"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Vincent from Seattle, WA
Vic, who do you feel is the Packers 2019 draft pick that can contribute the most in his rookie season?
Need and value met when the Packers selected Jake Sternberger. It won't surprise me if he becomes the Packers' most productive rookie.

Don from Weaverville (wherever that is)
Do you believe players caught using PEDs should be barred from the Hall of Fame?
No, because the game is loaded with players that don't get caught.

Clark from Boise, ID
Your comments about the history of the NFL reminds me of the book "Johnny U: The Life and Times of John Unitas." Here's the opening line on the book jacket: "In a time when men played football for something less than a living and something more than money, John Unitas was the ultimate quarterback." It's a great read.
When I was young, football was a sport in which boys and young men proved their masculinity. I don't think it's viewed as such today.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, only one team wins the Super Bowl each year. How does a team define a successful season if it doesn't attain that goal?
The emergence and development of young talent makes a season successful, especially if it includes the emergence and development of a young quarterback. The 2008 season was a terrible year for the Packers, but it was obvious the Packers had a young quarterback on the rise, and that made the future look bright. In my mind, if your future is bright, all is well. I'd rather be 5-11 with a bright future than 11-5 with a cast of old players whose arrows are pointing down.

Tyler from Augusta, GA
Vic, who is your favorite actor and why?
It's Robert DeNiro and it's because he can do it all, from intense drama in the "Deer Hunter" to comedy in "Meet the Fockers." One of my favorite DeNiro films is "Bang The Drum Slowly." His performance saved the film from made-for-TV status.

Pete from Los Angeles, CA
Vic, what's behind the spate of anonymously sourced negative pieces on the Packers?
Last year's SI piece launched the Packers as a football soap opera. All of a sudden, everybody wanted to tell all on what was going on behind the scenes. The Packers had become the very thing Mike McCarthy mocked, drama.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Vic, I think it’s funny you’re still beating the McCarthy drum. This has me wondering if there has ever been a coach in the history of the league that needed to be fired, in your eyes. You say receivers are a dime a dozen. I say the same thing about coaches.
I'll tell you what isn't cheap: The money teams have to spend to pay off head coaches and their staffs when they're fired. I wish somebody would do an expose on what the Packers have spent on coaching dead money over the last two years.

Scott from Little Rock, AR
I was watching a re-broadcast of the 1969 "Game of the Century" between Arkansas and Texas. Do you have any memories of that game? I also noticed the wide receivers were in three-point stances. It looked so odd.
I loved to hear Beano Cook tell his story about that game. Beano was the media director for ABC TV when it was the network for college football. Prior to the start of the 1969 season, Beano noticed Texas and Arkansas were scheduled to play each other early in the season. He also saw it was likely both teams would be undefeated in what remained of their schedules. So Beano approached Texas and Arkansas with the idea of moving their game back to late in the season, with the idea they'd both be undefeated and Beano would bill the game as being for the national title. What Beano didn't expect was there would be another undefeated team, Penn State. Nixon jumped in on the national title angle and, all of a sudden, Beano's preseason idea was a huge controversy. It played out just as Beano had planned, but he would forever have to live with the fact no player on Texas or Arkansas had a pro career worth mentioning, while Penn State produced several NFL stars, including Mike Reid, Lydell Mitchell, Ted Kwalick and Franco Harris. Beano might be the best sports story teller of all time. Here's my favorite: When he was the SID at Pitt, Pitt had a star basketball player named Don Hennon. Beano had an idea for promoting Hennon for All-America. He would pose Hennon with Jonas Salk, who had just discovered the cure for polio, and bill Hennon and Salk as "two great Pitt shotmakers." Beano said he went to Salk with the idea. Salk just stared at him.

Justin from Dacula, GA
Vic, which members of this decade's extraordinary Seahawks defense would you predict make it into the Hall of Fame?
I don't see one. Their times at the top were short-lived.

Ryan from Green Bay, WI
Vic, I'm seeing Vikings fans getting shirts made that say "the cap isn't real" and praising the "cap genius" of Rick Spielman. We already saw the team have to restructure a veteran to free up room for a rookie. Can you put into words what happens when a team continuously keeps kicking the can down the road? In other words, why can't a team just infinitely keep pushing money into future years?
Eventually, you have to replace the players you've restructured. In many cases, injury ends their careers before age does. The money doesn't go away when a player's career ends. Whatever's left accelerates onto a team's cap. That usually means the team has to go through a season or two of cap repair. Only after that's complete can it begin the process of repairing the roster for the purpose of being competitive. The Vikings will not emerge from their current cap issues unscathed. The cap always wins.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, can anything be done now to keep a dominant group of players together on one team long enough to become a dynasty?
No. It's a game of replacement. A franchise can become a dynasty, but a team can't.

Richard from Jacksonville, FL
Gene Smith drafted a punter over Russell Wilson. Also, Kaepernick was available in the Gabbert draft, and he would have been a better option.
From 2004-2012, the Jaguars passed on Roethlisberger, Rodgers and Wilson. That's why losing has dominated.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Has anyone in the league fallen forward quite like Adam Gase?
What did the Jets see in Gase to cause them to go gaga about him? Gase over McCarthy? Did they watch the tape of the Dolphins-Packers game? Gase was completely out-coached.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
I was reading an article that says Joe Flacco has no intention of mentoring Drew Lock, he is only interested in winning games. Is there really such a thing as mentoring a fellow player, especially when one considers how short their careers are?
I don't understand why fans love the mentoring thing. The team pays coaches to mentor the players. I want to know the players are competing, not mentoring. I don't want them to be friends. I want them to be competitors. I want them to view every other player in the system to be a challenge to their roster spot. I like the edge.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, what distinguishes a boundary receiver?
Usually he's a tall receiver who can use the boundary to avoid bracket coverage and get up over a shorter defender and high-point the ball.

​Justin from Titonka, IA
What surprised you the most about this draft?
Quarterbacks weren't over-drafted. I was stunned Haskins and Lock lasted as long as they did.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Jake from Knoxville, TN
When the NFL eventually allows only two-point stances, how do you think it will affect the run game?
The easy answer is runs will all look like draw plays, but a rules change outlawing hand-on-the-ground stances would result in a wave of creativity similar to what happened following the rules changes of 1978. The game would change dramatically, maybe for the better. I think we'd see new blocking techniques, new ways of double-teaming, pulling, trapping and influence-blocking. Any kind of radical change in the rules is going to send coaches to the drawing board. I think it would be good for football because the game is beginning to look a little stale, especially the run game. It's mostly being used to achieve balance, instead of as a means for moving the ball. Change that and you devalue the quarterback position, and that might be just what the game needs.

Pat from Seneca, SC
What is the least popular opinion you have expressed in the history of "Ask Vic?"
It's probably my defense of Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy before they were fired.

Kyle from Osceola, WI
Vic, the Vikings just restructured a linebacker's contract just to fit an unproven first-round draft pick under the cap, and they still have a tight end to re-sign. I think I hear a train whistle.
When you reach the point of needing to re-structure players to sign other players, your car is stalled on the tracks and you're trapped in your seatbelt. It's win-now time for the Vikings. If they miss their window, they'll have a new coach in a year or two and they'll be starting over. Vic to everybody who wants to spend big to win now: This is what it looks like. Take care of the present and the present will rob you of your future.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Do you think the Browns now have all the pieces to make the playoffs and make some noise if they do?
Yes. Freddie Kitchens is the luckiest man in Cleveland.

