After rethinking about Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, here are three things worth discussing:
1) The Packers are bad, and while no one player is likely to change that, GM Brian Gutekunst nevertheless must do something before the trade deadline on Tuesday. Waving a white flag with nine games left in the season isn’t an option for a team with a soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback and a bloated cap. Acquiring, let’s say, Chase Claypool wouldn’t be a panacea for what ails an offense scoring less than 18 points per game, and the Pittsburgh wide receiver obviously wouldn’t help an underachieving defense, but at the very least, he would inject some life into a team that barely has a pulse. Watching the current group of pass catchers has to be as demoralizing to the men in the locker room as it is to every single fan at home. Gutekunst should’ve done something to improve the situation weeks if not months ago, and while it’s probably too late now to make a significant difference, the only way he could screw up the situation worse is by continuing to do nothing.
2) Around this time a year ago, I advocated for firing special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton even though Green Bay was riding high at 7-1. You didn’t have to be Albert Einstein to figure out that he wasn’t capable of doing the job. But head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t have the guts to do what was necessary, and the top-seeded Packers wound up paying the ultimate price when a blocked field goal and punt helped knock them out of the playoffs in the divisional round. Well, Joe Barry is this season’s Drayton. The second-year defensive coordinator is clearly in over his head and needs to go… now. Sure, he’s been more aggressive in recent weeks, but blitzing and playing man coverage only really works if the person in charge knows when to blitz and when to play man coverage. Barry seems to be winging it with no real plan. The only reason the defense isn’t as bad as the special teams were in 2021 is the talent level. As is the case with making a trade, replacing Barry with secondary coach Jerry Gray probably won’t turn the Packers from a sub-.500 team to a Super Bowl contender, but it could make them better, and that should always be the goal of the people in charge.
3) Almost four years ago to the day, Gutekunst unloaded one of Ted Thompson’s first-round mistakes. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was traded to Washington for a fourth-round pick on October 30, 2018. Perhaps just as importantly, the move rid the Packers of the fifth-year option they foolishly picked up six months earlier. It’s now time for Gutekunst to trade one of his own first-round mistakes, another free safety whose fifth-year option worth nearly $8 million was foolishly picked up in May. Darnell Savage missed three more tackles on Sunday night, and two were complete whiffs. The 25-year-old former Maryland standout epitomizes all that’s wrong with this season’s underachieving defense. He’s soft, unreliable, and makes very few impact plays. Savage hasn’t forced a fumble since 2019, and his last interception was a dozen games ago. If Gutekunst doesn’t have the self-awareness to admit his blunder and move on from Savage, the coaches need to replace him with somebody who, at the very least, can get a runner or receiver to the ground in the open field.
[yop_poll id=” 71″]
I’ve lost all faith in Gap- tooth, Gute and the head-coach. This is an abomination and something that shouldn’t have been allowed to occur.
Gap-tooth is spineless and seemingly only thinks about making money. That’s obviously important in the modern day NFL. Nevertheless, if the Packers are allowed to slide back into the mediocrity of the 70’s and 80’s there’s going to be huge problems. That shouldn’t be allowed to occur. Yet, I have no confidence that things won’t slide into that sort of situation.
I believe Matt’s in over his head, and regardless of his record over the last three years… he seems to have lost the locker room. Barry was a bad hire. Shouldn’t have been considered for the position. He showed that he couldn’t do the job in Washington and Detroit. Another mistake that leads right back to the head coach. Barry should be fired immediately. Period, no exceptions or excuses. But I don’t believe that Matt has the stones to even say anything to anyone. So he’ll just continue making excuses.
Then we come to Mr. Rodgers. I am tired of his act. I spent six years in college working on undergraduate and graduate degrees. Aaron isn’t a leader. He only cares about himself and Matt doesn’t have the stones to even say anything to Mr. Perfect. Just another reason everything is falling apart.
Then, let’s talk about Gute. Another mistake, he should have been shown the door while the Packers hired Elliott Wolf. Gute most likely won’t make any sort of trade and we’ll just continue our crazy season with the pitiful receivers we have on the roster. It’s a crazy situation.
In the end, I love the Packers and have been a fan since I was 12 years old. That’s 48 years. I remember the 70’s and 80’s very well and I believe that is exactly where we’re heading unless someone stands up and says enough is enough. Someone with the stones to actually make tough decisions. Like not giving a 38 year old quarterback a 50 million dollar contract when he still has a contract. It’s destroyed our flexibility and that rest at Gute’s feet.
