"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Fabio from London, UK
Total inability to adjust in the second half, a couple of foolish calls in the fourth quarter, a dubious play call for the OT fumble. A simple bad day at the office for LaFleur, worsened by the mistakes from Linsley, Shepherd and Valdes-Scantling, or is it a worrying sign?
My thoughts go to one play: fourth and one. You have to throw the ball 15 yards sideways? You can't run one yard forward? Really? I respect these coaches immensely, but they've lost me on this short-yardage inability. These are huge plays. They decide the outcomes of games. Be creative. Do something to get that missing yard, which has become the distance between victory and defeat. Here's an idea: Teach A.J. Dillon or someone of like power to take a snap from center and push forward. Look at what Jacoby Brissett did. The secret to converting these short-yardage plays is getting to the defense before it gets to you. Kordell Stewart was a specialist at it. Sam Cunningham went over the top. Whatever it takes. The guy who said this is where these coaches earn their paycheck is right. Now do something!

Chase from Las Vegas, NV
What did your eyes tell you about the Packers this week? They looked really strong in the first half, but completely out of sorts in the second half.
The Colts had a touchdown nullified, the Packers had seven points handed to them at the end of the first half and they have arguably the best quarterback in the game but they didn't win. Those are the facts of the matter. They lost a game because of a fumble? No. That's narrow thinking. They lost because they allowed 420 yards, they were outrushed 140-66, they were outscored 20-3 in the second half and they had the ball seven minutes fewer than the Colts. The hard count and the tight-end-delay-bootleg play are really chafing me.

Peter from Chicago, IL
Loss was tough enough without having to see Valdez-Scantling get on social media to address death threats after the game. The young man was trying to make a play to help the Packers win.
Our culture is shameful.

Paul from Cambridge, MA
The Colts can't stop holding, but they are still demolishing the Packers defense. Make it make sense.
It was nauseating for me to watch Coach Reich stare at his play-call sheet as his offense went backwards on five consecutive holding calls. The play isn't the problem, coach; your players are the problem. Coach them! The Packers were slanting their defensive linemen. Do you remember, we talked about this being a tactic the Packers could use to help stop the run? It required a simple technique adjustment by the Colts. No. 64 needed help. Coach him!

Mitch from Georgetown, KY
What can the Packers do to motivate these players on defense?
Motivation isn't the problem. The problem is the Packers defense is a grab bag of assorted parts. It's a collection of misfit toys. The pieces just aren't fitting.

Randy from Klamath Falls, OR
For over a decade I've known not to depend on the defense to win a game; maybe keep the Packers in the game, but not dominate and win. The offense is something else. I expect it to get the job done most of the time.
That's an accurate description of the unfair expectation the Packers offense, which is to say Aaron Rodgers, faces. The Packers stop the run with their offense by getting a lead that forces the opponent to abandon the run and pass. It nearly worked against the Colts, but Coach Reich didn't allow it to happen. At halftime, he re-committed to the run and it changed the game. Joe Buck said something along the lines of a lot of runs but only three points. Again, it's the narrow view. The Colts had been lured into a passing competition. Reich snapped them out of it. I give him credit for that act of bold coaching. I think Aaron Jones is a heckuva back. If I was his coach, I'd burn his wheels off.

Alberto from Spain
Vic, your explanation about how the run fixes it all is the best summary I’ve read on football tactics. Do you think it can be done if you have a super star pocket QB?
That's when the run is most valuable. It fixes the pass protection because it makes pass-rushers play the run.

Ben from Chicago, IL
If next year is a reset year for the cap, is it in the owners’ interest not to disclose that for now while player contracts are being negotiated?
This will all come to a head as the league heads into a new league year and the start of free agency. What won't teams be able to do if they don't have cap room to do it? Sign free agents. Who won't get the money? The free agents. That's when both sides will be motivated to fix the problem. It's professional football; it's about the money. Please, be patient.

Aiden from Jacksonville, FL
You’ve had a lot of blog posts about running backs and power runners. Can you tell us about Barry Sanders? I'm too young to have seen him play and highlights never truly depict a player accurately.
His elusiveness was amazing. The reason I don't mention him often in this column is he wasn't my kind of back and I don't want to be disrespectful. He was a naturally undisciplined runner. He gave ground and lost yards too often trying to hit a home run. I dislike LeVeon Bell's style for the same reason. I am in awe of what Sanders accomplished and I truly love his temperament for the game. I could say I would've loved to have seen him complemented by a pounder, as Warrick Dunn was by Mike Alstott, but that would've meant taking carries away from Sanders and nobody in their right mind would give the ball to a back averaging 3.1 yards per carry when Sanders was averaging 5.0. Sanders' 6.1 in 1997, for a back who had 335 carries, is nearly beyond belief.

Stephen from Chicago, IL
Where do you rate the importance of center vs., say, running back? Given finding quality big men is critical to begin with, is center a position that can be more or less easily filled by college guards and centers? Specifically for the Packers and Linsley’s upcoming free agency, do the Packers have to think longer about letting Corey go, because he may be the best center in football right now, even if that means they can’t afford Aaron Jones.
Yes, center is a position that can be filled by guards. Dermontti Dawson played center and guard at Kentucky. So, you'd allow Dawson to leave in free agency because the supply of centers is plentiful? The answer to that question would depend on what degree you value the center position. The Steelers have valued that position more than they have left tackle. Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dawson, Jeff Hartings and Maurkice Pouncey represent 50 years of Steelers history, and it's nearly consecutive. How much was Jim Ringo worth to Taylor and Hornung? Jim Langer to Larry Csonka? Mark Stepnoski to Emmitt Smith? If you want to run the ball, it begins at center. Linsley the best center in football? If the Packers think he's that good, and if they truly want to run the ball, they need to sign him. Otherwise, let him go, replacements are plentiful.

Chris from Lexington, KY
Your comment about Noll vs. Lombardi got me thinking about coaching styles over time. Clearly today's coaches have to be more accommodating of the players' needs. Are there coaches you think could be successful in any era?
Lombardi would've adjusted. Noll did. He won two Super Bowls running the ball and then won two Super Bowls throwing the ball when the rules were changed to favor the passing game in 1978. Walsh was a top offensive coordinator in the pre-'78 era, and then he gave us the explosive West Coast offense in the post-'78 era. Belichick is a pre-salary cap product who defines the salary cap era. Lombardi's and Noll's personalities were perfect fits for when they coached, but good coaches will win in any era, as long as they have good players.

Max from Toledo, OH
Do you need to be a slick talker to be a good college coach? How else do you get good players?
Pay them money, give them cars, course credits without attending class, a chaperone service, etc.

Richard from Madison, CT
"You almost need two locker rooms and two coaches." Wasn't that the 1985 Bears?
Yes, it was, but there was nothing soft about the Bears' offense. The offense and defense were cut of the same cloth.

Jeff from Louisville, KY
What do you think would happen in today's NFL if an owner refused to accept the losses for his team, repeatedly accused officials of rigging the games without proof, and then refused to allow his team to play until the losses were overturned?
We'd enjoy the entertainment value of the insanity until the owner went completely nuts and threatened to blow something up.

Nate from Plymouth, MN
You have said many times you love big running backs, and have opined "you're not really running the ball unless you're running with power." Does "Big Boy Football" absolutely require a big back? Have you ever seen a smaller RB who runs with the same power, authority and intimidation factor?
Maurice Jones-Drew ran with power and won a league rushing title, and he played at 5-7, 210. Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher and a true pounder who is one of the most durable players in NFL history, and Smith played at 5-9, 221.

John from Brandon, SD
I loved your comments about establishing the running game and wholeheartedly agree. In this day and age, can an elite quarterback (like Rodgers) and the running game you described co-exist?
It did in 2013 and '14. The Packers offense was never better than when Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy were in the backfield together. Defenses were putting eight in the box and playing single-high safety to stop Lacy, and Rodgers benefitted. He was sacked 51 times in 2012, but only 28 times in '14. His passer rating, 112.2, is the second-best of his career, and there's an evenness to all of his stats that is clearly the result of balance between run and pass. You can see a similar evenness in his stats this year, which I believe is also the result of balance.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Long term, how much will Kyler Murray’s wind up hurt his development?
Murray's success is driven by his feet. You beat him by making him be a passer. That's what Carolina did.

