Inbox: They're harder to find than it looks

[Cheesehead]

Bryan from Madison, WI


It has been a running joke in Packerland (I know I am guilty) to laugh at the QB carousel in Chicago. However, since the Bears haven't had to routinely allocate large portions of their cap to QB, it would seem they have been able to amass (and retain) quite a lot of talent at other positions. This leads me to believe that once Chicago does find a QB worthy of ending the carousel, they might get very, very good very, very fast and stay that way for quite some time. Hopefully we are ready.


Once the Bears find a solution at QB, at some point they'll face the same cap issues other contenders do of paying the QB what he's worth and building a winner around him. No one is exempt from that challenge.


Corey from Fond du Lac, WI


Hey! Longtime reader, but I've never asked a question. Why does it seem like the need for a stud on the D-line is not as much of a priority as it should be? In my eyes we are one STUD away from being a really good defense. I personally think that is absolutely the only thing we should be thinking about.


As mentioned, I was stunned the Packers didn't draft a single defensive lineman last year. Also as noted last week, the track record of finding them late in the first round isn't good, and that's most often where the Packers are picking. I went through the last 10 years, and a lot of teams picking between 20-30 in the first round took a D-lineman they thought was the next "stud," and it didn't work out as hoped. If you aren't going to draft one, you have to pay top dollar for one, and that's never a simple decision. They're harder to find than it looks.


Daniel from Waukesha, WI


Who was better, a prime Sterling Sharpe or the current Davante Adams?


I can't bring myself to choose. There are legitimate arguments for both. It's a great question, but sorry, I don't think splitting hairs is worth it here.


John from Madison, WI


Do you have a sense for how the intangibles are analyzed? It seems so incredibly important regardless of draft round.


That's what, in part, the interviews with the prospects are for, as well as the interviews scouts do with a players' former coaches, teammates, kindergarten teachers, you name it.


Todd from Long Island, NY


Mike, how thick would you estimate the binder of spreadsheets BG and Russ Ball have on their desk right now? It has to be an almost insurmountable amount of information. "If we do this, we can't do that. If we do that, we can't do this." Have you ever seen it? If they have to take it to a meeting, would they transport it with a shoulder bag, briefcase or forklift? I have a lot of empathy for them.


I've set foot inside it maybe once or twice, but there's a cap room that has all the contract info on the white boards that serve as walls (similar to the draft board in the draft room, just a much smaller room). I would imagine those walls are filled with more scenarios, possibilities and repercussions this offseason than any other.


Brian from Twain Harte, CA


The Packers scored on a league-high 13 of their opening drives during the 2020 regular season. To me, this is an indication of the outstanding coaching and scouting of the Packers, putting together an excellent game plan and forcing the opposition to adjust to keep the Packers from scoring again. What say you?


It's that combined with the players' readiness to execute at a high level right from the jump, which speaks to their preparation, not just the plan.