Inbox: He'll put in the work

Dennis from Parrish, FL

On the Super Bowl highlights Clay Mathews blew it. He could have screamed, "Spill it, Big Grease"! That would have been historic!

It's pretty iconic anyway, but yeah.

Rose form Lapu Lapu, Philippines

During the press conference, a reporter mentioned that everybody looked to be in shape. Matt corrected him saying not everybody. Any idea who he might have been referring to?

Me?

JoAnne from Seattle, WA

Wednesday on NFL Live, I saw some videos of Packers' OTAs and noticed a building (located beyond the practice field). I'd never seen it before. The name I could make out was Great North Commons. Is it a new building (probably built in anticipation for the draft)? What is it...hotel, restaurant, etc.?

It's a combination bar/restaurant/event hall that opened just before the draft.

Bob from Ocean View, DE

Wow, your list of Packers records that still stand from the 14-game season days prompted me to check up on Irv Comp. As if picking off 10 passes in 10 games as a rookie with sight in only one eye wasn't enough, he led the league in passing yards the following year! Will we ever see the likes of that again?

Bygone eras are, well, bygone eras.

Greg from Rowlett, TX

What jumped out at me on that list of 14-game season records was the name Lipscomb. I am assuming that is "Big Daddy" Lipscomb. I had no idea he played for the Packers. I guess it must have been at the end of his career but that makes it even more impressive.

Sorry, but that was not Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb. It was Paul Lipscomb, who went undrafted in 1945 and played the first five seasons of a 10-year NFL career with the Packers. He became a four-time Pro Bowler with Washington after he left Green Bay.

Dave from Gwinn, MI

Seven blocked kicks in a season! We may not see that even when we have a 32-game season…

Don't give anyone any ideas.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Interesting choice of Edgerrin Cooper for the "stay healthy" list. Isn't it usually a DB or edge that's the field tilter? Is that choice more player-related or scheme-related?

Player. He had 13 TFLs last year in barely more than half of the defensive snaps. That's just rare.

Steve from Bloomington, IL

Would it be safe to say the primary objective for OTAs is to get the new players oriented to the team's plays and schemes and less geared toward performance evaluations (e.g. depth charts)? For returning veterans, what would you say is the primary objective for them at OTAs?

For the returning vets, it's about processing the changes and adjustments to the playbook, assisting the learning process you mentioned for the younger players, building some camaraderie, and getting physically and mentally sharp before taking their last deep breath on summer break.

Steve from Grawn, MI

Well Inboxers, I have been thinking a lot (probably too much) about winning some division games next year. All division teams have done things to try to improve. Although we didn't win any last year, we were very close some games. So in terms of flipping the script this year, how much does it have to do with player growth, additions, and improvement-on-paper over last year vs. just playing better? What are the biggest things we need to address to win some division games next year?

Starting those games stronger would go a long way. The Packers fell behind the Vikings 28-0 and 20-3 before losing by scores of 31-29 and 27-25. They fell behind the Lions 24-3 and 17-7 before losing 24-14 and 34-31. Throwing the first punches doesn't guarantee who wins the game, but the Packers were staggered by those rough starts. Urgency of execution can never be a part-time thing in this league, and certainly not against your division rivals.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Good morning again, just wondering how the practice squad players integrate into the regular-season practice. Are they in the same meetings as the others? Do they serve as the scout team? Do they practice with the others? It might be an interesting feature piece to write about the PS players' experiences. Thanks for your approach to what you do.

Practice squad players attend all the same meetings and go through all the same drills during individual periods in practice. They just become the scout team during 11-on-11 work, executing opponents' plays/calls to give the starting units realistic looks at what's coming on Sunday.

Steve from Eau Claire, WI

Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary combined for less than 10.5 sacks over the 2024 season. The general consensus around the NFL is that the Packers' four-man front may still be hard-pressed (pun intended) to get to the quarterback in 2025. What evidence have you seen that inspires us fans to R.E.L.A.X.?

There's no such thing as evidence in the offseason. All I know is the Packers changed position coaches along the defensive front for a reason. It was a strong message they believe they've got the right guys, several of whom are still coming into their own, and they need the right coaches to get the most out of them. All we can do is see if their analysis was correct.

Tyler from Waukesha, WI

Hi guys, I'm hoping you can clarify something for me in relation to those media claims of the Packers missing the playoffs next year due to no pass rush. Didn't the defense finish top 10 in sacks and top 5 in takeaways, which often comes off of pressure? Were they low in pressure rate or another advanced statistic but wound up converting a high rate of pressures to sacks? Or maybe those are lazy takes? (P.S. more pass rush still sounds good.) Thanks for the daily entertainment and knowledge.

The issue with the pass rush, which I've reiterated countless times this offseason, is consistency and reliability. Yes, the Packers finished in the top 10 in sacks with 45, but at the risk of too much math, more than half of those (24) came in four games (8 at TEN, 4 vs. HOU, 5 vs. MIA, 7 at SEA). That left only 21 sacks in the other 13 games, including just two in consequential late-season losses to the Lions and Vikings when Goff and Darnold combined for more than 85 pass attempts. When they really needed it against the better QBs/offenses, it wasn't there. It's a legitimate criticism of last season, but a blanket statement that the pass rush was terrible all year isn't accurate.

