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"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Jerry from Savannah, GA Vic, how do you like the color rush on Thursday nights? I liked the Vikings' uniforms last night. I like colorful uniforms. Craig from Cedarburg, WI Do you give the Badgers any chance of beating the Buckeyes? They have to run the ball, dominate time of possession and get some takeaways for them to have any chance of winning. Loftur from Columbus, OH Vic, you need to step into 2019 when it comes to your offensive and defensive rankings. Total yards is a completely useless stat! Context matters. Football Outsiders do great work in analyzing every play of every game and the actual effect the yards have. A 5 -yard run on third-and-12 isn't the same as a 5-yard run on third-and-two. This is all taken into account by them. Here are their rankings: Packers are third on offense (sixth run, fifth pass) and seventh on defense (19th run, sixth pass). Jaguars are 11th on offense (21st run, 10th pass) and 17th on defense (27th run, ninth pass). Steelers are 22nd on offense (24th run, 19th pass) and ninth on defense (15th run and 10th pass). These numbers tell me the Packers are very good across the board except in the least important part, rushing defense. The Jaguars have hope because of a decent offense, plus, being top 10 in passing and stopping the pass. The Steelers' plan of building their defense is working and it's a shame their offense lost Roethlisberger because who knows how good they would be there with him playing. OK. Lance from Phoenix, AZ I don't know what they put in the water in South Carolina. The statement "the two ones the Jaguars stole from the Rams" deserves ridicule. Jalen Ramsey is a top 10 player in the NFL and is on a rookie contract. The Rams will probably make the playoffs, making the first pick a bottom-half pick. They traded a top 10 player on his rookie contract for two bottom-half first-rounders. Vic, do not visit any used car dealerships in the future. OK. Vincent from Seattle, WA Vic, did you ever think you would see this flurry of in-season trades like we see this year in the NFL? It doesn't completely surprise me. It makes sense for a team needing to repair its roster and its salary cap, or for a team needing to patch a weakness, since the player's bonus amortization remains with the team that traded him. Provided the cost isn't too high, I think trading for a player is a better acquisition strategy than shopping in free agency, because it's cap friendly. Rafael from Freetown, Sierra Leone Vic, I see in your power rankings you use team names for all the teams except Washington, where you use the city instead of the name. Is it because you don`t agree with the approach of the owner in the battle over the team`s name? I don't like the idea of referring to a race of people according to the color of their skin. There are times I absent-mindedly use the name of Washington's team, and for that I apologize to those who might be offended, but please know my position on this issue favors changing the team name. Malcolm from Chicago, IL It's pretty apparent the Bears messed up drafting Trubisky so high. They could have gotten Mahomes instead. How long would you give Trubisky before you look for another QB? At times this past Sunday, I saw him favor his labrum injury; I suspect he's headed for labrum surgery. I wouldn't quit on him until he's healthy and he has a chance to hold onto his job. Be that as it may, I think the Bears need to consider all options in strengthening their quarterback position, including drafting one next spring. Dave from Savage, MN Were you around when the Steelers came up with their current uniform design? It seemed to be a big improvement back then and it still works for me now. Any stories around it? I liked the uniforms of my youth, which included a yellow helmet with a black stripe. The current uniforms evolved in the 1960's, triggered by adopting the steel logo in the early '60's. Steve from Graz, Austria Vic, I learned your job as a writer kept you from being a fan of a sports team, but what were your most intense fan experiences, both positive or negative, joyful or heartbreaking in your life. Mazeroski's home run in the 1960 World Series was my first and probably most joyful fan experience. I was nine years old and the '60 Pirates were my first love affair with a sports team. A couple of years later, my hometown's high school football team lost a game that broke my heart. I felt deep sadness for Packers fans following the crushing loss in Seattle in the 2014 NFC title game. Ryan from Green Bay, WI Vic, I will never be able to take a mainstream article about football seriously after reading your column. I read an article today about assistant coach of the year nominations and the top three contenders were San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, New Orleans’ defensive coordinator and Mike Pettine. It seems as though when you start to rack up first-round draft picks on one side of the ball, you become a better coach. Mainstream media is just fluff. Tell the real story. Players, not plays. Fred from Florida There is some hand-wringing amongst my fellow Jags fans about losing Jalen Ramsey. I think this is a great trade. From your comments I believe you do as well. Can you elaborate on your feelings. He lied to his teammates. He betrayed them. He walked out on them every bit as much as Antonio Brown walked out on the Steelers last season. It was over in Jacksonville for Ramsey. Betrayal is seldom forgiven and never forgotten. The Jaguars recovered full value and more for a player they had to move. Brent from Nova Scotia, Canada I feel as though the Packers are one player away from making a playoff push. What position would GM Vic choose or not choose to pursue with Saturday's trade deadline looming? They should pursue any player who would make the Packers a better team and whose cost wouldn't damage the team's future. Bob from Monticello Conte Otto, Italy Vic, what do you consider the optimum weather to attend an NFL game in the stands? Temperatures in the 50's, cloudy skies and no wind. Jacob from Green Bay, WI Everyone is talking about how good a job LaFleur has done this year. Not to discount what he’s done, but how much credit should be given to Nathaniel Hackett? Great credit should be given. Great credit was not given when Nathaniel's quarterback was Blake Bortles. Doug from Union Grove, WI You are at your funniest when you're serious. OK. Curt from Portland, OR What are your early impressions of Matt LaFleur? His teams have been ready to play. That's a coach's No. 1 responsibility and LaFleur has been equal to it.