Michael from Gold Beach, OR
Who do you consider to be the top three head coach hires during the past 20 years?
How about a top five? Belichick, Tomlin, Harbaugh, Payton and Carroll. If Mike McCarthy was still with the Packers, I'd put him in there, too.

Nathan from New York
I recently read an article in which Cliff Christl claimed Lombardi wanted Paul Hornung on the sideline for the Ice Bowl to provide leadership. It seems as though his philosophy differed from Chuck Noll's. Thoughts?
Coach Noll's philosophy was, "If you can't play for us, you can't help us." He didn't want cheerleaders. If you were injured, you didn't travel with the team; you stayed at home and rested. Coach Lombardi was an emotional leader who was known to raise his voice. Coach Noll spoke of the need for motivation to come from within and I can't remember an occasion when he raised his voice other than to emphasize a point in a teaching capacity. He wanted self-starters and he coached his players to act as professionals. Coach Lombardi had a weird kind of obsession with Hornung. Coach Noll avoided that kind of relationship with his players. Yes, their styles were opposite to each other, but the results were the same. They were perfect fits for when and who they coached.

Matthew from Olathe, KS
Vic, if I draft a running back and he is really good, why not franchise him for two years after his rookie contract and then let him walk?
The Steelers franchised LeVeon Bell two years consecutively. How'd that work for them? Running backs are plentiful and the franchise tag is expensive, difficult to cap and breeds enmity. If you can't do a contract with him, let him move on and find a replacement for him.

Samantha from Marion, IA
In his postgame press conference after the Jaguars game, LaFleur said, "We're playing football. These guys are playing a kids' game and getting paid for it, man. It's disturbing to me. And it starts with myself and our staff. We've got to bring more energy for these guys." Do you think that kind of talk demoralizes players (equating their job to a kids' game), or is it indicative of a leader of men when he says it starts with himself and the staff? I was honestly not sure how to take that when I heard it.
Professional football is not a kids' game. It's a savage game played by men who manage their careers as would be expected of a professional. At this time of the season, bodies are tired and hurting. These men are trying to find ways to get to the finish line and be at their best for the postseason. Coach LaFleur is young. I covered a lot of less-than-impressive wins against bad teams. Accept the win with grace and move on. The big games are in front of you.

Eric from Green Bay, WI
Vic, I appreciate the question about "how many would be enough?" The answer does not exist and here's why: The 2014 NFC title game permanently scarred this fan base. We could win the next three in a row but the pain of losing out on that opportunity to win a second Super Bowl with Rodgers, and also beat Brady, will never be cured.
You might be right.

Mikey from Tallahassee, FL
Do you think the Steelers will finish the season undefeated?
No. First of all, that's a tired football team. They got screwed on their bye week because Tennessee was, in my opinion, careless with the Covid protocol. It's forced the Steelers into a stretch of schedule that'll see them having played their fourth road game in five weeks. At some point they're going to shut it down. Today's players just don't think in terms of undefeated seasons. The good teams are trying to get to the postseason healthy and rested. That's especially true this year due to the expanded playoff field.

Eric from Las Vegas, NV
"T.J. Watt." I loved this answer and chortled out loud. Ah, what might have been. But who knows what might have happened as a result. All we have is what we got and can only hope to improve.
Every team has a T.J. Watt, which is to say regret for not having drafted a certain player. Dan Marino is the Steelers' T.J. Watt. Not drafting Marino haunted the Steelers for two decades. How could the Steelers have passed on him? They had need and his talent was undeniable. The same can be said of the Packers and Watt. The Packers had need and Watt's talent is undeniable. Even worse, Marino and Watt are locals.

Peter from Umatilla, FL
The Packers are obviously soft and have been under the past three coaches (LaFleur, McCarthy, Rhodes), maybe four (Sherman). Is there a cure for this disease and, if so, how many new coaches or players do you think the minimum would be to achieve at least semi-toughness and Big Boy status?
The running game is the cure. What's turned the Vikings around? The running game. The run fixes everything. When you practice the run, you practice stopping the run. When you run the ball, your team feels better about itself. The Vikings are 4-5 but I'm willing to bet they feel better about themselves than the 7-2 Packers do. What gave the Lombardi Packers their signature toughness? The Packer sweep. Don't run to achieve balance, run to win. When you run the ball, you're not taking what the defense is giving you, you're taking what you want. Don't run with scheme or the element of surprise, run with power and predictability. If you're not running with power you're not running the ball. Pound out those third-and-ones. Impose your will and everything about your team will have a hard edge. What does it take to achieve this? A complete commitment from the franchise. The wolves will howl. They want play-calling. Their howl must be ignored. The transition from finesse to power is slow and can be frustrating. It would require a commitment from the quarterback, too. I don't think that kind of commitment is doable for the Packers. I don't think it's in the franchise's or its fans' DNA. The Packers have to find a way to be two distinctly different football teams: a finesse, play-calling offense and a rock-ribbed, power defense. That's a tough act. You almost need two locker rooms and two coaches.

Bob from Houston, TX
Was Eddie Lacy a pounder with light feet? He had a spin move I recall seeing a few times and found impressive for a guy his size. I really wish he would have lasted longer than he did, both as a Packer and in the NFL.
Eddie had it all. He could pound and bounce, which is a way of saying he had the light feet to bounce out of one hole and into another. Derrick Henry is as good at it as any big back I've ever seen. I loved watching Eddie play. He was exactly what the Packers needed. Unfortunately, Eddie came to the Packers with a fused big toe. I suspect it might've been at the root of Eddie's foot and ankle problems. I got information on draft day Eddie was the Steelers' guy until they found out about the fused big toe. It caused the Steelers to pick LeVeon Bell, who was the back the Packers had targeted. I'll always take a pounder over a stop-and-start guy. The toe was the problem.

John from Milwaukee, WI
What’s the greatest obstacle a highly successful college head coach must overcome if he's to become an NFL head coach?
Greed. I can't understand why a highly successful college coach would leave that job for an NFL job from which he's likely to be fired in 2-3 years. It didn't take Nick Saban long to know he made a mistake. I was recently asked who I thought the new coach would be at Penn State. It was a jab at James Franklin, who's sitting at 0-4. I thought to myself, Matt Rhule, after he gets fired in Carolina. I think Rhule was a great hire in Carolina and I believe that's one of the up-and-coming teams in the league, but the odds aren't in Rhule's favor. In my opinion, a top college job is better than an NFL job because you're not at the mercy of the draft.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Here are my all-important Week 11 power rankings:
1. Chiefs -- Re-match with Raiders.
2. Steelers -- Fourth on the road in last five.
3. Saints -- Yeah, but what about Brees?
4. Bills -- Lazy defensive scheme on Hail Mary.
5. Seahawks -- Play has been declining.
6. Ravens -- Jackson struggling.
7. Bucs -- Tester vs. Rams.
8. Rams -- Donald gives them toughness.
9. Packers -- Time to turn it on.
10. Raiders -- These guys are hot.
11. Cardinals -- This year's Cinderella?
12. Colts -- Rivers vs. Rodgers.
13. Titans -- Fading.
14. Dolphins -- Surging.
15. Browns -- Beginning to look like a team.
16. Vikings -- Not too late.
17. Patriots -- They're a contender.
18. Bears -- No offense.
19. Panthers -- They've run out of gas.
20. Eagles -- Not Pederson's best job.
21. 49ers -- Shanahan must rally them.
22. Lions -- The epitome of average.
23. Broncos -- The wheels have fallen off.
24. Giants -- They could win the NFC East.
25. Chargers -- Will they quit?
26. Bengals -- Welcome to the AFC North, Joe.
27. Falcons -- I almost forgot about them.
28. Washington -- It's time to play name that team.
29. Cowboys -- Maybe Matt Flynn can still play.
30. Texans -- Watson deserves some blame, too.
31. Jaguars -- Steelers week like old times.
32. Jets -- At Chargers is chance to win.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, was the official who made the block on Rodgers' TD pass to Valdes-Scantling the same guy who called the phantom holding penalty on Jaguars guard Cann on RB James Robinson’s second called back TD run?
Does it really matter, Eddie, I mean Dave?

