Inbox: He's bringing safety back

George from Edinburg, VA

Good morning gents. This game is study/plan/react/adjust. I seem to recall New York countering Al Harris' press-man technique, due to his back being to the quarterback. Later, they attacked Charles Woodson's propensity for interceptions with double moves to get him to bite. So, what can we expect teams to try against our latest weapon, Xavier McKinney?

You saw some of it early on when Matthew Stafford kept looking off McKinney in coverage. McKinney estimated that's the most any QB has done that so far this year. The first five games show how QBs gotta stay disciplined with their eyes if they're gonna test the top of Green Bay's defense. McKinney is lurking back there and can get from Point A to Point B in the secondary quicker than any Packers safety I've covered.

Matt from San Luis Obispo, CA

McKinney's INTs have been great and have swung games. Without the benefit of seeing the whole field on TV, it's sometimes hard to get a sense of what other effects the deep safety is having. Besides the takeaways, what else has Xavier done well (or not)?

To quote Kenny Clark from Sunday, McKinney "just erases everything back there." By no means has McKinney been perfect this year, but he's quick and instinctual. In the rare instance McKinney is out of place by a few steps, he can recover quickly to make the play or at least increase the difficulty of the catch. Safety is an undervalued position in today's NFL. A player like McKinney shows why it's so critical to have a ball-hawking presence on the back end, though. He's bringing safety back.

Craig from Brookfield, WI

Slow clap for Brian Gutekunst! Not that long ago, TE was a glaring weakness going all the way back to Jermichael Finley. BOOM. He drafts Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Then, mere months ago, the safety position was a gaping hole. BOOM. BG pays a premium to bring in "X," whose two Sunday takeaways result in two TDs. What do you consider to be the most impressive item on BG's resume to date?

Gutekunst acquiring the Smith Bros. was a game-changer, but McKinney's signing is on its way to being the quintessential signing of the Gutekunst era. The Packers went from revamping a position of weakness to deploying a potential All-Pro over the span of one offseason. I tweeted this out early Monday morning, but McKinney currently has more interceptions than 28 of the league's 32 teams.

Dan from Tallahassee, FL

Hi, I'm just pointing out that the offensive coordinators for the upcoming Cardinals, Texans, and Jaguars now face the real-world application of the problem we all had in high school algebra: Solve for X.

And fortunately, the Packers aren't taking a math elective this semester. McKinney is a problem other teams must solve on the back end.

Tucker from Belton, TX

Mike said, "In the NFC, 13 of 16 teams already have two or more losses." Unfortunately for us, two of the three with one or fewer are in our division.

The Packers can't do anything about the NFC North for another month. Right now, all they can do is control the outcome of these games against Arizona, Houston and Jacksonville.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

Are there any superlatives left that we can't foist upon Jayden Reed? My goodness, that catch. There weren't words. No, I take that back. There were words. When I saw where that pass was headed, I said "interception." How in the world he came down with that ball...

Between Jayden Reed and McKinney, the Packers have the superlatives covered. Becoming the first to do something in the NFL since Roger Craig speaks for itself.

Mark from Eureka, IL

Watching the 53-yard bomb to Jayden Reed I could only do my Dick Enberg impression: "Oh my!" Reed was near the right hash when Jordan Love launched. Hooking up with him perfectly in the far corner was far beyond expectations. My favorite Love pass so far!

SoFi reminds me so much of AT&T Stadium in Dallas, including how the press box is positioned in the corner of the end zone. That play came towards us and all I could think was "Hopefully Reed can make a play on the ball, so it doesn't get picked." Well, he did more than that; much more.

Jake from Lansing, MI

Insiders, thank you for all your content. You all truly go above and beyond to keep the Green Bay loyal informed/entertained. However, I was surprised that there was no attention given to Brayden Narveson...it seems like he's rebounded well with a solid FG and extra points. Are we hoping to avoid jinxing him? Kudos for a solid kicking game!

Narveson hit a big kick to end the first half with some momentum, but it got overshadowed by an extraordinary third quarter. Kudos to Narveson, though. He came through in a big spot. Gotta keep stacking.

