Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

This is going to be a long dead zone based on some of the questions and comments. Not that I'm helping matters myself.

The dead zone is as organic in this column as the busy season itself. The storylines just sorta happen.

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

Over the weekend I heard rumblings of Lambeau Field renovations and adding over 4,000 seats to make them the largest NFL stadium. Do you have a story to break? What's up?

And some storylines are just plain made up out of thin air.

Dwight from Brooklyn, NY

Pica pole! Hah! As someone who learned printing both offset and letterpress, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you hit a niche info group with that comment.

That one made me laugh, too.

Craig from Sussex, WI

I typically go to two training camp practices and I always look for you two, is there an area where you typically stand?

Wes and I are always on the opposite side of Nitschke Field from the bleachers, but we don't stand in one place for a whole practice. There are different things we're focused on and moving around to get the best angles we can.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

Speaking of backup QBs, the Packers QB "farm system" of the '90s was crazy – Ty Detmer (1992 9th round), Mark Brunell (1993 5th round), Matt Hasselbeck (1998 6th round), Aaron Brooks (1999 4th round). Can we just chuck that up to luck, or that our scouts saw stuff that other teams didn't? Or coaching, or learning under Favre, or simply the commitment of mid-round picks to QBs? I'm guessing it's a little of everything, but I have to assume no team drafted more startable QBs in a single decade.

Ron Wolf definitely had an eye for QB talent. He was probably determined never to miss on one again after losing out on Favre and drafting Browning Nagle for the Jets in '91. The commitment to the pipeline and coaching certainly mattered, too.

Dewey from Grovetown, GA

I've read quite a few questions about Malik Willis this year and the surprise at how much better he played in GB as opposed to Tennessee. Like most fans, the term "fresh start" seemed to cover the issue, but one of Malik's teammates at Tennessee seemed to indicate that he struggled with the playbook there. He was not throwing shade but left the impression that he wanted to show how important coaches are in getting the player to reach his potential. I'd like your thoughts on that?

I can't speak to what was or wasn't going on with Willis in Tennessee, and I've heard of no such playbook struggles here, so I'm going to veer into a tangent. I learned a long time ago from McCarthy that a coach's job can be boiled down to two tenets: teach and demand. There's a misguided, media-created narrative that bestows "great coach" status on the Xs and Os wizards and genius play-callers. I've learned that only goes so far with the people who are actually in this business.

Lyn from Oshkosh, WI

Have there have been stories about Nate Hobbs? I would really like to know more about him. I thought he might be replacing Ja as the jargon goes … and all those younger guys were fighting to back them up or better the starters?

Here’s the story I wrote on Hobbs when he first signed in March and met with the Green Bay media.

Ben from McFarland, WI

I'm choosing to view Nate Hobbs as a replacement for Eric Stokes, not Jaire Alexander, mainly because Jaire basically didn't play the second half of the season. I see that as a major upgrade (although whadda I know). Depth behind the starting three needs to be found, but there's lots of guys vying for those spots. It could actually be a strength of the team.

Time will tell. There's been such a shift in the cornerback room I don't look at anybody replacing anybody else. Last year at this time, Keisean Nixon was strictly a slot guy. Now he's more boundary than slot but can do both. Hobbs has played more slot than boundary in his career but can also do both. Javon Bullard is a safety but can play nickel. Johnathan Baldwin is a highly touted undrafted rookie who could be in the same mold. The whole composition of the group is different now.

Alex from Bethany, CT

One aspect of the Jaire situation I haven't seen mentioned is even if he took the same deal to stay with the Packers, while GB would be protected financially if he missed multiple games, it's still disruptive to the secondary (and coaches) having to constantly move players around depending on Ja's availability. While I know Gutey would've rather gotten something back in a trade, I think the decision to move on was made after the season. It benefits everyone having consistency and predictability.

Nobody can predict injuries and their fallout, but LaFleur did mention multiple times last season how difficult it was on the coaches in the game-planning and prep stages for a player to be practicing during the week and then unable to play on Sundays. It was also difficult on the injured player, his teammates, everybody. Business decisions are made all the time, and they aren't solely about the dollars.

Dan from Lignite, ND

Been saving this one. Do you think we have reached or will reach the point where college NIL money will persuade athletes to stay in college instead of enter the draft early? Maybe the potential for pro endorsements still that much greater?

It's not the endorsements at the pro level, really. It's the salary and future earnings against the typically short career. A potential first-round pick, for the most part, will be better off getting to the NFL right away and working toward that second contract as soon as possible. Later-round guys might do better financially playing out their college eligibility.

