Inbox: It's an exciting new chapter in football's greatest story

Jason from Buchanan, WI

There have been many Vicisms and Spoffisms but can you think of a better Wesism than "Be where your feet are. Because time is moving faster than you could ever process?" So true! Thanks for all the "isms."

As I sit here on Sunday, I can't believe we are just days away from my 12th Packers training camp. Time waits on no Insider.

Riley from Waukesha, WI

To my fellow Inbox readers attending the shareholder meeting on Monday, I'll be the guy wearing a Packers jersey. Come say hi!

Ha, that should make you easy enough to find. Pa Hod is attending his first meeting today, as well. Enjoy!

Linda from Lakewood Ranch, FL

What are you most and least looking forward to as we enter the new season?

Again, I look forward to a new era of Packers football. This team is plush with talent and personality. It's an exciting new chapter in football's greatest story. What I'm least looking forward to the instant reactions that'll accompany Jordan Love's first year as a starter. Good or bad, win or lose, pundits will rush to conclusions each and every Monday. That's fine fodder to snack on, but balance is still the main entrée.

Terrance from Sun Prairie, WI

How does Jordan Love improve this year in the offense?

By playing. Aaron Rodgers (1,068) played nearly seven times as many snaps last season as Jordan Love has in his first three NFL seasons (157). All those reps go to Love now. To quote Frank Costello, "No more pencils. No more books."

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

Good morning, Wes! With the heat waves in the news lately, I was wondering: what was the highest temperature ever recorded during a game played at Lambeau? Hottest game in league history? Has a game ever been delayed or rescheduled purely due to heat?

The hottest game ever at Lambeau Field was played between the Packers and Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 24, 2017. With a gametime temperature of 89 degrees, it's the only game the Packers have played in the state of Wisconsin above 85. The hottest game I covered was between the Packers and Jacksonville in 2016. It was 90 at kickoff but it felt like 120. The air was thick, humid, and unrelenting. The game considered the hottest in NFL history was a Sept. 19, 1971, meeting between the hosting New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams. Due to the heat radiating off the Astro turf at Tulane Stadium, temperature on the field was estimated to be 130. More recently, Dallas hosted Philadelphia at Texas Stadium in 109-degree heat.

George from Kennebunkport, ME

In a July 18 post, Mark from Westminster, CO noted the frustration with Aaron Rodgers' habit of draining the play clock. While this tactic had its success, it became less effective in recent years. The frequency of this tactic also created the ' opposite tactic', snapping the ball fast and catching the defense with 12 men. This also worked less often recently. I think this either/or approach became predictable. I look forward to seeing what kind of tactics Jordan will employ.

I think some Packers fans have a selective memory about Rodgers' pre-snap decisions. A lot of good came from Rodgers' ability to diagnose a defense over the years, but to your point, Love is his own QB with his own playstyle. He'll deploy his own set tactics and undoubtedly put a fresh coat of paint on the offense.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, following up on the question of Thomas from Madison, which position group, WR or RB, has more overall talent? I don't see four RBs on the 53, but I could see seven WRs.

There are more questions at receiver than running back but the Packers also seven wideouts on this roster who were drafted into the NFL, including back-to-back second-round picks. Green Bay has more depth at receiver. It just needs to set the chart…part.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

I am excited to see which position players see the most offensive snaps. WR1 and WR2 are fun to talk about for fantasy football, but it really comes down to who finds their way onto the field next to Christian Watson.

And how often. I could see WRs No. 4-5, TEs 3-4 and RB3 all having roles in this offense this season.

Rod from Chugiak, AK

Regarding Ahman Green's importance, I recall John Madden, opining on Monday Night Football the Packers had gone from being primarily Brett Favre's to more like Green's team. Time, however, showed the relative lengths of QB vs. RB careers, as it reverted not long after to being Brett's for quite a duration.

It's a quarterback league. After reading your post, my first thought was 2013. As miraculously as that regular season ended, the Packers don't win the NFC North in Chicago if not for everything Eddie Lacy did while Rodgers was injured. Lacy's star shined briefly but brightly in Green Bay.

Mike from Naples, FL

Inbox tag team: Mike brought up Aaron Jones rookie year. In training camp, it was clear that that he had the shifty hips and quick burst we see today. It was also clear that he held the ball to loosely. He also lost every pass blocking rep. Credit to the coaches and his hard work that neither was apparent by midseason. Which player do you see making that biggest jump this year? Which player needs to prove you wrong?

Devonte Wyatt doesn't need to prove me wrong because I believe in his talent, but the Packers need a big Year 2 from the former Georgia defensive lineman. Dean Lowry and Jarren Reed are gone. Green Bay needs a playmaker and a run-stuff to partner with Kenny Clark. I think the defense has that in Wyatt and T.J. Slaton. This is why the Packers drafted them. Regarding the backfield, Ben Sirmans deserves a ton of credit for how he's developed the players over the past seven years. We don't talk nearly enough about the job he's done with Green Bay's RBs.

Patrick from Murfreesboro, TN

Mr. McGough, you've done it again. Sights set on another NFL opportunity after an unconventional route back. The vision ahead appears to be unclear, but with the right focus, anything is possible. But at this point, what's the outlook on his strengths/limitations relative to the other two backups on the roster?