Daniel from Richmond, TX
Your answer regarding Kliff Kingsbury got me thinking: Why hasn't the Mike Leach "Air Raid" offense been tried in the NFL before? He's been around a long time, but it seems his coaching tree is only now branching into the NFL.
We've discussed this before, but it bears repeating. College football has traditionally put its most talented players on offense, and it's created a talent mismatch favoring offense. That talent mismatch doesn't exist in the NFL. Most schemes require an element of balance between run and pass to succeed. Maybe Kingsbury will change that. We'll see.

Dave from Franklin, WI
Shortly after McCarthy was fired, it seemed fans and the media instantly focused on Murphy, questioning the current structure and, now, more worry. I haven't paid much attention or read any of the reports. Is it just me or does it seem the Packers fan base is looking for the next person to blame if they don't get the results they want?
That's true of any fan base. They worry. They want guarantees. Here's my guarantee: You don't win with plans, you win with people. Murphy's structure is common among teams with private ownership. The coach is in charge of coaching, the GM is in charge of personnel, the cap man is in charge of contracts and football ops spending, and all of them report to the owner. In this case, Mark Murphy is acting as an owner would. That structure will succeed if Murphy picked the right people. The Ron Wolf/Ted Thompson structure was successful because Wolf traded for Favre and Thompson drafted Rodgers. It also succeeded because Wolf and Thompson hired good coaches. One-voice structures have been successful in the past (the Jaguars were a one-voice system under Coughlin), but we're seeing fewer teams employ that type of structure because running a successful football franchise today requires more than one man's vision. I believe oversight is important. Maybe a lack of oversight is what the player's counsel was referring to as complacency. As I've written, the Packers' football department had become a fiefdom. It was untouchable. That needed to change. The new structure doesn't guarantee success, but the one-voice system wasn't working, was it? I applaud Murphy for having the courage to change it.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
The best slot cornerback in the NFL last season was an undrafted free agent rookie on the Patriots. How would you go about figuring out how the Patriots do it?
Bill Belichick is the best at evaluating talent and envisioning how it can be used in a specific role. That's his genius.

Sal from Austin, TX
In retrospect, was Gene Smith an incompetent? If he wasn't, what happened?
Smith's reign as Jaguars GM coincided with a drought at the quarterback position in the draft. At one point, his best options were Tim Tebow and Jimmy Clausen. In 2011, he couldn't wait any longer; Smith had to pick a quarterback and his options were Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton. Gabbert was a bust. Dalton would've been a better pick, but I doubt he would've been a difference-maker for Smith and the Jaguars. What if Smith had been the Jaguars' GM in 2004. As the team's college scouting director, he wanted to pick Roethlisberger. How about in 2005? Would he have picked Rodgers? Those options weren't available to him when he became GM in '09. Timing is an important ingredient in success.

Ethan from Ontario, Canada
Vic, you have so much potential for merchandise. I mean, who reading this wouldn’t buy an "OK" shirt?
OK is such a wonderful word. It can mean "I agree with you." It can also mean "That's the dumbest thing I've ever read."

Matt from Eau Claire, WI
I always get a kick out of watching old game footage. What about the game caused quarterbacks to start sidestepping instead of backpedaling when they take the snap?
It was the move from two-gapping to penetrate-and-disrupt defensive schemes. The quarterback had to set up more quickly.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, since Aaron Rodgers became a Bucks owner, the team has risen from years of mediocrity to become dominant. How influential has Rodgers been in that transformation?
They're calling better plays now.

Jake from Eden Prairie, MN
Vic, what are your thoughts on Adam Gase having complete control of the Jets now?
I can't help but think of that picture of him with the crazy eyes. That's the guy you want in control of your franchise? I have to believe it's a temporary situation. Here's what I don't like about one man having complete control of a team: He might do what's best for him instead of doing what's best for the franchise. In my opinion, an active and on-the-job owner in control of the franchise guarantees policy favoring a blend of the present and future. Coaches and general managers often become myopic. They can leave you with a mess. The Packers have a unique situation; they're publicly owned. Mark Murphy has created a system of checks and balances. I think it favors accountability.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

David from Madison, WI
Orwell wrote, "Mechanization leads to a decay of taste, the decay of taste leads to the demand for machine-made articles and, hence, to more mechanization, and so a vicious cycle is established." Does this idea apply to media? Humor? I hope you feel as good as you look.
I always viewed my job with a simple formula in mind: See it, feel it, write it. Jim Murray lost his eyesight but he could still feel and write. I never felt machine-like. I could always feel the storyline, as well as underlying storylines, and find the words inside me. They weren't always great words, but they were my words. I've always tried to write from my heart.

Nicholas from Owego, NY
Which NFL rookie are you most excited to watch?
It's a three-way tie: Rashan Gary, Josh Allen, Devin Bush.

Dan from Davenport, IA
Since the draft, I've read a number of experts who think Rashan Gary has a high chance of being a bust. While I know only time will tell with Gary, I am wondering if you can give an example of a player taken early in the draft who the draftniks thought had high bust potential but turned out to be a success in line with where he was drafted.
Franco Harris comes to mind. He was the 13th pick of his draft. His head coach didn't even like the pick.

Ross from L'Anse, MI
"Get 'em good or get 'em gone" may be my favorite Vicism. When do you decide to get 'em gone? How patient are you going to be?
In year one, you have to be patient with the player. In year two, you have to be patient with yourself. In year three, it's get 'em good or get 'em gone.

​Milan from New York
You often mention Lynn Swann and his grace and beauty on the field, and rightly so. My first live NFL game was Browns at Giants at a frigid Yankee Stadium in 1967. I was taken aback by how primitive it was, just a bunch of guys falling on top of each other, with one exception. Like a gazelle among a herd of cattle, Paul Warfield. I spent most of the game, when the Browns had the ball, watching him run patterns.
Warfield might be the most talented receiver in history, but nobody is going to state that opinion because Warfield only caught 427 passes; Jerry Rice caught nearly four times as many. Of course, Warfield played in the run-the-ball era, as Swann did. Rice couldn't run or jump as Warfield and Swann did, he wasn't as athletic, and Rice played his career with the aid of gloves; Warfield and Swann played au naturel. I encourage all young fans to look beyond the stats. Football's history is fascinating. I think it's every bit as strong as baseball's.

Scott from Little Rock, AR
Do you recall if Tony Pauline had an opinion of Jason Spriggs as a second-round draft choice? What is your opinion of the pick now? Thanks for your column!
Tony thought Spriggs looked like Tarzan, played like Jane. I think it's time to get him good or get him gone.

Deb from Camarillo, CA
I'm visiting Wisconsin for Mother's Day and shocked by the Journal Sentinel front page article by Tom Silverstein, "Cracks in the Pack?" Your thoughts?
First of all, Tom is a sensational reporter. Be that as it may, these anonymous-attribution exposes on the Packers have become a little too trendy for my tastes. Hire a five-million-dollar special teams coach? Not on a team I own. That's absurd. Strongly encouraged to retain Mike Pettine? That's surprising? They just hired him. Payoffs are a you know what, and it's a you know what having to pay the salaries of coaches who are coaching against you. When Bill Cowher was hired, he was told Dick Hoak would remain the team's running backs coach. Hoak was a Steeler for life. That kind of thing happens all of the time. It's not heavy-handed or meddling, it's sound management by ownership that was there before the coach arrived and will be there after the coach is gone. Coaches should not be granted a blank check or free rein. That's what creates football fiefdoms. There needs to be oversight. Mark Murphy is being wronged with this stuff.

