Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur now prepares for his seventh season. He will implement new schemes, and he’ll make personnel moves to increase the quality of this team’s offense. After an excellent 2021 season, the Packers finished their highest in rushing offense since 2003. Today, LaFleur’s attention is squarely on further developing the team’s new offensive identity as he heads into the first full off-season of the job.
Last year, LaFleur saved himself by doubling down on the run. That decision proved to be prudent, especially after adding free agent RB Josh Jacobs to the mix. This masterful subtle change in approach led the Packers to finish a stunning 5th in the NFL in rushing offense. This behind-the-scenes accomplishment illustrates LaFleur’s talent in adapting and innovating.
LaFleur has taken a hatchet to his coaching staff to prepare for the next season. He brought back Luke Getsy to a full-time position as senior assistant. It was a reunion with a coach he had worked under himself from 2019-22. Getsy’s experience as an offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears and the Las Vegas Raiders further enriches the Packers’ coaching dynamic.
Sean Mannion, a holdover from McVay’s staff, has been elevated from offensive assistant to quarterbacks coach. He sharpened his skills for this role, working as an offensive assistant last season. Mannion’s own background as a former NFL backup quarterback has fully equipped him with a unique set of insights into the position. LaFleur did his best to downplay Mannion’s potential during a recent interview, but he didn’t succeed.
“I think his experience, his ability to relate to that position, understanding what’s going through that guy’s mind. I think early on, even when I coached him in L.A., I thought eventually this guy’s going to be a coach,” – Matt LaFleur
Connor Lewis has experienced a change in role, from assistants quarterbacks coach to passing game coordinator / game management. LaFleur, like so many before him, wants to diversify his coaching palette. This change is needed as the squad continues to figure out its ever-evolving roster.
With Tom Clements having retired after last season, this has become an entirely new transition in the coaching landscape. Clements’ retirement opens the door for fresh perspectives within the quarterback room, allowing LaFleur and his staff to explore new methodologies in player development and game strategy.
LaFleur was adamant about having an ever-changing offense. He particularly worried about lack of movement which, as we all know, is much more likely to allow opposing defensive players to recover.
“One of the worst things that can happen to an offense is for it to become stagnant,” – Matt LaFleur
Providing an environment where coaches encourage the sharing of a wide range of experiences he thinks will be essential in producing breakthrough ideas.
“I think it’s great because everybody has different experiences and you want to encourage those guys to [come] up with new ideas or whatever it may be,” – Matt LaFleur
LaFleur remains upbeat as training camp approaches, but he is bracing for the inevitable moves in the direction of a more run-centric identity. He paints a picture of a diverse, balanced offense that can fight and adapt to different conditions and circumstances within games.
“I think we need to be the kind of football team that can do what we need to do whenever we want, whether that’s running the ball, throwing the ball,” – Brian Gutekunst
The Packers have been in the top 11 for total offense in four of the last five seasons. This phenomenal streak speaks to LaFleur’s ability to maintain a competitive product on the field despite glaring weaknesses. As he integrates new staff members and reinforces established relationships, LaFleur anticipates that the offense will emerge as more dynamic and effective.
Late last season, after McCarthy’s firing, LaFleur returned to the Packers as a consultant. He changed his priorities to concentrate on defending after the Raiders fired him less than nine games into their season. This experience has provided him with some added perspective as he starts this exciting new chapter with Green Bay.
Leave a Reply