Let's Talk Football with Andy Herman: A team with no identity
Aaron chat's with Andy about the Packers listless showing against the Detroit Lions as the two wonder what this team can hang its hat on going forward.
By PackerAaron
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Comments (20)
packerfanroy
September 29, 2023 at 07:29 pm
This team has an identity... on offense it's 'welcome to the pros, kid' and on defense it's 'dont throw the ball against them until you have to'....
Since'75
September 29, 2023 at 07:51 pm
Remember the euphoria after the Packers beat the lowly Bears? Then had the come back win against the Saints when they missed the field goal?
Now in week 4, that sentiment has done a complete 180...
THAT...is why you don't crown a team or a player after a good game or two.
That isn't how you prove yourself in the NFL, as a team or a player.
packerfanroy
September 29, 2023 at 08:12 pm
God forbid this fanbase take the 30 years of winning and show a little patience....
Since'75
September 30, 2023 at 09:25 am
Some Packer fanbase hate our former HOF QB. God forbid they show any appreciation and respect for his contributions in Green Bay.
30 years of HOF QB's is a rare, rare, anomaly that most likely will never be duplicated.
Some newer generational fans think that having a HOF QB, is just 'how it is in Green Bay.
Well, it's a new day.
God forbid some entitled spoiled fans realize how lucky we've had for 30 years.
That lesson might be harshly learned by seasons end.
For those who don't like Rodgers..kool.
But be careful for what you wish for.
I understand Green Bay having a HOF QB under center is all some fans know.
But HOF QB's don't grow on tree's.
Packerfanroy.....Packer fans have plenty of patience, they've won 2 SB's in the last 55 years.
Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson both built Championship rosters that won Super Bowls by their 6th year as GM in Green Bay.
This is Gutes 6th year as GM.
Gute put the 2020 team on hold, giving up on that team.
Drafting two bench players for the future, using the 1st, 2nd,and 4th round pick on them instead of adding talent on the field for that team.
I'm patiently waiting.
packerfanroy
September 30, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Since'75
I 100% agree with everything you say, in this post and the original. When I was talking about Packer fans not having patience I was referring to the boo birds and people calling for MLF's head. I should have been more specific so that's on me. I know a lot of Packer fans stuck with the team through the 70's and 80's and I wish that we had more of that patience now. I can understand fans being mad or upset and dont have a problem with that. If things turn out rough there will be a time for boos but that time is still a ways off.
ImaPayne
September 29, 2023 at 09:55 pm
This team is just starting to create an identity and many of us fear, going forward that identity wont be flattering.
Oppy
September 29, 2023 at 11:07 pm
The Vikings haven't won a game since January 8th.. which was vs. the Bears.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 30, 2023 at 07:14 am
Soft, that's the identity.
And it's not the players.
Houndog
September 30, 2023 at 07:19 am
Fubared,
So far, the only identity they have is that they don't have one.
I keep waiting for one player to step up and be a team leader, but where is that guy?
We're obviously NOT getting it from the coaching staff.
albert999
September 29, 2023 at 10:09 pm
Get rid of lafleur now instead of when u have to in 2 years
KKB
September 30, 2023 at 11:34 pm
Rodgers hid MLF's weaknesses for a long time. But now they are on full display.
In addition to crappy play calling, MLF seems unable to get his team prepared to play. He has also poorly managed his staff. He lost too many offensive assistants, overpromoted Steno and failed to dump Barry.
Steno is a great OL coach, not an OC. The OL has not been the same since he was promoted.
DINGLE Barry is a joke.
albert999
September 29, 2023 at 10:15 pm
He’s not a great head coach and even worse of a play caller and trying to do both is a joke
Houndog
September 30, 2023 at 06:40 am
Albert,
I agree, that's a lot on the plate of a guy who's never before been a head coach at any level.. As a Packer fan living in 49er territory I see no connection to the Shanahan coaching tree the sportscasters like to talk about. The play calling has no similarity (or success) whatsoever. MLF couldn't carry Kyle Shanahan's jock strap successfully. And, to be certain, I am NOT a 49er fan.
With that said, it was a nice surprise to see MLF pissed off after Thursday's game, it's about time. Maybe he's pissed at himself for keeping Barry, and
he should be. The handwriting was clearly on the wall for everyone to see, and it was a HUGE mistake that could cost him his job. Barry should have been fired at halftime on Thursday, or a year ago Thursday.
Maybe he's pissed because, like so many fans on this site, he bought into the early season hype that this team might be a lot better than they are, and I see coaching as the problem.
So far Love looks bad, his accuracy is not good, and then sometimes he throws perfect darts, I don't know, maybe he just needs more time AND coaching. Before Thursday night he was 30th in completion % in the NFL, it could be worse following that fiasco. With what we've seen from Watson thus far they should have made the Colt's trade for Jonathan Taylor.