David from Washington, DC
I was just watching some "Legion of Boom" highlights and they were really good. It's crazy it took about five superstars to make that defense what it was. So much is needed to dominate on that side of the ball.
At the least, it takes an in-space pass rusher, and in-line butt kicker, a let-me-alone cover corner and eight role-players.

Adam from Chippewa Falls, WI
If Ron Wolf didn't hire the right head coach or understand free agency better than anyone else at its dawn, his first trade would have never achieved greatness.
He won one Super Bowl. If that's the standard of greatness, then Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy also achieved greatness. McCarthy only made one mistake. He stayed. The rest of them, including Lombardi, left before the wolves began to howl. McCarthy was punished for his commitment.

Jordan from LaCrosse, WI
What will we all be talking about 20 years from now?
If what we see on TV could be computer-generated visually, I honestly believe the NFL could be as successful as it is today without having to build stadiums, pay players, coaches, etc. I honestly believe characters (players, coaches, game officials) could be created and scripted in such a way to captivate audiences. Bad calls, replay reviews and controversies could be scripted weekly to create a kind of football soap opera. Sports writers would rule the game! Maybe that's where we're headed.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
When will we know if LaFleur has what it takes to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers?
We already know he has what it takes to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers because he is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. What you want to know is when will we know if he has what it takes to be a winning coach? We'll know it when we see it.

Jake from Wisconsin
On paper, it appears the defense has much more talent than the past few years. Could you please provide your opinion on the chances of Green Bay's defense ending up in the top 10 for scoring? What about top five?
You mean points allowed? Let me put it this way: After what the Packers have invested on the defensive side of the ball the last two years, if the performance of this defense doesn't begin trending toward the top third of the league, the team needs to begin questioning its DNA.

Ethan from Ontario, Canada
Rodgers looked more excited when talking about LaFleur's offense than I’ve seen him in quite some time. It’s nice to see offseason hope extend to the players, as well. Everyone seems excited about the Packers offseason. Are you?
I swallowed the baloney (I didn't call it baloney) back in 2008 with the Jaguars. I tap-danced and sang happy songs all offseason long. I didn't want to do it; I felt I owed it to them. When the season ended 5-11, I apologized and promised I would never do it again. Yes, I have high hopes for the Packers this season, but to this point I've been able to control my excitement.

Kevin from Silverdale, WA
Vic, I am keeping an open mind with the current receiving corps because they really did flash at times last year. The real reason for my belief in them, though, stems from your counsel to people who said Adams was a bust halfway though his second year.
He was a boundary receiver who didn't find the boundary until that playoff game in Washington. That was the turning point. In every player, identify what you believe can be his role, and then hold him to that standard. It was easy for me to identify Davante Adams as a boundary-type receiver. I haven't been able to identify roles for the current cast of young receivers. That needs to happen this season. When it does, confidence in their futures and contributions will grow.

​Brian from Kingston, NY
I saw a report the Cardinals offense will be run out of shotgun 99 percent of the time. Is Kliff Kingsbury destined to be another Chip Kelly, or does this have a chance to work?
It's the future of the game: spread formations intended to create favorable matchups, an up-tempo pace intended to increase the plays count, mobile quarterbacks extending plays and stretching defenses sideline to sideline. Kelly didn't have the players to do it. Make no mistake, that kind of offense is more about scheming personnel than it is about scheming schemes. You have to have the talent to win in space. Kingsbury is a Kelly kind of college coach. Kingsbury's success or failure will determine whether pro football is ready, yet, to step into its future.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Vic, after reading the list of Vicisms in the column, I can say a  first edition "Ask Vic" mug is still going strong here. It bears my first coffee of the day every morning and my favorite is still "My inbox is a place of great anger," which was after every Jags loss. I hope you and the column continue for as long as possible! Thank you.
The Jaguars CFO used that coffee mug to explain why it was a mistake for the owners to have agreed to the CBA that preceded the current one. It was a total football revenue (TFR) model that paid players 60 percent of the gross. "The players will get 60 percent of the gross from sales of your coffee mug, leaving you with 40 percent of the gross to pay 100 percent of the costs," he said. We stopped selling the coffee mug.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Vic, many readers probably write in with takes on your football opinions. Some even on your political opinions. I like how, rather than engaging in a debate, you simply reply OK. However, you have said on many occasions the questions help write the column. By simply saying OK, the readers are, in fact, writing the column. Personally, I think your political opinions are reflective of someone in today's media. You know, like someone who's kind of out of touch. I'll let others comment on your football opinions being out of touch. OK?
OK.

Anthony from Milwaukee, WI
So it wasn’t Dom Capers' fault the defense struggled. It was a talent problem. Which falls on Ted Thompson, who had spent the majority of this decade's top draft picks on defense, yet, the Packers still had no defense. But he deserves to go into the Packers Hall of Fame because he got his first draft pick right?
Ron Wolf is in the Packers Hall of Fame because he got his first trade right. GMs are defined by what they do at quarterback.

Grant from Plymouth, MN
A "powerful bull rush" was also Nick Perry's thing, I think.
It is. I attribute Nick's failures with the Packers to his inability to avoid injury. I also think Nick is a little too well-adjusted to be a star defensive player. I don't think football is the most important thing in his life. Outrage!

Justin from Madison, WI
What did you make of Matt Nagy's 43-yard kicking competition at rookie mini-camp? If you were head coach of the Bears, would you be dwelling on the double doink or would your message to the team be more focused on moving on?
It's kind of hokey, certainly not something Chuck Noll would've done, but I'm going to give Nagy a thumb's up on it. He was sending a message to his kickers specifically and to his team in general: Make the plays that win games. If you're going to act out this kind of melodrama, spring is the time to do it.

​Will from Salt Lake City, UT
It's unfortunate you did not have as close of a relationship with Ted Thompson as you may have when you worked with other teams, but what with the owners, like Mark Murphy, for other teams you covered? I love how Murphy is engaging to the fans and truly believe your column helped inspire that.
Mark sat next to me in the press box. We had conversations during the game that helped me enjoy the event. The future of the Packers couldn't be entrusted to a better person. Mark is a brilliant man who's going to give the Packers a more blended, outgoing and accommodating personality. I thought the Packers' personality got a little stale and aloof in the years I worked there, especially after the remodeling of the football operations space created a kind of football fiefdom. Mark has torn down the walls. Owners for the other teams I covered? I love them all. The Rooneys are great people, regular people with whom I always felt a sense of brotherhood in the fraternity of football. One of my Vicisms comes straight from Dan Rooney: "You find football players  where you find football players." Former Jaguars ower Wayne Weaver transitioned my career from ink to digital. I am forever indebted to him.

Greg from Cuenca, Ecuador
Vic, would you comment on the trend among athletes to avoid the press but roll out their "blockbuster takes" on HBO or whatever other outlet will pay them for content?
"Checkbook journalism" isn't journalism. I don't begrudge anyone from maximizing their income, but players who don't take advantage of the free and honorable media available to them are making a big mistake. It's an opportunity to communicate with mainstream fans and create an image that'll last a lifetime.

Dan from Waupun, WI
In your long career, what quality do all good athletes have? Sports people talk about first in, last out, football IQ, quick hips, etc. Is there a tell you have noticed in top athletes?
Their movements are fluid. The grace of Swann, the flick of Bradshaw's arm, the lateral slide of Boselli, Rodgers' ease.