Comments
"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Juan from New York, NY Do the Falcons blow it all up? They just seem to have way too much talent on that team to be where they are. I'd blow it up. They should trade or cut any player they don't value and whose trade or release would return a draft pick. That goes for any team because all teams should be vigilant about protecting their future. For example, I think the Steelers should release Donte Moncrief before the Week 10 free-agent deadline. He was a bad free-agent signing who's buried on the depth chart. Cutting him before Week 10 would bring the Steelers a third-round pick in compensatory pick consideration. Wes from San Antonio, TX Is the Patriots defense really this good, or have they just been fortunate to play some pretty poor teams/offenses thus far? We're going to begin answering that question this week because the schedule toughens for the next several weeks: Cleveland, at Baltimore, at Philadelphia, Dallas, at Houston, Kansas City. My inclination is to believe the Patriots defense will prove its worth. Chase from Rapid City, SD The Packers defense, though it is making the big plays at the right time, is allowing just too much. Offenses seem to be running over us, both on the ground and in the air. Is this a symptom of having a fairly young defense overall, especially secondary wise? I think we're still in the stage of evaluating the Packers defense. It wows us with its pass rush but disappoints us with its softness against the run and the total yardage it's allowing. I've been watching the Smith Bros. closely on running downs. Clearly, they are pass rushers; playing the run is not their forte. Gerald from Jacksonville, FL Vic, now that the cancerous drama has been eliminated, the Jaguars can get back to drafting and developing jars on the shelves. It’s refreshing to know the quarterbacks give them a chance to be competitive for the foreseeable future. A bright future! What are your thoughts? If Gardner Minshew is "The Man," the Jaguars can attempt to trade Nick Foles and clear a huge burden from their salary cap. If they're successful at that, the cap room and the two ones the Jaguars stole from the Rams will make the future of the Jaguars brighter than it has been at any time in the quarter-century history of the team. Craig from Cedarburg, WI Has Cousins turned a corner in his last three games, or do you expect him to come back down to earth? One of my favorite offensive coordinators, Dirk Koetter, was fond of saying, "If you can do it once, you can do it every time." Kirk Cousins has played at his current level through stretches of his career. I didn't think I'd be saying this, but he appears to be settling into the high level of expectation his contract demands and, if that's true, I would expect Cousins to carry the Vikings to a big game against the Packers on Dec. 23. I hope it happens that way. I love big games. Jason from Austin, TX Vic, that fumble through the end zone rule needs to be abolished. Give the fumbling team the ball at the spot of the fumble. The Raiders game would have been totally different if they got a TD instead of a fumble. I understand it was called correctly based on the rule, but that rule has to go. Do you like that rule? No. I say give the offense the ball, but penalize it 10 or 15 yards from the point of the fumble and with loss of down. If the play isn't penalized, we're gonna have guys throwing the ball at the pylon, as Derek Carr did. Bernabe from Monterrey, Mexico Vic, just wanted to know your opinion on the Jaguars. Do they have enough for a playoff push? The next four games are a critical stretch in the Jaguars schedule. With a win over the Jets on Sunday, the Jaguars would be 4-4 and poised to make a second-half-of-the-season run. That run would begin with three consecutive AFC South games: Houston in London, at Indianapolis and at Tennessee. Again, I have to scold the Jaguars for agreeing to give away a division home game. They'll play three division games in a row and none of them will be at home. That's wrong. Nick from Owego, NY Which teams do you think are poised for a midseason rally to make the playoffs? In the NFC, there's a growing separation between top and bottom. I think the NFC race will be a little more predictable. The fun will be in the bunched up AFC. I have a feeling someone's going to come out of nowhere, get hot and take a wild-card spot. That's as far as I'll go right now. Let's revisit this question in a couple of weeks. John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL With receivers being a dime a dozen, why did the Patriots trade a second-round draft pick for a 30-year-old Sanu? Bill Belichick and Thomas Dimitroff are best buddies; they talk on a regular basis. Dimitroff confided in Belichick when Dimitroff was considering the big trade up to draft Julio Jones. I suspect Belichick has a special role in mind for Mohammed Sanu, approached Dimitroff about acquiring Sanu, and for allowing Belichick to acquire Sanu Belichick gave his buddy more in return than Sanu is worth. Sometimes it happens that way. When Jim Finks was the general manager of the Bears, he traded a running back to the Steelers for past considerations. We all knew what future considerations meant, but we had never heard of past considerations. "I was once their quarterback," Finks said. Once upon a time, football was fun like that, but no more. This is very serious now! Offense, defense rankings
Here are the Week 8 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings: 1. Patriots -- Schedule toughens. 2. 49ers -- Singing in the rain. 3. Saints -- Here comes Brees. 4. Packers -- Rodgers on top of his game. 5. Vikings -- Hot on the Packers' heels. 6. Ravens -- Bye and then the Patriots. 7. Colts -- Building momentum. 8. Seahawks -- Ravens exposed Wilson. 9. Rams -- Ramsey cancer or the cure? 10. Bills -- Keep an eye on these guys. 11. Panthers -- Major test at 49ers. 12. Texans -- They don't win the big ones. 13. Chiefs -- Nice play call, Andy. 14. Cowboys -- OK, let's see you do it again. 15. Eagles -- Pederson should fine himself. 16. Bears -- Arrow is pointing straight down. 17. Lions -- At a crossroads. 18. Jaguars -- They're in the hunt. 19. Titans -- Is Tannehill the answer? 20. Raiders -- Pass defense was embarrassed. 21. Browns -- At the test in New England. 22. Steelers -- Playing for pride. 23. Cardinals -- Best 3-3-1 team in the league. 24. Chargers -- They should be better than this. 25. Broncos -- Now what? 26. Bucs -- At Tennessee, at Seattle. 27. Giants -- Hard times have returned. 28. Jets -- Sing along: Still awful after all these years. 29. Falcons -- Scarlett, the house is on fire. 30. Washington -- Nobody cares. 31. Bengals -- Bring back Marvin Lewis. 32. Dolphins -- Haven't played their best football yet. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Patrick from Indianapolis, IN Vic, do you feel that was Aaron and the offense have finally put it all together and now it's look out, or do you feel that was he's still capable of a game like that every now and again but don't expect similar going forward? Neither would be how I would characterize what's happening with the Packers. A few weeks ago I said the Packers are getting on a roll. Well, they're on it. Everything they touch turns to gold, so to speak. They're playing lights out on offense. The ball is rolling their way, the calls are going their way and the schedule is falling their way. Next week, they play a Chiefs team that will be without Patrick Mahomes. Right now, this season has a "this is their year" kind of look to it. The Packers look like a team of destiny. The only negative is the defense is giving up a lot of yards. Mike from Somerset, WI Vic, how would you summarize Aaron Rodgers' play so far this year? Is this one of those Dave Kingman questions. What do I think of Dave Kingman's performance? Grey from Danbury, CT The way the Packers are playing, they'll make the playoffs. The way they're running and stopping the run, they won't go deep. At what point do we throw in the towel on the running game? The Packers have pass-rush specialists at linebacker. I could say "how do you wish to die?" but today's game puts a premium on rushing the passer and that's where the Packers put their money in free agency. The Packers aren't a grunt-style team; they haven't been a run-the-ball, stop-the-run kind of team in the Rodgers era. Eddie Lacy gave them a pound-the-ball quality, but I don't think Rodgers was entirely comfortable with that style of play. This is his kind of team: spread the field and press down the gas on offense, attack and get the ball back on defense. One game shy of the halfway point in the season, I'm getting the sense what I'm describing is and will continue to be the identity of this team. Min Shik from Seoul, South Korea I now know why you call him Chatty. Good lord. It's like inviting one of your co-workers to your house for dinner and then finding out his wife is a non-stop talker. It's an hour after dinner, you've got a headache from her blabbering and you're thinking to yourself, "I wish they would leave." Jamie from Brooklyn, NY My question is whether I watch football because I love it or because I don't want to miss the last best thing in the history of the Packers, Aaron Rodgers. That's an interesting perspective. He's on fire! I think he's the most dominant person in Packers history since Vince Lombardi. His aura is the team's aura. This is his team. There's no question about it. Brent from Dubuque, IA If you are a young caddy aspiring to go to college, do you choose to stay put as a caddy for Judge Smails