Brian Gutekunst says the Packers need to 'ramp up our sense of urgency'

[LombardiTime]

Just catching up on end of the season discussions and press conferences.

I am curious what the collective braintrust thinks about GM Brian Gutekunst's comment about the Packers needing to ramp up their urgency in 2025.

He alluded to “some of these guys have now proven themselves to be NFL football players” and mentioned “not getting complacent”.

Was this message directed to the players? Coaches, including MLF? The entire Packer organization?

I am also wondering, why the urgency message was being made now? Is it due to a feeling that the team plateaued? Ed Policy taking over for Mark Murphy? Something else?

Again, I'd love to hear what other folks think about this comment as I found it the most noteworthy of the end of the season statements thus far

[APB]

I think there are a couple related thought lines going here.

1) I think Gutekunst recognizes the roster underperformed and they had some discipline issues with sloppy play. The message is these guys are professionals and need to be better. Starts with Love and runs down the entire roster.

2) I think Gutekunst recognizes that the roster talent isn't at the level they thought it to be. There remains a talent gap between the Packers and the truly elite teams. There is more work to be done from a player acquisition standpoint as well as coaching staff. There are weaknesses that need to be addressed.

I hope Gutekunst's words are more than just that. I hope it is a call to action and they are aggressive in acquiring more pieces. I suppose time will tell but it sounds like going public with airing these thoughts is an affirmation that the organization recognizes that they're in a championship window and need to act accordingly in pursuing a championship beyond the half measures they did during the Rodgers era.

[Backthepack4ever]

Agreed with what APB said.

The time is now. Maybe always being the youngest isn't something to hang your hat on. Add some vets that can lead. Hold these young guys accountable. Hopefully ML can get more out of Love as a leader... He has spoken on that

Imo the talent gap isn't to wide. It's playing complimentary football and limiting mistakes.

Don't bank on rookies to be the fix next year. Im cool with rookies playing and being a supporting piece but a rookie cb isn't fixing the position. A rookie wr or pass rushers isn't putting us over the top at those positions either. Rookie long term but I think gute looks to add a top talent vet (or at least I hope)

3rs year starting for love. I think they believe it's time to make that Superbowl push.

[lupedafiasco]

I will believe it when I see it. He’s gotta stop sitting on his hands during the draft and at the trade deadline. We have seen this team with a surplus of picks sit back and get lesser talent instead of making the moves to get discounted steals. The Eagles watched the leagues morons of GM lets Jalen Carter slip to 9 and were aggressive to steal the pick. You get a top 5 talent like Kyle Hamilton drop into the teens and with 5 picks in the top 100 you sit back and draft an entire group of players you probably don’t want to bring back in 2nd contracts.

Meanwhile you have the mid season arms race we see year in and year out and we are always losers. The Rams got Odell. The Buccs got AB. The Chiefs got Toney and Hardman in different years. This year you see the Chiefs again adding Hopkins and the Eagles adding Dotson. Most times it’s not going to work because there is only 1 SB winner but you need to try and add talent to win. Teams are going to have their weaknesses and bolster them in the regular season. You have to be in the mix to remain competitive in this age of the NFL.

[Scott4Pack]

I think there are a couple related thought lines going here.

1) I think Gutekunst recognizes the roster underperformed and they had some discipline issues with sloppy play. The message is these guys are professionals and need to be better. Starts with Love and runs down the entire roster.

2) I think Gutekunst recognizes that the roster talent isn't at the level they thought it to be. There remains a talent gap between the Packers and the truly elite teams. There is more work to be done from a player acquisition standpoint as well as coaching staff. There are weaknesses that need to be addressed.

I hope Gutekunst's words are more than just that. I hope it is a call to action and they are aggressive in acquiring more pieces. I suppose time will tell but it sounds like going public with airing these thoughts is an affirmation that the organization recognizes that they're in a championship window and need to act accordingly in pursuing a championship beyond the half measures they did during the Rodgers era.

I am going to offer the differing opinion. I think that Guty is advising that the talent level of the team IS where they thought it would be. He has the team that he has built and he's mostly pleased with it. That team has had adequate time to gel and grow. The youngest players are gaining experience and wisdom. And they have shown that they can play with the best teams. What else could he want? Now is the time to reset the expectations and that there is no time to wait to take things to the next level.

[RingoCStarrQB]

What Gutey said should have zero impact going into 2025 Hot Air and B S-ing at its finest. Talk by Guten und LaCoach at this point is meaningless. Sorry to be so negative. They should be lucky they haven't been canned by now.

[LombardiTime]

I think there are a couple related thought lines going here.

1) I think Gutekunst recognizes the roster underperformed and they had some discipline issues with sloppy play. The message is these guys are professionals and need to be better. Starts with Love and runs down the entire roster.

