Inbox: There are surprises around every corner in this game

David from Milwaukee, WI

How does it look for Sunday?

Wet and humid. A typical Florida afternoon, I suppose.

Davy from Watertown, WI

So, are the people complaining that the Packers were expecting too much from young players, the same ones who always complain when draft picks need a few years to reach their full potential?

Patience is virtue…and often fleeting.

Bill from Oswego, NY

Good morning! Player evaluations in preseason camps/games vis a vis the regular season should come with a disclaimer like financial investments – results are no guarantee of future performance.

We all must take training camp and the preseason with a grain of salt because it's not a true representation of regular-season football. It's young on young a lot of times regardless of how they're listed on the depth chart. The level of difficulty rises once the veterans are going full tilt on the field.

Duane from Oak Creek, WI

How long do you think it will take for the new line to take shape?

I wouldn't be mad about Sunday.

Ronald from Edison, NJ

Will we be starting any new offensive linemen?

Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk won't play Sunday, so I would think it would be some combination of Laken Tomlinson, Kevin Zeitler or Donovan Jennings at the two guard spots. I suppose the Packers also could turn to Travis Glover if Tomlinson and Zeitler need another week.

Richard from Telford, TN

After his surgery will Jayden Reed go home or stay with the team to rehab and provide emotional support to the team like Micah Parsons? Any idea specifically what the surgery is to his neck? I hate to see another career-ending neck injury to someone so young.

Hopefully, that won't be the case. But Reed's presence in Green Bay likely depends on the surgery and what his rehab will entail. Regardless, Bo Melton said Reed is still in the receiver group chat and I'm sure will be back at various points to check in with the team and training staff.

Jeff from Albuquerque, NM

"Offensive explosivity." Nice one Hod-man.

Thank you for reading.

Jim from Eau Claire, WI

After reading Dave from Howard's question about the 1,000-pound linemen delivery all I could picture was the Amazon truck pulling up to 1265 Lombardi Ave. The driver brings out three large boxes with the HEAVY sticker on each one, so you don't hurt your back trying to lift it. You might want to use the forklift for this delivery. I know it is dependent on injuries, but do you think it would be better to play one new lineman at a time or put in two or three right away and let them get used to each other?

In a perfect world, the Packers made their moves and could navigate the rest of the year without further issue. But injuries happen and it's unlikely Zeitler, Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton Sr. were going to stay off NFL 53-man rosters for much longer. As the weeks pass, that tree we talked about will get increasingly barer.

Matt from Fort Worth, TX

What is a realistic expectation for contributions from our new three linemen? I feel like everyone is acting like the calvary has arrived but there are reasons all three were still available.

Veteran players, especially those coming off injuries, are always the last to sign. The Packers aren't asking Zeitler, Tomlinson and Becton to save their season. They're simply asking for their best effort and to help push this offense forward.

Ray form Phoenix, AZ

The big-body additions to the O-line look as though the Pack may go to straighter ahead running and less outside zone blocking. Do you think that calls for a bigger back like Kaleb Johnson that runs hard between the tackles?

It could, especially in the interim when Zeitler and Tomlinson are still getting a feel for the offense.

Rich from Combined Locks, WI

After signing three offensive linemen, are the Packers still under the salary cap? And if so by how much?

It's a drop in the bucket, especially with the Packers' reported use of void years on Zeitler's deal. Green Bay remains in the middle of the pack in cap space…no pun intended.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, would it be unrealistic to expect a breakout performance from the Packers this week? Do I need to level set my expectations? Would 35 points and 100 yards rushing be a bridge too far for a team that is reworking the O-line?

No. Fifteen years covering the NFL has taught me to be prepared for any and every outcome. There are surprises around every corner in this game, so why would this hypothetical be any different? The Packers' offense has the explosive pieces to put up 35 points, but it all comes back to execution. Green Bay needs to get in more third-and-manageable situations, evidenced by the fact it's thrown on 35 of 36 third downs (according to NFL Next Gen Stats). That's just not a winning recipe for offensive consistency.

Mick from UK

If we're still looking for experienced offensive linemen who know a thing or two about pass protection, then maybe we should send up the Bakh-signal.

I wish, my friend. Perhaps the biggest tragedy for the Packers over the past five years has been the number of their top offensive linemen who have had their careers either sidetracked or flat-out derailed by injuries. Bakhtiari tore his ACL, then Elgton Jenkins does the same. Then, Zach Bako-Bewele – with no history of real injury – has this patellar issue. When people ask why Green Bay has gotten so young on the offensive line, there's part of the answer.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

So, with this new grab bag of offensive linemen, what is the D-line like for the Bucs? Are we asking for miracles?

