November 26, 2024 • 28 mins
Short week means more episodes quicker for you! The listener! Travis is joined by Wes Hodkiewicz from Packers dot com to break down this enticing matchup from Lambeau Field. Plus, Travis makes his Week 13 picks and pontificates how the end of the year will play out in the AFC.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To on the move, going deep speedways Peace do hell
Peas from the Baptist Health Studio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This inside the Baptist Health Training Complex.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield. He's got my add
hands in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
What is up Dolphins and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
a short and sweet holiday episode of the Draft Time Podcast.
Is my guest today, Wes Hodgwitch Frompackers dot Com, who
might be my favorite team employee, my favorite person in
the NFL in general, joins us today to talk about
(00:46):
this very fun matchup on Thanksgiving night Dolphins and Packers.
He will give us the perspective from Green Bay. I'll
also make the week thirteen picks and that will be it,
and they'll have the preview show tomorrow for you guys.
But for now, for the meantime, from the bat this
Hell Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is
the Draft Time Podcast. Joining me today is a senior
(01:09):
writer for Packers dot Com. You can follow him at
wes hot He's Wes Hodwitz.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Wes. Welcome back, man.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I feel like usually these NFC games don't happen for
like several years apart. But we just had you guys
a couple of years ago, and here you are again,
my friend.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, I'd love that I'm sharing all of our holidays
with you here, Travis. We got to do Christmas in
Miami two years ago, and now here we are Thanksgiving
in Green Bay. Uh, maybe you can get back together
for Easter or something.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Little draft party.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I mean, is it is in Green Bay this year
or is that could make something happen for that Maybe
we'll come your way and do some content up in
the Great White North.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
That's not the Great White North, that's the what am
I talking about? Close enough?
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I was just telling Wes we had the short weak
gives us like a day to get three days worth
of work done.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So we are cruising right along on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
West.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Let's go ahead and talk about this matchup that it's
kind of gonna say if the Thanksgiving Day slate. In
my opinion, I think that the Lion should be able
to take care of business aginst the Bears and then
the Cowboys and Giants are going in the wrong direction
right now, and Packers and Dolphins. Man, this looks like
a fun matchup. I mean, this is for us. I mean,
I'm sure you know this, like this is like the
narrative killing game for the Dolphins. How are the Packers
viewing this one as your sandwich between the Niners on Sunday.
(02:16):
I'll be at a banged up Niners and a huge
game next thursdaygainst the Lions as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
This is a huge one for Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And I think if you know anything about Matt Laflour
in his history with Mike McDaniel, I mean, he has
so much respect for him, the program that he's put
together in Miami, and really just the various threats that
they have throughout both the offense and defense. Certainly Joe Barry,
the Packer excuse me, the Dolphins linebackers coach now was
the defensive coordinator here the last three years.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Matt and him are credibly close. That was a difficult decision.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
You know, moving on and going in a different direction there,
but so much respect for him inside this building.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, I think you said it.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I think this is going to be the primetime matchup
everybody wanted to see on Thanksgiving. I have some mixed
feelings about non conference games and holiday slates.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I typically like.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
More of the rivalries and the you know, the Bears,
the Lions, and obviously all the things that the Dolphins
have going for them as well. But you know, all
things considered, just an overall athleticism standpoint, quality of teams standpoint,
I still view the Miami Dolphins is one of the
best teams in the NFL. When two is on the field,
I think it should be really exciting.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
I'm looking forward to it for that reason.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
And the Dolphins offense has really found this different approach
to scoring points. I mean, the results are the same
as they were last year when the Dolphins were going
up and down the field with some more explosives, and
this year they've kind of earned that through their shorter
passing game, an intermediate passing game, and while the run
game hasn't been in the last couple of weeks, it
has been a big focal point of the entire offense.
But I guess where I want to go now, Wes
(03:43):
is every time McDaniel takes to the podium before a game,
I'm like, how can I ask him about the opposing team?
And I'm like, well, he had familiarity with this coach,
And I'm like, that's every week in this league for
coach McDaniel and for coach Lafleur as well. I'm curious
if you asked coach Lafleur that, And how do you
think the fact that these guys have you know, similar
offensive backgrounds, the fact that you mentioned Joe Barry was
(04:03):
the defensive coording to their last year linebackers coach here
for the Dolphins, you know, there's so much familiarity there.
How do you think that makes the matchup different, better,
worse for a Thursday game.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Well, I think it definitely adds to almost more of
the common opponent. You know, we always hear about Thursday
night football games. That's what makes it so difficult when
you face these teams that aren't from your division. Is
trying to scheme them up, trying to plan for them,
and there's so many parallels offensively, especially between these two programs.
One of the reasons why you know, Packers, one of
the reserve running backs, Chris Brooks, was with the Miami Dolphins,
(04:36):
as you know, for you know, one and a half years,
and they felt like one of the reasons why he
got so up to speed as fast as he did
in this offense is because of that background. So they
do things differently. Everybody always says that, you know, things
are called a little bit differently. But I think overall
the bases and the foundation there, whether it stems from
the Shanahan tree or if it's just their own personal
preferences with what they've brought to the table, I think
(04:57):
there definitely is more familiarity there. The Christmas game, you know,
two years ago now almost I thought that was a
fantastic entertaining game all around, and I feel like this
one especially, it's gonna be a little colder, but you know,
all around it, I think it has the real makings
for a very friendly matchup.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Absolutely, It's you mentioned earlier. The you know, the move
at DC and going to Jeff Hafley was one of
the more interesting things that really happened across the NFL
landscape and the college football landscape.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And as a Washington.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
State grad, I am happy to see people leave the
college game and come to our great league where the
football is much better, and leave that stuff behind, because
I too, am very bitter about the current landscape of
college football. But we'll leave my personal fillings aside. But
I feel like Jeff Hafley felt the same way with
regards to, you know, being a head coach at Boston College,
a major program, and he's like, I don't want anything
(05:47):
to do with this, you know, nil business. Maybe that's
not what he thought, but that's that's the sense that
I get to jump to the league and then take
over a defense and really put his flavor on it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Can you talk about that?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
But also just his impact on this Packers defense this
year well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And that I think when we go back to his
introductory press conference and everything him talking earlier in the spring,
that's really was a big part of it, is that
he wanted in some ways to just get back to
coaching again. You know, he felt like there was so
much time that was tied into the NIL thing and
making sure you recruit your own guys and keep your
own program together. That this allowed him to be able
to sort of find his passion for football again. And
(06:23):
you know, and Joe Barry did some tremendous stuff here
and me personally, I'd give a kidney for Joe. I mean,
he is one of the most salt of the earth,
tremendous human beings that I've ever come across in this sport.