Chad from Kansas City, MO
How would you feel if all infractions became just a five-yard penalty? I get kind of tired of watching good drives stalled by a 10-yarder, and defense not able to be much more than warm bodies out there.
Once upon a time offensive holding was a 15-yard penalty. You want to make it even easier to play quarterback?

Matt from Houston, TX
As a Packers fan, I was quite happy to see the Vikings start 1-5 mainly because I thought the wolves would run Mike Zimmer out of town. That doesn't look likely now. I've always had tremendous respect for him as a coach, as evidenced by their current win streak and having beaten each team in the division. What's your opinion of him, both when he took over and now?
Coach Zimmer came to the Vikings with the reputation for being a hard-nosed defensive coordinator of attack-style defense in the rugged AFC North. He quickly put his stamp on the Vikings. I liked the hire and he's slowly shaping this year's team in the style of football he prefers: run the ball and win on defense. I commend him for the comeback. My only criticism is I don't think he had his team ready to play when this season began.

Justin from Waukesha, WI
Can you tell us about your opinion of and relationship with Cliff Christl?
We're the same guy. We each live in the past and like it there. We spent a lot of time talking about Lombardi and Noll. Cliff makes the past news.

Tim from Denver, CO
I don't think as a Packers fan we are tired of winning. We are tired of being a second-tier team with a top QB. When you started with the Packers, even you showed great optimism the Packers would get at least one more title with Rodgers. With little to no return from the draft in the past several years and the defense still under-performing, even after free agents and top draft picks spent, I don't think we will be winning a title in the near future.
How many Super Bowl titles would be enough? One more? Two more? What would it take to make your pain go away?

Jake from Chippewa Falls, WI
I’ve been watching Za’Darius very carefully this season and it's disappointing on run plays for sure. Even on some pass plays he doesn’t seem to go all out. Who are some solid pass-rushers that also stop the run I can watch for this season?
T.J. Watt.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ
You know we all Googled "Bradshaw Turkey Jones." I'm a physician. I could only watch it once.
When they brought Bradshaw up the back steps of the plane after the game, he was wearing a neck brace, his eyes were closed and his face was ashen. A defensive back named J.T. Thomas said in a low voice, "Damn, Brad looks like he's dead."

Matthew from Olathe, KS
Statistically, the Packers defense was No. 10 as of Monday afternoon based on yards allowed per game. Do you see a top 10 defense? I'm not sure my eyeball test tells me it is.
You saw a defense get snowplowed by the Vikings. At that point, stats didn't matter. Week 16 vs. Tennessee will be the next big stop-the-run test.

Eric from Los Angeles, CA
In his Monday meeting with Packers media, Kenny Clark was asked his thoughts on Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. Clark said Taylor "runs behind his pads." What does that mean, and what other types of running backs are there?
It means Taylor initiates contact; he's a physical runner who lowers his shoulder. There are pounders, slashers, cutback runners, upright runners, one-cut-and-go backs, stop-and-start types, straight-line guys, etc. Ahman Green is one of the few straight-liners who've been successful and LeVeon Bell is one of the few stop-and-start types. Eric Dickerson was an upright runner, which was against the grain back then. We're seeing more upright types these days because the game is being played higher. Mike Davis at Carolina is a classic one-cut-and-go guy; I love to watch him play. Aaron Jones marries a few different styles; I see him mostly as a slasher. I like pounders with light feet.

Marty from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Vic, I was watching an old WVU vs. Penn State game back from 1988 the other day. The WVU quarterback was a guy named Major Harris from Pittsburgh. What an athlete he was. Could he have played in today’s NFL?
He led West Virginia to the national championship game and he is one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen. He's famous for having run the wrong way on a play but nobody could tackle him. Harris was Michael Vick before Vick was Vick. I don't think the game was ready for that type of player when Harris came out of college. He played in Canada for awhile. Would Harris fit in today's game? Lamar Jackson is a star.

Jason from Honolulu, HI
The Jaguars are now 1-8. In trying to be objective, my eyes are telling me most of the young players are improving as the season goes on. The team continues to play hard. They still need more or better talent at some key positions, namely quarterback, defensive tackle, safety and, perhaps, corner. With all the picks they have next year, it seems to me they have the potential to turn their record around quickly. Are my eyes deceiving me? Do you think it's best for the team to reset and bring in a new coaching staff and/or general manager for next season?
Yes to both questions. I commend the Jaguars, Coach Marrone and his staff for a truly valiant effort on a cold day at Lambeau Field, and I have no doubt they will give the same gritty effort against the Steelers, but there's no carryover to the next season and the Jaguars are headed for a reset and a makeover. They have a player here and a player there, but they are deficient at most positions and would be best served by losing out and hiring an administration that knows how to mine the gold that goes with having the first pick of the draft.

Jon from Green Bay, WI
I lost my father on Sunday night. While reminiscing about him, your stories of Marsh Wheelings and leaving to beat the traffic came to mind. Any other stories you can share?
I've told this story previously, so I apologize to those who already know it; I think it might be good for you right now. When I was a kid, I was a sports fanatic. My father would walk into the living room, see me watching sports on TV, stare at the TV for a moment and then turn to me and say, "That making you any money?" His point was I was wasting my time; go do something constructive. The last time I visited him, I walked into the living room and he was watching a Super Bowl re-run on his big-screen TV. I stared at the TV for a moment and then I turned to him and said, "That making you any money?" He smiled without looking at me, and then I said, "Hey, dad, that made me a whole lot of money." What's the moral of the story? Memories make us rich. It's time for memories, Jon.

Paul from Cumming, GA
How did you enjoy the Masters?
It shouldn't have been played. The Masters is above bad ratings and boring golf. The shadows were hard on the eyes. The course was soft and slow. The Masters is the rite of spring, not the death of summer. It's dogwoods and azaleas, not turkey and pumpkin pie. A stuffy, old tournament that banned the great Jack Whitaker for referring to the fans as a mob sold its soul to TV for something on a level with the Tri-Cities Open. The whiney music never sounded sadder.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Green Bay is handing out huge contracts to Ted’s guys and drafting poorly now. Would you give that kind of extension to an almost 30-year-old tackle who’s starting to show some wear? The writing is on the wall. I’m concerned.
The year-by-year breakdown of how the deal is capped isn't fully known yet, since it was a weekend event. I'll know by Wednesday and I'll comment on the structure then. At first glance, I see $62 million in guaranteed money, which includes a $30 million signing bonus and $30 million in roster bonuses. The contract is sensibly even. It isn't backloaded and won't leave a big hit to shoulder in the final years. Bakhtiari's contract is the going rate for a premier left tackle, which Bakhtiari is. At first glance, it appears the contract is flat through the years and protects the Packers from the wear you're detecting.

Keith from Roanoke, VA
What do you make of the Packers' lack of energy? It seems La Fleur would love to turn the team over to the team but the team isn't ready for that ownership. I hate to say it, but maybe this team needs a losing season to get fired up for competing and winning again.
You want losing? Hang on, you'll get your wish. Everybody gets some losing.

John from Topeka, KS
Vic, any thoughts on the weather game in New England on Sunday?
It's that time of year. Run the ball, get the lead and protect it.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, did the turning point in the game come when Cam Robinson came off the field or was there something even more critical to the Packers defense finally being able to stuff some runs and get some sacks on Luton?
The turning point in the game was the arrival of crunch time. The Packers offense went right down the field. It's that way when you have one of the great quarterbacks of all time. Appreciate him. You won't have him forever.

Jonathan from St. Joseph, MO
Who’s your MVP so far this season?
Patrick Mahomes is the star of the league. The Chiefs would be nowhere without him, but does anyone think the Steelers would be 9-0 with Mason Rudolph at quarterback? Shouldn't Ben Roethlisberger at least get a mention?

Paul from Chicago, IL
What should we make of the Jacksonville vs. Green Bay game?
A good team did what it needed to do to beat a bad but gritty team. That's all. Packers won. Move on.

Rich from Savanna, IL
The "bye week" vs. the Jags almost backfired. The Jags came to play, like the Cowboys did against the Steelers. Never underestimate your opponent.
Never be disappointed by a win.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Any player can have a bad game, but I can never understand how several players can have a bad game on the same day. Any theories?
You're whining.

