OTAs offer early glimpse of Rodgers, LaFleur dynamic

-- As has been conveyed throughout the offseason, the relationship between Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Matt LaFleur was going to be vital to the team's progression and success in 2019.

Apparently, there's nothing to worry about.

The Packers took the field in front of fans and media on Tuesday for their second day of organized team activities. Monday's first practice was closed. If anything was made evident aside from the relationship molded by Rodgers and LaFleur, it's that LaFleur takes far more of a hands-on approach to coaching his players than his predecessor did.

According to multiple reports from the scene at practice, LaFleur was either working with quarterbacks and physically demonstrating what he wants them to do as far as certain mannerisms go, or he was helping the running backs with minor technicalities in their operations.

This all bodes well for Rodgers, who last summer expressed his desire to be coached. Between LaFleur, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy, that's exactly what the Packers' staff intends to do.

"I think it's going great, man," LaFleur said of his bond with Rodgers, per Michael Cohen of The Athletic. "You can see how much fun he has out on that field, but we've had a lot of good conversations and I think we're growing together."

The Packers are hoping Rodgers and LaFleur -- as well as the rest of the offense -- can hit the ground running with a new system. While LaFleur has acknowledged that the concepts won't necessarily be foreign, the verbiage will be something that Rodgers and co. will need to master.

"The more time that we can spend together, I think we'll have a better feel for each other. Certainly, it's been a lot of fun up to this point."

Much of the discourse since LaFleur was hired in January has been how he'll be able to mesh with Rodgers and how the team's organizational power structure will hold up, but both parties have reciprocated their praise for each other.

"I think the great thing about Matt is it's been very clear messaging," Rodgers told PackersNews.com last month. "He's been great in front of the room. It's a forward focus. It's about building today for a better tomorrow. He's done a great job of talking about how the most important thing is us moving forward together and having a deference and appreciation for the past."

Up to this point, Rodgers and LaFleur clearly recognize the urgency of the situation with the two-time league MVP entering his age 36 season, as well as the stipulations that could come with hiring a first-year head coach who is just four years Rodgers' senior. But there's no other unassailable reason to believe that conjoined minds and a healthy working relationship should allow the Packers' ship to wreck before it even leaves the dock.

The Packers have two remaining OTA practices scheduled to be open to the public: Next Wednesday, May 29, and Tuesday, June 4. Each practice will begin at 12:05 p.m. CT. 

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

6 points
 

Comments (23)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
4thand1's picture

May 21, 2019 at 03:55 pm

The bromance is on!

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Lphill's picture

May 21, 2019 at 03:59 pm

Only Vikings fans are praying that it doesn’t work out , unfortunately for them it’s going to rejuvenate Rodgers and the offense while Cousins brings the Vikings in the wrong direction.

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IceBowl's picture

May 21, 2019 at 04:00 pm

"I think it's going great, man," LaFleur said of his bond with Rodgers, per Michael Cohen of The Athletic. "You can see how much fun he has out on that field, but we've had a lot of good conversations and I think we're growing together."

Basically thre same as Arod and MM said about each other.

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dobber's picture

May 22, 2019 at 07:36 am

I don't know why people really expected that anything LaF said to the media would be much different from this.

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CoachJV's picture

May 21, 2019 at 04:46 pm

This is a non-story... minutes of my life I'll never get back...
And more minutes writing this comment...

Oh God end the madness!!!! I need football!!!

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 21, 2019 at 06:15 pm

This is a non-comment... seconds of my life I'll never get back...

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 21, 2019 at 06:14 pm

"Apparently, there's nothing to worry about."

Rodgers and McCarthy where kind of like the Odd Couple. LaFleur is a much better fit for Rodgers. These guys are going to be great. Maybe Rodgers has a hard time relating to the guys a decade younger than him at times. But, at least he won't have the same issues with the HC.

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IceBowl's picture

May 21, 2019 at 07:50 pm

jeremyjjbrown says,

"Rodgers and McCarthy where kind of like the Odd Couple."

Did you ever see/hear these two say anything like this?? You saw it in the media, but did you ever hear discord between the two of them?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 21, 2019 at 10:14 pm

The odd couple where friends. They where just so different that they didn't always work well together. Rodgers and Mac are both professionals, they are not going to leave any discord out for us to see on display.

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IceBowl's picture

May 21, 2019 at 10:28 pm

jeremyjjbrown,

I agree they are professionals, with smarts.

But it is only the media that has brought up "discord" between them. And only in sideline issues. Of course. P Manning had sideline issues too. Part of the game.

But both ARod and MM have acknowledged a personal relationship. I believe them before a reporter.

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Befuddled's picture

May 22, 2019 at 06:55 am

They definitely stuck together when asked why they were not running the football more. They both stated; "Yeah, we have to run the ball more" then the following week throw it a majority of the plays as usual.

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porupack's picture

May 21, 2019 at 06:23 pm

>>>>But there's no other unassailable reason to believe that conjoined minds and a healthy working relationship should allow the Packers' ship to wreck before it even leaves the dock.<<<<<

I have to keep re-reading this one. I guess at what it says, but, I can't actually get the sentence to speak to me.

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Spock's picture

May 23, 2019 at 08:44 am

Vulcans are adept at conjoining minds. I'm in favor of this technique.
Spock

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EddieLeeIvory's picture

May 21, 2019 at 07:49 pm

This just in: the Vikings haven't won a single Super Bowl. Ever.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 21, 2019 at 10:14 pm

You should write the headlines every day.

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dobber's picture

May 22, 2019 at 07:39 am

And to add fuel to the fire (as if we didn't know this when the contract was signed)...

bleacherreport.com/articles/2837179-minnesota-vikings-are-desperate-to-escape-the-nfls-worst-quarterback-trap?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

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Bearmeat's picture

May 23, 2019 at 02:48 pm

Perhaps this will start another 200 comment storm? ;)

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mrtundra's picture

May 22, 2019 at 08:52 am

I love it, EddieLee!

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Since&#039;61's picture

May 23, 2019 at 09:20 am

Well at least you have a flair for the obvious!
Thanks, Since ‘61

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PAPackerbacker's picture

May 21, 2019 at 08:24 pm

Time will tell but the fact LaFleur is out on the field demonstrating what he wants players to do is good leadership. I hope he can get his system working and gain the respect of the whole team, not just a few players. Looking good so far. Let's hope it continues.

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Freezn's picture

May 29, 2019 at 11:16 am

I believe that Aron and Matt have great offensive minds and will do great things together. As far as the Vikings I believe Cousins biggest worry will be Our relenting defense which they will have very little answers for as our defense will be coming from every direction.

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Mark Gaedtke's picture

May 23, 2019 at 02:35 pm

Chris Simms said McCarthy's offense was checkers while Lafluer's is chess. Rodgers strikes me as a chess guy. . .

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Bearmeat's picture

May 23, 2019 at 02:49 pm

Chris Simms has been a demonstrated MM hater for half a decade.

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