Max Crosby

A new GM

It’s perhaps not surprising that Love as QB is the popular focus of this. However, if one steps back and looks at this O, what stands out is not Love particularly. It’s 5 interrelated things:

1 The massive overrating of our IOL for several seasons repeating. Love rarely saw clean pockets and, as Justis ably described, that was the root problem. As he said, and I’ve been pointing to all season, the lack of sacks is a critical error when cities to claim that’s not a massive problem.

2 The persistent indiscipline and execution issues: shooting ourselves in the foot.

3 Tactical losses, notably scripted play periods but persisting beyond that. Against good teams, almost always playing from behind as a result.

4 The extraordinary boom/bust nature of the passing offense design. One seemingly designed to prevent anyone getting in rhythm. That’s been the hallmark for a while. It was in Rodgers last season, in the early part of last season and all this one, except with Willis perhaps, and despite the RBs carrying a greater load successfully this year.

5 A universal lack of progression (I exclude Kraft).

These things are inextricably linked. From the QB perspective, one would expect them all to suppress performance and many to encourage bad habits. Love certainly didn’t make the progression we hoped for, but in O, who did?

On field and off we went backwards bar at RB and Kraft. Love is not plausibly responsible for all of that. Love is more likely to have suffered from them as well than to be the anchor holding us back. His technique and frustrations seem to be increased by the lack of stable pockets and rhythm.

Focusing on Love seems like staring at a tree and thus missing seeing the woods. Clear up around it and that tree could yet be extremely healthy.

I look forward to listening to Justis Mosqueda's insights as he tells the unvarnished truth. There is no homerism, spin control, politics, etc. He is clearly very knowledgeable as well.

Some thoughts:
-Rodgers was an average QB when his protection broke down. Love doesn't have Bakhtiari-level protection.
-Agree that GB needs to improve OL
-I would like more discussion as to why LF doesn't outsource play-calling/in game decisions to a well-respected OC? He is clearly struggling against better teams.
-Discussion about Love's mechanics/footwork. Would improvements make a difference in accuracy, confidence?
-Discussion about current position coach strengths and weaknesses--ie., Butkus, Rebrovich, etc.

Why do fans say its the coach when the team fails vs better teams? To me that is a talent problem. MLF is one of the best coaches when the underdog covering the spread and winning out right more than almost any coach outside of Reid and Tomlin. The coach doesn't rush the passer or make the throws.

Since 2010 the team has failed vs the top teams but coaching won't fix that. They need to hit on their top picks more often. Gary is a good player but where he was drafted and what he is paid he needs to be a game wrecker, he isn't that. Van Ness is looking like a bust. The pass rush was average or below all season and they have too many top picks that missed to be like that.

Gute has done well putting together a team with late picks but the team needs difference makers. Guys who walk off the bus first and keep coordinators up at night. The Eagles have Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter because they got creative with their picks and trades. Packers are paying Love, Gary and Alexander to be premier players at their respective positions, perennial pro-bowlers. Love is an average QB that will have games he struggles and needs the team around him to pick him up. They are paying him Mahmoes money and they will never get that kind of play in return. Alexander is great when he plays but hasn't played a full season healthy in a long time.

The biggest reason the Pats had so much success with Brady and Belichick is because Belichick wouldn't pay B level talent A+ money. He let several good players walk like Ty Law and Chandler Jones because they weren't worth paying out a top contract for. He would get 3 good players instead of putting all the cap dollars into one player who might never reach that level of play again. When Alexander is hurt all those cap dollars sit as well and the guys behind him won't be as good.

I have a novel idea but it wont fly with the cheap ball plans of the Packers. Lets do like the Vikes, Lions and Bears to and bring in top free agents to fill immediate holes and lets move down in the draft, bundling picks to get four or five guys who can start immediately and contribute to the team and stop the cluster f they call devolpment.

Development cant work these days because the contracts are five years and at year four those that can produce, take off for MO Money saying bye bye to cheap ball. They aint giving home town discounts.

The Vikes are always in a win now mode. Fans want wins. Fans dont want 8-9 seasons, they want victories and players on first and second strings who can come in and know what to do if called upon.
As another poster pointed out, the Vikes had a great draft for more speedy receivers plus they found - this is a GM who knows and brings in talent, two free agent pass rushers, each had 11 sacks this year and made the pro bowl. You cant compete with this with the Van Ness of the world that you drafted and then tried to bench sit as a developmental. The guy is so confused he doesnt know left from right.

I took a look at next years home and away games. Based on the current teams statuses, assuming none of those teams get worse or better for that matter, I see a record on 6-11. That could change by a game or two but not much IMO.
This year I did not try to determine a record no knowing what Love would show up and the new d coach - not having hardly any d experience would do. We did okay but played the weakest teams in the nFL minus the vikes, eagle and Lions, 6 losses.
Next year not so lucky. Top teams are coming to Labeau and were playing top teams at their homes too.
If GB is the average team I think it is, 6-11 maybe 7-10 is about right.

I also am guessing that at this very same time next year many fans wont be lauding Loves game anymore.