Hey everybody, thanks for logging on and welcome back from the bye. Go ahead and start sending in your questions and I'll get started.
How was your bye week?
Too short. Ha. But we're back at it and lots to look forward to.
I think this is the week to use a lot of 7 men on the LOS on defense to disguise who's coming and who's dropping.
Disguise is usually a big part of any game plan against a young QB, so I would expect this week to be no different. The more curious thing is what might change with Chicago's offense with the coaching swtich.
Morning Mike, hope you enjoyed your "week off". Assuming Evan Williams and Jaire Alexander are both healthy, who do see as having a bigger impact on the defense? And yes, it seems weird to me that a rookie is even in the conversation with JA as an impact player. He's been quite a find
I think both of those guys have proven to be really important to this defense. The best 5 DBs for the nickel at this point appear to be 23, 25, 29, 33 and 20. That's the group GB would like to roll with more than any other if possible.
I can hardly wait and see this team after a week of R&R
Hopefully they're healthy and recharged. It's a long season and there's a chance for the bye week coming right in the middle to really benefit this team.
Did you get the yard cleaned up?
Ha, still got some more to do this week before the plane leaves for Chicago on Saturday, but I'm doing my best.
It feels like the bye came at a good time. Hopefully the time off helped injuries heal and mental focus sharpen. Here we go.
It was interesting that LaFleur talked heading into the bye about looking at possible practice structure changes to sharpen focus and work past the mistakes being repeated. We won't see those firsthand but we certainly will see the results.
Secondary health this week?
Waiting to see. I'm headed out to practice as soon as I get done with this chat so I'll see who's out there.
Will MarShawn Lloyd have a 3 weeks to practice before activating?
Correct, once he's designated to return from IR, it opens a 21-day practice window before he would have to be placed on the active 53-man roster.
Any news at all on Luke Musgrave?
No, other than LaFleur saying they're hoping he can return at some point this season.
It seems most teams in contention have a back schedule loaded with land mines
I haven't looked at many schedules outside of the NFC North, and in the division there are a ton of division games left to be played, so that's certainly part of it.
Any thoughts on the change for the Bears offensive coordinator? Will it help QB1 or possibly focus more on running?
I'm as interested to find out as you are. I really don't know. But as I said in Inbox this morning, when a young QB and pass protection unit are struggling, the running game is their best friend.
I never liked playing a team right after a coaching change. It often creates problems for the other team; increased energy, Unscouted looks, etc.
It does create questions and uncertainty, but this game is way more about what the Packers do than anything the Bears do. GB has its own issues and that's the primary focus in my opinion.
Was watching highlights from Packers/Bears last year. It was interesting to see Lukas Van Ness, Karl Brooks, and Devonte Wyatt each getting home multiple times across both matchups. Hopefully we see more of that!
It feels like it was forever ago the last time the Packers played the Bears, even though it was last year's regular-season finale. Chicago was turning over a new leaf with the selection of Williams at QB, and now more change is afoot with the coaching. Doesn't feel like anything will resemble last year at all.
Can Lloyd be elevated before the 21 day window ends?
Yes. 21 days is just the maximum window.
What are the keys to beating the bears?
Reduce the mistakes that have ailed the Packers -- the INTs, penalties and dropped passes. Beyond that, it's finish drives. The Bears have the top red-zone defense in the league and the Packers are near the bottom in red-zone offense. That's where push will come to shove in this game.
Bears are going through coaching changes, seems like a good time to put some pressure on whoever got the interim OC position. Do you think Coach Hafley has a fun scheme planned?
I don't think he's going to do anything too exotic. But if the secondary is fully healthy and ready to go, I think that gives him more options for how to attack up front.
I read that on Gibbs' TD, Cooper lined up in the wrong place. In the Philly game, he apparently took the wrong gap on Barkley's TD. Love the way he plays, but who would be responsible for cleaning up the defensive alignments? I think X was playing close to the line on at least one of those, so he might not have seen it. What's the process for those adjustments?
That just goes to the film review sessions and correcting it in practice. There wasn't a misalignment on the Gibbs TD (like the Barkley one in Brazil), but when Xavier McKinney and Edgerrin Cooper both blitzed, they both attacked the same gap and left a gap open for Gibbs to waltz through.
Looking ahead (I know, I'm sorry), how did the Packers end up with Thanksgiving games in consecutive years? Seems unusual (outside of DAL/DET), and probably less than ideal for you.
Yeah, I'll have to look up when the Packers last played back-to-back Thanksgivings. Not since I've been here that I recall.
Do Robert Saleh and LaFleur text, talk,or look at plays at the same time. Is Saleh in New York and communicating elect
I have no idea to what extent they've communicated, or how.
