Mike's Mid-Week Chat: What’s the key matchup vs. the Lions?

[Cheesehead]

During the first quarter Sunday, I actually thought to myself, "There's one thing, Mr. Spofford, I did not miss" after witnessing a couple stellar blocks by our TEs, especially Mr. Graham. In your opinion, does he deserve the bad blocking rap he's gotten, has he improved or just sometimes he wins, sometimes he don't?


Everybody remembers when Graham gets beat, like the sack he allowed to Hunter against Minnesota in Week 2. But if you go back to my WYMM from that week, he actually threw some good blocks on Everson Griffen in that game when called upon. You're not going to live every play with Graham blocking a starting defensive end, but he's not getting beat every time he's asked to do it, either. And when his assignment is a second-level player, he's usually pretty effective.


Will there be an injury report even if they don't practice today?


No, we have to wait until tomorrow.


So running the ball was supposed to be inefficient and a slow way to get to miami. matt breida sure didn't take long... maybe san fran has a hyperloop?


Those Niners are really playing good football. Interesting that at 4-0 they're playing the 3-2 Rams this week, with LA having lost two straight I believe. They have a chance to put the defending NFC champs at 3-3, while the Rams can show it's going to be a long, drawn-out fight in that division. Should be interesting.


Do you know how many snaps Oren Burks played against Dallas? I think he's going to be important to help cover Lions' newly acquired TJ Hockenson


He played around a dozen snaps or so. I'm interested to see how the Packers want to match up with Hockenson. Pettine has generally not assigned one player to a tight end but mixed and matched with different players.


I haven't seen much discussed about the mistaken "direct snaps" to Jones. How does that even happen, and moreover how was Jones able to make positive yards out of a blown play?


I've written about it plenty on the site in my stories the last two days about the O-line and Patrick. It looked like on those two plays, Patrick was trying to reach a guy to his left and his timing was off so the snap wasn't straight. It doesn't strike me as something difficult to fix. It was his first career regular-season game playing the position.


Mike, if there's one stat that tells the tale of the Packers this year, for me, it's turnover differential. Same for this game, protect the ball, and take the ball away. I like Green Bay's chances


We all know Rodgers is going to protect the ball. The only reason the Vikings game was close was the fumble by Allison and the bad snap by Linsley. If everyone else protects it, too, like they did at Dallas, it sets the team up well the way the defense is causing problems for opponents. Not getting any turnovers against Philly was obviously a factor in the loss, but the Packers still were right there.


If A. Jones had two more games with 4 TDs each, will he be considered as a candidate MVP for this year, or is that just for QBs only?


Two more four-TD games is no easy task. Let's see where this goes before we enter that discussion.


I haven't seen any Lions games this season. Other than MD on the d-line, what other off-season changes are noteworthy?


From what I've seen, they look like a team much more comfortable in Patricia's second season. They brought in Kerryon Johnson last year to give them a running game, and he's doing that. Golladay is a young receiver who's a legit deep threat, and he keeps getting better. They have a veteran QB running the show. Darius Slay is one of the game's best at corner. It looks like there's a lot of buy-in to the type of team Patricia wants.


Last year I believe week 5 Darius slay had trouble against Adams. If Adams is available this week should Aaron go back to that matchup and target Adams?


Rodgers is going to look for Adams no matter who the matchup is if Adams is healthy enough to play.


Do you think the players are extra motivated because of the embarrassing losses of last year?


Not really. I expect them to be motivated because they have a chance to get to 3-0 in the division, and you have to win your division games at home. These are the games that can swing races if you don't hold serve. GB's win at Chicago in Week 1 is the difference in the division right now.


Which DB’s do you see having the flexibility to function across corner, nickel and safety roles? Having such flexibility among the secondary group seems critical, especially considering the current health of the unit. Thanks!


Tramon Williams can do it, and so can Will Redmond and Chandon Sullivan if called upon. Savage has some cover skills as a nickel guy as well.


Are you surprised of how good Jenkins has performed?


Not at all. The Packers drafted him 44th overall for a reason. Nearly two decades ago they drafted another offensive lineman 44th overall. Chad Clifton. He was pretty good, too.


So far the pass rush has been well above anyone's expectations. Now they're facing a less than mobile QB. Is this week we see a huge sack number?


Stafford has been sacked only seven times through four games. They're protecting him well. Getting to him isn't a given.


When do you think the National media will start showing the packers some well deserved respect. 4 / 1 is a great start yet they focus on the one loss to Philadelphia. It’s irritating because it seems like it’s always been like that.


Sorry, but I couldn't care less about the "respect" thing nationally or otherwise. You are what your record says you are, and if you have one of those strong records when it's all said and done, they'll be talking about you plenty.


The Lions beat a common opponent, the Eagles earlier this year. Most notable is how the Lions contained the running game in a way we could not. Was that a product of Detroit's DLine or some other combination?


The difference in that game was the Lions getting a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the Eagles' receivers dropping a bunch of passes, including a huge one at the end of the game. The Packers have struggled with their kickoff coverage this year. Detroit is going to try to break another one and test the unit.


any word on Jamaal Williams? I thought he might be back already


We will see on all the injured guys at practice tomorrow. The first practice this week is not until Thursday because of the Monday night game.


Mike, thanks again for chatting with us. Do you want to take a stab at who you think will have the first pick six this season? I know you and Wes don't like to make these kinds of predictions but I feel like it's coming sooner rather than later


The natural choice is Alexander, but the outside-the-box one is Preston Smith. I could see him making the type of play like Julius Peppers did back in '14.


Josh Jackson notably came on in the 2nd half of last week's game and seemed to take the role covering TE Jason Witten. With us facing TJ Hockenson this week should we expect to see Jackson resuming that role? It seems tailored for his skill set plus playing an ex-teammate could give him and edge.


Interesting thought. Certainly wouldn't rule it out. The overall health of the secondary come Monday will likely play into those decisions.