Inbox: You'll know it when you see it

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

If you could be one Packers player currently on the roster for this season, who would it be? Me, David Bakhtiari for sure.

I think it'd be fun to be Christian Watson.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, thanks for the article on AJ Dillon. Great work! Is there a Packers player you can think of (present or past) who has embraced both the team and the community in the same manner as AJ?

I've talked about this before, but Dillon has embraced Green Bay in a way I've never before seen. He's probably seen more of this region than half the people born here. I think it's a good reminder to be where your feet are and live for the moment. In Dillon's case, hopefully his love story with the state of Wisconsin never ends.

Gary from Beaverton, OR

Which Packer is considered to be the MVP in trading cards? Whose card is worth the most and from what year? Will there be any trading cards made for the head coaches? Maybe this is something the Packers could start, a whole new trend of trading cards of head coaches and coaching staff...?

QB is king, so J-Love's rookie card is probably tops on the Packers' current roster.

Dwight from Brooklyn, NY

The only Dwight in II (to the best of my knowledge) has a two-part question this time around. We all know the who/when facts regarding the first Lambeau Leap. Today in seeing Jordan Love and AJ Dillon riding bikes going to practice, a) is there record of the first such bike ride and, if so, b) who did it? Or are those answers lost to history?

Oh, you know it*. Cliff Christl doesn't sleep. He writes.*

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

Do the Packers have two Walter Payton Man of the Year candidates in the running back room?

I would say so, yes. Shoot, Patrick Taylor doesn't have the profile of Dillon or Aaron Jones, but he does a ton in the local community, as well.

James from Appleton, WI

Who's the current ironman on the Packers in terms of most consecutive games played? Is it Preston Smith or Kenny Clark?

I think it's a tie between Jon Runyan and Yosh Nijman (50 straight games). Smith had one of the NFL's longest streaks (102 games) before he sat with an oblique injury vs. Washington in 2021. That's still the only contest Smith has missed. Clark's streak currently sits at 20. He missed the Baltimore game in 2020.

John from Jupiter, FL

Morning Wes. When asked yesterday about how the offense was looking Mike said, "As a work in progress." I hope that's not like a friend describing a blind date as having a "great personality!" Thanks.

It's a young group in transition. The offense has moved the ball this spring. It's just cleaning up the mistakes and mental errors like that late pass to Christian Watson in practice last week.

Ross from Hudson, WI

Packers fans love to root for the underdog on the bottom of the roster, usually in the wide receiver position. Given the very nature of the LaFleur offense with a propensity to run, and field multiple tight end sets, are the fourth, fifth or sixth receivers anything more than a special-teams spot or one-off fill in or gadget player? How often do you expect to see a four- or five-receiver set?

While the Packers aren't running as many four- and five-wide sets as they did in 2011, this offense still relies on a multitude of wideouts to get where it wants to go. On average, Green Bay typically has at least four or five receivers who play more than 250 snaps in a given year. Even when Christian Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard weren't heavily featured out of the gate, LaFleur and his staff still found ways to get their young receivers on the field. I expect the same with whomever fills out this year's depth chart behind Watson and Romeo Doubs.

John from Yakima, WA

Which trio in the center of the line do you see as the best after Ringo, Kramer Thurston?

I couldn't tell you how the modern offensive lines would compare to the 1920s and '30s but Packers fans have been treated to some stellar interior O-line play in the 21st century, with the likes of Rivera-Flanagan-Wahle and Sitton-Linsley-Lang.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

My first son was born on May 28 and has massive quads, so his little Dillon jersey was his first gift from my parents. They also got me a Jordan Love jersey to replace my Aaron Rodgers one. Now we'll have to make our own dual-trading card! Anyways, a while ago II mentioned the eye test that Rodgers passed his first season as a starter. My question is what is the duration of the eye test? Does it require the full season? Will you know by Week 8, 12...possibly into his second season? It depends?

There is no set timeframe, Joseph, but you'll know it when you see it. The great thing about football is there are a million statistics out there to judge players, but beauty remains in the eye of the beholder.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, I watched the Kurt Warner review of J-Love. He was evaluating his reads on the defenders and decision-making with the football. It was nuts. This guy leans this way, first option gone, second option covered, third option breaking open. Guy leans that way, but the safety goes left, route changes to compensate, look this guy off to gain space, whatever. Is that what they mean by the game slows down? The ability to process that giant bucket of information in a moment? While being chased?

Dillon talked last week about how Ben Sirmans always tells the running backs: "If you think, you stink." There's a lot of truth to that, especially for quarterbacks when there's a 280-pound edge rusher bearing down on you. I equate it to typing (because that's my world and area of expertise). When I'm writing a sentence or phrase, I'm not thinking about punching every key. I just type. Quarterbacks do the same thing on the football field – develop a process, harness their fundamentals, and just play.

