Pick 23: WR Matthew Golden
Moderators: NCF, salmar80, BF004, APB, Packfntk
I like this guys swag. Reminds me of Jaire and weve needed some dawgs on the offense before last couple years. With Jacobs, Reed, Kraft, and now Golden who told us “he’s bringing that dog mentality” I see a positive shift over last couple years. I was happy to see a kid who didn’t look like he just left church seem to be excited to come to GB. His walkout was epic.
I Do Not Hate Matt Lafleur
Watching the war room before our pick, it seemed Guty and staff decided on Golden with almost 5 minutes left on the clock, but still used all the allotted time, that seemed weird, but then so had the Chargers and Steelers prior, picks were going off faster in the teens, advertisers where probably screaming bloody murder, slow this stuff down 

O liners tend to be sheepish, timid, they know their chance to start as rookies is harder and less likely, top tier WR and RB's, not so much, they know that they were picked to be starters year one, and Golden looked the partDrj820 wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 07:51I like this guys swag. Reminds me of Jaire and weve needed some dawgs on the offense before last couple years. With Jacobs, Reed, Kraft, and now Golden who told us “he’s bringing that dog mentality” I see a positive shift over last couple years. I was happy to see a kid who didn’t look like he just left church seem to be excited to come to GB. His walkout was epic.

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I like his attitude. Seems like a football player. I dont' care for all the flash, but he'd probably think i'm boring as &%$@ so we're even. But he comes off as a pure football player, I like that. A tad small for me, but how do you say no to the elite speed, quick change ability and hands? It all lines up for me.
I'm generally not a WR in the 1st guy unless they're going to be a stud, he definitely has the tools to be it.
I'm generally not a WR in the 1st guy unless they're going to be a stud, he definitely has the tools to be it.
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Yeah, I like him, but man I wish he was a tiny bit heavier and taller. Just a bit.musclestang wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:24I like his attitude. Seems like a football player. I dont' care for all the flash, but he'd probably think i'm boring as &%$@ so we're even. But he comes off as a pure football player, I like that. A tad small for me, but how do you say no to the elite speed, quick change ability and hands? It all lines up for me.
I'm generally not a WR in the 1st guy unless they're going to be a stud, he definitely has the tools to be it.
I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
“Most other nations don't allow a terrorist to be their leader.”
“... Yet so many allow their leaders to be terrorists.”—Magneto
“... Yet so many allow their leaders to be terrorists.”—Magneto
Just watched Pat Macafee show clip from last night.
Can’t figure out how to share it?
Funny as hell during the lead up of picking Golden!!
Worth finding
Can’t figure out how to share it?
Funny as hell during the lead up of picking Golden!!
Worth finding
how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive

