Inbox: He lives it every day

Bill from North Liberty, IA

Shoot or chute? The heat must be affecting the writing!

And editing.

Paul from Manitowoc, WI

Probably the most irrelevant question you'll get all training camp, but out of morbid curiosity, while roaming the sidelines at training camp, do you get to partake in the Gatorade when thirst strikes or must you bring your own hydration? Asking for my dog.

I bring my own bottle of water to practice every day.

Matt from Bloomington, IN

"What's the most memorable Packers preseason play or performance you can remember" was asked yesterday, and while Wes's answer was great, it made me wonder about fans' favorite preseason memories. Perhaps it has a chance as an Outsider Inbox question? Watching Ryan Taylor cement his roster spot against Indy in the 2011 preseason is mine. That final minute featured a TD, 2-point conversion, recovered onside kick, and Mason Crosby walk-off 50-yard FG to avoid a tie. It was a blast!

Maybe I'm just getting too old, but my strongest preseason memories are the fiascos. The canceled game in Canton, the 80-yard field in Winnipeg, games ending early due to lightning, etc. Otherwise they all blend together.

Mikey from Jacksonville, FL

A follow-up about Graham Harrell – I forgot all about him. I guess he wasn't able to follow up that performance with enough to earn a job elsewhere in the league? Where did he end up?

He spent one offseason with the Jets and then became a college coach. Over the last decade, he's been the offensive coordinator at five different programs (North Texas, USC, West Virginia, Purdue, and now Abilene Christian).

Jake from Decatur, GA

Everyone remembers the Jeff Janis Hail Mary, but people often forget why he was even on the field then. The Packers went into that game missing Nelson and Adams, and lost Cobb to injury during the game (and maybe another receiver or two). Right now, I don't want an extra sixth-round pick next year. I want a WR5 who's worth a sixth-round pick. That depth becomes necessary more often than not, even if it's a "problem" in training camp.

Amen. The Packers nearly won a playoff game with Janis, James Jones and Jared Abbrederis as their only healthy wideouts, but the offense was functional because they knew the system and the QB.

Ingrid from Hugo, MN

With all this talk about punching out footballs to create fumbles/turnovers, I just hope they plan on tackling first … It's frustrating when watching a game and all the players are focused on is punching out the ball and not tackling, so the offensive player ends up getting more yards if the fumble doesn't occur.

I mentioned on "Unscripted" it's very easy for the defense to focus on punching the ball out when it doesn't have to actually tackle. I get using training camp to emphasize certain things and keep them in players' heads when they start playing real football, but running around and punching at the ball is not real football. Everyone knows that.

Bill from Clive, IA

Mike mentioned the defensive personnel formation (ex: base vs nickel) being dependent on what the offensive personnel looks like on a given play (3 WR = nickel, etc.) My question is: How much time does the DC have to respond to who the offense puts on the field? I would think last-second substitutions would be a good way to create mismatches, but is the defense protected against that somehow?

The officials won't allow the offense, if it substitutes, to snap the ball, even when in no-huddle mode, until the defense has had an opportunity to sub as well.

James from Appleton, WI

Are you seeing a lot of substitution on the defensive line, or is the first string constant? I can see the point of bringing in players who are fresh, but I'd like to see four men getting used to playing as a unit, the way an offensive line does.

There's always some rotation, but the initial front four has pretty regularly been Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness.

Paula from Apple Valley, MN

If I understand correctly, Elgton Jenkins said his absences were about family matters and injury, not a contract issue. What are the facts regarding his current contract situation and is this storyline over, at least for now?

It appears to be. Asked about his contract multiple times, Jenkins said he's not thinking about it and doesn't expect anything done with it right now. He did acknowledge offseason discussions were had, but nothing's changed.

Tom from Charlotte, NC

In Gute's press conference Tuesday his response to a question about Brenton Cox Jr. included that he has heavy hands in the run game. I interpreted that to be a good thing. What does it mean to have heavy hands?

It means having hands powerful enough to stay disengaged from the blocker and to be able to start a tackle with them before the rest of the body arrives.

Kevin from Westminster, CO

Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney in post practice interviews on NFL Network, both expressed glowing praise upon KC#97. The only jersey I've ever purchased. What does he do and what is in his makeup that elicits such glowing exultation from his starting RB & S?

He works as hard in training camp in Year 10 as he did in Year 2. Clark never takes a play off. He knows everything about what it means to be a pro, and he lives it every day. I don't know if I've ever seen Clark give a rah-rah speech. But watch him and he'll show any young player how to succeed in this league. He's the epitome of leading by example.

Caleb from Leadville, CO

What do the two new WRs bring to the dance that differentiates them from the others in the room? In general whom are you having a hard time not keeping your eyes on?

I've got more on Matthew Golden coming in a story later this morning, so keep an eye out for that. As to your second question, I find myself watching Brenton Cox Jr. a lot now that the pads are on.

