Inbox: That could make all the difference

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Mike, your response to my "live blog in the deer stand" made me laugh out loud. "I don't think I could see the game from there." Classic!

Spoff was proud of that one, as he should be.

Linda from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Good morning, Wes. Again, this Sunday, the Packers face a team that they should be able to beat or at least be competitive. Of course, I want the Packers to win, but at this point I would settle for seeing the Packers make a first down on their first possession. Would it be too greedy to hope for a score, any score, on that first possession?

That could make all the difference. If Green Bay can solve this maddening riddle, I truly believe that's the skeleton key required to open the door for this offense. But again, the Packers need to earn it. Nobody is just going to give it to them. They must come out with intention on Sunday.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Almost there. Another opportunity to wash this bitter taste out of our mouth. Reasons to believe: 1) The run defense stiffened against the Vikings, providing the opportunity to stifle some third-and-long situations. 2) The Pack is as healthy as it's been all year. 3) A vulnerable opponent without their starting QB. 4) It's just time. GPG!

This is a massive opportunity for the Packers on many levels. Offensively, the Packers are matched against another defense that hasn't taken the ball away much this season. Defensively, there was a lot to build off from the Vikings game if Green Bay can get the third-and-longs figured out.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

There's an old saying..."you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet." The Packers are in the egg-breaking phase now. When it all comes together, we are going to have one heck of an omelet! Thank you both for being the voices of reason. GPG!

I'm sure hungry for one, too.

Bob from Rome, NY

Wes: Just a comment about Spoff's response yesterday about "LaFleur has always said those types of calls are game-plan specific for certain opponents, but you do wonder if such plays were up in any recent games, and they didn't get to them because the first halves were such a struggle." I feel that if those plays are called early in the game, then traditional running plays and play-action off those same looks will open up the offense. Status quo isn't working early in the game. Feedback?

I don't disagree but there's a rhyme and rhythm to everything an offense does. It's not just randomly picking 15 plays and saying, "OK, this is how we'll open the game." Teams weave concepts together to set up certain looks. When you fall behind early, plans often go by the wayside. I think a solid litmus test for this offense turning a corner is when those pre-snap motions and jet sweeps return.

Aaron from Miami, FL

Good morning, Amigos. I was sorry to see Rasul Douglas go, but I'm happy he went to a contender. I'm looking forward to seeing him alongside Micah Hyde. It will be interesting to see how we react on Sunday. I have a feeling both sides of the ball are going to be looking to punch someone in the mouth. Hopefully without the flags!

It was interesting listening to Aaron Jones talk about Douglas on Thursday. I'd never realized the two forged a friendship well before Douglas signed with the Packers in 2021. Jones and Douglas actually trained together before the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine and Jones even mentioned how he jokingly told Douglas he needed to come to Green Bay after the Packers played the Eagles in 2019. Douglas arrived here during the Zoom era of media availability, so we never had a chance to unearth that anecdote until now. Like I said Thursday, I'm wishing Douglas well in Buffalo. The Bills got two good ones in Micah and Rasul.

Roger from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Good morning, Wes. The latest injury report that I've seen, all players listed are reported as limited. Is this the cleanest injury report the Packers have had so far this season? Let's hope that they all are available to play on Sunday. Go Pack Go!

This is without a doubt the healthiest the Packers have been all season, including Week 1, but games are won and lost on the field, not the injury report.

Brandon from Cumming, GA

My question pertains to Brian Gutekunst's comment that a top 100 pick would be a top 50 guy on the draft board. I know there is no math in the Inbox, but this doesn't compute. What happens if the top 50 guys on the Packers' board are picked with the first 50 picks?

Then they'd likely trade back. What hasn't been talked about enough is the value of a third-round pick and not just a third-round pick in and of itself. That's a powerful asset to have if the Packers wish to move up in the first or second round in April.

Jeremy from Wausau, WI

The Jets have a winning record right now at 4-3. Do you think they would have had even more wins with a healthy Rodgers? They are still chasing the Dolphins and Bills in their division.

For sure. The Jets are a good football team. They've also called the fewest blitzes in the NFL this season, which speaks to the pressure Robert Saleh's guys are generating with their four-man rush.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

Without looking, do you know what team has the longest active win streak in the NFL right now? I don't really know why, but I was surprised. Here's to getting back in the win column this week!

I thought it might be the Vikings, but there's those darn Jacksonville Jaguars. Doug Pederson's kitties are a feisty bunch.