But the Packers wanted to make a change, not only
just at the defensive coordinator but scheme. I mean, when
Jeff Haffley came in here, he brought in a four
to three scheme, a little bit more of a vision
based attacking front, and I think it's really given Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What they wanted so far. I mean, their twenty.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Two takeaways this year is already well past what they
had last season. I think there's, you know, bringing in
a guy like Xavier McKinney has felt so well into
the roles that that you know, Halfley had it envisioned
for him and what the Packers thought they were getting
when they signed him as a twenty four year old
unrestricted free agent out.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Of New York.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
They're just it is more complementary, I feel like in
terms of just the all around scheme of what they
want to do and where they want to go. It's
allowed the inside linebackers to use some of their athleticism,
getting involved in the blitz packages, the pressure packages, and
despite not having you know, Jay r Alexander for various
points at this season, they've still managed to sort of
(07:30):
stem the tide and keep this thing going and are
just on the fringe of a top ten defense. So
I think Halfley's philosophy and just the way he coaches
and sort of the energy he brings is really resonated
with this locker room.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Yeah, you hit a lot of the points that I
wanted to ask you about individually with this defense. Because
number one, Xavier McKinney, I'll ever forget. My first assignment
with the Dolphins was right before COVID happened. So my
first year I was hired like two weeks before COVID
shut the entire world down for you know, for six
months was the Combine, And I had a chance to
ask Xavier McKinney about practicing against two a tongue of
II looan. He was like, he is a master at
looking guys off and holding defenses with his eyes. But
(08:04):
I kind of feel like McKinney's the same way on
the defensive side with how he can bait guys. And
you touch on the turnovers they've they've gotten that year
this year, and I saw on SVP he showed the
stat that the Packers have had fourteen points or more
off of turnovers in four plus or four games this year,
and that's the most in the NFL. So That's gonna
be one of my big key when I do my
preview episode tomorrow is taking a look at how the
(08:25):
Dolphins can protect the football and hopefully, you know, get
the win that way. But with regards to how they
get the takeaways, what exactly are they doing to to
create those situations? Because I saw on Twitter someone was
talking about how they've kind of simplified I think it
was Ben fel Fanelle, who does great work for NFL
films and I think he works in CBS as well,
but he was talking about some more simplified coverages that
give the Packers a little bit more defined rules with
(08:47):
how they can you know, bait and jump those players.
You're seeing that from the defense and how have they
kind of gotten that these massive takeaway numbers?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, And I think like any big marquee free agent
doesn't matter if it's offense or defense. When you bring
those guys in, you're kind of looking to build around
them and kind of tailoring your scheme to them. And
I feel like the Packers took everything that Xavier McKinney
does really well and have just sort of amplified it
and given him opportunities to sort of roam a little bit.
He's mostly been back for most of the year. He's
(09:16):
been playing the center field spot. They like to go
single high if they can, you know, being able to
move around their rookies. Both Javon Bullard and Evan Williams
have played that spot alongside McKinney. And I just feel
like so many times you've been hearing guys talk this
season about just being able to play more free and
just understanding what their roles are and not having to
think about all the contingency plans to it. I feel
(09:38):
like the less thinking that has been involved this year,
it's been better for Green Bay, both upfront with their
defensive pass rush, but then also on that back end
as well. So, yeah, McKinney is such a heady player, man.
And like you were saying with Tua, I mean, when
you can you know, this game requires so much from
an athlete, but when you can go above and beyond
that in the intellectual level, I feel like that's where
(09:59):
a lot of times you gain and edge. And I
can't speak to Tua's habits, but one thing that I
know definitely was instilled in Xavier, and maybe it's just
part of his makeup. Maybe it's coming from Alabama, but
he is an absolute film junkie. He looks for every
potential advantage he can see on the film and on
the tape, and he uses that. And I think there's
been numerous times this season where he's talked about his
interceptions being products of that. So last year, not enough takeaways,
(10:23):
too many, and that wasn't just a scheme. I mean,
there's too many times where guys drop passes, you know,
knock on wood from Green Bay standpoint, But that hasn't
really happened at all with McKinney, and in a few
cases the defense as a whole. So I just think
guys have been opportunistic, and as you said, they've been
able to punch those into the end zone or at
least get points off of him. Last week, three second
half takeaways they got twenty one points and that's what
(10:43):
really allowed them to roll in what looked like a
very dominant win over the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Really put that thing out of reach.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
That film prep comment you made is exactly why that
matchup with he and Tua is going to be so
so good because Tua, I mean, I feel like it's
almost a bad word to hit us about a corp.
But he knows where the ball's going before the snap
most of the time. But it's not because he's pre
determining that, reez, because he knows what's going to happen
to the defensive rotation. And McKinney's gonna do his best
to make sure he can, you know, kind of spoil
(11:12):
the punch bowl, as it were. Let's take a really
quick break right here, come back on the other side
and talk about this Packers offense. I love their quarterback
and I want to ask Wes about him more. Next
Draft Time Podcast, my guest is a Wes Hodgwitz. Draft
Time podcast brought to you by Auto Nation. Back here
with my guest today, Wes Hodwitz on the Draft Time
Podcast talking about Dolphins and Packers on Thursday night, Thanksgiving Night.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Huge game for the Dolphins.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I think the Packers have a little bit more leeway
for margin for air. But if Dolphins get this one,
the run is officially on. So we're looking forward to
a great matchup with two good quarterbacks, two good coaches,
two fun schemes.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Everything you want on a cold night in Green Bay.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
And let's go ahead and talk about that quarterback on
the Packers' side West because this is a guy that
I was in love with at Utah State, and I
love the way the Packers managed his career and developed
him on the bench and then brought him into the
lineup and he just breaks out in a big way
in his first full year starting. What's been because I've
seen like kind of to talk about some turnovers and
maybe some regression at times this year, but they're still
(12:11):
like winning games and he's posting big stats. How has
the second year evolution been for Jordan Love in his
second year starting, I should.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Say yeah, when he's healthy, it's been really good.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I think one thing that hurt him is he ended up,
you know, sustaining the knee injury at the end of
the game in Brazil against Philly that cost him two starts,
and then he comes back and he has the groin injury.
He's finally off the injury report, and I think there's
no it's not a coincidence that last week was where
he finally snapped that turnover streak in the win over
the forty nine ers. So he has every tool you
(12:42):
can look for. And I think you've talked about a
time and time again. I mean that twenty twenty draft
class of quarterbacks and potentially where that group could go
over the next five to ten years. I mean, you
might be looking at that collection of guys being the
ones that sort of usher in the next era of
NFL football. And you know, for Jordan, there's no right
or wrong way to develop a quarterback. Miami went through
(13:03):
it itself, but I think that process has worked here
in Green Bay. I feel like watching Jordan being able to,
you know, have that time with Aaron Rodgers and figure
out the things that Aaron did well that he wanted
to incorporate into his game. I think one thing you'll notice,
or at least they're going to try for in this
game is you know, trying to catch the defense with
too many men on the field, trying to you know,
gain those type of free plays. That's one thing that
(13:26):
Jordan has sort of amplified this year and taken to
the next level. But just from a pure makeup standpoint,
this guy at you know, six foot four, he stands
tall in the pocket, he does not wilt under pressure,
can make every throw on the field. The Packers made
him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the National
Football League for that very reason is that they felt
like that first year and what he showed, especially during
(13:47):
that second half of last season, really you know, bode
well for what his long term potential is going to be.
Definitely still has some stuff to clean up as a
twenty six year old quarterback. Definitely has to curtail the turnovers,
but you know he's gonna take some chances with the ball.
