quote:
The one thing LaFleur feels strongly about besides throwing losing challenges is a modified West Coast offense. Holding bad play accountable? Pass. Targeting first-round draft picks, the most talented players on the offense? Nah, gadget players are more fun. Altering his offense in any meaningful way to make the most out of his tall, arm-talented, but molasses-legged QB? “No, thank you,” LaFleur seems to say. “I would rather imagine Love is Mike Vick and call the offense that way.”

My favorite beat writer, Vic Ketchman, who wrote first for the Jags and then came to Green Bay in his later years, would often observe that head coaches must first be leaders of men. Trendy schemes, tough-guy personalities, or once-amusing quirks get old when losses pile up for no other reason than a perceived lack of focus and effort. A true head coach makes his team better than the talent would suggest.

Kyle Shanahan is a head coach. Half of his team is on IR every season. He still wins. Andy Reid is a head coach. The Chiefs’ dynasty only finally keeled over this year because a decade of success in the NFL means a decade of low draft picks. However, they contended all the way to a Super Bowl last year despite an ancient, hodgepodge team held together by Reid and his deputy, Mahomes.

Matt LaFleur, on the other hand, is soft. He inspires no one except a subset of Wisconsin’s wives and salon owners. Having installed an offense predicated on running the ball, LaFleur’s offensive line routinely loses at the line of scrimmage. He avoids making hard choices and buries himself in his playsheet, forgetting that a team cannot throw its way out of an o-line on its heels, a secondary that would rather jump from contact than lay a hit, and abysmal special-teams play. If all you’re going to be is an OC in a head coach’s sweater, then you’d best have an offense that isn’t 15th in the league!

This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 6:32 pm

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Posted by jgawron

Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Member since Jul 2016

695 posts

Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:43 pm to prplhze2000

The issue is not MLF. The issue is his team scores points. The problem is if your so involved with the offense how do I watch the other assets of the game. Meaning Defense and ST. I think the issue with GB has been Defense and ST. When you give up 4 scores in a 15 minute period or 25 points that is troubling. You score 24 that should be a win. My opinion only is he needs to delegate to an OC. He is one of the best play callers but he reads the defenses. If your concerned about the offense I cannot assist the DC hey position your players this way. I seem the same with Kiffin. He has Charlie Weis..But Kiffin can help the DC position players nobody understands that more. Interesting his own players like Parsons, Watson, Love support him. He laso plays the players he is given...hopefully that bond is close with GM. But the injuries this year at star positions hurt them in playoff run. I believe they are going to be just fine. But he needs to be on top of all 3 facets.

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Posted by Jim Rockford

Member since May 2011

104519 posts

Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:07 pm to prplhze2000