Cory's Corner: Matt LaFleur's Ears Are Paying Dividends

Third-year Packers head coach is teaching a Master Class in crisis communication. 

I thought last year was a challenge for NFL head coaches. 

They had the difficult task of plotting a course through the rough waters of COVD-19 while playing in the empty chasm without fans or barely any fans. 

Fast forward to this year, and I would argue that it has been even tougher. Granted, home stadiums have been full this year and have been an added bonus for teams like the Packers and Buccaneers, who are 6-0 at home. But there have been more COVID cases this year and now there’s the added twist of vaccination status.

And Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been able to dodge every pitfall with ease. Whether it was the preseason noise surrounding Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams’ impending contract status, the 10 Packers players that have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and the insurmountable injuries to at least nine starters. Put another way, only 17 players have played in all 13 games. 

Those are odds that nobody wants. But amazingly, through all of that, the Packers don’t just have a pretty 10-3 record, but are the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Now read through all of the obstacles again and try to figure out the 10-3 record. That’s like adding 2 and 2 and getting 6. 

“You can never relax,” said LaFleur in November. “You can never take a deep breath and feel like you have arrived, because as soon as you do that you are going to go out and get your butt whipped. You have to earn it every day.”

And that’s why LaFleur is 36-9 in only his third season as an NFL head coach. There are people that want to scoff at LaFleur’s record without a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. And while that is a fair criticism, what’s being missed is how even-keeled LaFleur has been through every rock and sway of the boat. 

He didn’t get nervous and panic in the offseason when there was talk about Rodgers not returning to Green Bay. He never lost focus in his guys when someone tested positive for COVID or someone new was lost for an extended amount of time due to injury. 

And that’s what makes LaFleur, LaFleur. He has this calming demeanor, it makes me think of 77-year-old Milton. I would drive this old man long distances in his huge Buick that was awful on gas mileage and he would just sit back and smoke his pipe. And when he did drive locally, he would go 10 miles an hour under the speed limit — causing a parade of vehicles to bottleneck. 

Yeah, you could bring in another coach to Green Bay that would be successful. But there’s no way that he would be able to sidestep everything that has gone on this year and still maintain a 10-3 record. 

And that’s why this team likes LaFleur so much. They can see his singular focus. Granted, it’s cool that they can pick the music in training camp or wear funny T-shirts and mess with him because at age 42, he isn’t as stiff as most NFL head coaches. He is willing to mix it up with his players, but what they enjoy most about him is that he is willing to listen. 

That was what ultimately led former Packers coach Mike McCarthy out of town. He had blinders on and wasn’t willing to see or hear anything else that was going on.

That isn’t the case with LaFleur. Green Bay is sixth in the NFL in points given up a game with 20.9 and it is ninth in rushing yards per game allowed with 105.2. If a team succeeds in those two areas, it is going to be playing deep into January. 

But that isn’t just a nod to LaFleur. It also shows that he can assemble a staff. He brought in Joe Barry to overhaul a defensive unit and a linebacking corps that needed plenty of help. Many weren’t sure after Week 1, but midway through the season, it’s OK to give LaFleur a passing grade on that hire.

And that’s why LaFleur has thrived. His laid-back presence has been a welcome sign for a locker room that just needed an ear for someone to listen. 

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

__________________________

9 points
 

Comments (50)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Demon's picture

December 18, 2021 at 06:24 am

You didnt mention the Drayton fiasco. MLF gets gets A+ in every category with the exception of Drayton. That may very well be the undoing of this team in the playoffs.

10 points
11
1
CoryJennerjohn's picture

December 18, 2021 at 07:04 am

That's fair Demon. I would just argue that not enough time or resources are put into special teams. I don't think it's really anyone's fault, it's just not a priority.

-3 points
3
6
Norm's picture

December 18, 2021 at 08:36 am

"I don't think it's really anyone's fault, it's just not a priority."

What kind of a statement is that Cory? As head coach it's MLF's job to ensure all phases of the game are given appropriate priority and while you can't make everything a priority (that's the same as nothing being a priority) it's been clear for a while now that special teams needs to be more of a priority or it WILL cost them a game, potentially in the playoffs where of course that would be disastrous. Brandon Bostick anyone?

MLF and Drayton can only coach the players Gute gives them, so if you want to make the argument that we don't have enough quality special teams players, or it was a mistake to change long snappers in the middle of the season, or anything else personnel-wise then that's Gute's fault. But you can't just say it's not really anyone's fault, except maybe when it comes to injuries.

