Inbox: It's a strong tradition that's been established here

Brian from Chesapeake, VA

Best season opener for me was 1999 vs. Raiders. Huge rally to win, then the emotion Brett Favre showed after the game stunned me. Then, thinking about it, it was his first game without Mike Holmgren and Reggie White; the pressure he must have felt all preseason coming off a crazy ending to 1998 playoffs, to be rewarded in that moment was an epiphany to me.

Spoff mentioned some classics, but the 2018 opener against Chicago will be difficult to top for me. Yes, it soon became a lost season for the Packers, but the pro wrestling fan in me will never forget the ovation Aaron Rodgers received when he returned from the locker room. Considering the injury Rodgers was battling, I don't know if he's ever played better than that night.

Charlie from Morgan Hill, CA

I shouldn't be surprised but once again I am. The way the offensive line coaches teach younger players multiple positions and then are so decisive when it's time to focus on one position (Jordan Morgan). Outside of years where there was extreme injury volume, I never worry about our OL performance. Any idea when and from whom the approach came from?

It' a strong tradition that's been established here. Since the turn of the century, Larry Beightol, Joe Philbin and James Campen set a very high standard for that room. While Campen and Adam Stenavich never worked together, both are excellent teachers of OL play with a strong track record of cross-training linemen. Obviously, that lineage has now carried with Luke Butkus.

Dana from Eau Claire, WI

Lots of switching up along the O-line, but I haven't heard a lot about who's behind Rasheed Walker at LT?

It's a continuation of the right tackle competition with Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort and Caleb Jones all working there with the twos.

Lori from Brookfield, WI

Wes, Jordan Love had 24 touchdowns and one pick against man coverage defense in 2023. How will that stat affect the defensive plans of opponents this season?

If a player does something well, NFL teams have an entire offseason to plan their countermoves. As a second-year starter, Love is destined to see plenty of curveballs this year. Where the greats separate themselves is thinking one step ahead. That's what Love must do in Year 2 and I'm confident he will.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, after a hot finish to the previous season, the Lions won the division last year with a very good and young team. While they certainly earned it, as defending division champs, the Lions now become the hunted. How difficult is it for a team to maintain success in this league? I'm sure they're motivated by the NFC Championship loss to the 49ers, but life has to be different with a target on your back. Makes the division wins by the Packers over the last few decades even more impressive.

It's more difficult to be the A-side than the B-side. When the room for growth narrows, the expectations get ramped up. Some teams can handle that pressure, some don't. We'll see how Detroit responds to both its past success and a tough playoff exit.

Brett from Effingham, IL

Mike/Wes, grateful for all the terrific coverage/news/opinions! Question on the DL. If our DEs are going to be focused solely on QB rush, and presumably rushing outside the OT or TE, will the interior guys be just as intent as getting after the QB though the 1 and 3 gaps, or are they often taking on the blocks to protect Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie and allow them to make plays? How is this D scheme playing out?

Defensive ends still have rules within this scheme and have to stay alert for the run. The biggest change is defensive tackles being able to pin their ears back more and not be as concerned with eating blocks to free others to make plays/tackles. If practice is any indication, that shouldn't be a problem for Green Bay's linebackers. McDuffie, in particular, has been everywhere this summer.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, I consider establishing the starting lineups, the rotational players, the 53, and the 69 as an indicator the team is rounding into form and establishing an identity to carry them into the season. Is there a more telling indicator of readiness I should consider?

Like I alluded to the other day, I think the musical chairs slowing down is the best indication a team is rounding into form. The fewer questions a team has regarding its core offensive and defensive players entering the final week of camp, the more stable the situation tends to be when the games begin.

Clem from La Crosse, WI

I hate training camp injuries. Promising careers can dissolve so quickly. Can a player released with an injury settlement, at some point, make a comeback with an NFL team? Can you think of an example?

Yeah. It's happened quite a few times, though not as recent. Brett Goode, Joe Thomas, Rajion Neal are the first few names to come to mind. I believe players who reach an injury settlement with a team are permitted to re-sign three weeks after the settlement expires. So, if Spoff injures his pinky toe in the preseason and gets a two-week settlement, he can re-sign with the Packers after Week 5.

Andrew from Green Bay, WI

I was reading the Corey Ballentine story and hadn’t realized he changed his number from "35" to "26." Has he mentioned the reason for the switch?

He just wanted a number in the 20s. It's simple as that.

Nhoj from Windsor, WI

After watching the new kickoff a few times, I wonder about layering. If you get past the first line, it feels like it's just open space. Could you see the potential for adding a second line of blocking for the traditional layered feel?

Perhaps, but that strategy also could leave possible gaps for the returner to exploit. From what I've seen, outside speed will be as important as ever before in coverage, including having wings who can cover their edge, collapse and also chase in the event a returner breaks through that initial wave.

Jim from Tempe, AZ

As a golfer, a lot is talked about club speed, but the most important aspect of well-hit shots is solid contact. Center of the clubface with correct path of club. The best athletes from other sports who I've seen become good golfers are hockey, baseball (guys who can hit to all fields), tennis and FG kickers. What's my point...it sounds like Anders Carlson may have faster leg speed, but Greg Joseph is hitting the football solidly with good leg path to create the long and accurate kicks we're hearing about.