Gary from Neenah, WI

Somewhat following the news of the new locker room, I recall reading that Brett and Aaron had their own private locker/space separate from the team area. Is that the case with Jordan Love? Is it a perk or a necessity due to media attention, and who decides?

Favre had that. Rodgers did not, to my knowledge, except for an area where he took care of some outside media engagements. Love doesn't, either.

John from McHenry, IL

This comes up every year, and every year I have the same question. While I understand the risk a team takes when playing starters in preseason games, I firmly believe that having starters ready to play in the regular season is worth the risk. In my mind, the Packers have looked rusty in their first few games for several years. Is the risk of losing a game or two early worth the risk of an injury if the starters play a series or two in preseason games?

Yes, because even a relatively minor injury in this sport can sideline a player for 4-5 weeks very easily. A dozen or fewer snaps in a preseason game contributes nothing to readiness, in my opinion, especially now that joint practices – which are competitive but controlled environments – have become more common.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

What is one thing you often see fans overreact to during training camp and preseason, and why doesn't it usually matter as much as people think?

See above. Most fans don't understand that defenses in the preseason aren't bluffing looks and shifting guys around to force the offense to adjust and make pre-snap checks and such, which is what the real McCoy is come Week 1. Going through the motions with basic calls for one or two series is a waste of time for veteran players. For young players, there's value. Not for the guys who have been there, done that.

Ed from Minneapolis, MN

Morning gents. As always thank you for the news and insights of our Packer nation. Last year you elucidated me on the discipline it takes to be a gap-stopping defensive player. Are there drills or defensive "looks" during camp that emphasize this skill?

The linemen do mirror and lateral movement drills all the time. And the blocking sleds? The days of just pushing those around are long gone. Players engage, stand up the sled, and then release in one direction or the other, based on the play.

Dave from Germantown, TN

Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs are both accomplished slot defensive backs and the Packers are also trying Javon Bullard and Kalen King at that position. Which is easier, moving from being a slot corner to the outside or moving from outside into the slot? What is the difference in the skill set between a slot defensive back and an outside cornerback?

I don't know about easier/harder and switching. Depends on the player I guess. A slot defender has no help from the sideline, so he faces a two-way go at all times. More help in the run game is often required from the slot as well. But the slot is also less on an island than the boundary corner. As defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley said last year, one mistake on the outside and the band's playing.

David from Madison, WI

Assuming that Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper are already on the field, when the third linebacker comes in on the base defense does he play the Will or the Sam position? Does it depend on the person who is the third linebacker and how their strengths match up with the demands of Will vs. Sam?

It can. From what we've seen so far in camp, with Walker out, when Isaiah Simmons comes in as LB3 alongside Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie, he's on the strong side (Sam). The Packers seem to want him to focus there and he likes it. But when Walker's back, if there are plays McDuffie is the third, it might look different.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Spoff, by the third day of stories about Nate Hobbs being too aggressive and "just who I am" I had visions of that turning into literal red flags on the field. ATM(AI)R WCBW, he doesn't appear to have any unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike penalties that one might assume could come from a player who struggles to rein in his aggressiveness. Is that accurate? If so, what do you make of why this is still a story this camp?

Hobbs' penalty numbers in his career are very low, and practices compared to games are apples and orangutans. Gutekunst's comments Tuesday about bringing in a player with his mentality were interesting. It was intentional by the personnel department, and I think Gutey appreciates the different approach, even if a conversation needs to be had on occasion. It's also been confirmed the contact by Hobbs had nothing to do with MarShawn Lloyd's injury.

Dean from Belmont, MI

ATMR (WCBW) the Packers had 32 touchdowns passing and 10 rushing in 2023. In 2024 there were 28 touchdown passes and 23 rushing touchdowns. At the risk of introducing math to the Inbox, 2024 had more touchdowns. People seem to want Jordan Love to "bounce back" and have better numbers, but isn't some of last year's numbers a function of running the ball into the end zone more often? I like more touchdowns.

Comparing the full-season stats from '23 and '24 is borderline meaningless. The offense went through a seven-game stretch in '23 during which it never scored more than 20 points (averaging 16.7) before things started heading in the right direction. In '24, Love had missed 2½ games and played hurt in several others by the season's midway point. As I continue to say, numbers will not be the ultimate measure of progress for Love, his receivers, or the offense in general.

Ben from Rochester, NY

I've always wondered why the coaches and staff on the practice field are often pictured wearing long pants and sweatshirts? We've had record heat and humidity here in Western NY and I couldn't imagine being outside for two-plus dressed as those fellows. There must be a good reason.

Maybe they just don't want to mess with sunscreen.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

So, would you say being able to "toss to them" whenever you want makes the sponsor ads "Unscripted's" checkdown? Now, if I could just find where you guys put the door.

Happy Wednesday.

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