Earlier you said that, I'm headed out to practice." I thought you weren't allowed to view practices. Please clarify. Thanks!
In the regular season, the media are allowed to view the opening periods of practice, with individual drills and such. But not the 11-on-11 portions. We get to see those in training camp, but not beyond.
Hopefully Jordan Love will be able to run more snaps from under center in the weeks to come…the RPO would make this offense scary good as it was the second half of last season.
Just having more variety of under center vs. shotgun can change the looks of various concepts and keep the defense on its toes. Hopefully Love & Co. can get back to that, because this offense can really start humming when the play-action concepts build off the under-center runs.
I know no team is perfect but I just want to see a healthy Packer team plays with less mistakes.
I think that's the fan base's request, yes. Cleaner football is needed to make a run here.
Mike, do you have any insight into what transpired before the trade last week of Preston Smith to the Steelers. As it was announced that Smith had requested a trade, did Gutey reach out to the Steelers or other teams to see if they were interested?
I don't know any particulars on how it went down. Gutey said he wasn't making calls. In that case, perhaps when Smith requested the trade, the Packers gave permission for his representation to look around on his behalf. I don't know if that's what happened, but it's possible.
Is the officiating this year really as poor as it appears? Or is it just that some unusual calls have been made or
It doesn't feel much different to me this year than any other year. I've said for a long time the NFL puts too much on the officials' plates, particularly with the safety rules, with not enough help from replay. The replay assist has been deployed much more frequently this year, and I expect that to continue. It does make a difference and negate unnecessary challenges for obvious, objective fixes.
How's the press box in Chicago?
It's the most awkward view we have in any stadium, because it's on a corner of the end zone (which is common) but on the opposite side of the main TV cameras on the broadcast. So when you look up at the TV for a replay, everything is flipped around. It's disorienting for an old guy like me.
Christian Watson has only one run this season which is very different from last season from what I remember. Do you think that will change as it the temps begin to drop? As one of the players with blinding speed I figured his utilization with plays like the jet sweep would be greater.
I think the Packers have multiple guys that can be used on those jet sweeps and end arounds, so I don't get too hung up on whether Watson is running them or not. Jayden Reed, Bo Melton and Watson have all been utilized there.
To let Smith go, they must be confident the D-Line is healthy. Money isn't everything.
As Gutey said, it's an opportunity for young guys to play and the Packers can find out if their faith in them is justified.
I was surprised that in all the games I watched other teams made a ton of mistakes too
It's an imperfect game, no doubt. I just think we all saw what these Packers were capable of late last season, and the number of unforced errors this year is up, and didn't dissipate much as the season wore on. At some point they have to for the team to reach its potential.
Why do the Packers and most other teams go for long passes on 3rd and short? Most end up an incomplete pass and have to punt.
Usually when a deep shot is taken on third and short, it's because the QB sees a favorable one-on-one matchup on the outside and they're trying to take advantage to make a big play. When it works, it's a killer for the defense. When it doesn't, everyone wonders why they didn't just try to get a yard. That's football. Those opportunities don't arise often, so they go for it, even if the situation doesn't seem to call for it.
Despite Chicago's problems, because of their defense, I believe this game could be a nail biter and decided late in the fourth quarter.
Chicago's defense is tough. As I said before, they're tops in the red zone. They also have allowed more than 21 points only once all season, and they have 16 takeaways (just a few less than GB). That defense has kept the Bears in all but one game they've lost.
I think this is no excuses time. Do you think that is going to be LaFleur's message? I mean, I respect that he puts much of the responsibility on the coaches saying they could put players in a better position to win - but the coach isn't jumping the snap, punching an opposing player or dripping passes Sister Mary Margaraet could catch.
One thing I've come to learn around here is expectations don't change, and no matter what the head coach might say at the podium, players are held accountable in the film sessions and elsewhere. The players know what's at stake and the level of play they're expected to deliver, and the coaches feel it's their responsibility to get it out of them. Creating antagonism over mistakes isn't going to foster improvement, but I think LaFleur and Co. spent some time over the bye looking at constructive ways to improve.
Is there more meat on the bone for Watson in the vertical game too? I know he had the play against the Lions where he beat his guy and misjudged the flight of the ball. It feels like there ought to be more plays like that coming.
I think so too. It's too bad he misjudged that one, because it looked like he ran a great route off the line and the ball was there. I don't think that missed opportunity will prevent the Packers from dialing those up again.
I know it was against Washington, but there were shots of Chicago fans exiting in droves at halftime last week. Any chance this crowd is more Packer friendly than we expected or no shot? I would be surprised if they didn't get up for and see this game through.