2) I think Gutekunst recognizes that the roster talent isn't at the level they thought it to be. There remains a talent gap between the Packers and the truly elite teams. There is more work to be done from a player acquisition standpoint as well as coaching staff. There are weaknesses that need to be addressed.

I hope Gutekunst's words are more than just that. I hope it is a call to action and they are aggressive in acquiring more pieces. I suppose time will tell but it sounds like going public with airing these thoughts is an affirmation that the organization recognizes that they're in a championship window and need to act accordingly in pursuing a championship beyond the half measures they did during the Rodgers era.

I am going to offer the differing opinion. I think that Guty is advising that the talent level of the team IS where they thought it would be. He has the team that he has built and he's mostly pleased with it. That team has had adequate time to gel and grow. The youngest players are gaining experience and wisdom. And they have shown that they can play with the best teams. What else could he want? Now is the time to reset the expectations and that there is no time to wait to take things to the next level.

That was my first impression as well, that Gutekunst thinks there needs to be greater urgency among the players next season. I am unsure how that ramped up player urgency is supposed to come about.

I also did not get the impression Gutekunst felt that he needed to ramp up his own urgency as the team's GM.

I did not get an impression one way or another when it came to the coaching staff, but if I had to speculate I'd say that, at least implicitly, Gutekunst is expecting the coaches to be the source of the ramped up urgency among the players they are charged with coaching.

[Pugger]

I think there are a couple related thought lines going here.

1) I think Gutekunst recognizes the roster underperformed and they had some discipline issues with sloppy play. The message is these guys are professionals and need to be better. Starts with Love and runs down the entire roster.

2) I think Gutekunst recognizes that the roster talent isn't at the level they thought it to be. There remains a talent gap between the Packers and the truly elite teams. There is more work to be done from a player acquisition standpoint as well as coaching staff. There are weaknesses that need to be addressed.

I hope Gutekunst's words are more than just that. I hope it is a call to action and they are aggressive in acquiring more pieces. I suppose time will tell but it sounds like going public with airing these thoughts is an affirmation that the organization recognizes that they're in a championship window and need to act accordingly in pursuing a championship beyond the half measures they did during the Rodgers era.

I am going to offer the differing opinion. I think that Guty is advising that the talent level of the team IS where they thought it would be. He has the team that he has built and he's mostly pleased with it. That team has had adequate time to gel and grow. The youngest players are gaining experience and wisdom. And they have shown that they can play with the best teams. What else could he want? Now is the time to reset the expectations and that there is no time to wait to take things to the next level.

That was my first impression as well, that Gutekunst thinks there needs to be greater urgency among the players next season. I am unsure how that ramped up player urgency is supposed to come about.

I also did not get the impression Gutekunst felt that he needed to ramp up his own urgency as the team's GM.

I did not get an impression one way or another when it came to the coaching staff, but if I had to speculate I'd say that, at least implicitly, Gutekunst is expecting the coaches to be the source of the ramped up urgency among the players they are charged with coaching.

I

I'm hoping a new DC will be a start. It will be interesting to see who Matt hires to replace the retiring Clemens to get Love to be more consistent.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Gutey is doing a half ssed job of covering his ________. He better be careful opening his mouth unnecessarily.

[Scott4Pack]

I think there are a couple related thought lines going here.

1) I think Gutekunst recognizes the roster underperformed and they had some discipline issues with sloppy play. The message is these guys are professionals and need to be better. Starts with Love and runs down the entire roster.

2) I think Gutekunst recognizes that the roster talent isn't at the level they thought it to be. There remains a talent gap between the Packers and the truly elite teams. There is more work to be done from a player acquisition standpoint as well as coaching staff. There are weaknesses that need to be addressed.

I hope Gutekunst's words are more than just that. I hope it is a call to action and they are aggressive in acquiring more pieces. I suppose time will tell but it sounds like going public with airing these thoughts is an affirmation that the organization recognizes that they're in a championship window and need to act accordingly in pursuing a championship beyond the half measures they did during the Rodgers era.

I am going to offer the differing opinion. I think that Guty is advising that the talent level of the team IS where they thought it would be. He has the team that he has built and he's mostly pleased with it. That team has had adequate time to gel and grow. The youngest players are gaining experience and wisdom. And they have shown that they can play with the best teams. What else could he want? Now is the time to reset the expectations and that there is no time to wait to take things to the next level.

That was my first impression as well, that Gutekunst thinks there needs to be greater urgency among the players next season. I am unsure how that ramped up player urgency is supposed to come about.

I also did not get the impression Gutekunst felt that he needed to ramp up his own urgency as the team's GM.

I did not get an impression one way or another when it came to the coaching staff, but if I had to speculate I'd say that, at least implicitly, Gutekunst is expecting the coaches to be the source of the ramped up urgency among the players they are charged with coaching.

Yup.

