Jeff from Indian Lake, NY
I thought I saw in the Inbox last week that the NFL no longer considers a Friday game a “short week,” at least from a scheduling perspective? If that is true and you are an NFL player, are you not absolutely insulted and disgusted? Doesn’t seem like good PR in the safety era.
Don’t listen to what the league says, watch what it does.
Will the Packers have to play a game overseas again this year?
It’s looking increasingly unlikely, with the options dwindling, but not all doors are closed.
I was watching the movie “Casino” the other night…the dealers are watching the players, the box men are watching the dealers, the pit bosses are watching the box men, etc. It reminded me of a program I had watched years ago about the NFL personnel. They said people are watching the people who watch the people who watch the people on the sidelines. Do you have any elaboration or opinion on this?
There’s a lot of complexity to this business, but it’s not THAT secretive or complicated. I prefer to think of it as everybody having a job to do. Players play, coaches coach, scouts scout, writers write. And if the first three do their jobs exceedingly well, the fourth’s job is exceedingly easy.
Due to the possibility of replacement referees, there is talk of the replay center getting more involved in overturning clear and obvious errors by the on-field referees. Why would this only be done in the case of replacement referees? Shouldn’t that always be the intent of the replay center? Looking forward to the draft. GO PACK GO!
The league has always drawn clear lines regarding what’s reviewable and what’s not. They’re going to blur those lines if replacement officials are needed, to avoid a repeat of the 2012 disaster. Regardless, replay review keeps expanding, and for good reason. But there have to be rules and guidelines to follow, at least to provide the appearance of all games being treated equally. That would certainly be at risk with replacement officials, but in that scenario, the priority shifts to simply “no wrong outcomes.” The league didn’t think that would happen 14 years ago until it did.
Keith from Miamisburg, OH
One of the main things I hope Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love learned by evaluating last season is situational awareness. I get we are a team built on the explosive plays and take our shots when they are there; however, when the defense has been on the field a long time there needs to be an awareness of their condition. Too many times last year after long drives by the opponent we went three-and-out, shooting for a big play. If the D needs a break at least a couple of first downs.
I hear you, but if it were always that easy to get “at least a couple of first downs,” nobody would ever go three-and-out.
If my memory serves me right, wasn’t there more than a little push back when Coach Hafley was hired as the new DC? It’s been a few minutes since Coach Gannon’s been hired and I think I remember a little second guessing. Am I the only one who’s excited about the change? Briefly, can you please explain what philosophical differences between the two coaches are and how that will impact the defensive performance we can expect in the upcoming season?
There’s always going to be pushback because certain observers have their favorites. Be that as it may, I’m looking forward to learning more about Gannon’s philosophy and approach, but I’ve got nothing to offer right now. I expect Zaire Franklin and Hargrave can give us some insight into him as DC when we get a chance to talk to them, too.
There’s a lot of focus on finishing games, after last season’s fourth-quarter collapses, but let’s remember a year before that the problem was slow starts which had the team digging a hole – sometimes coming out of it, sometimes not. My point is each year is different and regression to the mean (sorry math) means last year’s aberrant statistic will be this year’s “meh.” Just build the best team you can and let the chips fall where they may.
There’s always a danger in thinking anything is THE problem, or the golden solution.
As you mentioned, there were so many individual plays that affected the final outcome this past season. It sure seems like in each of those games, there were 2-3 consecutive failed series within each game that were overshadowed by a missed kick, dropped onside, etc. Obviously, finishing games is an easy storyline for us short-term memory fans to focus on, but playing complete games is where the Packers need to improve.
Hi guys, Tauscher made some interesting comments the other day. He talked about the importance of winning the division before we can make Super Bowl plans. He also talked about taking back Lambeau in big games. He made a point that Love has never won the division, and it got me thinking we would’ve missed the playoffs the past two seasons if the NFL hadn’t added the seventh seed. Two years of missing the playoffs? I’m excited for the Packers this year, but I think he’s right. What am I missing?
For the record, it’s been three straight years as the No. 7 seed. But more important, I agree wholeheartedly with Tausch, and why I always say the first goal is to win the division. That gets you a minimum of one home playoff game. It’s what made the first loss at Chicago last year so damaging. If the Packers win that one, with two games to go they’re 10-4-1 with the Bears 10-5. Still work to do, but they’d have been in great position to win the North. As for taking back Lambeau in big games, I thought the team was on track to do that the way last season started, with the early home wins over Detroit and Washington. Then the midseason lull against Carolina and Philly in back-to-back home games killed that vibe.
Have you guys ever asked for the Inbox to be published less frequently each week to improve the quality over quantity ratio? It’s become less relevant Packer news and more “let’s chat with our five buddies about fishing and root beer.” This column often mentions clickbait but understandably rarely points out the amazing articles by those who print much less frequently and therefore more substantive articles. Or is II purposely geared to the young and willingly less informed just for fun?
It’s called a sponsorship obligation, Taylor.
Connor from Minnetrista, MN
Who is the most likely Week 1 opponent for GB?
I think another Inbox milestone is getting the last question/comment submission that Spoff doesn’t respond to!