It's Gutey Time

[Joemailman]

The season is over. Matt LaFleur, take a seat. For the next 3 months, the most important decisions affecting the team on the field will be made by Brian Gutekunst. A look at some of the decisions he's made in the past, both good and bad, and some he will have to make this year.

The Good:

In the 2018 draft, traded down from the 14th pick, picked up the Saints 2019 1st round pick, then traded up to the 18th pick and drafted Jaire Alexander.

Had a role in the hiring of Matt LaFleur in 2019. It was at his assistance that LaFleur was added to the list of coaches to be interviewed as McCarthy's replacement.

In the 2019 draft, traded up from the Saints pick to draft Darnell Savage. Although he traded 2 picks to do it, Savage looks like a keeper for a team that desperately needed help at Safety.

In the 2019 draft, drafted Jenkins in the 2nd round. Jenkins is already one of the best LG's in he NFL.

Released an injury-riddled Mike Daniels thereby saving the Packers 10 million in salary.

In 2019 free agency, Signed Zadarius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner to contracts. The Smiths were fantastic, Amos was solid at a position of previous weakness, and Turner was an improvement over the players from the year before.

Late in 2018 season, signed Allen Lazard to practice squad. Lazard became key contributor in 2019 season.

The Bad:

In the 2018 draft, drafted Josh Jones in the 2nd round, who after 1 year, decided he wanted out.

In the 2018 draft, traded up into the 3rd round to draft Oren Burks who has been a big disappointment. His career isn't over, but it's not looking good.

In 2018, signed Jimmy Graham to a 3 year, 30 million dollar contract. Graham has been mediocre, and the Packers will probably release Graham and eat 3.7M of dead money.

Still to be decided:

Rashan Gary - An unpopular pick in 2019 draft with many, playing behind the Smiths he showed some impressive ability to create pressure on QB. However, he is a long way from silencing his critics.

Jace Sternberger - A 3rd round pick whose rookie season was largely sidelined by training camp injuries.

Equanimeous St. Brown - A 6th round pick in 2018 who showed some real promise but who missed all of 2019 with an injury.

Decisions To Be Made:

Jimmy Graham - Packers top Tight End, but few would argue he's worth the money.

Blake Martinez - A free agent, he was 2nd in the NFL in tackles, just behind Bobby Wagner. But he's not in Wagner's class. How much is he worth?

Bryan Bulaga - A free agent, still one of the NFL's best RT's. In fact one could argue he's as good as he's ever been. But that injury history...

The Draft - The NFC Title Game exposed Packers weaknesses in the front 7 against the run. But Rodgers needs at least 1 elite weapon.

Free Agency - He will have the money to make some moves, but where?

[Deputy Nutz]

Jones was drafted in the 2017 draft, Josh Jackson was drafted in 2018. Both have been epic failures.

[Deputy Nutz]

Oren Burks was a silly pick. Gute fell in love with his times, should look at more tape.

Gute is a numbers guy which means a combine guy, and he was made big moves in the draft because of this and so far Burks, and Gary are very big question marks.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

The NFC Title Game exposed Packers weaknesses in the front 7 against the run. But Rodgers needs at least 1 elite weapon.

The NFC Title game didn't expose Pettine's inability to stonewall the run. No, the 69ers merely exploited that weakness. #30 of the Broncos exposed the run D in week 3 or whatever. Pettine failed to fix the shitty run D in the aftermath of the Bronco game, and consequently, the Title Game infamy.

What the fuck was the 69er pounding? Wisconsin vs Purdue? No NFL defense should get pounded that badly. Off with Pettine's head!

[pbmax]

The NFC Title game didn't expose Pettine's inability to stonewall the run. No, the 69ers merely exploited that weakness. #30 of the Broncos exposed the run D in week 3 or whatever. Pettine failed to fix the shitty run D in the aftermath of the Bronco game, and consequently, the Title Game infamy.

What the fuck was the 69er pounding? Wisconsin vs Purdue? No NFL defense should get pounded that badly. Off with Pettine's head!

Their run defense looked much better in the second half of the year. But it’s always possible that was just the slate of opponents.

[texaspackerbacker]

The run D got exposed in the Denver game, and for a while, teams exploited that. Then either opponents inexplicably stopped doing that exploiting or Pettine fixed things - until the Niners went back to taking advantage. Personnel was at least as much to blame as Pettine's designing of the D. That means GMship. You could say Gutekunst is at fault, and based on Joe's post, he's had a fair amount of failures. I'd say, though, it goes back well before his time.

