. Oh, God. You can't get out there and hang some lights and Build a snowman yourself, you could either just put it in floor.
There's like out there, there's like neighborhoods where everyone gets a nutcracker or everyone gets a Santa Claus. I love it, everyone gets a Grinch. Shorewood elitists. That's right. Fucking right.
All right, awesome. Good to see you. Love ya. That's Austin.
Solo hosting the show. What a guy. All right. Brewers have the Giants coming up this weekend. Gonna try to get to one of those.
They got the diamondbacks next weekend or next weekend and try to get to one of those. And should be fun. Also, mm-hmm is back next week. The boys going on different vacations. Back in the saddle.
Next week, thanks for your patience on that. Audio, Ryan Wood, next. Video Sayonara. Check me out on the Infinity Sports Network. I know you always do.
Thanks for stopping into the Winkler. I don't mean to interrupt your meal, but I saw you from across the cafe, and you're the Geico Gecko, right? In the flesh. Oh, my goodness. This is huge to finally meet you.
I love Geico's fast-and-friendly claim service.
Well, that's how Geico gets 97% customer satisfaction. Anyway, that's all. Enjoy the rest of your food. No worries. Uh, so are you just gonna watch me eat?
Oh, sorry. Just a little starstruck. I'll be on my way. If you're gonna stick around, just pull up a chair. You're the best.
Get more than just savings, get more with Geico. Bart Winkler Show, Infinity Sports Network. Our two of days continue. We're going across the league and trying to get a little bit more information on each and every team throughout. We may miss a team or two.
That's, you know, it's the nature of scheduling. There's no chance. That we're missing the Green Bay Packers. You know that we will not do that. Ryan Wood, PackersNews.com, joining us.
Ryan, good to catch up with you. The Packers, let me just get into the the macro view on the Packers. And I think like last year. Yeah. I don't know.
The way that it felt, Jordan Love was hurt. They were never going to beat the Eagles. I know they could have. They're just never gonna was my View on that. And I think if you switch the two seasons, if Jordan Love, you know, they win a playoff game, then we're going into this season.
way more optimistic as as Packer fans or people around the league. I think like last year it's like okay. Fine. There's pressure, though, I think, not just on love, but I think on Matt LaFleur. Like, this is year seven.
For him, he's had two MVP seasons of Aaron Rodgers. He's got a third season now of the guy they drafted to replace him. I'm not saying like it's you know, Super Bowl or bust to keep his job, but They need to do, I think, considerably better than they have done. especially last year. Is there a feeling around that, around the building?
Or is that Just dumb fan talking. I don't know that there's a feeling around the building right now. You know how it is in August. Every team thinks that they're going to go 17-0, win the Super Bowl, and then reality hits in September.
So this isn't the time of. Year for pressure talk and doomsday scenarios. I happen to be very bullish. On the Packers, I'm thinking. 11 to 13 wins, more likely 13 than 11 wins.
All their hard games are at home except for Thanksgiving in Detroit. And they've got the Ravens, the Eagles, the Commanders, the Bengals, Joe Burrow coming to Lambeau Field. It's a favorable schedule from that standpoint. The big question. Is how good can Jordan Love be?
Which, you know, only means everything, right? When you've got a quarterback, you paid to be the guy. you need him to lead you, to pull you. To the promised land and For two months in 2023, we saw that he was capable of doing that. And then last year, literally from week one.
He was never healthy. He had the sprained MCL. He finally starts to feel a little bit better. Week seven, the pole groin leaves the game in Jacksonville at halftime. He goes into playoffs last year with an ulnar nerve injury in his throwing elbow against the Eagles.
Like from start to finish, he was never healthy.
So the Packers, they. They responded to that this offseason. They built their offensive line. They put some road graders in there too because. They know that Josh Jacobs is the engine of that offense.
They ensured the protection around Jordan Love because they know that he needs to stay healthy. It's just a matter of, okay, if he stays healthy, what's the ceiling here? How good can he be? Because they need him to be a star. If he is a star, They're on the short list of Super Bowl.
Contenders. If not, They've been up a seventh seed. They're getting to the playoffs, but they're not making much noise. The offensive line, and again, this is probably the only team of the 32 that I know anything about any offensive line, even just a little bit. But Jordan Morgan, they drafted last year in the first round, and he's been having a good Preseason.
They signed Aaron Banks, which was kind of a surprise, I think, for a lot of people. Elton Jenkins is over at center now. Um is is the the way that I've felt like their offensive line has been has been they can put together a pretty decent five. And maybe a nice sick swing guy. But then, like, seven through nine, if you have to get into that, and maybe that's the case with a lot of teams, but.
I don't Is there depth any better on it? The front. I don't know that it is. We'll see if it does come to that in the regular season. You know, think with this Packers offense flying, all five starters played over one thousand snaps last season.
They didn't need their depth until literally the last game of the year. In Philadelphia, wild card game, Elton Jenkins. Has a shoulder stinger on like the fourth play, can't return. And then all hell broke loose. And they showed, oh no.
There's no depth here.
So that's been a primary focal point of this GM and this offseason. But Until you really see it in games, like it's unproven. It's untested depth.
