When the clock struck zero in London every Packers fan knew what was coming. A disappointing loss due to underwhelming performances would earn Green Bay a center spot on the national sports media circuit. Hot takes and harsh criticisms were on the way and for the first time this season it felt like the Green and Gold had earned them.
Joe Barry is currently public enemy number one in Wisconsin, but there are other frustrations starting to bubble. Most notably, the offensive approach. Despite his historic record Matt Lafleur is seemingly struggling to Come to terms with and adjust to an offense without a superstar wide receiver. The fans know it, the analyst know it, but most importantly the running backs know it.
For my money Jeff Saturday is one of the best personalities on ESPN. A former pro who doesn’t buy into the sensationalist BS. He usually breaks down the game from a very honest standpoint. On today’s Get Up, Saturday had some very harsh words for the coaching staff:
You want to talk about common sense isn’t common? Have a 17 point lead and then don’t run the football. And then when the Giants tie you up at 20 all go three and out and take like nine seconds off the clock because you throw it three times. That is dumb football. And a team that runs the ball eight times and passes it 17 times in the second half is not a team that’s playing in their strengths. I have a big issue with(what) Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers are doing right now. Because again all these checks you see on the go line he hands that ball off and he walks in. I get the blitz and it’s going to be confusing and it’s going to be all these things but at some point you play to your strengths when you have two backs like that. You don’t give AJ Dillon 6 touches. It just doesn’t fit. And we knew the receivers were going to be at work in progress. So I understand the numbers they are what they are. I think those numbers get better as the season goes but in the interim you have to play to your strengths….right now they don’t have an identity.
It didn’t take long for former Super Bowl champion Chris Canty to agree:
I’m right there with Jeff. You look at what Wink Martindale the DC for the Giants did. They were out there with six or seven defensive backs. You got to run teams out of that kind of stuff. There’s a reason Aaron Rodgers was 0 for 6 on attempts beyond 20 yards from the line of scrimmage on Sunday. It’s because they were taking away the passing game. You got a lean on your run game and quite frankly that’s when the Packers have had success. That’s when they get their explosive plays when they set up opportunities through play action. It ain’t Aaron Rodgers dropping back in shotgun and getting it done.
Saturday, then quickly jumped back in:
Listen, I really don’t understand. When you look at defenses, I remember when I played I say hey they’re 25th In the league in stopping the run we’re probably going to run it a little more than normal. They’re really good at stopping the pass and putting pressure we’re probably going to throw it a little less. It’s like they do the exact opposite. Coach’s outsmart themselves. I just don’t get it.
Am I in full-on meltdown like some Packers fans? Absolutely not. Do I think there’s some serious reason for concern? Absolutely. While everybody focuses on Joe Barry it’ll be interesting to see, if these sort of performances continue, how long it will take for everyone else to start taking aim at Matt Lafleur.
You can watch the whole clip here
