Dan from Maquoketa, IA

In regards to Douglas from Brooklyn Park, MN's question, and realizing there is no gambling in Bushville, I will bet anyone any amount we don't go 0-4 this preseason. Would you even call that gambling?

It's Bushwood, and that was my first reaction to the assertion as well.

Richard from Madison, WI

Question about receiving kickoffs. Most of our team is lined up around the 35-yard line, and they're not supposed to move until our returner fields the kick. But he's 30-some-odd yards away, and they're facing in the opposite direction. How do they know WHEN he's caught the ball?

This is borderline II HOF worthy. The coverage players can't move until the returner fields the kick (or the ball hits the ground), so the blockers just watch them.

Greg from Myrtle Beach, SC

Puzzled! Wes stated the record score by Packer kickers in one game is 17. Scratching my head trying to wrap it around how a field goal kicker scores 17 points. Help?

Another nominee up for induction. Once again, there's a reason for the no math rule.

Mark from Ishpeming, MI

Guess I got that one right. Now, if I could only predict draft choices.

I thought they'd give Drones a chance in game action behind better linemen, but I guess not. He certainly lost more yards than he should've on his first sack, but I still don't put the other two on him. Regardless, Kyle McCord must've been further ahead just from practice performance than I'd realized, and the way this played out, I suspect his strong showing in Pittsburgh widened the gap to an insurmountable distance before Drones ever took a snap Thursday night. It's a tough business.

Curt from Pine Island, MN

Do you think the release of Drones was mostly about confidence now in what they have at 1-2-3?

I think that's a lot of it, and now McCord gets to virtually double his practice snaps without a fourth QB on hand.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Mike, it's obvious any submissions questioning the backup QB position are going to be dismissed summarily. That seems strange coming from the both of you. Have you looked at TT's record over the last five years? I'd be willing to (I'm going to break a rule) wager you both before the end of the season (if not sooner), McCord will be our backup QB. How about lunch at the 1919 Club? Heck, Drones is already gone, and the team isn't afraid to walk away from TT's money. GPG!

In the excitement surrounding McCord, I think folks are forgetting 2017. That year, the Packers had a fifth-round backup QB in his third season in McCarthy's system, and he'd performed well in preseason multiple times, but he hadn't played in real games. He got thrust into it with the team 4-1, and he went 3-7 in 10 starts. There's massive risk in having a QB with no regular-season experience as the top backup. A promising season can be torpedoed in a flash.

Joe from Lake Mills, WI

I'm curious about the attributes that make a good center on the offensive line, especially for guys that have the versatility to play it from their other regular positions. It seems that guards most commonly have transferable skills, but noticed the comment that John Williams was showing promise as a left tackle and center. What gives him that potential? Is it body type, quickness, strength, or intelligence? I've always felt that center is an underappreciated position on the line.

Playing both center and left tackle is incredibly rare. I don't know how a guy does it other than being able to flip a switch between full mental and physical wiring for both positions. It takes all the things you mentioned, and yet it's still uncommon. Williams majored in aerospace engineering at Cincinnati, so that's a level of brain power not often seen (if ever) coupled with a body big enough and athletic enough to play offensive line in the NFL.

Jeff from Mesa, AZ

Trey Smack seems to have a very high trajectory on his kicks that then carry a long way. Traditionally longer kicks needed to have a lower trajectory to make the longer field goals. How do you think the high trajectory will work in a cross wind in Lambeau in January? Also, how much experience does Trey have in cold weather?

He hasn't dealt with much cold, but it's not as though he's never kicked in a game under 60 degrees or something. Practically no kickers come out of college having kicked in sub-zero wind chills, because the college regular season ends by Thanksgiving. He's going to have to figure it out as he goes. His high trajectory on long kicks was something I noticed right away when looking at his college highlights during the draft process. It's a sign of tremendous leg strength and swing speed.

Dennis from Denver, CO

Trey Smack good from 75 yards in the rarefied air of Denver. Worth a shot during preseason. Yes? No?

I think we can pump the brakes a little. But I hope to watch Smack in warmups next Friday night and see how far he pushes it.

Steve from Manitowoc, WI

I have my ear plugs and towels ready for the Smack miss and the whiners break out. What do you suppose drives the instant gratification amongst the fan base? Patience!

That feels like a dirty word in current society. But it also cuts both ways. I will continue to remind everyone Anders Carlson didn't miss a kick in his first five regular-season NFL games, and we all know how that turned out.

Rob from Louisville, CO

Hey Mike, Wes just confessed to coveting a long snapper during the 2022 draft. What should I think of that?

He was doing his homework at a position of need, and the Packers had a lot of picks in '22 so drafting a long snapper, which Gutey had done in '18, was not out of the question. I remember thinking about long snappers that year, too, but I hadn't looked so closely as to choose a favorite.

Terry from Elroy, WI

While I understand the penalty called on Holcomb of Pittsburgh because of Tyrod Taylor having entered his slide, it seems unfair to the defense because Holcomb had already committed himself to the tackle. Nevertheless, I see that the way the NFL calls those types of plays may show an additional advantage to Jordan Love running with the ball more when the occasion calls/permits.

