At this point much discussion concerning the Green Bay Packers is deciding between a Rebuild, Retool, or just a mere Transition for 2019. As far as the Head Coaching position, the Packers are in a transition from the “Highly successful NFL Coach,” Mike McCarthy, to the “Young, Innovative and Energetic,” Matt LaFleur.
We’ve heard from the Packer’s hierarchy, the team had become complacent, and the message had grown stale. We’ve heard from the players, there was a lack of accountability and “hard” coaching. The issue concerning coaching could be a result of the players Collective Bargaining Agreement which restricts much of the contact during practices. Keep in mind thirty one other teams abide by the CBA and didn’t suffer the Packer’s issues.
If it’s true that McCarthy had “lost” his team, it was surely evident in several games this past season. The Packer’s did have some very competitive games in 2018. Had 8-10 plays gone a different way the Packers could have had 9-10 wins. If you look at the Minnesota (1st), Detroit (1st), Rams, and New England games had events turned in the Packers favor, they would have had 10 wins. This illustrates just how fragile these games are, one or two plays can change the outcome.
As an example of how quickly a team can turn fortunes around, we need to look no further than our nemesis to the South….the Chicago Bears. In 2004 Lovie Smith was hired and his record was 5-11. In 2005 the Bears finished 1st in the NFC North @ 11-5, but lost in the Wildcard Round to the Carolina Panthers. With their comeback complete in 2006 @ 13-3, the Bears again won the NFC North, made it all the way to the Super Bowl and lost to Payton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
The Packers have chosen who they consider to be a high character, process oriented, passionate coach with the desire to instill a championship mentality at 1265 once again. The Players Leadership group appeared to have the same sentiment and qualities in mind.
In the upcoming draft, the Packers will need to address adding youth to the offensive line, an edge rusher, a linebacker, a tight end, and as many best players available as possible. During the Free Agency period, my wish list would include a veteran WR, LB and Safety.
It is my belief, if the Packer staff can accomplish these goals, it will only be a transition/retooling of the current team. I realize it may be a matter of semantics, but I would not consider 2019 to be a true rebuild, only a retooling.
Go Pack Go!
PackerGreg Veteran/Go Army @DrGTP on Twitter
6 responses to “Green Bay Packers Rebuild?”
We should have started hardcore rebuilding last Spring. We didn’t–we failed to release Cobb and Matthews along with Nelson–so now we need to accelerate things this offseason.
Release or don’t re-sign Matthews, Cobb, Graham, Lewis, Allison, Brice, Ryan, any of our right guards, and Tramon Williams.
In Free Agengy, target Breeland. That’s it. Otherwise, push all cap savings to 2020.
We should be targeting 2019, but we blew up that plan with moronic loyalty (Matthews, Cobb) and impatient spending (Graham, Lewis, Williams) last Spring. Our unbound idiocy set us back at least a season–maybe two. We’re squandering Aaron’s remaining years.
Now, let’s rebuild QUICKLY, without kidding ourselves about competing with teams like New Orleans, the Rams, the Chiefs, the Chargers, or even the Browns and Bears, in 2019.
Draft heavy at OLB, Right Guard, Safety, and maybe Nose Tackle (Clark’s a pure DT).
Target 2020 for a fast return to prominence. Don’t ruin another fast rebuild with “win now” foolishness.
Pretty much correct. Clean the shitter! We need speed and motors.
Trust me, the Packers MO is to keep maybes who don’t produce or are on the injury report more then they play.
Yeah, like Matthews and Cobb.
Or, they blow cap cash on slowing vets like Graham and Lewis. It all makes no sense, but hopefully they’ll ignore the idiotic “reload” sirens out there, and finally overhaul this roster with a fast “REBUILD.”
Thankfully, Gute knocked his first draft out of the park–even the Almighty Murphy couldn’t stop that.
Gute did good on one draft choice, but his free agency selections were very poor, and keeping and letting go some current players was suspect.This draft and FA period nd current roster moves will show us if he has it or not. He has trouble getting FAs to GB period. Will this change? Jury still out for me.
Matthews moves to ILB or out the door and for less money. Noone will want Perry and we’ll probably keep him or eat alot of dead money thanks to TT. Cobb stays for less money or bye bye. I want to believe we’ll utilize the tight end again and draft another with this years talent in the draft. EDGE and OL are priority ONE!!! Let’s fix the offensive line once and for all. Case in point the Colts and Andrew Luck. I can’t wait to see what our front office does in free agency. There’s two guys I like at Safety. Earl Thomas and Landon Collins. As for EDGE I like Clowney. One of these three Please. GO PACK GO!!! Rodgers time is running out.