or sub in to help Al Czervik and Ty Webb? Brent, are you for goodness or badness? Angelo from California Bravo to you for the asterisk. Rodgers' comment was the best: "It all evens out." Batters get good and bad calls in baseball, NFL teams get the same. It's absurd to think we'll get perfection, which is why replay is a joke. He better hope the evening out process doesn't begin until next year, because I've never seen calls fall more one team's way than they're falling for the Packers right now. Brad from Minneapolis, MN I grew up in Wisconsin but moved to Minneapolis for school and never left. Do you have any thoughts on this year’s Gophers team? It plays in the Big Ten West, it beat a Rutgers team on Saturday that has been outscored 207-14 in its Big Ten games, and it won't have to play Ohio State unless Minnesota has the terrible misfortune to win the West and have to face Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. Stephen from Jacksonville, FL Would football and football officiating benefit from a rules governing body and adopting a universal set of observed rules for all levels of the game? The game needs to be overhauled. If you're trying to protect a lead against a team throwing on every down, it's veritably impossible to make it through four downs without committing pass interference, illegal contact, holding, hands to the face or roughing the passer. The game has lost its sense of balance. Mike from North Hudson, WI Vic, it appears the Packers offense is starting to get on track after seven games, like you predicted. A while back you also predicted the Packers would be 11- 2 going into the final three games. Has anything surfaced that changes your prediction? Yeah, Mahomes is out. Bump it up to 12-1. Mike from Easton, PA I dont know if it's Aaron or LaFleur but plays, not players is winning so far. I agree with your players logic but it just hasn't translated in this case, Vic. OK. Phil from Marietta, GA If a player was forced to choose between putting a great personal performance on tape in a loss or having his team win while he personally struggled, which would he pick? It's their job, Phil. They must play well or they won't be on the team. It's always about the tape. Todd from Lexington, KY How can a franchise like the Bengals expect to have any fan base attending games when the seats are half full with no hope or optimism from the owner/GM to change years of his business plan. He's happily collecting money while not making any effort to improve a sub-par product. Glad to be a Packers fan. It's great to be great, and humble, too. Justin from Canton, NC I’m going to ask and, believe me, I’m trying really hard to temper my expectations: Is this look out? Please try harder. Chortling goeth before the fall. Mike from Minneapolis, MN You are clearly an Aaron Rodgers hater and apparently becoming a Packers hater as well. I don't know if it's because you were fired or what. Ever since the Packers fan base called for McCarthy's head you turned on the Packers fanbase and the Packers. Your fixation on those hands-to-the-face penalties is a joke. The Packers have lost playoff games on bad officiating. I'll heed your advice and quit reading your column. I wonder how long it'll be before you acknowledge McCarthy was the problem and LaFleur is already a better coach than McCarthy had been the last four seasons. I guess you'll never know. It's probably for the best. Mark from Eau Claire, WI Packers Super Bowl? Why not get hype? Got it! David from Fleetwood, PA If the Lions are not true division contenders, is this division race over? I happen to think it's still within reach of all of the teams. The Lions will be toast, before the big roast. The Bears will say their goodbyes, before the snow flies. The Vikings and Packers are the teams to beat, the last two weeks will be a real treat. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Fawaz from DePere, WI Vic, I'm a bit surprised this is the hill which you choose to die on. You, more than anyone, should be aware every week across multiple games there are calls made or not made which are incorrect and absolutely change the outcome of games. I will not inundate you with a list of other calls past or present which should warrant an asterisk, as I'm sure many other fans are currently doing so. I fear we can no longer go back after this. By the end of the season every team will have an asterisk next to its name. What was I thinking? I should've ignored those two calls. Scott from Lincoln City, OR Come on, Vic, if you're going to put an asterisk on the Lions you have to do it for the Packers as well for the Eagles loss. Derek Barnett should have been ejected for the egregious hit that put Williams in the hospital on the Packers' first offensive play. He should not have been in the game to do the strip-sack that had such a big impact on the outcome of the game. And if you want to talk about hands-to-the-face penalties, what about the non-call and failed challenge on Avonte Maddox's clear and obvious hand-on-the-facemask pass interference? While nothing will ever make up for the "Fail Mary," at least the Lions game makes up for the Eagles game. That's the kind of logic that was missing in Wednesday's column. John from Sun Prairie, WI There's the asterisk man! I knew you would do it before I read it. Never change, Vic. I've only used the asterisk twice, but both times it has caused outrage. A week or so ago, I wrote I might bring the asterisk back -- I'm telling you, sometimes this column gets spooky. Well, this was the perfect opportunity. When I used it in 2007, it was after the league penalized the Patriots for Spygate in the Jets game. Jokingly, I put an asterisk next to the Patriots in my all-important power rankings for 14 weeks: "Cheated in one game." Hey, they did cheat; the league convicted them of it, right? This time it seemed to jokingly fit what happened to the Lions: "Were cheated in one game." The league confirmed it the day after the game, right? The asterisk is an attempt at humor. I thought it might lighten the column, but I forgot this is serious business. The Packers are a religion. Their fans bleed green. I apologize for the asterisk. It was disrespectful of such an important event as a Packers victory. I will never try to be humorous again. Matt from Chicago, IL Vic, you once asked your readers why they read the column. I have my answer after Monday night's game: You provide balanced and rational perspective. You better put a hold on that, Matt. I've got a lip fungus they ain't identified yet. Bob from Port St. Lucie, FL I agree with the bad calls at the end of the game, but what about the phantom TD by the Lions? One ref said short, the other ruled TD, but did he have a better angle? Replay did not unequivocally show the ball over the line. Replay wouldn't change the call. How should those calls be handled? I thought the Lions reached the ball over the goal line on the previous play and Matt Patricia should've challenged. I don't like the coach's challenge concept. Get rid of it. Get a sky judge and be done with it. Matt from Minneapolis, MN Let me get this straight, you devoted most of your comments about the Packers game about the officiating and basically ignored everything else about the game? Two questionable calls and a non-call constitute three plays of the entire game. Booger and the announcers disgraced themselves with their reaction. It's hypocritical to point out how dangerous and fast the game is, then whine about missed calls. I know, "Fail Mary", but that's completely different. It's completely different. Tom from Charlottesville, VA Vic, is it time for the NFL to employ referees on a full-time basis? Yeah, then they could spend all week obsessing about penalties and how to call more of them. That's just what we need. John from St. Augustine, FL How ironic is it that it’s the run defense costing the Jaguars. I would have thought with Jalen on the bench it would be the pass defense. Good riddance! It's the greatest trade in Jaguars history and the best since they traded Rob Johnson to the Bills for the ninth overall pick of the 1998 draft, which the Jaguars used to select Fred Taylor. Scott from Sauk City, WI The asterisk returns! Never change, Vic. Never change! In all seriousness, yes, the officiating was hot garbage, especially at crunch time. But part of me also blames the Lions for not stepping up and finishing the game off. I think Matt Patricia got too conservative after the first quarter. Are my eyes deceiving me? Or did the Packers defense step up and fix their early problems? I thought Patricia coached a heckuva game to keep it that close. His backs and receivers are ordinary, his offensive line is a sieve, he has no pass rush and his secondary got torched at crunch time. In my opinion, the Lions are not a division title contender. That's why I dropped them so hard in my all-important power rankings. Brian from Pleasant Prairie, WI Do you feel the outcome would have remained the same sans the two phantom hands-to-the-face penalties? I don't think the Packers would've won that game without those penalties being called. The first one gave the Packers a chance to win, the second one clinched the Packers' win. I believe that opinion to be fair and rational. I didn't ignore the "Fail Mary." I ripped it and I was sensitive in helping Packers fans deal with it. Nicholas from Superior, WI Your stance on the officiating of the game surprised me, Vic. I get trying to be new, but the call wasn’t a facemask, it was hands to the face (which includes the neck). Apparently, Flowers can grab hold of Bakhtiari’s collar, but he can’t lift it and