Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
Rich from Grand Rapids, MI
It's always easy to second-guess, but on a day where the weather and opponent seemed to cry out for a defensive game plan centered on stopping the run and forcing an iffy QB to throw the ball in tough conditions, GB seemed lost in run D. And it isn't like they had to even worry about a running QB, either. Hard to look at that game – the entire game – and think GB's D can hold up its end of the bargain against good teams. On to San Fran, a team with an iffy QB that likes to run ...
I couldn't agree with you more about the circumstances that set the stage Sunday. The prelude was obvious, making the result all the more disheartening. Going forward, you can say it's time to dig deep, gut-check, whatever your favorite phrase is. The Packers have to change the narrative on that side of the ball.
David from San Antonio, TX
Going back to last year the run defense has been our Achilles heel. It hasn't been addressed. Do you see us as legitimate title contenders if we don't do something different?
Like I said, the narrative needs to change. I think the two rookie inside linebackers learned some lessons. The defensive linemen need to get off blocks, but we've heard that before. The edge needs to be set stronger. If the players are looking for some magical scheme fix at this point, their heads are in the wrong place.
Bill from Mesa, AZ
Packers seriously need to fix their run defense. What can they do this late in the season to stay competitive going down the stretch?
I wish I had a great response for you. Unlike last January, there's still time. That's all I've got. Otherwise, if I really knew how to answer this understandably popular question I wouldn't be sitting here trying to answer it.
Klay from Great Falls, MT
Mike, any information on Kevin King's quad injury? Is it that deep of a bruise or does he have a tear? Thank you and Wes for all you do.
We haven't been given any information other than King had a setback during his initial recovery, so he's going to be out longer than initially thought. But there's been no timeline divulged.
Tim from Port Washington, WI
Tough game. Defense needs to tackle better for sure. Had a couple of drives that could have ended in points. My question is could Robert Tonyan have "fumbled" the ball out of bounds on the last ball he caught, once he realized he couldn't make it to the sidelines?
If they rule his forward progress stopped, they would have kept the clock running.
Fritz from Stevens Point, WI
My biggest worry as we get deeper into the season: Will players on teams that are out of playoff contention become increasingly lax in their anti-COVID protocols? Got any reassuring evidence to the contrary to put me at ease?
Well, the players don't get paid if they don't play.
Michael from Novato, CA
No real question, but a real rant – 34 rushes, 15 passes for the Vikes. Any reason any of the contenders are going to bother trying to pass against us? Under Capers it was "pad level." Now it's "maintaining gap control." We have (IMO) too much talent for this to continue. Do we adjust the scheme, or is it time to pull Za'Darius Smith in, and not give him as much freedom as he's had?
I think that's a legitimate question with Z, though I'd have to review the film to see how much he's free-lancing on first and second downs as opposed to just third-down passing situations.
Jim from McLean, VA
Hi Mike, I finally got around to this week's WYMM, and it was my favorite ever. I think it should be WYDM (D for definitely). How long does it take you to put that together and at what point do you pick your "topic"?
Sometimes I have an idea what I'm looking for, and I either find it or don't. Other times I just start watching closely and see what emerges as a worthwhile theme. I'm not sure where I'm going to start today, or if I even have time to do one on this short week. We'll see.
Bob from Springfield, MA
Dear II, tough loss, but I really appreciated LaFleur calling for the two-point conversion after the last touchdown. He was playing to win. Yes?
For sure. I suspect he wanted no part of overtime with another game in four days.