Packers surprise team of the season

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

Jason from Austin, TX
Vic, in today's NFL, of these choices, what would achieve greater success: top five offense/bottom five defense, top five defense/bottom five offense, middle of the pack for both?
If a top five offense includes balance between run and pass, it can overcome a bad defense with time of possession as well as by scoring a lot of points. Seattle was No. 8 on offense and No. 26 on defense last year. The Seahawks also had a No. 4 running game that gave them a time of possession advantage. The combination made Seattle a playoff team. Conversely, Pittsburgh was No. 5 on defense and No. 30 on offense with no running game, and despite being No. 5 in takeaways the Steelers didn't make it into the playoffs.

John from Kirkland, WA
Bryant from Shiocton, WI, has no idea what he's stating about polio. Rotary started Polio Plus about 35 years ago and vaccinated millions of children in developing countries and the only countries with cases now are Pakistan and Afghanistan (India and Africa are now polio free). His comments are a slap in the face to all of the volunteers who traveled the world to give the vaccine to kids (including very good friends of mine with different political alliances). Why would someone skewer disease eradication?
They're wacko?

Tyler from Augusta, GA
Vic, please describe your first experience on Edisto Island.
I don't remember a first experience but I remember knowing very quickly, "This is the place."

Adam from Wausau, WI
Obviously, there was a big change in the black vote after 1960. From 1964-2016, Republicans averaged 10 percent of the black vote with 15 percent being the highest. If Trump receives 16 percent of the black vote, will you still swim Scott Creek?
There was no qualifying remark. The bet's off. By the way, anybody who looks at those numbers and doesn't think race is the No. 1 election issue is too ashamed to admit it. We are clearly a country divided by race.

Nick from Charlottesville, VA
Can the risk of injury be avoided with better/different technique, or is it just bad luck?
It's football. Injury is guaranteed. That's why predictions and expectations are so meaningless. Nobody predicts injury, even though it's inevitable.

Jim from Chicago, IL
Gale Sayers couldn't be encompassed in a single memory, but could you try?
I have a singular memory of Sayers. I saw him play one time, in the 1967 season opener at Pitt Stadium. The first time the Bears touched the ball, Sayers returned the kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown.

Tom from Wauwatosa, WI
What does GM Vic do with Aaron Jones?
I try to sign him, but not to a contract that would do to my team what Todd Gurley's contract did to the Rams. It has to be a contract that makes sense or I'll find another running back.

John from USA
"The experience left me deep in thought." Have you volunteered again since? Because the liberal mindset loves to think of the victims without acting to change. Unless they can loot some high-end merchandise in the name of the cause.
I'm a member of the Edisto Island Lions Club, whose members volunteer time for fund-raising events that benefit our island children. The Lions buy glasses for kids whose families can't afford them and annually sponsor the local elementary school's sixth grade field trip to Washington.

Mikey from Tallahassee, FL
What do you think about the league fining coaches for not properly masking up?
Good! How dare they think they're above wearing a mask, or that a football game is more important than public health.

Allen from Birmingham, AL
Vic, those of us who remember polio are appalled by the (callous remarks) regarding the Salk vaccine. I remember visiting with my father (a doctor) at the Crippled Children's Clinic and Hospital, an entire hospital devoted to children paralyzed by polio. The visit impressed me, and I still remember my Salk and Sabin vaccines with gratitude.
I'll never forget the kids on sticks. Every town in America had them.

Tim from Ocala, FL
Do you think seven wins is overly optimistic for (the Jags)? Or will the defense keep them at about five?
So, you're going to heighten expectations and invite disappointment? Why?

Derek from St. Paul, MN
So, I guess you would approve of baloney sandwiches for all of us. We should just strap in on Sunday night and wait for the inevitable to help us manage a soul-crushing performance? I believe FULL CONSISTENCY exists and will happen one day. Why not this week? I can't wait to bask in the glory. No baloney. Just win, baby!
I like to watch.

Aaron from Chesapeake, VA
Well, the charges have been dropped against Robert Kraft. What are your thoughts following this news?
As expected, the legal system failed us again. I'm more interested in the NFL's response.

Tom from Vista, CA
Do you personally write the all-important power rankings? It must be exhausting to write so many great hooks. The Chargers got unlucky! Who do you currently see as most surprising in the all-important rankings?
The Packers.

Chris from Jacksonville, FL
There seems to be a decrease in compassion and humility in our country. Can you talk about humbling experiences as a journalist?
There are those times when I interviewed someone who was speaking of an especially poignant or life-altering event. I remember interviewing a young man who had been struck in the head by a javelin. His speech was severely impaired. My questions were humble and measured.

Jamie from Thunder Bay, Ontario
Vic, what can the Packers learn from the Steelers’ defensive rebuild?
One player can make a change. Two players can change everything. It's not rush or cover. It's rush and cover.

Tracy from Sioux Falls, SD
Today my daughter called and told me she has Covid while she is in college. Does worrying ever lessen as you get older?
It gets worse.