11 points
11
0
croatpackfan's picture

December 18, 2021 at 03:12 pm

You can't make a delicious meal out of bad food!

The real question is how many ST players are really NFL material. If you nod positively on most of the ST unit players, than I think we can ask for coach performance. Maybe this bunch of guys would gave every game 2 TD and 3 fumbles on ST and only excellent work of ST coach make them not to do that!

-1 points
1
2
bccoop's picture

December 22, 2021 at 08:22 am

If you remember his first move was to hire the very good special team coach that's now at Saints the office didn't want to pay him and he walked . They tried to call him back and he said to late.the special teams have been horrible for years and they keep promoting from within.

0 points
0
0
NickPerry's picture

December 18, 2021 at 07:10 am

"And that’s why LaFleur is 36-9 in only his third season as an NFL head coach. There are people that want to scoff at LaFleur’s record without a future Hall of Famer at quarterback."

Pardon me, but I'm so sick of hearing this. That's BULLSHIT! While MLF is fortunte have a future HOF QB as his starter, he's still had to turn around, with the help of Gute, a football team who frankly wasn't very good in 2017 & 2018.

He's had to get a pretty damn stubborn QB to buy into the MLF system. I mean just LOOK at the difference between 2019 and 2020 when Rodgers moreless bought into the change. Just look at the 1st quarters of THIS season when Rodgers seems to revert back to the 2019 version or even 2017/18 Aaron Rodgers. BUT Matt has been there to reel Rodgers back into 2021 by the 2nd quarter and BAMN, the Packers offense looks like poetry in motion. THAT'S because of MLF.

I didn't think it at the time, but MLF has been the perfect hire for the Packers. I was a Josh McDaniels guy and was certain the Packers dropped the ball. CLEARLY I was wrong! I was also quite certain because of MLF's age, the staff he hired wasn't worth a damn, especially the O-Line and TE coaches. LOL!!!!!! I was wrong again!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but MLF has seemed to learn from his previous mistakes. EVEN with 13-3 records there have been growing pains or mistakes YOUNG HC's make. But with each passing season, LaFleur looks better and better with his decision making and in game adjustments.

Last thing... Every time the 49ers are on we HAVE TO HEAR about what great HC and offensive mind Kyle Shanahan is. Shanahan is 36-41 as of today. To be fair he was 23-25 his first 3 seasons OR 26-19 over the same span since MLF was hired as the Packers HC. I mean he's 13-16 since the 49ers LOST in the SB. Niners fans are quick to point out the injuries they've had. Are you F###ing kidding me? Don't talk injuries as an excuse to a Packers fans!!!

MLF is the BETTER coach between him and KS. MLF SHOULD be HC of the year but I'm sure they'll screw him because he has Aaron Rodgers. All I know id I'm glad the Packers have Matt LaFleur!

6 points
14
8
edp1959's picture

December 18, 2021 at 09:37 am

I keep asking for proof that Rodgers is not following the system and no one can provide that proof. Until that happens this is just pure speculation and lies. This post is just another example of that. Teams go through a scripted plan at the beginning of games. It appears to me the scripted plan is what slows the team down at the beginning and later when Rodgers takes over "poof" that is when the magic begins.

ROCK ON REAL PACKER'S FANS!!!

0 points
8
8
michaelturi's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:03 am

I am not sure how to isolate Rodgers' role in following the "system".
I do think he releases the ball quicker now than under MM. Could be better play designs and play timing. It often seemed under MM Rodgers just sent out receivers and winged it or waited for a big play to develop downfield.

5 points
5
0
AR2ADAMS's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:36 am

@edp1959 and NickPerry- I think you’re both right. Rodgers is nobody’s system QB. He makes the offense and everyone around him better. You’re correct, the play calling is incredibly long at times, and he frequently changes plays and “draws them up in the sand” to win games (2016 divisional game vs Cowboys anyone? Or for a more recent example, the 37 second drive this year to beat the 49ers). He’s set the bar of excellence so high for so long that it’s hard to maintain à la the “LeBron Effect”. Truthfully, the man could’ve won MVP most of the years he’s been a starter. Everyone wrote him off after 2017/2018 with the team crumbling around him, and then he comes back and wins MVP a 3rd time; (And is 2nd in odds at the moment with a real chance at a back to back).