Carwyn from Carmarthen, Wales
I recall you being very positive about the Jerry Porter acquisition at the time. Were you surprised he didn't work out, or did you have to be a company man on that one?
I had preached the message of draft the best available player and free agency is a trap for fools for so long I eventually wore out. Almost nobody agreed with me. The Jaguars were coming off a strong finish that nearly took them to the Super Bowl, and the feeling heading into 2008 was the Jaguars were only a player or two away. They needed to find a pass rusher and a wide receiver, so they traded up to draft pass rushers in the first and second rounds, and they signed Porter to a big contract in free agency. Instead of being a killjoy, I decided to join the parade of fans that delighted in deluding themselves.  Everybody liked me  and it made for a pleasant offseason. After the Jaguars finished 5-11, I apologized to my readers for not being true to my beliefs.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, based on your last blog post, it looks like ILB is the panic position for Packers fans this year. Personally, I’m not convinced Jimmy Graham is the answer at TE. You’ve shared concerns about the receiver corps. Is WR still your main concern for the Packers?
It's the offensive line, especially right tackle.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Do you see the Packers being able to rush four most of the time and apply pressure, or will their be a fifth rusher coming from somewhere else most of the time?
If the Packers aren't bringing five, they're wasting two.

Beau from Lancaster, PA
What are your thoughts on the derby debacle?
The horse doesn't care so I don't either.

​Joe from Bloomington, IN
Keke dominated the Senior Bowl. Sleeper of the draft?
It's possible. The Senior Bowl is a good test of a player's skill. Be that as it may, Montravius Adams also dominated the Senior Bowl. The draft is amazingly unpredictable. After applying all of the information accumulated on a prospect, there's no guarantee of how a player will perform or when you'll know for sure what his level of performance will be. Maybe this will be Adams' breakout year. In my opinion, all you can do is collect the best talent available to you, be committed and patient with it as you coach it up, and hope.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
I realize all personnel decisions carry an element of risk, but do you think teams ever get so blinded by what they see as potential reward they take too much of a risk?
Try to catch lightning in a bottle? Yeah, teams do it, especially teams drafting at the bottom of the order and the talent available to them isn't likely to make an impact and may even have difficulty making it onto their talented roster. So, they leave their board and take a flier on a guy with big upside but who wasn't especially productive in college, or who was injured in college and there's limited information on him, or he's a small-college guy and poor competition pushed him down the board. I remember the Steelers drafting in the first round a running back from Baylor who missed his senior season due to a hip injury. They fell in love with his size, speed and upside. Did the Packers try to catch lightning in a bottle with Nick Perry? The Jaguars did it with R. Jay Soward. When you're drafting at the bottom, there's a tendency to reach because in most cases the safe pick isn't attractive.

Jerry from Grantsburg, WI
If both Savage and Gary live up to the expectations of their draft position, how good can the Packers' defense be?
Gary, Savage, Alexander, King, Jackson, Amos and the Smith Bros. are high-profile additions to that defense over the last three years. I think it's reasonable to have high hopes for the Packers defense.

Wade from Jacksonville, FL
My top 10 Vicisms over the years: 10. No cheering in the press box. 9. Get the big guys early. 8. Players, not plays. 7. Picks, not players. 6. Run the ball. 5. Stop the run. 4. Help is not on the way. 3. The QB must go down and the quarterback must go down hard. 2. Basketball on grass. 1. I like to watch. Are there new Vicisms you might add for today's game?
The quarterback must run and the quarterback must run fast.

Jono from Milwaukee, WI
Why don’t the Packers value the middle linebacker position? It feels like it has been forever since we have had a difference-maker at the position.
If you're playing the Seahawks you still have need for run-stuffers inside but, by and large, inside linebackers have been replaced by nickel and dime defensive backs.

Anthony from Milwaukee, WI
“There are so many to choose from.” Did you write that with a smile?
From which to choose, Anthony, from which to choose.

​Josh from Madison, WI
Thanks for not ending that sentence with a preposition, Vic.
OK.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, what do you think of this division sandwich the Packers have been served, where they have one game against a division rival between mid-September and mid-December?
I'm not a big fan of division games early in the season, but the league has done a lot of intra-division scheduling in recent years and I think the intent might be to encourage teams to play their starters more in the preseason and reward the teams that do and penalize the teams that don't. It can help level the playing field between a young team that played its starters in the preseason vs. a veteran team that rested its starters in the preseason. In the Packers' case, I don't see a particular advantage or disadvantage in the first two games. If there is one, it's Matt LaFleur will present an unscouted look.

Sean from Brighton, MI
I get the feeling the Packers drafted Gary at 12 only because of his performance at the underwear Olympics. His stats at Michigan don’t jump out at you and he was considered by most Michigan fans as an underachiever. When you watch his tape, what do you see?
I see a powerful bull rush.

Wayne from Beavercreek, OH
Allison’s stats over the first four games of 2018 project to 76 receptions, 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns over a full season. Valdes-Scantling had the same number of catches as Davante Adams his rookie year with 130 more yards. Most importantly, both pass the eye test to me. When will you be excited?
I'm beginning to feel it.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
What do you see the Packers doing at inside linebacker?
Stopping the run on the way to the quarterback.

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL
The recent discussion regarding the value of receivers leads me to ask: What was the problem with the Jaguars' receivers during the David Garrard era? If receivers are dime a dozen, then that would basically mean the team's scouting was just that bad, right? Or were there other factors contributing to the woes of the passing game?
The Jaguars over-drafted Reggie Williams and Matt Jones. They were trying to give Byron Leftwich the weapons he needed to be successful and they played fast and loose with their board. Some teams had a third-round grade on Williams. Jones was a classic lightning-in-a-bottle pick. He was making a position switch. They followed those two misses by drafting a tight end, who turned out to be a better blocker than he was a receiver. A good roster was wasted on bad decisions at wide receiver, including at least one senseless free agent acquisition, Jerry Porter.

Gordon from Fayetteville, NC
To underscore what you have said over the past several years, with all the additions to the defense the Packers have made recently, maybe the problem was not Dom Capers.
The problem was not Dom Capers.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
I was thinking about the article that said Rodgers would call as much as 80 percent of his own plays. Then I thought about the 2014 game against the Pats when their coach said something along the lines of he was out-coached by McCarthy. What if he was out-coached by Rodgers?
Bill Belichick was referring to Mike McCarthy's game plan that resulted in a matchup advantage (Davante Adams on a smallish defensive back) that was the difference in the outcome. Design and game plan are more important than play-calling.

Michael from Eau Claire, WI
Vic, I thought the induction of Ted Thompson into the Packers Hall of Fame was pretty sweet. Do you have any thoughts, reflections or stories worth sharing?
We weren't close; I wish that wasn't true. What I can tell you is I always respected the work he did. I agreed with his draft philosophy and defended it, and I think he is absolutely worth a place in the Packers Hall of Fame.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Charlie from Waukesha, WI
Ignoring need and value for a moment, but considering the rules favor offense, would it be prudent for teams to tilt their draft boards toward defensive players earlier in the draft?
Your board tilts naturally toward what the draft has to offer. This year, the draft seemed to be tilted toward defense early. Running backs and wide receivers didn't begin populating the picks until the second round. So, if you're picking the best available player, your tendency would've been to pick for defense early in the first round and for offense in the second round.

