Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
James from Durango, CO
Is it likely that the first-team offense will play more than one series in the preseason? Initially, I attributed the team’s slow and sloppy performance in the first half of games to a lack of in-game experience working together, especially against the Bears and the Redskins in the first quarter of the season. I know you don’t want guys to get hurt and don’t want to give away too much, but wouldn’t chemistry and confidence be worth a series or quarter of play?
I believe the first-team offense will play more than one series in the preseason because there are obvious benefits to those reps with a new offense. At the same time, I still believe too much is made of starters playing in the preseason. In my opinion, it has nothing to do with how fast a team starts.
Doug from Eugene, OR
Hi fellas, thanks for towing the line through the dead zone and keeping it light-hearted and interesting. Even with all the talk of our defense, I am most looking forward to the offense; not knowing where the ball is gonna go at the snap and having multiple possibilities out of the same formation will be exciting. I am interested in your take on improvisation which we've had to do a lot of – is it better to be able to successfully run the planned play, or to be able ad-lib your way out of it?
I think everyone wants to run the play the way it’s called, but sometimes adjustments need to be made. This is what has led to the rise of the run-pass option in recent years. There’s always going to be room for improvisation and audibles, but there’s also a reason why certain plays are called. LaFleur isn’t randomly picking plays out of a “Madden” interface.
Matty from Janesville, WI
Do you ever see the NFL expanding with more teams, either within the U.S. or elsewhere?
I don’t think we’ll see the league expand beyond 32 anytime soon. I’m interested to see how this thing plays out with the Tampa Bay Rays and Montreal. While I don’t know how much traction it’ll get, I have to say it’s an interesting idea.
Jennifer from Middleton, WI
I saw Rob Demovsky’s pick of Mason Crosby for veteran at risk of being cut. I trust BG knows what he’s doing, but boy I hope that doesn’t happen. Even if Sam Ficken looks good, it’s hard to stomach giving up a proven kicker, albeit the few disastrous games. Yet, I assume Chicago’s situation looms large as a potential deterrent to cut him, both to not end up in the situation and for fear they would pick him up. Would you agree?
I love Rob but he’s all wet on this one. I’ll tell him so in a few hours when we speak to his wife’s English class. A quarter of the league is struggling to find a kicker right now. Unless Mason Crosby has a historically bad training camp, the Packers aren’t going to let him go for no good reason.
Sean from Portland, ME
One interesting fact about the 2002 division realignment is that it happened right at the beginning of the Brady era in New England. The Colts were in the AFC East until 2002. How different could the AFC playoff picture have been if Manning and Brady had to play each other twice a year? Instead, the next best QB in the AFC East during Brady's reign has been...Chad Pennington?
If you really want a brain freeze, think about how different the AFC East landscape might be if Miami pursued Drew Brees in 2006 instead of Daunte Culpepper.
Eric from Oshkosh, WI
The MVS/Jennings comparison was eye-opening. MVS’ 2018 stat line: 38/581/2 TD; Greg Jennings’ 2006 statline: 45/632/3 TD. What's really interesting is that MVS had only 73 targets compared to Jennings' 104 yet had just seven fewer receptions. Any idea why Jennings’ target/reception ratio is so much wider? Is it just the difference in accuracy between Favre and Rodgers, or was there some other underlying factor?
I think you answered your own question. Favre only completed 56 percent of his passes in 2006, the lowest of his NFL career by far.
George from Olympia, WA
When do you think we’ll end up playing a game in London and will we be forced to give up a home game?
I don’t know when it’ll happen, but I guarantee you the NFL will never ask the Packers to give up a home game. The league knows what home games mean to this community.
Martin from Evansville, IN
What are you most excited for this season?
The NFL opener in Chicago should be a lot of fun. I’m excited for that. I also love going to Dallas. I think we’re doing a pep rally, too.
Don from Hazleton, PA
I remember the Packers-Redskins game, MNF, 48-47. Not much defense, but tons of offense. What game do you remember most?
The Packers-Cowboys playoff game from 2014. I don’t have a photographic memory like Spoff when it comes to remembering specific plays, but I have a vivid memory of every minute of that game for some reason.
David from Minneapolis, MN
Does the team have a tax accountant that everyone uses to figure out which state to pay taxes to?
Correct. I pity whoever has to figure that stuff out whenever the Packers play in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Jeff from Brooklyn, WI
Hi Mike, what would you say is your preferred writing method: expository, descriptive, persuasive, or narrative?
I’ll let Mike answer this, too, but mine is fact-based narrative writing. I love to tell stories, written or verbal. That’s why I’m here.
Kyle from Osceola, WI
Mike, I'm heading to the BWCA for a week, so I won't be reading this again until next week. I'll ask anyway: Have you ever been up there before?
*Googles BWCA* and no.
Mark from West Bend, WI
Wes, welcome back. What do you think of Spoff sharing his middle name with all of II nation while you were gone, but you get jumped for using it in the opener of an "Unscripted”? Is it time to slip a tainted sandwich into a Friday lunch?
I don’t have much of a reaction other than to say thank you for following along, Mark. There are like three detailed signs of a die-hard reader in your question.