Last week in this space , I proposed the theory that a big issue with the Packers' offense is game planning. I didn't see anything against the Eagles that would cause me to change my mind on that. This is now a good 4-5 games in a row where defenses have played the Packers the same way. Take away their beloved explosives and let them self-destruct or bleed out. Teams know that the Packers won't change their approach until the fourth quarter when they are desperate, and then it's just a matter of whether their defense can hold on and secure the win. The Eagles did just that, although Nick Sirianni did his best to give the Packers one last undeserved chance, but then the Packers just didn't execute. When you dig yourself into hole and only have only one chance to get out of it, sometimes you lose.
I honestly felt like LaFleur was trolling us all with his first half game plan. He's surely aware of the all the fan and media yelling and screaming about his underperforming and conservative Packers offense, yet he came out against the Eagles with the same old plan that has been failing him..It's as if he was saying, screw the critics - I'll show them by doing the exact same things! Oh wait, that's not fair. He did scratch the wide receiver screens as a core staple of his offense. One baby step at a time. Maybe next week we can eliminate the inside zone handoffs on second down and long.
Somebody has to take Lafleur by the shoulder blades, shake him vigorously and snap him out of this before it's too late. He needs to CHANGE what they are doing on offense.
Jordan Love - I took some heat here a few weeks ago for saying I was only 80% convinced that Jordan Love was "the guy" for Green Bay. That hasn't changed much, and if anything may have dropped a few points. I believe he has the talent to be "that guy" but I don't know if he currently has that "assassin" mentality and confidence other top quarterbacks have. The persona and on-field demeanor to make all the right decisions and find a way to will his team to a win when the opportunity is there. I think there is more maturation that needs to take place for Love to be confident in those critical moments. One way to do develop that is for Matt LaFleur to stop being so damn conservative and afraid to lose and just let Love cook. Change up your route schemes to provide Love with quick throws he can complete and not have to wait for downfield routes to develop. Get Love into a rhythm and good things will happen. LaFleur needs more Love in his offense, whether he realizes it or not.
Currently, Lafleur is not doing Love any favors, like the maddening propensity to hand the ball off on second and long, forcing Love to throw more when everyone in the stadium knows he has to. You've seen Love lead the team downfield when, desperation sets in late and LaFleur loosens the reigns so Love is allowed to pretty much throw on every down. Hell, if not for a bunch of key dropped passes, Love leads a scoring drive and the Packers likely win this game late,
As for Love and critical moments, how does he not realize he should call a timeout on that fourth and short where the Packers don't look ready and the Eagles players are calling out the play. That was a do or die situation - as far as they knew, this was their last opportunity to win the game (before Sirianni incredulously handed them another chance with the fourth down shot play). At that moment in time, it was make this first down or lose the game, and Love and the Packers completely botched it in the biggest of moments.
There's no sugarcoating that the offensive line has been a disaster. I never would have imagined such a precipitous drop in performance by this group compared to last season. Injuries that took away precious training camp and regular season reps and forced shuffling of positions is surely one issue, but the unnecessary juggling of interior line positions, platooning, etc is perhaps even more of a factor. It seems apparent they've screwed up Jordan Morgan for sure, unless of course he's just really not that good at any position. Moving Jenkins to center has proven to have weakened two positions, as Aaron Banks has not distinguished himself in any positive manner for the team. Between injuries, penalties, missed assignments and getting blown up by defensive linemen, both Banks and Morgan have proven to be big steps backwards (I'd take Jon Runyan back over either of them right now). Banks is supposed to be a bully but we've seen him bullied himself. Despite the guard/tackle debate, Morgan was always a tackle in my eyes, simply because I didn't feel he was powerful enough or had the attitude for the interior. You saw him get completely blown up on the disastrous fourth down shotgun handoff to Jacobs.
Underrated play of the game last night? Lane Johnson hustling over to push Keisean Nixon out of bounds after the fumble pickup. Would have been a touchdown.
Why is Christian Watson on the bench when they need a big fourth down late and instead the throw is to a rusty Bo Melton, who hasn't practiced at wide receiver since camp? Why not call up one of the receivers on the Practice squad?
The Packers defense got their groove back. They looked like the unit that dominated the Lions and Commanders to start the season. Wyatt and Wooden were in on 8 tackles combined, a big factor in holding Barkley to 60 yards and a 2.7 yard per carry average. Phenomenal job there. The secondary didn't seem to miss Nate Hobbs. Sometimes it takes injuries to fully demonstrate who really should be playing (Valentine). CV is nonsensically fearless back there - a great quality for a cornerback.
#GoPackGo