The thing that they need to eliminate was some of
these pick sixes that happened this year, which were trying
(14:08):
to make something happen at the very last minute and
it ends up, you know, resulting in a big play
in the opposite direction.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Have to get that under control.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
But buying large Jordan love and just seeing the way
he's grown as a leader with this locker room, you
really can't say enough about it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I feel like the same way about the McKinney and
TUA matchup, where Anthony Weaver has been awesome this year
for us, and I cannot wait to watch the way
he tries to, you know, confuse Jordan and create some
of those mistakes that he's had and Jordan doing what
he can to create off script to make the plays
that he does every single week as well.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
This is a game full of fun matchups.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Real quick, I have one last question, but real quick,
can you just kind of give me the ranking and
the hierarchy the Packers eligibles because they you guys have
like seven guys that are great players and I'm having
a hard time figuring.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Out who is the like the pecking order there.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Well, first off, I mean, Josh Shacobs has been a
godsend for these guys and being able to control the
run game. Last week became the first one hundred yard
rusher agains the San Francisco forty nine ers I think
in fifty four regular season matchups, if you conclude the postseason,
I think it was Aaron Jones actually had the other
one when he was still here in Green Bay. So
Jacob's grabbing that baton and taking it forward I think
has really been huge for them. But as far as
receivers go, I mean, it can be any guy at
(15:14):
any given week. I think Jayden Reid's probably the one
you'll see more of the offense running through.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
They motion him, they orbit him, He'll carry the ball
every once in a while.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
He's sort of become that Deebo Samuel type playmaker, all
around Swiss Army Knight for this offense. Christian Watson unfortunately
had a big drop at the end of the first
half against San Francisco, could have been a forty nine
yard touchdown, but a week earlier had a career Highe
hundred and fifty receiving yards, six foot four, can run
in the four threes, fast as lightning. I mean, that
guy when he's available, he brings it. Unfortunately for Green Bay,
(15:43):
Romeo Dobbs did sustain a concussion in that law in
the win over San Francisco, so losing him potentially not
having him on the field. That's one of the main
guys that Jordan Love often looks for, especially in the
moving the sticks kind of first down moments. So a
lot of different options, a lot of different players, and
obviously a tight end Tucker Craft is broken out this
year as well as a team high six touchdowns. So
(16:05):
that's the beauty of the offense. That's what Matt Lafleur,
that's how he likes to run. It can go a
number of different ways, and for Jordan Love that gives
him so many different outlets to be able to unleash.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The football West.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
I apologize if you see me just smiling on the
call over here, because the Packers are kind of like
my NFC team.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I love the way they're a bill, I love the quarterback,
I love the skill spots, I love the system.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I just it's such a fun team and it makes
for such a fun game.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
And you and I get so giddy about these types
of big these fun matchups when involves our teams.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Real quick, we have like two minutes for West has
a heart out here.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
I want to ask you about this tweet because I
do the exact same thing on Sundays, and it's always
the best. After a win, you get a snapshot of
the stadium. I promote the hell out of my content
while I do it. You had a better version of it.
I thought you said this is my favorite version of
lambeau Field. Whenever my ride ends, I'll carry these ones
with me. The most hope you made to memories today.
Tell it kind of set the stage for us. With
the atmosphere on Thursday night at lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
It's second to none.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
As much as I enjoy the Miami weather, it's there's
something special about November.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Get the it will probably be in the twenties.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I don't think there's any snow on the forecast, but
it is the way football is meant to be played,
especially when you factor in one hundred plus years of
history here in lambeau Field and Green Bay, Wisconsin, one
of the absolute mechas of the league. So yeah, I
always enjoy those moments, very quiet, very solitude, you know
how this business works.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Were usually the.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Last ones to leave, at least on the media side
of things, so being able to just enjoy that a
little bit. I think any Dolphin fans that end up
making it up here too, one of the most friendly
environments you're gonna find in the Nation Football League. They
love their football team, but they're also incredibly welcoming too,
and I think that's why any football fan, regardless if
you like the Packers are not. Definitely at some point
you need to make that trip to Lambefield because it
(17:37):
doesn't get any.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Better bucket list item. For me, for sure, I hope
to make it one day. Not gonna happen this year around,
but maybe down the road we'll find our way up there.
Senior Byronpackers dot Com at Wes Hodge wet or Wes
hodg Sorry, Wes Hodgwitz, appreciate your time today, man, get
out of here, go take care of your busy, busy,
short week, my friend.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Thank you, Travis, same to you.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I wish we could have chat a little bit longer,
but you know how this goes, trying to get these
schedules to the line one after another.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
You're awfully kind of make it work, man. I know
you got a lot to do today. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Thanks buddy.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Wes is the kind of guy that when the Dolphins
win a game, I don't care about anybody else's feelings
for any of the team that they root for. But
when we beat the Packers on Thursday night, I will
probably think for one second Wes is bummed out. That
makes me sad, But it only lasts like one second.
He's just that good of a dude, So appreciate his time.
In a very short week and a very crowded week
for content here for Dolphins and Packers workers. I like,
(18:23):
let's go ahead and take our last break rate there,
come back and finish up with the week thirteen picks
Draft Time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you
by Auto Nation. Week number thirteen in the National Football
League is upon us. I just realized that I'm going
to do these picks. I'm going to spoil the pick
for the Dolphins and Packers. Now let's go ahead and
(18:44):
save it. I will save the Dolphins and Packers pick
for the preview show, but I do want to get
into the rest of the NFL as things are starting
to heat up. And next week on the show, I'm
going to go ahead and peel the curtain back and
take a look at the other AFC competitors for the
wild card position that we are playing for. And of course,
if Miami beats Green Bay, I'm gonna go on record
right now and guarantee Joe Namath's style ahead of the
(19:06):
Jets game that the Dolphins will be playing a eighteenth
game this year if they beat Green Bay. I am
a firm believer that ten wins gets you in no matter.
I just think the rest of the AFC. Do you
guys know how I feel about Denver. Denver has Cleveland
and Indy, and I think there's one more like not
good team in there for them before they end with Casey,
(19:28):
the Chargers and the Bengals, which I think are all
gonna be three losses.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I just don't buy it.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
They very much remind me of like some of the
Tannehill Dolphins teams that were like, they can beat really
bad teams that can compete with middle of the road teams.
They might even show up once or twice against a
big time team like the Chiefs, although the Chiefs play
everybody close, including the Carolina Panthers. But do you think
the Broncos can beat what you saw on Monday Night
Football with Lamar Jackson?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
No?
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Can they beat a Chargers team that hides their quarterback
every chance they get.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
And speaking of that the Chargers, I guess I'm gonna
do the podcast right now before next week. I do
want to take a look at all those teams on
a longer episode next week.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
But the Chargers without JK. Dobbins.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Keep an eye on that because this is a team
that pretty much wins the games by playing defense, run
in the football, and then their quarterback misses big time
throws in the second half of the game, and when
he makes the throws, their receivers drop it. Weird had
a chance in leak neighbors. I just don't like the Chargers,
can you tell. I mean, I'm pretty pretty feisty. I'm
kind of a little menace about those guys. But I
think between them, I think the Steelers have a brutal
(20:29):
schedule down the stretch. I think one of those two
teams will falter. And I also believe the Broncos will
falter below ten wins or if they get ten wins, Miami,
provided they lose their only one game to an NFCFO
would have the tiebreaker on the Broncos as well. So
I think that ten and seven is a lock guarantee
to get them in. I think there's lots of pretenders
in this league.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Even to this point.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
They're still winning plenty of games like the Broncos, and
that was reflected in my picks this week. Even though
I had one of my worst weeks of the year,
I was eight and five this week. That us to
one twenty nine and fifty three heading into Week thirteen,
and again we're gonna reserve the Packers and Dolphins pick
for the show tomorrow. Let's go ahead and cue the
music and pick the rest of the games as we
(21:11):
look to get back over seventy three percent in the
win column. Right here, so I'm taking the I'm taking
taking chalk. On Thursday, I'll take the Lions over the Bears.
