Skip to main content
Advertising
Powered by

Inbox: Pressure is indeed a privilege

Success is this defense growing stronger as the season wears on

RB Josh Jacobs, CB Keisean Nixon and WR Jayden Reed
RB Josh Jacobs, CB Keisean Nixon and WR Jayden Reed

Nathan from New Lisbon, WI

I'm just here to tell you: Pack is back. Heugh!

No better way to start a day in Brazil. Bom dia!

Craig from Sussex, WI

This could be the Packers' toughest opening game in recent memory. The Eagles have great players at receiver and running back along with a top quarterback. I feel forcing a turnover or two would be needed to win this one.

Generating a takeaway or two is critical to securing a win in Brazil. Turnovers were part of Philadelphia's undoing last year. Jalen Hurts contributed 20 of the Eagles' 28 turnovers (15 interceptions, five fumbles lost). As a team, Philly finished 27th in turnover differential (minus-10). Green Bay invested a lot of time, money and effort into boosting its defense and takeaway totals. I can think of no better way to get things started than right out of the chute in Week 1.

Chili from Pacific Beach, CA

As I'm tracking your flight, I noticed there's a flight from Philly headed to Sao Paulo about 1½ hours behind you. Looks like the team may get a bit of a head start.

Hopefully, it's a trend these next few days.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Here I thought I would be calm but look at me. I'm a nervous wreck.

It means you care, Jeffrey. We're back in the arena. There's something to lose again.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Be safe, II guys! I'm wondering how long it will take for our D to gel as a unit. As hard as it is to play defense in a league that overwhelmingly favors offense, is it fair for us to expect too much too soon? How will we perceive success? And what will it look like?

I'd caution against getting too high or too low based on how the defense performs out of the gate. If the Packers play well, then they gotta sustain that momentum throughout the course of a 17-game regular season. If the defense takes a few weeks to find its flow, remember this is a new scheme with a different play-caller. To me, success is this defense growing stronger as the season wears on – just like the offense did last year.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Good morning II. Hopefully, the Packers win the toss and defer. Wouldn't it be something if Brayden Narveson's first kick in a game that counts is the one that stops the baloney?

He would love nothing more. Narveson relishes the big kick. He wants that ball on his foot.

Trevor from Cheyenne, WY

Lots of different options of pressure on Hafley, several different players, but I ask you, is possibly the biggest amount of pressure to perform on the new highest-paid QB in the NFL?

Pressure is indeed a privilege. Like Narveson, Jordan Love welcomes that challenge. I've alluded to this before, but I truly feel how an athlete handles pressure is the ultimate X-factor. You can't test it in Indianapolis. You can't rep it at a pro day. A player either has it or he doesn't…and Love very much has it.

Chas from Modena, WI

I assume Xavier McKinney will be a starting safety. Who will be the other starting safety?

Javon Bullard is listed as the starter on the unofficial depth chart and it would be a minor upset if he's not lined up next to McKinney on Friday. That said, I could see Evan Williams factoring into this defense this season. Both rookie safeties had strong summers and can play the slot in the sub-packages. Green Bay's brass wouldn't have moved on from Anthony Johnson Jr. if it didn't feel confident Bullard and Williams could be every-down players in the not-so-distant future.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

Does the team adjust their weekly training/practice schedules based on the kickoff time of their upcoming games? I imagine performance optimization is a focal point for every coach, and it seems likely that adjusting training/rest schedules based on whether the next game starts in the morning or at night would have an impact.

Nothing drastic. Matt LaFleur used one of the team's extra practice days last Thursday to simulate the primetime setting, with the Packers practicing under the Lambeau lights. With only a two-hour time difference between Green Bay and Sao Paulo, the Packers wanted to keep things as normal as possible – aside from the half-day flight, of course.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

I watched quite a few preseason games and tried to focus on kickoffs and how the new rules being were used. Mostly they were disappointing and a dud. At least half went into the end zone and just take the penalty and move on. No innovation, no scheming, a big nothing burger. I was expecting kickoffs to be more interesting this year. What's up? Do you expect this to change now that the games count?

I lean more towards nothing burger than revolutionary, but that's not to say a few returns won't make SC Top 10 during the first month of the season. What I'm most curious about is whether the ball going to the 30-yard line on touchbacks is enough of a deterrent to keep teams from swinging away for the end zone. That's where things could get monotonous.

Kevin from Kirkland, IL

The new kickoff rules remind me of electric football as a kid. Your kicker kicks the ball, you place it in the returner's "hands" and buzzzzzzz – everyone starts moving. Hopefully, unlike electric football, we go in the right direction.

And they remain gap sound. The worst thing about my electric-football team back in the day is all the players buzzed their way to the corner of the end zone together.

Mike from Montevideo, MN

Hi II, thanks for the reply on the captains. So now my next question. Why have weekly captains verses having permanent ones? Just to have more players involved in the process?

Because leadership is more than a patch on your uniform. It's how a player conducts himself on a daily basis. Preston Smith has never worn a "C" for Green Bay, but he's been one of the most instrumental behind-the-scenes players in that locker room. Rotating captains allows those individuals to get the recognition they deserve.

Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL

Can we just take a second to realize how crazy it's going to be playing a whole season without Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon manning the backfield? I still remember that breakout performance from Jones back in 2018, defeating the Bucs in overtime after busting it outside and taking it 25 yards for the score. That was so long ago. When is the last time Green Bay has signed a free-agent running back to a short-term deal of Josh Jacobs' caliber? Ever?

It's a new era for the Packers' backfield, for sure. But that's how this league works, and an argument can be made Jacobs is the most high-profile running back Green Bay has ever signed. After pontificating about Jacobs' potential impact on this offense for the past six months, we're mere hours away from seeing it with our own eyes.

