Have An Idea For Ya

[lake shark]

I’m slightly confused by the leadership question as you ask it up front but then say everything is unpredictable. If everything is unpredictable why would a leadership change be necessary if they lost in the WC round?

I have confidence in the team’s leadership putting the Packers in position to win a championship. They have made the playoffs two years in a row with Love. The NFL playoffs being single elimination is unique to professional sports. Anything can happen in a single game and the “best” team on paper will not always win. If Love plays like he did last year in the postseason they can beat the Eagles. If the Pack loses, it’s almost assuredly not going to because of LaFluers or Halfleys prep or play calling. It’s going to be about turnovers, drops, penalties and/or flat out getting beat. We are still the youngest team and now have a QB locked in for a bit so the window is wide open for the next few years as long as he continues on a positive trajectory. Our GM has been drafting at least OK and has been killing it with FA pickups. The present and future is bright.

[BF004]

[go pak go]

I’ll bet you said the same thing last year at about this same time.

I just always go back to the hand wringing and anger after the Lions game in Ford Field in 2010. All hope was lost. The Packers were complete failures and Brett Favre was laughing his way to the bank.

The point is...a lot. And I mean a lot can change in a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 week period.

[Pckfn23]

I am assuming this is sarcasm from him??

[Pckfn23]

All I will say is that we were in a damn good position last season. Consensus opinion was that we were one of the few teams that would be able to compete at the highest level throughout the next 5 years. Young talent, ascending QB. But that achillles heel was the discipline. We committed stupid penalties. Quay and his unsportsmanlikes. Blown assignments. Too often in the most critical moments. It's fine to give LaFleur the benefit of the doubt. At some point you need to hold him accountable. I am still in "benefit of the doubt" mode with him. But he is on a short leash.

Revisionist history. We were NOT in a damn good position last season. We were underdogs to the Cowboys by -7.5. We had to beat the 2-15 Panthers, 7-10 Vikings, and 7-10 Bears just to get into the playoffs.

Absolutely was it seen that we would compete for the division with the Lions. We didn't achieve that level of success this year and being undisciplined through penalties and drops is definitely an area where we regressed.

Quay Walker did not have an unsportsmanlike this season.

High expectations were not met this year. Expectations were exceeded last year. It's not the time to panic.

[go pak go]

My favorite seasons are mostly when expectations are low going into them.

2007
2009
2010
2023

The only real seasons that buck this trend were 2014 and 2020. Those were high expectations and they were largely met (meaning like the season itself was actually a ton of fun) until a terrible day in January.

[go pak go]

But overall I have a hard time saying we regressed or didn't meet expectations.

We went into the season with the expectation of competing with Detroit for the division. We laregly met that. Only real issue we had this season was our division games and every game was decided by a field goal for the exception of Detroit at Lambeau. We simply saw ourselves on the wrong side of the close divionsal games in 2024.

[Cdragon]

My favorite seasons are mostly when expectations are low going into them.

2007
2009
2010
2023

The only real seasons that buck this trend were 2014 and 2020. Those were high expectations and they were largely met (meaning like the season itself was actually a ton of fun) until a terrible day in January.

I would say expectations were pretty high going into 2010. The damper came with all the injuries.

[wallyuwl]

But overall I have a hard time saying we regressed or didn't meet expectations.

We went into the season with the expectation of competing with Detroit for the division. We laregly met that. Only real issue we had this season was our division games and every game was decided by a field goal for the exception of Detroit at Lambeau. We simply saw ourselves on the wrong side of the close divionsal games in 2024.

The Vikings are what most thought the Packers would be this season.

[LombardiTime]

I am very interested to see what Policy's approach is to the General Manager vis-a-vis Head Coach reporting structure.

Personally, I am not in favor of the Head Coach reporting directly to anyone other than the GM.

I am also curious as to the current state of the relationship between the GM and the Head Coach in light of the fact that Brian Gutekunst did not hire Matt LaFleur.

Not trying to stir the pot and I sure hope it is not the case, but I would not be surprised to see MLF depart Green Bay before the Packers next win the NFC North.

[Acrobat]

I am very interested to see what Policy's approach is to the General Manager vis-a-vis Head Coach reporting structure.

Personally, I am not in favor of the Head Coach reporting directly to anyone other than the GM.

