Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Packers running backs work on a ball-carrying drill during a mandatory minicamp practice at the Don Hutson Center on June 12 in Green Bay.
The Green Bay Packers are entering a new era, as they are about to embark upon a season under a coach other than Mike McCarthy for the first time since 2006.
The Packers enjoyed several winning seasons under the 13-year coach, making the playoffs in all but four seasons and winning the NFC North six times — in one of the years Green Bay didn’t win the division, it ended up winning the Super Bowl.
Yet, instead of thinking back to some of those memorable seasons, fans only want to talk about what the team has done recently, which isn’t much to brag about.
Coming off back-to-back seasons in which the green and gold missed the postseason, the Packers decided it was time to make sweeping changes and try salvaging the finally years of quarterback Aaron Rodgers career.
Enter Matt LaFleur.
The first-time head coach, who will turn 40 as the Packers enjoy their bye week, will try and breathe new life into the team and return the franchise to greatness again.
Through the first few offseason practices, the new coach has earned high praise from some of the team’s leaders and brought a new energy to the team.
How will that translate to the regular season?
The truth is, nobody knows exactly how LaFleur’s ideas and concepts will translate to the field.
Having one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game to lean on certainly will help the young coach, but for fans to not expect some growing pains along the way would be foolish.
Some of those growing pains might already be showing, as in offseason practices the offense has struggled against the team’s defense — which is something that hasn’t happened in Green Bay consistently for some time.
Getting off to a fast start to the season — especially in weeks 1 and 2 against the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings — would be a great way to give the Packers a confidence boost, but it’s a lot to ask from a new coach and an offense learning a new system.
The NFL’s schedule makers did the team plenty of favors though, as Green Bay will host five opponents across the first seven weeks of the season. Of course, that means six of the team’s final nine games will be on the road, making a quick start to the season that much more important.
Finding the playmakers
A big criticism from fans near the end of the McCarthy era was that the team failed to get the football into the hands of its playmakers.
Based on observations so far from the limited amount of offseason practices, it’s safe to say that LaFleur’s offensive philosophy includes taking advantage of its playmakers.
At LaFleur’s previous jobs — most recently serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and then having the same position with the Tennessee Titans in 2018 — running backs played big roles in the passing game.
Todd Gurley caught 64 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns in addition to a 279-carry, 1,305-yard, 13-TD year on the ground in 2017. Derrick Henry handled the Titans rushing attack in 2018, attempting 215 rushes for 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns, with RB Dion Lewis serving as the pass-catcher and totaling 59 receptions for 400 yards.
Several offseason drills involving Packers running backs catching passes, both out of the backfield and after motioning to the line of scrimmage, hint that RBs like Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams will be utilized in similar fashions.
Last year, Jones and Williams combined for just 53 receptions for 416 yards and one touchdown.
Something working to LaFleur’s advantage is that the Packers also have a receiver in Davante Adams that hauled in 111 passes for 1,386 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, giving defenses yet another player to worry about.
Rodgers has already noted how he would like to get the ball into Adams’ hands even more this season, and LaFleur seems to agree.
At a recent minicamp practice, the Packers offense ran a play where Adams went in motion before taking in a quick shovel pass from Rodgers.
With the emergence of a second-year receiver — Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown or J’Mon Moore — and consistent play combined with healthy seasons from receivers Jake Kumerow and Geronimo Allison or tight end Jimmy Graham, LaFleur might be be able to turn the Packers into his best offensive team yet.