Looking for a little input ...

[JasonWilde]

As you guys know, I peruse the RealGM Packers board from time to time, and not just when I've been the subject of a thread. Had some good and not-so-good reviews of my work on here, which is why I'm back. If it had been all positive or all telling me how much I sucked, I wouldn't have come to you guys first.

I've had some conversations with different reporters, co-workers/teammates and friends lately about our coverage of the Packers -- and by our, I mean not only ESPNWisconsin.com's but on the beat in general. I'm mulling ways to do things a bit differently and am going to ask at some point on Twitter, but I thought this might be a good starting point since it allows for replies in more than 140 characters, and you guys are no-BS here, in my experience.

In general, what do you as a Packers fan want to read more of? Less of? I think each guy on the beat has a particular strength, and I'm not interested in trying to be someone else. My feeling about my own work is that I'm a pretty decent storyteller and I like to give a behind-the-scenes narrative along with some insight. At the same time, while I deliver a lot of quantity, I don't think the quality is always very good. I'm wondering if less would be more in some ways.

I've also had a few people tell me I need to be more opinionated. I'm not in agreement on that; I'd rather be the one delivering information and insight that gets people engaged and sharing their opinions.

Anyway, if you have time to share your thoughts, I'd be grateful. If you don't have time, I understand. And if you'd rather talk about the Bucks, I'll shut up now.

You can also email me anytime at jwilde@espnwisconsin.com. Thanks in advance, all.

JW

[LittleRooster]

I guess my question to you would be what exactly are you questioning within yourself? Unless I'm totally reading you wrong but it sounds like you're not feeling satisfied with your work?

Personally, I think you are a good storyteller. That story you wrote on Capers and Aranda was wonderful.

I mean you could always come up with "anonymous scout said x/y/x about our team" like McGinn always does. Don't get me wrong, I really, really like McGinn except very recently where he seems to take an extreme view on an issue or has a personal agenda.

ETA: To just commend you for putting yourself out there like this.

[Asher]

Yes, kudos to you for putting yourself out there. We want to be in touch with the inner pulse of the organization---any way you get us closer counts. We want the insider quotes and the game analysis. But what we want most of all is someone who will ask the tough questions---too often the media gets off with softballs. Hit them in their teeth---if the head coach refuses to answer the question, you're asking the right one. CoachSpeak is rampant---get them to answer specifics.

[LittleRooster]

Yes, definitely tough questions!! In that vein when I listen to the AR show I always come away feeling a let down. I realize the show is loosely formatted and you have even less time this year (can you do it on a different day?) but I want to, at least, learn something I didn't know before. I want to be as close to the inside of that locker room as I can and Rodgers is a huge asset to have.

I'm rambling, it's late, and I'm falling asleep but off the top of my head that's what I have.

[Mags FTW]

My 2 cents.

I don't really care much for puff pieces or stories about players' upbringings or personal history. I'm pretty much a on-the-field guy. I like the hard questions as to why people are missing assignments, why a WR Boldin ate us alive, etc. Another thing I like is hearing how other teams perceive our talent. One of my favorite things to read is when McGinn speaks with an unnamed scout from another team who doesn't have to pull any punches. In the words of Ron Wolf, some players are "just a guy". Nobody from inside the Packers organization is going to admit who those players are. These anonymous outside sources will.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I would love a detailed account after every game, kinda like what McGinn does.

Snap counts for every player

Pressures, hits, sacks, and run defense grade for Dlineman and OLBs
Stuffs, coverage grade, tackles, for Linebackers, CBs, and Safeties

Pressures, hits, and sacks allowed, overall run blocking grade for Offensive lineman and TEs
snaps, targets, catches, drops, for WRs and TEs
Carries, the coaches vision grade, Yards after missed tackle, plus the blocking numbers for the RBs.
The coaches personal grades on Aaron, how many sacks were on him, how many missed reads, how many bad throws, etc.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I would also love nothing more than a before the snap article, explaining the entire process of what Aaron does the second the ref blows the last play dead.

Does Rodgers call the huddle or does EDS?
How quickly does MM get him the play?
What input does Rodgers have on the play called?
How many aspects of the play are radioed in (protection schemes, route combinations, snap count, etc) vs. what is up to Aaron?
I know it's been said that in an ideal world, Aaron will get under center with 25 seconds left on the play clock to make adjustments, what happens to make that possible vs. impossible.
What are Aaron's reads:
- Opposing Personnel
- Coverage
- Safety Position
- CB Alignment
- LB depth
- Rush scheme
- Showing blitz
- Identifying the LB that the free man is responsible for picking up
- Identifying the LB that the back is responsible for.
- Then works with EDS to ensure everybody knows what they're doing?
- Changes up the route combos based on the defensive look, communicating with the backs and WRs via hand signals, right?
- How much thought goes into the snap count
- etc.