I think the Lions watch the I'll say this, then
we'll see what happens, because I think I'm pretty sure
I mentioned this about the Rams at some point, maybe
the Cardinals at some point. It feels like or the Ravens.
(21:33):
I picked the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl
after their two and two start, and even though I
changed that from the Chiefs originally, I feel like the
Lions could run the table. They are such a consistently
good football team that is built to win in so
many ways that I think they might be somewhat impervious
to like collapse and let down. And they've had a
couple of games they didn't play it to their best
(21:54):
and they could have been picked off in some of
those spots, but they find a way to win. They've
been dominant over bad teams, which I think the Bears
are that as well. I think they'll confuse that young quarterback.
I think Brian Branch will probably pick them off and
take it back for six at one point in that game.
I'll take the Lions over the Bears on Thanksgiving, Give
me the Cowboys over the Giants in your post Turkey
dinner celebration nap game. My goodness, what do we do
(22:14):
and flex this thing out? I know we can't do that,
but Cooper Rush versus Tommy Cutlets, I cannot think of
anything I'd rarely watch less. Give me Blaze and the
Monster Machines for three straight hours over that football game.
I mean, it'll make Cam happy. Every time I get home,
Cam goes a byce. It's the cues freaking thing in
the whole world. No, Cam, we're watching Monday night football. Boy,
he watches plenty of Blaze. Trust me, he's very loved.
(22:38):
Not gonna pick the Thursday night game. I will take
the Chiefs over the Raiders on Black Friday. If the
Chiefs played that Raiders team with Desmond Rider close, it
might be time to go ahead and throw some dirt
on the coffin of the twenty twenty four Chiefs because
you can't.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You gotta beat that team.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
They are so bad, even like and then going from
Minshew to Ritter, like, you gotta bury that team. The
Falcons with the Chargers is probably my toughest pick of
the week, But I just talked about how I think JK.
Dobbins is a huge loss for that team, and I
think the Falcons coming off of bye, I think that
they're The Chargers pass rush has been kind of middling
(23:14):
this year, with you know, Bosa and Matt going in
and out of the lineup and not being their usual
effective selves. I think that I think the Dolphins, or
rather the Falcons, can score some points and off a
short week on the road in a pretty good road
environment there in Atlanta. I like the Chargers getting picked off,
and if they do, that could be the beginning of
their collapse. That the Dolphins need to have happened to
(23:35):
take their place in the playoffs, Which wouldn't that be
so freaking beautiful? By the way, to a tongue of
by Lowa and Justin Herbert have the same number of
touchdown passes this year. One guys played eleven games, one
guy's played seven. Just saying Falcons over Chargers, I'll take
the Bengals over the Steelers. I actually have the Bengals
winning out. Can you guys believe that? Am I crazy?
Am I just ignoring how bad their defense is. Joe
(23:58):
Burrow has twenty seven touchdown pass eleven games, They're gonna
beat some teams. I don't think the Steelers have the offense,
even though they want to play like you know, Dave
Wantstead football, which you find the theme and the teams.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
I don't like.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
If you play Wantstead football, I don't think you're any good.
Let's just put it that way. And the Steelers, I
think that magic carpet right comes to an end. They
lost to the Browns in a devastating fashion on Thursday
Night football. I think they get you know, two more
against the Bengals here. I think the Bengals can pick
them off twice. I have the Steelers finishing nine to
eight and out of the playoffs, and it starts here
with Joe Burr going up and down the field in
(24:29):
those guys, and we'll just doing enough because I don't
think that the Steelers' offense is good enough to take
advantage of a bad Bengals defense. Cardinals over the Vikings,
that's a tricky one there after that tough performance in Seattle.
But I always like an athletic quarterback against a Brian
Flores defense. I'm taking the Patriots over the Colts in
an upset. I know that we just watched the Patriots
play a really bad football game.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
But you pretty much have to.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Guess whether or not you're gonna get Anthony Richardson splash
plays or the complete negative all game long. He was
a little bit of both on Sunday against the Lions.
I think that he the Patriots can do enough, and
then Drake may can do enough against a bad defense
in a bad front with a good running game with
a bad run defense, I should say to get that
upset win.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Seahawks over the Jets.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
I wonder if one more loss turns it in terms
of Rogers to Tyrod Taylor ahead of our game next week.
Either way, I'm not worried about them. I'll take the
Seahawks in that one. Washington over Tennessee. Although the Cliff
Kingsbury cliff has arrived and that offense has become a
shell of itself, I think the Titans are not the
one to do the job there.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Houston over Jacksonville.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
That's an obvious one, even though Houston's playing some really
bad football. I think Jacksonville does get Lawrence back, but
they're just so such a bad football team.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I'll take the Rams over the Saints.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'm gonna keep pounding this rams drum until I guess
the wheels fall off.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
I just believe in them, even if they are not
playing the best football right now. The Bucks over the Panthers,
there's a no doy. Ravens over Eagles is my pick there.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
The Ravens defense is struggling this year, but I just
have so much faith in Lamar and Derreck Henry and
the Eagles are a really good football team. They're the
second by far, the second best team in the NFC.
But I think the Ravens are ripe to pick them
off right here. Buffalo over a you know, shambles Niners team.
We'll see if Brock Party plays in that game, maybe
maybe they can stack up a couple more losses and
(26:18):
shut Party down for the rest of the year. Be
kind of nice to see that for our Week sixteen game.
And then Cleveland over Denver's my Monday night football pick.
I'm kind of picking like what the Dolphins need, so
I understand that that might be a little bit homersh,
but I think they're One of the reasons that I'm
so anti bo Knicks is because I watched that whole
Week three game or was it week two? No, it
(26:40):
was Week four against the Broncos because we played on
Monday Night football, so I had Sunday off and it
was like raining at the metal Lands and bow knicks
like couldn't grip and throw a forward pass, Like he
couldn't grip the football and throw a forward pass like
it was so bad. And so I think about those
games in Denver when the weather gets bad, and we
just watched Jamis Winston literally have a snow day like
a school like he was out of school for the day,
running around having so much fun with his friends. I
(27:02):
think that Wednesday and can play better than those elements.
I don't know if it's it's gonna be like twenty
five degrees in Denver. So give me the Browns to
knock off the Broncos, and I think the Broncos are
going to go into a tail spin here. So that's
the picks for Week thirteen. We'll have the Dolphins and
Packers pick for you guys on the show tomorrow. That'll
be the last podcast before the game, so we'll have
this one will come out today on Tuesday preview episode
(27:24):
tomorrow early Wednesday. I'm hoping for the release of that
and I hope you guys can hear it before Thanksgiving.
Please enjoy your holiday with your family. It's the best
day of the year in my opinion, football and family.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
What more could you want than that.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
We'll have that show for you guys on Wednesday, and
then the recap episode will be up early Friday morning,
and then we'll have an all twenty two review for
you guys Friday evening that carries you through the weekend.
It'll also exist as the Monday Podcast and we'll have
a episode Tuesday and Wednesday kind of doing a bigger
picture look at the Dolphins and the rest of the NFL,
and then get right back into it for Jetsweek. So
that's the schedule here on Draft time. Again, enjoy your holiday.
