The Packers enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record as they welcome the Cardinals (2-3) to Lambeau Field on Sunday.
In this week’s mailbag, we tackle questions about the pass rush, or lack thereof, this season’s running back duo, locker room interviews versus podium interviews and more.
What grade would you give the defense at this point in the season, and why? — @TenhunenSilja
They’ve been slightly above average, so I’ll give the defense a B-minus. Through five weeks, the Packers rank 14th in scoring defense (21.6 points allowed per game), 14th in defensive total EPA per snap, 27th in defensive success percentage, 12th in defensive pass EPA per dropback, 15th in defensive rush EPA per snap, 19th in pressure percentage and first in takeaways (14).
Matt LaFleur and Packers players are well aware Josh Jacobs holds the NFL record for most career catches without a TD reception.
LaFleur even promised Jacobs that he’d get him a TD catch this year.
That and much more on the latest Matt LaFleur Podcast: https://t.co/cwFP9VT9HC
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 9, 2024
The pass rush looks to be pretty bad, but advanced stats are saying otherwise. What’s really going on with the pass rush? — @MKEBucksCat
The Packers are 11th in sack percentage and 19th in pressure percentage, so that’s not horrific. They should be better given the talent up front and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s style, but a combination of game plan and lack of their own performance has hindered them.
Here’s an answer from head coach Matt LaFleur on my podcast this week when I asked him about Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark specifically, which can apply to the pass rush as a whole.
“I think a lot of it’s just game plan-dependent,” LaFleur said. “When you’re going against some of these quarterbacks nowadays that are capable of escaping the pocket, you have a different rush plan and your rush plan may be to just condense the pocket … naturally, when you do rush like that, those mush rushes, you typically don’t get as many opportunities to go hit the quarterback and we’ve had two games like that.
“And I also think that teams are doing a pretty good job on first and second down of trying to mitigate our ability to rush the passer, when you’re playing the Rams or the Vikings, where they’re doing what we call sell jet, which is a six-man protection, but they’re getting chips on your edges, they’re using the back internally. They’re basically getting three double teams and you have one 1-on-1 that you gotta go win with, with kind of an action fake at the halfback and that’s been two weeks in a row now that we’ve gotten that type of play.”
Likely too early to tell, but how do you feel about Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson versus Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon? Feel better about this duo or would you want last year’s? — @pagesheldon18
I’m glad you said it’s too early to tell because it is, but the early returns make me side with this year’s backfield by a slim margin. I think Jones and Jacobs are basically a wash in terms of skill, but I’d take Jacobs (as the Packers did, in part) for health reasons. I prefer Wilson’s glide over Dillon struggling to break off explosive runs as a No. 2 option. We’ve also seen what Wilson can do in space on his 31-yard touchdown catch against the Titans on a screen.
*Tom Hanks voice*
WILSOOOOOOOOONNNNNNN!#GBvsTEN pic.twitter.com/v6gfdaZRXK
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 22, 2024
Serious question, Matt. Not trying to troll. Make the argument for locker room interviews. I am a crazy Packer fan who subscribes to not one but two independent Packers YouTube media channels, meaning I consume everything and am interested in generally everything and, for the life of me, I don’t get why it’s necessary. — @RJSurdyk
Fair question, and I also understand why some players (none in Green Bay that we know of) want to keep the locker room their space and their space only. Here’s my argument for why they’re important. Locker room interviews are done in a more intimate setting than, say, at the podium, and can therefore result in more personal interactions and better answers. Open locker room also increases the number of players available, which enriches content. That time also allows reporters to develop some level of a relationship with players, which leads to better interviews and content.
For example, I did a story in 2019 in which I had Aaron Rodgers guess every single player he’d ever thrown a touchdown to. He sat inside his locker for the entire thing and the story is just the full transcript of our conversation, featuring interjections by others in the locker room. That story can’t happen at a podium. That’s an extreme example, but it goes to show the level of content that comes out of more relaxed settings as opposed to a more official podium setup. Just my two cents.