However, having said that, MLF is an elite coach in his own right. He brought a middling 6-9-1 squad *immediately* back to relevancy and is drifting towards uncharted territory in all time win %. As great a QB as Rodgers is, he’s only one of 53 players and a dozen coaches. Even a HoF QB can’t win by themselves (Dan Marino w/ 0 rings is the single greatest example). You still need a great coach and team around you to win games. Everyone would agree that Drew Brees is a top 10 all time QB, correct? Think about all the 7-9 seasons he had; and that was WITH a great coach. It’s very hard to win in this league on a yearly basis. What LaFleur is doing is unprecedented and he deserves credit. So does Gute and so does Rodgers.

TL;DR- No, LaFleur wouldn’t be this successful without a first ballot HoFer at the helm, nor would Rodgers without LaFleur.

8 points
9
1
NickPerry's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:36 am

"I keep asking for proof that Rodgers is not following the system and no one can provide that proof. Until that happens this is just pure speculation and lies."

I's greatly appreciate it if you didn't suggest or call me a liar. If you don't like my opinion or comment fine, I respect that. Speculation? Perhaps, but the first quarter of the Bears game last week was a PERFECT example of what I'm talking about.

This offense has for the entire time MLF has been HC, worked BEST when Rodgers gets the ball out of his hands quickly and doesn't hold onto it. There were several plays in the first quarter, plays when he was sacked, where he had an open receiver bit was looking for the home run or something else.

There are examples of this throughout the season, but with a QB as GREAT as Rodgers it's hard to be critical of periods of times in games when this happens.

"ROCK ON REAL PACKER'S FANS!!!"

Are you F###ing serious. Research the commentor you're suggesting isn't a fan. It's easy, just click on their name and READ the comments they've posted.

5 points
10
5
barutanseijin's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:41 am

edp1959:

GTFO with the “real Packers fan” BS. It’s essentially a childish assertion that anyone who disagrees isn’t a “real fan” — whatever that is.

5 points
8
3
Oppy's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:48 am

edp is the epitome of playing chess with a pigeon.
Also, we'll see who the 'real packers fans' are after Rodgers is gone.

I somehow suspect edp won't be cheering the packers any longer, just calling for people to get fired.

3 points
7
4
Leatherhead's picture

December 18, 2021 at 12:02 pm

So, you need proof. That’s fair

Then you say that the offense doesn’t take off until Rodgers deviates from the scripted plan.

So which is it, edp? Does Rodgers stick to the system, or doesn’t he?

5 points
8
3
jurp's picture

December 18, 2021 at 02:27 pm

What, so you are a real Packers fans and the rest of us aren't?

Go. Fuck. Yourself.

Idiot.

3 points
5
2
Coldworld's picture

December 19, 2021 at 08:20 am

I wish you would learn to be more direct!

Seriously though, this is just like the period around the Rodgers/Favre transition where we saw that, for many the QB was the focus of loyalty and any comment that was perceived to cast even a shred of doubt over their object of loyalty resulted in this kind of personal justification for taking up arms to defend their preferred outcome. Got to the point where we could barely discuss football without personal invective. It’s started already. Be careful you don’t miss the season worrying about what may happen after.

1 points
1
0
SanLobo's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:17 am

There is a lot to unpack here. But your comments about the 2017 & 2018 teams as well as Rodgers during those seasons lacks a whole lot of context. Rodgers was taken out in the 6th game of the 2017 season with a broken collar bone, prior to that, the team was playing well. In 2018 Rodgers played the entire season with a fracture in his leg sustained during the Bears game.

I don’t know when Rodgers, and the rest of the team decided to buy into LaFleur’s scheme, but I do know that many didn’t fully understand it (cause they said they didn’t) during that first season. The 2020 season is the first season the entire offense (save new players) felt fully comfortable in it.

LaFleur has done a great job pulling the team together and building a winning culture. The players hold each other responsible and are focused. He clearly tried to address both the defense and ST this past off season. It looks like he hit a home run with the defense. Not so much with STs. I expect he will make a move there soon, if he can find what he believes to be the better solution.

6 points
6
0
Leatherhead's picture

December 18, 2021 at 12:08 pm

LaFleur has kept his starting QB healthy. It was apparent after 2017 and 2018 that we needed a healthy and protected Rodgers to win the division. Voila. Enter a coach that used handoff and short throws. Enter free agent linemen in Taylor andWagner. Enter Day Two guys like Jenkins and Myers. Gone are days of Rodgers taking a beating on a regular basis. He gets rid of the ball instead of taking a sack while extending a play.

Everything on offense starts with blocking.