Todd from Wauwatosa, WI
I know you take a win any way you can get it, but it sure does feel like a loss. Why does Green Bay regularly play down to the level of their competition?
Are you tired of winning?

Scott from Hamlin, NY
The Jaguars defense looked pretty good. The officials, on the other hand, did not.
The calls continue to favor the Packers.

Ryan from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, if you could pick any player, past or present, to help the Packers this year, who would it be?
Dave Robinson.

Brian from Little Rock, AR
I'm an old guy trying to explain it to my young nephew why being a quarterback is so much easier today than it was in the past as it pertains to wide receivers and how they are covered. Can you give me some pointers?
Bump-and-run coverage required deep drops by quarterbacks so they could buy time for the receiver to come open. It took longer in bump-and-run because the receiver was being jammed within his route. Quarterbacks didn't have the luxury of throwing on rhythm back then. They had to sit in the pocket and wait for someone to come open. When a receiver came open, it was often brief and the window was small. The combination of the deep drop and the small window required quarterbacks to have strong arms and quick, compact releases. I doubt Drew Brees would've been successful in that game. Bump-and-run coverage is only half the issue. Quarterbacks back then didn't have helmet communicators, they couldn't spike the ball to stop the clock or even throw the ball away without a receiver being in the area of the pass, and I can't remember specific rules to protect the passer. The quarterback was live to the ground. As Joe Namath said, "We're the trophy." Pass rushers could go high or low on the quarterback, and sometimes even late. I remember seeing Glen Edwards clothesline Ken Anderson five yards out of bounds. Fifteen yards and play on; that's all. If you really want to understand the difference between then and now, Google "Bradshaw Turkey Jones." Jones got a 15-yard roughing penalty and Plain Dealer sports writer Chuck Heaton wrote it was a questionable call. Anthony Barr? That's funny.

John from Seattle, WA
I think Jacksonville lost its compass when it lost the Steelers as a division foe. During those up-and-coming years when we played the Steelers twice, it felt like we were the new blood trying to get respect from the old-money elite. Every time we beat them was like kicking the door down and snatching a seat at the table of football relevance.
I favored a realignment AFC North that would've included Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore, but it would've been a terrible loss had we been denied those wonderfully criminal games between the Steelers and Bengals a few years ago. The Jaguars are in a good place. They've developed rivalries and history within the AFC South. The division isn't the problem; the Jaguars are the problem. It's time to get serious about winning.

Milan from New York
Ah, another one leaves. I saw him on TV at Notre Dame and then he came to the Packers. A friend of mine told me he used to see him in the offseason hanging out at jazz clubs in New York with a lady on each arm. The photo of him running the sweep is iconic.
It sure is. I can still see the sweep to the left against the Browns in the title game. A few weeks ago, I was watching a Steelers game in which James Conner was having a lot of success on running plays around end. I kept thinking to myself, "Who is that?" Then it hit me. "It's Paul Hornung." Conner was running with the same upright, graceful gallop. His head was up and his eyes were searching. Hornung never gained a thousand yards in a season, but he left his mark on the game.

Rick from Madison, WI
This probably speaks to the fallibility of the human experience, however, why does it seem to be so difficult to maintain gap integrity? If that’s your gap assignment, why not stick with that? Same with looking the ball in before looking upfield.
It's difficult to maintain your gap assignment because someone is trying to push you out of it. Looking the ball in is also difficult because that noise you hear belongs to a man who wants to hit you and he is likely to arrive at the same time the ball does. Football is a game of human confrontation.

Mike from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, the Packers have always been about offense. Curly Lambeau was an innovator of the forward pass. Don Hutson dominated the league for a decade. Lombardi was an offensive guy and his best teams, the early teams, won with a dominant offense. During the dark ages of the '80's, the one bright spot was a great offense. Our best coaches have always been offensive guys. I guess that's just who we are. This has helped me embrace that and enjoy it.
You got it. The Packers' DNA favors offense.

Carlos from Portugal
Vic, I agree with you, the Love pick is a head-scratcher. Do you think it had something to do with Covid; in the eventuality of a giant cut in revenue, the Packers needed a QB in a rookie deal ready to play?
I don't think that's it. I think Brian Gutekunst fell in love with Love and didn't want to regret not having picked him. The Jaguars passed on Roethlisberger and Rodgers because the Jags didn't need a quarterback. Then, when they needed one, there was a drought at the position. The Packers are nearing the day they'll need to replace Rodgers. That's a scary thought and I think it scared Gutekunst into picking Love.

Ryan from Bloomer, WI
I keep waiting for a day to see a superstar athletic punter. Can you indulge us with a list of your favorite punters and can you paint a picture of Ray Guy for someone who never saw him play?
I don't have a list of favorite punters. Guy reminded me of a man who had a whip for a right leg. Reggie Roby had a battering ram for a right leg. Whatever it takes, right?

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Cletus from Washington, DC
What happened within these three teams over the course of a few weeks that allowed the Packers to beat the Saints, the Bucs to beat the Packers and the Saints to steamroll the Bucs? They all had their star quarterbacks on hand.
The Browns beat the Cowboys 49-38 when the Cowboys still had Dak Prescott, the Steelers beat the Browns 38-7 and then the Steelers had to rally to beat the Cowboys when their quarterback was a guy from one of those leagues that stopped playing because they ran out of money to buy chinstraps. Don't try to understand it. It's just the ebb and flow of the season.

Robert from Chicago, IL
Since QB is easier to play than ever, do you think teams will or should have much less patience with their franchise QB?
When you draft a guy as high as the Bears drafted Trubisky, you have to give him every chance to succeed, but not one chance more. Get 'em good or get 'em gone.

Steven from Doctors Inlet, FL
I think that under Wayne Weaver the Jaguars were all about Tom Coughlin and his toughness approach. When Mr. Weaver sold the team to Shad Khan, it was supposedly written into the deal the Jaguars had to stay in Jacksonville. Mr. Khan seems to be doing everything but that. All of his projects have nothing to do with winning, which is the only thing that will keep the team here. I am a founding season ticket owner and have almost lost interest. This owner has no personality with the team. Is it possible while his investment is growing the team is neglected? Is there something diabolical going on?
Ultimately, owners are judged by the same standard coaches are judged: wins and losses. In a league that pools its revenues and shares its player costs, there are no have nots, only haves. There's only one reason for losing: incompetence. The Jaguars are headed for another reset. It'll further define the Khan era of Jaguars football.

David from Laxa, Sweden
Hello! I follow you for a long time and I want to thank you for teaching me so much and giving me some level-headed material to read in such a crazy time. I wanted to ask: If receivers are a dime a dozen, do the Packers not have a dime left?
OK, let's sort through this. Davante Adams thinks he's the best receiver in the league. He was the 53rd pick of his draft. I'm not Brian Gutekunst's PR man nor am I his apologist, but I can understand why he put a priority on premium positions in his first three drafts. The Packers need new blood at the core positions or the franchise will go dark when Rodgers retires. The Gary pick doesn't look great right now and the Love pick is a head-scratcher, but I understand Gutekunst's sense of urgency. Wide receiver? He could've picked D.K. Metcalf in 2019, but then you wouldn't have Elgton Jenkins. This year, the first wide receiver drafted after the Packers selected A.J. Dillon was 19 picks later. Chase Claypool instead of Jordan Love? OK, but Claypool would've been a major reach at pick No. 26; he was selected 23 picks later. I think you have to be fair to Gutekunst. He's trying to address major roster issues the outcome of which will decide the Packers' future. Wide receiver is a position easily addressed. Quarterbacks and big guys are not a dime a dozen. When Rodgers is on his game, the receivers are good enough.

Jared from Rigby, ID
Vic, what are your thoughts on how teams have to report injuries? Would you change anything?
I think the NFL is doing an outstanding job of promoting transparency among its teams. I think it's critical to the credibility of the league. Coaches won't volunteer information; they must be required to provide information. College football is the example of how not to do it. The coaches are allowed to hide everything, which is especially bad during these Covid times. Fans deserve to know. So does the media in its attempts to help provide information and perspective to its readers. To not provide information opens the door to inside information for gamblers, and that's a connection no sports league wants.

