Inbox: The goal is to clear the runway for players to make plays (2024)

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI

Hey guys, I'm going to go on record now and say this defense will rank in the top three this season! Rashan "Bane" Gary will have 20 sacks! Kenny Clark will have only 15 but he will have the record-breaking tackles for loss. I'm putting my stamp on it.

Those are some lofty numbers, Jeffery, but I agree Rashan Gary seems poised for a career year in 2024. He has looked phenomenal all offseason. While Gary has had some big-time performances in a Packers uniform, Tuesday may rank among his finest practices. He was un-block-able from start to finish, registering three "sacks" over four plays near the end of practice.

Nathan from Abingdon, MD

On Monday, Wes mentioned Jaire Alexander and Rashan as his field-tilters. Did you focus only on defense or do you not think there are field-tilters (yet) on the offensive side? The closest I can think of right now is Christian Watson. Teams play defense differently when he's on the field. Which name do you think would make the biggest difference for the team if added to the list? J-Love seems obvious. Josh Jacobs? Quay Walker? Xavier McKinney?

Watson is absolutely a field-tilter; Jacobs, too. I just think getting Pro Bowl-caliber seasons from Gary and Alexander would have the biggest and most profound impact on Green Bay's defensive productivity. Historically, the defense goes as its edge rushers and cornerbacks go.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Someone mentioned something about games coming down to the wire in here yesterday. It got me thinking about how many close games I watched last season. Seems like the league has been highly successful in creating parity and the games are as competitive as I can ever remember them being. Do the statistics show that the games, on average, are much closer now than they have ever been?

I don't have exact numbers to point to, but I believe it was Roger Goodell who mentioned at March's NFL Annual Meetings in Orlando that there were more teams in playoff contention heading into the final two weeks than any other time since the merger. It might have been as many as 20 teams that were still alive. That's a product of the expansion to a 14-team postseason but also a bevy of close games.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Coach LaFleur said this is the best he's ever seen AJ Dillon. If Dillon has his best season as a pro, this offense is going to be insane. Not only does Jordan have a plethora of weapons to throw to but that also would be a straight-up nasty 1-2 punch coming out of the backfield. Think anybody is going to want to tackle either Josh Jacobs or Dillon in the fourth quarter?

I spoke with Dillon during the first two open locker rooms of training camp for a story I'm planning to write Thursday. Dillon did a lot this offseason to ensure he's in the best shape of his career. But perhaps even more importantly, I feel like Dillon also found the peaceful mindset he's sought the past two seasons. Dillon took care of the controllable and is ready for whatever that yields.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

How can a team test a kicker in practice in order to simulate the pressure in a real game? Well, one way is to have competition among several kickers with all of them knowing only one will get the job. The Packers know what they're doing.

Pressure is a privilege, right? And if you want to be one of the top 32 kickers in the world, you're obviously gonna have to prove it.

Jeff from Ogden, UT

I'm curious how you think the new defensive coordinator will affect the inside linebackers. For years, it felt like the inside linebackers were chasing the play. Will the new aggressive defense see them attacking the gaps? Or am I just a dinosaur remembering the bygone days of Butkus, Nitschke and Lambert?

Not at all. Middle linebackers might be built differently today but those same principles are still in play. Jeff Hafley wants his guys playing fast and free. If something goes wrong, Hafley already said he's willing to take the blame for it. Because at the end of the day, the goal is to clear the runway for players to make plays.

Kevin from Jenison, MI

So far, the Packers have featured the veteran, with Clifford taking all the No. 1 snaps through the first two practices.

Ivan from Little Chicago, WI

Hey guys, the mention of Love's off-platform throws and throwing lanes has always intrigued me. I don't know how he's managed to limit the knockdowns, but it seems he's sure got a knack for it. I think he'll only get better. What say you guys?

Love's composure and sixth sense for where pressure is coming are what give me confidence off-platform throws will become a strength of Love's game in the long run. That touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs in Dallas last year is one of the craziest throws I've ever seen, and I've covered Aaron Rodgers for a decade.

Mike from Ames, IA

Inbox has covered cities and stadiums you guys haven't seen before, but are there any players you haven't seen in-person that you're looking forward to seeing play this year? Stroud is the most obvious one for me after his ROTY season, but I'm also curious about what Anthony Richardson looks like in Week 2 at Lambeau. We talk about "not a lot of film on tape" for our defense but seeing him in his sixth pro start will probably be an interesting challenge. Anyone you're watching out for?

Not really, if I'm being honest. Don't get me wrong. It will be cool to watch Stroud and Richardson, but I typically don't "look forward" to seeing a player unless it's a surefire future Hall of Famer such as Tom Brady in 2014 and Patrick Mahomes last year.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

Hmm…what is going on with the Packers kicking the tires on all these QBs?