drive his fist into his throat. Sorry, not sorry. The ref got it right. They also let quite a bit of DB play go both ways. Did the Packers steal the win? You bet! Welcome to Lambeau! OK. Robert from Chippewa Falls, WI If a defensive lineman grabs the upper jersey of an offensive lineman and pushes up under the chin causing the offensive lineman's head to go far back, that’s close enough to the face for me. So, if the circumstances were reversed and the calls had gone against the Packers and the Lions had won the game, you'd be OK with that? Matt from Verona, WI Why do people want a 5-1 team to trade for these available-for-a-reason WRs and RBs that will take weeks to learn the offense? They're bored and football is their No. 1 source of entertainment. The NFL has become a mania. As a nation, we're obsessed with it. We can't wait for Sunday to come. This recent flurry of trading has also made the weekdays entertaining. My concern is for perspective. I fear we've lost it; today's column is an example of it. To be angry at me for expressing an opinion in a blog I pay to produce and publish and for which I charge nothing to read and in which to participate is kind of nuts. Joshua from Mankato, MN I can no longer tell when you’re being sincere versus when you’re being sarcastic. Is that intentional? Am I intentionally attempting to banter with my readers, enjoy their literary company and stimulate it with respectful playfulness? Of course I am. That's always been the foundation of this column. The power rankings are the best example of a mixture of sincerity and sarcasm. That's why I jokingly refer to them as being all-important. They are absolutely of no importance at all. To those who are genuinely offended by the asterisk, you need to check yourself. Fabrizio from Fossano, Italy Asterisk is back! You like? Mike from Charlotte, NC Vic, the NFL's TV ratings continue to increase, which means they're making more money. Booger's appeal to the NFL was heard by fans and it generated a lot of discussion about the NFL. Hey, they're in the news. If people want the NFL to change, they're going to have to stop watching. They're going to have to stop reading your column. They're going to have to stop engaging in their Sunday ritual and go do something else. Then the NFL will change something. I implore anyone who experiences anger, anxiety or an ill feeling of any kind as a result of reading this column to stop reading it. Don't sue the column because it has an LLC and the column is absolutely of no material worth. I am sensitive to what reliance on football for entertainment can do to our sense of balance. I'm not enjoying football as I always have and I recently asked myself if I'm watching it because I love it or because I'm addicted to it. It's a question I need to answer. What question would you ask of yourself? "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Dave from Madison, WI I’m happy for the win but also feel a little guilty because of the hands-to-the-face penalties. Help me come to terms with this win, Vic. How bad were those two calls? Here's what bothers me the most: Officials are supposed to call them as they see them. Well, how could they have seen it if it didn't happen? What those two bad calls tell me is the officials are looking for violations. Instead of just watching the action, they're imagining the action. Monday night's crew "saw" violations that didn't occur but completely missed an obvious 13-men-in-the-formation violation; too many rules, too many penalties. The league is ruining the game for a lot of fans. For the first time in my life, I find myself wanting to not watch. It's almost as though I know what's going to happen: One team will get a big lead, the other will make a furious passes-only rally at the end, and an officiating controversy will be the topic of the week. By the way, if the league really cares about player safety, it needs to get rid of the onside kick. That play in Sunday night's game was chilling. Chris from Lexington, KY Chris to refs: The face is the front of the head. It's the thing that can eat and watch TV at the same time. Comedy is the best cure for angst. Stephen from Menominee, MI I'm outraged, angered, incensed, infuriated, offended, affronted ... I'm displeased, if you will. I need a Tylenol, a Jack Daniels, full consistency and a new thesaurus. I need heads to roll, skulls to brandish, goats to scape. I want all these things and I want them now, or so help me! Is there no one to ally my despair? I just bang my head against the wall. You know why? Because it feels so good when I stop. Matt from Newport News, VA We've heard a lot about Aaron Jones this season, but what do you think of Jamaal Williams as a back, especially after his performance on Monday night? Williams is the pounder, Jones is the change-of-pace back. McCarthy had Jones cast accurately. He just needed a pounder. Williams is emerging in that role. Casey from York, PA And there are your unjustified hands-to-the-face penalties. We just talked about this. Sometimes this column is spooky. Rich from Apple Valley, MN If the facemask is not removed from the helmet, football will not survive. Thoughts? If there were no facemasks, Tracy Walker wouldn't have attempted to make that interception and there would've been no controversial penalty. The action wouldn't be as intense but the game wouldn't be as dangerous or its future threatened. Tommy McDonald is in the Hall of Fame but he couldn't play in today's game. What does that say about the role the facemask is playing in today's game? Tony from Colorado Springs, CO Start the bidding at two number ones? Looks like GM Vic was spot on with Ramsey going to the Rams for two ones and a four. This trade will launch the Jaguars to greatness. Jim from New Berlin, WI If a player causes helmet-to-helmet contact, he should face immediate ejection and loss of pay for that fraction of the game, even if the contact was incidental. Time to clean up the game; too much liability. That approach isn't the cure. The league is trying too hard to clean up the game and that's why we're all suffering this weekly officiating angst. The game can't be cleaned up by penalties, fines and suspensions; they just worsen the problem. Don't try to change the culture, change the game. In my mind, there are only two ways to cure what the league is trying to fix by calling penalties: Take off the facemask or slow down the game. More penalties are not the answer. The league is obsessed with eliminating helmet-to-helmet contact, but the problem has never been worse. I can't remember a time in the '70's players were knocked unconscious on consecutive weekends. Vic to league: It's not working; do something else. Samantha from Marion, IA What did you think of Booger McFarland’s comments about the hands to the face calls at the end of the Packers-Lions game? I couldn’t help but feel the announcers need to stop opining so much and just commentate on the game action. Booger won my respect on Monday night. He had the courage to tell it like it is, and he did so with passion and resolve. He called out the league. In my mind, Booger said "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." Good for him! I loved the way he got in John Parry's face. Parry immediately sprang to the defense of the calls but Booger would have none of it. Booger was speaking to all of the NFL officials and to the league when he ripped those calls, and he was also speaking for all of us. He backed Parry down and I loved it. I can't think of another broadcaster who would've done what Booger did. He was pure truth and I applaud his performance. By the way, how about his "Wanda" call and explanation? Great stuff, Booger. Max from Milwaukee, WI Ugly game for officiating. What would you say to Lions fans? I would say this to all fans: If football is causing you unhappiness, and these officiating gaffes are doing that to millions of Americans, then step away from the game for awhile. Don't let something as meaningless as a football game cause you despair. It's just a football game. Don't make it your problem, make it the NFL's problem. Offense, defense rankings
Here are the Week 7 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings: 1. Patriots -- At Jets could be interesting. 2. 49ers -- Likely to remain undefeated through October. 3. Saints -- Strong coaching job by Payton. 4. Seahawks -- Wilson leading resurgence. 5. Packers -- It's all going their way. 6. Vikings -- Cousins on fire! 7. Ravens -- Jackson makes them unique. 8. Colts -- Big game against Texans coming up. 9. Texans -- Finally! 10. Eagles -- Best in the NFC East. 11. Chiefs -- Defense is bathroom tissue. 12. Panthers -- How far can Allen take them? 13. Rams -- Can McVay right the ship? 14. Bills -- Bye followed by Dolphins. 15. Bears -- Season might be on the line vs. Saints. *16. Lions -- They were robbed. 17. Raiders -- At Packers and then at Texans. 18. Cowboys -- Must-win game vs. Eagles. 19. Browns -- Did they pick the wrong quarterback? 20. Steelers -- Watt, Bush young stars. 21. Jaguars -- Surely they'll beat the Bengals. 22. Broncos -- Beginning to play Fangio football. 23. Titans -- Enough is enough. 24. Chargers -- A very sad display. 25. Bucs -- Winston's time might be nearing an end. 26. Giants -- Jones vs. Murray. 27. Cardinals -- Not awful. 28. Jets -- Darnold brings them to life. 29. Falcons -- Inexplicably bad. 30. Washington -- Waiting for the season to end. 31. Bengals -- Trade everybody. 32. Dolphins -- Played hard in narrow loss. *Were cheated in one game. