Time For Matt LaFleur To Shine

Aaron looks at what the Packers offense should look like going forward after trading away Davante Adams.

 

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10 points
 

Comments (14)

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BirdDogUni's picture

March 21, 2022 at 09:15 pm

Finding the mismatches is the key in my opinion. Davante, even when double-covered was usually a mismatch, because his releases were devastating and routes were so precise.

Now that Davante is gone, those targets will be spread around naturally, because AR will have to find the open WR/RB/TE. He almost always knew Davante would be open, and even if he wasn't, he still knew he could reasonably expect him to be exactly where he should be, so AR could throw it where only DA could catch it.

I'm excited, because he's going to have to go back to finding the open receiver, instead of knowing DA was likely open.

I just hope MaLF doesn't pull an MM and start calling a bunch of random plays that make no sense. Some series the last couple years were terrible play-calling for the situations. When you have an OL guy who is getting beat like a drum, you can't have slow developing plays, period. You have to adjust and get the ball out quicker. Maybe set up the defense a little bit better, to take advantage of them a couple series later. MaLF needs to set up situationally, for sure, and with Davante gone, AR will have to spread the ball around to 7 - 10 other guys like he used to before DA became other-worldly.

Davante isn't here anymore, so his targets will have to go to someone, but spreading them out among all the pass-catchers would be the most sensible thing to do.

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Starrbrite's picture

March 21, 2022 at 10:04 pm

I do believe MLF is a good coach—but how good?
One thing I do NOT like is his pathetic arm-flapping cheerleading from the sidelines. Get real—embarrassing imo.

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Handsback's picture

March 22, 2022 at 05:54 am

Starbrite, was going to say the same thing but will add his playoff results don’t match his regular season. That to me is somewhat disconcerting.

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Starrbrite's picture

March 22, 2022 at 09:12 pm

Very true.

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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

March 22, 2022 at 12:12 pm

Maybe if Packers fans in the stands were a bit smarter and knew when to be loud and when to shut up, he wouldn’t need to do that. I was there when the fans were doing the wave when the Packers were on offense - embarrassing!

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Starrbrite's picture

March 22, 2022 at 09:23 pm

Here’s a thought—I paid more than $700 for two tickets to attend the Seahawks game. I also flew to Jacksonville to watch us lose against the Saints. As a fan, I reserve the right and will make my own determination when/if I choose to yell—-or not.
Coaches coach—-players play, and us fans pay for the product. I don’t want a lecture from MLF or anyone else on how I should enjoy the game.

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croatpackfan's picture

March 22, 2022 at 03:56 am

Do not worry. Offense will be leading by AR in every segment, from preparation, game planning, play calling, picking active players to execution. MLF would get cheerleader dress before the beginning of the new season, so he would lead fans, not team, as we already saw in the past...

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Coldworld's picture

March 22, 2022 at 08:52 am

When LaFleur arrived, I thought it was a risk, but I also thought it offered a chance to sweep away the cobwebs. Initially the system renewal looked promising. Now could LaFleur Learn and impose his vision. Last year I thought we might see a big step after the previous mistakes were converted into lessons learned.

Sadly, I am much less optimistic about LaFleur now. The debacle with Drayton, the decision to mess with the O line, the disappearance of the illusion of complexity may stand out, but more seriously he seems to be in thrall to Rodgers and to repeat the same of mistakes.

He has not found a way to overcome strategies that have beaten him before, both before and during games. I think he and Rodgers are not a good combination and that Rodgers is the dominant force. That’s not bad because it’s Rodgers, but because it’s unhealthy given the roles and perspectives per se.

Rather than get more innovative, we’ve got less on offense. We’ve not used our running backs creatively and we allowed the O to become one dimensional at times, even when it was not working. Other players get ignited when open or for whole games. Yes, the system is better, the roster has improved but we remain a bully against the weak while a team that others have figured out and repetitively stymied through similar tactics.

LaFleur rails against coaches but does nothing about them till it’s to late (Pettine playing soft… yet Pettine continued to, Drayton and STs being acceptable when it was obvious that they weren’t. That’s not how to win, it’s not a way to get things to change either. It’s. Not leadership. With Rodgers, the balance seems worse.

The rather pathetic pleas to get Rodgers back worry me further, not because Rodgers isn’t good, but because it suggests a lack of belief in his (LaFleur’s) ability to deliver without a future HoF. The 49ers have done more with much less and, arguably, we had the roster tools to do the same. The difference is we did not, more than once, WITH Rodgers.

Many here know my view that we should not have paid Rodgers what we did at the cost we did. I think it gets forgotten that only part of that is what it means for the future. A major element is that I do not think that LaFleur has shown adequate coaching, tactical or leadership skills to give Rodgers what he needs. Gute has given him the surrounding cast.

LaFleur has failed to produce game plans, adjustments and avoid stupid decisions, most recently Drayton and his idiotic player usage, the farce of the O line switcheroo, the abandonment of the run game after the boggling decision to use a player who was, by his own admission, a difference maker in the game as a STer. The incredibly dumb decision To play starters including our deep threat with a dodgy back against Detroit, resulting in the 49ers not even pretending to worry about anything over the top.

It goes on, and most concerningly, it goes in both in ways that are repeating and also adding new ways to hamstring the team. In the mean time, he seems unable to counter Rodgers worst tendencies. That just means that they have to overcome the worst of both.

LaFleur is a good communicator. I can see how he convinces Murphy and others. Behind that, however, I’m increasingly concerned he is an empty vessel. Now Rodgers is back and essentially even more dominant due to contract and after LaFleur’s public obeisance, I doubt we get to see if LaFleur can coach.

