You want a Coaching Carousel? The team is only as good as the talent. And if you look at the changes from 2010 to present. Don't point the finger.
Putting anyone on the hot seat. Is not going to help! The GMs never built a champion ship Roster. {They made do. = To stay in power.}
The trend since 2010 was a downward spiral. And until now. Looking back showed the roster failures. Impressions were deceiving.
And when it was said and done. We've enjoyed some great efforts. That set the standards for the next step. Which I hope is now.

Stay On Target!

"Winning in the postseason matters. It’s nice to play at home, but in the last two seasons, the Packers are 1-2 in the playoffs at Lambeau Field."

I still want the road to the SB for the NFC to go through Lambeau. I suppose if the Cowboys somehow were the #1 seed and the Packers had to play in Arlington Texas in the NFCCG that would be okay too when you consider Rodgers record there.

BUT...This team is different than years past right? At least it looks like it is to me. IF the Packers win the way I think they will this year, all MLF needs to do is CONTINUE to follow that same recipe in the playoffs. That recipe IMO is playing GREAT Defense and RUNNING the ball...ESPECIALLY in January at Lambeau but in all honesty, anywhere you play, THAT will be the Packers way to the SB.

I believe in MLF, probably more than some of my friends here at CHTV. MLF was still wet behind the ears when he was named HC of the Packers...Probably a bit wetter than most 1st time HC's. My hope after 3 straight seasons of losing before getting to the SB is that LaFleur has learned some things along the way on how to help get them over the hump.

Years ago, a blog had a survey as to which QB was the greatest, Starr, Favre, or Rodgers. Then there were discussions about McCarthy. I said then, as I say now, Green Bay is called Title Town, not winning town, or ability town, or potential town. The difference between GB and the rest of the NFC North is that their goal is to have a winning record and hopefully make the post-season. Actually, almost every new Chicago coach, at their initial press conference say that they will beat GB. That is their goal. GB's goal, at least by the fans and owners, is to WIN the Super Bowl. Anything less is a disappointment.

Brewers postgame host..."if Matt LaFleur continues to peak at the NFC title game, he will be out of a job."

That's not just the pot calling the kettle black...that is the kettle getting high on pot and blacking out!

The Brewers have won just ONE league pennant in their history and lost the only World Series they played in.
Will Craig Counsel be out of a job soon if he continues to peak before the playoffs too?

We have been playing in a division in which the other teams have been objectively weaker than us for years, two in particular. We have been doing so with a future Hall of Fame QB. With the benefit of hindsight, I don’t think it is particularly controversial that this has provided a strong platform for a push to the playoffs akin to that the Brady Patriots benefitted from.

When LaFleur arrived I don’t think it is any more controversial to say that our roster was at its weakest in years. That has gradually improved. Thus in the last two years at least we’ve had a weak division and an MVP QB supported by a strong roster. Yet we have twice lost badly against good teams.

In saying that we lost badly, we have been out thought and out coached on both occasions, both before and during the game. We had season long issues that came back to haunt us, baffling pregame decisions and eerily similar in game tactical errors. Whether and to what extent Rodgers may share some blame, ultimately, a coach is there to ensure that is mitigated. Ultimately it’s on the coach and rightly so.

NP notes LaFleur came to us green. This is true. However, he’s now had a QB and roster for at least two years and a favorable divisional platform. Coaches only get so many such opportunities. Last year LaFleur again made howlers and did not progress. This year he has to break through. If the Packers aren’t successful with Rodgers and this roster, LaFleur ought to be on the hot seat.

Being a genial face in the media only gets you so far. A truly good coach would have won at least one of those Championship games, maybe 3. The league sees LaFleur has been dealt strong hands and come away with nothing. If the Packers repeat the outcome of recent years, the window may close and close fast. It should do: assuming that this roster stays at least decently healthy there will be no excuse third time around.

As much as I believe that MLF has done an excellent job as the Packers HC he needs to step up his preparation and in game adjustments during the playoffs if the Packers are going to bring another Lombardi trophy home to Green Bay.

I can give him a pass for his first playoff loss back in 2019 to the 49ers. His defense was blown off the field by an excellent OL to the tune of 285 rushing yards allowed to a 3 rd string RB. OK it happens. Sometimes the team just isn't ready yet to play in the big games and they are in over their heads and they get blown out.

