Its still rush four, cover seven

Mike Spofford

Rick from Trempealeau, WI

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOA NELLY!"

One of one.

Matt from Boston, MA

Statler: "Did you see that NFL game yesterday?" Waldorf: "Unfortunately, yes!" Statler: "Three hours of millionaires in tights chasing each other for a piece of leather!" Waldorf: "And look at that quarterback scrambling around!" Waldorf: "He moves like my arthritis on a good day!" Both: "DOHOHOHOHO!" Statler: "Should we watch another game next week?" Waldorf: "Why not? We've got nothing better to do until our funerals!" Statler: "And they're almost as entertaining! DOHOHOHOHO!"

I was so waiting for this submission as well.

Bruce from Travelers Rest, SC

I thought we had retired "first off the bus."

Me, too, but I'm not going to complain as long as I get to post Statler & Waldorf dialogue whenever I feel like it.

Craig from Green Bay, WI

Is there a policy as to the number of years the Packers need to wait before they could host another NFL Draft?

There isn't a policy, per se, but as Wes noted the other day in referencing Mark Murphy's comments, 20 other teams have applied to host the draft. So I would imagine the league will sift through all those applications and award the draft to those approved before returning to a city that's already hosted. Since the traveling road show began in 2015, only one city has hosted twice Chicago the first two years.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

For me the biggest excitement about the new players is we also have a first-round pick and a third-round pick from 2024 that barely saw the field because of injuries. Taking those two players into account, this is one of the most promising Packer rosters in a very long time.

It's almost as though the Packers had nine draft picks last year and 10 this year, instead of 11 and eight.

Kyle from Imus, Cavite, Philippines

What is the big fuss over Week 1 at Lambeau? Sure, you'd like to get a big win to start the season, but (a) the starters use Weeks 1-3 as their preseason and the offense is not yet in sync, and (b) given a choice between more early-season home games or late-season, late is when the weather's not so welcoming and the playoff push is in full force.

While I agree it's overdue to finally open a season at home under LaFleur, the drawback to this year is the Packers have nine road games. So after Week 1, the road-home split would be 9-7 the rest of the way, risking a backloaded road schedule, depending on how the middle of the slate lays out.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

So, next up is the release of the schedule. How do you think the Detroit and Minnesota winning seasons, along with Chicago being a major market (new coach), will impact the Packers' primetime appearances? Does the league limit a division's primetime appearances like they do a team?

Not that I know of. I don't think the state of the rest of the division will have any appreciable impact, other than possibly more division games themselves being under the lights.

Tom from Southfield, MI

II, so, speaking of the schedule (home opener, yes, please), and this may have been asked/answered before, but I would think that drawing up the schedule by hand, so to speak, would be a daunting task. But done solely by computer would likely miss many opportunities to create scheduling drama. So is it a hybrid?

My understanding is a computer spits out dozens of possible schedules and the league pores over them to ultimately choose one that appears most attractive and appealing.

John from Palmdale, CA

Greetings, II brethren and sisteren (is that a new word?). I think the trend towards domed stadiums is inevitable because back in the day, watching games meant going there because listening to a radio broadcast or TV coverage nowhere near today's quality was the only other option. With all the streaming options available, fans will only put up with a limited amount of inconveniences to attend live events. We will be one of the last holdouts, I think.

There's some merit to that. I also think with so much taxpayer money being used to build stadiums, year-round usage for major events, like concerts and such, is a strong consideration to maximize the public investment.

John from Freedom, WI

Regarding the fifth-year option for Walker, it's my understanding that the fifth-year salaries for linebackers lump inside and outside linebackers together. Therefore the normally higher salaries for outside 'backers skews the formula higher. So teams may view that price as unreasonable for an inside 'backer. Therefore the team likely passed on Walker's option to avoid overpaying and may want to negotiate a multi-year deal instead.

I was going to answer a question with this explanation but decided to let you do it instead.

Donald from Philadelphia, PA

II, thinking about your recent responses on QB ball placement and accuracy had me wondering. I know it's tough to quantify, but in your opinion how often when we see poorly placed balls from NFL QBs is it a physical mistake (they just didn't throw it exactly where they wanted to for whatever reason) versus a mental mistake (either the QB or the WR had the wrong idea of where the WR was supposed to be)? I'm talking in general, not Love specifically!

That's so hard to know, and it depends on the distance of the throw, too. My best guess is that when the QB isn't under duress, it's more often a miscommunication or the QB/WR not being on the same page, unless it's a deep shot, which brings in greater accuracy variance. If the QB has pressure bearing down on him or is on the move, physical inaccuracy would be more common.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL

Drafting two WRs in the first three rounds seems to be tough sledding forMecole Hardmanto make the team unless he was signed for special teams. I think it also gives the Packers organization all the cards when it comes to working out contracts forRomeo DoubsandChristian Watson. That and just keeping the WR room young and fast and cheap compared to the massive contracts WR vets command. It will be interesting to see the hierarchy of that group unfold.

