Inbox: He's an absolute beast in the trenches

Mark from Garden City, ID

Was Josh Myers asked who was the No. 1 receiver? I'm leaving, I'm leaving.

You along with Ross from Hudson (and probably some others). But not bad, honestly.

Cynthia from Asheville, NC

Hi Insiders. I know this isn't your bailiwick, but there is something screwy with your mobile website. No matter what video I want to play, the site keeps re-running the first video featured. It pops up in the middle of any other video I'm watching. Also, the cookie solution doesn't work for the mobile apps, only the desktop app. Glitchy this year! Never used to be a problem. Can you pass this along to the right people? I love your work. Thank you!

We're aware of the video glitch and our app developers are working on a fix.

Wesley from Woodbury, MN

Hello II … how ironic is it that both Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones both fumble at the goal line on the same week leaving their teams in closer games they should have been? GPG

Sounds more like coincidence than irony to me.

Chili from Muskego, WI

Hello, Insiders! Great team win on Sunday, and a beautiful day at Lambeau. Can't say that heat is the element I've ever headed to the tunnel to escape before. What was the deal on that RTP penalty? Anything from the league? From the stands, it looked like he did everything by the book: slowed down, wrapped up, didn't take him to the ground. I can't recall ever seeing a RTP call where the QB never leaves his feet before. Thanks!

LVN's helmet caught Richardson in the chin. By the letter of the law, that's RTP. I think some grace oughta be given when the offender is holding the QB up and clearly showing no intent to knock him down, but what do I know.

Rob from Springfield, IL

The past several years there has been a trend for coaches to go for it deep in the opponent's territory on fourth down. While I do believe that FGs instead of TDs often cost a team a game, it is tough to take points off the board. Do you believe that the results from Monday night's game may shift philosophies back to taking the points? Going for it and failing on fourth-and-goal early may have cost the Eagles the game.

I've always understood the penchant for going for it on fourth-and-1 (or 2) in good field position or scoring territory because the playbook is wide open with no limitations, and percentages are favorable. Philly's decision on fourth-and-4 from the 9 in a scoreless first quarter, and others like it, continue to be head-scratchers for me and always will be.

Jake from Decatur, GA

We were a goal-line fumble and a missed field goal away from a rout, just as the Colts were five or six easy dropped passes away from a gritty road win. Some people apparently call that "not sustainable." I call it September football. The important part is we looked better this week than last week, QB situation notwithstanding. I look forward to more improvement against the Titans.

Me, too.

Gary from Tompkinsville, KY

Do you think ML will be open to letting MW throw the ball more at TN?

I think he was plenty open to letting him throw more against the Colts, but he didn't have to. That game played out as well as the Packers could've hoped. The offense showed very little of the pass concepts it had prepared for Malik Willis, and now he gets to practice those for another week while tossing a few more into the plan.

Mike from Charlotte, NC

The Titans' defense looks better on paper, but they've lost both games because their offense could not produce the necessary points. Their coach is already in the news about some alleged outburst against his second-year signal caller. This game would seem to have a similar recipe for victory, but the Packers may not be able to rely on 53 running plays to win it. How do the Packers win this game? Go.

Get the play-action game going. Continue to win the turnover battle. Stop the run, which has been an issue, so they can put Levis in bad spots and get after him. And make a big play on special teams. The Titans have had two punts blocked already this season.

Chase from Carmichael, CA

In recent years, TEN has been pretty good on defense. Are those players/coaches still in place this year? If so, I imagine this week will be a stiffer test for the run game compared to IND. If that's the case, and Love remains out, I could see this game coming down to which defense "scores" more points through short fields and maybe we'll see the Packers first pick-six of the season. Nixon could have had one last week.

Tennessee has allowed the fewest total yards in the league through two games, and its run defense will be no pushover, starting with Jeffery Simmons. He's an absolute beast in the trenches. Dennard Wilson is the Titans' new defensive coordinator, and he's held top defensive assistant positions with the Ravens, Eagles and Jets within the last half dozen years, a background that's given him plenty of defensive success to draw upon. As for pick-sixes, if Levis throws one against the Packers, the cameras are going to be trained on Brian Callahan's reaction. He's trying to coach the superhero complex out of Levis.

Carl from Onalaska, WI

Obviously, we want Jordan Love back ASAP, but I can't be the only thinking how cool it would be if Willis outplays Levis this week and beats his former team.

I doubt Willis cares if he outplays Levis as long as he gets the win.

Dave from Germantown, TN

What has happened to Christian Watson? He was not a factor in Game 1 and had no touches in Game 2. Does he just draw so much attention that he opens up the field for the other receivers? Is he a superior blocker so that becomes his role?

I wouldn't call catching a TD pass in Brazil not being a factor, but no, he hasn't been overly involved in the passing game yet. This offense has many different places it can turn, and all I know is Watson (or Luke Musgrave or Dontayvion Wicks or whoever) has to be ready when his chance comes and make the play.

CJ from Cedar Rapids, IA

I would like to see more Edgerrin Cooper but I don't want Eric Wilson to come off the field. Good problem to have.

Indeed. In these situations, usually players start to define roles for themselves.

Mike from Tyler, TX

Any concerns on the defense lack of pressure on the QB and sacks?

