Inbox: There's a huge team component

Gavin from Madison, WI

Mike, when you were asked what does "G" mean when MLF said Love plays like a "G"? You said, "The logo and what it represents. Don't think too hard now." The Geto Boys beg to differ. I believe MLF is saying Love is playing like a GANGSTA and the Geto Boys will tell you, "Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta!"

There was a double meaning to the comment, but in this building, believe me, it's more about the logo than the other.

Ricky from Temple Hills, MD

Wes/Spoff, what's the right way to draw a star? The Xavier McKinney Method? The Evan Williams Way?

Williams all the way.

Dan from Stockton, CA

This team is sneaking up on me. As of Sunday's games, only four teams in the NFL had a longer winning streak than the Packers. I would love to see that streak continue this Sunday. I think a Bijan Robinson-like game for Jahmyr Gibbs is the Lions' path to victory. What is the Packers' path?

Tackling well, particularly against Gibbs but also on St. Brown and Williams so those quick hitters don't rupture. The Lions thrive on yards after contact/catch and those must be held in check.

Craig from Appleton, WI

The Cowboys did the defense a huge favor by only handing off to running backs 13 times. I am still having nightmares about Bijan Robinson and here comes Jahmyr Gibbs. Has the run defense found something to prevent another elite running back from ruining our day?

This is the type of matchup the Packers likely will miss a speed demon at linebacker like Edgerrin Cooper. But there's a huge team component to defending a weapon like Gibbs as well. It's guys up front getting penetration to make him re-route. It's the back end attacking him under control. It's gang tackling and getting hats to the ball. I think the Packers' run defense is in a decent place. Against everybody but Bijan Robinson, they've held opponents to 3.4 yards per carry. Gibbs will certainly test just where they are.

Carl from Sheboygan, WI

Morning II, a lot will be (or is being) written about Gannon and the Packer defense…and rightly so. While we may believe the Atlanta game to be an outlier, the proof will come Sunday in Detroit. Contain Gibbs and put the game in Goff's hands. Wouldn't you say that is how the Pack won the last two visits to the Motor City?

The Packers have won two of their last three at Ford Field, and they've done so by being efficient on offense and limiting the gashes on defense. When they've been successful against Goff & Co., they've made them go the long way to give someone on defense a chance to make a play, such as a sack at a key time.

Keith from Springfield, MO

How would you describe the Lions' defense? I just read that a popular sportswriter described it as "struggling." Does the Pack have a clear advantage in this regard? The Lions seem to be really strong at QB and RB positions.

Detroit's defense is struggling, surrendering just over 400 yards and just under 30 points per game. But one thing it does well is get after the quarterback – 20 sacks through five games, with four players posting three or more thus far. Pass protection will be paramount in this game.

Nick from Henrico, VA

We are entering a critical portion of our season over the next four weeks and that starts with a division rival the Lions on the road. What do we have to do to go into Ford Field and walk out with a W?

In addition to what's already been mentioned, protect the football. Don't give a struggling defense takeaways. I'd say my biggest concern with Josh Jacobs potentially stepping in and playing right away after a long layoff is ball security. It's not September anymore.

Mike from St. Louis Park, MN

Two-part question, same topic. Will Josh Jacobs be ready to go for Sunday in Detroit? Or will he need a week or two to get up to speed? Are the struggles in our run game due to the inconsistency in the run blocking or guys not seeing and hitting holes?

It's wait-and-see on Jacobs, and I've noted all year the ground game's struggles are shared by the blockers and backs at different times. One can always make the other look better, and vice versa.

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Kevin from Indianapolis, IN

I get the enthusiasm for Jacobs to return soon. Heck, I'm an active participant in said enthusiasm. How much of the running back success is talent, though, as compared to blocking? Is it fair to say that Jacobs is so much better than our current running backs that the run game will make huge leaps, or will he be limited by our inability to get a strong push up front?

Also wait-and-see. But a back of his ability can turn 2-yard gains into 5- or 6-yard gains, and when nothing is there, he can still find a yard or two rather than lose a couple. That's how a proven back can help the play-caller.

Kevin from Arlington Heights, IL

I have to imagine the Inbox is flooded with Josh Jacobs questions. Did I read correctly he just has a one-week exemption basically? So does that mean we'll find out the league's punishment on Oct. 26?

Maybe. Or this is just one week at a time until the league concludes its investigation. I honestly don't know.

Mitchell from Lebanon, MO

Hello Insiders! This season I have noticed the general improvements in our special teams unit. However, one unsung hero who is not getting much attention is Daniel Whelan. He is currently fifth league-wide in gross yards per punt and, with the help of our entire punting unit, he is leading the league in net yards per punt. It is a privilege to have such a talented leg on the team and it is so much fun to watch Whelan and our punting unit put opposing teams in bad field position.

The net average of 45 is incredible, particularly given Whelan would be the first to say he's mis-hit a few punts this season. Last year's 43.9 net average set a franchise record for however long they've been keeping the stat.