I don't know about "all the cards." Contract negotiation is always a two-way street. Regardless, the Packers have big decisions coming up at that position but none of them has to be made for a while yet.

H.R. from Henderson, NV

In Tuesday's Inbox, Wes opined, "It'd been 29 years since the Packers had appeared in the Super Bowl" in reference to the SB 31 win. Don't look now, but we're (almost) already halfway to that mark again. It's been 14 years (and counting) since 45.

Oh, I'm aware. It's admittedly very different, though. During the 29-year Super Bowl drought from II to XXXI, the Packers had a 25-year stretch with just six winning seasons and two playoff appearances. Since XLV, the Packers have 11 winning seasons and playoff appearances.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

The best game plans merge putting your own players in position to thrive, but stressing the other teams' players, too. Versatility makes game planning for an opponent far more difficult. If you wanted to game plan around Richard Sherman in the Legion of Boom Days, it was easy he lined up in the same place every game. When teams started doing that to Reggie, Holmgren moved him from side to side and even had him at nose. Versatility is the antidote to an opponents' game planning.

It's certainly valuable when you don't have a unit full of Hall of Famers, but it still doesn't trump elite talent.

Damien from Perth, Australia

Interesting bunch of undrafted free agent signings. Nazir Stackhouse seems like a bargain find, butJohnathan BaldwinandKahzir Browninterest me the most. In the article posted here they are listed as cornerback and safety, respectively, but their scouting reports and colleges have them listed the other way around?

As Wes pointed out, some of that's due to players being hybrids, and it's also about where a personnel staff feels the player fits best at this level.

Ted from Findlay, OH

Anything or anyone jump out at you during the rookie minicamp?

I realized when standing next toSavion Williamsin his media scrum that a 6-4, 220-pound receiver is a different type of body from the usual at the position.

Mark from Greenville, SC

Good morning. Can you please explain a simulated blitz? Thank you!

A simulated blitz also can be called a zone blitz or fire zone. It's sending non-traditional pass rushers at the quarterback, such as an off-ball linebacker or defensive back, but dropping an equivalent number of usual rushers off the line of scrimmage into pass coverage. So it's still rush four, cover seven, but it looks like a blitz because an inside 'backer and/or DB is attacking.

Mark from Sturgeon Bay, WI

Can you give an example of what coaches mean when they say they're on the first install, second install, etc.?

The playbook is divided into portions for how it's presented and practiced, mostly based on situations. The first few installs are typically normal down/distance, and then the later installs focus on third downs, red zone, goal line/short yardage, etc. Then week by week, game plans are built by taking the segments from each install that are projected to be most effective against a particular opponent.

Thomas from Bozeman, MT

Don't you guys think Mark Murphy needs a statue outside of Lambeau?

I'm confident he will be recognized in an appropriate way at an appropriate time. Ted Thompson is the only name up on the stadium faade that isn't in Canton. Bob Harlan has a plaza named after him outside on the stadium grounds. The organization will figure something out, and it doesn't have to be tomorrow.

Mike from Atwater, CA

Gentlemen, I had the pleasure of attending the Byron Nelson this past weekend. While Scheffler dominated the field, it's just a pleasure to watch elite athletes perform. Their short games are ridiculous and the ball just explodes off the clubface, facets which are difficult to appreciate on TV. Who are two or three athletes who have wowed you when you saw them perform up close and personal?

When I was a kid, I watched guys like Cal Ripken and Wade Boggs take batting practice. You can't help but be in awe. I also saw Mario Lemieux once in a playoff game when I was in grad school. That was one of the first "man among boys" moments in the heat of competition I can recall witnessing firsthand as a fan.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Please add my kudos to the others, on the fantastic draft video. Gutekunst's candid reaction to realizing Sorrell was at the event was truly priceless!

Agreed, and if you haven't seen it yet,you dont want to miss it.

John from Belleview, FL

How does a player grow into a job? I hired folks for many years. On their first day on the job, I told them. "You WILL make mistakes. That won't cost you your job. But if you make the same mistake over and over, then we have a problem. Learn from each mistake and don't do it again." Those that took that advice to heart had long and successful careers.

My corollary to that, which I try to adhere to myself as well as pass along to young folks finding their way, is to care about mistakes without dwelling on them.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, FYI, the line: "You are only here until I can replace you" doesn't go over too well with your spouse.

I'm not aware of much overlap in the job descriptions for GM and husband.

Dennis from Seal Beach, CA

I LOVE to fish, but it never ceases to amaze me how much more knowledgeable others are about fishing. Same with this forum. I LOVE the Packers, but your contributors know so much more about the game than I do. My submissions aren't often used, but I keep reading and learning. Who knows? I might even submit an intelligent question one of these days.

We're always just a click away, for better or worse. Happy Wednesday.

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