James from Appleton, WI

It's only two or three yards, but the Packers were getting some benefit from their kickoff coverage team. My guess is the ultimate goal is not to stop the returner between the 20 and 25 so much as it is to get a chance at a penalty or turnover. Do you think Narveson's ability to get the ball inside the kicking zone is a big reason for his support from the coaches?

The Packers have been solid in kickoff coverage this year. They rank third in the NFL for fewest yards allowed per return. Unfortunately, it's been as useful as a Porsche during an Escanaba winter because of the new kickoff rules. Green Bay could try a few more placement kicks, but is the risk of an explosive return worth tackling the returner at the 25?

Pat from Hudson, WI

After seeing Jordan Love drop that pass into Reed's arms while surrounded by three Rams defenders, I now understand that the drill the QBs run in camp where they try and put the ball into the net in the end zone is actually part of their training and not just a fun, silly game that they play. That throw and catch was a thing of beauty!

Everything in practice serves a purpose, though I have noticed the Packers don't do as many of those long-net drills during training camp. It seems Tom Clements favors QBs practicing their footwork and throwing to nets placed at a more moderate distance. As a receiver, all you can ask for is an opportunity to make a big play. Love did that for Reed and the second-year wideout capitalized.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Wes…literally from Day 1 of training camp, you were leading the Evan Williams bandwagon. As Mike said yesterday, the young man is a baller. Was there anything specific you noticed in his play at practice, because he sure jumped off the TV screen on Sunday.

Williams followed the same script as every Packers rookie who's impressed out of the gate – he made one play in practice and then another and then another. By the end of training camp, it was almost a surprise if you didn't notice No. 33 in practice. Williams has a nose for the football when it's in the air.

Tyler from Stetsonville, WI

We've heard the first month of the season is the new preseason. With Jordan Love's injury, Sunday was Game 3 for the starting offense. I am as upset as anyone with the drops and penalties but the difference so far this year is that we are above .500 after five games and still in things. It's all about peaking at the right time. I'd much rather be peaking around mid-November than now. Enjoy the ride folks. We know what this team is capable of when all three phases play to their potential. Time to start stacking some Ws!

The Packers have work to do and plenty to clean up, but they're winning in spite of mistakes. That's a big difference from one year ago at this time. Correcting those miscues is the key to winning consistently. Again, it sure looks like the Packers from a pure wins standpoint will need every one they can get in the NFL's best division at the moment.

Craig from Sussex, WI

I feel like the Packers are on a good path. LaFleur's halftime adjustments are excellent so far this year. I think he's showing his experience in that regard.

I think that was reflected in Tucker Kraft's postgame comments about how Green Bay was setting up the play that led to his 66-yard touchdown with the runs they called in the first half. LaFleur isn't just calling plays for shoots and giggles. There's a reason for everything in this Packers offense.

Craig from Wink, TX

It seemed to me the times I was watching the defensive line that Clark was double- if not tripled-teamed quite often. Was I hallucinating? I didn't have a good TV as I've been in the hospital.

First things first, I hope you're doing all right. Secondly, I'm not sure how the data syndicates graded Clark, but I felt like that was his best game of the year. He obviously was going to have more attention on him without Devonte Wyatt on the field and still produced two QB hits, including a critical second-and-10 pressure during the Rams' last possession. Clark isn't going to overextend to make plays. He's steady as they go. If eating a double-team helps spring someone else, Clark is fine with it if Green Bay wins the down.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Should we expect another contain-the-QB, instead of attacking, from the D-line this next game? Kyler Murray must be contained but he is still a great pocket passer. I really believe we must mix in several blitzes from our D to keep Murray off-balance. Agree?

Murray is definitely a dual-threat QB. He already has a 50-yard run on the books. Green Bay still needs to make Murray uncomfortable. He's a dangerous quarterback with the ball in his hands, but Marvin Harrison Jr. presents a new dimension to that offense. The Packers need to proceed with aggressive caution.

Wade from Billings, MT

Will Romeo Doubs be back to play against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday?