Given the season long series of penalties, drops, and careless plays if most of those are cleaned up, we likely advance beyond the divisional round. Maybe even reclaim the division. And if those things are cleaned up, who is to say that we don't get on a good burn like we ended last year? Just saying...

[APB]

I am going to offer the differing opinion. I think that Guty is advising that the talent level of the team IS where they thought it would be. He has the team that he has built and he's mostly pleased with it. That team has had adequate time to gel and grow. The youngest players are gaining experience and wisdom. And they have shown that they can play with the best teams. What else could he want? Now is the time to reset the expectations and that there is no time to wait to take things to the next level.

That was my first impression as well, that Gutekunst thinks there needs to be greater urgency among the players next season. I am unsure how that ramped up player urgency is supposed to come about.

I also did not get the impression Gutekunst felt that he needed to ramp up his own urgency as the team's GM.

I did not get an impression one way or another when it came to the coaching staff, but if I had to speculate I'd say that, at least implicitly, Gutekunst is expecting the coaches to be the source of the ramped up urgency among the players they are charged with coaching.

Yup.

Given the season long series of penalties, drops, and careless plays if most of those are cleaned up, we likely advance beyond the divisional round. Maybe even reclaim the division. And if those things are cleaned up, who is to say that we don't get on a good burn like we ended last year? Just saying...

Y'alls interpretation, to me, is that Gute is content to go forward without any major changes, just expecting these guys to just be better.

That's not at all what I came away with.

[Labrev]

I was told MLF and Gute only care about keeping their jobs. Why would they try to set a higher standard than the status-quo that supports their job security?!

[RingoCStarrQB]

I was told MLF and Gute only care about keeping their jobs. Why would they try to set a higher standard than the status-quo that supports their job security?!

I don't know what motivates LaCoach and Gutey. They're not in synch with me and Lupe.

[lupedafiasco]

I was told MLF and Gute only care about keeping their jobs. Why would they try to set a higher standard than the status-quo that supports their job security?!

I don't know what motivates LaCoach and Gutey. They're not in synch with me and Lupe.

Job security is the only thing that motivates them. In Gb if you make the playoffs you have job security. There is no pressure here to win a championship.

[LombardiTime]

That was my first impression as well, that Gutekunst thinks there needs to be greater urgency among the players next season. I am unsure how that ramped up player urgency is supposed to come about.

I also did not get the impression Gutekunst felt that he needed to ramp up his own urgency as the team's GM.

I did not get an impression one way or another when it came to the coaching staff, but if I had to speculate I'd say that, at least implicitly, Gutekunst is expecting the coaches to be the source of the ramped up urgency among the players they are charged with coaching.

Yup.

Given the season long series of penalties, drops, and careless plays if most of those are cleaned up, we likely advance beyond the divisional round. Maybe even reclaim the division. And if those things are cleaned up, who is to say that we don't get on a good burn like we ended last year? Just saying...

Y'alls interpretation, to me, is that Gute is content to go forward without any major changes, just expecting these guys to just be better.

That's not at all what I came away with.

I guess it all depends upon what is meant by "major changes"?

I expect another impactful free agent or two to be signed this offseason. Is that considered a "major change"?

Because that happened last offseason as well.

I also expect Jaire to depart, but I don't see how that is a major change that signals urgency but rather a logical and almost foregone conclusion.

I guess I'd ask you, do you think Gutekunst makes any "major" changes in the way he operates this offseason? Does he ramp up his own urgency? And if so, how?

Because, again, I don't our GM making any major changes to the way he operates.

As stated above I took his need to ramp up the urgency comment to be directed primarily at the players, possibly directed at the coaches, but not at himself.

I am open to the possibility I am completely wrong, however if that helps.

[Pckfn23]

What major changes to the way he operates would you suggest or even what major changes can be implemented?

[wallyuwl]

[RingoCStarrQB]

This convo has evolved into a recurring stale ______. Roll down the windows or go outside.

[packman114]

I think Gutey was giving a message to the coaches and players. I know I have said the youngest team in the league tends to make more mistakes. If the coaches and players felt the same way then they were using that as the excuse.

He basically is saying that excuse is gone so maybe he feels that was how people in the building were acting and he's putting everyone on notice that you're either on board now or you're gone.

I can see coaches and players feeling like "we're young and we got time to win a Super Bowl". He's saying BS to that. Win now.

[LombardiTime]

What major changes to the way he operates would you suggest or even what major changes can be implemented?

APB indicated “major changes” were planned from Gutekunst this offseason, thus I asked him what, if any, major changes he anticipated on Gutekunst’s part.

I do not anticipate any major changes in the way Gutekunst operates.

For that reason, I found his end of the year presser statement about ramping up the urgency to be interesting, and directed toward others.

Do you believe Gutekunst was referring to himself when he said the urgency needed to be ramped up?

if you do, how do you think Gutekunst’s “urgency” to play out?