With Love waiting for a contract extension, Green Bay needed an extra arm in practice. While Brian Gutekunst didn't speak directly on Jake Fromm, the GM said they needed a quarterback to throw to Green Bay's tryout receivers last week.

Marin from West Lawn, PA

It was mentioned Love, while not actively participating in the on-the-field workouts, is involved with other preparatory activities. What exactly are these activities?

The 85% of the job that fans do not see.

James from Appleton, WI

If my knowledge of talking-head-ology is correct, the Vikings and Bears now have Super Bowl windows because their QBs are so cheap. The Packers wasted their window and the Lions never had one. Luckily, however, there's more than one way to condiment a brat.

I appreciate the satire, but it reminds me how removed from reality that ideology is. The last time a team won a Super Bowl with a quarterback on a rookie contract was Russell Wilson a decade ago. Meanwhile, Kansas City has won two Super Bowls since it paid Mahomes.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

Have you spotted any players with interesting modes of transport for practice/camp? I remember Aaron Rodgers had the fancy golf cart that David Bakhtiari gifted to him, so I was just curious if anyone else is riding/driving in style since his departure.

Nobody is riding a bicycle backwards like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix if that's what you're asking me.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

Following up on Jill's question, and in defense of Rasheed Walker, when did David Bakhtiari first look like someone who was capable of being a five-time All-Pro?

I gotta be careful here because I truly believe Dave is more the exception than the rule. That said, Bakhtiari looked like a perennial All-Pro from 2014 on. He was good as a rookie but a bit undersized. That's all that was missing Year 1. He was a marvel, fundamentally. Walker shouldn't be concerned with mimicking David Bakhtiari, though. He just needs to be the best version of Rasheed Walker.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

Spoff's wish to meet up with Chris Banjo may come true. Chris is currently a special teams assistant for the Denver Broncos, the Packers preseason Week 2 opponent!

Anthony Levine and Banjo will always go down as the two special-teamers who got away. I'd imagine both would've been on the roster for a whole lot longer if Rich Bisaccia was on staff back then.

Dan from Richmond, VA

I'm seeing a lot of training camp photos with players wearing the new, more protective helmets. Despite their unnatural, almost alien appearance, do you have a sense of whether many Packers players will opt to wear them in the regular season? I don't recall seeing many, if any, on Packers noggins last season. Is white the only option, or will our equipment staff paint them in appropriate colors upon request?

I'll likely leave it to other reporters to survey the locker room to see which players, if any, plan to wear the Guardian caps in games this year. My hunch is few will, but I'm obviously not privy to the internal conversations between NFL training staffs and their respective locker rooms.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

When asked about Love not practicing my standard response is, "As an owner, I am not allowed to speak on anything to do with contract negotiations."

Or you can go with, "I'm confident in Brian and Russ Ball, and optimistic we'll get something done soon."

Josh from Seattle, WA

If you had to choose between $40 million/year but the organization leadership is failing and the team loses on the field constantly, or $30 million/year and the organization is thriving on and off the field, which would you choose, and why?

This is such a convoluted hypothetical. Like, what's the guaranteed money of each? Are we talking real-world job or pro athlete who'll play a few years for that failing organization? If this is a question about the NFL, the answer is going to be $40 million/year 100 times out of 100. Because that's the actual world we live in. Nobody leaves that much money on the table, especially a 25-year-old.

Mike from Montpelier, WI

In response to the Bear 46 defense, Lynn Dickey once said they had 10 of the best players in the NFL playing each position. The one who wasn't is some guy named "Fridge."

That Lynn Dickey was a fast one.

Monica from Blue Mounds, WI

Since there are comments on Wes's bizarre food likes, I will ask if he's tried peanut butter and mayo sandwich. Ya know, it's like a PBJ but with MAYO! I say try it, it's great!

PB & Yuck. No, I don't eat mayo. Also, I don't eat condiments.

Lori from Heredia, Costa Rica

Hey Wes, what's your favorite flavor of the day at Culver's?

I have a saying – Wes brakes for squirrels and Blackberry Cobbler.

Tim from Clear Lake, IA

Wes, how did the Packers 5K go for you? I'm sorry to have missed it this year. And I don't remember hearing anything about the half marathon earlier in the spring.

The wildest thing happened, Tim. After running in the 27s for five years, I PR'd the Packers 5K by nearly two minutes. Running is a funny, and sometimes cruel, thing.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

I love this time of the year. All 32 teams are going to the Super Bowl. Just ask 'em.

This time of year, nobody has lost, and every team has gotten better. Meanwhile, truth serum is on backorder until September. The Packers like their chances, though…and for good reason.