Packers 2024 Season Thread

[OldSchoolSnapper]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Last year they were 9 W - 8 L while scoring the 12th most points per game (22.5) and allowing the 10th fewest points per game (20.6).

They should finish this year 12 W - 5 L and are currently scoring the 8th most points per game (27.4) and allowing the 6th fewest points per game (19.6).

They are currently 5th in point differential after finishing 10th last year.

Sounds like you were hoping for them to take a couple two tree steps forward, not just one.

They were 3-6 though at one point. And 6-8. I think most people hoped they would ride the wave of the last month of the season and playoffs into this one. They look like about the same team from the end of last season, not much better. And the reason for a lot of last season's struggles were any time Aaron Jones was out.

Was this a realistic expectation? Maybe not, but I think that was the dream. Love has suffered from being better than people thought he would be faster than they had expected. So the lumps that come with development and starting haven't been as permissible. I think he is fine, I think the team is fine. Just not as good as we all had dreamed.

Love probably played this season the way people thought he would play last season in the best case scenario.

[adambr2]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Last year they were 9 W - 8 L while scoring the 12th most points per game (22.5) and allowing the 10th fewest points per game (20.6).

They should finish this year 12 W - 5 L and are currently scoring the 8th most points per game (27.4) and allowing the 6th fewest points per game (19.6).

They are currently 5th in point differential after finishing 10th last year.

Sounds like you were hoping for them to take a couple two tree steps forward, not just one.

No, I was hoping for them to take a step forward from where they were at the end of the season. You’re quoting the cumulative numbers from last year, and that doesn’t tell the whole story. The October ‘23 Packers and the January ‘24 Packers were apples and oranges. They did improve on their entire body of work from last year overall, but they did not improve from the product that we saw in the playoffs a year ago.

[adambr2]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

In addition, Gary is one of the league leaders in % of times being chipped.  At one point earlier in the season he was 3rd in the NFL.  That's going to affect sacks, pressures, pass block win rate, etc.   If you're 3rd in the NFL in % chipped, the league knows you are pretty darned good.  Gary is also excellent in run defense and does a great job of setting the edge. 

Yes, the Pro Bowl is based a lot on reputation, but usually it's earned.  2/3rds of the vote comes from players and coaches, and they know who is good.

He’s nowhere close to the top 3 anymore. Watt, Garrett, Parsons ,Nick Bosa, Crosby, Travon Walker, are all getting chipped more and getting to the QB more. 

I never understood the “chipped” argument because they’re all in the same boat. It’s not like teams have spent the last 7 years deciding they’ll just try to block TJ Watt one on one.

[homer]

The Packers are a better team than last year. That doesn't mean they win more playoff games. In fact, they might win 0.

[adambr2]

47 minutes ago, homer said:

The Packers are a better team than last year. That doesn't mean they win more playoff games. In fact, they might win 0.

If they beat Philly and then lose a close one to Minnesota or Detroit, it’s hard to say the season wasn’t successful. We just didn’t improve as much as Detroit or Minnesota, but their improvement is out of our control.

[LouisEly]

On 1/3/2025 at 4:22 PM, adambr2 said:

He’s nowhere close to the top 3 anymore. Watt, Garrett, Parsons ,Nick Bosa, Crosby, Travon Walker, are all getting chipped more and getting to the QB more

And those guys all made the Pro Bowl too or are in the AFC so they are ineligible for the NFC Pro Bowl roster, so what's your point?  That Gary isn't the best pass rusher in the league? That seems like complaining for the sake of complaining.

[HarryDoyle]

 

[HarveysWBs]

So I’m trying to temper this comment in light of a particularly rough two weeks for the team, and I want people to tell me if they think I’m being hyperbolic with anything I say below. But…LaFleur is kind of a problem. He’s not a bad coach. He’s done some really impressive things, and I don’t see 99% of his daily work—all true and I’m not going to dispute any of that. But we have some patterns, mostly with in-game decision making, that are pretty undeniable and can be traced directly to him. In no particular order:

- His clock management is routinely subpar to atrocious, and it has reached the point that it is now a factor in losing at least one meaningful game.

- His challenge record this year, while a bit flukey around the margins, is still worse than it should be and he only got his first successful challenge today because the instant review inexplicably blew it about as badly as soccer VAR.

- His go/don’t go 4th down decisions show no recognizable strategy beyond a momentary gut call that would really benefit from some more forethought. Big goal line and 4th down situations have featured play calls that weren’t just ineffective, but were horrifically doomed, and have none of the imagination that one would expect from a mind of his reputation.

- While the running game has been great, he has been unable to effectively marry it to the passing attack that was working so well last year. Even though Love and the receivers bear equal responsibility, LaFleur is the guy who was brought here mainly because of his track record as an offensive (and especially a qb) guru. The results have been poor enough, especially recently and in big games, that it makes it all the harder to accept his other mistakes. His side of the ball has routinely let down the team in several games this year, today being the most recent and poignant example.

