Inbox: The Packers are counting on all of them

[Cheesehead]

Brandon from Mount Vernon, IL


Hello Insiders, a couple of questions: There's been a lot of talk about players stepping up this year, but I haven't heard much about the D-line. How have Tyler Lancaster and Kingsley Keke looked in camp? Also, how has Mason Crosby looked since he returned a few weeks ago?


It was telling how the Packers approached free agency and the draft. They brought in two new linebackers, Christian Kirksey and Kamal Martin, but chose not to draft a defensive lineman for the first time in 24 years. A big reason for that was Keke, whom the coaches and scouts are high on. He took the offseason seriously and returned for camp with a lot more muscle. If the D-line and run defense are to take a step forward, Keke needs to play a role in that progress. It's no different than the rest of that 2019 draft class. The Packers are counting on all of them.


Dan from Morehead City, NC


Shouldn't Pat from Kewaskum have said Spoff-on seriousness? Anyway, when does the NFL do its last COVID test before each game? Are there any provisions if a team has so many positives it can't effectively field a team?


The last test is conducted on Saturday. After that, the roster is in a pseudo-bubble with meetings, lunch, final walkthrough and the plane ride. Once the Packers land in Minneapolis, they're hunkered at the team hotel until it's time to bus over to U.S. Bank.


Collin from Kirkwood, MO


In a year with a daunting road schedule, do you think the Pack can benefit more than most from a lack of crowd noise at opposing venues? Aaron Rodgers is obviously among the best at controlling the line of scrimmage with hard counts and audibles. Normally that's a challenge for Rodgers and the O-line at places like Minnesota and New Orleans, but maybe not the case this year. Sure every team shares that benefit on the road this year, but every team doesn't have AR12 commanding the line of scrimmage.


I never thought I'd see the day when Rodgers wouldn't have to use the silent count in U.S. Bank or the Superdome. But then COVID-19 happened. So yeah, I'd say this plays to the Packers' favor.


Jim from Tucson, AZ


About the long-snapper question: I always understood that a long snapper is necessary for practice. The starting center cannot be practicing with the offensive line and the special teams at the same time. His practice time with the line is just too valuable to miss. In addition, one botched long snap could cost you a game so it just has to be right.


No lies detected here.


Patrick from Duluth, MN


The Vikings have revamped their starting cornerback group from last year. Do you feel it's an improvement from last year? Or is Aaron Rodgers set to shred them in Week 1?


Mike Zimmer defenses are not easily shredded but there are questions surrounding this new-look secondary. That being said, I get why the Vikings wanted a fresh start and they still have two of the game's best safeties, Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, commanding the back end.


Alex from Duluth, MN


I heard somewhere "Mike Zimmer doesn't coach bad defenses." I've also observed he rarely has started rookies (until this season). Here's to outliers on both accounts.


You'll get answers to both of those thoughts soon enough, but I don't expect a walk in the park Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank.


Kevin from Indianapolis, IN


Do you see the reduction of live tackling opportunities this preseason setting up AJ "Quadzilla" Dillon to have a bigger impact early than he would have otherwise?


Possibly. I imagine this is the freshest he's ever felt heading into the month of September in his football career. At the same time, there probably would have been a benefit to AJ Dillon seeing snaps in a traditional preseason, as well. Whatever the case, I don't have any doubts about Dillon's readiness if his number's called.


Karl from Fort Collins, CO


We're all excited for play to resume, but won't one of the best parts of this team's edition be watching the growth of the offense over the season? We have some excellent young talent that is untried in the Pack's game plans and will need a number of games to assimilate. By the end of the year, this offense could move up the charts and shine in the playoffs.


It really could. We talk so much about Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, etc., etc., etc. Now, just imagine where this team would be in December if Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Robert Tonyan and these other second- and third-year players make strides.