John from Clovis, CA
I love your insight, Vic. You said you’re not a fan or don’t understand the Packers picking Gary. I thought I understood your belief was you can’t have too many big guys and pash rushers count as big guys. With injuries and rotations, I thought he was a great pick. Am I wrong?
The Packers spent big on two pass rushers and a safety in free agency. Then, in the draft, they used their first two picks on a pass rusher and a safety. Something about that struck me as overkill. That's what I was expressing. Neither Gary nor Savage was a reach. They fit where they were picked. From a value standpoint, the picks are fine. Could the Packers have found a way to pick for need as well as for value? After what they did in free agency, I don't think the need at pass rusher and safety was as intense as the Packers' picks make it appear.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
You say receivers are a dime a dozen and then you say you thought the Packers should have picked a receiver in round two. What has you so low on Allison, Davis, Kumerow, MVS, EQ and Moore?
I guess I just don't see what everyone else is seeing. I acknowledge the possibility I'm wrong.

Brian from Kingston, NY
Do you think with the new head coach the starting offense will get more reps in the preseason than we are used to seeing? Or will practice and training camp suffice for the veterans?
That's a good question. We can't know what Coach LaFleur's philosophy is on risking injury to his starters in the preseason for the sake of "peaking" for the start of the regular season. I'll say this: Whatever his philosophy is, the Packers better be ready to go when they open in Chicago. The first two games of the year will have a huge impact on the Packers' division title hopes and playoff chances in 2019.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
I liked the Jaguars' 2019 draft because they got the big men early and often. Do they have enough talent along the offensive line and the defensive front to consistently win the line of scrimmage next season? Will that be enough to help Nick Foles and the offense or should there still be concerns about the quality of their playmakers?
The Jaguars have a strong enough roster to go deep into the playoffs. Their fate is in the hands of Foles.

Justin from Fayetteville, AR
Vic, I’m a little surprised you don’t seem to like the Gary pick because of the free agency moves. You taught me you draft for talent and not need, you draft the player and not the position, and you get the big guys first because there are only so many of them. I feel you can never have too many guys that can rush the passer. Do you not like Gary’s pro prospects specifically, or would you just not draft any edge rusher No. 12 after the two signings last month?
If he was clearly the top guy on their board and the Packers couldn't or didn't want to move down, then they made the right pick, and I get the sense he was their guy and they weren't open to trading back. I have some reservations about Rashan Gary: 1) He was outplayed by Chase Winovich, despite Gary being put in the premier pass-rush position. 2) There are concerns about a possible shoulder injury.

Ian from Kirkwhelpington, England
I am excited by the deep threat St. Brown and Valdes-Scantling could be for the Packers this year. You commented the Packers needed to draft a WR, so are you not feeling the excitement I am?
Give me some time.

Jesse from Anaconda, MT
What kinds of stories did you most enjoy writing?
I always liked writing stories about big games, especially the high-drama big games. As much as it pained me to pen the details of the "Fail Mary" and the 2014 NFC title game, the drama of those game's events challenge a writer to seize the moment. I always felt a strong sense of urgency to be up to the task of writing about a game for the ages, so to speak. It's a game fans will Google 50 years from now and they'll see my byline, and I want what I've written to be worthy of such an historical moment. Those who've been entrusted with chronicling great moments bear a responsibility to record those events with flair and distinction.

Bret from Milani, HI
Who was your favorite draft pick from each of your three teams?
Ryquell Armstead -- Look out, Leonard. Jace Sternberger -- Rodgers will make him a star. Sutton Smith -- Small pass rusher with short arms and who was out of his element at the Senior Bowl. I love those kinds of stories.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
Are wide receivers a dime a dozen?
They were in this draft. None were selected until pick 25, and then 10 were selected from pick 32-67. This was a classic dime-a-dozen draft. They didn't go early, but when they started to go, they came off the board in bunches. I don't like drafting wide receivers high or spending big on them in free agency. This draft was a good fit for the position.

Dave from Lake Elmo, MN
Saw this quote from GM Gutekunst about Rashan Gary: "Really, since February, we’ve been locked in on him." What does that mean? Should that make me feel reassured or nervous?
It means they fell in love with Gary at the combine. It means they did exhaustive research on him and they love his talent, his character and his personality, all of which the Packers believe make Gary a fit for them. That should be reassuring.

Jeff from Miami, FL
My favorite comments during the draft broadcast are how many times the announcers say a player should have been drafted higher. Isn't there some simple math involved? Same number of teams and rounds each year.
The draft coverage was too soft and promotional this year. Oh, for the days of "Who in the hell is Mel Kiper?" All of the glitz and popularity of the draft as we know it today is built on those words.

Dan from Madison, WI
If Gute's focus on defense means he didn't believe they had enough talent there, what does his lack of attention to offense tell us?
He picked an  offensive lineman and a tight end high enough to have expressed a  sense of need in those areas, but his failure to pick a wide receiver, especially when they were going off the board rapid fire, suggests he likes what he has at the position.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, who will be the biggest playmaker on the Packers defense in 2019?
I have to believe it'll be one of the pass rushers, but which one? There are so many from which to choose.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Alan from Albuquerque, NM
Vic, did someone tell the Packers defense wins games?
Brian Gutekunst's first two drafts tell us what he thought of the Packers' talent on defense: There wasn't any.

Milan from New York
Wow! It's so much easier to get better draft picks after a losing season than after a winning one.
If you want to draft well, lose.

Ben from Chicago, IL
Vic, did we pass up on a Bakhtiari by trading those fourth-round picks?
The Packers could've stayed at 30 and picked Jawaan Taylor, and everybody would've praised the Packers for getting such great value and still have addressed need, but then they wouldn't have safety Darnell Savage. What if they had traded back a few spots from 12 and picked Savage, and then have taken Taylor at 30? Do you like Savage and Taylor better than Gary and Savage? Did the Packers really need to spend their first pick on a pass rusher after having spent a good chunk of their salary cap on signing pass rushers in free agency?

Christopher from Marina Del Rey, CA
Feel like sharing your draft grades on Pitt, Jax and Green Bay?
C,B,C. The Steelers went flat on day three. The Jaguars were a solid A until they reached for Quincy Williams. The Packers didn't address need at wide receiver, and they had several solid opportunities to do it.

Andy from Munich, Germany
Wow! Tony Pauline picked Jawaan Taylor for the Jags and Devin Bush for the Steelers. Moreover, in his online column, Tony picked Savage for the Packers. Amazing mock drafting!
He's my man.

James from Columbia, MD
Have you ever gotten your eyes on a team's draft board? If so, how wrong are the draftniks out there?
I saw one once but didn't study it because it would've been disrespectful of the situation that permitted it. It's proprietary information and it needs to be treated as such. The scouts won't work with you if they can't trust you. The draftniks? They do great work. Without them, the draft wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable for us. Remember this: Everybody is right and everybody is wrong because everybody's opinion isn't the same. That's what makes the draft the fun event it is. The big difference between draftniks grading the players and the teams picking the players is the draftniks over-analyze, whereas the teams are looking for a guy who can play a specific role on the team. That's especially true of the late-round picks. I'll use Benny Snell as an example. The draftniks go into great detail about Snell's physical limitations. The Steelers see a guy who scored 48 touchdowns. My guess is Snell will be cast in the role of a goal-line runner.

Lance from Lincoln, NE
It seems the Jags will always be the Jags. Taking Quincy Williams in the third round? Bryan Anger, Part II.
By all appearances, the Jaguars reached big time for Williams, but nobody can criticize the Jaguars for not staying true to their board. Williams is the biggest head-scratcher since Tom Coughlin drafted a long-snapper from Canada who had a name that made him sound like a hockey player.

