Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
Paul from West Allis, WI
Will the Pack be taken more seriously with each win or not unless they reach the end game?
Aaron Rodgers recently said he wouldn’t mind winning ugly all the way to the Super Bowl. I also don’t think this team will mind if people kept doubting it all the way to the Super Bowl. It doesn’t matter what the outside world believes as long as you believe. Good morning!
Paul from Bay View, WI
Tanner from Chicago asked what was our go-to play this year and I was surprised you didn't really notice that the WR going in motion as the QB flips a short pass on a jet sweep has been pretty successful for us this year. Either the TE is in motion or WR, and even the RB can get involved in this play. With the way our TEs and WRs block, I could see us using a different variation of that but not something that is on game film. Thoughts?
You’re not wrong, but that concept is just one cookie in a big jar. As Spoff said, there aren’t many of those “This is the play and formation we’re running” as a go-to (e.g. the sweep). The game is too sophisticated for that now. If you show a look – let alone an entire package – the defense is going to be ready for it. A full menu lessens the predictability of what you’re serving.
Jeff from Hickory, NC
I can’t help but think Tramon Williams is thinking of the last playoff game against the Seahawks as a Packer. I believe he was not re-signed after that overtime loss. Your take on his improved skills and his experience this time around.
I think you thought wrong. First, it’s the nature of the position. Second, Williams has played more than 200 NFL games. He’s won a Super Bowl, been named a Pro Bowler and seen pretty much everything there is to see in this game. Tramon appreciates this opportunity not because of what happened in the 2014 NFC Championship – but because it’s his first playoff appearance since that game. You have to cherish these moments.
Cameron from Wayland, MI
Can anyone block Za'Darius Smith?
One-on-one, I think he’s the hardest edge rusher to block in the NFL right now.
Lucas from Morgantown, WV
Ohhh man. Spoff’s response to "The Reckoning" had me laughing harder than I have in a while. If you had to play with just one of them this Sunday, would you take Z or Kenny? I can see Clark finally getting some Aaron Donald praise this game. If anyone can tackle Lynch in the backfield, it's him.
Well, hopefully it’s not one or the other. We’ll see exactly what the week holds for Clark and the back injury that held him out of practice Wednesday. As terrific as Smith has been all year long, the run defense goes as Clark goes. They need him on Sunday.
Gabriel from Glen Ellyn, IL
I don't believe Marshawn Lynch will be the weapon many believe him to be. To be sure, Seattle will have multiple ways to hurt the Packers’ defense, but Lynch is a slow power back. Packers have lots of speed on defense and power backs have not been the issue. If the Packers can solve how to cover tight ends and limit Wilson outside the pocket, I'm inclined to believe there will be a good outcome. What do you believe the X-factor will be in this game?
That’s fine to think that, but you cannot sleep on either Lynch or Travis Homer, who has home-run potential. Lynch’s yards per carry might not impress on the surface, but he’s had a couple Beast Mode runs. The X-factor remains limiting the explosive gains. This defense is extremely difficult to beat when the offense doesn’t pick up chunk yards.
Steve from Palm Springs, FL
Hi Mike and Wes, do you believe Aaron Rodgers must play his absolute best game of the year to jump start a Super Bowl run for the team? I believe so. Thanks guys.
You guys know how I feel about absolutes. Must he? I don’t know if he must. There are 45 other guys wearing Packers uniforms out there with him, but it obviously would help this team’s chances if Rodgers is playing at top form. As I’ve said before, it isn’t all going to go according to plan. There will be moments of adversity Sunday night. This team has pushed through every obstacle put in its way this season. If something “must” happen to win on Sunday, it must keep that same mindset now.
Kirsten from Madison, WI
I think I understand the "spy" concept, but could you explain more what that actually looks like in a game? Thanks.
The defender watches the quarterback and makes sure he doesn’t get past them. You’ll typically see that “spy” dancing a few yards behind the line of scrimmage before committing to a rush.
Tom from Two Rivers, WI
Wes, Russell Wilson has a career passer rating of 67.6 against the Packers, with eight TDs to 10 interceptions. What do you think has caused him to struggle so much against the Packers, and does he need to finish much higher than a 67.6 rating on Sunday for the Seahawks to beat our team?
Pressure and discipline. Dom Capers did a phenomenal job of getting pressure on Wilson over the years and the front often played with tremendous gap integrity. I see many of the same parallels with how Mike Pettine called the game last year. Za’Darius and Preston Smith should be terrific chess pieces for Pettine to play with Sunday night.
Mike from Niles, IL
Nothing new, but was glad to read a few weeks ago the nice words one of you had for Mark Murphy. I saw lots of criticism of him. I had written him several times, sometimes positive and sometimes negative, and he had always taken the time to respond, personally and directly to my comments. I was pleasantly surprised, and my Bears fan buddies were shocked that he had done so. Also have a short note from Ron Wolf that I treasure, thanking me for appreciating the good he did for the Pack.
I just want to mention – because I saw this unnecessarily led to the spewing of vitriol towards reporters on social media – the reason I posted and wrote what I did is because of how much Murphy had at stake this year. It wasn’t intended to call anyone to the carpet but rather give Murphy the credit I feel he deserves. Whether you agree or disagree with the structure, Murphy acted in what he felt was the best interests of the franchise and the Packers have seen immediate returns from the hiring of Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur. Murphy is too humble to take credit for any of that, so I felt I would say something. Because if this year didn’t go well, he’d probably be the first to be criticized.