When it comes to creativity and adaptivity on offense blending West-Coast principles and focusing on a strong run game to build up the pass and utilizing motion and run-pass options to expose defenders, Head Coach Matt LaFleur is your guy. With a strong offensive-line, effective runner of the football, and decisive thrower leading the huddle you’re set up for success when these elements coincide. What about when all these components are lacking? When everything appears to be hard, and the obsession with overly exotic schematics of an offense shows to be holding your team as a whole back. That is the problem the now 5-3-1 Green Bay Packers are facing.
In those tough times when nothing is working, you fall back on a voice, and leader that will steer the weltering ship, you start to question whether the Packers have that. The reality is that football is more than just an offensive play-calling sheet. Dial up as many motioning players and misdirection’s as you please, the game is decided on make-or-break decisions and put up or shut up moments. When facing that gut-check reality, LaFleur’s Packers have seemed to lose any identity they might have.
Jordan Love’s depth of target average in this past Monday Night’s game vs the Eagles in the first half was 1.5 yards. When asked about why Green Bay isn’t pushing the ball down the field, LaFleur referenced Green Bay forcing it down the field and resulting in an interception vs Carolina a few weeks ago.
You can reason with the timid decision-making through early parts in games, but this remains throughout the duration of Packers football games. As recent as a 4th down shotgun inside zone to seal the Packers fate Monday Night with just under 2 minutes to play. A play Green Bay continues to run on short yardage situations, even when running the ball wouldn’t make much sense given the time remaining in the game. Opposed to leaving the ball in your quarterback’s hands with the game on the line.
It has been a constant in LaFleur’s tenure. No greater example than playing for a field goal in the NFC Championship in 2021 when down 31-23. Relying on a defense to get a 3-and-out vs the arguably the greatest football player of all time Tom Brady, who needed 1 first down to advance to his 10th Super Bowl. If you wanted to play analytics at the time, even then you probably wouldn’t find that answer on your side. It was a LaFleur decision and even the future Hall of Fame quarterback for the Packers Aaron Rodgers wasn’t involved in the decision making.
We only knew of the distaste for the decision in Aaron Rodgers postgame press conference where he would explain how if he had known they wouldn’t be going for it on 4th down, this would have changed the third down play call. Something the Packers of today don’t seem to have.
Rodgers held LaFleur accountable. It may have resulted in storylines and a label of drama, but LaFleur came to Green Bay when it was Rodgers team. Almost like having another coach, only leading the huddle on the field. A successful relationship without a doubt, there still were trials and tribulations throughout. An extra level of pressure was added when LaFleur was coaching through Rodgers. LaFleur was better for it dealing with this kind of presence, one that appears not so evident with Love yet. From audibling out of a run play to a screen for a gain or maneuvering a 2-minute drive directing who to go where. Green Bay has been missing a leader since the departure of 12.
LaFleur’s persona fits the bill of the modern football coach. Hailing from the Shanahan tree, there is a missing feature from the old school coaches of yesteryear. You see it today in Dan Campbell and Mike Vrabel, two Head Coaches who are seeing great success most recently. From their words to their actions, you can sense their leadership echoes throughout the organization, a toughness you can feel through the screen. There is a limited showing in indecision or looking to officials when adversity strikes. Past or present coaching styles, there is something to be said for coaches who live out what they say. There is an identity in which they want their teams to play in, as exhibited in their playing days that made them who they now are.
The Packers offense is clearly missing players that can make it great through the air with Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed sidelined. A struggling offensive line that has been banged up, and 20th ranked run game there is countless excuses that can be made. What isn’t missing is 3rd year Franchise Quarterback Jordan Love.
To maximize Matt LaFleur as a coach, it has been proven additional leaders are needed for the team to be hitting its stride. Whether that should be the case or not, is up for debate. The time is now for players like Love dawning the captain badge to step up and let the Packers ride or die with him as the operator on the field.
Jordan Love on if he wants to be turned loose⬇️ pic.twitter.com/AdKsWmEjP1
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 12, 2025
Rodgers comforting a stressed LaFleur on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/4cGY2bkubz
— 🧀🧀 (@OGpackersFan) October 8, 2019
Final thoughts. The same problems existed years ago, but are finally coming to light.
Need a killer mentality shift. That’s really the bottom line.
You can’t wait to see what is thrown at you, you have to go attack first.
It’s what the Lions do so well.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) November 11, 2025
Dan Campbell, from his NFC East days, on playing in Philly: “It’s electric. Had batteries thrown at us, spit on. It’s just the classic stuff, man. Probably the most hostile place to play.”
Recalls Strahan having a 64oz cup of dip spit dumped on him.
“It gets you fired up.”
— Will Burchfield (@burchie_kid) November 11, 2025