3 points
5
2
jannes bjornson's picture

December 18, 2021 at 01:27 pm

West Coast Offense in a nutshell. They still need a Fullback.

0 points
1
1
Leatherhead's picture

December 18, 2021 at 01:48 pm

We have a fullback. His name is Allen Lazard. We line him up in the slot and put him in motion and he blocks and catches a couple of passes.

0 points
1
1
jannes bjornson's picture

December 18, 2021 at 02:00 pm

Give me a break. He's the # 2 WR, period.

-2 points
1
3
Leatherhead's picture

December 18, 2021 at 05:16 pm

I know it’s confusing. Don’t look at his # or where he initially lined up. Look at what he does. When the ball 🏈 is snapped, he is frequently in position to block a guy in the box, just like a fullback. He gets a couple of touches a game, just like a fullback. A tall, fast fullback. Kind of like Deguara. Either one of them can line up wide, inline, or in the slot. You can put them in motion.

They block and get a couple of touches. just like a fullback. I like it. It works.

I get that we don’t have that battering ram lead blocker. I’m in favor of putting some 290 lb DT in for those situations. But we can only line up 5 skill guys, and that’s Adams and a RB for sure plus 3 more, so having guys who can do multiple things is useful.

1 points
2
1
Coldworld's picture

December 19, 2021 at 08:26 am

Daffney is a fullback and Deguara can play effectively there too. Had Tonyan not gone down, Deguara taken time to get fully healthy and up to speed and Dafney not been injured recently, down I suspect both would have spent more snaps in a conventional FB role. That is part of their skill set.

1 points
1
0
jurp's picture

December 18, 2021 at 07:17 am

What an odd headline, probably due to the presence of "ears". Maybe "open-mindedness", "patience", "laid-back demeanor", or "management style" would be better?

In a strictly literal (as opposed to idiomatic) reading of the headline, money is coming out of LaFleur's ears. And now I can't get that amusing yet at the same time horrifying (horrifyingly amusing? amusingly horrifying?) image out of my mind...

-4 points
1
5
Johnblood27's picture

December 18, 2021 at 07:48 am

I saw ears and I thought ... Why not EYEBROWS?

4 points
6
2
croatpackfan's picture

December 18, 2021 at 03:20 pm

Maybe it would be less money, you know - physics...

-1 points
0
1
stockholder's picture

December 18, 2021 at 07:55 am

Not so fast. The special Teams stink.

0 points
4
4
Johnblood27's picture

December 18, 2021 at 01:28 pm

You have a valid point 'broker.

Maybe a little more use of MLF's EYES would lead him to take notice! Heck, even using his NOSE might drive home the point of the stench given off by the ST!

0 points
2
2
Coldworld's picture

December 19, 2021 at 08:51 am

I have to agree with Stockholder on this. No HC with this bad of a phase for this long deserves anointing yet, but it is broader than that.

LaFleur is very promising, he’s got a great scheme that he took from others, but there are signs this year that it is beginning to evolve under him. That’s one element to success if it continues. This year too, we’ve finally begun to see in game changes that have a positive impact: he’s learning to improvise and adapt where something isn’t working. Again a positive sign that is a key component of success.

All that said, camp was arguably handled naively. Last year he stuck with Pettine when, arguably, removing him would have benefited by subtraction generally and specifically in the awful defensive game plan and calling in the championship game. This year again we have a poor choice to move to Drayton coupled with an unwillingness to realize or at least accept his mistake. Last year his similar treatment of Pettine arguably cost us a Super Bowl. Lets hope his apologism for the worst ST leadership I can recall does not do the same this year.

Barry appears to be a big plus, but it’s not the ones that work alone that make a coach, it’s how one handles the ones that do not. Finally, while I personally feel Pettine was the biggest culprit in the Championship,LaFleur also produced a clunker of a game plan and lost his grip on what was working later, compounding the issue.

Simply put, LaFleur has been out thought in key games each year. This is worse since twice he came out against opponents who beat us before with essentially the same game plan and strategy and, to compound it, then made the same exacerbatory in game calling errors. Until LaFleur can outcoach teams in the playoffs, he’s not a great coach but a pretender. He did, finally, outthink McVay this season, there is hope, but he had to do it in the playoffs to be taken seriously.

LaFleur has promise, he’s learned a lot, but he risks derailing all that by his reaction to Drayton and has not yet shown he can win the coaching battle when it matters against the best teams. If he does, we may have won last year and we might win this.