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Mark from Sheboygan, WI Combined, the Patriots have played teams with a record of 7-23, including three winless teams. If the Packers win on Monday, they will have beaten five teams with winning records. You have them 1-2 in the rankings, but aside from the Patriots having a slightly better record, which would bode better for the future, 6-0 against little competition or 5-1 against winning competition? Also, shouldn't we recognize this is almost certainly the reason for the Packers' lower rankings? Frankly, I think putting the Packers at No. 2 in my all-important power rankings reflects respect for the schedule the Packers have played and disregard for their unimpressive rankings. Curt from York, PA So how hot is Jason Garrett’s seat now? Garrett is the only guy at MetLife who had a worse day than Chatty. This was, by far, Chatty's worst performance. Chatty began apologizing for the Cowboys as the Jets were about to score their first touchdown. "This is a tough schematic game for the Cowboys," Chatty said. Tough schematic game? The stinky Jets were No. 30 in rushing and No. 32 in passing. What could possibly have been tough for the Cowboys schematically? Flanked by his broadcast partner Jim "I love Texas" Nantz, the CBS No. 1 team blatantly led cheers for the Cowboys during their late-game rally. It was a truly embarrassing performance; they justified each of several consecutive penalties against the Jets that moved the Cowboys toward the goal line. Mark from Eau Claire, WI This Lions game could be huge. Do you think all four NFC North teams could finish with a winning record? Oh, absolutely. The NFC North is the best division in football. Andrew from Vancouver, Canada How bad is a toe injury in football? I’m sure it's very painful and there is good reason to miss games for a toe, but it sounds a bit minor to an outsider. If it's my toe injury, it's major. If it's your toe injury, it's minor. By the way, Jack Lambert's career was ended by a toe injury. Justin from Canton, NC How many of those first 11 AFL/AFC titles were from NFL teams that switched sides at the merger? What does it matter? They were in the AFC when they won them. Bradshaw, Blount, Harris, Ham, Lambert, Swann, Stallworth, Webster, etc. were all drafted after the Steelers made the move, and Chuck Noll began his coaching career with the Chargers under Sid Gillman, who was the father of the AFL's wide-open game. There wasn't much of the old NFL left in the Steelers when they won four Super Bowls in six years. Tom from Bismarck, ND Well said, Vic, well said. A screw loose pretty much derailed your career as a caddy. Yet, noticeable screws loose in another part of your anatomy has not kept you from continuing your writing career. The choice was obvious. OK. Keith from Columbia, SC Searching some of those crowd shots for a Chargers fan, through black and yellow jerseys and whirling "Terrible Towels" made me wonder where's Waldo? The Chargers left a place that cared about them and went to a place that loves someone else. It was a big mistake. Robert from The Netherlands After Swaim got knocked out in the Jaguars game, they first showed the medical staff attending to him, followed by five slow-motion, close-up replays showing his unconscious body flop to the ground in horrifying detail. If the NFL wants to change the culture, maybe they should stop replaying these plays over and over. The culture can't be changed; I'm convinced of it. I see no decrease in the number of these Tatum-like hits. Thomas Davis (Packers fans remember him) was flagged last night for a hit on a defensive receiver that was every bit as frightening on the replay as the Swaim hit. Late in the game, a Chargers defensive player came in late with a deliberate head-shot hit to a running back who was stuck in a pile of bodies. The officials missed it but I have no doubt it'll be fined. In my mind, it's the worst example of the Burfict-like culture that wants to injure the opponent. This was not a high-speed play. It was an after-the-fact hit that clearly targeted the runner's head. Suspension? That won't change the culture. It's a game played by violent men. It's a culture of violence and it can't be changed. Gunars from Iowa It seems you were more patient with Packers fans while working in Green Bay. As an outsider again, does the privilege, arrogance, smugness of the fans bother you? I didn't like the smugness I sensed in the question mocking Jaguars fans and their failure to sell out Jaguars games. So, the answer to your question is, yes, it bothered me. Every franchise has its dark days. Gary from Panama City, FL Vic, I don't know why but in college football offensive holding is almost never called. I mean, the officials seem to be just waiting for pass interference, and make such calls ad nauseam. I'm so confused. You got a heavy dose of each against Penn State in the Iowa game, especially after a touchdown was reversed despite a replay that should've confirmed the call. That was an atrocious display of officiating by that crew. At the least, that crew should be reprimanded by the Big Ten. I am greatly impressed by James Franklin's ability to avoid a meltdown and to keep his team focused on the task at hand. Sean from Arlington Heights, IL Vic, nearly two years ago you said of the Big Ten championship game, “Ohio State won that game on national letter of intent day.” I believe you were right and that statement still largely applies. That said, through six games, are you seeing any realistic reason for hope this year for Badgers fans? By asking that question of a 6-0 team, you're confirming the weakness of their scheduling. Wisconsin is what Packers fans hate about the Patriots: Weak division, weak schedule. Every time I look at the schedule, it seems Wisconsin is playing another weak opponent and the game is at Wisconsin. Of course, all we have to do is wait a couple of weeks and we'll find out if Wisconsin is the real deal or just a weak schedule impostor. The great thing about only having one good team on your schedule is you only have to win one big game. The bad thing about it is you only get one chance to win a big game. Based on what I've seen so far, Wisconsin is a powerful team, but nobody in the Big Ten is the equal of Ohio State. If Wisconsin played a stronger schedule, it would get the respect it seeks and deserves. Kevin from Whitehall, WI Vic, I agree with you, the AFL is what led to the NFL we know today, however, to say the AFL won 11 of the first 15 Super Bowls is misleading. It would be more accurate to say nine of the first 15 Super Bowls were won by teams originally in the NFL. That said, does AFL vs. NFL thinking still exist like it did around the merger? If not, when and why did it change? The war is over. It ended in the '70's when the AFC wiped its feet on the NFC and the old guard realized it needed to be new. Alex from Orlando, FL Vic, is Gardner Minshew exactly what the Jaguars needed to reinvigorate the fan base? By that I mean not only a diamond-in-the-rough quarterback, but someone with a seemingly wonderful personality who can take the city by storm and put butts in the seats for the next decade or more. Yes. Tristan from Chicago, IL How would you challenge Tom Brady? Who do you think can? Blitz him on every down in every way you can. He really looks slow to me. I think he can still stand in the pocket and find the open receiver, but I question his ability to move. The Patriots have consecutive games upcoming against Cleveland and Baltimore. I think those games will tell us what we need to know about Brady and this year's Patriots. Patrick from Indianapolis, IN Vic, can you explain why you think the Packers may be about to go on a run and why you think Green Bay will be 11-2 heading into the final three weeks of the season? Their next six opponents are a combined 20-11-1. That doesnt look like a cream puff slate of opponents and the Packers look to be banged up. I expect the Packers to beat the Lions, then the Packers have three in a row against teams from the weak AFC. That should be easy stuff for a team from the powerful NFC, right? The game that intrigues me is the one in San Francisco on Nov. 24. I don't think I afforded the 49ers the respect they deserve when I initially made my prediction for the Packers. I have new regard for the 49ers. Packers at 49ers has become a circle game on my schedule. