HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEW PACKER COACH ?

[Radagast]

I had not really known about Matt LaFleur until a few days ago. From what I read he will bring some fresh ideas to GB. I expect that he will be well received until he loses a football game. Then he will be on the hotseat just like almost every other HC. As for me, I'll reserve my judgement until he has had a fair period of time to build the winner that he and all of us want to see.
Best of luck Matt LaFleur. \_/ GoPackGo !

[3irty1]

I don't have anything against LaFleur and I'm looking forward to all the Dodgeball references.

What I don't like is the larger situation. Specifically Murphy positioning himself as the Jerry Jones of this team. For instance, Pettine is fine but it should be a concern that we're already told he'll be retained. Makes it clear that retaining Pettine was a major factor in the hiring of LaFleur. If Pettine is offlimits why not just have Pettine report directly to Murphy too and make it a "square" of authority? I much preferred the complete divorce of football leadership/decisions and business leadership/decisions. Wish Murphy would have just named Gute the new Ted then left him alone except to have him psychologically evaluated once a year to make sure he's still got some marbles left.

[mraynrand]

^^^ It's somewhat worrisome, hierarchy-wise, historically speaking, I guess. But what if LaFleur and Gute are perfectly happy with it. Maybe even LaFleur suggested or demanded keeping Pettine? What if it works? Its a bold strategy Cotton, Lets see if it pays off for em...

[Wist] Nah, it's all gonna blow up because the Packers suck as an organization and don't know how to evaluate defensive talent, specifically LBs. [/Wist]

[pbmax]

[Wist] Nah, it's all gonna blow up because the Packers suck as an organization and don't know how to evaluate defensive talent, specifically LBs. [/Wist]

He is paranoid, but I think he is onto something about drafting defense.

[Tony Oday]

Terrible pick that wastes three years of AR and gets Murphy fired.

[3irty1]

But what if LaFleur and Gute are perfectly happy with it.

I'm sure they are. Both are fast tracks who got awesome opportunities. The point is what if they were only hired because they'd be happy with it? If Gute (or whomever could replace ted to suit my counterfactual) was given actual authority, its not like he couldn't still seek advise including from Murphy if he so desired. He doesn't get that choice though.

[mraynrand]

I'm sure they are. Both are fast tracks who got awesome opportunities. The point is what if they were only hired because they'd be happy with it? If Gute (or whomever could replace ted to suit my counterfactual) was given actual authority, its not like he couldn't still seek advise including from Murphy if he so desired. He doesn't get that choice though.

This could all be true. The inference is that the Packers could have gotten a better GM and a better coach with a standard hierarchy where the "owner"/President stays out of the way. Or at least that having Murphy involved reduced their field of possible GM and subsequently, Coaching candidates. Hard to know if that's true or not. I don't even recall if they interviewed GMs outside the organization. My recollection is they did not. That may be at least a reflection of and possibly a confirmation of insularity, but any proof of problems with the processes and organization will ultimately only come out in the wash of the W/L column. Stay tuned.

[Patler]

I absolutely did not want any of the experienced head coaches that rumors or facts linked to GB, including McDaniels. He did and said a lot of peculiar things in Denver and is linked to the videotaping cheating scandals in both NE and Denver. The fiasco last year with the Colts was the final straw for me. I would not have even interviewed him, because I do not believe he can be trusted with the image of the publicly owned, small town Green Bay Packers; but I can understand that the Packers may have invited him because they felt they needed to just to legitimize the thoroughness of their search.

All the others? Meh. Not a fan of the Harbaughs. By and large, being an NFL head coach is more and more a young man's game. Caldwell, Arians, etc. would be transition guys for me, not coaches for the long term.

I am satisfied with the hire, but I am also willing to recognize that it could be a colossal failure. There is an awful lot about being a head coach that has absolutely nothing to do with coaching, and that is why so many great coaches and coordinators fail as head coaches. We have no way of knowing if LaFleur has those skills and talents or not, but ultimately his success or failure depends on it.

[mraynrand]

He is paranoid, but I think he is onto something about drafting defense.

Yes to both. But just because you are paranoid doesn't mean that everyone isn't actually out to get you. With Wist, I suspect they are.

[mraynrand]

I am satisfied with the hire, but I am also willing to recognize that it could be a colossal failure. There is an awful lot about being a head coach that has absolutely nothing to do with coaching, and that is why so many great coaches and coordinators fail as head coaches. We have no way of knowing if LaFleur has those skills and talents or not, but ultimately his success or failure depends on it.

QFT

[pbmax]

Terrible pick that wastes three years of AR and gets Murphy fired.

Are you still reverse jinxing? Just want to be sure before I blast you back

[red]

I wonder if he was even allowed to bring in his own DC, or if he was told he could have the job but had to keep pettine

Seems like the decision to keep the DC came about as quick as the announcement of the HC hire

[3irty1]

This could all be true. The inference is that the Packers could have gotten a better GM and a better coach with a standard hierarchy where the "owner"/President stays out of the way. Or at least that having Murphy involved reduced their field of possible GM and subsequently, Coaching candidates. Hard to know if that's true or not. I don't even recall if they interviewed GMs outside the organization. My recollection is they did not. That may be at least a reflection of and possibly a confirmation of insularity, but any proof of problems with the processes and organization will ultimately only come out in the wash of the W/L column. Stay tuned.

That's part of the inference, but the ramifications of where the authority lies extend beyond just the pool of GM and coach candidates I think. Maybe Gute and LaFleur are the right guys and not just the best guys willing to wear Murphy's leash. If so, they'd probably be better without the leash. Ted was so unsupervised that he managed to get dementia while still on the job; its like Murphy is overcompensating now.

[gbgary]

i'm meh about it. i said in another thread that i didn't think it mattered who they got as Rodgers is who/what he is, will do what he wants, and the lack of cap space will keep this team in the 8-8 range for the duration of Rodgers contract, as he's only getting older, less effective, and more expensive as each year passes. so i'm in the ok with it category. i'll believe it, when i see it.

[gbgary]

That's part of the inference, but the ramifications of where the authority lies extend beyond just the pool of GM and coach candidates I think. Maybe Gute and LaFleur are the right guys and not just the best guys willing to wear Murphy's leash. If so, they'd probably be better without the leash. Ted was so unsupervised that he managed to get dementia while still on the job; its like Murphy is overcompensating now.

yup! i think he'll back off now but keep a much closer eye on things than he did before. won't want to be burned again.