Finally, of course Rodgers makes LaFleur look better at times and of course helps his record. If Rodgers did not, we would have no business paying Rodgers. However, it is equally without doubt that LaFleur has similarly helped Rodgers. Unfortunately neither has helped enough to win it all yet. Fingers crossed.

0 points
0
0
Jon Lee's picture

December 18, 2021 at 08:37 am

Ray Rhoades is proof that a coach matters.

4 points
4
0
Bitternotsour's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:00 am

and Mike Sherman is proof that a GM matters.

5 points
5
0
jannes bjornson's picture

December 18, 2021 at 01:31 pm

I watched sherman burn 58 seconds with a second and goal, Favre vs Manning in 10F weather wearing a sweatshirt and purple skin, then he called a timeout and kicked a FG. Walk on.

2 points
3
1
CoryJennerjohn's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:42 am

Great point.

1 points
1
0
HarryHodag's picture

December 18, 2021 at 08:41 am

What amazes me about fans at times is the 'flag football' mentality they have about the NFL.

All it takes, to them, is a QB throwing 70 passes a game without any help and the team will win it all.

Winning starts at the top, as in the coach.

MLF has expertly traveled along the edge of a cliff side-by-side with an immensely talented egomaniac at QB. He's kept Rodgers from jumping ship. Indeed, Rodgers might be more 'in' this year than ever. He's traversed injuries and COVID setbacks that are nearly without precedent. He's instilled a sense of teamwork rarely seen during McCarthy's days. True, the assistant coaches(excepting special teams) have done a remarkable job, but he's the tacit CEO of football and has kept the ship moving toward the playoffs.

Urban Meyer inherited a Jacksonville team that has some talent and in 13 games ran it into ground. Matt LF inherited a talented team and has twice led them deep into the playoffs and poised for a third run.

Appreciate what you have, it could have been Urban Meyer.

8 points
10
2
TheBigCheeze's picture

December 18, 2021 at 09:08 am

Hey LeFleur.....mix up the offense.... more play action and short plays.... and blitz more on defense....

-4 points
0
4
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

December 18, 2021 at 09:15 am

I've said it many times we are fortunate to have MLF all the way up to Murphy.

-1 points
3
4
TarynsEyes's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:30 am

I had my doubts about the MLF hiring and have seen him grow since being hired, as like his in-game/halftime adjustments, and his steady hand dealing with controversy, I cannot deny that MLF is the best thing that has happened to the Packers since the moving on from Favre to Rodgers. Now he just needs to capture an SB and put his name above MM's as he surely is a far better HC than MM ever had been for the Packers.

13 points
15
2
jont's picture

December 18, 2021 at 10:33 am

Looking at national sports media we don't see much appreciation for MLF so it's good to see Packers fans, at least, know we've got a good one. Pretty good piece, Cory.

I'll quibble with one line, though. I'm not sure MLF "has been able to dodge every pitfall with ease." I bet it's been pretty difficult sometimes.

In my imagination I see MLF sitting in an office with Gute and MM having just read a couple articles in which Rodgers reams out the FO while praising his coach. Can you say 'awkward'?

And then he goes to talk with 12: "Come on, buddy, cut these guys some slack, will ya?"

"No."

Good times for any manager, good times.

1 points
3
2
NickPerry's picture

December 19, 2021 at 03:33 am

Good one jont... I thought that was pretty funny...

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:22 am

Of all of the recently hired NFL HCs I would MLF over all of them. He’s done an excellent job as the Packers HC. Yes he has Aaron Rodgers and Kenny Clark and A. Jones but he has continued to be successful while losing players like Bak, Alexander, Z, and other key players to injury. Not to mention Linsley to FA.

Some his staff deserves credit for that as well but the key word is “his” staff.

On the flip side MLF needs to take the hit for the miserable ST performance. With or without Rodgers MLF won’t be COY until he fixes STs. Thanks, Since ‘61

4 points
6
2
canadapacker's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:33 am

You are bang on - and everybody was saying that maybe just maybe Bill B was not that good - because many of his assistants have turned out very poorly as head coaches - not going to name them but way more failures than successes and many of them have been absolute failures. So Bill B was just good because he had Brady - which partially is true but he was pretty good when Brady went down and now look what he is doing with the next Brady. I think that the same might be said about Lafleur. His reputation wont be solidified until he has success with someone other than one of the NFL's best. Hopefully AR will come back for 2 -4 more years - I believe his physical body will take it since he sat his first 3 years. But then we will see how he does. Finally Lafleur has earned each and every advancement through the NFL - and unlike Shanahan who got it because of daddy ML worked his way up without the nepotism.