Defenders are in a tough spot, no doubt about it. They have to train themselves when they see a QB running at them to keep their feet. That's the only way to dodge contact due to a late slide, but still be able to make the play if the QB stays upright.

Larry from Cumming, GA

IMHO, I see three offensive line positions as locked down and two wide open. Are you thinking otherwise?

I don't know if I'd characterize the guard spots as "wide open." I still think if Aaron Banks is healthy, he's the left guard, and Jacob Monk has the inside track on right guard with Jager Burton in the mix there while he's taking Banks' snaps on the other side. But we're three weeks in and Banks hasn't taken a single 1-on-1 or 11-on-11 rep yet.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

Saw a replay of a Jordan Morgan block from the preseason game where he delivered a finishing move like a professional wrestler. I haven't gotten much of a sense of his personality yet, but seems like there might be a bit of an edge there? Hope so!

The play speaks for itself. Morgan is at the spot he's most comfortable, and as he's settling in, the rest of his game is coming out.

Paul from West Allis, WI

Hello to II insiders. Can Brandon Cisse find his way to the field on defense without needing to contribute to special teams? And with Keisean Nixon having gone from STs to D you think there was any such thoughts in Skyy Moore's head? Or is that apples to orangutans?

Moore is looking at WR4-5 at best, so there's really no comparison. Cisse looks to me like he's starting Week 1, so special teams are not a necessity for him, though it never hurts to hone different skills in this game.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

You guys have been more consistent and insistent recently about Nixon's security as CB1 than many of us. It's a luxury to see that this is no longer a foregone conclusion – we have some solid competition with BG's draft and free agency management. Further, it seems that Nixon has not done himself any favors so far, either with his play or with his comments.

I'll admit to being surprised Nixon is fighting to keep his starting job, but I don't recall ever saying – and someone can find any previous words and throw them back at me if warranted – he had "security" as CB1. I was confirming that was his status this spring, and I anticipated him hanging onto it, when readers were taking it away from him simply because the Packers used their first draft pick on a corner and signed a modestly priced free agent – two guys who had never played here nor held that role in the NFL. Semantics maybe, but saying someone has a certain status and is "secure" in it are two very different things, just as spring/OTAs differ from summer/camp. But if I misled, my bad. As for those comments, they sounded like Kei being Kei to me.

Jeff from Dorr, MI

Any chance Robert Tonyan does not make Pittsburgh's 53? Asking for a friend.

I suspect he's got a great chance to be TE3 there behind Freiermuth and Washington, especially with Rodgers in his corner. But I hear you.

James from Appleton, WI

I was playing sheepshead during da game, so I didn't catch everything. Did the special teams personnel change as the game progressed? There didn't seem to be a big drop-off in that phase.

Jack o'diamonds or call an ace? The special teams coaches were rotating personnel, as is customary in preseason games. As I said the other day, the minimal flags given how that officiating crew wasn't shy about throwing flags was what I liked best.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Any chance Jordan Love plays anymore during the preseason?

We'll see what LaFleur decides for Denver. I wouldn't rule it out, but no guarantees. LaFleur has indicated the starters won't play in the preseason finale vs. Arizona, because they'll get the bulk of the work in the joint practice two days prior.

Ryan from Sheboygan Falls, WI

Are we going to redeem ourselves this week?

If by that you're suggesting a bunch of players who will be on the field in the second half need to show something for the coaches and scouts to keep them around, then yes, that's a major priority. If you're referring to the scoreboard, I couldn't care less.

Jim from St. Pete Beach, FL

Saturday II is back! What a pleasant surprise and that must mean the baloney is running short on time. Non-training camp question: Which tight end(s) contributed most to changing the way that position has been played the last 10-15 years?

I'll go back to a star from my youth I loved to watch, Kellen Winslow. He was ahead of his time at the position, just as the Air Coryell offense was ahead of its time as a system. Now both are the norm.

Paul from Gorham, ME

Hi Insiders, the team facilities were named after Hutson, Nitschke and Hinkle. Why were those players chosen as namesakes? From a team with so many legendary players, how did it come to pass that their names were used? Also, have a happy Monday!

I honestly don't know, but now you've made me curious.

John from Madison, WI

I second the question on the socks! Some of us care about uniform aesthetics because we grew up noticing the logos and colors and got really interested in that side of things. Uni Watch was its own little II-like community, but that went away last year. Similarly, it boggles my mind that no one on the equipment staff agrees that a yellow center stripe on the "Winter Warning" helmets would match the shoulder stripes and add a pop of color. Lots of aesthetics is subjective, but that item is not.

Alrighty then.

Ryan from Ripon, WI

What is the biggest thing for this year's training camp/preseason that the Packers need to do to get the team back to winning the division and making a deep run in the playoffs?

Getting healthy and staying so.

Alex from Fennimore, WI

Seeing some of the "sky is falling" comments after a preseason game makes me appreciate the both of you for being able to sift through all of those submissions each week. After this preseason game it seems to be more about the individual players rather than the team, but still. The ones looked solid, no big injuries, and our new kicker made his kicks look easy in a stadium known to be difficult for kickers. I'll take it.

Me, too. Happy Monday.

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