Inbox: To pick where he ranks now would be premature

Cheesehead

Well-known member
Mar 19, 2019
2,854
0
bdbidejl5tpttwpvipuu


Brian from Denver, CO


Milwaukee native now living in Denver. The media and fans here are very unhappy with Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles, as they should be. He has the reputation of holding and tackling defenders when he gets beat. Will the Packers focus on pressure on his side of the line to force him into mistakes?


A player with five holding calls in two games is going to get challenged. The Broncos are also going to start giving him help. All part of the chess match.


Steve from Eau Claire, WI


I find it very interesting that all of the teams we have an all-time losing record against started out in the AFL except the Rams. I know part of it is that we almost always stunk in the first 20-plus years that we would have played them after the merger, but even now those old AFL teams love to be a thorn in our side. Fun fact: In the Brett Favre era, the Chiefs were the only team that it took until his final season in Green Bay to beat.


Yes, the Chiefs were the last for Favre to cross off his list in 2007, after losses in ’93, ’96 and ’03. Coincidentally, Kansas City was the second-to-last team for Rodgers (in ’15), with Cincinnati his last (in ’17). For the record, Rodgers never lost to a team three times before chalking up a win on his way to beating every team in the league in his first decade as a starter.


Mike from Fort Wayne, IN


I know that Lane Taylor and Elgton Jenkins are waging a spirited battle each week for the starting position. Defensive linemen are ideally rotated to keep them fresh. If both Taylor and Jenkins both continue to play at a high level and sort of stay tied, so to speak, would the coaching staff consider playing them both to keep the battle going and staying fresh like defensive players? Or is offensive linemen different where continuity as a unit is more important than staying fresh?


Interesting question. I suspect we’re going to find out soon enough how LaFleur feels about it.


Anthony from Southington, CT


I can't believe the "question" regarding the level of enthusiasm after the Packers’ first two wins. Only one road win last year, only one division win last year and only one win in the previous seven meetings with the Vikings. I'd say this group SHOULD have been enthusiastic after gutting out two tough wins. I actually thought it was refreshing to see after last's year's string of games where all we heard postgame was how flat everyone was. You're right, this team believes it has something!


The true test of a team’s chemistry and character is when adversity hits. The fallout will determine whether it has handled success the right way.


Derek from Eau Claire, WI


Of the nine undefeated teams left, who will make it the furthest still undefeated and how far will they make it?


I’ll let Grant answer that.


Grant from Plymouth, MN


The Patriots’ schedule seems to be a cupcake every year. This year looks ridiculous. Vs. Steelers (at home) looked like it might be kind of tough, but then it's three division games against the Dolphins (tanking), the Jets (mono), and the Bills, probably the best team in the division but no juggernaut. Then it's Redskins and Giants, both 0-2 and looking bad. They don't have a really tough game until Week 9 (at Ravens). How do you think the Pats would fare in the meat grinder of the NFC North?


I don’t really care. From the Packers’ perspective, what I do care about is the Patriots have their bye week right before their November back-to-back against the Eagles and Cowboys.


Jake from Brooklyn Park, MN


Not gonna lie, the blue banner on the website really made me question myself for a few minutes...


We’ll keep you on your toes.


Nathan from Lino Lakes, MN


I was impressed with the fast start the Packers had Sunday and it got me thinking. The Vikings’ and Bears’ defenses also had to learn a new offense with the change. How difficult is it on opposing defenses when they haven't seen it and there's no tape yet? Is it as simple as Rodgers has his mannerisms so it's much the same, or is there a significant learning curve for the opposing defenses?


The first quarter of the first two games showed it can cut both ways.


Mike from New Orleans, LA


Both Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger were injured on Sunday, and we now know that both re-aggravated an injury from a previous game. Neither was listed on the injury report leading up to Week 2, though. Can you explain the injury report's purpose? Are there penalties for teams lying about the extent (or lack thereof) of injuries?


Teams are only required to list players on the injury report if they aren’t practicing to full capacity. Some teams list just about anybody getting treatment for anything in the training room, even if they’re going to note them as full participants in practice. Other teams only list players if their reps are reduced, as required. If Newton and Roethlisberger handled their usual workloads in practice, their teams technically did not commit a violation, even if the “spirit” of the injury report wasn’t necessarily upheld. League officials travel around and pop into teams’ practices on occasion to document how they’re managing their injury report.


Jimi from Nederland, CO


It might not have happened in the last 30 seconds, but didn’t the Chiefs get ripped off on a “roughing” the passer penalty in crunch time against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game?


True enough, but it occurred with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter with the score 21-17 in favor of Kansas City. Even after New England scored on that drive, the Chiefs scored 10 points and the Patriots seven more before the game went to overtime tied at 31. It wasn’t a game-defining call because so much more happened. On top of that, it was overshadowed by the more egregious mistake a few hours prior in New Orleans.


James from Asheville, NC


The Packers have been extra patient with Kevin King and for the first time I feel that patience has been warranted. How much upside do you see in him? Can he really be a game-changer?


Bueller…? Bueller…?
 
Top