That's my time on the show. You Please be sure
(27:57):
to subscribe to the podcast, leave us a rating, lead
us a review. You can follow me on social at
Winkle NFL the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out Seth
and Juice on the Fish Tank podcast. Check out the
YouTube channel for media availabilities.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Dolphins HQ.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
New episode this week, but welcome back next week for
the Jets Week and last button not least Miami dolphins
dot Com until next time.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Fins Up Glan Cameron Daddy
To on the move, going deep speedways Peace do hell
Peas from the Baptist Health Studio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This inside the Baptist Health Training Complex.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield. He's got my add
hands in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
What is up Dolphins and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
a short and sweet holiday episode of the Draft Time Podcast.
Is my guest today, Wes Hodgwitch Frompackers dot Com, who
might be my favorite team employee, my favorite person in
the NFL in general, joins us today to talk about
(00:46):
this very fun matchup on Thanksgiving night Dolphins and Packers.
He will give us the perspective from Green Bay. I'll
also make the week thirteen picks and that will be it,
and they'll have the preview show tomorrow for you guys.
But for now, for the meantime, from the bat this
Hell Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is
the Draft Time Podcast. Joining me today is a senior
(01:09):
writer for Packers dot Com. You can follow him at
wes hot He's Wes Hodwitz.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Wes. Welcome back, man.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I feel like usually these NFC games don't happen for
like several years apart. But we just had you guys
a couple of years ago, and here you are again,
my friend.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, I'd love that I'm sharing all of our holidays
with you here, Travis. We got to do Christmas in
Miami two years ago, and now here we are Thanksgiving
in Green Bay. Uh, maybe you can get back together
for Easter or something.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Little draft party.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I mean, is it is in Green Bay this year
or is that could make something happen for that Maybe
we'll come your way and do some content up in
the Great White North.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
That's not the Great White North, that's the what am
I talking about? Close enough?
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I was just telling Wes we had the short weak
gives us like a day to get three days worth
of work done.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So we are cruising right along on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
West.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Let's go ahead and talk about this matchup that it's
kind of gonna say if the Thanksgiving Day slate. In
my opinion, I think that the Lion should be able
to take care of business aginst the Bears and then
the Cowboys and Giants are going in the wrong direction
right now, and Packers and Dolphins. Man, this looks like
a fun matchup. I mean, this is for us. I mean,
I'm sure you know this, like this is like the
narrative killing game for the Dolphins. How are the Packers
viewing this one as your sandwich between the Niners on Sunday.
(02:16):
I'll be at a banged up Niners and a huge
game next thursdaygainst the Lions as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
This is a huge one for Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
And I think if you know anything about Matt Laflour
in his history with Mike McDaniel, I mean, he has
so much respect for him, the program that he's put
together in Miami, and really just the various threats that
they have throughout both the offense and defense. Certainly Joe Barry,
the Packer excuse me, the Dolphins linebackers coach now was
the defensive coordinator here the last three years.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Matt and him are credibly close. That was a difficult decision.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
You know, moving on and going in a different direction there,
but so much respect for him inside this building.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, I think you said it.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I think this is going to be the primetime matchup
everybody wanted to see on Thanksgiving. I have some mixed
feelings about non conference games and holiday slates.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I typically like.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
More of the rivalries and the you know, the Bears,
the Lions, and obviously all the things that the Dolphins
have going for them as well. But you know, all
things considered, just an overall athleticism standpoint, quality of teams standpoint,
I still view the Miami Dolphins is one of the
best teams in the NFL. When two is on the field,
I think it should be really exciting.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
I'm looking forward to it for that reason.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
And the Dolphins offense has really found this different approach
to scoring points. I mean, the results are the same
as they were last year when the Dolphins were going
up and down the field with some more explosives, and
this year they've kind of earned that through their shorter
passing game, an intermediate passing game, and while the run
game hasn't been in the last couple of weeks, it
has been a big focal point of the entire offense.
But I guess where I want to go now, Wes
(03:43):
is every time McDaniel takes to the podium before a game,
I'm like, how can I ask him about the opposing team?
And I'm like, well, he had familiarity with this coach,
And I'm like, that's every week in this league for
coach McDaniel and for coach Lafleur as well. I'm curious
if you asked coach Lafleur that, And how do you
think the fact that these guys have you know, similar
offensive backgrounds, the fact that you mentioned Joe Barry was
(04:03):
the defensive coording to their last year linebackers coach here
for the Dolphins, you know, there's so much familiarity there.
How do you think that makes the matchup different, better,
worse for a Thursday game.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Well, I think it definitely adds to almost more of
the common opponent. You know, we always hear about Thursday
night football games. That's what makes it so difficult when
you face these teams that aren't from your division. Is
trying to scheme them up, trying to plan for them,
and there's so many parallels offensively, especially between these two programs.
One of the reasons why you know, Packers, one of
the reserve running backs, Chris Brooks, was with the Miami Dolphins,
(04:36):
as you know, for you know, one and a half years,
and they felt like one of the reasons why he
got so up to speed as fast as he did
in this offense is because of that background. So they
do things differently. Everybody always says that, you know, things
are called a little bit differently. But I think overall
the bases and the foundation there, whether it stems from
the Shanahan tree or if it's just their own personal
preferences with what they've brought to the table, I think
(04:57):
there definitely is more familiarity there. The Christmas game, you know,
two years ago now almost I thought that was a
fantastic entertaining game all around, and I feel like this
one especially, it's gonna be a little colder, but you know,
all around it, I think it has the real makings
for a very friendly matchup.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Absolutely, It's you mentioned earlier. The you know, the move
at DC and going to Jeff Hafley was one of
the more interesting things that really happened across the NFL
landscape and the college football landscape.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And as a Washington.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
State grad, I am happy to see people leave the
college game and come to our great league where the
football is much better, and leave that stuff behind, because
I too, am very bitter about the current landscape of
college football. But we'll leave my personal fillings aside. But
I feel like Jeff Hafley felt the same way with
regards to, you know, being a head coach at Boston College,
a major program, and he's like, I don't want anything
(05:47):
to do with this, you know, nil business. Maybe that's
not what he thought, but that's that's the sense that
I get to jump to the league and then take
over a defense and really put his flavor on it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Can you talk about that?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
But also just his impact on this Packers defense this
year well.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And that I think when we go back to his
introductory press conference and everything him talking earlier in the spring,
that's really was a big part of it, is that
he wanted in some ways to just get back to
coaching again. You know, he felt like there was so
much time that was tied into the NIL thing and
making sure you recruit your own guys and keep your
own program together. That this allowed him to be able
to sort of find his passion for football again. And
(06:23):
you know, and Joe Barry did some tremendous stuff here
and me personally, I'd give a kidney for Joe. I mean,
he is one of the most salt of the earth,
tremendous human beings that I've ever come across in this sport.
