Mike's Mid-Week Chat: What's the focus vs. the Panthers?

[Cheesehead]

Hey Mike, Is it just me or is Wes really feeling his oats lately? He's put together some pretty sassy Inboxes. Late season push?


Even with a lot of victories, seasons can get long on all of us. Wes is fine. He just takes it out on the Inbox sometimes instead of me, which I appreciate.


I have to agree with Ferd. They could at least attempt getting the ball but with momentum going out of bounds so the ball goes out of play.


That would be one strategy when the ball gets near the sideline, yes.


Out of the upcoming free agents... who do you see as odd man out? Money will be VERY tight this offseason.


No idea, and it's not something I focus on when this team is in the position it's currently in. There's a long offseason to worry about all of that.


Mike, any word yet on Rashan Gary's status for the game Saturday?


He was listed as limited on the estimated injury report yesterday, with a hip injury. That's a good sign, meaning if the Packers had conducted a practice, he wouldn't have been held out entirely.


Do you think teams will have a lot more turnover this off-season as every team scrambles to get under the cap?


Potentially, yes.


Mike, what is the rule on allowing enough space for a returner making a fair catch? Is an actual distance mentioned in the official wording? It just seems like defenses are getting up close and personal way more than I'm used to seeing.


It's been pretty much the same as always from what I've observed.


Thanks Mike, Who has improved the most on defense this year?


Gary, Darnell Savage. Dean Lowry has come on strong lately. Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin are definitely showing they belong. I think Vernon Scott has a future, too.


I know Tonyan looks like what we had been expecting from Graham the past two years, but seeing that Graham has about the same numbers with the Bears this year as we are getting from Big Bob, are the Bears doing something different with Graham than we did?


I don't watch the Bears all the time, but I've said before I think Graham has just caught the ball better on those red-zone targets than he did here. The Packers gave him a ton of chances and plays weren't made as frequently. You look at his receptions compared to total targets when he was here and the efficiency wasn't good.


To follow up on the question/comment in II today about how it is unrealistic to expect any defense to dominate in the NFL these days, it seems to me that in each possession you might get them in 3rd and long (7+) yards once. You have to get them to 4th down in those cases, It seems like the Packers were better at that last year than this. For instance, once the Lions converted that 3rd and 9 on their first drive a TD seemed almost inevitable. If my premise is correct about the deficiency this year versus last what do you think is the cause?


Your premise is right. When you get a third-and-long, the defense has to get off the field. Statistically over the full season, the Packers are one of the best defenses in the league in third-and-7-plus. The early third-and-9 in Detroit led to a TD, and the only third down after that on the opening drive was third-and-2. They gave up some third-and-longs at Indy. But overall, they've been good there and haven't had as many letdowns as other teams.


Mike, what's your take on Aaron Jones hiring a new agent?


I mentioned in Inbox this morning that one read on it is he might be wanting to get something done with the Packers sooner than later, and when it wasn't getting done, he switched things up. If he were determined to test the market in March, there would have been no rush to hire a new agent. But I don't want to speak for him. I might be missing something in the equation.


A lot has been made about home field advantage not being such an advantage this year due to the absence of fans. Going out on a limb, but perhaps our D can capitalize on the cold weather and we can start the early production on some FroZa' Tundra T-shirts....


I know the crowds won't be involved, but I still think the Packers playing at home in January would be to their benefit. Teams like the Bucs, Saints, Rams don't play in that kind of weather and the Packers do. Green Bay might not put up 35 offensively in the cold, but the negatives for other teams might be more.