Florian from Kronach, Germany

Do you think there's any chance we could see Kenneth Odumegwu playing in a game this regular season?

We'll have to see where the season takes us, but I would love to see it. You can tell Kenneth has become a beloved member of this team during his short time with the Packers.

Bob from Ocean View, DE

Regardless of why penalties are committed, how can coaches prevent future penalties? Given that those committing them are adults, there doesn't seem to be too many effective punishments available. Also, sitting players who would otherwise be selected as optimal for any given play also seems counter-productive.

Harping on fundamentals is the biggest thing. You have to stay disciplined. LaFleur did an exceptional job in that category during his first three seasons. Officials will occasionally get it wrong, but coaches and players can't give them blatant reasons to throw flags.

Jeff from Victorville, CA

The Titans/Steelers game had nine penalties between the two teams in the first quarter alone. Basically, one every minute and a half of play or every three or four plays. This made it hard to watch. So, I completely concur with the idea if the issue does not affect the play (such as an OL one yard too far downfield when the play is happening 30 yards away), then let it be. Many people I know who do not watch the NFL will say it's because of the slow process of action due to penalties. So, they watch hockey instead.

The best officials call penalties that affect the game, not just penalties for the sake of calling penalties. For that reason, I strongly feel Bill Vinovich is the best referee in the game right now. Unsurprisingly, Vinovich also gave the best tutorial when NFL referees used to meet with the media during training camp to explain rule changes.

Ron from Spooner, WI

The 2008 Packers went 6-10 in Aaron Rodgers' first year as a starter, with SEVEN one-score losses. They had a three-game losing streak early and another five-game losing streak near the end of the season. If there had been an Inbox then I'll bet there would have been a lot of fans clamoring for Matt Flynn. Let's let the next couple of seasons play out. I'm willing to bet there's fun times coming not too far down the road.

I cannot tell you how many times I look at Packers history and say to myself, "Thank God there was no Inbox back then."

Bob from Abilene, TX

Regarding the officials meeting with head coaches before a game, I officiated for 35 years primarily as an umpire. Pre-game myself and the referee would meet with the head coach of each team. The purpose was to ask if they had any specific rules questions and if they had any specific plays we needed to be aware of. It was also a time to let them know who we were, where we came from and how we would work the game. We called it preventive officiating – letting them know what to expect from us

There you have it…and it happens at every level of sport, team or individual. Even in boxing or MMA, referees go into the locker room before a championship fight and explain various emphases and what he's looking for from the fighters. Referees must communicate with the participants at all times, not just when the contest is happening.

Tim from Macon, MO

Good morning to you two and your crew. I think that all of us fans need to read, in my opinion, Mr. Christl's very appropriate and timely write-up this week on Bart and Ray. Two of my boyhood heroes and two of the reasons I'm still a proud Packer Backer yet today. Just let the system work. We all needed to hear that! Many thanks to you two and your crew for all you do and allowing us fans a chance to ask questions and voice our thoughts. Remember to just Back the Pack!

Cliff's piece is well worth your time if you haven't read it already. His subhead "History tells us clairvoyance and football don't mesh" is also why Cliff is Cliff. The man has a beautiful way with words.

Neil from Tunbridge Wells, UK

How do you guys sort out holidays when you have to cover holiday games?

That's life. I'm sure plenty of you also have to arrange your schedules around work during the holidays.

Nate from Naples, FL

Ten games left. I feel like we can run the table. I really do.

I appreciate the optimism, but one is greater than 10 right now. It's been six weeks since the win over New Orleans. This team simply needs to feel what it's like to win a game.

Pat from Hudson, WI

In 1982, some buddies and I drove six hours to County Stadium for the first Brewers' home game of the '82 World Series. We drank beer, cooked brats, and watched the game in the parking lot on a 13-inch black-and-white TV that was plugged into the cigarette lighter. We ended up sleeping in the car and drove home the next morning. To this day it stands as one of my all-time sports experiences along with attending the NFC title game against the Panthers! Memories make us rich, right?

If you've never watched sports on a 13-inch TV plugged into a cigarette lighter, have you even lived?

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

It is always darkest before the dawn,
The spark required lies within.
Search and question, grow, transform,
Find the path, step, and begin.

Derek bringing his poetic fastball. OK, whatcha got, Dean?

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

At a loss for words, but words mean little
Actions matter most and it's time to step up or fall further back
With your path no longer clear that path need be found again
All will stumble but the measure of this team will be how you respond
Find your way, Green and Gold

It's back to work. Have a great weekend, everyone.