But the Packers wanted to make a change, not only
just at the defensive coordinator but scheme. I mean, when
Jeff Haffley came in here, he brought in a four
to three scheme, a little bit more of a vision
based attacking front, and I think it's really given Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What they wanted so far. I mean, their twenty.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Two takeaways this year is already well past what they
had last season. I think there's, you know, bringing in
a guy like Xavier McKinney has felt so well into
the roles that that you know, Halfley had it envisioned
for him and what the Packers thought they were getting
when they signed him as a twenty four year old
unrestricted free agent out.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Of New York.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
They're just it is more complementary, I feel like in
terms of just the all around scheme of what they
want to do and where they want to go. It's
allowed the inside linebackers to use some of their athleticism,
getting involved in the blitz packages, the pressure packages, and
despite not having you know, Jay r Alexander for various
points at this season, they've still managed to sort of
(07:30):
stem the tide and keep this thing going and are
just on the fringe of a top ten defense. So
I think Halfley's philosophy and just the way he coaches
and sort of the energy he brings is really resonated
with this locker room.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Yeah, you hit a lot of the points that I
wanted to ask you about individually with this defense. Because
number one, Xavier McKinney, I'll ever forget. My first assignment
with the Dolphins was right before COVID happened. So my
first year I was hired like two weeks before COVID
shut the entire world down for you know, for six
months was the Combine, And I had a chance to
ask Xavier McKinney about practicing against two a tongue of
II looan. He was like, he is a master at
looking guys off and holding defenses with his eyes. But
(08:04):
I kind of feel like McKinney's the same way on
the defensive side with how he can bait guys. And
you touch on the turnovers they've they've gotten that year
this year, and I saw on SVP he showed the
stat that the Packers have had fourteen points or more
off of turnovers in four plus or four games this year,
and that's the most in the NFL. So That's gonna
be one of my big key when I do my
preview episode tomorrow is taking a look at how the
(08:25):
Dolphins can protect the football and hopefully, you know, get
the win that way. But with regards to how they
get the takeaways, what exactly are they doing to to
create those situations? Because I saw on Twitter someone was
talking about how they've kind of simplified I think it
was Ben fel Fanelle, who does great work for NFL
films and I think he works in CBS as well,
but he was talking about some more simplified coverages that
give the Packers a little bit more defined rules with
(08:47):
how they can you know, bait and jump those players.
You're seeing that from the defense and how have they
kind of gotten that these massive takeaway numbers?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, And I think like any big marquee free agent
doesn't matter if it's offense or defense. When you bring
those guys in, you're kind of looking to build around
them and kind of tailoring your scheme to them. And
I feel like the Packers took everything that Xavier McKinney
does really well and have just sort of amplified it
and given him opportunities to sort of roam a little bit.
He's mostly been back for most of the year. He's
(09:16):
been playing the center field spot. They like to go
single high if they can, you know, being able to
move around their rookies. Both Javon Bullard and Evan Williams
have played that spot alongside McKinney. And I just feel
like so many times you've been hearing guys talk this
season about just being able to play more free and
just understanding what their roles are and not having to
think about all the contingency plans to it. I feel
(09:38):
like the less thinking that has been involved this year,
it's been better for Green Bay, both upfront with their
defensive pass rush, but then also on that back end
as well. So, yeah, McKinney is such a heady player, man.
And like you were saying with Tua, I mean, when
you can you know, this game requires so much from
an athlete, but when you can go above and beyond
that in the intellectual level, I feel like that's where
(09:59):
a lot of times you gain and edge. And I
can't speak to Tua's habits, but one thing that I
know definitely was instilled in Xavier, and maybe it's just
part of his makeup. Maybe it's coming from Alabama, but
he is an absolute film junkie. He looks for every
potential advantage he can see on the film and on
the tape, and he uses that. And I think there's
been numerous times this season where he's talked about his
interceptions being products of that. So last year, not enough takeaways,
(10:23):
too many, and that wasn't just a scheme. I mean,
there's too many times where guys drop passes, you know,
knock on wood from Green Bay standpoint, But that hasn't
really happened at all with McKinney, and in a few
cases the defense as a whole. So I just think
guys have been opportunistic, and as you said, they've been
able to punch those into the end zone or at
least get points off of him. Last week, three second
half takeaways they got twenty one points and that's what
(10:43):
really allowed them to roll in what looked like a
very dominant win over the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Really put that thing out of reach.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
That film prep comment you made is exactly why that
matchup with he and Tua is going to be so
so good because Tua, I mean, I feel like it's
almost a bad word to hit us about a corp.
But he knows where the ball's going before the snap
most of the time. But it's not because he's pre
determining that, reez, because he knows what's going to happen
to the defensive rotation. And McKinney's gonna do his best
to make sure he can, you know, kind of spoil
(11:12):
the punch bowl, as it were. Let's take a really
quick break right here, come back on the other side
and talk about this Packers offense. I love their quarterback
and I want to ask Wes about him more. Next
Draft Time Podcast, my guest is a Wes Hodgwitz. Draft
Time podcast brought to you by Auto Nation. Back here
with my guest today, Wes Hodwitz on the Draft Time
Podcast talking about Dolphins and Packers on Thursday night, Thanksgiving Night.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Huge game for the Dolphins.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I think the Packers have a little bit more leeway
for margin for air. But if Dolphins get this one,
the run is officially on. So we're looking forward to
a great matchup with two good quarterbacks, two good coaches,
two fun schemes.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Everything you want on a cold night in Green Bay.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
And let's go ahead and talk about that quarterback on
the Packers' side West because this is a guy that
I was in love with at Utah State, and I
love the way the Packers managed his career and developed
him on the bench and then brought him into the
lineup and he just breaks out in a big way
in his first full year starting. What's been because I've
seen like kind of to talk about some turnovers and
maybe some regression at times this year, but they're still
(12:11):
like winning games and he's posting big stats. How has
the second year evolution been for Jordan Love in his
second year starting, I should.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
Say yeah, when he's healthy, it's been really good.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I think one thing that hurt him is he ended up,
you know, sustaining the knee injury at the end of
the game in Brazil against Philly that cost him two starts,
and then he comes back and he has the groin injury.
He's finally off the injury report, and I think there's
no it's not a coincidence that last week was where
he finally snapped that turnover streak in the win over
the forty nine ers. So he has every tool you
(12:42):
can look for. And I think you've talked about a
time and time again. I mean that twenty twenty draft
class of quarterbacks and potentially where that group could go
over the next five to ten years. I mean, you
might be looking at that collection of guys being the
ones that sort of usher in the next era of
NFL football. And you know, for Jordan, there's no right
or wrong way to develop a quarterback. Miami went through
(13:03):
it itself, but I think that process has worked here
in Green Bay. I feel like watching Jordan being able to,
you know, have that time with Aaron Rodgers and figure
out the things that Aaron did well that he wanted
to incorporate into his game. I think one thing you'll notice,
or at least they're going to try for in this
game is you know, trying to catch the defense with
too many men on the field, trying to you know,
gain those type of free plays. That's one thing that
(13:26):
Jordan has sort of amplified this year and taken to
the next level. But just from a pure makeup standpoint,
this guy at you know, six foot four, he stands
tall in the pocket, he does not wilt under pressure,
can make every throw on the field. The Packers made
him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the National
Football League for that very reason is that they felt
like that first year and what he showed, especially during
(13:47):
that second half of last season, really you know, bode
well for what his long term potential is going to be.
Definitely still has some stuff to clean up as a
twenty six year old quarterback. Definitely has to curtail the turnovers,
but you know he's gonna take some chances with the ball.