Jack from Middleton, WI
What's another example of a spirit waiting to be discovered?
We're getting a little goofy about this spirit of place thing. It's just a philosophy, not a fact. I brought it up because I find it interesting, but in a very broad way. It should not be put under the microscope or used as an excuse or explanation. Barry Alvarez was a perfect fit for Wisconsin and I get the sense from listening to Alvarez it wasn't according to some grand plan or design. What I would say in answering your question is: How many college football programs fail to tap into their spirit and true personality because they don't connect with their history and their fans. Syracuse has a coach who believes in Baylor-like offense. At a school that produced Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Larry Csonka and Floyd Little? It's square peg in a round hole stuff. I think it's important to play to your tradition because that's your personality and spirit of place. It's who you are and what you are when you're at your best. The Packers' truest tradition is their love affair between the players and the fans. That's the base ingredient in the Packers' connection with spirit of place and the team has been vigilant in maintaining that connection. The first question when interviewing prospective head coaches must be: How do you feel about players riding kids' bikes?

Ben from Avon, IN
I think Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches and talent evaluators of all time and Tom Brady may be the greatest QB ever. Why did they think it was necessary to constantly cheat?
It's the frog and the scorpion.

Gabe from Chapel Hill, NC
What is Jacksonville's spirit of place?
Jacksonville is neither Florida nor Georgia; it's Jacksonville. It's where the old South and the new South meet. People think of Jacksonville as a beach town, but downtown Jacksonville is 14 miles inland and I suspect the majority of people who live at the beach aren't from Jacksonville and have allegiances to other places. Jacksonville is a tough, gritty, largely misunderstood place in pursuit of the respect it's never been afforded. That's how I see Jacksonville. That's its spirit of place and that's the personality I would attempt to acquire for the Jaguars if I owned that football team. Stop trying to be Miami. Be Jacksonville! Be unique. Put one teal stripe down the middle of that helmet and get back to playing the kind of hard-edged defense the Jaguars did in 2017.

Braden from Milwaukee, WI
Should the PGA limit new technology that allows certain players to hit the ball farther?
The bigger question is this:  Is the PGA and the USGA willing to see courses such as Augusta and Oakmont become obsolete?

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
I'm slightly surprised you're pulling for the Jaguars to tank, but what fan/retired senior editor with interest could seriously be pulling for wins right now? The positive? Home games vs. the Browns and the Bears look like the only games the Jaguars won't be double-digit underdogs. The negative? I'm struggling to find a win on the Jets' remaining schedule. Just lose, baby!
Buddy Parker said one day the Steelers would get lucky and it would last 10 years. Then came the 1970 draft and the Steelers won a coin flip for the first overall draft pick, which the Steelers used to pick Terry Bradshaw. The "Immaculate Reception"  and four Super Bowl titles followed. The Jaguars need a little luck.

Ray from Jacksonville, FL
Big Ben is one of the most underrated QBs in NFL history? From the Jaguars' perspective, he's just another guy, as in just another guy they could have had at the position. Add him to the list of MVPs Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Oh, yeah, Deshaun Watson, too. Oh, well, all those catches by 2004 top 10 pick Reggie Williams will have to be enough for Jags fans. So sad.
You're forgetting Aaron Rodgers.

Dan from Marshfield, WI
Which receivers in today's game could have played and excelled in the NFL prior to 1978?
It would be receivers big enough, strong enough and fast enough to beat bump-and-run coverage, tough enough to take an El Kabong hit over the middle, come back from a devastating head shot and concussion to be the MVP of the Super Bowl two weeks later, and have the feet to tip-toe along the sideline and the hands to snag laser passes on a cold day without the aid of stick-um gloves. When you've found that player, let me know who he is. They weren't a dime a dozen back then.

Matthew from Las Vegas, NV
Much has been made about how the Packers don't value inside linebackers. Is that part of the reason their run defense is regularly bad, or am I over-complicating what is a lack of talent in stopping the run?
Good defense requires rushing the passer, defending against the pass and stopping the run. In 2018, the Packers drafted to defend against the pass. In '19, they drafted and used free agency to rush the passer. In '21, a year after a futures quarterback pick, I would expect the Packers to draft to stop the run. If that doesn't complete the puzzle on defense, criticism will be deserved.

David from Seattle, WA
Are the Vikings capable of finishing the season 6-2? Their schedule doesn’t seem too tough. Do you think 9-7 might qualify for a seven seed?
Seven seed? No. Eight seed? Yes. The Packers and the Vikings could play again. Wouldn't that be interesting? For whom does the horn blow? It blows for thee.

Mike from Tuscaloosa, AL
What was your takeaway from Super Bowl XIV?
Dash 30 dash.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Here are my all-important Week 10 power rankings:
1. Chiefs -- Mahomes can't be stopped.
2. Steelers -- Three in a row on the road.
3. Ravens -- Won with defense.
4. Saints -- Playing as well as anyone.
5. Bills -- Statement win vs. Seahawks.
6. Seahawks -- Russell Wilson and not much else.
7. Titans -- Stop Henry, stop the Titans.
8. Bucs -- Brady looking old.
9. Packers -- Bye week vs. Jaguars.
10. Raiders -- Put on your mask!
11. Colts -- Rivers needs to step up at Titans.
12. Dolphins -- Team on the rise.
13. Cardinals -- Will o' the wisp.
14. Rams -- Must-win game vs. Seahawks.
15. Browns -- Hangin' around.
16. Bears -- They could fall apart.
17. Panthers -- Play hard, lose hard.
18. Eagles -- In control of NFC East.
19. 49ers -- Decimated.
20. Vikings -- Must win in Chicago.
21. Lions -- Not a contender.
22. Broncos -- Franchise in sleep mode.
23. Patriots -- At a crossroads.
24. Chargers -- Maybe next year.
25. Bengals -- Steelers beware.
26. Falcons -- Winning is losing.
27. Giants -- If they get hot ...
28. Washington -- Alex Smith is a nice story.
29. Cowboys -- Now what?
30. Texans -- Lack of effort.
31. Jaguars -- Please, don't win.
32. Jets -- How can they be this bad?

Dave from Savage, MN
In the '70's and '80's, there was a thought by some the Dolphins had an unfair advantage because Don Shula was a leader on the competition committee. Did Chuck Noll and the Steelers have any opinions on this? Did you?
Coach Noll and Coach Shula were best of friends, to the degree Shula called Noll for a draft-day recommendation on Dan Marino. I remember the day in the summer of 1978, just before training camp began, when Coach Noll did a tutorial for a few reporters who were hanging out in the Steelers' offices, on the new rules changes. Coach Noll used a league training film starring Coach Shula. At the conclusion of the film, Coach Noll told us these rules changes were going to change the game, and they did. I never suspected Coach Shula of anything sinister. My suspicions were reserved for Al Davis.

Ben from Phoenix, AZ
Have you had a chance to see Herbert play for the Chargers? Every year, there seems to be some great passers available.
It's never been easier to play quarterback.

Joseph from Killeen, TX
Homefield advantage will definitely be different from years past without fans. I don't believe this defense that's built for a shootout would fare well in the cold against a bruising running back. Could you make the argument, this year only, the Packers would be better on the road somewhere warmer or indoors?
That theory has existed throughout the Rodgers years. Yeah, the Packers have the look of a dome team.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
The Packers and Badgers are from the same place. Why the difference in approach?
Barry Alvarez is from Western Pa. and played at Nebraska for Bob Devaney. He was steeped in run-the-ball/stop-the-run tradition and then brought it to Wisconsin. Now it's part of the school's spirit of place. A few years ago, Alvarez spoke at Packers all-org day. He explained how his run-the-ball vision was a perfect fit for Wisconsin's recruiting ground, so you might even say it was a spirit waiting to be discovered.

Leo from Dallas, TX
Related to the fans/team personality discussion, I was very upset when my alma mater Georgia Tech stopped running the triple option. GT is a STEM school, so the idea the machine is simple and works if you use it right fit right in. Now we're just another spread offense team.
Good thought.