In the end, I have no faith that anything will change. I really believe we are watching a Three Stooges movie. Such sad commentary and a reality that is not one to be excited or happy about.
Hey, it’s been a great 30 years. The good times were eventually going to end. I thought we might scratch out another winning season or two, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Very well stated Dale. I can’t vote in the above poll because I hold the front office and coaches both culpable.
Right on all three counts as usual Michael.
If the Packers ran the offense they ran last night against the Jets, Commodores, Giants, they would have won two out of those three. Maybe all three. Imagine, actually running the ball and sticking with it opens the passing a game a bit. Who’d a thunk ?
The Packers opened the book on how to compete with the Bills last night. Run right at them, repeatedly. Their DL has Miller at #250 Rosseau at #265 and Oliver at #290. OL’s that are #310 or #320 can hammer them for 4 quarters. They’re built to rush the passer because they generally have the lead. They ranked as the #1 defense against the run because everyone passes against them because they’re behind. Plays right into their hands. Packers running forced them to drop that safety down and it opened the passing game a bit. Watch, teams will start running against them.
Sammy Watkins is washed. Trade the 2nd rd pick, get Claypool in here so he can acclimate with Rodgers. Lazard wants big money next year and he’s not worth it. Give Rodgers a group of Claypool, Doubs, Watson {if healthy}, a solid vet with some speed, and Aaron Jones and you’ll see an improved offense next year. ALL of these young guys are on rookie contracts.
How does Aaron Jones continuously turn stuffs or 2 yard gains into 5 or 6 yards ? Defenders must pull their hair out playing that guy.
Darnell Savage has to be benched. You simply cannot have a safety that refuses to tackle anyone.
Maybe it’s just me but I didn’t notice a heck of a lot of drop off at ILB play when Walker got booted and Campbell got hurt.
Claypool can help this year and we don’t play anyone as good as the Bills the rest of the year so we still have a shot. Unfortunately I think our “Son of Ted” will write this whole year off to save a draft pick he may squander. Goes all in with Rodgers at $150 mill then frets over the future. I’ve heard many people say don’t make the trade for help because the team is underperforming anyhow. So the theory is, if your team stinks don’t improve it with better personnel ? Just continue to go with what you have and hope it all works out ? So, why have a GM at all ?
Can we find a DC that actually let’s Jaire man up the opposing team’s best WR ? Oh and one that knows Douglas doesn’t belong in the slot. Just those two moves may have prevented two Bills scores last night.
“Maybe it’s just me but I didn’t notice a heck of a lot of drop off at ILB play when Walker got booted and Campbell got hurt.”
It’s not just you. That’ll be part of my game review post on Tuesday.
Forgot to add. LaFleur basically cost his team any chance to win right at the beginning of the 4th qt.
Bills lead 27-10, it’s 4th and 1 {Packer ball and over 14 mins remaining} and in Crosby’s FG range. You’re down three scores. Even with two TD’s and two 2 point conversions you still need another score. Even if they had gotten the first down and went in for a TD you still need two more scores to tie or win.
So why would you go for it on 4th with the chance you fail ? There’s 14 mins left in the game and if you fail you now have to score on your next three possessions. IF, you even get that many possessions. The ONLY move here is to kick the FG and make it 27-13. Anything else basically sends your team to defeat.
Right on cue, LaFleur calls a play the whole stadium knows is coming. It fails. Afterwards, the Bills turn the ball over and we get a TD so it’s now 27-17. It SHOULD HAVE BEEN 27-20 if LaFleur kicks the FG. LaFleur’s panic cost them any chance.
We get the ball back with over 2 mins left and it’s 27-17 instead of 27-20. Totally different situation. Matt LaFleur’s decision cost this team any chance to win the game. They need to take these analytics and punt them to the moon. Lombardi said it best. “Never leave points on the field.”
I’d love to trade Savage but who is going to give up a draft pick for him?
The only hope is Gutekunst getting fired today and getting hired by another team by 4 pm tomorrow.
They’ll be no MVP awards and no playoffs either. Case Claypool won’t change that especially if the roster is as bad as everyone claims. It isn’t. You don’t rebuild around a 39 year old QB. Once we’re eliminated from playoff contention, Its time to give Jordan Love his shot. What do Ted Thompson and the greatest GM ever in John Schneider have in common? They both got their QB early. Brian Gutekunst tried to do the same drafting Love. If he’s not the answer then he needs to draft one early. We’re looking at the 13th pick in the draft right now. That only continues to improve as the carnage continues. There could be as many as 5 QB’s go in the top 10. What’s really demoralizing is having your 39 yr old QB call you out when he’s not playing well himself. Really makes you want to play hard for him.
