Scott from Minneapolis, MN

The good news is we are above .500 and reasonably healthy for this time of the year. The truth is, we have not gotten off to the start the fans had hoped for. Defensively, I am surprised at how many teams have pushed us around up front. Offensively, the red-zone issues have jumped out considering the addition of Graham. What is one thing on each side of the ball you look for the Pack to improve upon after the bye as we head into the guts of our schedule?

The offense needs to find the type of run-pass balance that gets the whole unit in a rhythm and makes life easier on the quarterback. The defense has to stop the deep balls over the top, having given up a monster play in four of the last five games.

Matt from Salt Lake City, UT

Wes/Mike, the more I read your work, the more I'm intrigued about the day-to-day logistics of your work. I'm a lifelong contractor and my good friend, we'll call him "Andy," is a lifelong musician. He currently plays bass for the Milwaukee Symphony. Some of the more fascinating discussions I've had with him are over the details of daily life in our respective fields. Can you give us some insight into your typical in-season week?

It's pretty much bouncing around each day from taping "Unscripted" episodes to attending press conferences and practices, to getting interviews when the locker room is open to the media, to sitting at my desk writing stories and answering Inbox questions. Some days include other individual obligations like Periscope/Facebook Live, reviewing game film, taping Packers Daily and Final Thoughts, etc. Everything is pretty much centered on the media schedule, so you plan the rest of your work around that access.

Robert from Birchwood, WI

Al from Green Bay's question about why the 49ers declined a holding penalty on a touchback was a good one, but he missed the most important part...why are we holding on touchbacks?

Stupendous question.

Collin from Kirkwood, MO

Aaron Jones got his first start of the season and provided an immediate spark. Again, he was productive with limited opportunities. All three backs bring skills to the table for different situations, but in a game as tight as this game was, I'm surprised we didn't see more of Aaron Jones. Do you think they are trying to keep him fresh so they can lean on him for a stretch run, or do they not feel he's separated himself enough to be featured in close games where the ground game can be critical?

I think McCarthy has packages of plays he feels suit each running back best, but I also think everything schematically is going to be parsed over during the bye.

Nick from Dallas, TX

Mike, don't you think our offense is more efficient in the hurry-up? It seems to me that we have gotten away from it more so this year and in part, it's caused our offense to stall at times, especially in the red zone. Watching the games, it appears this year more than ever before, Rodgers is running the play clock down to 1 or 2 seconds. I get that he likes to make reads and adjustments at the line, but that also gives the defense a chance to catch their breath and make reads of their own.

You've raised a lot of issues many readers are asking about. I think they all fall under the self-scout process the Packers are going through during this bye. Rhythm on offense has been hard to come by, no doubt. If playing faster is the trigger for Rodgers to get the ball out and for the offense to find balance with the running game to keep defenses more on their toes, maybe we'll see more. By the same token, I'm not sure getting into an up-tempo track meet is the best approach against the next two opponents. We'll see what evolves from here.

Brandon from St. Paul, MN

Thanks for feeding us all the amazing football content even during the bye week. In your mid-week chat you talked a lot about limiting the big plays against the Rams, but my inner Vic has to disagree with you on this one. I think the key to the Rams' offense starts with Gurley. His power running strikes fear into a defense, and most of their big plays come on play-action. Take away Gurley and you take away their big-play potential. Who's going to have to step up to keep Gurley in check?

Stopping, or slowing down, a dangerous running back is the biggest team effort there is on defense. It takes everyone. Gurley draws safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, which creates one-on-ones on the perimeter. The run can always be stopped. The question is how much personnel must be committed to do it?

David from San Francisco, CA

It appears the biggest factor keeping Aaron Rodgers out of the top 10 in passer rating (despite a 12/1 TD to INT ratio) is his completion percentage of 61, good for 27th in the league. Usually this will lead to a few extra lost possessions in bad down-and-distance situations. How can Green Bay put themselves in better passing positions?