I suppose you could file this under the “Captain Obvious” category, but I think the narrative around the Packers right now would be pretty different if it weren’t for the excessive penalty volume. The good news is that they should be able to get that under control, particularly things like taunting, lining up offsides, etc. Not sure what to do about some of the ticky-tack penalties we’ve seen through two weeks, but hopefully the refs settle in too and get it right going forward.

With all due respect (which means I’m about to sound disrespectful), that’s like saying the narrative around the Packers all offseason would’ve been different if they hadn’t blown those fourth-quarter leads last winter. You are what you put out there. That said, I do think the Packers have been victimized by some “ticky-tack” stuff, to use your term. But they’ve given the officials too much to scrutinize, and that’s on them.

A quick idea to all: Talk all you want after the play while helping the guy up off the grass. You likely would never get flagged if you limit the trash talk to the 5 seconds it takes to extend your hand and help a guy up. I doubt any ref would want that flag on their rap sheet when considering possible playoff assignments.

I kinda like that approach, talk your trash while helping the guy up. You might even get a good shove and 15 yards on the other guy in the process.

Three main concerns: the health of the O-line, third-down defense and lack of focus pre-snap penalties. What do you see as the Packers’ biggest obstacles?

Throw in third-down offense, as Wes noted yesterday, which partly comes down to running the ball better.

My biggest concern after two games is that the lack of a running game means no sustained drives that allow the defense to get a breather. The slanted time of possession will wear out any defense. I hope we see more short passes to backs and TE’s to help move the chains. What has the time of possession been in the first two games?

The Vikings were plus-6 minutes and the Jets were nearly plus-11.

The Vikings loss doesn’t feel as bad to me when they just held a team to three points that had scored 59 the week prior.

Not how I look at it, but to each their own.

Aaron Glenn mentioned in his postgame press conference his strategy was to take a lot of time off the clock with a long scoring drive to put the Packers’ offense under a time crunch. He said if you take 7-8 minutes off the clock, you put the other team in a two-minute mode and shrink their playbook.

He felt getting the ball first in overtime puts his team in control, and there’s some merit to that when you look at how the Colts-Chiefs OT played out, with KC getting the third possession and winning. Nobody plans on going three-and-out. I think the advantage of getting the ball second, and knowing whether you’re in four-down territory on every series or not, outweighs any other strategy, but that’s me.

Lukas Van Ness was different Sunday. In the past he struggled to get off a block. Sunday blew up blocks. If the bull rush wasn’t working he threw a little finesse in there. Is he maturing as a player? Is this Gannon’s coaching? Better scheme for him? What do you think?

As Wes and I discussed on “Unscripted,” this is where Van Ness was trending last year when the foot injury led to his long absence. I also think DeMarcus Covington as his position coach the last two years has made a difference.

Craig from Little Rock, AR

Mike, you mentioned in your live chat that you were sitting near Ed Policy and Gutey. I’d love to know their demeanor during a game. Are they animated and passionate? Calm and quiet? Do they show much emotion? Thanks for all you and Wes do in this column.

I’m so focused on the field and my screen that I don’t pay much attention. I hear an under-the-breath utterance once in a while, but it’s the press box and everyone has to maintain a certain decorum.

Weird start to the season, but I’ll take 60% of our remaining games at Lambeau! How big of an advantage is it getting two road games out of the way right away?

It should be a plus over the long haul, but it won’t mean diddly if the Packers don’t win this first home game. Just beat the Falcons. Happy Wednesday.