Behind Enemy Lines: Talking Rodgers, Lacy and run defense with beat writer Tyler Dunne

For this (short) week, wreached out to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel beat writer Tyler Dunne for this week's edition of "Behind Enemy Lines." Here are five questions we asked the Packers beat writer about Thursday's matchup between the Vikings and Packers.

1. Was Sunday's performance against the Bears about as efficient as the offense has looked?

TD: That's about as efficient as it's been. They didn't punt. The only time they didn't score was a blocked kick. There's definitely some problems with the team right now on both sides of the ball but the fact that [quarterback] Aaron Rodgers and the passing game starting clicking again and moved the ball well, I think that kind of cooled a lot of worries from fans. The fact that Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers.

2. Why is the Packers run game averaging just 73 yards a game with running back Eddie Lacy?

TD: I think it's probably a little bit of both. The offensive line isn't blameless itself, but Eddie Lacy just hasn't been the same back. He seems like he's hesitant. Lacy and the coaches kind of deny that, and Lacy says he's not thinking about the two concussions he's had in a 17-game span. Whatever it is, he's not the same player four games into the season.

I think what surprised a lot of people is that James Starks is averaging two yards per carry more but just hasn't been used more. [Mike] McCarthy kind of regretted it himself. He talked about it this week, and he really should've got James Starks the ball. He didn't touch the ball at all against the Bears. They want to get the attempts up as a whole to 25-30 attempts in the run game. I think it could be even a 50-50 split with Lacy and Starks. They're both going to be involved Thursday night.

3. Is the absence of defensive tackle B.J. Raji the main reason why the Packers have the worst run defense?

But trying to keep up with the trends and looking around at how teams utilize defensive lines by rotating guys in, they went to the athletic, taller, longer defensive linemen. Datone Jones, Mike Daniels, they're going to disrupt. They're going to create problems and wreck some havoc but against the run, it's been a harder goal. They haven't been able to stop the run. …I think we'll probably see Mike Pennel more at nose tackle, an undrafted rookie out of Colorado State-Pueblo, and will start taking snaps away from Letroy Guion.

4. Despite the run defense, how has the Packers secondary fared?

TD: Their cornerback position is really deep. They resigned Sam Shields. Tramon Williams, at 31, is still in his prime. He plays 100 percent of the snaps whether outside or inside over slot receivers in nickel. Devon House comes on; he's their physical corner they like to matchup with bigger wideouts. He covered [Brandon] Marshall at Chicago. And they've got Casey Hayward, who led the team in interceptions and pass breakups in 2012. …They feel really good about the cornerback position. That's where they've really invested the money, the draft picks.

5. What do the Packers need to do to win on Thursday?

TD: They're probably hoping to see Christian Ponder instead of Teddy Bridgewater, but they've got to stop the run. If they're going to do anything long-term this season, if they want to be a Super Bowl team, at some point this run defense has to make a turnaround. They got gashed for 235 [rushing yards] against Chicago. The Vikings are going to come in with Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, and they had 200-plus against the Falcons. It's going to be a good test.