I don't know much about Alex McGough other than his successful run with the USFL's Birmingham Stallions. NFL.com didn't build a prospect page for McGough coming out of Florida International in 2018, but he seems to have a good arm and some mobility (4.70 time in the 40 at his college pro day). McGough also scrambled for 403 rushing yards with five TDs last season.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

I watched Alex McGough three times and was impressed. He was often running for his life but very hard to catch and dangerous/fearless when he took off. Also, good passing even while on the run or off platform. If healthy, it's Love's job no matter what this year but the backup job is up for grabs. If it's McGough, I could see Matt LaFleur putting in a package for McGough and giving him some snaps? His season highlight tape is very impressive. Your thoughts, Weston?

Again, I have to see McGough in-person, but his USFL highlights are impressive. It's not like he was a flash in the pan, either. He played a key part in Birmingham winning back-to-back championships after relieving an injured J'Mar Smith. In this year's title game against Pittsburgh, McGough threw for 307 yards and four TDs.

Bud from Nekoosa, WI

I recall reading a lot about the many guest speakers. Mike McCarthy used to bring in to help motivate the players. It seems Matt LaFleur doesn't have as many and expects the players to self-motivate more. Is that the case and is it just different philosophies? (I'm not saying one way is better than the other.

LaFleur has had quite a few speakers, too. He just hasn't talked much about it at the podium other than mentioning the speeches LeRoy Butler and Charles Woodson gave the team in recent years. It's a part of his process, too.

Paul from Gorham, ME

Please share your thoughts about the running back discussion. The game changed, but how is it RBs don't seem to fit as well? What changed, or didn't change with them? What skills do they need to be more "valuable" and have longer careers that, say, Ahman Green didn't need to have?

Today's running backs need to do more than just carry the ball. That's part of the formula for Jones remaining one of the league's top running backs the past four years. It's a passing league now and running backs need to thrive in that part of the game. Teams also pay more attention to a running back's workload than they did 20 years ago when half the league had featured running backs carrying the ball 300 times each year. During Eddie George's final three years in Tennessee, he carried the ball 970 times while averaging 3.2 yards per carry. While you credit George for his durability and toughness, teams don't feature running backs if they aren't gaining at least four yards a pop.

John from McHenry, IL

My wife and I have been going to training camp for thirty years now. Not only have I seen Robert Tonyan there but also my son Michael used to work out with Robert when they were in high school together. It is indeed a small world. I'll see all of you on Wednesday. I hope you guys get a chance to meet my Phyllis, she is a big fan!

Ha, I should've assumed there was a connection. McHenry is a beautiful town. I drove through last summer.

Leigh from Salem, OR

How about an occasional "Where are they now?"

Our "Alumni Spotlight" series is running on our website as we speak.

Matt from Forest Falls, CA

Spoff says with a straight face, "The Packers also have two punters in camp, though it doesn't appear change is afoot." Nice one.

I can still see the tire marks around Lambeau from the victory lap Spoff took after writing that one.

Dan from Waupun, WI

How did scouts miss the talent of Brock Purdy? Is QB more than raw talent? Should they go back to the Wonderlic test? How much of the QB talent is quick thoughts? Reactions? Have you noticed any quick thoughts, reactions in Jordan Love? Feels good coming back home, doesn't it? The smack talkers will keep it coming.

That's the question NFL general managers and scouts will ask for years to come. Purdy doesn't have a large sample size, but his play suggests he should've been drafted closer to No. 1 than the very last pick. Everyone knew Purdy was a natural leader and gamer, but I don't think scouts realized just how much real talent was there.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I disagree vehemently with Weston on the lime green Seahawks jerseys, I think they are top three all time! Right there with the Chargers powder blue and the Luv Blue Oilers!

Our intern Lauren agrees with you. Hey, I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying I'm saying.

Larry from Carney, MI

Do you think it would be possible to get asparagus on a Gilbert Burger?

Asparagus is like peanut butter. It goes with everything.

Joseph from Louisville, KY

Wes, Drew from Dubuque was correct. You watch the Quarterback on Netflix and you come to realize how good a Christian man and family man Kirk Cousins is. It does make you want to root for him. You'll feel the opposite way about Patrick Mahomes' wife, however. Kind of full of herself in my opinion.

Interesting. As popular as Patrick Mahomes is, I think I'm more interested in watching Marcus Mariota handle a difficult year in Atlanta.

Dwight from Brooklyn, NY

Add me to the list of II readers/writers regarding recommendation to watch "Quarterback." In my case, a resounding yes, it is worthwhile. I think it would be particularly of interest for someone like you who is more of an insider than us readers, in the way that a docent comprehends an analysis with a depth beyond that of a neophyte or journeyman.

OK, I'm in. I'll check it out. I do love this type of content. John Feinstein's "Living on the Black" is one of my favorite books.

Mark from Missoula, MT

A sad note for any fans of alliteration as Mark from Missoula, MT will soon be Mark from Boise, ID as my wife and I start a new chapter in our lives. I was this close to being Mark from Meridian, ID to keep some alliteration, but a place on the river was too good to pass up. Fun fact, if Mason Crosby (or someone else) were to match his scoring in the same amount of time, but with touchdowns, they'd have to average 20 touchdowns a year for 16 years.

All the best on your new adventure!

Tim from Clear Lake, IA

I just want to let the II world know what a true professional our Wes Hod is. On Saturday, he ran the Packers 5K. And he then also answered our questions. And he beat me by 45 seconds.

Thanks for coming out! I hope you had a blast. The Packers 5K is a tentpole event for me each year, signaling the start of a new Packers season. You're stuck with me for one more day before Spofford is back and the marathon begins. Have a great Monday.