So.
Who knows? I mean, obviously, the best case scenario, they just trot out five guys, play a thousand snaps again. This fall But it's really hard to repeat that. It's really hard to go back to back with having that kind of sustainability and health. On your offensive line, so we'll see if they're able to do that, but if not, I I think it's a fool's errand to say one way or the other there is depth or not.
We just haven't seen it. Ryan Wood, PackersNews.com, Green Bay Press Gazette, joining us on the Bart Winkler Show, Infinity Sports Network. Our two today's continue with the Packers. The uh draft was fun. I was there, but they stuck me in the...
Rush center, and I didn't get to see anything that happened. But that was fine. I got to say I was there. But so I missed the moment live. of Mark Murphy playing to the crowd.
That we've drafted a wide receiver in the first round. What a high note for him to go out on as team president. Matthew Golden's the receiver. I get a lot of questions whenever I talk about the Packers anywhere as well. Who's going to be the receiver?
Who's going to be? And I go, I mean. I don't know. One week it's Reed, one week it's dubs, one week it's You know, if Watson's healthy. Matthew Golden's looked the part, I think, from being drafted.
We've talked about the number one receiver in Green Bay and Oh, they've got four of them, and you know, or they've got four number twos, and whoever steps up. Do they have? A number one, and is that even a thing in this offense?
Well, It would be silly to dub anyone a number one before they even line up for their first professional regular season snap, right? He has looked the part. And by that, I mean Matthew Golden looks like a receiver not only that they're going to count on this season, As a rupti. But this September, like starting week one against the Lions, okay, he's on the field. There, he's he's going to be an important piece of this offense.
What he does with that. We'll find out. We have to see that. But I think the biggest maybe concern for Matthew Golden. If he does play early and often, Does he eventually lead into that rookie wall or not?
It's a much longer season in the NFL than it is college. Attrition. Keeping your body fresh. He's straight off the NFL scouting combine, an offseason of workouts, getting ready for the draft. He didn't have much downtime.
If he plays early and often, which it sure looks like he will, is he a rare rookie that can avoid that rookie wall or not? As far as everything that you want tangibly, in a receiver. Strong hands, route running, speed, playmaking, deep. He's he's shown all that in camp. The defensive side of the balls.
We talked to Ryan Wood here talking Packers. On our two days. For the last five years. I I would I would look at the It's like, let's talk front seven for a sec. For the last five years, I would look at the front seven.
And on paper, it's like. Oh. Wow, this could be. Top five defense. Like, there are enough guys that have been drafted high that they've invested in.
Whether it's a Quay Walker, Devontae Wyatt, even Kenny Clark, Rashawn Gary, Lucas Van Ness, they've got a lot of guys that they have invested high draft picks in. What is the outlook on them as a unit? Because I think there's a lot of guys that. If they reach their if they all reach their full potential, oh my god. This defense is going to be incredible.
But I don't know that they've done that yet. Yeah, this is the season of ifs, isn't it? In August, everyone's feeling ifs, but They have a good defensive line coach now, Demarcus Covington. One of the first things he said is that. He's never worked for four first-round picks before.
And if you look at the Packers' defensive line, The guys you just mentioned, Devontae White, Kenny Clark, Rashawn Gary, Lucas Vanessa, all first-round picks. That's a lot of, it's kind of like, wow, how did that happen? Yeah, for a defense black coach, it's like being a kid in a In a toy store. I mean, my goodness, look at look at all these toys. You can go out and And really get after it.
But They've got to be a lot better than last year.
Now, I still remember being at the NFL owners' meeting after the first wave of free agency, in which the Packers did not touch their pass rush. And asking Brian Gudekinst. What's up? Like, this is the biggest need you have. You did nothing in free agency.
And he was very firm. in his conviction. That They've got the guys internally to go do that. He said they're counting on internal improvement.
Well, why could that be? when these same guys didn't do it last year. You have to remember, Kenny Clark. Who'd never look like himself last year? There's a reason for that.
In the opener against the Eagles in Brazil. He screwed up his toe, needed surgery after the season, played through it. You don't have a healthy big toe as a defensive tack. You can't plant your feet in the ground. You can't have drive.
You can't have force off the ball, which Ken Clark didn't last year. He's healthy now. Lucas Van Ness had a cast over his right hand until November. Of last season, all the way through the offseason, was playing pass rusher, edge rusher with one hand. Which I asked for Sean Gary, like, how significant would that be?
He's like, you don't have these, you don't have your hands. You don't have anything. As a pass rusher, you can't grab. You can't get leverage. There's y you cannot play pass wrestling with one hand.
Now he has two.
So, and he's had a really good camp.
Now, I think we have to see that in the regular season. We need to see that translate. But these guys that Brian Gudekins is expecting that that key internal improvement from. They're healthy now. They've looked better.
Now we'll see if it follows into the regular year. They may need some of that in the secondary, too, internal improvement.