The second loss in 2020 was due to injuries to the OL combined with going against a very strong TB front 7 and Kevin King giving up 3 big plays, all on 3rd downs IIRC. We needed better execution from the OL in the 4th quarter but we didn't get it and it was a mistake to kick the FG rather than go for the TD late in the 4th quarter given how well our defense played in the 2nd half.

IMO the most recent loss to SF in 2021 began with the decision to shuffle the OL. This is an example of MLF and his assistants out thinking themselves. They underestimated Nijman and overestimated Bosa. They should have given Nijman the chance to play. The game plan to go to Adams early in the game was fine but as the 49ers adjusted they should have used Adams more as a decoy and spread the ball to other receivers. Sadly, we'll never know how the game would have turned if Lewis doesn't fumble on the second offensive drive as we had moved into SF territory and towards another score. Our defense played an exceptional game and deserved a better fate than they received.

Special teams which were a disaster all season proved to be the Packers undoing when it mattered most. They cost the Packers 10 points in a game which ultimately ended with a 3 point differential. 2 blocked kicks in the same game just can't happen at the professional level especially in the playoffs. This was probably MLF's biggest failure since he has been the Packers HC. Drayton should never have been promoted in the first place and he should have been fired during the season. I know that is rare but it was obvious that STs were getting worse instead of better as the season went on. Also the decision to switch LS in midseason remains a mystery and did nothing to improve the ST performance.

while I don't believe that MLF should be on the hot seat I do think that his decisions and adjustments will be more closely scrutinized than they have been previously. He has the league's MVP for the past 2 seasons at QB, 2 excellent RBs and an emerging young defensive unit with possibly 7 #1 picks in starting roles.
If they remain relatively healthy expectations for an SB victory are not unreasonable. The HC's role is to win games especially when they count the most. Most NFL coaches never reach the playoffs 3 times in their careers. MLF is getting his 4th shot in 2022. It's his time to get the results. Thanks, Since '61

Against San Francisco, the offense scored ten points. A TD in the first quarter, then a FG in the fourth. The defense gave up six points. What happened? As usual, once SF figured out the Packers game plan, and adjusted to shut it down, LaFleur had no answer. He does not seem to have the ability to make in-game adjustments, or have a "Plan B" ready if "Plan A" isn't working. Or is it Rodgers, who changes calls at the line, and doesn't care what his coach wants? Or a combination? The last two years, Rodgers has gotten what he wanted: home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That has led to two early exits. Time for that to change.

MLF and AR will be wearing the label Playoff JAG with another playoff first game puke job. We love labels! The talking heads and all us fans need labels…we can’t talk about stuff if we can’t label something.

But those labels become legacy labels and can stick for a lifetime. What’s frightening is when we throw these profound lifetime labels around one day, you realize that WHOLE label came down to 2,3,4 plays and that’s it. Game changing plays and one team makes them and one team doesn’t. One player makes them and is CLUTCH or doesn’t and is JAG.

SanFran
AR hits Lazard open over the middle and he’s still running…nope, throws into double coverage to Devante. Just block well enough for one play and make the FG or block we’ll enough for one play and don’t become 5th graders and get bullied with a blocked punt td.

Bucs
Catch the interception that hits you between the numbers, don’t give a Hail Mary td at half, catch the ball for 2 points…all plays you either make or you don’t. You either win because you do or lose and get lifetime achievement labels as…JAG in the big playoff games.

ETC.

Those same plays same opportunities will happen again this year and you either make the play or the other team does.

YOU EARN that permanent label for a lifetime because of 2,3,4 plays that everyone will use FOREVER….scary thought when you think of it that way. All the time that goes into your playing career and you’ll get a label we will use forever because of a few plays!

This year….MAKE THE DAMN PLAY!

Enough of these comments thinking MLF should be on the hot seat if he loses again in the playoffs. How dare anyone to disregard the fact that they win 13 games a season and win the Division, which is a Title and complies with the TitleTown stature of GB, not to omit the fact that our QB keeps setting personal records which makes him eligible for GOAT status. Seriously, what more can you want?

What great comments to this article. I found most of them very accurate and spot on.

Planning and pre game and in game adjustments.

Let's go back to when Gute was hired. He signs 4 very good free agents as he realized we needed help and could not just rely on the current team and the draft. I wanted the previous GM to sign free agents as well since we had arguably the best QB in the league and possible SB victories were going away and I felt that we were so very close. This was good planning by Gute. He then hires MLF, which most of us agree was a great move...again great planning.