Carl from Mansfield, OH

Regarding your answer Friday about stopping the Packers' sweep and how the game has changed, I found this quote from Vince Lombardi interesting. "I never meant that teams could not stop the sweep, but to do so they had to make unusual adjustments. In making those adjustments it left them vulnerable to plays that looked like the sweep but took advantages of the defense and its changes." Today's game HAS changed. But the fundamentals have not. Bread-and-butter plays remain.

True, but not to the same extent.

Scott from Snoqualmie, WA

The economics of increasing the number of games per season is completely different than the economics of increasing the number of franchises. Another week of games has all of America watching them. Another four teams wouldn't meaningfully increase TV viewership, which is the source of most NFL revenue. Plus the NFL desperately needs cities that could viably host an NFL franchise to not have them. Threatening to move (or actually moving) is how franchises get public money to pay for stadiums.

The idea of expanding overseas, while not imminent, can't be dismissed, though.

Randy from Klamath Falls, OR

I know you guys are going to chastise me, and I'm OK with that as I want clarity. My issue with the offense is not the line, the receivers, or the running backs. It's the quarterback. I love our QB, but my perception of last year is he missed a LOT of throws (wrong routes?) and had too many interceptions. I'm open to any explanation telling me that my perception is wrong.

I won't chastise you. I'll just present several facts and then my take. Jordan Love injured his knee in Week 1, missed two games, returned to play with limited mobility and then, as a result, hurt his groin in Week 8. He didn't miss any more games until exiting for precautionary reasons with a hand injury in Week 18, but he effectively missed three full games and was limited in practice at various times. My point: Accuracy and timing start with a QB's legs, and his were compromised for a good portion of the season. Then he was trying to pull off a playoff comeback on the road with a major weak spot on the offensive line and his top three receivers out. The receiver group was also among the league leaders in dropped passes, but back to the QB. I think he learned a TON last season, about practicing and playing while hurt, and about protecting the football, as two of his INTs were inexcusable pick-sixes against the Rams and Lions when he was simply trying to do too much. If his mind is even half the steel trap his predecessor's was, he's banked a lot he can learn from in order to progress moving forward. This guarantees nothing for the future, because it's up to him. I believe the talent is there, I know he'll put in the work, and his supporting cast respects the hell out of him.

Terry from Penfield, PA

I realize anyone has a chance to make the team, but Sam Brown Jr. seems like a real longshot. What is the team's reasoning behind adding another body to an already crowded position?

Because the personnel department thinks he can compete with the players fighting for roster/practice-squad spots and perhaps prove he's better. Time will tell. If they believe a player has more potential than someone else on the 90/91-man roster, they'll want to give him a look.

Damien from Perth, Australia

Does everyone on the 91-man roster have a chance to make the final 53, or are some more or less fighting for just a practice-squad spot? I'd imagine the powers already have a pretty good idea of who's probably in the 53?

Barring injuries, they know 75-80% of the 53, probably. But there are spots to be won. When I buzz through the roster myself, I count around 40 guys I would be head-sewn-to-the-carpet shocked to not see on the 53 in Week 1. But there are several guys who have been on this team the last couple years who are by no means locks to stay.

JT from Parker, CO

Mike & Wes, I've heard you talk with praise and fondness for Marcedes Lewis over the years, but I never personally had a chance to witness him until seeing his interview with Kay Adams. I must say I could see what you guys were talking about. He said he's waiting to settle on a landing spot for this year (Green Bay?), his 20th and he hinted at his final year. Certainly hope he has a chance to go out with a very special season wherever that may be.

Wes knows 'Cedes far better than I do, but in my brief interactions while he was here, I couldn't have respected a player more. The phrase "true pro" is admittedly tossed around too often, but it wholeheartedly applies to him.

Ted from Findlay, OH

I laughed when I read the "Stay off my grass" comment regarding stadium tours. It did remind me of my first game at Lambeau Field in 1974 (Chargers). My buddies and I decided to go stand on the "G" after the game. We executed a reverse leap and walked out to the center of the field. Security did nothing to stop us (other than offer a smile). Much simpler time but a great memory for some 16-year-olds. The Pack won by the way.

Sounds like you did, too.

Mike from Lake Villa, IL

Spoff, if you actually get that hypothetical retirement job screaming at Lambeau Field tour-goers, I hope you actually yell at them, "HEY, GET THE F OFF THE FIELD!"

Nicely done.

George from Edinburg, VA

Mike, I know you've written about it before, but today's column made me curious about your retirement plans. I've seen several guys who follow their career to old age. With your love of sports and writing, I figured you for one of them. Do you plan on writing books? Surely you will still attend games and take your own notes.

The latter for sure. Force of habit. Honestly haven't thought much beyond that because we're a ways off anyway. I'm not sure I have the patience to crank out books, though. The daily nature of the newspaper/website world suits me better than long-term projects.

John from Lexington, SC

Mike and Wes, I admit it. I was the dufus on the Lambeau Field tour who touched the grass. But it was only my big toe and I made sure I didn't harm a blade of grass. Wow, I am so glad to have that guilt off my shoulders after all these years.

Not just dufus, mind you. Hipster dufus.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

Do you anticipate that we will see our starters play more in the preseason games in order to create momentum and chemistry heading into the season?

No.

Nate from Kewaskum, WI

Seeing "hipster dufus" referenced yesterday made me think of how engrained some "Seinfeld" lines have become part of regular conversation. What is the "Seinfeld" line you use most often?

Serenity now. Happy Monday.

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