Past is past - assuming we're not talking about getting rid of Gutekunst. The decisions to be made. especially where to go from here in drafts and free agency are what's important. His tendency to sign other teams' FAs makes the outlook promising IMO.

[run pMc]

So far the good outweighs the bad and his job is safe today IMO. This next draft and offseason is going to be very important since they still have holes in the roster and less money to spend in FA.

[beveaux1]

Historically, the first round of a draft results in about half the picks not achieving NFL success. Every subsequent round, the success rate drops. If an NFL draft produces a couple of starters and a couple of top reserves after 3 years, it was a successful draft.

No GM hits with every draft choice. No GM hits with every first round draft choice. If a GM is successful, he'll hit on more than half his first round picks over his career...after those picks have three years to mature and progress in the league.

We don't even know if Gute's first draft is successful since he's only been the GM for two years and Alexander, Jackson, and Burks from his first draft are still on the team and could contribute next year. Way too early to brand either of his drafts a success or a failure.

We just don't know.

[GB-Brandon]

Well compared too Ted Thompson who turned the franchise into a dumpster fire with a franchise QB Gute has since done a pretty good job overall. He has basically turned over most of the roster. Sure, the Graham signing or the Burks pick or the Gary pick we’re questionable but overall he has done a fine job IMO. Savage and Jenkins were both on the “PFF All-Rookie Team” so already some success in last years draft. Jaire Alexander is the best corner we’ve had since Sam Shields. He replaced an aging Clay Matthews and a horrible Nick Perry with younger and better options on the edge(that we have locked up). My only major complaint would be the continuing of not giving Rodgers the weaponry he needs on offense to be successfull.

I have laid out in another thread of what I would like to see in regards to the original posters thread. The long and the short of it is Gute has the resources and draft capital to complete the makeover. The main focus is being able to get tougher upfront on defense and a little faster in the middle along with re-vamping the receiving Corp with the right guys that can make us a more explosive offensive team.

I’m hoping this is the vision.

[mraynrand]

I have laid out in another thread of what I would like to see in regards to the original posters thread. The long and the short of it is Gute has the resources and draft capital to complete the makeover. The main focus is being able to get tougher upfront on defense and a little faster in the middle along with re-vamping the receiving Corp with the right guys that can make us a more explosive offensive team.

I’m hoping this is the vision.

I agree

[RashanGary]

ILB, DL and WR like others are saying

[RashanGary]

If you let Graham, Taylor, Tramon, Martinez, Fackrell walk.... You should be able to bring in an ILB and DL.

[RashanGary]

Burafict and a draft pick at ILB

[call_me_ishmael]

Burafict and a draft pick at ILB

Dude there is a zero percent chance that moron is reinstated let alone playing in GB. He is bad for the league. Hard pass.

[Fritz]

Well compared too Ted Thompson who turned the franchise into a dumpster fire with a franchise QB Gute has since done a pretty good job overall. He has basically turned over most of the roster. Sure, the Graham signing or the Burks pick or the Gary pick we’re questionable but overall he has done a fine job IMO. Savage and Jenkins were both on the “PFF All-Rookie Team” so already some success in last years draft. Jaire Alexander is the best corner we’ve had since Sam Shields. He replaced an aging Clay Matthews and a horrible Nick Perry with younger and better options on the edge(that we have locked up). My only major complaint would be the continuing of not giving Rodgers the weaponry he needs on offense to be successfull.

I have laid out in another thread of what I would like to see in regards to the original posters thread. The long and the short of it is Gute has the resources and draft capital to complete the makeover. The main focus is being able to get tougher upfront on defense and a little faster in the middle along with re-vamping the receiving Corp with the right guys that can make us a more explosive offensive team.

I’m hoping this is the vision.

I agree here. What this team needs is another stud up front to pair with Clark. Someone powerful and big and quick. Then you really need to dump your ILB's and start over. Oral Burks is at best a special teams guy at this point, and Martinez is still running to get to his gap responsibility on that first quarter play of the NFCC. Dump him. You need speed there, man, an some toughness or at least a willingness to play tough.

I agreed with The Flower and was aghast at the lack of urgency the Packers - once again - displayed against San Fran. WTF? Were they intimidated? Just happy to be there? But man, if you watch porn and you know what "gaping" is, then you know what I mean when I say the Niners were running through gaping holes in that defense. It was unnerving - SF only had to pass eight times in the whole game? Wow.

Maybe that 14-4 was a bit of a mirage after all. After that game, this Packer team looks about as far behind the Niners as they did after that "579" game a few years back.