Ben from Guffey, CO

I disagree with the comment about the two-back sets. Maybe if it deals with MarShawn Lloyd's and Emanuel Wilson's health, but I think two-back sets with Jacobs or Wilson/Lloyd has much more potential to be dynamic/explosive that a defense has to contend with. Love Jones and Dillon, so not a front at them, but still.

I think the Packers can be successful with the two-RB package without Dillon, but the point is it may take time for it to reappear on the gameday call sheet. Lloyd and Wilson are capable, but a lot goes into deploying that "Pony" look besides running the football. The Packers trusted Jones and Dillon implicitly to handle all the responsibilities intermixed with that formation such as pre-snap motions, route-running and pass-blocking.

The Green Bay Packers board buses, starting their trip to São Paulo for the Week 1 matchup vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chris from Eau Claire, WI

How many players are making the trip? 45 (making it known who's suiting up on Friday), 53 (or about that, giving some options), or all 65 (allowing for full practices prior to the game)?

LaFleur said on Tuesday the Packers will travel select practice-squad players, which is no different than a typical road trip.

Paula from Apple Valley, MN

I found myself thinking of you both and the team on Wednesday. Can you give us some insights as to what the long flight with the team was like? Who had the best game plan in terms of travel attire, entertainment, sleeping strategy, etc.? Were there any surprises? Hope you both got some rest. Stay safe and can't wait for Friday! Go Pack, Go!

The trip isn't bad, especially on a charter flight. It's just long. The plane had ample room for everyone. I had an entire row to myself near the back. While I didn't venture to the front, it's my understanding there were suites and pods for players and key personnel. Sweats aren't my thing, but plenty of players and coaches came in comfortable clothes.

Al from Green Bay, WI

When teams play on Thursday, and not again until the following Sunday, they get what is called a "mini-bye." So, the Packers play on Friday night, and then have a 10-hour flight to return home on Saturday. Would you call that a "micro-bye"?

A "fun-size" bye.

Greg from Downers Grove, IL

Good Morning Brazil! I have a special-teams question. The Pack spent a good amount of time scouting Cooper DeJean for last spring's draft. Do you know our game plan on punts and kickoffs? Hopefully we don't let Coop get anywhere near the ball as special teams can be a crucial part of the game.

Unless I'm missing something, DeJean doesn't appear to be part of the Eagles' return plans right now. He's not listed on their depth chart on either kickoffs or punts. Defensively, DeJean is the second to Toledo standout Quinyon Mitchell at nickel cornerback. So far, the Iowa DB has been in a similar boat as Lloyd, having missed three weeks of camp with a hamstring. We'll see how much of a factor DeJean is tomorrow.

Jeff from Puyallup, WA

I realize I'm showing my age here, but c'mon now 90 seconds of Wes doing a Spoff-on remake of the "Call Me Al" video just made my day!

You aren't showing your age, Jeff. You're showing your exquisite taste in music. And that's precisely what I was going for…we just needed a couple saxophones.

Edd from Menomonie, WI

Hello boys, I'm a first-timer here but read the Inbox regularly. I have watched all the Packers' preseason games and parts of several other games and have yet to see a penalty for the new "hip-drop tackle" rule. Were there any called at all? Or are they going to make it a "point of emphasis" in the first few games (e.g. Clay Matthews' roughing the passer)?

I sure hope it doesn't get to that point. The league has said it plans to use fines more than flags to penalize offenders. If officials follow that edict, you shouldn't see a penalty called unless it's something blatant and egregious.

Craig from Green Bay, WI

What other international cities will the NFL require teams to play in? Are there plans to have international teams become part of the NFL? Obviously travel to the U.S. as a result?

I think we've barely scratched the level on the international front. And it's not just the NFL. WWE has opened the envelope with bringing its premium live events (previously known as pay per views) to Australia, Scotland, France, Germany, Canada and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this year alone. I doubt we'll ever see an international team in the NFL. Sending teams to new markets like Brazil and Germany is the league's answer to that.

Steve from Smithfield, NC

"Stay hydrated, get proper sleep, and win the (bleeping) game!" Sounds a bit like Vince! Had to respond since Lori from Brookfield got two posts, thought maybe you guys weren't getting enough questions in your Inbox! Go Pack Go!

I desperately wanted to remind everyone that Inbox posts at 11 a.m. CT after night games. Now, I've done it twice. Hopefully, that reduces the number of questions we get from 8-11 a.m. asking "WHERE IS INBOX???"

Darren from Wakefield, MI

So, from a 30,000-foot level, how do you see this matchup?

With binoculars or a portable telescope.

Tom from Nolanville, TX

Gents, off you go into the wild blue yonder...I was reading up on Corinthians Arena stadium – Ryegrass turf with grass master nylon threading, much like Lambeau. All y'all are in for an exciting whirlwind experience. I am visualizing an excitement from the host nation like one the Packers have never felt before. It's chilling, like Pink Floyd performing live at Pompeii! Va' razer as malas, va! (Go Pack, Go in Portuguese)

I'm fully expecting Packers fans in Brazil to show out tomorrow night for the NFL's debut in South America. The game at Tottenham Hotspur was the most electric atmosphere I've ever experienced for an NFL game. I'm expecting Sao Paulo to be that several times over.

Estillac from Belém, Brazil

Boa viagem! Be welcome! That everything goes well, and the Packers win a great game of football!

I can't wait. It's going to be an unforgettable week. Stay locked into packers.com for all our coverage of the Packers' maiden voyage to Brazil.

Insider Inbox

Insider Inbox

Join Packers.com writers as they answer the fans' questions in Insider Inbox

Advertising