Joseph has come as advertised as a veteran who's played in 67 NFL games and attempted more than 120 field goals. As he explained Friday, Joseph has a process that he trusts, and it's obviously worked for him as a five-year veteran. But like Joseph says – the next kick is the most important. In Carlson's case, it's finding the center of the clubface again and moving forward.

Grant from Janesville, WI

You have to like Greg Joseph's mentality about kicking. "I don't look at it as 7-of-7 (kicks). It's 1-of-1 times seven in my head." That feels very LaFleur-ish, and reminiscent of the "Just beat the (next opponent)" mantra around the Inbox. Good luck, Joseph and Carlson. I'll be happy with whoever is our kicker because it means they outkicked the other.

I also enjoyed this line from Joseph when asked about what percentage of kicking is mental: "70-75 percent, I'd say. I think that's what separates really good collegiate kickers from NFL kickers. All of us, you know, a lot of us can kick the ball far, but it's that mental edge, that mental approach is massive."

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hey Wes, the kicking competition coverage has focused on FGs made. I haven't heard of them practicing getting the ball in the landing zone. Is it assumed that any kicker worth his salt can do that reliably? Or is accuracy in the landing zone going to be a factor in the roster spot? Either have an edge?

Ball placement is part of the gig. Sticking with the golfing analogies, it's like a pro hitting the fairway. Some kickers will be better at it than others and there could be a huge advantage in that – no different than punters pinning teams back inside the 20. Certainly, teams would prefer kickers get too much depth on their kick than not enough, which would result in the ball being placed at the 40.

Glen from Leesburg, VA

Regarding the kicker battle between Carlson and Joseph, assuming they continue on the pace they are right now, do you think the Packers cut ties with a draft pick from last year? It sounds like Joseph is absolutely hammering the ball now, but is there something to be said about keeping a young draft pick? When December rolls around, I like having a veteran who has been there before, but youth is important, too. It's going to be a tough decision, like many roster spots.

And alotta ballgame left. I watched Mason Crosby have a horrendous Family Night in 2013, which appeared to give Giorgio Tavecchio a decided leg up in the kicking competition. Crosby was lights-out the rest of camp while Tavecchio fell off and was cut two weeks later.

Tim from Stone, UK

Do you think it would be prudent to keep two kickers if the team is happy with the current pair due to risk of injury if they have to tackle more under the new kickoff rules?

That's probably more realistic now than it was when the Packers kept two punters in 2004 because of the relaxed practice-squad rules, but I'd argue it's better for your football team to pick a kicker and stick with that person.

Marin from West Lawn, PA

Being a longtime follower of PSU football, I was thrilled to see the Packers drafting Kalen King. At this juncture of training camp, what has King done so far to increase his chances of making the Week 1 roster?

Making plays. As much as pundits perseverated on King's 40 time, not nearly enough has been said about his ability to see the field and pursue the football. King breaks quickly to the ball. It's been impressive to watch.

Jim from Woodbury, MN

Have training camp crowds been up, down or about the same in attendance as past years?

It definitely feels like it's been up. It's not just the numbers, either. The crowd has been extremely vocal throughout these first nine practices.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Just a reminder that the backup quarterback is important, Earl Morrall led two different teams to the Super Bowl. He was, and is, super underrated.

I don't disagree. I just don't think you need to tie up a chunk of your salary cap to have that person on your roster. The Packers have had many talented quarterbacks as their backup for decades, including the current QB1.

James from Asheville, NC

As much as I enjoy Insider Inbox, I enjoy both "Three Guys With Three Things" and "Five Things" even more. Any chance of combining the two? "Three Guys with Five Things." Mike and Wes arm wrestle Larry for the extra comments.

A few years ago, Larry busted out a "Three Guys With Six Things" and I nearly lost track of who was discussing what. You gotta keep it basic for me.

Jim from Eau Claire, WI

When is the final cutdown date? And is it just one date when the roster must be trimmed from 90 to 53?

NFL teams are required to trim their active rosters to 53 players by 3 p.m. CT on August 27. We're back to one cutdown day again – and the league absolutely needs to stick to that and stop fiddling with it.

Conner from Flagstaff, AZ

I agree with Devin Hester saying the new kickoff rules are "shaky" and I think they're incredibly unconventional. The NFL's justification for the rule change is "player safety" but 92% of players, surveyed by the NFLPA, said they prefer real grass over turf. Why change the kickoff rules but refuse to change the playing surface? It seems like the NFL doesn't mind changing the on-field product for fans, but they don't like making the owners spend money.

Bingo.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

I guess if you are going to eat another baloney sandwich, it is nice to eat it in the best stadium on the planet with 70,000 of your closest friends. To me, Packers Family Night symbolizes all that this great franchise has to offer. Enjoy the night!

Family Night is everything that makes the Green Bay Packers great and this one holds special meaning to me, as my son will be in attendance for the first time. I'm hoping to sneak out of the press box for a few minutes to sit with him in the stadium bowl. To everyone going, I hope you have a wonderful time.