Is Matt LaFleur’s seat getting warm?
On the surface, it’s hard to believe that the Packers head coach, who owns a 67-33 regular season record in six years, would be even close to fretting about his job. LaFleur is fifth in wins in Packers history behind Curly Lambeau (209), Mike McCarthy (125), Vince Lombardi (89) and Mike Holmgren (75). LaFleur also won 39 games in his first three seasons — the most by any coach in NFL history.
But the problem isn’t the regular season. Remember, this is Titletown. We don’t care about wins in October and November — what matters most is that win on the first Sunday in February.
LaFleur is 3-5 in the postseason, including 0-2 in the NFC Championship Game. With the Packers down eight to Tampa Bay in the 2020 NFC title game, he opted to kick a field goal with 2:09 left. Tom Brady happily took the ball and after three Packers defensive penalties, won the game en route to a Super Bowl title.
I like LaFleur’s offensive ingenuity. I like that there is motion and play-action. But I don’t like the use of shotgun in short yardage situations. Instead of going for it on third-and-1, the Packers put themselves in third-and-3 simply by using the shotgun.
There is also the matter of the NFC North. The Packers were a brutal 1-5 vs. the North last year, with their lone win coming at the hands of the hapless Bears. The division will be much better this year and the Lions are even being picked by some to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX.
LaFleur is a very good coach, but he still needs to take the next step in order to be great. All the pieces are there. He has one of the best running backs in the league, a very talented arrangement of wide receivers, a very sturdy offensive line, a quarterback that has shown that he has star quality and a defense that has all the tools to keep opposing offenses off the field.
On July 25, Ed Policy will officially succeed Mark Murphy as president, chairman and CEO of the Packers. How patient will Policy be if the Packers stub their toe in the division or make another quick exit from the playoffs? Will he be quick to hire his guy and build the team in his image?
I’m not sure.
It all comes down to Policy’s definition of success. Does he want a consistent winner or is he fine with a championship that is bookended by a drought of lean years?
LaFleur was like a breath of fresh air when he walked into Green Bay with wide eyes. He was full of energy, with a gentle smirk on his face.
But when the spotlight is the brightest, he turns into the deer that refuses to move off the highway — unsure to make a decision.