I am also curious as to the current state of the relationship between the GM and the Head Coach in light of the fact that Brian Gutekunst did not hire Matt LaFleur.

Not trying to stir the pot and I sure hope it is not the case, but I would not be surprised to see MLF depart Green Bay before the Packers next win the NFC North.

We're almost 6 full seasons in and I haven't heard any rumblings of those two having a poor relationship, and other than 1 year, the team has made the playoffs, so I can't really see where there'd be turmoil, and if there is, the organization has done an amazing job of not letting that leak to the press.

[APB]

To the OP, put this in your pipe and smoke it.

[TheSkeptic]

I think the decision to play Watson vs Da Bears is the single worst mistake in the history of the NFL. Worse than hiring John Hadl. Worse than drafting Mandarich. You can sort of see the reasoning behind Hadl and Mandrich. There was nothing that could have been positive about playing Watson.

All risk, no reward, and the risk was very great and happened. Oh sure, he will come back - a half step slower, worrying about his leg rather then catching the ball. He will be out of the NFL in a couple of years. just like Jordy, just like Bakh.

Kiss the SB goodbye, not only this season but next.

Fire MLF

[musclestang]

the cold hard truth is, playing him did the Packers a favor. now they know, he's done. No more pussyfooting around with will he, won't he, in, out maybe. We just move forward.

That knee was toast and it wasn't even the one he was "out" for. We just didn't know it yet. You need to come to terms with that, you'll be happier once you understand the reality.

[MY_TAKE]

So basically you could have just said that the GM and head coach should be fired and replaced because they have no shot this year nor will they ever have one.

If your team leadership is getting you to the playoffs at a high rate, its hard to ask for too much more. Yes your always trying to get better. After that, the other variables can make you one and done or make a deep run.

See 2010 Packer team. They were the lowest seed and won the whole $%@# thing. That team never got back.

I do think they can win Sunday to answer your question. I am honestly 50/50 on that.

Don't know if we have the horses, but we will see.

I have seen Jordan Love be the best player on the field before. We will need that or close to that. Even if we run the ball well, at some point he will have to deliver some plays. Hopefully we catch it. Maybe the defense will make a play late for a change against a good opponent.

[MY_TAKE]

the cold hard truth is, playing him did the Packers a favor. now they know, he's done. No more pussyfooting around with will he, won't he, in, out maybe. We just move forward.

That knee was toast and it wasn't even the one he was "out" for. We just didn't know it yet. You need to come to terms with that, you'll be happier once you understand the reality.

Unfortunately I basically agree.

[Pckfn23]

[williewasgreat]

I think the decision to play Watson vs Da Bears is the single worst mistake in the history of the NFL. Worse than hiring John Hadl. Worse than drafting Mandarich. You can sort of see the reasoning behind Hadl and Mandrich. There was nothing that could have been positive about playing Watson.

All risk, no reward, and the risk was very great and happened. Oh sure, he will come back - a half step slower, worrying about his leg rather then catching the ball. He will be out of the NFL in a couple of years. just like Jordy, just like Bakh.

Kiss the SB goodbye, not only this season but next.

Fire MLF

Watson’s ACL injury had nothing to do with the bruise on his other knee. Maybe we should just wrap players in bubble wrap and never play them. It’s football! Players get injured. It was important that the Packers get their passing game in sync before the playoffs, which it obviously isn’t. It’s a huge blow to lose Watson, but that’s football. I’m much more upset with some of the coaching decisions during that game.

[Acrobat]

I think the decision to play Watson vs Da Bears is the single worst mistake in the history of the NFL. Worse than hiring John Hadl. Worse than drafting Mandarich. You can sort of see the reasoning behind Hadl and Mandrich. There was nothing that could have been positive about playing Watson.

All risk, no reward, and the risk was very great and happened. Oh sure, he will come back - a half step slower, worrying about his leg rather then catching the ball. He will be out of the NFL in a couple of years. just like Jordy, just like Bakh.

Kiss the SB goodbye, not only this season but next.

Fire MLF

Yep because Christian Watson has been really dominant, catching 100+ catches and over 1,000 yards every year. He was for sure our ticket to the Super Bowl.

[Cdragon]

It's easy to say fire people it is tougher to say, here's my 2% chance of finding something better. There is my 5% chance of finding something as good. Odds are you are shaking things up and they will be worse. I was fine letting MM go because everything was stale at that point. MLF still has some legs in him.