Larry from Syracuse, NY
During the Dolphins-Cardinals broadcast (I think it was that game), there was a fourth-and-short late in the game. The broadcaster mentioned something to the effect, "This is where these coaches earn their paycheck," referring to the decision to go for the first down or kick. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Obviously making good decisions during the game is important, but how much of that do coaches actually get evaluated for? Do front offices and owners still look more into how he leads the team and gets them prepared, or are they really starting to evaluate a coach as the common fan does, where they just see a coach as a play caller?
I get what you're saying, but those short-yardage decisions decide the outcomes of games and, ultimately, the futures of the coaches who make those decisions. I'll use the last two Steelers games as an example. In Dallas, the Steelers faced a fourth-and-one deep in Cowboys territory. Mike Tomlin decided to go for the first down instead of attempting a field goal that could've given the Steelers an eight-point lead. The play was stuffed. If the Steelers had converted, they could've taken a knee and it was game over. Instead, they found themselves having to defend the length of the field and break up a pass at the goal line to clinch the win. The previous week, it was a third-and-two. The run was stuffed and the Steelers had to break up a pass at the goal line to clinch the win. These late-game short-yardage plays are critical. Don't underestimate their importance.

Brett from Marietta, GA
Vic, the site's still enjoyable, still entertaining and informative, but it was a tad better when readers could comment. Any chance once the election cycle comes to a close and the vitriol dies down from a rolling boil to a simmer you'd be willing to let us (comment)? You can always take the car keys away if we can't handle the freedom and responsibility of driving.
I'll consider it.

Renaud from Paris, France
I'm a French Packers fan since I discovered football about 10 years ago. But since I love physical football, and just watched "The Deer Hunter" for at least the 12th time, should I buy myself a yellow towel?
What would the Green Beret tell you to do?

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
Would the Steelers have won as many or possibly more Super Bowls with Big Ben instead of Bradshaw?
It's a valid question and here's why: Roethlisberger is a run-the-ball quarterback who often plays his best football at crunch time. He would've fit perfectly in the '70's game. With his fourth-quarter comeback this past Sunday, Roethlisberger tied Johnny Unitas for fourth place on the all-time list of fourth-quarter-comeback quarterbacks. Peyton Manning leads with 43, then comes Tom Brady with 38 and Drew Brees with 36. Behind Roethlisberger and Unitas are Marino with 33 and John Elway with 31. Bradshaw was 4-0 in Super Bowls and I revere his penchant for having played his best football in the postseason, but I won't dismiss what Roethlisberger has accomplished. He might be the most underrated quarterback in NFL history.

​"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your thoughts on the Steelers-Cowboys game?
My first thought was this one is on the "Shade Man." I chuckled when I read his email. Chortling will do it every time. As for the Steelers, this was their third consecutive road game. They were coming off physically and emotionally draining wins in Tennessee and Baltimore. I'll give them a pass for being sluggish, and I'll applaud their grit in getting the win. I'll especially applaud "Big Ben" for playing big at crunch time. He added to his fourth-quarter comeback record, which is one of the best in NFL history, and he did it on one-and-a-half legs. I'll also applaud Mike McCarthy for having his team emotionally and schematically ready to play. The Cowboys were better prepared than the Steelers, in all three phases of the game, especially on special teams. The Steelers looked tired. I have no doubt Mike Tomlin will address it.

Keith from Roanoke, VA
This may be a meaningless year for football, but boy were there some fun games on Sunday. Which was your favorite and why?
I continue to like what I see from the Carolina Panthers. Matt Rhule is a great coaching hire and he has the Panthers on the rise. They nearly took down the Chiefs on Sunday, and it's not as though the Chiefs were off their game. Mahomes was on fire.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, watching the new sixth-round rookie, it was apparent he is very raw but has a much stronger arm than Minshew. It also became apparent this team likely won’t win another game this season. Just preparing myself and hoping to see some growth in our younger guys, although I don’t have much confidence in the development skills of our current staff. I’m past being angry and just watching.
Thanks for not asking me if Luton is "The Man." The Jaguars must avoid winning another game. They need the first pick of the draft and the choices it offers.

John from Racine, WI
Apparently winning is good enough for the Dolphins.
I'm impressed.

Jackson from Minneapolis, MN
Vic, I want to start by saying thank you. Your column has brought me so much joy over the years. I truly value your insight and I have a great respect for you as a person. I keep reading the phrase "point of attack" and I'm ashamed to admit I don't really know what this term means.
It's where blocker and defender meet.

Ricky from Connecticut
Vic, I'm starting to buy more and more into your thoughts on how “mindset” of the fan base somehow feeds into what the team itself focuses on. Can you explain or give more detail about this self-fulfilling prophecy theory of yours?
It's known as spirit of place. I believe in it.

John from Seattle, WA
I remember as a kid when replay review and challenges were just starting to become a thing and you cautioned us it would take away the human element of the game. At the time, I balked at your human element. You mean getting calls wrong? No thanks! Boy, have I come around on that view. Watching Clemson/Notre Dame Saturday, and seeing an otherwise entertaining game get stalled and ruined by incessant replay review; I finally turned it off. Will we ever see the tide turn in this replay obsessive sports culture?
Replay review is here to stay. Look at it from a positive standpoint: You get two plays in one; the real play and then the correction.

Pete from Cedaredge, CO
Vic, I've been faithfully reading you since your days with the Jags; first time I've asked a question. We see teams like the Steelers and Packers, both you've also covered, have sustained periods of success. Why haven't the Jaguars had the same?
The answer lies at the quarterback position and in the draft. When Mark Brunell was in his prime years, the Jaguars had a nice run of winning. Brunell was one of the league's top quarterbacks and the Jaguars drafted star-quality players, such as Tony Boselli, Tony Brackens and Fred Taylor. The Jaguars also spent heavily in free agency, which ultimately led to the team's demise, but the point is the Jaguars had a star quarterback and a lot of talent around him. In my opinion, the draft is the second half of the answer to your question because drafting well is how you sustain winning. None of the Jaguars' first-round picks between 2010 and 2017 are with the team and several of those players were busts. The Packers are in a similar situation between 2010 and 2015, but the Packers were drafting near the bottom of the order and they have an iconic quarterback. In contrast, the Steelers have five first-round picks between 2010 and 2017 who are playing at a star-quality level, and Ryan Shazier would make it six other than for his injury. Stability at quarterback and long-term drafting success are the ingredients for sustained success.

Wayne from Beavercreek, OH
Vic, do you own any game jerseys?
No, I own memories.

Jason from Peyton, CO
In the pregame for Thursday night, Bradshaw said Tom Brady would not have let the Packers lose to the Vikings. He said it was because Rodgers basically just sat there and watched while the team played like crap. How do you feel about that statement? To me, jumping around and yelling, if that isn't who you are, means nothing. Rodgers has never been that guy.
Bradshaw often says stuff on TV he doesn't believe. He's an entertainer and he says stuff for effect. What was Rodgers going to do, yell at the defense for getting gashed by Dalvin Cook? Bradshaw knows Joe Greene and Jack Lambert wouldn't have tolerated a member of the offense scolding the Steelers defense. I can't remember Greene and Lambert not being supportive of the offense. "How'd you like our quarterback?" Joe would ask reporters on Bradshaw's good days. Jumping up and down and yelling fixes nothing. Just do your job, and that was a Nollism long before it became Bill Belichick's mantra. Rodgers did his job against the Vikings. The defense didn't do its.

Taylor from Amarillo, TX
With the Thursday night game being lopsided, I tried to specifically watch Gary on every play I could find him. I saw little impact either in the run game or rushing the passer. Is he a young player still developing, looking like a bad pick, making a bigger impact than what I can see from home?
Rashan Gary is beginning to remind me of Datone Jones at the same stages of their careers. It can change quickly. Give it more time.

John from Saint Augustine, FL
Would you pay a guy like Larry Fitzgerald or Julio Jones, given that other (less talented but still good) receivers are everywhere?
Yes. The Steelers re-signed Hines Ward, but allowed Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El to leave in free agency. They re-signed Antonio Brown, but allowed Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders to leave in free agency. The point is you can't keep everybody. In the free agency era, you have to be willing to allow players to leave. It's a game of replacement and wide receiver is a position at which replacement is easiest. Dime a dozen.

