Do you think when the offense has trouble getting in rhythm, a faster pace would help? I don’t mean a no-huddle but just more up-tempo.
Another common suggestion. The lack of continuity up front I just mentioned makes me cautious here. Also, adjusting for the first time without Kraft might not be the best time to intentionally push the pace. Going up tempo is most effective when the offense likes the defensive matchup against a certain personnel package, so it plays fast to prevent substitutions. But it also locks the offense into one personnel group, which rarely is LaFleur’s preference.
Do you think that someone on the offense has a tell which enables the opponent to anticipate the screen pass? Or are the receivers who are blocking just not effective? It would have been a good topic for WYMM.
As LaFleur mentioned Thursday, some of those receiver screens are what they call “run alerts,” where the QB spits the ball out horizontally if the defensive look to run the ball isn’t there. But if an outside defender is right up on the line, that’s a bad look for the alert, too, because the block is much harder to execute. It sounds to me like another check off the run alert could be coming.
I know you both don’t care much for the NFL analysts’ opinions on TV. With that said, Dan Orlovsky, who I respect, said Green Bay is not going to win the Super Bowl with the way their O-line is playing. He went on to say that LaFleur tries to out-scheme the defense on almost every play call. He added perhaps that is the reason for the poor O-line play. I would tend to agree. Does the HC need to be reminded it’s players not plays?
Fourth homage, yikes. OK, I respect Orlovsky as well and enjoy his commentary, and I think we’ve established the offensive line play isn’t where it needs to be, for various reasons, but I wouldn’t put scheme among them. Yes, the unit must improve for this offense to hit top gear and be able to stay balanced, especially in scoring territory. That said, amidst all the searching for remedies, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact the Packers put up 369 yards last week, on just seven possessions, and only once in their last five games has the yardage total been lower than that. The No. 1 offense in the league is Buffalo at 385 yards per game. One week it might be a couple three-and-outs, the next week it’s red-zone issues. Limitations crop up but I don’t believe the offense is that far off, provided it can overcome the loss of Kraft.
Insiders, we need to stop pushing for explosive plays and push for rhythm instead. Explosive plays happen BECAUSE a team in rhythm challenges a defense to stop them, creating opportunities over the top. If all you do is push for explosives, there will always be three defenders around the ball. I love Coach LaFleur and have no interest in moving on from him, but this has absolutely been his worst season as a play caller. We don’t need to figure out how to get a 30-yard gain. We need 6-8 yards consistently.
That’s another one of those fine lines, right? Picking the proper moment to take that shot, to keep the defense honest and make life easier on offense. Timing, and recognizing when it’s not there, all play into it.
Good morning, II. Living out west, I don’t get to see the Packers when they’re not a featured game. In the first two games of the season, it seemed like the defense was everywhere, swarming to the ball and limiting big runs and YAC. Based on what I’ve seen since, that defensive pressure has diminished significantly. Am I misjudging recent defensive performances or were the first two outliers?
As I mentioned in my mid-week chat, opponents have adjusted since the first two games to protect themselves from the Packers’ pass rush in general and Micah Parsons in particular. We’ve seen a lot of quick/underneath game, pounding the run, etc. Shoring up the run D, and Green Bay’s offense building a lead, is the best way to pull an opponent out of that, to allow the defense to fully attack.
The bigger question awaits. I could see Green Bay at least 6-3-1 after 10 games. At that point five of the final seven games are division games. The results of those seven games will go a long way in determining both the management and coaching staff for 2026, especially since the team was 1-5 in division games during 2024. I write this even though I doubt you’ll share your thoughts.
Every season is such a marathon that how it finishes is always what matters most. In the Jordan Love era, we’ve seen the team peak at the right time and prove it could play with anybody when the stakes were highest (’23). We’ve also seen it fall flat in the biggest games against the better teams (’24). This year it’s all out there, TBD.