Heading into Week 8, the Green Bay Packers are in dire need of answers. The Packers enter their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Last week, they fell to the lowly Denver Broncos 19-17. It’s not just the fact they lost, it’s how they have played in the past three games. It has many Packers fans wondering who is to blame for the team’s struggles. While head coach Matt LaFleur is at the forefront to blame, he isn’t alone.
Matt LaFleur One of Many Issues With Green Bay Packers
For some, it appears the expectations they set for the Packers going into 2023 were overblown. Many believed that the Packers might vie for a 2023 playoff spot, just because they play in what they thought was a weak division. Unfortunately, those who expected a playoff franchise overestimated the talent and coaching on this team.
Take the quarterback position for example. Former starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers was only able to guide the Packers to a 6-10 record during his first season under center. Included in that, the weapons that Rodgers had around him were better than what the Packers currently have on their roster. So to expect Jordan Love, who isn’t nearly as talented as Rodgers, to carry the franchise as Rodgers did to the playoffs was downright foolish.
The 2023 Packers entered the season with a new quarterback, a young and inexperienced roster, and the return of a defensive coordinator who seems to be over his head. Why should that lead you to believe this is a playoff-caliber franchise? But what Packers fans should be upset about is the current lack of effort and lack of identity. That is why Matt LaFleur has earned criticism.
Matt LaFleur’s Failures as an Offensive Playcaller
Packers salary cap struggles, they aren’t able to do that. Russ Ball, vice president/director of football operations, is given a lot of credit for being a “salary cap wizard”. But the numbers don’t lie. The Packers don’t have the salary cap space to add veteran help to their young roster.
While many are quick to blame LaFleur for the current state of the Packers, he’s far from the only culprit. That help came in the way that Gutekunst and Ball built this roster. The roster was going to be young, but it didn’t need to be this young.
LaFleur and Company Aren’t Going Anywhere
If you are a listener to Packers podcasts, especially ones that air daily, you would think the world was coming to an end. The same people who expected a playoff team are now forecasting that the Packers will be dismantled this offseason. Here are some of the overreactions heard this week.
LaFleur should give up play calling to wide receivers coach Jason Vrable. Even though the wide receivers group has struggled this season.
LaFleur is on the hot seat and might be let go this off-season.
LaFleur might be let go during the season and replaced by Rich Bisaccia.
After just one season of starting, Jordan Love will be replaced by a first-round quarterback from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Each one of these statements is laughable and just isn’t going to happen. Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love, and even Brian Gutekunst aren’t going anywhere. That just isn’t how the Packers do business. Sure, President Mark Murphy will be retiring in 2025 and wants to leave on a high note. But it was his choice to hire Matt LaFleur and promote Gutekunst to general manager. There is no way that he is going to blow up the franchise and start over from scratch.
The Packers organization made an error by not admitting that this season would be the first year of a rebuild. But they won’t make mistakes even worse by blowing the organization up, after Love’s first year as the starting quarterback.
Packers fans might not want to hear this, but Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst, and Jordan Love will continue to be the faces of the Packers organization after this season. LaFleur, Gutekunst, and even Ball have made some mistakes. But it will be their responsibility to fix what they screwed up. For Packer fans, they will need to be patient. If things don’t get fixed by the end of next season, then they should expect a major shake-up to this organization.