Curtis from Racine, WI
I asked my 30-something son during the draft why Ohio State quarterback Haskins was upset being drafted No. 15 overall? He said he wanted to be drafted higher. I said to my son, "That's the difference between your generation and my generation. Just being drafted was all we wanted; a chance to play in the NFL, no matter where we were drafted."
Our generation didn't have three-network coverage of the draft. For the first several years of my career, I covered the draft in a smoke-filled media room at Three Rivers Stadium. There was no TV because Kiper had yet to invent it. There was an easel that displayed a picks order. When a pick was made, the Steelers' PR guy would come into the room and write the name on the picks order. We laughed when it was announced ESPN would telecast live coverage of the draft. How will they fill time, we giggled? Mel Kiper is one of the most important men in NFL history. He has created something that rivals the Super Bowl in hype and in promotional value to the NFL. Your son is a product of the Kiper era of the NFL.

Jesse from Akaska, SD
If the draft were to happen in New England, would anyone’s headsets work in selection square?
Intermittently.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, what's the most common mistake teams make during the draft and which team is least prone to committing this error?
Teams reach. They know it's a no-no but they still do it. They fall in love with a guy or become obsessed with addressing a need, and they'll even go so far as to change their boards to defend their decision to draft him. The Jaguars did it with Byron Leftwich. Bill Belichick won't reach. He targets players he likes -- Chase Winovich is the next Mike Vrabel -- but he won't reach for them. I think Belichick learned his lesson from the Kyle Brady/Craig Powell fiasco.

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Apart from the three teams you covered, which team's draft choices were of most interest, whether due to them getting value or seemingly reaching out of need? Personally, the Broncos' approach struck me as somewhat odd in stepping away from the top 10, considering their roster needs the type of quality and youth that was available in the top 12-15 before the drop off.
The Broncos' draft is intriguing because the perception is they got a first-round quarterback who fell into the second round. Drew Lock will define the Broncos' 2019 draft. He's the kind of pick who can change the course of history for a franchise. So, why did he fall? Paxton Lynch was thought to have fallen fortuitously to the Broncos, but he's a bust. Is Lock the next Elway or the next Lynch? I like the Lock pick. If there's one draft class I don't like, it's the Lions'. A tight end with the eighth overall pick? With Oliver, Bush and Wilkins on the board, the Lions picked a tight end?

Steve from Hudson, WI
I learned something from the Internet today. All the pics for all the teams could have been better. Doesn't take a genius to see that. What were they thinking drafting that guy? Draft day sure brings out the draft experts.
The draft is like marriage proposal: They all look good in the beginning. Hey, enjoy it while you can.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, you often say the draft is a crystal ball business. What does your crystal ball say about Daniel Jones and the Giants?
I get the feeling the Giants picked for the coach, instead of for the franchise.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, do you think the Packers would have picked Devin Bush had the Steelers not moved up to get him? Do you think this move will live in Packers/Steelers draft infamy, a la T.J. Watt/Kevin King?
The thought had crossed my mind, but the Steelers trade-up was expected, so the Packers had plenty of time to prepare for it. There's no chance the Packers got caught off guard and picked Rashan Gary because he was the closest thing to Bush. With Haskins on the board, I have to believe the Packers could've done a deal with the Redskins to move back a few spots and pick Gary, if the Packers had gotten caught off guard with the Bush pick. I get the sense Gary was the Packers' guy and they liked him right where they picked him.

Rick from El Cerrito, CA
What is Tony Pauline's opinion about the draft for the Jags, Packers and Steelers?
Jags -- "Surprised by the Josh Allen pick. Reminds me of the Dante Fowler pick. Taylor, Oliver and Armstead are outstanding selections." Steelers -- "Love their draft. Good players that are perfect fits. All of their picks will make an active roster or practice squad." Packers -- "I like the offensive players they selected but don't understand the first two selections based on the great job they did in free agency." Hmmm. "Tony, you picked Savage for the Packers in a mock draft. What don't you like, I said?" "I did. I'm smarter than I remember," Tony said. "I don't dislike him. It's more Gary I don't understand after free agency. The way things fell, I probably would've considered N'Keal Harry or A.J. Brown at 30."

Mike from Somerset, WI
Are you able to expand on Brian Gutekunst's comment the NFL is a third-down league?
If you can't rush the passer, you can't get off the field on third down. The Packers should certainly be able to rush the passer.

Bob from Green Bay, WI
Overall, I understand the picks. Gute worked hard at revamping the defense. But the thing I dislike most about the Packers' draft this year is it's another year they don't pick a skill position in the first round in Rodgers' tenure. Can only do so much. Would have liked to see an offensive player taken in one of the top two picks. Your thoughts?
A wide receiver didn't get picked until pick No. 25. I'm OK with not picking a WR in round one. Round two is when the wide receivers began popping up. I thought the Packers might've grabbed a guy from that bunch. The two guys from Ole Miss are intriguing. So is Campbell from Ohio State. The slot receiver the Steelers picked from Toledo would be a good prospect to replace Randall Cobb. No surprise in round one, especially after trading up, but after that, yeah, I was surprised.

​Bruce from Bloomington, IL
Was this an Al Davis draft? Speed first?
This was a Charles Darwin draft. It seemed as though everybody picked was related to somebody who played in the league. Fathers and sons, brothers, cousins, etc. Matt Snell's grandson? It's evolution. When in doubt, draft bloodlines.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Geoff from Beaver Dam, WI
I stumbled upon a QB named Earl Morrall while reading about the 1956 draft that famously had Bart Starr in it. Morrall was the second overall pick, played 22 seasons, was a three-time Super Bowl champ, league MVP and has better numbers than Starr. Why is Morrall not in the Hall of Fame? Does playing for as many teams as he did hurt his resume?
Morrall is an example of how stats can lie. His career is largely considered to have been a disappointment. As strong as his body of work is, no one would ever nominate him for induction into the Hall of Winners. He will forever be remembered for being benched in Super Bowl III and in the 1972 AFC title game.

Bret from Mililani, HI
What do you think about the Frank Clark trade?
I think the Chiefs could be a snowman.

Bob from Green Bay, WI
Will you be doing a special Friday inbox for draft coverage? Also, any last minute draft predictions for the three (Steelers, Packers, Jaguars) teams you mostly cover?
I'm sticking with my Monday/Thursday schedule. I asked Tony Pauline for his prediction for the Jags', Packers' and Steelers' first picks. Tony said: "Jaguars, Juwaan Taylor. Packers, Jonah Williams. Steelers, Devin Bush. Taylor has medical issues (back/knee). If the Jags flag him, they could take Jonah Williams at seven." If the Jags take Williams, who will the Packers pick, I asked? "Drew Lock or T.J. Hockenson," Tony said.

Brian from Madison, WI
Well, Vic, next time we hear from you the draft will be over. Any final thoughts before it begins?
Every team has its targets. At this point, it's all about the luck of the draw and fitting yourself to your picks. My perspective on the draft changed several years ago when former Eagles GM Tom Modrak, who made the Donovan McNabb pick, told me it wasn't important to get all of the prospects right, just the ones you pick. Tom has passed but his words live inside me. The big board is really a very little board.

Scott from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, your sarcastic answer to the question about win-lose records for the upcoming season made me smile. A better question might be do you think the Packers will make the playoffs this year?
The Packers have a star quarterback and seemingly fixed their defense in free agency. Not making it into the postseason would be a disappointment.