If we win, it’s Rodgers and Gute overcoming it in spite of LaFleur I suspect. Had Rodgers moved, we might have forced LaFleur to grow, or had his failings truly exposed. I believe LaFleur is an obstacle to success now. The biggest one we have. A pretty free rider that might drag us down. The only thing he brought, I fear, was a system (created by others) and a personable attitude. With a real HC, we might have been to a Super Bowl twice in the last 2 years.

4 points
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Tundraboy's picture

March 22, 2022 at 09:33 am

A lot of great insights and several perspectives that I totally agree with. I will definitely have to save this post to refer back to when I attempt to describe my angst to other fellow Packer fans and non-fans alike. Thumbs up.

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Johnblood27's picture

March 22, 2022 at 10:05 am

Really hate to say it, but CW, you are correct.

Not hate to say YOU are correct, but hate to say that you are CORRECT.

The situation has gone from promising to questionable with growth foreseen to WTF is the coach doing?

The Drayton issue was MLFs crucible and he flamed out. The lack of leadership and desire to win at the cost of fixing an obvious problem cost him a lot of respect everywhere except in the Drayton household.

This team lacks serious winning mentality leadership and the deficiency begins with Murphy, bleeds to the GM office through Ball and Gutey and is flooded over at the HC level and locker room.

Murphy has lots of responsibilities for the overall health of the franchise and they are justified, however this is an NFL FOOTBALL TEAM, and priority ONE has to be WINNING NFL FOOTBALL GAMES! He handles much, but he needs to see that the winning is a priority with those under him whose decisions and actions show the way for the entire organization, most notably the HEAD FOOTBALL COACH!

Ball cost the Packers the Menninga and Drayton mess with his tight fisted actions when MLF had Gizzi all but hired. That is a BIG mistake to have dropped at the General Managers offices, that should have never happened, especially with a new head coach trying to build his coaching team, he was forced to keep Pettine and some others, at least let him hire his ST choice!

I like how Gutey has handled player acquisition so far. He has not been perfect, but no GM ever has been. He seems like he is truly trying to bring in the best players for the coach and team, this in spite of the front office exodus that occurred after Eliot Wolf was passed over in favor of Gutey. Bringing in Hendrickson seems to have been a master stroke and the losses haven't looked like anyone else's gains to date. I believe Gutey has learned from all of the Rodgers drama that a little acknowledgement of player interest in team make-up doesn't mean he has any less authority and can go a long way to creating team-player harmony. Communication is the easiest way to keep team members engaged and positive and therefore productive.

On to the Head Football Coach of the GBP. I loved the hire at the time and the way that MLF brought his system into harmony with Rodgers and the past GBP system that Rodgers was comfortable with was pretty smooth. That took an even better direction in year two, however in year 3 things seemed to go completely off the tracks. Rodgers looks to have taken over as OC and there was no push back by MLF. Huge red flag. The HC should have been placing his stamp on the team and bringing everyone else along, instead he became a cheerleader and lost control of his staff and players IMO. Rodgers was the defacto team leader and I have no faith in him as a winner when things get tough.

The locker room has become Rodgers locker room and the lack of toughness, both mental and physical, reflects his philosophy. Rodgers is a front-runner. When things are good he is giddy and pompous, but when the going gets tough he blames others and pouts. Not good.

The team needs a Ray Lewis - fire and brimstone leader - to ignite the inherent mental toughness that I suspect all competitive athletes have but don't always bring out and use until coaxed to. I don't see that guy on the current roster and if I was BG, I would be looking at team captains from college football for a guy that could be that kind of a spark for this team.

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packergal's picture

March 22, 2022 at 10:54 am

.JB27,

Many here agree with your post on AROD commanding locker room and his philosophy on good and bad game performances.

To counter that and in light of the fact there is “NO” fire and brimstone team leader appearing soon…any hope from new ST coach hire (Bisaccia?)

With all the praise for ST Bisaccia communicated by Executive Team, MLF and others; perhaps there's a chance that Coach B can help influence MLF to rise to HC role versus languishing as 2nd in command to AROD and his locker room philosophies.

The result may be that in big game moments, MLF actually proposes and insists on better play call options/ adjustments versus executing on annoying arm-flapping during big games.

If Coach B can help influence MLF in their private discussions to act more like a HC should, changing the GB “panchakarma” culture may occur.

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Matt Gonzales's picture

March 22, 2022 at 03:44 pm

There are some valid points here. There is also a good amount of bothwaysitis.

Had MVS sat in Detroit and either gotten hurt against SF or had a poor showing, MLF would be criticized for letting a player get rusty by sitting him for too long.

Had GB started Yosh at LT against SF and he struggled, the criticism would be that one of the proven veterans on the roster should have started.

Had Gute traded Rodgers, we would have fans throwing trash onto the field after Love's first rough showing.

If MLF kept his face buried in his call sheet he'd be criticized for not being an emotional leader and too much like MM. If he had a heavy hand in the playcalling and insisted on a pristine version of "his" system critics would say he wasn't enough like Kubiak in Denver or Ariens in TB giving his QB the ability to play to their strengths.

It is easy to forget that Gute inherited a locker room turning toxic, a roster with a ton of holes, a multi-year trend of whiffing on high draft picks on defense that resulted in premium draft capital being wasted over and over on the same positions, a QB who looked like he was on a decline and who had a troubling injury history, and a HC who decided his best path forward was to insist "If the players just played better my game plan would work".

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Starrbrite's picture

March 22, 2022 at 09:25 pm

An extremely relevant point concerning Drayton.

1 points
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jimtalkbox's picture

March 22, 2022 at 09:41 am

The pass happy days are and probably should be over. Defense. Run game. That's what we need MORE OF. (And a competent special teams)

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