Mike's Mid-Week Chat: How do the Packers prepare for the Chiefs?

[Cheesehead]

Mike, 3 more games until the bye, which I think is a good point to seriously evaluate the season and the potential for playoff seeding. How many of these 3 games do you think the Pack need to win to feel really good when they get their week off?


Generally speaking, if you split the two road games and win the home one, you'd take that. But it's just one game at a time, as boring as that sounds. I think the Packers could win all three. There are also no guarantees. The Chargers aren't as bad as their 2-5 record suggests, in my opinion. The Panthers are playing well and look dangerous. The Chiefs will give the Packers all they can handle. The locker room has had extra time to mentally adjust to the Mahomes situation. They'll be ready.


How good is KC's O-line? Will we see some sacks again?


We're going to find out. They haven't run the ball all that well, and it's hard to look at sack numbers because Mahomes is such a good escape artist making plays on the run.


In reviewing the game Sunday, it seemed the Pack got caught out of possession a number of times with late changes of defensive personal, also they seem to be a much better team in man to man. What did you see?


I assume you mean "position" not possession. LaFleur talked about getting the personnel and the calls in faster from the sideline so guys can get lined up and survey the offense to react at the snap accordingly. Let's see this week if that smooths out.


Before Mahomes was side lined I envisioned quite the shoot out with KC's suspect defense and our ability to give up a lot of big chunk plays. I don't see why the Packers can't easily score in the 30's still. Would scoring 30 pretty much guarantee us a win with Moore at Qb for KC?


Who knows? I like GB's chances to score enough in this game, but night games on the road are no picnic, no matter the opponent.


Who is the Tom guy that Rodgers refers to in press conferences?


That's Tom Fanning, communications manager who handles Rodgers' media obligations.


Hey Mike, while I understand that you are constantly looking to improve the team, I wonder why people seem to undervalue our current (non-Adams) WRs. MVS already has more receiving yards than any other WR for the first 2 seasons with Rodgers (other than Cobb and Jennings) and has 9 more games to go. And how fast would even a veteran learn our offense? The offense is just starting to take off; why mess with that?


The ongoing potential for MVS and Allen Lazard in 2019 really intrigue me, so that will be taken into account in any discussions of roster moves. But you always keep the door open to improving personnel, if the price is right. You never know when guys might get hurt or whatever else. It's still a long season from here.


I know this defense makes up for it in the red zone, but they have to find a way to stop these big plays. Do you see this as a big concern too and what will help eliminate them?


I don't know the answer. That's up to Pettine and the players. But the big plays must be cut down, absolutely. They've surrendered chunks of field way too readily the last three games.


The defense has had a lot of timely turnovers and stops, but hasn't been particularly stout otherwise. Do you think our big-play crunch time defense is sustainable?


The Packers' defense has shown an ability to respond well when something goes awry. That's extremely valuable. But it's difficult to lean on that every single week. I like this defense's chances of getting an offense to make a mistake if it's forcing the opponent to take 9-10 plays to score.


I may be in the minority, but given that Rodgers has shown the ability to carry the offense, I think Darnell Savage's return is more important than Adams' for now. Savage's speed on the back end is simply amazing


There would certainly be a domino effect with Savage coming back, allowing Amos to go back to playing to his strengths. I'm curious how close Campbell is to possibly being activated. It's stay tuned on defense as far as personnel.


I look for Reid to scheme some success early. Weather the storm the first half and I think we will be good to go.


Handling any momentum surges whenever they happen will be key.


People talk about a 1-2 punch at the RB position. With Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, I feel like the Packers have a 1-1 punch, if that makes sense. Both have proven capable of trampling over defenses. How do you see these two working together on Sunday night?


The Chiefs are allowing 5.0 yards per carry on the ground. I expect the Packers to pounds both running backs at that defensive front and see what happens. Keep both guys fresh and see if the run game can be sustained for four quarters.


I was looking to seeing the Halloween themed sack celebration by the Smith bros last Sunday. Is it still on the table this weekend?


Presumably.


What has to improve in the return game and against the return game? I thought there was an emphasis on special teams this year, with more coaches and so on, but the results are lacking. Although the number of penalties is much(?) lower than last year, which is good. And Mason Crosby and JK Scott are playing very well, which is even better.


Scott and Crosby have held up their end, for the most part, and special teams is not the flag-fest it's been in the past. But there's been no production in the return game, and it doesn't look like the returners have had anywhere to run. The Packers need more from this phase.


Mike what does mike Pettine need to do to slow down Travis Kelce?


I don't know. I'm no expert. I suspect he'll try to mix up coverage plans and try to not let Moore get a read on how Kelce is being defended down after down. Keep him guessing a little.


Not only is the offense learning on the fly but the coaching staff is also. Hence, getting the calls in from the sideline quicker etc. etc. After the bye week this whole team should be rockin'. Get to the bye at a minimum of 8-2 and the last part of the season could be special. Do you agree?


The progress on offense has been steady and noticeable. But as the season progresses, defenses will have seen more and start adjusting. It'll come down to how the Packers adjust from there. It's such a week-to-week league.


Do you think the defense will go with more of a zone scheme like they did against the raiders or will they be playing more man coverage?


Couldn't tell you. I do think Alexander is going to see Hill plenty, with King on Watkins for the most part. That'd be my guess. But as I already mentioned, mixing up coverages can help against a QB who is getting thrown in like this.


A few weeks ago, a submission wanted to know if we would have 4 teams from the division in the playoffs. Now I say Da Bears look like the bottom of the division and the Lions are lost. What are we going to be saying about this division in a few weeks? Will it flip over again?


It's way too early to write off the Bears or Lions. The Bears were 3-3 last year and won nine of their last 10. The Lions are dealing with injuries and personnel changes, but Stafford is playing well. Long way to go here.


I think clock management will be key in Arrowhead. That's a loud place to play and if we can keep that place unentertained then we can keep things in line of sight for us. Also 3rd down both ways needs to be addressed.


The Packers were much better on third down against the Raiders, offensively, and you'd like to see that trend continue. Third-and-long is tough enough, and it's even tougher on the road. Defensively they need to generate more third-and-longs, and that starts with stopping McCoy. The Packers were rather stout vs. the run against Detroit but took another step back against Oakland.