Now you look at MLF and some of the blunders he has made. As mentioned in an earlier post, he hires Drayton, who was the understudy to a guy that was fired as he could not get the job done, as special teams coach. I think we all knew that this was a disaster so why didn't MLF. You want to have confidence in the FO, but when they make these moves you really have to wonder.

Like all large businesses, after year end, the higher ups look at what went right and what went wrong and try to plan for the future by making adjustments such as hiring and firing as well as where are our weaknesses and how do we address them. I have to think as part of the planning that Gute or someone would have to evaluate the job that MLF has done and point out some of the issues and what can be done to make us better in order to get us to the SB. Finally, they have hired, who I think is the right choice for Special Teams. They have also addressed the defense to make it much better by drafting two excellent defensive players in the first round.

But, I am sure that Gute and the FO has addressed MLF's biggest short coming, imho, is pregame planning and in game adjustments as part of his end of season review. If you look at the great coaches in the league, past and present, they may be behind at half time but with the adjustments they make into the second half, they usually pull the game out. To me, that is MLF's biggest challenge and he needs to find a way to make in game adjustments.

Sorry for rambling on but I think this is our biggest issue in not moving on in the playoffs.

Our injured OL has been rag dolled by better DL in the playoffs. 2 of the 3 last playoffs either Jones or Dillon got knocked out of the game. The 3rd playoff game ML like the other 2 completely abandoned the run game and made the team one dimensional. Our one dimensional offense then had our great DA double covered and allowed the rag doll OL let pressure get to the QB who was waiting to throw it to a heavily covered WR.

If we are to win in the playoffs ML will have to use Jones and a like RB and Dillon and Taylor as like RB's and alternate them throughout the season so ML will be comfortable enough to not abandon his game plan.
ML also needs to be able to change up his game plan when it no longer works. Our OL will need to block better wether pass or run and AR will need to spread the ball around better than he has been. I think having 2 RB's in the backfield to show run and add them to the pass game would help a lot but ML has not run that look in any quantity yet. The Defense played incredible last playoffs and added several good players. Glad the ST Coach was finally a priority Murphy. Even with loss of Adams...I expect more this season. ML needs to learn from his mistakes to get us in the show.

MLF is a very fine coach. His record speaks for itself. The problem is his playoff record also speaks for itself. Every team has holes and the coaches that find the opponent’s weakness and exploits them usually win. MLF hasn’t shown he can do that yet. He’s too willing to run his offense no matter the weather, or the other team’s schemes. He hasn’t shown yet, but believe he will, a willingness to change his approach when dictated by the other team or weather. That will show a growth in his philosophy that will bring multiple SBs.
In my humble opinion.

This article made my blood boil. What a bunch of spoiled brat idiocy. So you can't win the Super Bowl you suck as a coach? Really? Why don't you ask Jacksonville fans if they want to swap win totals with Green Bay?

The Packers have had a remarkable, truly remarkable, run since Ron Wolf/Bob Harlan brought winning back to Green Bay. It is very difficult to beat 31 other teams to the top. When Lombardi was coach there were less than half as many teams.

Modern society has bred the really dumb idea that if you can't win it all you're a loser. Losers are the Detroit Lions. The Packers, even if they don't win the Super Bowl, are winners.

The two teams that played in the Super Bowl last year were beaten by the Packers during the regular season. So even though they didn't win the Super Bowl the Packers/Matt LF are losers? Matt LF should be fired if he doesn't win it all? Do you prefer a new coach who brings a 6-10 record? Ron Wolf decided after Holmgren left to hire a coach who was 'tougher'. The result was a disaster and the entire staff was fired after one year. Change doesn't always mean improvement. Just ask the Lions, Bears, Browns, Jaguars, Texans, etc. etc.

Matt LF is remarkable, not the least of which is being able to keep the highest of high-bred QB's Aaron Rodgers, performing at an MVP level. Sorry, but this 'win it all or you're fired' garbage sets me off.

Cory. You make a point. But you sure rile up people.

Lafleur needs to take the next step. Especially in preparation and adjustments during the game.

Gute needs to step up too. And it appears he has this year with the signings and draft. And hiring a good special teams coach.

It just seems that both Lafleur and Gute went through growing pains in their respective positions.