I have no idea what to expect. I don't monitor the secondary market, but if tickets are out there, I would think plenty of Packers fans would be interested.
Mike, in your time covering the team, what is the biggest change in how the game is played now compared to when you began?
I'd say offenses have become that much more focused on explosive plays because of how they equate to points, and defenses have gotten a lot more creative with their fronts and blitz looks/bluffs/etc. Not to say those things didn't exist when I first got into this, but it seems there's a greater emphasis on those now.
Good morning, Mike, I am wondering if it's me or if others are seeing this as well, however I feel that to date Matt has supported Love in his decision making that's costed many INTs, (example his recent pick 6) and by doing this I feel it's not holding Love accountable to learn from these mistakes and make better choices, making it appear Love is looking more like a Farve vs a Rodgers (which who more portrayed end of last season) are you seeing this as well?
I don't judge accountability based on what's said at the podium. The two pick-sixes Love has thrown this year simply can't happen, and everyone knows it. I suspect there has been plenty of discussion about those plays behind closed doors.
If we can apply pressure to Chicago's Williams like we did to the Texans, we should win. Both are mobile. Crossing my fingers that they can make that happen.
I know the sack numbers aren't necessarily there, but since the Vikings game back in Week 4 I believe the Packers have put steady pressure on QBs and made them uncomfortable a good portion of the time. If that continues, then the sacks will eventually come too.
Isn't this Chicago's first division game of the year? Crazy.
It is, which is crazy.
Not sure if non Green Bay questions are allowed but wanted to know your thoughts on Rodgers. I imagine he would hate to go out like this but will the Jets even want him back?
I have no idea how that's going to play out, and I don't spend any time thinking about it. I think it's obvious that for all the problems with the Jets, Saleh wasn't one of them but he unfortunately was made a scapegoat.
Mike, who was it that officiated the Lions vs Houston game? I forget his name. Real decisive on penalties. No delay. No BS. "{Penalty} on Number X, 5 yds. Still 2nd Down" or whatever. I'd like more of that. It is cleaner, and leaves less doubt.
I'm pretty sure that was Bill Vinovich. His crew isn't perfect by any means, but I believe as far as individual referees go, he's the best in the business right now.
Regarding back-to-back Thanksgiving games for the Packers; I remember when they used to play in Detroit every year, until Lombardi put a stop to it. Would you mind seeing the Pack play that game every year, or do you prefer the randomness of the current scheduling?
I honestly like playing that early Thanksgiving game in Detroit. I hustle to get my work done on the bus and plane ride back, and I'm home by around 630 pm for turkey dinner.
Second year QB's often have a less effective year for some reason. For example Stroud and Love this year. Has anyone come up with an analysis on what happens, Mike?
I think it's natural as young QBs get that initial experience and find success, they push the envelope more and learn what they can get away with and what they can't. It's all part of the process. I don't know how many times I've reminded people that through his first 1 1/2 seasons as a starter, Rodgers was 10-14.
Detroit just looks like they are living the charmed life.
I think that's a really good team that's very hard to beat. You have to beat them. They aren't going to beat themselves. The Texans win that game if Stroud doesn't short-arm a 50-yard TD to a wide open receiver. That was a layup. He underthrew it and it got picked off. That play swung the game.
Other experienced quarterbacks are throwing picks….5 in one game even!!
Crazy stuff happens in this league. Nobody is defined by just a game or two.
KC is living the dream
If the Chiefs somehow run the table, which I don't think they will ... but if they do, that blocked FG will go down as one of the most amazing plays in league history.
Any thoughts on how to dial up more sacks with LVN and Kingsley Enagbare getting more snaps? More stunts? Or?
I think Hafley will continue to utilize the stunt calls. Maybe moving guys into different alignments on third downs, too. We'll see. Those guys are going to get their opportunities for sure.
That non-call on the Chiefs guard pulling out early near the goal line will be referenced as well. Lots of people talk about that one.
If you're referring to the missed false start in overtime in the red zone against TB on Monday night, yeah that was a big miss by the officials. If you're referring to something that happened in the Broncos game last week, I missed it.
Hey Mike, how do you think Devonte Wyatt has looked since coming back? Has he continued the strong start he had to the season before the injury?
I can't say I looked at him specifically upon his return, but he can and will be a big part of things, I believe.
This is one of the last one o'clock games left Mike. Enjoy.
Noon for me, but yeah. I've been trying not to think about the four straight night games coming up.
With that, I'm going to call it a chat because I have to head across the street shortly to catch the opening portion of practice. Thanks for all the participation, and take care everybody.
Best,
Mike