[KidA24]

JW-

I read your stuff more than I read any other writer, and the main reason is because you don't have that huge opinion you're trying to force down your readers' throats. You write in a similar style to Malcom Gladwell, "Hey, here's what I found out, take from it what you will"

What I'd love to get and see more of is (which hasn't been mentioned yet) how decisions are made within the organization. I know the Ted Thompson Think Tank is a pretty secretive unit, but any insight into that brain trust would be awesome.

[ReasonablySober]

Honestly, I've grown weary of that "Anonymous Personnel Man". If a guy doesn't put his name to a quote then it's tough to take what they say at face value. You don't know if he's really watching a lot of film, and then you don't know his motivation for speaking out. I, personally, don't care a ton about what an anonymous scout or GM has to say about Sam Shields or Marshall Newhouse or Jermichael Finley.

As for what I'm interested in reading, it's whatever helps further my understanding of the NFL and Green Bay in particular. Why breakdowns happen, why certain guys were open, why they attacked an opponent a certain way. For example, during last week's game it was obvious that containment was a big point of emphasis; I'd like to know how they planned to balance that with their pass rushing.

As for what else gets me to read, it really comes down to data. How often a guy is getting beat, how many pass rushers were sent on 3rd downs and the success rate, etc. I think with enough of data a story can be found.

[Bucksfans1and2]

Honestly, I've grown weary of that "Anonymous Personnel Man". If a guy doesn't put his name to a quote then it's tough to take what they say at face value. You don't know if he's really watching a lot of film, and then you don't know his motivation for speaking out. I, personally, don't care a ton about what an anonymous scout or GM has to say about Sam Shields or Marshall Newhouse or Jermichael Finley.

As for what I'm interested in reading, it's whatever helps further my understanding of the NFL and Green Bay in particular. Why breakdowns happen, why certain guys were open, why they attacked an opponent a certain way. For example, during last week's game it was obvious that containment was a big point of emphasis; I'd like to know how they planned to balance that with their pass rushing.

As for what else gets me to read, it really comes down to data. How often a guy is getting beat, how many pass rushers were sent on 3rd downs and the success rate, etc. I think with enough of data a story can be found.

ALL OF THIS

[humanrefutation]

I would also love nothing more than a before the snap article, explaining the entire process of what Aaron does the second the ref blows the last play dead.

McGinn had an article about that last week. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... 45181.html

Maybe not as detailed as you'd like, but it does provide some insight.

Edited to fix the link.

[humanrefutation]

As for you, Jason -

I like your work, and I think that your articles are generally interesting and informative. But I also wonder how much your relationship with Rodgers is coloring your willingness to be openly critical about the team's performance. The questions you ask on Tuesdays with Aaron seem hesitant - like you're trying not to piss him off. Even when you ask difficult questions, you tend to let Aaron get away with cliche and/or vague answers.

Maybe you can't press him more because that could potentially harm your access to him - and the team otherwise. I can understand that. But I also think it puts a ceiling on how informative those interviews can be, and I'm concerned it will bleed into your other coverage of the team.

Honestly, I've grown weary of that "Anonymous Personnel Man". If a guy doesn't put his name to a quote then it's tough to take what they say at face value. You don't know if he's really watching a lot of film, and then you don't know his motivation for speaking out.

Disagree here. The value of an anonymous source is that they are not beholden to consequences for criticizing the roster. Thus, they can be free to express their honest perspective about the team. We may not agree with it all the time, but it at least gives us an angle to consider.

[Bucksfans1and2]

As for you, Jason -

I like your work, and I think that your articles are generally interesting and informative. But I also wonder how much your relationship with Rodgers is coloring your willingness to be openly critical about the team's performance. The questions you ask on Tuesdays with Aaron seem hesitant - like you're trying not to piss him off. Even when you ask difficult questions, you tend to let Aaron get away with cliche and/or vague answers.

Maybe you can't press him more because that could potentially harm your access to him - and the team otherwise. I can understand that. But I also think it puts a ceiling on how informative those interviews can be, and I'm concerned it will bleed into your other coverage of the team.

Honestly, I've grown weary of that "Anonymous Personnel Man". If a guy doesn't put his name to a quote then it's tough to take what they say at face value. You don't know if he's really watching a lot of film, and then you don't know his motivation for speaking out.

Disagree here. The value of an anonymous source is that they are not beholden to consequences for criticizing the roster. Thus, they can be free to express their honest perspective about the team. We may not agree with it all the time, but it at least gives us an angle to consider.

I guess you're not as cynical as DB and I. When I hear, "anonymous personnel man" I think 'and here's the writer making up **** to prove his point. I'm not saying that happens all the time, but I have to think it happens.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I would also love nothing more than a before the snap article, explaining the entire process of what Aaron does the second the ref blows the last play dead.