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Richard from Clearwater, MN The Packers' rankings defensively are not flashy, but they are making the splash plays when needed most of the time. Do rankings matter? Rankings don't matter but it has been my experience a team's record is usually (not always) reflected by its rankings on offense and defense. I'm not big on stats but I give credence to the rankings on offense and defense because they involve the largest of samples, which is to say every snap of the ball. The Packers' record is much better than their rankings. By season's end, I think we'll see one reflect the other. Kyle from Phoenix, AZ I'm a little surprised by the Packers’ defensive numbers. My eyes tell me it's a much better defense than last year. Have my eyes deceived me? My eyes tell me the same and I think we're going to see the defense's rankings improve. Why? Because the Packers rush and cover and that's a very strong combination. Run defense requires far less skill. It's all about toughness. Steve from Wisconsin Rashan Gary gets a penalty for brushing the quarterback's helmet. After teams score, they head-butt each other. I don't get it. It's not about Gary's head slap, it's about Earl Thomas' knockout blow to Mason Rudolph. The NFL is trying to change the culture. It's trying to discipline players to avoid going to the head. I think it's a failed attempt and the NFL is wasting its time. Wanna get rid of the head shot? Get rid of the facemask. Fixed! The NFL won't even consider it because it would decrease the game's popularity, and the fans don't want it to happen because it would dull their enjoyment of the game. If we were all truly dedicated to player safety, especially to eliminating helmet-to-helmet contact, the facemask would come off, or at the least it would be limited to a much-reduced size and protection. Keith from Columbia, SC Who can challenge the Patriots in the AFC? I noticed 10 of your top 15 are NFC teams. It seems they have an easy road to a first-round bye. There are a lot of good teams in the making in the AFC. The Bills and Colts are two teams that intrigue me. I think the AFC is in a state of change. Change is good because change is usually young. Connor from Greenville, SC What do you think of the Packers' draft class thus far? It's early. I don't want to rush to judgement, but I would usually expect more impact from a class with two first-round picks. Anthony from Rockford, IL When you speak to the culture of the NFL, you speak to the inherent violence in us that has been built on evolution. Do you want a timid person or someone who can flip the switch when it pertains to an aggressive tribe coming over the hill to pillage your lands? You’re right. The culture can’t be changed. It’s within us. I have hope for the young people but, as it stands right now, the NFL can't even get its players to stop committing hands-to-the-face penalties. Vic to players: The face is the front of the head. It's the thing that can eat and watch TV at the same time. Don't touch it! Seriously, shouldn't this be an easy fix? Yet, it happens over and over, and have you ever seen a hands-to-the-face penalty that wasn't supported by replay? It's a game-changing penalty. Teams lose games because of it. These players aren't stupid, so why can't they stop shoving their hands into each other's faces? It must be the warlike culture that exists in us. Joe from Pittsburgh, PA The NBA receives 10 percent of its profit from China. What percent does the NFL receive from outside the USA? This is what I can tell you: In 1993, I covered a preseason game between the Steelers and 49ers in Barcelona. An NFL executive told me the impetus of the game was the league did $43 million in jersey sales in Europe the previous year and it thought it could double that amount in the near future, and the Steelers and 49ers were hot jersey sales. That was 26 years ago and I have to believe the NFL has doubled its jersey sales in Europe several times over. Europe may not be a great American football market, but it has a great appetite for American fashion. That's why the NFL will put a team in London. Ben from Alameda, CA The Packers have a lot of tall, lanky receivers. Can that body type be an effective slot receiver? Do you have to have a Wes Welker/Randall Cobb body type to be effective? Slot receivers play in traffic. They're punt returners in the passing game. You're looking for a guy who can fearlessly run through the catch and weave his way through tacklers. You're also looking for a tough guy who can take a hit. The body type that belongs to that type of player more closely resembles a running back than it does a jump-high boundary receiver. Hines Ward is my idea of the perfect slot receiver. He's the toughest wide receiver who ever played the game. He turned the hunter into the hunted. Sean from Brighton, MI After five weeks into the regular season, is it safe to say the Browns gave up way too much for OBJ? I was stunned they traded a first-round pick for him. I thought John Dorsey had the same dime-a-dozen opinion of wide receivers I have. I still believe that was an owner's trade. Tyler from Fargo, ND While on the Jaguars official website I noticed a “Minshew Mania Mini Pack” promotion. Basically, you can get tickets to the Saints and Jets games for around $100 and receive a bandana and mustache so you can look like Minshew. Why is it so hard to get people to attend Jaguars games? Are gimmicks the only way to entice people? I really thought this Minshew promotion was a joke put on by some third-party website at first. That's funny. You know, we can't all be as great as the Packers. I guess we have to be patient. These were the attendances at Packers home games in 1951: Chicago, 24,666; Pittsburgh, 8,324 (the Steelers didn't travel well back then); Philadelphia, 18,489; Los Angeles, 21,393; Detroit, 18,800; New York, 14,297. Why didn't the Packers give out free cheese? Jim from Maple Grove, MN Does Mitchell Trubisky win that game? I doubt it, but that's not my interest in Trubisky right now. When I saw the play on which he was injured, in which his arm was outstretched when he contacted the ground, I said to myself, "Labrum, he's done." He's said to have a slight tear of the labrum. Playing through that injury -- it's what ended Tony Boselli's career -- will be painful. I think it'll cause him to scramble far less often. I don't think this season is going to end well for Trubisky or the Bears. Will from Stoughton, WI I recently saw Gale Sayers was drafted by Kansas City of the AFL, but decided he’d rather play in Chicago after also being drafted by the Bears. Do you think he could have had a longer career in the AFL/AFC? Would Joe Namath have had a longer career had he signed with the Cardinals instead of the Jets? I've detected a smugness among Packers fans for the NFL's superiority over the AFL. They're obviously ignoring the fact the AFL/AFC won 11 of the first 15 Super Bowls played. Nicholas from Superior, WI At one point during the broadcast on Sunday, I heard Aaron Rodgers had completed passes to eight different receivers. This is the type of thing I remember hearing about Rodgers quite a bit a few years ago. How much and what does the number of different receivers with receptions in a game indicate about the offense? It indicates receivers are a dime a dozen. Paul from Bluffton, IN Vic, are you still working as a golf caddy? My caddy days are over. I had surgery on my left shoulder two years ago, and then had to have it done again a few months later when one of the screws came loose. I had the right shoulder done in Green Bay. A caddy without shoulders is like a flute with no holes. If I had to choose a career other than being a sports writer, I would've liked to have been a caddy. Scott from St. Charles, IL I think it's fair to say the production at WR/TE below Adams is not what we had hoped. With Adams facing perhaps a lingering injury, should the Packers consider trading for a veteran (not named Antonio Brown)? Or do I have the fever again? Fever in the mornin', a fever all through the night. Adam from Madison, WI Seems like there have been some huge rushing totals this year? Another unintentional result of the move toward passing with too many defensive backs on the field? Nickel is certainly not a run defense but I think big rushing totals are more about the mania for rushing the passer. Nobody drafts run-stuffers anymore; everybody is looking for pass-rushers. J.J. Watt is the classic example of today's defensive linemen. They play the run on the way to the quarterback, and that's why running backs are exploding through holes untouched. Pete from Green Bay, WI Are you ready for the Mike McCarthy to Pittsburgh train? Seems like it’s right up your alley. If Mike Tomlin wants to go home, I hope he gets the chance. He's a Virginia guy and I have to believe the Redskins would be his dream job. I guarantee, the Steelers would be McCarthy's dream job. Hometown guys are good for the game. I think the fans are more supportive of them. Be that as it may, I still hear a horn in the distance. Darren from Alice Springs, Australia If you had your choice of a fourth NFL team to cover, who would it be and why? It just doesn't work that way in my profession. You don't cover a team because you're fond of it, you become fond of a team because you cover it. Fred from Denver, CO Is Gardner Minshew the long-term answer at QB for Jacksonville? What would it take for GM Vic to ship Foles away? I'm in awe of Minshew's command of the game. I think he could be the next Drew Brees. This is an extraordinary story. The sixth round? He doesn't have a great arm -- he was high and late on a honey hole throw from the far hash against the Panthers -- but he makes up for it by consistently finding the open receiver. He makes completing passes look easy, and that's a trait usually reserved for great passers. If the Jaguars can find a team interested in trading for Foles, it's doable. Traded, Foles would be $18.75 million dead on the Jags' cap, but that would actually turn into a nearly $4 million savings from his projected $22 million cap hit in 2020. The difficult part would be finding a team willing to trade for the $20 million guaranteed to Foles over the next two years. It means the Jaguars would have to find a team looking for a starter. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
This drama is bad for football The Mason Rudolph injury created another one of those medical dramas that are increasing in number in today's game. Rudolph was knocked unconscious by a blow to the head from the Ravens' Earl Thomas. TV trained its camera on the motionless Rudoloph and shamefully added video of the Ryan Shazier incident. The facemask to the dazed Rudolph's helmet was removed, which allowed for a photo that begs the question, "Why would anyone want to play football?" This is a bad look for the game and the NFL needs to find a way to attend to these players less dramatically. The league provides a medical tent for players who've strained a hamstring, but it leaves in full view to a frightened TV audience players with head and neck injuries. I don't have the answer -- I'll leave that to higher minds -- but you're not going to convince parents football is a safe game to play by providing these gut-wrenching scenes. Maybe the answer is football isn't a safe game to play and the NFL should stop trying to convince parents it is. Packers, Jaguars, Steelers