I would hope so. Matt LaFleur said Doubs and the team had a productive meeting and it's expected the receiver will be back at practice Wednesday.

Phil from Paris, IL

I just wanted to say I think it's interesting that Dontayvion Wicks is often compared to a young Davante Adams who also struggled with drops early in his career. People forget that even the greats struggle with adversity when they get to the league. I'm looking for him to bounce back and have a big game again next week! We all need to relax and let the young man figure this thing out. Hopefully, we are rewarded the same way we were with Davante! Thank you both for everything you do! Go Pack Go!

Meanwhile, Wicks is doing all this as the 19th receiver taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. Could he be better? Absolutely. Are the Packers still well ahead of the curve with Wicks? 100%.

Scott from Carlisle, PA

Could the number of penalties we commit have anything to do with how young this team is? Not making excuses. They are professionals. I'm just wondering.

I'm sure that's part of it, but the Packers also were the youngest team in the NFL last year. Green Bay is minus-121 in penalty-yard differential this season. It was plus-102 through the first five game in 2023. The Packers haven't finished in the red in penalty differential during LaFleur's first five seasons as head coach.

Bill from Brooklyn Park, MN

In Monday's II, Spoff said, "I thought the quick slant to Malik Heath on first down after Josh Jacobs' run on the final drive was a bold can call…". Can you please explain what a "can call" is?

It's a fancy way of saying "audible." Love checked to a slant from presumably a run call based on the look the Rams were presenting.

Nick from Plainwell, MI

Good morning, Insiders! While it has been noted how well "X" has been playing this year, are there any other DBs around the league you have noticed through the first five games? Denver's Patrick Surtain looks to be playing on an elite level.

I only have four eyes and they're fixed on what the Packers are doing but certainly PS2 is performing like an All-Pro for a very solid Denver defense. To record a 100-yard interception for a touchdown with Champ Bailey in the building was the cherry on top of a dominant win for the Broncos.

Oliver from Berlin, Germany

Hi Insiders, I have a tactical question. Before the pick-six, what was the right decision for Love to make? 1. Take the safety. 2. Throw it away in hope somebody catches it (what he did). 3. Something else...It would be interesting to know how you would be solving that riddle when you have only msec. to decide. Appreciate your work and would like to hear your estimation. GPG from Germany.

It's easy to Monday morning quarterback the decision after everything that happened. My only thought is if Love is gonna throw it away, he's gotta make sure that ball gets to the sideline. The pressure was just a little too close and he couldn't get enough on that pass to avoid catastrophe. Like Spoff wrote, however, the cool-as-a-cucumber QB responded like he always does.

Jack from Black Mountain, NC

0% third down conversions make it hard to win games unless second down conversions are 100%. What are you seeing to solve this?

Love's scrambling ability?

Tom from Cambridge, MA

Busy Sunday. Didn't even listen to the streaming radio until the final couple of drives. It sure sounded like a Packer crowd at that point. Was it a Packers crowd all day? Can't imagine the Rams fans leaving early.

It was a pro-Packers crowd. The Rams didn't need to switch to a hard count, but it was roaring inside SoFi Stadium during LA's final offensive possession.

Shilo from Wildomar, CA

I was at the game at SoFi on the 500 level, and yes, it's high up but the view was still quite nice. Plus, their video board is gigantic, but it didn't interfere with the view. Definitely worth going to. The rally on Saturday was awesome, too. Packers Everywhere really knows how to throw a party!

It was great to see you, buddy. Glad you enjoyed the game.

Jake from Marina Del Rey, CA

The magic of Packers Everywhere: My dad grew up in the tiny town of Thorp, Wis., and has lived in California since the late '70s. He came down for the game and we decided to check out the pep rally. After complimenting another attendee on their shirt, we got to talking. It turns out that not only was he also from Thorp but also his father was in the same high school class and basketball team that won its division championship back in 1969!

So, I take it you met Shilo then? Either way, what an insanely small world. Thanks for sharing and coming out to the rally. Have a good Tuesday.