Watson appears to be made of glass, the other WR's are looking good, and A. J. Dillon is doing nothing. We can't afford to ride Jones into the ground. Taylor is 24 years old!
The defense sports a lot of high draft picks, and a lot of defensive coaches in the NFL would drool over having that roster, but they ain't $hit, or maybe they are!
When is the last time the "D" played a truly decisive game? Who's the leader, who's the guy that steps up and rallies the troops? Where is he, WHO is he, when will he show up?
Players, like the Lions have, often mimic the personality of their coaches, and Campbell is a tough guy, MLF and Barry are NOT!
We've got a coaching problem!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 30, 2023 at 07:21 am
In preseason I was hoping MLF would delegate some of his responsibilities and knuckle down on what needs to be done.
Nope.
JB needed to be fired a year ago at around this time in the season. We don't know that MLF had the freedom to make that call. At this point he might not even be the one that needs to be replaced first, but you saw the Lions play Barryball AFTER they had a comfy lead. It simply does not work as an overall strategy.
Houndog
September 30, 2023 at 07:50 am
SST,
Unfortunately, we've got this and at least one more season (maybe two) with Mark Murphy at the helm. He's 68 y/o and must retire at 70 by corporate bi-laws. His birthday is in July, so...............
Hopefully, after he's gone we'll get a team president that understands that the Green Bay Packers are incorporated as a Football Organization and not a real estate holding company.
Murphy's misguidance has made him rich, rich enough to buy a golf course, so he's covered his own a$$. He'll likely keep MLF as long as he's there to avoid acknowledging his mistake.
Personally, I'm hoping he takes Gutekunst with him when he goes.
Coach Cleve Steamer
September 30, 2023 at 07:46 am
LaFleur, Rodgers,Alexander,Bahktiari and Campbell got their share of the $$$ with huge contracts with an even bigger drop off in performance. Perhaps that’s why the fans are pissed off.
Coldworld
September 30, 2023 at 09:17 am
This team very much has an identity. We heard it all night and we’ve known how we are viewed for years. The fact that we don’t like it doesn’t make it untrue. Ignoring it is actually just absolving the coaches that instill it.
Since'75
September 30, 2023 at 09:48 am
DAMN.....
Fire MLF, they don't have an identity, etc.......
If we beat the Lions, most here would be hoisting their mugs of kool aid heaping praise on the Packers.
Man..lol
What one loss can do.
Look.....make no mistake, i'm not a huge Gute fan.
I think he gave up on the team back when we were one game away from the Super Bowl (twice).
Drafting bench players Gary, Love, Dillon, using 2 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, and a 4th round pick, to sit on the bench.
Instead of drafting for immediate talent on the field, not two 1st round picks for down the road after they get developed, when we had a team so close to a SB appearance.
In light of that, i'm giving this team at least a year, maybe more depending on promise shown.
We all knew it would be rough with no experienced proven receivers (thanks Gute) and a 1st year starting QB.
I'm not blowing a gasket after a loss, or because the team is 2-2.
Matter of fact, if this team is .500 (give or take a game) at the end of the season, i'd call that pretty good.
They certainly have the schedule to accomplish that.
But damn...,they gotta figure this defense out, like now!!
They have spent too many draft resources and free agent money (2019) to get average results.
Where is the return on investment?
The offense has suffered and has been neglected with 11 of the last 12 1st round picks going to the defense.
What IF the defense ends the season at average again....are we going defense again in the 1st round of the draft next spring, chasing our tail?
8 first round picks on defense, isn't enough? How many is enough? 11?
PackfanNY
September 30, 2023 at 03:05 pm
This season is going to be a roller coaster. I don’t see a playoff team. That’s ok. Replacing a HOF QB and injecting youth all over the place was always going to make that difficult. I am ok with that. Hopefully, this is a team that gains experience and improves along the way.
My problem is more with the Defense once again. That side of the ball is littered with FIRST Round talent that, for the most part has been around for a couple of years. No excuses for giving up 200 yards plus on the ground. NONE. We were physically pushed around in the first half. LaFleur stated he “challenged” the team at Halftime. Question should be why was that necessary? Prime time game, 1st place at stake, home field, to a team that knocked us out of playoff contention last year. That should concern everyone.
MEO73
October 01, 2023 at 09:19 am
We dont know the team's identity yet. We do, however, know the coachs'. MLF does not seem to be able to get his team prepared and may not be the offensive genius we hoped he was. He at least needs to do a better job in preparing the team. Joe Barry has NEVER proven himself as a DC. He has always been awful. Since this is a rebuilding year, we ought to let him go now.