Now, they did go out and get Nate Hobbs, losing Jair Alexander, that whole saga. finally uh coming to a con coming to an end. And then. You want to talk about internal improvement, they took a wide receiver. In Bo Melton.
and put him in the secondary. And he's looked not terrible. Um, what is what is the secondary gonna end up looking like? And is that gonna because if right now, if I'm a if I'm the Lions week one. I'm like, okay, well.
I'm going to test these guys. Certainly, I'm going to test them right away. I'm sure they'll get tested. You know, there's two things there. One, the departure of Jyra Alexander, but let's be real: Jyra Alexander departed mid-season last year.
He didn't play a single snap after week ten. And this is a Packers cornerback group that last year only gave up one 100-yard receiver. That was A.J. Brown in the opener. covered predominantly by Jair Alexander.
So not only are they used to life without him. They did just fine in life without him. I think there's two reasons for that. Jeff Hafley, lifelong DB's coach. really talented coordinator.
When he came in last year, all the talk was about how you approach the defense from the back forward. It starts with the secondary. I think his tutelage. Night and day difference from Joe Berry to the previous season. With these guys, Keyshawn Mixing, Carrington Valentine, we saw them really blossom.
Under Jeff Hafley. Also, when you might have questions at a corner, it sure helps to have an elite safety. And the Packers have the best safety in the game. Xavier McKinney, first team all-pro. He was the great eliminator, the great eraser of mistakes.
Whenever they would pop up, having that ballhawk on the back hand makes all the difference. Quarterback stopped throwing. Deep middle because they just took that out of the arsenal because Xavier McKinney was there. I think that certainly helps the cornerback group. As far as Bo Melton goes, they need depth.
You know, I think when they trot out Keyshawn Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Javon Bullard, they feel really good there. They feel good about the perimeter depth, Carrington Valentine first off the sideline. But they need, if you have injuries, they need depth. Bo Melton is going to be a process. He's looked remarkably.
Natural at corner, considering he's never played there before, but he's also a guy that's never played there before, and he's an elite special teamer.
So he's making he's making the roster, there's game day value there. Rich Pasatia thinks that he can be a core guy there. But it Jeff Hafley's been very open about it. This is not going to be a process that is overnight. It's going to take time.
Bo Melton's not going to be ready week one to go line up against Ahmad Ross St. Brown. There's going to need to be a growth there. If eventually he can be a depth guy at fifth corner, that's a remarkable boon for this roster. The Packers start the season with Detroit, as we've mentioned.
Um You think 11, 12, 13 wins is certainly doable. I can see that path as well. Let's say nine wins. Let's say eight. You know, what is there gonna be nobody's getting fired?
You know, and I know they didn't get their extensions yet, the coach and GM with Ed Policy now at the helm, but. If they don't make the playoffs. I mean I just I I don't I don't know that I don't know that anything happens. It's just like, okay, well, we'll try it again next year.
So maybe I started in saying there could be some pressure. But I I really don't think if they win eight wins, anything Changes. They just go into next year saying, all right, let's try it again.
next year. And that maybe this is a hypothetical that won't even happen, but At some point. I'm just saying as a fan I need to see Matt LaFleur take it to the next level. I don't fault you for feeling that way. I think when you say pressure, it depends on where you mean it's coming from.
Fan base? Absolutely. Uh I'll be all over them. I'm not a fan. I obviously.
cover the team and and follow the team pretty closely, I think pressure would be warranted. If they don't take a step this year, it's all aligned for them. The reason I'm bullish on this team is what I do think a healthy Jordan loves. Might be the best quarterback in the NFC. He is that type of thing.
I remember 2023. He's capable of playing at that level. He was never healthy in 2024. Also, roster-wide. This is the youngest team in the NFL the past two years that both years got to the playoffs.
So they're still really, really young, but now they have a ton of experience, a ton of big game experience. You would expect. A jump from a team that is set up the way this Packers team is. If that doesn't happen, I do think pressure is warranted if they don't get. 11, 12, 13 wins.
That should be the expectation. No one should scoff at 13 and 4 here, 12 and 5. No one should scoff at that. If they fall below that mark, yeah, I think pressure is warranted. But.
This is the Packers. And Bart, you know. that this is not a team that believes in sudden change. It took a long time to move on for Mike McCarthy. It's that they're not going to quickly change regimes.
So I don't know that I expect it. But I also don't expect a letdown season. I think this Packers team, I think Matt LaFleur is a very talented coach. You look at, he had two jobs when he got hired here. First, Reinstate Aaron Rodgers at an MVP level.
He did that. Aaron Rodgers will end his career with four MVPs. Two of them won under Matt LaFleur. His second job was to make sure that there's life after Jordan Love, make sure the next guy is ready. or Life After Aaron Rodgers.
And in Jordan Love, they did that.
So he's passed the test that he's needed to pass. that were most pressing when he was hired back in 2019.
Now the third test comes. Pull this team up another level. Can there be a jump? We'll find out. Week one against the Lions.
Ryan Wood will have the coverage, Packersnews.com. Ryan, always a pleasure. Thank you so much. Take care, Bart. Ryan Wood again talking Packers on our two of days.
We'll come back. It's the Bart Winkler Show on the Infinity Sports Network.
