Hey everybody, thanks for logging on today. Hope all is well in your worlds. I see a few questions already have come in, so keep sending and I’ll get started.
Hi, Mike: Interesting developments w/ NY Jets. Amid the finger-pointing, chaos and tension amongst ownership, management, coaching and players, I can’t help but reflect on how fortunate the Packers are with their ownership structure. Establishing and maintaining a winning AND high-character culture is not easy in an organization. Besides the Packers (whom I would argue are leaders, but I’m biased) what NFL organizations stand out in this regard and what 2-3 attributes do you think separate the great from the rest?
The Packers aren’t alone in having organizational stability in this league. Teams like the Ravens and Steelers also come to mind. The Chiefs too. The Lions might be getting there with this current regime. Stability doesn’t guarantee you any wins but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Sure hope Ja is back this week to cover Jr. ! I want to see GB play their best complimentary f
I think we’d all love to see Jaire Alexander back just to be back, but then also of course to cover someone like Marvin Harrison Jr. Fingers crossed.
It seemed to me the defense made a big shift of who was safety, who was slot. Are there any other switches coming
Yeah, that was a major shift last week. Evan Williams played every defensive snap at safety after playing only a few dozen snaps in the first four games. Bullard played more in the slot and Nixon was outside with Alexander out and Eric Stokes/ Carrington Valentine sharing time. Edgerrin Cooper also is playing more now and I think he’ll become a more regular presence, too.
Loved the WYMM format of focusing on a single player! Feel free to do that again on a player of your choice!
I take that approach at times, focusing on a single player, if it makes sense based on how the game went. It was a lot of fun to see so much stuff I didn’t in real time.
Any updates on Romeo Doubs?
Nothing beyond what LaFleur said on Monday, which is that he expects him at practice today, which begins in a couple of hours.
Jordan Love reminds me of Farve. Both seem to be impatient with lengthy drives.
I don’t know if I’d call it impatience as much as a desire for the explosive play because that’s what puts defenses on their heels and generally leads to points. Long, methodical drives are great, but they also increase the odds of an offensive mistake that bogs you down. In the fourth quarter at LA, the Packers had a great drive going, burning clock, moving the chains. Then a false start and dropped pass ruined it, and they punted.
How do you feel CV did last Sunday? I saw people poking at him, but I thought he did decently for coming back from an injury.
He played about half the defensive snaps (41 of 78), which was good to see. The DPI in the fourth quarter at the goal line was unfortunate, because it wasn’t a lot of contact. Not egregious by any means but they called it. Everyone’s been waiting to see what Valentine can do in his second year but he’s been hampered by injuries. Hopefully good health for him is on the horizon.
Hey Mike, have you been as impressed with Emanuel Wilson‘s play this season as I have? He’s really making the most of his opportunities backing up Josh Jacobs.
I love the way Wilson runs. Hard. No hesitation. He hits it to make sure he gets what’s there, and then will try to make a move for more. He’s also improved a lot in pass protection, which was expected for a second-year guy.
Another 1 pm game coming up. Do we have more than the usual amount this year? Is this a good thing?
I love it from a work standpoint, but they just happen to be bunched together here early in the year. Later this season, we’re scheduled for 4 night games in a row.
Who is the 3rd running back now? Is he active on all games?
With MarShawn Lloyd on IR, the third RB currently is Chris Brooks.
Mike, Regarding Robert’s (from Seattle) question from this morning, of course Love cannot do what he did on that play. My question is regarding Jacobs’ blocking. Coach raised eyebrows a bit when he mentioned it in the previous game. On the pick 6, Jacobs and LT seemed to mishandle the blitz, and I believe Jacobs didn’t handle another block well before that play. Other teams are going to see that on film. What’s your updated take?
I always hesitate to assign blame when a blitz isn’t picked up and there’s a free runner, because it usually means a miscommunication on the protection call, where one guy thinks one thing and another is on a different page. I know fans hate to hear “miscommunication” as the explanation for a mistake, but it truly does happen. So I don’t know who was supposed to pick up the free runner, but clearly Love was expecting somebody to.
Is Christian Watson well enough to play this week?
I don’t know. We’ll see. He did not practice all last week but was listed as “doubtful” at the end of the week rather than “out,” so that leads me to believe he’s close to returning to the practice field.
Is Wilson better blocker than Jacobs?
I wouldn’t say that. I think Wilson has gotten much better in pass protection, as I said, but if there’s been an error with Jacobs it appears more in the mental/communication area than physical or blocking ability.