Matt from Keswick, VA

Hello II, how involved is a head coach like ML in defensive play calling? Does he hand it over entirely, state what he anticipates the offense to run and ask for a plan, call for a certain personnel package, or something else? The buck starts with him, so he must have his input.

Discussions are taking place over the headsets all the time, so I would imagine suggestions, anticipations and the like are part of those. But outside of extremely rare instances, the defensive coordinator calls the defense.

Bruce from Appleton, WI

Do you think that Christian Watson will be ready for the start of the season?

No.

Clint from Port Washington, WI

I'm curious to get your opinion on Quay Walker and Isaiah Simmons. They are both in contract years, albeit one is a prove-it deal. Both are young (25 and 26 respectively) and talented first-round picks. Do you think the Simmons signing was a hedge against the possibility of not being able to re-sign Walker?

No.

Ross from Hudson, WI

Edgerrin Cooper, Walker, and Simmons present an amazingly athletic and potentially dynamic trio of linebackers. Barring injury is there a package or situation which could put them all on the field simultaneously?

Yes.

Robb from Hartford, WI

Is there a better name for a defensive lineman than "Stackhouse"?

Doubt it.

Davy from Watertown, WI

"At that point, it appeared that the 1956, '57 and '58 drafts, which wound up producing six future Pro Football Hall of Famers, were going to be one all-encompassing washout." What a line by Cliff! It's nice to know all the handwringing and lack of patience with draft picks isn't just a recent affliction.

Never has been.

Rick from Shawano, WI

The Packers training camp has 15 practices including Family Night and a joint practice in Indy. This takes place over five weeks and the three practices of the first week are in shorts. Yet all I hear about is the all-consuming "grind" of training camp. I don't see it and haven't for many years. What am I missing?

It's definitely not what it used to be, with two-a-days having gone the way of the dodo. But many of the days on the camp schedule without a public practice still include a closed practice. The daily routine is meetings, practice (open or closed), more meetings, and then an evening walk-through. The players' days are still quite long, just not as physically demanding as yesteryear.

Sharon from Stewartstown, PA

More a comment. I sincerely doubt most of today's readers of the Insider Inbox realize that Bart Starr, Johnny U and most quarterbacks called their own plays! That really separated the good, great and greatest.

Indeed, but it was also a lot easier for a QB to call his own plays when he wasn't dealing with the defense utilizing three different personnel packages in one series of downs, or up to five or six on one given drive.

Steven from Balsam Lake, WI

One thing I'd like to add about this offseason and dead zone as we head towards training camp … it sure is nice to not be hearing anything about the kicking game, both kicker and punter. It is great to have those positions set. Brandon McManus was such a terrific find last season.

It's the first time since 2020 the Packers are heading into a season without a question at either spot. Don't take it for granted.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

It would appear the Packers' current punter is adequate, perhaps good. Statistically, what could make him great this season?

Daniel Whelan isn't just good he's very good. In two years, he's posted two of the top three gross punting averages in team history, and he's placed 40 punts inside the 20 against just 10 touchbacks. That's effective work. I think his next step is to pin returners along the sideline more, without losing distance, which is the toughest task. Every time that ball is in the middle of the field, there's significant risk. On balance, the punt unit was having a stellar season last year until the Bears fooled it on the 94-yard score in Week 18, for which Bisaccia took the blame due to lack of prep. A repeat of last year minus that black eye would be just fine.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

In your tenures, is the upcoming Packers/Steelers game the most intriguing regular-season game you will have covered?

No. In the regular season, for me nothing will top the drama and intensity of Monday Night Football in 2009 at the Metrodome. I was sitting in that roller rink's open-air press box, between the first and second decks, just a few seats down from Ted Thompson. The number of fans giving Ted the verbal business – and not in a jovial or joking manner – as they filed into their seats pregame is something I'll never forget. He sat there and didn't react to any bit of it.

Greg from Janesville, WI

I've seen Chuck Fusina's name mentioned several times over the last few days in Inbox. Funny story, when Favre went to the Vikings in 2009 I researched who else had worn No. 4 for the Packers and saw Chuck Fusina's name. I took my Brett Favre jersey and left the "F" but put tape over the "AVRE" and wrote in "USINA." I wore that jersey to several games and had numerous conversations with various people who had no idea who Chuck Fusina was, but thought my jersey was pretty funny.

That made my day.

Gregg from Arlington Heights, IL

Maybe I am late to the party, but do you know how many members of II are reading your column worldwide? And, how many of those people become addicted to II, needing their daily fix? It's crazy, the laughter never stops. And, I find I admonish myself whenever I'm forced to miss a day. Help me. Please, help me. I have fallen and I don't want to get up.

Happy Wednesday.

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