I wouldn't say that. Tampa has a big, burly front that includes Vita Vea and A'Shawn Robinson. The Buccaneers are second right now against the run, so that'll be a challenge for a Packers offense that's struggled on the ground. The Buccaneers' pass rush has been so-so out of the gate, recording six sacks with 14 QB hits. Tampa will again be without first-round pick Rueben Bain, as well.

Kent from Duluth, MN

So, Aaron Rodgers wasn't the only ex-Packer on the field in Thursday night's game. Did you see Corey Bojorquez' stats? Four punts averaging 62 yards, with a whopper 81-yarder in the mix. I believe that his efforts duly impacted the game! Special teams are called that for a reason I suppose! That is one of the positives I'm glad to see for the Pack this year! Hopefully they can carry us while our O and D get settled in.

Bojorquez always could punt. That wasn't the issue here. We talk a lot about Daniel Whelan's leg talent, but he's a steady holder, too. The Packers' special teams units are off to a good start aside from the blocked field goal. They gotta keep it going.

Mike from Orange City, IA

Who will be our toughest opponent this year?

Adversity.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

The Bucs are making the Packers wear their (very) dark green jerseys on a 90-plus day in Florida Sunday. They must drink plenty of fluids and remember Mark Schlereth and let it all go on the field. It will be a really sweaty day.

The Packers have two opponents on Sunday – the Buccaneers and the Tampa heat. Preparation has been a week-long process. Like Matt LaFleur said on Friday, "If you think you're going to hydrate on Saturday, that's too late."

Geoffrey from North Osman, WI

Looking for clear and hot piss this week. Hydrate!

There's no better kind.

Dan from South Bend, IN

My son-in-law is a lifelong Browns fan, so I hear a lot of noise from the Dawg Pound. After Game 1 everyone in Cleveland was talking about another season in the tank, the ineptitude of the team, cleaning house, etc. (sound familiar?). Suddenly they are 3-1 and their fans are in love. Moral of the story: Believe in your team and enjoy the ride, Packer Nation! GPG!

You can almost hear the AP voters getting their pencils jittering in excitement to name yet another Browns coach as their NFL Coach of the Year.

Yotam from New Zealand

So, the Browns started the game with a three-and-out and the crowd started to boo right away. Talk about a tough crowd. On the other hand, they finished with a win, so maybe it's not too bad to have some tough love from the fans?

I enjoyed this line from Tucker Kraft on Monday when he was asked about the Falcons game. "We didn't but had we gone out there and flipped the score, people would have been saying emotional things to the Atlanta Falcons." It's true. The only thing fans want more than winning is letting their respective team know how badly they want to win.

Richard from Eau Claire, WI

What happened at Jordan Love's locker?

I don't know. We were outside talking to him in the hallway.

Tim from Ludlow Falls, OH

Wes, where does the phrase "Holy schnikes" come from?

I first heard it in "Tommy Boy," but maybe it's somewhere in the Old Testament and I just missed it.

TK from Grafton, WI

How's this for an equivalency: "Being an NFL fan is like having a grocery list that can never have every item found and crossed off." Such as, corner, O-line, kicker, etc. Came up with that all by myself, and I humbly admit it's pretty darn good.

Take a bow, TK. Better yet, take two.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

To Frank from Scottsdale. I had the privilege of meeting Mike and Wes in-person, and they both match up well to their pictures. They are also bigger than they look next to Larry. I found both men to be exactly how they appear on camera. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and well worth meeting if you ever get the chance.

The pleasure was all ours, Arthur. It was wonderful to meet you. We hope to be at the Tampa pep rally this evening, but it may be a bit tight on the travel front.

Tom from Milton, FL

Just a big thanks to both of you for what you provide us fans on a daily basis. I often find myself telling our pup we'll go for our walk once Insider Box is posted and I have finished reading it! Go Pack Go

Thank you, Tom. We appreciate you and your pupper.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Did you hear it? That clicking sound? Yeah, that was the sound of the reset button being pushed. The Packers will beat the Bucs in Tampa. Reasons to believe: 1) J-Love over J-Daniels, an undrafted rookie. 2) O-line beef has been added, with the experience needed to make the difference. 3) The defense, strong for two weeks, punched last week, will rebound. 3) Special teams will make a key play. 4) Just because. . . it's time! GPG!

Stay cool, everybody.

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