Mikey from Tallahassee, FL
What do you think of the draft being held in a different city every year? Are there any cities that do not have a franchise that would be considered to host the event?
It's genius. The NFL has created another Super Bowl-type event. London would be the city. It would be a great way to test the market and bait it for launching an international franchise.

Tim from Ocala, FL
Am I wrong for wanting the Jags to draft a QB at seven? I'm cautiously optimistic about Nick Foles, but I am also aware of his injury history and sporadic play. I understand the idea of getting a day one contributor on defense or help for Foles, but the Jags have mismanaged the most important position in football for most of the decade. I think it's time for that to change and I don't think the Jags need another re-run of the Cody Kessler show, should Foles go down.
I'm big on drafting the best available player, but I acknowledge the uniqueness of the quarterback position: You only want one guy to play at that position. When you commit as much of your cap to one guy as the Jags have to Foles, should they also commit the biggest part of their draft class and even more of their cap to a player they don't want to have to play? Knowing Tom Coughlin as I do, I don't see the Jags picking a quarterback. Foles is Coughlin's guy and Coughlin will use his top pick to address his No. 1 need. I hope Foles is "The Man."

Daniel from Richmond, TX
You've said it's not wise to reach for a player and leave better talent on the board for your opponents. Continuing on this thought, is the draft spot immediately before your division opponent's pick more valuable?
The Browns drafted Kellen Winslow at No. 6. The Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger at No. 11. The Browns apparently thought they didn't have need at quarterback after having signed Jeff Garcia. Quarterback is an amazingly sensitive position. It is very easily mismanaged and the result of making a mistake at the quarterback position can be devastating.

Dennis from Indianapolis, IN
If the Robert Kraft video is released, will his punishment, either by the league or the public, be increased? Should it matter if it's seen or not?
If that video is released, there can be no greater punishment.

Jason from Austin, TX
Vic, do you think Rodgers would have fallen to No. 24 in the draft if the rookie contracts were structured as they are today?
That wasn't the issue. Years ago, a GM told me Rodgers fell as he did due to concerns about a shoulder injury.

Brandon from Lafayette, IN
I saw a person say they think GB will finish 12-4; saw someone else say 11-5. I think 9-7 (possibly 8-8) is more accurate. Am I in the minority in thinking this way? I have been a Packers fan my whole life, but I would consider anything over nine wins over-achieving.
When your expectations are subdued, you set yourself up for a pleasant surprise. I can see the Packers losing 12 games and the franchise collapsing.

Max from Milwaukee, WI
Who do you think is the best player in this draft?
Drew Lock is intriguing me more and more. He has the look of a quarterback perfectly suited for today's game.

Jason from Suamico, WI
Is having an elite quarterback and dominating the line of scrimmage enough to win championships in today's NFL?
Yes.

Steve from Hudson, WI
Why do you print the ranting pseudo questions whose only possible response is OK?
Why is my inbox half full of reaction to that type of question? I give readers what they want, a reason to be angry.

Don from Cedar Rapids, IA
When the NFL had as many as 20 rounds in the draft, do you know of any undrafted players who made a team and went on to become NFL stars?
Not off the top of my head, but Andy Robustelli was drafted in the 19th round, and he's in the Hall of Fame.

Mike from Crosby, MN
How did you come about your time in Green Bay? Do you have any stories about being hired by the Packers? What intrigued you to apply in Green Bay?
I didn't apply.

David from Janesville, WI
Do the Vikings have what it takes to top the Bears? How far behind do you think the Packers and Lions are? In reviewing the schedule, I have a hard time deciding if the Packers will be 10-6 or 6-10.
The Vikings lost their soul when they tried to become a team built around offense. That's not Mike Zimmer's game. They needed an upgrade at quarterback, but Zimmer lost control of the management of that position and its expectations. Can he put the rabbit back in the hat? The answer to that question will define the Vikings in 2019. The Packers? We'll know more on opening day. The Lions? They're clearly No. 4.

​Morgan from Kaukauna, WI
Dave Gettlemen said football evolves but three truths will remain no matter what: Run the ball, stop the run and rush the passer. Care to add any?
It's basic, time-honored football philosophy. Don't try to dissect it, just respect its base premise: It's what's up front that counts. If you win the line of scrimmage, everybody else's job is more manageable. Your quarterback has the pass protection he needs. Your defensive backs won't have to hold their coverages as long. The play-calling can achieve balance, which keeps a defense guessing. If you win up front, you'll likely win everywhere.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
"Championship teams have one common denominator," Coughlin said. "They're comprised of individuals who have a burning desire to win, to be champions. Championship teams are dominated by selfless individuals who recognize the welfare of the team must always be paramount to any other consideration." After this statement, I find it hard to believe Coughlin wants to keep Ramsey around. Am I reading too much into this?
Tom Coughlin sees the need to take control of what was a sinking ship in Jacksonville last season. His efforts began with his rebuke of Leonard Fournette's sideline behavior in the 2018 season finale. Now he's taking aim at Jalen Ramsey, who became a terribly negative force last season. If Coughlin wanted to get rid of Ramsey, drawing attention to his seeming lack of commitment isn't going to increase his value. Coughlin is acting as a leader should. I guess he's going to play bad cop and Doug Marrone is going to play good cop. Somebody needs to lay down the law in Jacksonville. Coughlin appears to be the guy.

David from Silver Spring, MD
Do you think it’s possible the Packers take a QB if one of the top prospects falls to them? It’s not like the Packers needed a QB when they drafted Rodgers.
That ship sailed when Rodgers got a new contract. When the Packers picked Rodgers at 24, the next five players selected were Jason Campbell, Chris Spencer, Roddy White, Luis Castillo and Marlin Jackson. There's usually a big difference between the quality of talent available at 12 as compared to 24. The Packers made a huge financial commitment to Rodgers. They need to give him every possible resource in the team's attempt to win one more Super Bowl before Rodgers' career ends.

Logan from Lino Lakes, MN
Would the football world be as forgiving of Peyton Manning’s first year if it happened in 2019? Or was his talent that noticeable? I ask as it seems to me a quarterback must a be a star out of the gates to have a fighting chance to keep his confidence in tact.
Manning probably wouldn't have thrown as many interceptions in his first season if it was 2019. It was a different game back in 1999. Manning's first season was viewed as better than what was expected of a rookie quarterback. That was 20 years ago. I covered John Elway's first game in 1983. He was benched at halftime. The NFL has made it easier to play the position. The result is a player who would've probably had to make a position switch in the '70s -- Freddie Solomon did -- is the likely first overall pick of this year's draft.

Ron from Mitchell, SD
Vic, is the Packers' arrow pointing up, down or sideways?
With two first-round picks and after spending the money they did in free agency, it's absolutely pointing up.

Sandy from Austin, TX
Flying water tankers? Really? That’s all you got? President Trump was right about dumping water on Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s a common practice in skyscrapers gone ablaze. The Paris Fire Department was almost two hours late and didn’t have tall enough ladders or hoses to reach the fire. It certainly was divine intervention that Notre Dame Cathedral was not 100 percent destroyed. Your left-leaning anti-Trump (baloney) is getting old. Try a new path. Give credit to the hardest working President America has had in a very long time, who donates all his wages to charity.
OK.