I don’t want him fired, even if they lose next week—which I fully expect, by the way. LaFleur could clean everything I just said up and the Packers would still be deserving road dogs. The injuries are brutal, and Philly is tough. But if they go under .500 in the division again, and Love is only a 55-60% passer, and there’s not at least an NFC championship game appearance sometime in the next 13 months while a new president looks at this brain trust he’s inherited, is it wrong for me to think he maybe doesn’t make it to 2026, especially if the above are still problems?

[HarryDoyle]

9 minutes ago, HarveysWBs said:

So I’m trying to temper this comment in light of a particularly rough two weeks for the team, and I want people to tell me if they think I’m being hyperbolic with anything I say below. But…LaFleur is kind of a problem. He’s not a bad coach. He’s done some really impressive things, and I don’t see 99% of his daily work—all true and I’m not going to dispute any of that. But we have some patterns, mostly with in-game decision making, that are pretty undeniable and can be traced directly to him. In no particular order:

- His clock management is routinely subpar to atrocious, and it has reached the point that it is now a factor in losing at least one meaningful game.

- His challenge record this year, while a bit flukey around the margins, is still worse than it should be and he only got his first successful challenge today because the instant review inexplicably blew it about as badly as soccer VAR.

- His go/don’t go 4th down decisions show no recognizable strategy beyond a momentary gut call that would really benefit from some more forethought. Big goal line and 4th down situations have featured play calls that weren’t just ineffective, but were horrifically doomed, and have none of the imagination that one would expect from a mind of his reputation.

- While the running game has been great, he has been unable to effectively marry it to the passing attack that was working so well last year. Even though Love and the receivers bear equal responsibility, LaFleur is the guy who was brought here mainly because of his track record as an offensive (and especially a qb) guru. The results have been poor enough, especially recently and in big games, that it makes it all the harder to accept his other mistakes. His side of the ball has routinely let down the team in several games this year, today being the most recent and poignant example.

I don’t want him fired, even if they lose next week—which I fully expect, by the way. LaFleur could clean everything I just said up and the Packers would still be deserving road dogs. The injuries are brutal, and Philly is tough. But if they go under .500 in the division again, and Love is only a 55-60% passer, and there’s not at least an NFC championship game appearance sometime in the next 13 months while a new president looks at this brain trust he’s inherited, is it wrong for me to think he maybe doesn’t make it to 2026, especially if the above are still problems?

This is being discussed in the game thread but I'll state what I said there. It's very possible MLF has hit his ceiling as a head coach, meaning above average but not someone who will get you to the Super Bowl. I certainly don't think he should be fired at this point, but there needs to be discussions behind closed doors on what needs to improve to take the next step in 2025, including the coaching. I'd have to believe MLF's seat is a little warm going into next year.

[HarveysWBs]

36 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

This is being discussed in the game thread but I'll state what I said there. It's very possible MLF has hit his ceiling as a head coach, meaning above average but not someone who will get you to the Super Bowl. I certainly don't think he should be fired at this point, but there needs to be discussions behind closed doors on what needs to improve to take the next step in 2025, including the coaching. I'd have to believe MLF's seat is a little warm going into next year.

Yeah, I mostly skipped the IGT today, and figured with this post, I wanted to get it away from the hot takes zone. I want to really know, in the cold light of reason, just how bad we think LaFleur has gotten, so I’m kinda hoping this gets taken up in a day or two here.

[yourout]

16 minutes ago, HarveysWBs said:

Yeah, I mostly skipped the IGT today, and figured with this post, I wanted to get it away from the hot takes zone. I want to really know, in the cold light of reason, just how bad we think LaFleur has gotten, so I’m kinda hoping this gets taken up in a day or two here.

I don't think he's a bad coach I just don't think he's a particularly great coach either.

[HarryDoyle]

Eagles game Sunday at 3:30.

[adambr2]

Elephant in the room:

Matt Lafleur is really, really bad at managing an NFL game clock. Today was not the first time. 

I don’t know if he doesn’t realize that he is, or just doesn’t think it’s that important.

I don’t know what he needs to do to get better at it. I don’t know if he needs help with it. But this is absolutely a situation where he needs to acknowledge that this is a problem and do something about it. 

You can’t just say “that’s on me” and do nothing differently and fly by the seat of your pants again week after week. Yes, it’s on you. Yes, you need to do something about it.

[kestrel79]

They need a guy whose job it is he can tell MLF to take timeouts and stuff like this if he's this bad. This is the kinda stuff you learn by playing Madden. I'm shocked so many of these head coaches are poor at it. It's not just MLF.