Also, what is going on with 88? — @RJSurdyk
No. 88, better known as tight end Luke Musgrave, is going on injured reserve. He suffered an ankle injury against the Vikings and didn’t practice last week but was active against the Rams as an emergency plan. He didn’t play a snap but then practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday before not practicing on Thursday. LaFleur lauded Musgrave’s toughness while saying the Packers didn’t understand how serious Musgrave’s ankle injury was. In his place, second-year tight end Ben Sims will see more action behind No. 1 tight end Tucker Kraft. The Packers also signed tight end John FitzPatrick off the Falcons’ practice squad.
“We trade in and out of so many different personnel packages, it’s just like the next-man-up mentality,” Kraft said. “It’s so unfortunate to see one of your brothers in your room go down. Breaks my heart that he has to go through injury, but the next guy’s always ready. In the NFL, the next guy’s always just chomping at the bit, trying to get a shot. I believe in Ben. He will be ready.”
Is anything going to stop Xavier McKinney this year? Greetings from Finland! — @anssita
A mailbag question from Finland! Injury might be the only thing that stops him (knock on wood). The guy has been remarkable. According to TruMedia, McKinney leads all defensive backs in defensive production rate and has 14 splash plays, tied for the second-most among defensive backs. He also leads the NFL with five interceptions and was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after he had a pick, fumble recovery and vicious yet legal hit to break up a third-down pass and force a punt against the Rams last Sunday. It seems like the Packers hit the jackpot in signing McKinney to a four-year, $67 million contract this offseason.
Do you think the Packers can actually win by double digits and not have us be watching nail-biter games? The potential is there, it’s just annoying. — @VolcanicKraft
Here are the margins of victory in each Packers game this season: five for the Eagles, six for the Packers, 16 for the Packers, two for the Vikings, five for the Packers. That’s an average separation of 6.8 points, so there have certainly been some nail-biters. Something that would probably help the Packers get breathing room in these games is eliminating penalties, especially the pre-snap ones that are irritating LaFleur. Green Bay ranks sixth in the NFL with 40 penalties against. They ranked tied for third with 34 after four games, so their six against the Rams was technically an improvement. Still a ways to go. The Cardinals, their next opponent, have the fewest penalties against with 19.
Looking ahead to the draft, it seems the Pack are in need of corner, defensive end, wide receiver (get ahead of the curve) and linebacker. In what order would you like to see those positions drafted? — @RyanMcDow91
Brother, you are a sick and twisted individual if you’re a fan of a 3-2 team and already talking draft. But yes, cornerback is definitely No. 1 on that list with Eric Stokes’ contract expiring after this season. Defensive end, maybe, but really only if Preston Smith isn’t back (the Packers can free up more than $7.6 million in cap space by moving on, per Over The Cap). I think they’re squared away at linebacker with Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper as young pieces, but maybe they take a Day 2 wideout if they expect to move on from Christian Watson and/or Romeo Doubs the following offseason.
The Packers are among the league leaders in turnover differential but are also among the league leaders in giveaways. With the Cardinals’ bad run D and decent pass D, are we headed for another run-heavy game, especially given the turmoil at receiver this week? — @JPeanasky
I wouldn’t say there’s turmoil at receiver. One unhappy camper doesn’t destroy an entire position group and render them useless in a game. I’m sure the Packers will want to exploit Arizona’s shaky run defense (24th in rush defense EPA per snap and 28th in defensive rush success percentage) but don’t expect LaFleur to take the ball out of Jordan Love’s hands too much just because he’s thrown a couple interceptions. The Packers aren’t worried about Love long-term just because of some shoddy decision-making in recent weeks. Maybe Sunday’s game plan will feature Josh Jacobs more than normal, but that would be more because of what the Packers think they can exploit in the Cardinals’ defense rather than dialing it back with their franchise quarterback.
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(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
