ASK THE EXPERT

Packers beat writer Ryan Wood answered questions from readers Monday, a day after Green Bay’s victory over Dallas. Read the transcript at www.jsonline.com/packers.

Q: Interesting to see how (Mike McCarthy) uses (Aaron) Jones and (Ty) Montgomery when Montgomery returns. Reminds me a bit of 1996 when you had both Edgar Bennett (a solid upfield runner) coupled with Dorsey Levens (fluid running style, great hands as a receiver). How do you see the two splitting reps?

A: A lot like you just mentioned. Ty Montgomery isn’t going anywhere, but the Packers have needed to complement him with a conventional running back. It’s only one game, but think they might have found something with Aaron Jones. What he showed yesterday was an ideal fit with Montgomery’s dualthreat play style. Q: Was the final play (lateral) blown dead at some point? That was a strange sequence with (Nick) Perry just dropping the ball standing there it seemed like play was still live?

A: It looked like a lot of people were confused, and the Packers were fortunate it didn’t cost them the game. Q: Is it just me, or is (Blake) Martinez playing some consistently good football this year? A: It is not just you. Q: Ryan, how does playing calling work in a critical situation like yesterday at Dallas — in the red zone, 11 seconds left on the clock — do the plays come in from the sideline or does Aaron (Rodgers) call the shots? Sounds like Davante (Adams) said “Let’s do it again.” How is it supposed to work?

A: Aaron Rodgers said he was calling the last few plays on the final drive. He was the maestro. Q: Have running backs become the brake pads of the NFL... find a rookie, run him hard for a few years, then dump him and move on? A: Like 10 years ago, yes. Q: What is involved in the concussion protocol?

A: It’s a rigorous slate of tests that compare cognitive functions after a concussion to the baseline when a person is not concussed. In order to clear, a player needs to pass those tests by returning to his pre-concussed cognitive functioning level. Q: Hope the Vikings or Saints do not prove to be “trap games” .... I imagine MM will keep the guys focused in one game at a time mentality, agreed?

A: McCarthy has really hammered home playing well in the season’s second quarter, probably precisely for that reason. So that should help. Q: Vikings have a far better overall defense than Dallas. How will AR attack it?

A: You’re right, Vikings are almost an inverse of Dallas. Great defense, blah offense. They’ll especially miss Dalvin Cook. Another good road challenge.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Ezekiel Elliott throws a lateral pass as Quinten Rollins gives chase in the final seconds of the game Sunday.