the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers, is only one of the team’s several issues for 2024
The Green Bay Packers desperately need answers going into Week 8. The Packers are coming off a three-game losing run going into their game against the Minnesota Vikings. They lost 19–17 against the dreadlocked Denver Broncos last week. Not only did they lose, but also the way they performed in the previous three games. Many Packers supporters are questioning whether there is someone to blame for the team’s problems. Although Matt LaFleur, the head coach, bears the brunt of the criticism, he is not the only one.
Matt LaFleur One of the Green Bay Packers’ Numerous Problems
Some people seem to think that the hopes they had for the Packers in 2023 were too high. Because the Packers are in what many considered to be a poor division, many anticipated they may compete for a postseason position in 2023. Regretfully, many who anticipated a playoff squad underestimated this team’s skill and coaching.
Consider the quarterback position. In his lone season under centre, former starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers could only lead the Packers to a 6-10 record. Among other things, the weapons Rodgers had available to him were superior to those the Packers presently have. It was thus absurd to think that Jordan Love, who is much less skilled than Aaron Rodgers, would lead the team to the playoffs the way Rodgers did.
The 2023 Packers had a young, inexperienced squad going into the season, a rookie quarterback, and a defensive coach who seemed to be in over his head. Why would it make you think this is a team capable of making the playoffs? The present lack of identity and effort, however, is what Packers supporters should be furious about. Matt LaFleur has therefore been subject to criticism.
The Ineffectiveness of Matt LaFleur as an Offensive Playcaller
The offence for the Green Bay Packers is identity-less, as we have already said. A lot of people will blame the young offensive line, but that’s not a good enough reason. Matt LaFleur, an offensive genius who has received a lot of praise for his playcalling abilities, has to maximise his potential, something he hasn’t done in 2023.
LaFleur has emphasised the importance of starting the ground game in her sermons. Even while he has preached about it, he hasn’t really followed through. LaFleur hasn’t called Aaron Jones’ phone nearly enough, even when the starting running back is available and healthy. In the lone game he attempted to build the lead, he teamed up with reserve running back A.J. Dillon against the Las Vegas Raiders. The flexibility to modify a game plan is one of the qualities of a successful playcaller. It’s among the most significant things LaFleur hasn’t accomplished.
It’s much worse with the passing game. Matt LaFleur’s desire to go cautiously with the inexperienced Love made sense. But ultimately, as LaFleur has refused to do, you have to take off the training wheels. The strategy LaFleur has used in the previous three games is similar to what you would see from an NFL club during preseason play.
You wouldn’t think so from looking at LaFleur’s offensive production for a team that prided itself on being “fast and athletic.” LaFleur’s offence now focuses mostly on “dunk and dunk,” seldom searching downfield for huge plays. You would think that with quick pass catchers like Luke Musgrave, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs at his disposal, he would be able to complete more throws downfield. LaFleur hasn’t succeeded in doing so, however.
Preparing His Players for the Game
It goes beyond the Packers’ current three-game losing streak. However, what should frighten and perplex Packers supporters is how they have lost them.
Although their 34-20 defeat to the Detroit Lions suggests it was a competitive game, it wasn’t. The Packers dominated the game in every element in front of their home audience. The Packers gave up after taking a straight blow to the mouth from the Lions. The Lions seemed more prepared, and they were tougher. The head coach, Matt LaFleur, is to blame for his team’s lack of preparation.
The Raiders and the Broncos tested this lack of readiness in the next weeks. The Packers seemed to be the more skilled team on paper. But judging from the way the Packers performed, you would never have known it. Green Bay seemed to be playing the game only for the sake of playing. Yes, there is a part of it that the players must bear. However, it is the head coach’s responsibility to ensure that his squad is ready to play. But LaFleur was unable to.
LaFleur doesn’t have a lot of experienced players to fall back on since David Bakhtiari, De’Vondre Campbell, and Aaron Jones are all dealing with injuries. Despite the dearth of experience on his squad, he should be able to inspire his players as an NFL head coach in his fifth season. It’s not as if LaFleur was unaware of what would happen. Following Rodgers’ move, it became clear that he would field a youthful team this year.
Overestimated the Roster’s Talent
As we said at the beginning of this piece, Matt LaFleur is not the only one who bears some of the guilt. It’s time to start questioning if the Packers misjudged the talent on this team given how badly the season is going.
The Packers are the NFL team with the youngest roster this season for a reason. It’s because Brian Gutekunst, the general manager, struggled in his first three selection classes. Gutekunst chose 28 players between 2018 and 2020. Only eight of the 28 guys are still with the Packers. That only applies to Jaire Alexander, who was in the 2018 draft class. That is a catastrophic failure for a franchise whose roster is built on the draft.
NFL clubs counterbalance their draft woes, as Gutekunst has experienced, by adding free players. However, they are unable to do it due to the Packers’ issues with the salary cap. Many people give praise to vice president and director of football operations Russ Ball for being a “salary cap wizard.” However, the data is accurate. With their youthful roster, the Packers lack the salary cap room to bring in more experienced players.
Although many people are eager to point the finger at LaFleur for the Packers’ present situation, he is by no means the only one. Ball and Gutekunst’s construction of this roster was one way that they contributed. It wasn’t necessary for the roster to be this young, but it was going to be youthful.
LaFleur and Associates Won’t Go Away
If you listen to the podcasts from the Packers, particularly the ones that broadcast every day, you would believe the end of the world was near. The same individuals who predicted a squad that would make the playoffs now predict that the Packers would be completely destroyed this summer. Here are a few examples of this week’s overreactions.
LaFleur need to hand up the play calling to Jason Vrable, the wide receivers coach. despite the fact that this season’s wide receiver corps has had difficulty.
LaFleur is under pressure and might be fired in the off-season.
The season might see LaFleur fired and Rich Bisaccia take his place.
A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will take Jordan Love’s spot as quarterback after only one season of play.
All of these claims are absurd and will never come to pass. There is no stopping Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love, or even Brian Gutekunst. That’s just not how the Packers operate. Yes, President Mark Murphy intends to end his tenure on a strong note when he retires in 2025. However, he made the decision to elevate Gutekunst to general manager and employ Matt LaFleur. He will not destroy the franchise and rebuild it from the ground up.
The failure of the Packers organisation to acknowledge that this season would mark the start of a rebuilding process was a mistake. After Love’s first season as the starting quarterback, however, they won’t make even worse blunders by completely dismantling the company.
After this season, Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst, and Jordan Love will remain the faces of the Packers organization—a fact that some fans may find upsetting. Ball, LaFleur, and Gutekunst have all erred in their ways. However, they will be the ones to correct the mistakes they made. Fans of the Packers will have to exercise patience. A significant restructuring of this organisation is to be expected if the issues are not resolved before the conclusion of the next season.
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