Chris from West Allis, WI

I know Christian Watson and Matthew Golden had a few drops and I know what the announcers said, but can people please stop calling every ball that these receivers almost caught a drop? One ball to Watson in the end zone got tipped just before reaching his hands and Golden miraculously twisted his body and got his hands in position before "dropping" another end zone ball. Yes those guys want to make those catches, but just because they almost pull off the incredible doesn't mean failing to do so is a mistake.

I shared this same perspective on our latest "Unscripted." Shameless plug for folks to check out the podcast.

Sean from San Diego, CA

Watching the two quarterbacks play on Sunday night made me realize what we have in Jordan Love. Both QBs were under pressure all night, but one looked comfortable and in control while the other looked frazzled and made poor decisions. Not stepping up into the pocket when there was space, throwing INTs, throwing away the football on fourth down and on a two-point conversion. Admittedly, Love almost had multiple INTs, but he looked calm and in control.

I agree. Now the real test is to take that show back on the road in a noisy dome against a division opponent.

Mike from McFarland, WI

Love is wonderful, but I wish he'd slide and protect himself more. He doesn't need to prove his toughness to anyone. No first down is worth being out multiple games. But I guess that's why I sit on a couch and he's a world-class competitor, huh?

He's taken too many hits in the pocket as it is. He doesn't need to expose himself to more downfield, like the one at the goal line in Jersey.

Tony from Aurora, CO

I saw something repeatedly Sunday that I'd never noticed before. We'd have a three-receiver bunch to the right, and pre-snap, one of the receivers (seemed it was usually Savion Williams) would motion just to the other side of the bunch, looking more like an adjustment than an actual motion. Was this designed, and if so, what would it indicate to JLove? I couldn't see that it affected the D's pre-snap positions.

Even if the defenders don't change positions, just a shift of their feet/stance can indicate who's playing inside vs. outside leverage, or whether the safeties are about to morph from two deep to single high (or the reverse) at the snap.

Jason from Ammon, ID

Good morning, II. I loved when the broadcast showed Micah Parsons coaching up the D on the sidelines. Possibly the best part of playing a team sport is the relationships with your teammates. What do we know about him as a person that we didn't before the trade? Side comment – I smiled when I saw the Love "special whistle" comment came from a gentleman in Logan, UT. Enjoy your day, my friends. I appreciate you.

Parsons has revealed to Packers fans the person he is more through his injury/recovery than his play on the field. I guess in some ways that's natural, given he arrived so unexpectedly on the eve of last season. But it's still interesting. I smiled at the Logan locale, too. I must've been just too tired to comment on it.

Rick from Shawano, WI

It is a well-known fact GMs and HCs obfuscate at every opportunity and on every issue. But now I am told to believe their every utterance. Why?

When did anyone tell you "to believe their every utterance"? I suggested listening to the postgame presser as LaFleur addressed the performance's shortcomings. I've attended hundreds of press briefings every year for 20-plus years and wouldn't encourage anyone to listen to what I thought was obfuscation.

Matt from Eau Claire, WI

RE: the RTP on Lukas Van Ness. I just don't get how that gets flagged but the horse-collar tackle that Carrington Valentine took on the return doesn't get any kind of call. Does that penalty not exist anymore?

It does. But it's also a safety rule, so you know what my answer to that would be.

Peter from Eagan, MN

Coach LaFleur said at his press conference that they will send video of the questionable calls to the league office and that they will get clarification/explanation for the calls. I guess some weak excuse. He also said he cannot share their response with the public. As fans, we deserve to know what is the right call so we can have valid complaints or even praise. Until the officiating crew is held to some level of accountability the quality of their work will not improve.

Just so we're clear, muzzling teams from talking about after-the-fact officiating discussions and clarifications is a mandate from the league. After Sean McVay disclosed he was told the controversial DPI that cost the Rams late in their SNF loss to the Broncos was the wrong call, a leaguewide memo went out.

Nicole from Easthampton, MA

Lately, one of the best parts of the live blog/chat is knowing the no flag/call confirmed ruling sooner, so I can celebrate somewhat close to the actual play.

Ha. Glad to be of service.

Greg from Gretna, NE

Nice to see that ARod12 agrees with II about the turf in Tampa.

He's disliked the turf there his entire career. Said so many times. He had two injuries there, in '08 and '14, that he attributed to the soft surface.

Craig from Sussex, WI

When the schedule came out I thought the Rams game would be extremely difficult and probably a loss, but now with Davante Adams out and the team not playing well, the Packers could pick up a win there.

I feel terrible for Davante, but there are four games to play before that one. Just beat the Lions.

Gary from Davenport, IA

After seeing Freddy Peralta win the ALCS MVP award, it made me nervous that we might be in for a repeat of 1982. The Rays have two excellent pitchers with Peralta and Drew Rasmussen, who are both former Brewers. The MVP of the 1982 World Series was former Brewer Darrell Porter. Please tell me this pattern won't continue. I won't be around in another 44 years.

That's quite the pull from the way-back machine. It's amazing how Freddy has straightened out what appeared to be a lost season for him, and at least the Brewers got Willy Adames when they traded Rasmussen. It should be a whale of a World Series.

Teri from Verona, WI

Any chance we will win the division?

Any of the four teams could still win it, and whoever loses Sunday in Detroit is in for a much harder go of it. Happy Wednesday.

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