Inbox: May the best men win in training camp

Joel from Show Low, AZ

Good one Wes! Appreciate good humor. This "Old Codger" will rise to the occasion.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Ronald from Edison, NJ

Who will be our starting center?

Well, Elgton Jenkins has re-entered the chat, so I'd say No. 74 is a solid bet. Honestly, I think people forget how good Jenkins was at center when he stepped in for Corey Linsley back in 2020.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

How much do you think Gute and LaFleur consider future compensatory picks into the equation when deciding on the starting lineup? If Rasheed Walker starts at left tackle again and we let him leave in free agency, we will likely receive a third-round comp pick. If Jordan Morgan beats him out for his spot, it'll hurt is stock and we may only get a sixth or seventh. Keeping Walker at LT sure seems like a smart move if it's a close competition.

Very little. The Packers' approach is straightforward – may the best men win in training camp. That's the right approach to take, too, because you can't guarantee how the market plays out. Two years ago, the Packers began rotating Jon Runyan, in a contract year, with Sean Rhyan at right guard down the stretch. Runyan still received a $10 million/year deal from the New York Giants after the year. Green Bay ended up not getting a compensatory pick for Runyan, though, because it signed…wait for it…Giants safety Xavier McKinney.

Matt from Middleton, WI

Is putting on pads a big deal? Many players wear minimal pads during games.

Yeah, because the Packers can rep more physical concepts and "thud up" more once the pads come on. Pads might be smaller in today's NFL but they're still incredibly important to how the game is played.

Lora from Las Vegas, NV

Will Jordan Love bounce back and have a better year? Less interceptions and more TD passes.

Being healthy once again should help quite a bit. Of course, there's always gonna be nicks and bruises every season, but it's not easy suffering a knee injury right out of the shoot.

Donald from Bigflats, WI

Wes, when we get to the preseason and most of the starters sit out until the third game, how do we know which receivers to sit or which starters that are still fighting for their starting job again this year, like at left tackle or right guard, etc.? If they don't make the 53 on this team, they would at least want to put out enough tape to get a shot at making somebody else's 53.

Brian Gutekunst talks about it every training camp – NFL teams need to gain as much information as possible about their roster without fear of "who might get claimed by whom." As for the conversation about who plays, that's a combination of the players, coaches, scouts and training staff determining what's in the best interest of player and team.

Phil from Tucson, AZ

I know you haven't agreed with me in the past but this idea that the WR room is great because of all the competition defies common sense. With two draft choices in the first three rounds, a viable free agent, two top level TEs, and a RB, there are way too many mouths to feed, and the complaining has already begun. Trading two WRs for sixth-round draft choices would free up the players seeking their second contract and make the locker room a much better place. And Wes, In-and-Out is the best!

You may have set a record, Phil, for the most incorrect takes in a single submission. I still love ya, though. But no, now is not the time to trade receivers. It's time to compete, play a few preseason games and see where the chips fall at the end of next month. There's still a lot of football to be played before the Packers set their 53.

Keith from Dodgeville, WI

Now that Ja Alexander is gone, and Nate Hobbs is apparently taking his place, how do the two players compare size and speed?

Two different cornerbacks. Two different skill sets.

Marin from West Lawn, PA

I am following with considerable interest the journey Bo Melton is taking as he transitions from WR to CB. Have there been other situations where the Packers have, during training camp, attempted converting a player from the offensive side of the ball to a position on defense?

The most recent example I can think of was the Packers moving James Looney from the defensive line to tight end a few years back. Bronson Kaufusi also test-drove tight end for a brief time after playing defensive line in Baltimore. The most successful example, though his transition started in college, was Sam Shields moving from receiver to cornerback. Like Shields, Melton has speed working to his advantage. Running in the 4.3s is a good tool to have in your back pocket while learning the nuances of corner.

Oliver from Germany

Hi Insiders, pads are on. Who made an impression?

Brenton Cox Jr. sure made the pads pop during team periods. His speed to power is something else and he's only getting better. Lukas Van Ness also opened one-on-one drills with a nifty spin move to get past Rasheed Walker, as well.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

What an interesting article I read on Nazir Stackhouse and the disease he is living and dealing with. When I was working, we had a guy that fell asleep at every meeting. Now I guess I understand what he was dealing with. It does seem encouraging that the Packers have done some things for Nazir to get this better under control.

Stackhouse has a great story, which both Bill Huber and Pete Dougherty wrote about after practice Sunday. Credit the University of Georgia, as well, for digging into Stackhouse's medical background to try finding some answers, as well. The Packers invest a lot of time, effort and resources into learning about all their players, whether it's medical conditions or dietary restrictions. Wishing the best for Stackhouse this summer. He seems like a good dude.

Michael from Berrien Springs, MI

Evan Williams: "The more you speak something into existence, the more likely it will come, and the more people will operate in a way to make that a truth." Wow! Not every day that you hear a pro athlete speak like this. Whether he read this somewhere or just said it himself in the moment, it's still very impressive.

That's who Evan Williams is. It's not just words, either. He was punching at the ball during practice Monday. Williams even dislodged one from the arms of Tucker Kraft, though the ball went out of bounds.