David from San Francisco, CA
Vic, can I get your take on Tom Coughlin's comments regarding the two missing players? On one hand, I very much like what I read in his comments, but I also felt the written response from the NFLPA was strong. I like unions. Who's right in this one?
There's no wrong. The union was supporting its players and their CBA right to not attend voluntary workouts. Coughlin was exercising his right to express his opinion. The CBA is not a gag order. Of all people, Ramsey should be sensitive to the right of free speech; he's certainly exercised his.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, whose bust greets fans as they enter the Hall of Winners, Starr's or Brady's?
Starr's bust is in the form of a statue that greets you outside the front door.

Dan from Cedar Rapids, IA
What are your pre-draft predictions for your three teams' records this year? My predictions: Pitt 7-9, Jags 9-7, GB 12-4.
I think you're close on the Steelers and Jaguars, but four losses for the Packers? I can't see more than one or two. I think the 2019 Packers could become the greatest team in the history of the world.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, which draft class had the most success and who was in it?
Is this a trick question? Steelers 1974: Swann, Lambert, Stallworth, Webster. And Donnie Shell was an undrafted free agent.

Dennis from Indianapolis, IN
Does the way the Patriots are handling their WR depth suggest they agree the position is not overly difficult to fill?
In a conversation with Bill Belichick prior to the 2011 draft, Thomas Dimitroff said he was considering making a big trade up to draft Julio Jones. Belichick said don't do it.

​Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, who are your top five greatest draft picks of all time?
Tom Brady (sixth round), Johnny Unitas (ninth), Bart Starr (17th) Joe Montana (third), Roger Staubach (10th).

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Blake from Wausau, WI
Sorry to hear the news about Notre Dame. Embarrassingly, I didn't know the school was named after the cathedral. Not a Catholic, but I feel like I should have known that.
Where are the flying water tankers when you need them?

Kevin from Silverdale, WA
Two opening division games again and six home games before mid-November. Can't say I'm a fan of this schedule at all.
It's a formula for a fast start. Why wouldn't you like that kind of schedule for a team with a new coach? It's the first four games that jump out at me. Three of them are at home. It says the Packers need to be good early but, if they are good early, they could explode out of the blocks. Teams with new coaches tend to have a lot of energy coming out of training camp.

Nate from Pueblo, CO
I used to work at an airport as one of the ground crew. I was stunned when I found out some safety concerns could be overlooked as long as they weren’t combined with other safety concerns. When it comes to player attributes, do you think it’s similar? I remember Gutekunst saying he can accept fewer bench reps for guys with longer arms.
Speed trumps all; it's all-forgiving. If you can run faster than everyone else, somebody will find a place for you on their roster, even if you have a record of violence against women and children.

Dan from Green Bay, WI
Vic, Bradshaw and Brady seem to get plenty of credit for all the rings and are considered elite because of those rings. Why isn't Bart Starr equally revered? The man lost his first playoff game and then never lost again, yet, all we ever hear about is Johnny U. What am I missing?
It's the body of work (stats); it's weak. He never threw for 2,500 yards in a season and only threw for 2,000 or more yards five times in his career. Unitas topped the 2,000-yard mark 13 times and 3,000 yards three times. He put up numbers that became the standard for seven decades. Nobody respects Starr more than I do. He was one of the greatest postseason quarterbacks ever. He was Mr. Crunch Time. I will always be in awe of him going to the sideline and telling Lombardi what play should be run with everything on the line in the "Ice Bowl." How many quarterbacks possess that kind of command? There's a special place in football history for Starr. I call it the Hall of Winners.

William from Farmingdale, NY
Who do you consider to be the greatest golfer of all time? There's a solid case for Nicklaus, Tiger, Snead and Palmer. I'm sure there are a few more names worthy of mention that I may not be aware of, but give me Nicklaus any day of the week teeing off against anyone.
It's Nicklaus. He has the wins and he played against the best competition any golfer has faced: Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson and more. It was the golden age of golf and Nicklaus defined it.

Steve from Racine, WI
So why not put the play-calling back in the quarterback's hands?
Coaches would tell you the sub packages have become too specialized for quarterbacks to call their own plays. There are so many people running off and onto the field it requires coaches to process the information and react accordingly. In the '70's, when it was common for quarterbacks to call their own plays, sub packages were limited to a third wide receiver and an extra defensive back coming onto the field. The chess game football has become didn't begin until after the rules changes of 1978, when scheme-conscious coaches such as Walsh and Coryell saw what could be done by casting players in specialized roles. Be that as it may, I believe the great quarterbacks of today could call their own plays without a decline in efficiency, but I think they would need help from the sideline in processing the personnel changes. Bradshaw? When in doubt, go deep.

Andy from New York, NY
What was it about Lynn Swann's game that made him the best you ever covered? You've seen some greats over the years.
He was a unique combination of Baryshnikov and Bednarik. He was trained in ballet but he went over the middle with the fearlessness of a waist gunner. Swann's appearance to perform ballet on "Mr. Rogers" angered football purists who viewed it as being too soft for their tastes. The same guy who performed on "Mr. Rogers" was carried from the field unconscious by Joe Greene, was wheeled on a stretcher out of the locker room after the game, eyes closed and still in a semi-conscious state, but two weeks later was the MVP of Super Bowl X. I wonder what the concussion protocol would say about that.

Bob from Kennesaw, GA
With reasonable drafting, how long does a complete rebuild take?
Four years, if you get "The Man." The Rams underwent a complete rebuild, and they got "The Man" and Aaron Donald.

Gil from Lexington, NC
Vic, did you ever get the opportunity to interview Forrest Gregg? I'm hoping you might have from your time covering the Steelers when he was coaching the Bengals.
I interviewed him in conference calls when he was the coach of the Bengals, and I interviewed him in person in Canton, Ohio, when I was there to cover Dave Robinson's Hall of Fame induction. Gregg was always a cooperative interview. He was a great player and an ambassador of the game.

David from Washington, DC
When we will be able to get a feel for what sort of coach LaFleur is? First signs of adversity? Ability to focus team? When he calls spider 2-y banana?
I can remember asking myself the same question of Bill Cowher. The answer came during a moment in training camp, when he stopped practice to huddle his players and show them his jaw for what he thought was a poor practice effort, and during the first game of his coaching career. The Steelers were trailing early in Houston. They were in danger of falling way behind. Cowher called a fake punt, which the punter converted into a first down that began a game-winning rally. With that play, the Cowher era of Steelers football began. What will it be with LaFleur? We'll have to wait and see.

Nick from Owego, NY
What are your predictions for the Raiders next year? Will they turn it around?
The trade for Antonio Brown is either going to save Derek Carr's career with the Raiders, or end it. Brown is really going off the wall with his need for attention. Gruden is facing a major challenge. I like the way the Raiders are positioned. I'm not sure they needed Brown. I agree with Jack Del Rio.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
How do you handle a situation that is completely out of your control, yet, will affect you greatly?
You prepare for its potential consequences. Coaches do it all the time.

Mike from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, I’ve always liked your “defining postseason moment” requisite for the Hall of Fame. Jerry Kramer obviously had one, but I’m having a hard time thinking of many defining postseason moments for other linemen. What is one you like a casual fan might not know about?
You have to look at the high-profile one-on-ones. Mike Webster had his moments against Randy White. Tony Boselli had his against Bruce Smith.

​Nick from Arvada, CA
What are some of the biggest ways the game has changed since Tom Brady played his first meaningful snaps in the 2001 season?
The major emphasis on the chuck rule and the protections being afforded quarterbacks and receivers have changed the game. It's never been easier to complete a pass.