Loftur from Columbus, OH
I think it's pretty clear the Jaguars will clean house after the season. The two most intriguing head coaching candidates in my mind are Eric Bieniemy and Joe Brady. Which one of them would you prefer?
I know nothing more about Brady than he's a good play-caller. Is that what you want in a head coach? A good play-caller? In my opinion, the Jaguars need a leader of men. They need a stable and strong personality that can provide direction for the future and become the soul and heartbeat of the franchise. Bieniemy has a reputation for being strong-willed and possessing leadership qualities. The Jaguars should pursue that kind of coach.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Does 30 years of Hall of Fame QB play engrain passing into the Packers' DNA or is it something more inherent?
Sure it does. That's called evolution. Packers fans cheer pass completions at training camp. Steelers fans created a traffic jam on Route 30 on the first day of full-pads practice because they knew it was Oklahoma day. It's in each fan base's DNA as a result of evolution.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Brian from Stafford, VA
Vic, given all the players out of the game last night, what, if anything, can you take away from the outcome?
The Packers overwhelmed the 49ers. The Packers played Packers-type football. I think they needed a game that would allow them to return to their identity.

Dillon from Melbourne, FL
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think we can learn anything about the Packers from this game, considering the 49ers looked like a college team with almost all of their starters out.
We saw confirmation of what we already knew: When Rodgers overmatches the opposing quarterback, the Packers win big.

Chad from Kansas City, MO
Beating up on a beat up team. Didn’t really look good doing it. Yawn.
Would you rather the Packers have lost? They did what they're paid to do. The Packers get another soft opponent next week and, frankly, the remaining schedule isn't real challenging. This is a weird year because I'm not sure playing for homefield advantage in the playoffs is meaningful.

Josh from Wilmington, DE
If I see one more sprint left option I’m going to puke. It was fourth and an inch.
I didn't like it either.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Do you consider Troy Aikman to be a member of the jockocracy? He sets himself apart.
Yeah, he's a member of the jockocracy, but Aikman has fully embraced his media role and I think that's what sets former players such as himself and Cris Collinsworth apart from the former players who never seem to stop being players. Just one word of advice to Aikman: Please stop with the "Rodgers, he."

Brady from Milwaukee, WI
A few years back, I had asked you whether there are any wide receivers who you’d say are special (given that you mention receivers are dime a dozen). At the time, you said Antonio Brown, but that he was a sixth-round pick so “what does that tell you?” I thought it would be a good time to ask again: Are there any receivers in the game today who are truly special (and not dime a dozen)? If so, what skills/traits make a receiver more than dime a dozen?
You're confusing talent with supply. There are several wide receivers who are special, and that's why they're a dime a dozen. Tyreek Hill is special, but he was a fifth-round pick. Again, what's that tell you?

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
Can you disguise the same play by putting players in different spots?
You're describing one of Mike McCarthy's philosophies of offense: "Less volume, more creativity." The jet sweep motion is a perfect example of how motion in one direction can cause an advantage in an another direction. The jet sweep action demands the defense respect the horizontal motion, creating a vertical advantage for the inside running game. Steelers quarterbacks coach Matt Canada is the master of the jet sweep motion. The Steelers' running game has benefited greatly from it.

Jim from Nevada
What was your experience like the first time you voted and how did it feel?
I voted for the first time in 1972. By mail, I voted for George McGovern. I don't remember it being a special feeling.

Jamie from Thunder Bay, Ontario
How does a team acquire its DNA and, more importantly, how does it overcome it?
DNA is my way of describing a franchise's identity and personality. The Packers throw the ball. The Steelers have long been known for hard-nosed defense. How does a team acquire its DNA? In the Steelers' case, the Rooneys are Pittsburghers who have a feel for what Pittsburgh football fans want. The Steelers are a reflection of their fans. From the five seasons I spent covering the Packers, I get the sense the Packers are a reflection of their fans. I'll never forget how the fans at training camp cheered every pass completion, even if it was against air. Overcome your DNA? In the Steelers' and Packers' cases, why would they want to change their identity? They are very successful franchises with huge fan bases.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, which current or past QB in the NFL does Trey Lance remind you of?
Donovan McNabb.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
If the Packers secondary is so good, why do they play so much nickel and dime?
All teams play nickel and dime, which are defensive schemes determined by the number of wide receivers the offense is employing. You don't cover five with four, right?

​"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Here are my all-important Week 9 power rankings:
1. Chiefs -- They're the champs.
2. Steelers -- Big Ben big at crunch time.
3. Seahawks -- Wilson MVP favorite.
4. Ravens -- Showdown of 5-2 teams in Indy.
5. Bucs -- Week 9 showdown with Saints.
6. Saints -- Know how to win.
7. Titans -- Defense needs attention.
8. Raiders -- Critical stretch of schedule.
9. Colts -- Can Rivers take down the Ravens?
10. Packers -- More than a game in San Francisco.
11. Bills -- Not winning impressively.
12. Cardinals -- In position to make a run.
13. 49ers -- Struggling.
14. Rams -- Remember when McVay was a genius?
15. Browns -- Is Mayfield "The Man?"
16. Bears -- They need a laxative.
17. Panthers -- They play hard for Rhule.
18. Eagles -- Wentz is holding them back.
19. Lions -- One step forward, two steps back.
20. Dolphins -- It wasn't Tua.
21. Vikings -- Can they make a run?
22. Broncos -- Lock comes to life.
23. Patriots -- Could they lose to the Jets?
24. Chargers -- Just can't figure it out.
25. Bengals -- More wins on the way.
26. Falcons -- Justin Fields would be a good pick.
27. Giants -- Best 1-7 team in the league.
28. Washington -- Wandering aimlessly.
29. Texans -- Poor J.J. Watt.
30. Cowboys -- Too late to tank for the top pick.
31. Jaguars -- Might be last chance to win.
32. Jets -- Gase vs. Belichick.

Richard from Boulder, CO
I noticed you did not include Tom Coughlin on your list of great talent evaluators. Would you include him on your list of good talent evaluators or somewhat farther down the scale?
I didn't include Bill Cowher, either, and Cowher was an outstanding evaluator of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. What I said is all coaches have to be good evaluators of talent because that's what's required to scheme personnel; create and avoid mismatches. Tom Coughlin was a one-voice coach/GM in Jacksonville. His draft picks included Tony Boselli, Tony Brackens, Fred Taylor, Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. He also traded for Mark Brunell and signed Jimmy Smith as a street free agent. Tom was an outstanding evaluator of talent. His blemishes as a GM were the result of his impatience and mania to address need. He once said to me, "The draft is all about need." He saw me wince. Tom needed a defensive tackle and a cornerback heading into the 1999 season, and he spent six of his eight picks in that draft on those two positions.

Mike from Indiana
Vic, you've criticized those who complain about Pettine, saying, in short, it comes down to players. How, then, should a defensive coordinator be judged? Does it take more football knowledge than I have to know whether or not a unit is under or over-performing, based on the talent they have?
If you can watch Za'Darius Smith run around blocks and not understand why the Packers can't stop the run, then the answer to your question is yes, it does. Be that as it may, Pettine is not without blame. He signed off on the acquisition of Za'Darius Smith. Pettine was all out to improve the pass rush and, in the process, he worsened an already bad run defense. I think Pettine is the victim of the belief he could draw it up; he could scheme to stop the run. He should've known better.

Pete from Los Angeles, CA
Am I incorrect that this is a rebuild, with the goal being a post-Rodgers team of a different character? The lack of moves and the draft seem to be yelling this, yet, the fan base acts like it's all supposed to happen now.
It's a rebuild and the quarterback is screwing it up because he's so good he's keeping the Packers at the bottom of the draft order.

Mark from Sturgeon Bay, WI
In a column about Herb Adderley passing, it was mentioned that in his book he said Tom Landry would rather play white players, even if the (black) player was better. Do you recall that dynamic and, if so, was it prevalent back in the late '60's early '70's?
The color line in college football in the South existed through the '60's. Landry might've faced pressure to favor white players. It all changed in the early '70's. It was a time of social unrest; I lived it at Kent State. Young people protested everything from the war to social injustice, and the walls came tumbling down. Adderley's career ended as equality was beginning.

Sam from Olathe, KS
Why can't Jim Harbaugh win rivalry games or bowl games that matter at Michigan?
He's being out-recruited.

Zahir from London, UK
Do you think the 49ers will throw it fewer than eight times on Thursday night?
These aren't the same 49ers the Packers faced twice last season. Garoppolo is injured, Kittle is out, Bosa is gone; I'm not sure what to expect.