Charlie from Cross Plains, WI

With the defense focused on more fumbles, I am reminded of Charles Tillman of the Bears (I hate mentioning the Bears), who was great at using his "Peanut punch." When coming from behind for a tackle he would punch up at the ball from below. I like this technique as it puts your arm and hand at the waist of the runner so you can tackle rather than the common swipe at the ball from above where your arm is pushed away from the runner. Do the coaches have preferred techniques for forcing fumbles?

Like Williams, Rashan Gary also punched the ball out from behind against Jayden Reed on Sunday. You can drill those techniques but it's also up to the individual to look for those opportunities when presented.

Reed from Kansas City, MO

The Dream Drive is my favorite training camp tradition. If you were a player, would you choose the same bike every day to build a relationship, or a different bike every day to give lots of kids cool memories?

I'd probably ride with the same kiddo every day. I like familiarity, especially when you just click with people. But I don't think there's any right or wrong way to go about it.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Too early to handicap the competitions at WR? Has the Golden Lad had many moments? Who has splashed among the vets? Thanks for all the insight you can provide.

All the returning vets have had their day so far. Mecole Hardman has done everything the Packers have asked of him with few obvious mistakes. Jayden Reed had a good day on Monday. He caught three passes for 37 yards during the final two-minute period with the No. 1 offense, including a 23-yard pass down the seam that set up Brandon McManus' "game-winning" field goal from 43 yards. He's not a vet, but shout out to undrafted rookie Sam Brown Jr. Matthew Golden's former college teammate at Houston has made some plays with the No. 3 offense.

Josh from Seattle, WA

Can you please let us know if you see a NASCAR LB defense deployed at all? I would honestly love to see Gary, Kenny Clark, and Van Ness covering the interior and then a bunch of scary athletes standing up and pressing the line all around them! No matter what, I am excited to see what creativity Jeff Hafley pulls out this year to stay ahead of the film study done on his unit last year.

I think the NASCAR package is pretty much a standard "dime" look these days, especially with how Gary, Cox and Van Ness can all rush from three-technique. Hafley used his ILBs, specifically Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker, in double-A-gap looks last year and I'm assuming we'll see plenty of that again in 2025 in third-and-7-plus.

CJ from Marshfield, WI

Greetings Weston, I'm sure Bo Melton is getting coached up well with his new position, but I'm just curious, has he mentioned getting any help from his brother? Did they work out together this spring before he announced "challenge accepted" in camp?

I'm not sure if I'm gonna get around to writing this, but Bo may not have shown his hand to his younger bro, Max. Max told my friend Darren Urban (who does the same job for the Cardinals) that Bo said nothing over the summer about the shift to cornerback being a permanent move. That said, Max told Darren he thinks it'll be a smooth move for Bo given his skill set, experience and overall football IQ. The Packers seem to agree. They've had no qualms rotating Bo in behind Hobbs, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Preseason games don't count in the standings, but they can still produce some great moments. What's the most memorable Packers preseason play or performance you can remember?

Graham Harrell vs. what was pretty much the Chiefs' starting defense in the 2012 preseason finale. Harrell locked down the primary backup job to Aaron Rodgers after notching a perfect 158.3 passer rating (13-of-15 for 223 yards and two touchdowns). UDFA receiver Jarrett Boykin earned a roster spot that day, too (five catches for 82 yards and a TD).

Jim from Westland, MI

Where is Anthony Belton lining up, and second or third O-line? I know it's early, but a second-rounder not shuffling in is unexpected.

No, it's totally expected. Even Jenkins worked behind Lane Taylor at the start of training camp in 2019. Based on my records, I have Belton repping mostly at left tackle with the No. 2 offense right now.

Adrian from Chula Vista, CA

II, no question, just a comment. I'm really impressed with how the Packers do business versus other franchises, specifically the Cowboys. Even Stevie Wonder can see that Micah Parsons is one of the NFL's premier players, so why can't the Cowboys ownership group? "He has to want to be paid." Huh? I'm pretty sure he's made that quite clear. Why do the Cowboys do this each summer? I'm sure Parsons will be paid, but at what cost? One of these times, Jerry is going to lose!

To each their own, but I've never understood how Dallas and Cincinnati go about keeping their books. Neither team is a major player in unrestricted free agency, and they usually rely on development from within. So why not just quietly negotiate, take care of "your guys" and build goodwill? You're gonna wind up paying them anyway, in most cases.

George from Edinburg, VA

Good morning. Wes, I'm curious about the trail of defensive linemen standing up. He was talking about offensive linemen, but Mike McCarthy always talked about pad level. We were taught to stay low for leverage. Very interesting, and from a new DL coach who surely knows his business. What are your thoughts?

From talking with Preston Smith last year, I think it's a feel thing for pass rushers. Some – like Smith - like keeping vision on the quarterback. Others prefer getting that "out of the blocks" momentum of a three-point stance.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Sunday and Monday will likely turn out to be the hottest days of the camp. Is there anything the coaches can learn in the heat that they can't in more moderate weather?

Maybe there's something you can learn a little about players' physical and mental toughness, but most have played football their entire lives. In most cases, they've practiced in 90-degree weather once or twice before. Here's hoping for cooler weather the rest of the week, though.

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