2 points
3
1
NickPerry's picture

December 18, 2021 at 04:25 pm

Spot on comment canadapacker. I actually think Bill Belichick is the 2nd greatest HC in NFL History...BUT, we've had the opportunity to see many GREATS who were great in different eras. Lombardi, Shula, Noll, in the 70's. Walsh in the 80's who IMO was one of the greats. If not for that jackass Mike Lynn, the Vikings former GM, basically handing Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson all those SB's in the 90's. Walsh and even Mike Holmgren would have won more.

Hopefully MLF is around for years and years because I HONESTLY believe he'll win with anyone at QB.

1 points
1
0
Coldworld's picture

December 19, 2021 at 09:05 am

We brought in MLF knowing he needed to learn. We made Gute GM knowing he needed to rebuild. We kept Rodgers knowing he needed a good roster around him and that we’d have to pay to get it from where we were in time to give Rodgers a real chance while he was near his peak. This season and last were real chances in my view.

Coaching let us down last year. This year we have seen a roster hold up against attrition at key positions. We have yet to see (injury gods not withstanding) whether LaFleur can win the coaching battles when it matters and if Rodgers can maintain his health and play through to lifting the Lombardi.

I just hope that injuries don’t finally get to a point where they derail us and that Covid doesn’t make a farce out of the post season.

1 points
1
0
PhantomII's picture

December 18, 2021 at 11:45 am

The ST needs more starting players on the coverage. Need a kicker who can put it outside field of play without a 40 yd penalty. A return guy with good hands and is not scared to make a decision to run forward instead of sideways.

2 points
2
0
wildbill's picture

December 18, 2021 at 01:17 pm

Nice to read all the comments praising MLF on turning this team around but you have to share some of that with the FA signings Gute brought in. Not a Gute groupie but he assembled a team that has had two opportunities to play in a Super Bowl. That’s a pretty good job IMO. He has drafted well also and I’m anxious to see how the team/cap situation plays out this offseason.

4 points
5
1
NickPerry's picture

December 18, 2021 at 04:37 pm

You damn right wildbill. I'm not a "Gute Groupie" either, but I do have a ton of respect for the job he's done in GB.

Gute said he would explore EVERY Avenue, every way to make the Packers a better team. He said the Packers would at least be in conversations at trade deadlines and in FA and he has. Gute has been awesome!

He's done EVERYTHING he SAID he would do. Can't ask for more than that. But Goddamn, I sure wish he would have backed MLF a bit more and not let Ball and Murphy lowball the hell out of Darren Rizzo who WAS the ST coach MLF wanted to hire.

Never should have let him get on that plane without signing on the dotted line.

4 points
5
1
Coldworld's picture

December 19, 2021 at 09:14 am

I don’t see that Gute had the leverage to overpower his boss Murphy and the guy Murphy ensured did not report to Gute as Ball should do absent personalities. Ball should have been let go to clear the decks. The myth that he is a cap genius is just that: he’s effective but not an innovator in the league and not known as such (Brandt us more respected). Ball was Murphy’s first choice for GM till that blew up in his face.

I do very much agree that (if true) Murphy should have ensured that we paid for the best (even if it meant moving Ball to do so). If you want to win, pay for known coaching talent, it was a move wholly at odds with the drive to where we are now. It was a move wholly consistent with Ball’s actions as de facto GM.

2 points
2
0
croatpackfan's picture

December 18, 2021 at 03:36 pm

Well, the truth is that MLF is 0-0 still this week.

Never look back nor to far in front.

I will gladly talk about MLF excellence after the season will be finished. If Packers run the table (4 more wins) MLF will be the first coach who achieved 40 wins in his first (rookie) 3 seasons as HC, He is 2nd with Ravens Harbough at the moment at 36.

0 points
1
1
croatpackfan's picture

December 18, 2021 at 03:37 pm

Double post

0 points
0
0
Bigdogbonz's picture

December 18, 2021 at 03:50 pm

This team has a perfect happy medium of coach, QB, general manager. I don’t think all the credit can go to MLF. We’ve had some awesome recent drafts, some good FA pickups and Rodgers looks more comfortable than I’ve ever seen him. And the defense has finally stepped up. MLF is at the right age also to get along with and understand the players mentality. Just my opinion

-1 points
0
1
CheesyJord's picture

December 24, 2021 at 09:37 am

Everybody needs a coach. https://www.meltonfencingpros.com.au

1 points
1
0