Jonathan from Southern Pines, NC
I know your inbox is going to be full of crying Packers fans, but how about those Pittsburgh Steelers? All last year you seemed to throw nothing but shade at them. Even going 8-8 with an incredible defense and ducks and reindeers at quarterback. This year it's been, oh Tennessee, oh Baltimore, big boy football. Well the Steelers have whipped both of them in back-to-back weeks. Ready to stop throwing shade or is what they've done not good enough for you?
Throw shade? You are soft and whiny. The Steelers are not soft and whiny.

Brian from Neenah, WI
Thank you for allowing me to join your fraternity. Your column brings me great joy. Here is a quote I read I wanted to share with you. "The past may win for awhile, but the future always gets the last word." Change is good.
The future is for living. The past is for reliving.

Rob from Superior, CO
What's the most important thing you thought about when you woke up this morning?
I had a bad day at the range on Monday. I thought about it all night. Then it came to me in the wee hours: You're not setting your right shoulder low enough. After I voted, I went straight to the range. It was the right shoulder. If you don't set it low enough, you can't swing under your chin, only around it. I instantly felt better.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, it's not who you play but when you play them?
There's some truth to that.

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
What's your take on Belichick's "sell out for Super Bowls" comment? is it a fair assessment?
The Patriots made all of the right moves. They rode the train as long as they could. Rebuilding is inevitable. Did fans actually think the Patriots would continue to win without Brady?

Clay from Council Bluffs, IA
Why do you feel Green Bay got away from running the ball after the first half? Their pass-to-run ratio was pretty even and they were moving the ball.
It's not in the Packers' DNA to stick to the run.

Bill from Forest Park, OH
You gave us your suggestion for how the Packers can manage their defense for the rest of this season. What is the longer-term solution? Do they just need to draft guys who can tackle?
It's about more than tackling. It's about defeating or beating blocks. If you're playing a two-gapping front, your linemen are asked to hold the point of attack and eat blocks to keep blockers off the linebackers and allow them to run to the ball. If you're playing a gap-control scheme, your down linemen are attempting to penetrate the gaps and disrupt the flow of the play. Each member of the front seven is assigned a gap responsibility; they're called run fits. When I watch the Packers, I see a mix of the two schemes, but sometimes I'm not sure which one they're playing. I don't see a run-defense personality. Kenny Clark can play either scheme. I don't know what the rest of them are playing.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Greg from Princeton, MN
Help is not on the way, so what can the Packers do to improve their run defense?
There's scheme stuff you can try. You can stunt your linemen, but if you do too much of it you'll run the risk of getting creased. You can play more of a penetrate and disrupt gap-control scheme, but you put a lot of pressure on your linebackers in that scheme and I don't think the Packers have the linebackers for that tactic. You can get a safety up into the box, which the Packers are already doing, but if you do too much of it you run the risk of getting beat deep with the pass. In my mind, the best strategy for the Packers is to run the ball, convert third down and dominate time of possession so they can keep that defense off the field. It's been a winning strategy for the Packers most of this season.

Nick from Milwaukee, WI
What brings a smile to your face nowadays?
Seeing an over-achieving tough guy such as Robert Spillane, his arm a painful pink from a slide across the turf, making big plays and hitting everything he can reach. He's just a guy, and that's what makes it feel so good. I love the tough guys. Google "Spillane-Alexander collision." It'll bring a smile to your face, too.

Greg from Danbury, CT
A defense built for a shootout is a fine idea if you can get the last shot off.
Cris Collinsworth had the line of the year and some people didn't get it.

Graham from Green Bay, WI
The Packers' run defense looked suspect again this week, sadly, and help isn't on the way. In your experiences, what does a defense being called soft need to do to stiffen up? Have you covered a team that was able to turn their defense around midseason?
Yes, the 2003 Jaguars, but they had two defensive tackles, Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, who were the 13th and ninth picks of their drafts. Brian Gutekunst has to fix this problem. He's focused on rush and cover. The Packers need less flash and more crash.

Dusty from Waunakee, WI
Should offensive line be the biggest concern of the Green Bay Packers this offseason?
Big, tough guys on both sides of the ball should be the focus. You'll never regret picking them.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Watching the Packers attempting to play defense is a perfect time to remind ourselves of Einstein’s definition of insanity. The real question, however, might be, who is insane? Is it the defensive coaches and GMs who clearly haven't had an approach worth mentioning for most of the past 20 years? Or is it the fans who tune in every Sunday for the past 20 years and expect something different?
Or is it the sports writer who keeps writing the same thing over and over and expecting a different question.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Fourteen pass attempts. Can you name that tune?
What did I write for the Vikings in my all-important power rankings? "It's hammer time." That's the name of that tune.

John from Green Bay, WI
Being a football fan is brutal. I think I’m done with it.
OK.

John from Yakima, WA
High winds equal "big boy football."
He'll knock you 'round and upside down,
And laugh when he's conquered and won.

Dave from Chippewa Falls, WI
We are losing too many of the important people from my childhood. Great team, great characters, great moment in time; 87, 89, 26 were my favorites and all played on the same defense. I think I need to watch some clips.
Reliving is better than living.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Why isn't football attractive internationally like baseball and basketball?
American football is uniquely violent to Americans.

Sam from Olathe, KS
You're certainly winning the debate of whether it was Belichick's coaching or Brady's skill, but I think people forget what makes Belichick so great: Belichick is the general manager. Very few people can be great general managers and great coaches. Many coaches want X but the general manager gives them Y. Belichick is unique in he can scout the players and anticipate how they can play with his style of coaching to get the most out of them. I'm sure that factors into his decisions. He's great at evaluating the upside he can harness in people. A recruit's raw potential is only good if you know you can tap into it. Anyways, do you know any other great coaches who were also great at scouting?
How's that general manager thing working for Belichick this year? Does that look like a strong roster to you? All of a sudden, Julian Edelman is just a guy. Yeah, I know of lots of coaches who are great evaluators of talent. Chuck Noll, Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, Jimmy Johnson and Sid Gillman were all great evaluators of talent. Everything I've read about Vince Lombardi suggests he was a great evaluator of talent. All coaches have to be great evaluators of talent because they have to create matchup advantages. Bill Belichick has always been the master of patching, but Tom Brady made it work.

Travis from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, after you mentioned the chuck rule I did a quick Google search to learn a little bit more about the history and reasoning behind it. Surprisingly, one of the first results was an "Ask Vic" column from 2011. I ended up reading the whole thing. In that column you mentioned mementos from your time covering all three teams, then said, "The idea is one day I can shut it down, surround myself with these mementos and make it all about the heart." I hope it's all about the heart for you now as you enjoy retirement.
It's certainly not about the money, and it feels great.

Jack from Middleton, WI
What happens when you mute the game?
I feel a sense of calm come over me. I return to the quiet of the press box.

Josh from Severna Park, MD
Vic, I just read a great article on the Bengals/Oilers 61-7 game and all the animosity between Glanville and the rest of the coaches in the AFC Central. You had a front row seat during that time. Any stories relating to Coach Noll and Coach Glanville?
Everybody knows about the infamous handshake, so I won't go there. One of my favorite memories from that time is from the pregame introductions for a game at Three Rivers Stadium: "Coach Gary Grandview and the remainder of the Houston Oilers," the PA man said. Those were fun times! "Handshake Sam" was fussing over not getting a handshake from Coach Noll, and then telling Bengals fans they don't live in Cleveland. After Gary Anderson's overtime field goal beat the Oilers in the 1989 playoffs, Coach Noll gently removed his headset and dropped it to the ground as though it was radioactive. It's the little things that mean so much to me.

Dave from Savage, MN
Maryland's social media person talks trash after winning their first game in nine Big Ten games. Oklahoma State projects vertical yellow lines on the video board behind the goal posts during an opponent's field goal attempt. I can't even imagine someone thinking that stuff is appropriate. How can we expect people to be able to get along in important matters when this is acceptable in insignificant college football games?
What price dignity?

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your final thoughts on the eve of the election?
I think half of the country will be happy and the other half will be angry. Please, everyone, be advised this column will not permit taunting as a result of the election's outcome. The time for talk is over. It's time to vote and get back to the business of being a unified nation.