I also find it funny that every fall fans complain how the Packers don't prioritize Special Teams and then in the spring never want to use our good players on Special Teams.Yoop wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:36how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive![]()
It's not outlandish to put a rookie as a returner.
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This starts as they transition from Hampton to who's left:
Last edited by YoHoChecko on 25 Apr 2025 10:03, edited 1 time in total.
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I liked football more when everyone wasn't afraid to use their best players on special teams. It was better.
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OK, nevermind, it's not working.
here:
Go to 2 hours, 44 minutes
Most still are. For good reasonmusclestang wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 10:03I liked football more when everyone wasn't afraid to use their best players on special teams. It was better.
I Do Not Hate Matt Lafleur
when was that?musclestang wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 10:03I liked football more when everyone wasn't afraid to use their best players on special teams. It was better.
I love Mike. Mike and I feel the same. Use Golden at returner. Put the fear in the opponents.
Watching more and more tape of this guy. I loved him going in...I really love this dude. His routes and feet are absolutely gorgeous.
Watching more and more tape of this guy. I loved him going in...I really love this dude. His routes and feet are absolutely gorgeous.
Oh, I am aware of the general explanation, before you made this post. I do "get" what the argument is.Yoop wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:36how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
What I do not get is that explanation, as applied to this set of facts.
We are nowhere close to being able to say that Mathew Golden is too indispensable a part of our offense that we need to minimize the risk of injury by taking him off STs (not to mention, also sacrifice his big-play potential on those units, too).coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive
I can agree, with some players, you make that calculation, that they are too valuable on offense to lose and the reward on STs is not enough to justify the added injury risk, which while not unique to special teams, *is* heightened more than a little on STs. And we are all very optimistic about what Golden can be for us, a guy who could end up being -that- valuable.
But he has not taken a single practice rep, let alone a snap on offense in live action, for us to make that calculation with him. Neither is he some elite draft prospect like an AJ Green, Calvin Johnson, or someone like that who you take knowing they will take full-time starter snaps from the jump. Until then, he has to help his team win games by contributing to STs as well.
“Most other nations don't allow a terrorist to be their leader.”
“... Yet so many allow their leaders to be terrorists.”—Magneto
“... Yet so many allow their leaders to be terrorists.”—Magneto
Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 10:48Oh, I am aware of the general explanation, before you made this post. I do "get" what the argument is.Yoop wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:36how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
What I do not get is that explanation, as applied to this set of facts.
We are nowhere close to being able to say that Mathew Golden is too indispensable a part of our offense that we need to minimize the risk of injury by taking him off STs (not to mention, also sacrifice his big-play potential on those units, too).coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive
I can agree, with some players, you make that calculation, that they are too valuable on offense to lose and the reward on STs is not enough to justify the added injury risk, which while not unique to special teams, *is* heightened more than a little on STs. And we are all very optimistic about what Golden can be for us, a guy who could end up being -that- valuable.
But he has not taken a single practice rep, let alone a snap on offense in live action, for us to make that calculation with him. Until then, he has to help his team win games by contributing to STs as well.

depends, if ya have 3 very good receivers then you allow a Randall Cobb to break in there, but as soon as they take a bigger role on offense you limit his return abilities to PO type games.go pak go wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:58I also find it funny that every fall fans complain how the Packers don't prioritize Special Teams and then in the spring never want to use our good players on Special Teams.Yoop wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:36how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive![]()
It's not outlandish to put a rookie as a returner.
this isn't some complaining about special teams, it's being realistic, why expose a key offensive player to more exposure with the likelihood of minimal returns, who in their right mind would do that?
we just spent a huge resource on a key offensive weapon, and the chance that Golden will make drastic improvement for special teams is so small compared to what he can be for this offense makes zero sense.
doesn't matter, we just took a smaller WR with the speed we absolutely need on offense, Lafleur will design schemes to feature Golden, there is no way he will use Golden as a returner.Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 10:48Oh, I am aware of the general explanation, before you made this post. I do "get" what the argument is.Yoop wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 09:36how many times do the reasons most are hesitant to use stud offensive skill position player as returners need to be explained?Labrev wrote: ↑25 Apr 2025 08:39I don't get the hesitation from Gute and a few folks here about having him on returns. I think he'd be a great KR. He catches it cleanly, has excellent build-up, straight-line speed, and he's not easy to bring down. He housed a couple in kick-offs in college.
I don't think punt-returns are for him, though. You need to be a bit more sudden and shiftier for that, which isn't really his game.
What I do not get is that explanation, as applied to this set of facts.
We are nowhere close to being able to say that Mathew Golden is too indispensable a part of our offense that we need to minimize the risk of injury by taking him off STs (not to mention, also sacrifice his big-play potential on those units, too).coaches build schemes around key players, no way they want to put them on the kamikaze squad and risk losing them, that's counterproductive
I can agree, with some players, you make that calculation, that they are too valuable on offense to lose and the reward on STs is not enough to justify the added injury risk, which while not unique to special teams, *is* heightened more than a little on STs. And we are all very optimistic about what Golden can be for us, a guy who could end up being -that- valuable.
But he has not taken a single practice rep, let alone a snap on offense in live action, for us to make that calculation with him. Neither is he some elite draft prospect like an AJ Green, Calvin Johnson, or someone like that who you take knowing they will take full-time starter snaps from the jump. Until then, he has to help his team win games by contributing to STs as well.
Last edited by Yoop on 25 Apr 2025 11:09, edited 1 time in total.