I'm okay with going for it on 4th, but agreed the play calls have seemed to be pretty poor and uninspiring when do we go for it this season. Then you look at Detroit when they do it, and it's a play where the receiver is wide open by design. High % play. We haven't had many of those this year on 4th down it seems.

Still overall the biggest two things that stick out to me from this season is the sputtering of the passing game compared to the end of last year, and the pass rush being next to nothing unless we blitz. I really thought with the draft we had and FA signings we'd be better than last year but I'm not seeing it right now.

Who knows maybe they are saving it for the playoffs and will get hot next week, but right now it's not looking good.

[RedStickBrew]

 

[HarryDoyle]

2 minutes ago, RedStickBrew said:

 

I think we all knew it was an ACL, but seeing "additional damage" is really devastating. I don't believe he will even play at all next season. I feel bad for him. He strikes me as a good kid who does all the right things, but he just can't stay healthy. All the more reason to find that legit #1 receiver for next season and beyond. Gute has to find a needle mover there and at pass rusher. 

[homer]

Brutal. We will probably never see him in a Packer uni again.

[tmwiese55]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:04 PM, adambr2 said:

If they beat Philly and then lose a close one to Minnesota or Detroit, it’s hard to say the season wasn’t successful. We just didn’t improve as much as Detroit or Minnesota, but their improvement is out of our control.

Biggest takeaway watching that game last night was just how much more physical and hard hitting those two teams Ds are,  and that's with Det playing tons of backups due to injury.  Generally can give GB credit for enough toughness and physical on O due to how well they run the ball and a good O line, but on D its just not there.   That said, I know the D has taken big steps up vs the disasters of years past so all going in the right direction, to get to the next step have to find a way to add the kind of edge/aggressiveness/toughness those teams tend to play with. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

45 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

I think we all knew it was an ACL, but seeing "additional damage" is really devastating. I don't believe he will even play at all next season. I feel bad for him. He strikes me as a good kid who does all the right things, but he just can't stay healthy. All the more reason to find that legit #1 receiver for next season and beyond. Gute has to find a needle mover there and at pass rusher. 

If contract numbers make sense, Tyreke Hill wouldn't be a bad idea for a season or two.

[HarryDoyle]

13 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

If contract numbers make sense, Tyreke Hill wouldn't be a bad idea for a season or two.

He's certainly a possibility because he can stretch the field with his speed, but I have concerns about his character. A one or two year deal we could live with, I guess. Bring back Davante or maybe a get Tee Higgins. If there's a stud receiver in the draft, do what it takes to get him. If the Eagles can bring in studs like Barkley and A. J. Brown, why can't we?

[nate82]

Higgins is going to cost a ton to get.  I don’t think you can sign him and get someone like Garrett in a trade.  I don’t think the salary cap math will allow for it.

[homer]

34 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

He's certainly a possibility because he can stretch the field with his speed, but I have concerns about his character. A one or two year deal we could live with, I guess. Bring back Davante or maybe a get Tee Higgins. If there's a stud receiver in the draft, do what it takes to get him. If the Eagles can bring in studs like Barkley and A. J. Brown, why can't we?

Not only is Hill a malcontent, he's a garbage human being (and he's on the wrong side of 30). Pass.

I am still not sold that you "need" a #1 guy but yesterday showed me you need guys you can count on for tough catches in high-leverage situations. DJ Moore essentially won that game with three really tough grabs.

[HarryDoyle]

4 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Higgins is going to cost a ton to get.  I don’t think you can sign him and get someone like Garrett in a trade.  I don’t think the salary cap math will allow for it.

Barkley cost a ton to get for Philly and still traded for Brown and gave him a fat extension. Teams can make it work. It's time to put the cap restrictions excuse to bed. The Packers have a dearth of high end talent to compete with the elite teams. Jacobs, possibly McKinney and that's it. They need a receiver to compliment the run game. An elite pass rusher will also help in the secondary. At least get one of those guys.

[homer]

11 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

Barkley cost a ton to get for Philly and still traded for Brown and gave him a fat extension. Teams can make it work. It's time to put the cap restrictions excuse to bed. The Packers have a dearth of high end talent to compete with the elite teams. Jacobs, possibly McKinney and that's it. They need a receiver to compliment the run game. An elite pass rusher will also help in the secondary. At least get one of those guys.

I've said it before but the passing game was elite the 2nd half of last year with the same receiving corps. I think Jacobs helps the inside run game but cant get to the edge and can't run a lot of the route tree. I think that is impacting the rest of the passing game. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Watson will go down as one of the biggest "what ifs" for me. He was a remarkable athlete and had crazy size for a guy who ran that well. His first couple games his first season, just watching him sprint, he looked like he was another level than everybody on the field. He just couldn't ever string things together and stay healthy enough. Prior to this ACL thing I just started to accept he was never going to be able to stay on the field. Sad end, he could have been a great player.