He’s now a targeted player

Just an opinion more than a question, is Willie Buchanon the best ever to wear No. 28 for the Packers with hope that someday it will be AJ Dillon?

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

Aside from resting and recovering, another added bonus the bye week offers is a mental reset for Mason Crosby. A few days off has many a time quelled the bad habits forming in my golf swing.

Hi Insiders, how does the actual process of post-game player grading play out? Is every play from every game analyzed and critiqued with each player, and if so by whom and when?

The position coaches go through the game film and grade every player they’re in charge of on every play. To what extent the grade sheets are shared with other players, I don’t know.

Now having the bye week and the Bears up next, do the coaches look ahead at the schedule and jot down thoughts about the rest of the upcoming opponents? I’m not saying to overlook the Bears. With a bye week this late, I’m just wondering if the coaches might make time to do some advanced preparation for the final stretch run. Or will they only focus on the next game?

They pretty much stick to the next game. After their self-scouting process, they need to unplug, too. It’s difficult to summon any creativity or problem-solving skills from exhaustion or solely adrenaline. From a preparation standpoint, it also helps that three of the last five games are against division opponents they’ve already faced this year. So even when they come back, they can spend that much more time fine-tuning from within to try to reach a peak.

When the coaches are using the bye week to self-scout are they looking more at big-picture trends of the offense and defense or at players specifically and what they are doing well or not well?

Mostly the former. As noted, they’re grading their individual players constantly.

The Ravens game appears to be the biggest challenge in the remaining five games. I know we only look at the NEXT game, but have the games against Murray, Mahomes and Wilson helped prepare for the best QB scrambler/runner?

It certainly hasn’t hurt.

Signing Rasul Douglas off the Cardinals’ practice squad has been so impactful it got me wondering, do personnel departments have the ability to talk to a player before claiming him or do they have to rely completely on scouting reports, pre-draft interviews, and film study? Since team chemistry is so important, it seems getting a feel for whether a player is able to fit would be almost as important their physical abilities.

For waiver claims and practice-squad poaching, any communication is via the player’s agent. A street free agent not subject to waivers can be brought in for a workout, conversation, etc., but depending on the player and level of interest there may not be time.

And now we have references from “The Outsiders.” I think Sodapop and Ponyboy would be Packer fans.

Not Two-Bit, though. Not a chance.

With how well Douglas is playing at CB and Jaire’s return looming, do you think the D could run a package where Jaire plays in the slot and lines up against the likes of an Antonio Brown and also use his athleticism in some exotic blitzes?

Definitely. If the defense can get Alexander back, I wouldn’t take anything off the table in terms of his potential usage.

Do games being flexed count towards the number of primetime games a team is allowed to play in a season?

No. The limit of five only applies to the original schedule.

Brian from Pleasant Prairie, WI

Bye week question: Your comment about reporters not in the locker room (still) got me wondering; Do you think no “outsiders” in the locker room last year and this year affected team(s) dynamic? As in, maybe the players are a little more “themselves” all the time now vs. being on their best behavior and shielding their personalities some so as not to be media fodder? I don’t mean that as a knock on the media, but I’m wondering if all the players are able to bond a little more now because of it?

I’m sure the players prefer not having reporters in the locker room, but I doubt the pre-pandemic standard access period of 45 minutes per day (plus postgame) would have any outsized influence on team dynamics. They still always had the cafeteria, lounge rooms, etc., all to themselves 24-7.

Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL

I predict that the rare Margeaux from Solvang, CA, misprint card will be a valuable collector’s item.

Following on from Thursday’s Inbox, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 stages of II greatness.

1. Have a question answered

2. Have your question inform the subheading

3. Have your question inform the heading

4. Be the first question answered

5. Be the last question answered

6. Have 2 questions answered in 1 column

7. Have your question referenced the following day

8. Initiate a long-running II joke (e.g. laser goalposts)

9. Have a recurring slot (e.g. Dean and Derek)

11. Provide Spoff a comment via which he can ridicule Wes.

So let me get this straight…we have to root for the Lions AND Bears this weekend? Yeesh.

Fun times, right? I’m hoping to open up the Inbox on Sunday night to write Monday morning’s column and see everyone’s observations on the Packers-less slate of games. Let’s talk everyone else for a day.

Stephanie from Flowery Branch, GA

Just rest, relax, recharge, recover, return to form, run the table…rejoice!