The thing that they need to eliminate was some of
these pick sixes that happened this year, which were trying
(14:08):
to make something happen at the very last minute and
it ends up, you know, resulting in a big play
in the opposite direction.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Have to get that under control.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
But buying large Jordan love and just seeing the way
he's grown as a leader with this locker room, you
really can't say enough about it.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
I feel like the same way about the McKinney and
TUA matchup, where Anthony Weaver has been awesome this year
for us, and I cannot wait to watch the way
he tries to, you know, confuse Jordan and create some
of those mistakes that he's had and Jordan doing what
he can to create off script to make the plays
that he does every single week as well.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
This is a game full of fun matchups.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
Real quick, I have one last question, but real quick,
can you just kind of give me the ranking and
the hierarchy the Packers eligibles because they you guys have
like seven guys that are great players and I'm having
a hard time figuring.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Out who is the like the pecking order there.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Well, first off, I mean, Josh Shacobs has been a
godsend for these guys and being able to control the
run game. Last week became the first one hundred yard
rusher agains the San Francisco forty nine ers I think
in fifty four regular season matchups, if you conclude the postseason,
I think it was Aaron Jones actually had the other
one when he was still here in Green Bay. So
Jacob's grabbing that baton and taking it forward I think
has really been huge for them. But as far as
receivers go, I mean, it can be any guy at
(15:14):
any given week. I think Jayden Reid's probably the one
you'll see more of the offense running through.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
They motion him, they orbit him, He'll carry the ball
every once in a while.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
He's sort of become that Deebo Samuel type playmaker, all
around Swiss Army Knight for this offense. Christian Watson unfortunately
had a big drop at the end of the first
half against San Francisco, could have been a forty nine
yard touchdown, but a week earlier had a career Highe
hundred and fifty receiving yards, six foot four, can run
in the four threes, fast as lightning. I mean, that
guy when he's available, he brings it. Unfortunately for Green Bay,
(15:43):
Romeo Dobbs did sustain a concussion in that law in
the win over San Francisco, so losing him potentially not
having him on the field. That's one of the main
guys that Jordan Love often looks for, especially in the
moving the sticks kind of first down moments. So a
lot of different options, a lot of different players, and
obviously a tight end Tucker Craft is broken out this
year as well as a team high six touchdowns. So
(16:05):
that's the beauty of the offense. That's what Matt Lafleur,
that's how he likes to run. It can go a
number of different ways, and for Jordan Love that gives
him so many different outlets to be able to unleash.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The football West.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
I apologize if you see me just smiling on the
call over here, because the Packers are kind of like
my NFC team.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
I love the way they're a bill, I love the quarterback,
I love the skill spots, I love the system.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I just it's such a fun team and it makes
for such a fun game.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
And you and I get so giddy about these types
of big these fun matchups when involves our teams.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Real quick, we have like two minutes for West has
a heart out here.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
I want to ask you about this tweet because I
do the exact same thing on Sundays, and it's always
the best. After a win, you get a snapshot of
the stadium. I promote the hell out of my content
while I do it. You had a better version of it.
I thought you said this is my favorite version of
lambeau Field. Whenever my ride ends, I'll carry these ones
with me. The most hope you made to memories today.
Tell it kind of set the stage for us. With
the atmosphere on Thursday night at lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
It's second to none.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
As much as I enjoy the Miami weather, it's there's
something special about November.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Get the it will probably be in the twenties.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I don't think there's any snow on the forecast, but
it is the way football is meant to be played,
especially when you factor in one hundred plus years of
history here in lambeau Field and Green Bay, Wisconsin, one
of the absolute mechas of the league. So yeah, I
always enjoy those moments, very quiet, very solitude, you know
how this business works.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Were usually the.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Last ones to leave, at least on the media side
of things, so being able to just enjoy that a
little bit. I think any Dolphin fans that end up
making it up here too, one of the most friendly
environments you're gonna find in the Nation Football League. They
love their football team, but they're also incredibly welcoming too,
and I think that's why any football fan, regardless if
you like the Packers are not. Definitely at some point
you need to make that trip to Lambefield because it
(17:37):
doesn't get any.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Better bucket list item. For me, for sure, I hope
to make it one day. Not gonna happen this year around,
but maybe down the road we'll find our way up there.
Senior Byronpackers dot Com at Wes Hodge wet or Wes
hodg Sorry, Wes Hodgwitz, appreciate your time today, man, get
out of here, go take care of your busy, busy,
short week, my friend.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Thank you, Travis, same to you.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I wish we could have chat a little bit longer,
but you know how this goes, trying to get these
schedules to the line one after another.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
You're awfully kind of make it work, man. I know
you got a lot to do today. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Thanks buddy.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Wes is the kind of guy that when the Dolphins
win a game, I don't care about anybody else's feelings
for any of the team that they root for. But
when we beat the Packers on Thursday night, I will
probably think for one second Wes is bummed out. That
makes me sad, But it only lasts like one second.
He's just that good of a dude, So appreciate his time.
In a very short week and a very crowded week
for content here for Dolphins and Packers workers. I like,
(18:23):
let's go ahead and take our last break rate there,
come back and finish up with the week thirteen picks
Draft Time podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you
by Auto Nation. Week number thirteen in the National Football
League is upon us. I just realized that I'm going
to do these picks. I'm going to spoil the pick
for the Dolphins and Packers. Now let's go ahead and
(18:44):
save it. I will save the Dolphins and Packers pick
for the preview show, but I do want to get
into the rest of the NFL as things are starting
to heat up. And next week on the show, I'm
going to go ahead and peel the curtain back and
take a look at the other AFC competitors for the
wild card position that we are playing for. And of course,
if Miami beats Green Bay, I'm gonna go on record
right now and guarantee Joe Namath's style ahead of the
(19:06):
Jets game that the Dolphins will be playing a eighteenth
game this year if they beat Green Bay. I am
a firm believer that ten wins gets you in no matter.
I just think the rest of the AFC. Do you
guys know how I feel about Denver. Denver has Cleveland
and Indy, and I think there's one more like not
good team in there for them before they end with Casey,
(19:28):
the Chargers and the Bengals, which I think are all
gonna be three losses.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I just don't buy it.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
They very much remind me of like some of the
Tannehill Dolphins teams that were like, they can beat really
bad teams that can compete with middle of the road teams.
They might even show up once or twice against a
big time team like the Chiefs, although the Chiefs play
everybody close, including the Carolina Panthers. But do you think
the Broncos can beat what you saw on Monday Night
Football with Lamar Jackson?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
No?
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Can they beat a Chargers team that hides their quarterback
every chance they get.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
And speaking of that the Chargers, I guess I'm gonna
do the podcast right now before next week. I do
want to take a look at all those teams on
a longer episode next week.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
But the Chargers without JK. Dobbins.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Keep an eye on that because this is a team
that pretty much wins the games by playing defense, run
in the football, and then their quarterback misses big time
throws in the second half of the game, and when
he makes the throws, their receivers drop it. Weird had
a chance in leak neighbors. I just don't like the Chargers,
can you tell. I mean, I'm pretty pretty feisty. I'm
kind of a little menace about those guys. But I
think between them, I think the Steelers have a brutal
(20:29):
schedule down the stretch. I think one of those two
teams will falter. And I also believe the Broncos will
falter below ten wins or if they get ten wins, Miami,
provided they lose their only one game to an NFCFO
would have the tiebreaker on the Broncos as well. So
I think that ten and seven is a lock guarantee
to get them in. I think there's lots of pretenders
in this league.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Even to this point.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
They're still winning plenty of games like the Broncos, and
that was reflected in my picks this week. Even though
I had one of my worst weeks of the year,
I was eight and five this week. That us to
one twenty nine and fifty three heading into Week thirteen,
and again we're gonna reserve the Packers and Dolphins pick
for the show tomorrow. Let's go ahead and cue the
music and pick the rest of the games as we
(21:11):
look to get back over seventy three percent in the
win column. Right here, so I'm taking the I'm taking
taking chalk. On Thursday, I'll take the Lions over the Bears.
I think the Lions watch the I'll say this, then
we'll see what happens, because I think I'm pretty sure
I mentioned this about the Rams at some point, maybe
the Cardinals at some point. It feels like or the Ravens.