Carl from Sheboygan, WI

Good morning II. It is a challenge to build depth on any sports team. Look at the Brewers. With all their injuries they continue to fight and struggle to stay atop the NL Central. To make and keep a team competitive, it really has to be the combined efforts of the GM, HC/coaching staff, and the player; find the right player, coach that player up, and a smart player. Over the last 30-plus years, GB has been fortunate to not only have "4" and "12," but great GMs and coaches to keep us near the top. Agree?

It's a QB-driven league but it takes all 69 (including practice squad) to win. Just ask Archie Manning. The Packers have had a few down years in my lifetime, but they usually field a roster they can win with. That's not nothing.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Wes has mentioned Carrington Valentine a few times over these OTAs. I remember watching the draft and he was at the top of "Mel's best available" for quite some time, I want to say starting sometime in Round 5. Wes also mentioned he was one of the youngest players on the roster currently. Is that part of the reason he "fell" in the draft, maybe he came out a year earlier than projected? As they say you can never have enough corners and if we found a steal in the seventh sign me up.

I think that played a role in it and part of what intrigues me so much about Valentine. He only scratched the surface of his potential at Kentucky. It's tough to go wrong in the seventh round but I like using those picks on younger prospects.

John from Livermore, CA

I know it's Packers Insiders, but what are your thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings' release of four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on Friday? How does this change the NFC North?

A lot of NFL teams had to tighten their belts to get right with the salary cap this offseason. Unfortunately, many of the league's top running backs were victims of those cuts. I've always liked Cook as a running back. I think that's a major loss for the Vikings.

Tom from Tapiola, MI

We obviously have one of the best RB duos in the NFL, but why not add Cook for a "Lightning, Thunder and Wind" trio?

I should've assumed that was coming. And I think earth, wind and fire would be a better moniker.

David from Wauwatosa, WI

Hi, how is Brenton Cox doing so far as an undrafted free agent with a checkered past that appears to have a lot of ability? Just curious, though I know that we may not really know much until the pads go on. Thanks.

Cox has looked good so far. When asked about the 2023 rookie class, Matt LaFleur mentioned Cox as someone who has impressed during OTAs. Like I mentioned before, however, this is a process for Cox. Every day is another step in the journey to the NFL.

Paul from Barnsley, UK

Does a team have to submit reasons to the league for the game-day healthy scratch list? Could or would a team choose to keep a veteran player at the end of their playing career on their active roster simply for their impact on a young and developing group of players and then have them as a healthy scratch on game day? Some players take a spot on the final roster all season but never see game day action. Why not use that roster spot for veteran input?

No explanation is required…and it does happen. There were a handful of games Donald Driver was a scratch during his last season in 2012. All the league and opponent need to know is which players aren't going to play. The rest is relative.

Steve from Colorado Springs, CO

Congrats to Mike for his 17 years with packers.com! I think the only things I have had for the past 17 years are my wife, my kids, and my fishing pole. How about you Wes? Wondering when your work anniversary is and how many ticks on the calendar it will be for you?

My packers.com anniversary is April 25, so I just crossed the seven-year mark.

Paul Earl from Birchwood, WI

Now that I know the importance a first name has on being published, I have chosen to double my publishing potential by listing both of my first names. I was named after my father, first name Paul, and my father's father, first name Earl. Is this a violation of first name protocol or do I skate by on a technicality?

We'll take your word for it, P.E. Nobody's asking for birth certificates.

Tim from Clear Lake (near Grafton, IA), IA

Speaking of memories making us rich...How in the world did Vic do the "Ask Vic" column every day? I find it hard to imagine how you two keep up but it's impossible to think Vic did it all by his lonesome. But I am thankful he started this "rich" tradition. It truly is just one more thing that sets the Packer nation apart from the rest of the NFL.

I ask myself that same question at least once a week.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Wes, we are about the same age, and once-upon-a-time I was close to going to journalism school and eventually hoped to do what you actually are doing. At the time, I never would have imagined that would include videos, podcasts, radio spots, and all of the other things that don't involve a keyboard. How do you like doing all the non-writing assignments?

In a word – no. I cannot believe how the visual element of our profession has exploded over the last 15 years. I didn't have my picture in the newspaper for four years, let alone do videos, podcasts and radio hits. But that's the business now. You have to adapt to it because that's where the consumers are.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Did you get a chance to catch Tom Grossi's Monday appearance on Pat McAfee, for "30 in 30"?

I did. It brought a tear to my eye. I'm thrilled his effort is picking up steam and McAfee gave Tom the time and platform. I'm cheering him and Johnny on from afar and wishing them safe travels on their once-in-a-lifetime excursion.

James from Colorado Springs, CO

We cheer for a team that plays in a league full of challenges, and those challenges must be met by men with skill and tenacity. Who's gonna do it? You Mr. Hod? You Mr. Spofford? Gutekunst and LaFleur have a greater responsibility than we can fathom. Some weep about AR12's trade and curse the Packers. They have the luxury of not knowing what you know – that the trade, while tragic, probably saved the team and the decision, while grotesque and incomprehensible to many, saves the team.

We use words like "Dead zone," "OK," and "Indubitably." We use these words as the backbone of a daily column explaining something. You use them as a punchline. Have a great Tuesday, everyone.