Not when the approach called for containing dangerous dual-threat QBs, who combined for just 70 yards rushing, and only 19 in the first three quarters of those games.

Dustin from Birnamwood, WI

While it's great that the defense has been forcing turnovers, it's hard to ignore the big plays they're giving up on the ground. After reviewing the stats, they're once again ranking near the bottom of the NFL in yards per carry. Is this just the team adjusting to a new defensive scheme, or should we expect another season in the bottom third of the league in this category?

The run defense is a sore spot in the early going here, no question. Taylor ripping off five runs of 16-plus in 12 carries wasn't pretty. My amateur review of the film tells me the Packers have defenders in position to stop those runs, but they're being too aggressive and as a result either overplaying gaps or missing tackles. They've got to clean it up, and I think it'll take the same focus on discipline they've shown with the pass rush against run-threat QBs.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, I was only able to watch portions of the game, but the parts I caught of the Packers' defense had two things that seemed to jump out. They all hustle to the ball and they seem a lot faster than I remember seeing last season. The ball goes somewhere and (insert Madden voice) BOOM there are multiple yellow hats showing up with authority. Has the team speed really increased that much, they are better at reacting in this scheme, or a combination of those and other things?

That goes back to the change in play style being more meaningful than the change in scheme, which LaFleur emphasized once again on Monday. But as noted above, it does have drawbacks and a balance must be struck.

Austin from Appleton, WI

Mason Crosby had us generally spoiled. The anxiety for every field goal attempt is agonizing. Unfortunately, there is no field goal kicker tree in the backyard and no help is coming. Here's hoping the young Brayden Narveson continues to grow and find consistency.

It's imperative he does, though it's not on him to shoulder the burdens of last season when he wasn't here. He has to find it for himself, and all anyone can do is root for him. It's also important to remember Carlson made every kick in the first five games of his NFL career. No need to rush to judgment either way. Hopefully the fact both of Narveson's misses have been almost identical (wide right from left hash from 43/45 yards) means he can get a handle on it.

Austin from Manassas, VA

We always talk about defenses wearing down. With 70 snaps, over 40 min on the field, and Jacobs with 32 rushes, what does the offense need to do in order to recover and bring it against a potentially elite Tennessee defense on Sunday?

Coming off that game and with the temp possibly hitting 90 on Sunday in Nashville, I'm sure LaFleur will structure practices this week so the players' bodies are ready for another doozy.

Darren from Washington, DC

Coach LaFleur is the epitome of "praise in public, criticize in private." I appreciate his constant deference to the players while inviting most of the blame when things go sideways. What do players share most often when describing what they like about ML and his coaching style?

That he's in tune with the schedule's extensive physical demands (see previous answer) and adjusts accordingly. Also that he simply keeps it real. He's never putting on some kind of show when he communicates with his players. He's genuine.

Mike from McFarland, WI

I remain impressed at the ice in Matt LaFleur's veins to stick with that game plan for a full 60 minutes when I imagine every fiber of his competitive nature instinctively was shouting at him to take big swings. Do you think memories of Jordan Love's first start was on his mind as a reminder?

No. While I also applaud LaFleur for staying conservative and all but eliminating any risk, which felt at odds with his nature, Love's first start had nothing to do with it. LaFleur learned from that game how important it is to make sure the plan is tailored to your backup, because that week vs. KC they had the plan in for Rodgers, found out Wednesday he had Covid, and didn't scrap it to start over for Love.

Dale from Mount Pleasant, WI

Prior to this game, when was the last time a Packers RB had 30 rushing attempts?

Ryan Grant had 33 carries at Seattle in Oct. 2008, and then 31 the very next week at home vs. Indy.

Jim from Mundelein, IL

Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine got almost the same number of snaps against the Colts. Are the Packers going with a position rotation strategy at CB or is there another reason for the snap split? Is there any feedback regarding the RG position rotation strategy over the past two years? Appreciate the insight.

LaFleur said it's an ongoing competition at corner between Stokes and Valentine, so stay tuned. As far as right guard, I think the Packers have been comfortable with the arrangement, also a competition while getting young players some game action they might not otherwise get. It could be a moot point at that spot right now, though, with Morgan getting another shoulder injury.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

Saw a cut-up of Tucker Kraft's blocks Sunday and my goodness, that guy brings it every play. From what I could see, some nice downfield blocks from the WRs too. On long runs like that, how much of the downfield blocks are assignments and how much are guys just looking for work?

Any and all.

Graydon from Menomonie, WI

The first few weeks of this season are showing how important it is to have depth beyond the first 53. You could field a pretty impressive team with the players that have been injured year-to-date.

Indubitably.

Gary from Davenport, IA

I see that Fond du Lac native Braelon Allen is off to a good start with the Jets. And Jackson Chourio of the Brewers has had a great rookie season. Both of these players will turn 21 early next year. How bright are their futures?

So bright you can see them from your couch. Or davenport, in Davenport. I'll see myself out.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I saw where the NFC has nine teams at 1-1, but the AFC only has five teams at 1-1. I have NO idea what that means? I guess, I am reading that to mean buckle up, the roller coaster is leaving the station!

And it's not stopping. For anyone or anything. Happy Wednesday.