Good day, Mike. I see that since Wyatt went down, Hafley is depending on his defensive ends vs. the DTs as far as snap counts. Early in the season Nazir Stackhouse was getting some production but has been inactive recently. Is he injured or is it a developmental situation?
They’ve had one of the new DTs, Jordon Riley, active on game day over Stackhouse the last two contests. They’re just going with the guy they feel can help the most right now, and that’s not a spot where guys play a lot on ST. We’ll see if anything changes for the rematch vs. this Bears run game.
I agree with your comment that sacks are less important over the next few games rather than containing the QBs we are facing—I am concerned that there have been too many wide open receivers despite pressure on opposing QBs over the past few weeks—we need to cover better!
That’s true, and it’s also harder to cover when the QB gets out of the pocket and extends the play. It all works hand in hand.
Mike, did losing Josh Whyle alter MLF game plan regarding TE passes, and FB run blocking use in Denver ?
I think it took away some of the extra blocker stuff they like for the run game, because Whyle had been handling those duties more than Luke Musgrave or John FitzPatrick.
Been thinking about GB’s chances of making a run. Even without Parsons, it’s a similar defense we put out there in Philadelphia last year and played well enough to win on that side of the ball. It’s the same offense, but we subtract Tucker Kraft and (potentially) add Christian Watson. Perhaps Matthew Golden gets more involved too. There’s reason to believe, regardless of seed, that this team can still be a contender. We saw it last year, and there’s more experience in that locker room now.
There are a lot of good teams in the NFC and not much separates them, honestly. Losing Parsons is a huge blow, but I don’t think it puts the Packers on a totally different level from the rest of the NFC contenders. Just keep playing and see what happens.
Have you seen Brenton Cox Jr. practicing? Will be be ready on Saturday? He seems to have potential, and we sure could use him.
He has been practicing, and his activation decision is this week.
The Packers beat the Bears Saturday night if…
They don’t turn the ball over. The Bears have 30 takeaways this season, got one from Jordan Love early in the first game. Make it zero and I’ll take my chances.
Any thoughts on the lots of missed interception opportunities in Denver?
They played a huge factor in the Broncos scoring 34 points. Denver had two INTs on tough plays, the only ones that they really had a shot at the turnovers. The Packers had more opportunities and only got the one early fumble. Those plays have to be made.
If we can go to Detroit and win on a Thursday, we can go to Chicago and win on a Saturday.
Oh I don’t doubt it. I just think this is the team’s toughest task of the season given all the circumstances.
I would like to know that with our receivers and O-Line banged up how are we going to adjust on Saturday Night. Definitely a must win here and how will we adjust defensively as our main man who opens up opportunities for others is going to be missed.
Like I said in Inbox this morning, I don’t see the Packers reinventing themselves on offense. If you need to give a sub on the O-line more pass pro help with chips and thumps, etc., then do that. But otherwise, be who you are. Defensively, Hafley may have to get creative and revert to some packages and calls from last year. We’ll see.
Mike, we were a top 10 defense before Micah but we had KC and Wyatt. To me that is what gives me heartburn. Can we shore up the run without them?
That’s the biggest question this week with the Bears, and probably next with Henry and Lamar Jackson’s running. But one game at a time. Chicago can’t be allowed to control the LOS with that run the way they did in the second half at Lambeau two weeks ago. The first half, the Packers were the one in control.
It’s anyone’s year. I feel like we are all waiting on the Rams and Seahawks to trip up again and someone else to be the favorite.
It is anyone’s year. The Rams and Seahawks play tomorrow night. Then the Rams have two sub-.500 opponents and the Seahawks have a much tougher schedule. Still a lot to sort out.
What is your prediction on how the NFC shakes out for the playoffs?
I think the winner Thursday night has the obvious inside track to the 1 seed and bye, but other than that and the NFC South winner getting the 4 seed, it’s anything goes out there.
If I could clean up any one thing from last week, it would be the offensive penalties. How can coaches get this through to players? It seems to be fixed and then popup at the worst times (I will say, though, I read somewhere that last Sunday’s crew had one of the most home-away penalty ratios of any crew this season)
The penalties were frustrating last week. The presnap miscues on offense returned, and the personal fouls on D/ST really hurt. The Packers have to play cleaner, regardless of the crew.
I thought the two players you could not lose in order to win a SB were Parsons or Love. I hope I’m wrong and this team can recover but watching Parsons go down felt like the team losing a playoff game ending the season.
A lot of fans feel the same way, but the Packers are still in decent position and there are games to win out there. I say just keep plugging away, just like the players will, and see what happens.
Will we see more Josh Jacobs with uncertainty with Watson?
It’s hard to gauge with Jacobs right now because he’s so banged up. That knee injury is not fun for him. He’s a real warrior, man.
The offense will have to be really efficient in the red zone going forward. Going to have to score TD’s to help the defense out. A lot more will be on #10 shoulders the rest of the way.
The Packers have been pretty good in the RZ most of the season, but I thought the penalties really hampered those efforts last week.
If Evan Williams can’t go would you expect Javon Bullard back at safety or leave him in the slot and have Zayne Anderson play safety?
I’m not sure which way they’ll go. Could go either way honestly.
Although there is pressure on both teams, with all the Packers injuries, I think there is added pressure on the Bears because if they don’t beat the Packers at home this week, they might never beat the Packers.
I don’t look at anything big picture that way. This is the biggest game at Soldier Field since the double doink in the playoffs seven years ago. Chicago is going to bring it in all facets and the Packers have to be ready for that.