(21:33):
I picked the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl
after their two and two start, and even though I
changed that from the Chiefs originally, I feel like the
Lions could run the table. They are such a consistently
good football team that is built to win in so
many ways that I think they might be somewhat impervious
to like collapse and let down. And they've had a
couple of games they didn't play it to their best
(21:54):
and they could have been picked off in some of
those spots, but they find a way to win. They've
been dominant over bad teams, which I think the Bears
are that as well. I think they'll confuse that young quarterback.
I think Brian Branch will probably pick them off and
take it back for six at one point in that game.
I'll take the Lions over the Bears on Thanksgiving, Give
me the Cowboys over the Giants in your post Turkey
dinner celebration nap game. My goodness, what do we do
(22:14):
and flex this thing out? I know we can't do that,
but Cooper Rush versus Tommy Cutlets, I cannot think of
anything I'd rarely watch less. Give me Blaze and the
Monster Machines for three straight hours over that football game.
I mean, it'll make Cam happy. Every time I get home,
Cam goes a byce. It's the cues freaking thing in
the whole world. No, Cam, we're watching Monday night football. Boy,
he watches plenty of Blaze. Trust me, he's very loved.
(22:38):
Not gonna pick the Thursday night game. I will take
the Chiefs over the Raiders on Black Friday. If the
Chiefs played that Raiders team with Desmond Rider close, it
might be time to go ahead and throw some dirt
on the coffin of the twenty twenty four Chiefs because
you can't.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You gotta beat that team.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
They are so bad, even like and then going from
Minshew to Ritter, like, you gotta bury that team. The
Falcons with the Chargers is probably my toughest pick of
the week, But I just talked about how I think JK.
Dobbins is a huge loss for that team, and I
think the Falcons coming off of bye, I think that
they're The Chargers pass rush has been kind of middling
(23:14):
this year, with you know, Bosa and Matt going in
and out of the lineup and not being their usual
effective selves. I think that I think the Dolphins, or
rather the Falcons, can score some points and off a
short week on the road in a pretty good road
environment there in Atlanta. I like the Chargers getting picked off,
and if they do, that could be the beginning of
their collapse. That the Dolphins need to have happened to
(23:35):
take their place in the playoffs, Which wouldn't that be
so freaking beautiful? By the way, to a tongue of
by Lowa and Justin Herbert have the same number of
touchdown passes this year. One guys played eleven games, one
guy's played seven. Just saying Falcons over Chargers, I'll take
the Bengals over the Steelers. I actually have the Bengals
winning out. Can you guys believe that? Am I crazy?
Am I just ignoring how bad their defense is. Joe
(23:58):
Burrow has twenty seven touchdown pass eleven games, They're gonna
beat some teams. I don't think the Steelers have the offense,
even though they want to play like you know, Dave
Wantstead football, which you find the theme and the teams.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
I don't like.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
If you play Wantstead football, I don't think you're any good.
Let's just put it that way. And the Steelers, I
think that magic carpet right comes to an end. They
lost to the Browns in a devastating fashion on Thursday
Night football. I think they get you know, two more
against the Bengals here. I think the Bengals can pick
them off twice. I have the Steelers finishing nine to
eight and out of the playoffs, and it starts here
with Joe Burr going up and down the field in
(24:29):
those guys, and we'll just doing enough because I don't
think that the Steelers' offense is good enough to take
advantage of a bad Bengals defense. Cardinals over the Vikings,
that's a tricky one there after that tough performance in Seattle.
But I always like an athletic quarterback against a Brian
Flores defense. I'm taking the Patriots over the Colts in
an upset. I know that we just watched the Patriots
play a really bad football game.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
But you pretty much have to.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Guess whether or not you're gonna get Anthony Richardson splash
plays or the complete negative all game long. He was
a little bit of both on Sunday against the Lions.
I think that he the Patriots can do enough, and
then Drake may can do enough against a bad defense
in a bad front with a good running game with
a bad run defense, I should say to get that
upset win.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Seahawks over the Jets.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
I wonder if one more loss turns it in terms
of Rogers to Tyrod Taylor ahead of our game next week.
Either way, I'm not worried about them. I'll take the
Seahawks in that one. Washington over Tennessee. Although the Cliff
Kingsbury cliff has arrived and that offense has become a
shell of itself, I think the Titans are not the
one to do the job there.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Houston over Jacksonville.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
That's an obvious one, even though Houston's playing some really
bad football. I think Jacksonville does get Lawrence back, but
they're just so such a bad football team.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I'll take the Rams over the Saints.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'm gonna keep pounding this rams drum until I guess
the wheels fall off.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
I just believe in them, even if they are not
playing the best football right now. The Bucks over the Panthers,
there's a no doy. Ravens over Eagles is my pick there.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Man.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
The Ravens defense is struggling this year, but I just
have so much faith in Lamar and Derreck Henry and
the Eagles are a really good football team. They're the
second by far, the second best team in the NFC.
But I think the Ravens are ripe to pick them
off right here. Buffalo over a you know, shambles Niners team.
We'll see if Brock Party plays in that game, maybe
maybe they can stack up a couple more losses and
(26:18):
shut Party down for the rest of the year. Be
kind of nice to see that for our Week sixteen game.
And then Cleveland over Denver's my Monday night football pick.
I'm kind of picking like what the Dolphins need, so
I understand that that might be a little bit homersh,
but I think they're One of the reasons that I'm
so anti bo Knicks is because I watched that whole
Week three game or was it week two? No, it
(26:40):
was Week four against the Broncos because we played on
Monday Night football, so I had Sunday off and it
was like raining at the metal Lands and bow knicks
like couldn't grip and throw a forward pass, Like he
couldn't grip the football and throw a forward pass like
it was so bad. And so I think about those
games in Denver when the weather gets bad, and we
just watched Jamis Winston literally have a snow day like
a school like he was out of school for the day,
running around having so much fun with his friends. I
(27:02):
think that Wednesday and can play better than those elements.
I don't know if it's it's gonna be like twenty
five degrees in Denver. So give me the Browns to
knock off the Broncos, and I think the Broncos are
going to go into a tail spin here. So that's
the picks for Week thirteen. We'll have the Dolphins and
Packers pick for you guys on the show tomorrow. That'll
be the last podcast before the game, so we'll have
this one will come out today on Tuesday preview episode
(27:24):
tomorrow early Wednesday. I'm hoping for the release of that
and I hope you guys can hear it before Thanksgiving.
Please enjoy your holiday with your family. It's the best
day of the year in my opinion, football and family.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
What more could you want than that.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
We'll have that show for you guys on Wednesday, and
then the recap episode will be up early Friday morning,
and then we'll have an all twenty two review for
you guys Friday evening that carries you through the weekend.
It'll also exist as the Monday Podcast and we'll have
a episode Tuesday and Wednesday kind of doing a bigger
picture look at the Dolphins and the rest of the NFL,
and then get right back into it for Jetsweek. So
that's the schedule here on Draft time. Again, enjoy your holiday.
That's my time on the show. You Please be sure
(27:57):
to subscribe to the podcast, leave us a rating, lead
us a review. You can follow me on social at
Winkle NFL the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out Seth
and Juice on the Fish Tank podcast. Check out the
YouTube channel for media availabilities.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Dolphins HQ.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
New episode this week, but welcome back next week for
the Jets Week and last button not least Miami dolphins
dot Com until next time.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Fins Up Glan Cameron Daddy
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