Here are the Week 6 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings: 1. Patriots -- Giants next crummy win. 2. Packers -- Time to roll. 3. Saints -- They are not toast. 4. 49ers -- Powerful, young, fast defense. 5. Seahawks -- Arrow pointing straight up. 6. Colts -- They don't miss Luck. 7. Chiefs -- Soft. 8. Lions -- At the test vs. Packers. 9. Eagles -- Offense is clicking. 10. Rams -- Showdown vs. 49ers. 11. Bills -- They deserve a rest. 12. Ravens -- I'm not impressed. 13. Bears -- Bye and then the Saints. 14. Vikings -- A phone call from the POTUS? 15. Cowboys -- Packers embarrassed them. 16. Panthers -- Winning with undrafted QB. 17. Browns -- Seahawks, Pats next two games. 18. Raiders -- They're in the hunt. 19. Chargers -- Who are they? 20. Bucs -- In London vs. Carolina. 21. Texans -- Struggling to beat bad teams. 22. Jaguars -- Defense gashed by Panthers. 23. Titans -- Good team going to waste. 24. Giants -- They need Barkley. 25. Steelers -- Fighting through tough times. 26. Broncos -- Tough schedule ahead. 27. Cardinals -- Murray flashes. 28. Falcons -- Where's bottom? 29. Washington -- Who's the next lucky coach? 30. Bengals -- Sinking in Cincinnati. 31. Jets -- Was it worth it, Le'Veon? 32. Dolphins -- Rested and ready to lose. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Bill from Sheboygan, WI What are your thoughts on the Packers-Cowboys game? The Packers were ready to play, the Cowboys weren't. The Packers were focused and prepared. They dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They blocked, tackled and covered. Rodgers and Jones were an overwhelming 1-2 punch. I saw no weakness in the Packers' play, other than for sloppy defense late in the game that allowed the final score to be closer than the game actually was. The Cowboys? They didn't show up until it was too late to do anything about it. Prescott threw the ball all over the building. His first interception should've been a touchdown. Both lines were a sieve. The Cowboys fell so far behind they had to abandon the run, which is their strength. They punted poorly and kicked from placement even worse. If I was Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett would officially be on the hot seat. Lazy play is something I will not tolerate. Stirling from Nashville, TN Vic, it feels strange to say that was a defensive win. I guess I like it better than letting someone just run it down our throats all day. That's not the kind of game I was hoping to see. I wanted to see something a little closer to the vest and hard-fought. I wanted to see if the Packers could stop the run. Instead, what I saw was another one of those wild games that have been the Packers' identity through the Rodgers era. The league loves it and so does TV, but I'm not a fan of it. I guess the trauma of the 2014 NFC title game still exists in me. Brent from Dubuque, IA Just win, baby. Right? Yep. Whatever it takes. Lance from Savannah, GA It was tough to watch the hit on Mason Rudolph, but it’s become a familiar sight in the NFL. Did that image remind you of football of the past? Is that the type of violence that used to be commonplace in football decades ago? No, the type of violence that was common in football decades ago was intentional; Earl Thomas said his hit on Rudolph wasn't intentional. Also, decades ago it would not have been flagged. Be that as it may, the protections being afforded the quarterback aren't working. They're damaging the game but they're not protecting the quarterback. Vic to NFL: The culture is not being changed. Think of something else. Dave from Savage, MN Well, the Packers have some talent and now they have an edge. I'd like to see a bit more poise (and fewer injuries). What do they need to do to take the next step? They took a big step with the running game yesterday. Frankly, the schedule isn't real challenging. I'm going to make a prediction: The Packers will be 11-2 heading into the final three games of the season. Jerry from Savannah, GA Vic, what do you think of Coach LaFleur calmly getting in Aaron Rodgers’ face? I think Coach LaFleur should stop pursuing Rodgers every time he comes off the field. It has a puppy dog look to it and TV has its camera trained on it, just waiting for a sideways glance or a stern exchange. Matt LaFleur is the coach. He's the boss. I'd like to get more of a sense of that. Brad from Jacksonville, FL Vic, the Jaguars defense has been getting torched recently. The turnovers haven’t helped them, but they got gashed last week on the pass, then gashed this week on the run. Seems we have way too much money on that side of the ball to look like that. The Panthers broke the line of scrimmage time and again untouched. The Jaguars defensive linemen and linebackers were freelancing. They weren't manning their gaps. A lack of discipline is the cause. Given the way Gardner Minshew played on Sunday, that's a game the Jaguars should've won. John from St. Augustine, FL Could you elaborate a little on PSLs and how the Jaguars' franchise history would be different for selling them? A permanent seat license is an investment. A fan buys a seat with the agreement to purchase the ticket that accompanies it. If at any time the fan fails to buy the ticket, he loses ownership of the seat and the team is free to sell it to someone else. PSLs aren't cheap. The Panthers sold PSLs at the start of their franchise. The Jaguars didn't sell PSLs; they sold season-ticket contracts. The difference is the PSLs sustained the Panthers through some rough seasons -- the float also made for lucrative investing. The PSLs effectively sold the season tickets and provided the Panthers with a consistent revenue flow that allowed them to operate evenly. The Jaguars lost season-ticket holders when their contracts expired -- why sign a contract when you can pick and choose the games you want to see? -- and have faced constant season-ticket churn. Gaert from Old Windsor, UK Vic, this will be an unpopular take, but one has to respect how Jon Gruden had his team ready to play on a long road trip. Both tactically and on grit, the Raiders were ready to go in a surprisingly hostile environment. Yes, we should acknowledge the Raiders' win. I think we should also consider it might all be falling apart in Chicago. Sam from Tahunanui, NZ You have been reading questions from non-professional writers for a long time. What have you learned about how this population expresses themselves? I had to go to the DMV last week. It gave me new appreciation for my "Ask Vic" inbox. Oscar from Milwaukee, WI Vic, you've always said college football is dying. Assuming it goes away in the future, what would take its place in people's hearts and minds? The NFL would take its place, and it wouldn't just be in people's hearts and minds, it would be on their TVs on Saturdays. That day is coming. The NFL will share Saturday with college football -- an NFL/college football doubleheader -- and it will improve college football's TV ratings. The NFL will put people in front of their TVs on Saturdays. While they're there, they might as well watch the stinky college game, too. College football would be a big winner in a partnership with the NFL, but college football is too stupid and greedy to think of something that innovative. They'll have to reach the point of desperation first. Matt from New York, NY You know who the Eagles, Rams and Seahawks remind me of? The evolution of the Packers from 2010-2015. Success equals less overall talent. All teams remind me of all other teams because they all go through the same trials, tribulations and cycles. Joseph from Ripon, WI I know a head coach is only as good as his players, but what's the most important quality of a head coach to bring to his team? What separates the good coaches from the greats? Second question first: great players. As for the first question, all coaches are good strategists. You can't get to where they are without knowing schematic football inside and out. In my mind, the successful coaches are the ones who are especially adept at evaluating, utilizing and managing talent. They have a big-picture leadership quality and it permeates the team's entire football operation. Mark from Wheaton, IL Vic, I know you rooted for Kent State as best you could and have previously written about the reason for these games. How do the players feel about them? You're going to blame Kent State for that game? Vic to Barry Alvarez: Stop scheduling cupcakes! Tim from Jacksonville, FL I enjoyed your article on jaguars.com. Will you be doing more of those or was it only a one-time deal? I'm guessing they won't let you do a power ranking. I'm doing a story once a month during the season, in conjunction with their 25th anniversary celebration. Power ranking? Oh, I remember the asterisk: "Cheated in one game." I was walking from the press box to the radio booth, which required walking through the Gillette Stadium concourse and the crowd that was pouring into the stadium, when a fan pointed at me and yelled out, "There's the asterisk man!" Maybe I should do an asterisk in my new "Ask Vic" power rankings. "Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.