McGinn had an article about that last week. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... /222745181

Maybe not as detailed as you'd like, but it does provide some insight.

We need to figure out how the MJS does it's articles because I keep getting sent to the index page and I'm pretty sure that's how the MJS site is set up but it's super annoying.

[humanrefutation]

I guess you're not as cynical as DB and I. When I hear, "anonymous personnel man" I think 'and here's the writer making up **** to prove his point. I'm not saying that happens all the time, but I have to think it happens.

That's where you judge the credibility of the writer. I don't view McGinn as a hack who'd make up a scout to prove a point.

[humanrefutation]

I would also love nothing more than a before the snap article, explaining the entire process of what Aaron does the second the ref blows the last play dead.

McGinn had an article about that last week. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... /222745181

Maybe not as detailed as you'd like, but it does provide some insight.

We need to figure out how the MJS does it's articles because I keep getting sent to the index page and I'm pretty sure that's how the MJS site is set up but it's super annoying.

The link was bad and has been edited. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... 45181.html

[Badgerlander]

Honestly I read McGinn's stuff and look at breaking stuff and injuries on twitter that's about it these days. The puff pieces and agonizing over back up QBs etc drives me up a wall. I'd rather read breakdowns of the team we are facing and at what positions we might have an advantage and weaknesses, etc. The radio stuff that you do and what you write is fine it just isn't my cup of tea. About the only other stuff I ever liked was back when Bob and Brian used to talk to Santana Dotson. He was an entertaining guy that could talk about anything and it was funny stuff but I loved the locker room stories that he used to tell about Reggie and training camp or inside the huddle type stories, etc. Players like that are tough to find though.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I guess you're not as cynical as DB and I. When I hear, "anonymous personnel man" I think 'and here's the writer making up **** to prove his point. I'm not saying that happens all the time, but I have to think it happens.

That's where you judge the credibility of the writer. I don't view McGinn as a hack who'd make up a scout to prove a point.

With a guy like McGinn, it's not so much of an issue, (though with his work falling off IMO I'm starting to wonder). It's with guys like Florio and that group of national writers.

[crkone]

I both love and hate the anonymous scout takes. It's nice to see criticisms of the team, but the writer can pick and choose what to put in the article if they do interview the scouts and not make it up.

I'd like to see at least something like a breakdown of the week. You would go over at least one play with an assistant coach or player and breakdown what happened using text and graphics. This is a nice indirect way to criticize a player and understand what they were thinking/doing when something went good/bad.

In weekly previews of future games, breakdown what has worked and not worked against their offense/defense in terms of schemes. Hammer home where you think Capers/Rodgers should attack, i.e. the ends rush with their heads down and the defense is man blitzing a lot so screen passes will be very effective.

[Newz]

The things I enjoy reading:

1. Analysis on specific players. Digging into their performance on a weekly basis. Not Rodgers or Matthews though... guys who you typically don't watch as much during the games. Like why does Bush continuously stick on the team? We know it's because he's a good special teams player, but the camera doesn't always show us that. Same with offensive and defensive lineman. I'm not going to lie, I try to watch them... but during the course of the game I rarely notice how good or bad they are doing unless they are making a serious error.

2. I think it would be really interesting if we got more facts, information and opinion on the Packers cap situation. Toward the end of the year begin to identify the Packers main weaknesses and what they can do to improve them. With our cap number is it realistic to sign anyone or is the draft our primary option? Things like that.

The things I cannot stand:

1. When a writer gets stuck on a topic and doesn't let it go. Do you know how sick I am of reading about how the Packers need to become a 'tougher, more physical team'? So sick of it that I roll my eyes as opposed to clicking the links. It is especially annoying when the writer has nothing real to back it up other than just talking about how much our guys weigh.

2. I'm not saying that this is always a bad thing... but I care very little about a lot of the guys off of the field unless something major happens with them that could impact them as a player. I feel one of the biggest flaws with pro sports is how much exposure the players personal lives get. The Jolly situation is something where I feel like it needs to be reported. But as an example, when Rodgers walked by that woman with cancer at the airport or whatever and people went insane about it... who the **** cares?

[Badgerlander]

I also like it when you talk to the opposing teams media guys that can break down their team and what they've been doing well and working on a lot and where they think their team might struggle.

Back to the Santana thing, it was easier for him to talk about the team because he was retired and he could talk about other players that weren't on the team anymore pretty freely.

The only guy that's been on the team recently that I've found intriguing was Crabtree. The stuff he puts out there on twitter is pretty funny. He is into gaming and I'd be curious about what he plays and the gear he likes, etc. Also would be curious about workout routines, diet and supplements etc. Crabtree seems like the type of guy that I could have a beer with and talk for hours, whereas Rodgers I'd imagine I'd run out of stuff to talk about in 5-10 minutes. At the moment though I don't know of anyone currently on the team that would interest me.