I just read on ESPN that defensive players have lost faith in Barry and are openly complaining about his scheme, yet LaFleur dismissed a question about changing DCs like the reporter who asked it had two heads. If the defense struggles again in Detroit and the Packers lose, I have a feeling things are going to get very ugly.
Why did I have a feeling Michael would suggest trading Savage? Yes, his value relative to 2023 salary cap hit is way out of balance, and Gutekunst would need to accept almost any draft pick to unload the 2023 salary.
Personally, I spent a lot of time looking at safeties in the last draft and came away disappointed.
To trade Savage, Gutekunst needs to sell the value of Savage based on his nickel back play in college. He can’t sell it based on a two-deep safety.
Perhaps trading Savage for another disappointing player without as high 2023 salary cap hit is the best we can expect.
Packer fan since Lombardi’s first season as coach. Many good years and many bad years since then.
Trading Darnell Savage would be like trading Josh Jackson for Isaac Yiadom. If Darnell Savage were as bad as Josh Jackson. He isn’t. Brian Gutekunst has no problem moving off players that haven’t worked out. Jackson, J’mon Moore, Jace Sternberger, and Oren Burks. This notion that Brian Gutekunst stays with his draft picks too long is a silly one. Savage misses three tackles and we’re told he’s the problem and has to go. Meanwhile Aaron Rodgers, the 50 million dollar man, converts two 4th down plays, 4th and 1 the other 4th and 3, and it’s a completely different ballgame. He doesn’t. But Aaron Rodgers cannot be held accountable. Instead we’re told Savage must be traded, the defense is soft, and Joe Barry must be fired. Yet it was the defense that kept us in the game in the second half. Brian Gutekunst is incompetent and we must lust after John Schneider even though he hasn’t sniffed a SB in 7 years. This is the game you have to play when you’re an Aaron Rodgers fan. You always have to survey the room and find someone, anyone, to point the finger at other than Aaron Rodgers. Mike McCarthy got the hell away from Aaron Rodgers and now flourishes in Dallas. While Matt LaFleur is having the same issues McCarthy did. A QB that cannot be bother to be coached, runs his own offense, and throws his coaches and teammates under the bus with his passive aggressive BS. Big Mike is getting the last laugh…
I’d like to see Savage get a chance to play corner. I don’t want him being the next Micah Hyde and finding success after leaving Green Bay.
Well, it’s after the trade deadline and the Packers stood pat with no trades. That kind of makes sense to me – can’t expect Gutey to actually do something. We signed Rodgers to a big contract and re-worked other contracts to go for it this year and Gutey doesn’t get us any help. So be it. Don’t care if they win another game – only problem is that I have no faith in Gutey to figure out what needs to change to improve this team.
If I were Murphy, I would fire Gutey and make MLF fire Joe Barry. Admit the mistake and move on. Need a capable GM to take over with full control of the football operation.
I’m pretty sure Gutekunst just signed a new contract, so he’s not going anywhere for a while.
I couldn’t agree more with the last sentence in your first paragraph. Gutekunst’s only plan seems to be to keep giving more money to Rodgers.
When we were sitting at 6-2 at the trade deadline and didn’t trade for Emanuel Saunders two years ago. It was always going to be a hard sell to expect a trade for Case Claypool at 3-5 with the unlikely chance at a playoff spot now. I think Brian Gutekunst is done trying appease Aaron Rodgers. I think he’s betting his roster is fine and it’s Rodgers who’s the problem. I think he wants to save his draft capital to move up and take a QB in the top 5. We’ll see if he’s right….
If by “the good times eventually had to come to an end” you mean our annual crushing playoff loss, then I’m ready to turn the page. If Mike McCarthy can show us he can be successful without Aaron Rodgers. Then why can’t Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst? And that’s with the meddling Jerry Jones as GM and the limited combo of Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush at QB. What this team needs more than Case Claypool or trading Darnell Savage is a young, talented, COACHABLE QB that’s actually going to run his HC’s offense. A QB that’s gonna grow and develop with these young and talented receivers. I would rather take it on the chin the next two months and secure a top 5 pick and get the QB right then do anything to try and make Rodgers happy. It’s time to stop chasing our tails and move on. I understand that’s unpopular with most.