Lori from Brookfield, WI Vic, what should the Bears and the Vikings do about their quarterback situations at this point in the season? They have no choice but to coach around them. That's what Mike Tomlin did against the Bengals. He hit the Bengals with a wildcat package that incorporated some very imaginative jet sweep action. It added an extra dimension to the Steelers offense, decreased the number of plays Mason Rudolph was on the field and relieved some of the pressure on that young quarterback. Anybody who thinks Tomlin is an ordinary coach got an awakening on Monday night. I've never seen one coach more dramatically out-coach another coach as Tomlin out-coached Zac Taylor. I think we're going to see Matt Nagy do similar things as he looks for ways to play around his quarterback problem: a little Wing T, some misdirection, shifting, bunch formations, anything new that'll surprise the opponent and give future opponents more for which they must prepare. Mike Zimmer will probably lean harder on the running game. You can't play around the quarterback position forever, but you have to do what you can to get by. Find a way to win a game, then find a way to win another one. Matt from Philadelphia, PA You have stated the Jaguars need to receive at least two ones in return. Let's say they get that. Would the team trading for him be making a mistake in giving that much up? Yes, and that's one of the added benefits: You weaken the competition. The Jaguars owner is saying he believes the best thing for the Jaguars is to have Jalen Ramsey be part of the team. I disagree. I think Ramsey has been and will continue to be a distraction and irritation to the team concept Doug Marrone is attempting to create. I'll also say this for Ramsey's impact on the Jaguars: His notoriety is creating interest in the Jaguars. Maybe that's what the owner means when he says "I think right now the best thing is to have him be part of the team." Mike from McFarland, WI In the alternate universe where McCarthy was still coach and the Packers are 3-1, are the wolves calling for his head after that Eagles loss? Without a doubt. The wolves must howl, but they're smart enough not to waste a howl on a coach in just his fourth game, plus, the wolves know their howl is partly responsible for the new coach being hired, so they turn their howl on the quarterback. If the Packers don't stop the run this week, I predict the wolves will begin howling for Mike Pettine, even though the wolves' howl is partly responsible for Pettine's hire. Coaches coach, players play and wolves howl. For whom the wolves howl; they howl for thee. Kelly from Ellsworth, WI Can a team flip the switch and play big boy football, or is an identity forged during training camp? How can you forge a run-the-ball, stop-the-run mentality in a training camp that doesn't include nine-on-sevens or half-line drills? That's why September is the new preseason; that's when you begin to forge your identity because that's when real football begins. Did we see the Packers forge their identity against the Eagles? That's a question that will be answered this week in Dallas. John from Neptune Beach, FL Are we one step closer to professional college athletes? If you're asking me what the fallout will be from this new endorsement law, here it is: If the law is adopted nationwide -- the movement is on -- I think it'll further widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots of college football. I think it will further benefit programs such as Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma, which is to say schools in states where there won't be competition for the endorsement dollar with local professional athletes. Imagine what Tua could pull down in Alabama, or Trevor Lawrence in South Carolina. Jonathan Taylor would find plenty of endorsement money available in the Madison market, but the kid at Northwestern has no shot. Of course, this will help the schools in the minor league markets recruit the star players, leaving the schools in the major league markets to sift through the leftovers. More than ever, college football needs to agree to a strong central ruling body and Rozelle-like standardization, lest it become a game dominated by places where people don't live. We're already seeing signs of it and it's not good for the TV ratings. The endorsement law could be the kill shot to college football. Jacob from Green Bay, WI Do you see any similarities between the 2019 Chiefs and the 2011 Packers? The Packers were a one-trick pony. The Chiefs can do two tricks. Ben from El Paso, TX The Jaguars play the Panthers this week. What is your assessment of these two franchises since entering the NFL in 1995? The Panthers sold PSLs, the Jaguars didn't. That's the difference. Ben from Columbus, OH Obviously, October is a big month here for the Jags. What is your feeling on this team a quarter into the season? I like the Jaguars' schedule. They finish October with games against the Bengals and Jets. If the Jags can come out of October no worse than 4-4 -- I think they can be better than that -- they'll be poised to make a run in November when they play the Texans, Colts and Titans in consecutive weeks. Scott from Hamlin, NY Is it OK to get excited over how Mason Rudolph played on Monday? Not yet. His head is still swimming and I think he's going to struggle in the next two games. We're going to find out if he can be "The Man" following the bye week. Dexter from Green Bay, WI Half of the QBs in the league have at least a 2:1 TD:interception ratio. Twenty years ago, that would be unheard of. The NFL has made it easy to play QB. Is this really what we want? As I've written, it's never been easier to play quarterback, and that's exactly what we want because it's devaluing the position. All of a sudden, you can find your quarterback in later rounds or by affordable means: Prescott, Minshew, Allen, Rudolph, Brissett. I hope this trend continues. It's good for the game. Nick from Owego, NY How does Burfict's suspension affect the Raiders' salary cap? They'll get a credit. Billy from Verona, WI Vic, what did you mean by Gardner Minshew playing to the over and under throws like Drew Brees? The safest places to throw the football are in front of the coverage and behind it. The tight-window throws -- the intermediate-route passes into the teeth of the coverage -- are where interceptions live. The Steelers are doing the same thing with Rudolph the Jaguars are doing with Minshew: in front of the coverage and behind it. They're high-percentage throws that allow a young passer to get his feet on the ground and gain some confidence. What the Bills did with Nate Peterman was abusive. Adam from Cary, NC I really love the AFC South this year. It genuinely feels like any of the four teams could win it, and I love that. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the four could beat the Chiefs or the Pats, but it should be a fun ride through December. Who would you take at this juncture? When Mariota plays as he did last Sunday, the Titans are the best team in the AFC South. Stacy from Bettendorf, IA What was going on with Cam Robinson at the end of the game? He was hot and Leonard Fournette was yelling at him after the game. They were arguing about who was going to get the aisle seat on the way home. I could read Fournette's lips: "You had the aisle on the way here," he said. Hugh from Sioux Falls, SD I asked a college QB I know pretty well about Tua, what he sees and is he worth tanking to get. The young man said no to tanking. He sees him as a lesser Dak Prescott but with a ceiling of Russell Wilson. Vic, does that broad look fit with what you see? He's mobile, athletic and throws a great deep ball. At this point, he's not adept at making the other throws and, of course, he's lefthanded, which means a team picking him is going to have to pay left tackle money to two guys. Again, do you have to spend a No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback in today's game? Braden from Milwaukee, WI What makes a stadium great? Which have been your favorites over the years? For me, a great stadium possesses an unmistakably unique feel to it. The college stadiums have that going for them, whereas the NFL has largely abandoned feel for comfort and revenue streams. Lambeau Field managed to preserve one and achieve the other. Heinz Field offers stunning views. My all-time favorite football stadium is old Mountaineer Field. It made you feel as though you were in the game. Cassie from Darlington, WI What are your thoughts on Vontaze Burfict and his suspension? He didn't want to do it. He felt he owed it to him. Seriously, it was inevitable. |
AuthorVic Ketchman 
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