And it appears that our all world QB just can't on his own beat good teams in the playoffs.

What we need is a team solid in all three phases, a coach taking the next step and our QB playing a good game

The NFL regular season (along with the other pro leagues) has been minimized because nearly half the teams make the playoffs anyway. As far as the serious contenders go, a sparkling won-lost record is useful for seeding, but that's about it. Whether you're playing at home or on the road, you still have to be firing on all cylinders and ready for all contingencies once the postseason arrives.

Now that the defensive and special teams (hopefully) coaching deficiencies have been corrected, it's up to MLF to graduate from his caretaker approach (for lack of a better description) in the playoffs. He needs to have those offensive adjustments ready if needed, and he needs to get Rodgers to play smart football for the entire game. A little more creativity and unpredictability wouldn't hurt, either.

We finally have the defense that should be able to handle any playoff opponent. Now it's up to MLF and Rodgers to hold up their end of the bargain and deliver the Trophy at long last.

The importance of a head coach could not be made clearer than a quote by Bum Phillips who was the head coach of the old Houston Oilers years ago.

When talking about the famous head coach of the University of Alabama, Bum said "Bryant can take his'n and beat your'n, and then he can turn around and take your'n and beat his'n"

Well here is hoping the MLF has a little Bear Bryant in him this year.

With the expanded playoff field plus a 17th game on the schedule, the regular season has been significantly diluted in recent years. Also, I think home field advantage is not as big in the playoffs as it used to be, because visiting teams have learned how to make adjustments, both in the way they prepare as well as during the games. Another factor that is more specific to Green Bay is that the crowds are not as loud as they used to be--or worse yet, they make noise when the Packers' offense is on the field. I agree with the author that although LaFleur should not be on the hot seat, he is in danger of creating a legacy that, in the end, is not that impressive. We don't want a modern-day Marty Schottenheimer.

"LaFleur has been so good he has made us desensitized to the regular season."

A correct sentiment and one that is buried within close to 600 words 'desensitized' to the regular season.

That aside, passionate fans are great, and the commenters here on CHTV are a big reason I like this site. In a few of these comments, though, the disappointment drifts toward anger. Feelings run high. And a lot of this seems to be less about MLF and his performance and more about the feelings. OK.

So who would you rather see as HC?

I caught hell here many times from the Homer’s every season that ended in disappointment by being scolded for not appreciating a 12 or 13 win season and hard of an accomplishment it is, how times have changed .

I just had time to sit down and read this thread and all I can say is "Wow".

"...the other teams in the division are objectively weaker". Is that the same thing as saying the Packers are stronger? I guess that's a matter of perspective.

The Packers have a better organization than the Bears, Lions, or Purple. It's better run. That's why we hire a guy like LaFleur, with no HC experience....and he goes out and wins more games than any HC ever in his first three seasons. And we're still butt hurt over some close losses? Stuff happens in games. It's over.

The name of the game is make the playoffs, and if you win your division, you get to start at home. That's the goal right now. Get a team together that can get to the playoffs and then hope and pray that your key dogs are healthy. LaFleur has done an exemplary job of getting us to that point, and I think that's a lot better than not getting to that point.

Some of y'all didn't suffer through the Long Dry Spell. Bad scouting, bad drafting, bad front office decisions, bad luck, whatever.....we are damn fortunate to be in this position. We're a good organization, with a good Executive Board, President, GM, HC, etc. and we put a very good product on the field just about every week.

Not yet out of off season hibernation but adding my 2 cents.

MLF totally lost my confidence by not firing Drayton mid season. ST were a disaster and EVERYONE knew it and he let it continue. This was incompetence - not just bad plays.
He has not shown the ability to turn things around mid-game many times. How many 'burn the tape' comments did we hear.
And how many film replays of receivers wide open but AR focused on DA.
All complaints I made throughout the year but they didn't listen to me :).

So I don't see him in 'control' of the team. He's the weak link.

I'm not in the locker room but I don't hear anything special from him when he speaks after the game. Ok, maybe that doesn't really mean much. He's obviously a fair coach, maybe even good. But clearly not good enough. Yet (hopefully!). So yeah, I hope he is in the hot seat and I hope they told him they didn't bring him in to win the North.

Another season with a better team (WR #1 still a big ?) and 2 of the above 3 complaints should be fixed.
So we'll see what he does with it.

GPG!