Packers chat with Ryan Wood
Monday, Nov. 13 transcript.
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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Hey folks, welcome to today's live chat. Packers finally righted their ship yesterday with a win against their arch rival Bears, a game they absolutely had to win to be taken seriously the rest of the season. At 5-4, it will be interesting to see where their season goes from here. Let's get to your questions.
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My goodness, Packers fans are relentless. Not sure how much we can glean from the big picture with what happened in Chicago. What yesterday showed was less about the Packers defense, and more about how much easier it is defending a rookie QB instead of Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford. As for Dom Capers' future, my answer hasn't changed since last week.
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The original best-case scenario we reported, according to orthopedic experts, was 10 weeks. That would put Aaron Rodgers on track to return Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. At minimum, I think the Packers need to be 7-7 at that point, which is doable but unlikely. The best way to get there would be wins against Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Cleveland. Hard to see the Packers beating the Steelers or Panthers, both games coming on the road. Of the three winnable games, Baltimore will probably be toughest to beat. So this week could be big.
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The replay challenge by the Bears was obviously idiotic as it was clear the runner fumbled the ball into the pylon. Do you know if the Packers were planning on challenging the play themselves and Fox beat them to the punch? I had to listen to the game on the radio and I couldn't tell.
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Saw a quote somewhere that MIke McCarthy said after the game he wasn't planning to challenge the play, citing it's difficult to get good replays as the road team. If you haven't seen the play, it certainly appears the officials could have gotten the overturn wrong as well. Benny Cunningham's left toe appeared to drag across the sideline before he lost contact with the football, which would have ended the play. At the very least, it seemed inconclusive enough that the call on the field should stand. With that said, it was probably the most unfortunate outcome to a team's own replay I've ever seen, and it was ill-advised because it was clear Cunningham did not have a touchdown.
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It's going to come down to what the Packers can prove, namely whether Martellus Bennett concealed an injury before signing his contract. It seems to me that might be difficult to prove. I don't think him playing last night proves he concealed an injury. The only thing irrefutable at this point is he quit on his former team.
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No, Justin McCray is a stop gap. In fact, I'd expect Jason Spriggs to start at right tackle this week when he returns from IR. Justin McCray is a guard, and he's played better at right tackle than anyone could have predicted. I know Pro Football Focus didn't give him a good grade yesterday, but I don't recall noticing him much short of the one sack he allowed. For an emergency solution, that's awfully good production. But he remains an emergency solution, and the Packers have a true tackle returning this week in Spriggs.
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I’m firmly in the camp that a higher draft pick is better than limping into the playoffs at 9-7. Just look what a couple of high picks did for cowboys (Tyron smith and Elliot, even though both are out right now). What do you think is better for the team over the next 2-3 seasons?
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That totally depends, though, on whether Aaron Rodgers can return or not. With Rodgers, this will always be one of the best teams in the NFL, and they'll have a shot in the postseason whether they're 9-7 or 13-3. If there is zero chance Rodgers can return this season, then I see the long-term merit in getting the best draft pick possible, and using this offseason to rebuild the roster.
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I'm sorry, but all of these "fans" asking us to tank the rest of the season make my stomach turn. Would they ask their sons and daughters to quit on their youth seasons? If they're self employed would they give a less quality product to their customers? I don't understand or accept their reasoning.
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Youth league isn't professional sports. There's a long-term picture that doesn't exist at lower levels. If Aaron Rodgers can't return this season, the Packers won't win the Super Bowl in February but very well could next season. So I understand where the tankers are coming from.
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The Packers need to draft a tight end with a premium pick (first three rounds) this spring, but they've needed to most of their recent history, and mostly haven't. Their last premium-round pick was a 2014 third rounder on Richard Rodgers. So I wouldn't expect them to do it.
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To both you and Hyo, there is a clear talent difference between 2010 and 2017 outside of Rodgers. I’m not assaying it can’t be done but the same problems that have existed for past several years are still there (lack of outside speed and defense that can’t get off field). I don’t think this year’s team can overcome either, even with Rodgers. I’d love to be proven wrong
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I don't think you can say there's a "clear" talent difference between 2010 and 2017. That 2010 team was a sixth seed in the NFC and depleted with injuries. With Rodgers this season, the Packers were 4-1 with wins at Dallas and against Seattle. I didn't think they were going to lose for a long time. They were going to contend for the top overall seed. Not saying this team is more talented than the 2010 roster. The 2010 team was much better in the secondary and on the edge, but overall I don't see a clear talent difference between the two teams.
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You could use the same logic for why John Fox shouldn't have challenged. As for Benny Cunningham, he said after the game he's coached not to extend the ball there, as are all RBs. But it's difficult for a guy with the football who wants to make a play and sees the pylon within reach not to go for it. That's where discipline is extremely difficult.
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I tend to think that we will see flashes of 4th quarter v. Bears Hundley but are still some time off from seeing that consistently from him. Let's not forget that Rodgers has gone through some prolonged "slumps" at points throughout his career so Hundley was thrown into a pretty tricky situation. Thoughts?
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I think the key word is consistently. It's not that Brett Hundley can't throw deep, or that he can't have crisp timing with his release, or he can't make all his reads, or he can't stay composed in the pocket and sense the rush without staring at it. It's that he hasn't done it consistently, and that's what a starting quarterback needs to do. With that said, yesterday was a definite step in the right direction. Hundley is young, and it's too early to know what he can be as a quarterback.
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I mostly agree. I think Davante Adams is an excellent No. 2. There are teams he would be a No. 1, especially with the right QB, but he's not an ideal No. 1. Adams probably isn't quite a top 10 receiver, but he's close. I wouldn't expect him to get elite-level money, but who knows with the NFL's constantly escalating cap.
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I'm not sure they can get it fixed this season, but if there's any chance it comes from gaining some chemistry, especially with the field-goal battery. Keep in mind, the Packers are working on their third long snapper and a rookie holder, after years of the same snapper (Brett Goode) and holder (Tim Masthay) to complement Mason Crosby. Right now, the field-goal battery looks like they haven't been around each other much, because they haven't. The Packers won't be able to completely simulate the chemistry Goode, Masthay and Crosby had, but they should improve each week. As bad as the bobbled snap was at the end, there were other things they can build on, including a 50-yard make. As for the special teams in whole, the penalties have to come down.
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Usually it's best to lock up those guys in the season, but that doesn't mean it always happens. Sometimes the Packers lock up their guys days before hitting the open market, like Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga in the spring of 2015. Usually, that means the price tag will be more expensive. There's still time this season to get a deal done. I would think Adams would a higher in-season priority than Burnett.
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Integrity means doing what's best for the health and success of the franchise. Usually that means winning games, but not always. That's reality in professional sports. Now, if you were to ask me, I don't think the Packers are at a point yet where tanking is better for them than winning. Could they reach that point sometime before their finale in Detroit? Certainly.
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