Tag: matt lafleur

Packers opening play bomb to Christian Watson vs. Lions almost didn’t happen

Matt LaFleur was tempted to change the first play call of Thanksgiving Day. He didn’t, and Jordan Love and Christian Watson created a huge play.

The Green Bay Packers began their Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions with a bang, connecting on a 53-yard pass from Jordan Love to Christain Watson. However, that play call almost didn’t happen.

Coach Matt LaFleur admitted he was tempted to change the play. He stuck with it, and Love and Watson created the explosive play.

Before the ball was even kicked off on Thanksgiving Day, the Packers started things out uncharacteristically by choosing to receive the opening kickoff after winning the coin toss.

Typically, if the Packers win the opening toss, they choose to defer to the second half, with the thought process behind this being that they’ll possibly have the opportunity to double-dip, scoring before halftime and then scoring to begin the third quarter.

But Thursday was different. Against a very good Lions team that featured a stout defense and an offense that can put up points, along with the Packers being short-handed at a number of positions due to injuries, Green Bay knew how important a fast start was.

“Just wanted to start fast,” said Jordan Love post-game about the team’s decision to receive. “Wanted to put the offense out there and set the tone and that’s what we did.”

Green Bay didn’t only attempt to set the tone by choosing to start with the football, but right out of the gate, they came out swinging, with an immediate deep shot off play-action from Love to Watson. The ball was a bit underthrown, but Watson made a nice adjustment and an aggressive play to secure the catch for a 53-yard gain.

“I wasn’t quite sure where the ball was going to go,” said Matt LaFleur. “I had a good idea it was going to Christian or I thought maybe Rome; just with the action we had, I was kind of concerned that we wouldn’t have the checkdowns we might need, but our protection was phenomenal because it was kind of a later developing play to throw a post.

“I told Christian right before the game, there’s a good chance this play is going to go to you, just go up and attack the football, and he did exactly that.”

Green Bay would go on to score on that opening possession, giving them the early lead. After the game, Love said that this specific play was put in just this week, and the plan as of Wednesday was to open the game with it. However, it’s a play-call, at least at this stage of the game, that almost didn’t happen.

“As a matter of fact,” said LaFleur, “I almost changed that first play call. I was kind of mulling it over quite a bit, and I texted Jordan this morning and told him I was going to change it to something else, and he said he wanted this call, so I said okay.”

In addition to that opening play, Watson had what was by far his best performance of the season. He led the team in both receptions with five and receiving yards with 94, including a touchdown catch. Along with seeing Watson’s big play ability on display, the other encouraging aspect of his performance beyond the numbers was that several of those catches were made in contested catch situations–something that has given him fits at times this season.

Short-handed at running back and facing one of the best run defenses in football, the Packers’ passing game, led by Love and Watson, had to shoulder the workload this week, and the fact that they do so successfully shows just how far this offense has come over the last month.

“He had a big-time game today,” said LaFleur of Watson. “That was good to see just for him. I know he hasn’t been flawless up to this point, but I thought he came up big today and made a lot of critical catches.”

Packers coach Matt LaFleur collides with security guard en route to locker room

A Ford Field security guard didn’t realize Matt LaFleur was the Packers’ coach. Seriously.

Matt LaFleur must look way too young to be an NFL coach. Or at least that’s what a security guard at Ford Field thought on Thanksgiving.

The Green Bay Packers coach was heading to the locker room and was, um, intercepted by one of the people working the field for the Detroit Lions’ home venue.

It was one of the better hits of the day by someone with the Lions, who were down in the fourth quarter by 15.

Packers TE coach John Dunn dials up play design on touchdown pass to Christian Watson

Packers TE coach John Dunn had a perfect idea to counter something the Chargers were doing defensively, and it led to a TD pass to Christian Watson.

The touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Christian Watson during Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was not a play the Green Bay Packers had worked on throughout the week. In fact, it wasn’t even in the gameplan for the week.

“Very nice,” said Jordan Love post-game of the play design and execution. “That touchdown was actually a play that I think Matt (LaFleur) just kind of drew up on the sideline after seeing a look that we had previously, something that wasn’t even really in the game plan.”

On 2nd-and-9 from the Chargers’ 11-yard line with the third quarter coming to a close, Watson lined up in the slot on the right side of the formation with Dontayvion Wicks motioning to his side of the field as the ball was snapped.

On the left side, Tucker Kraft ran to the flat, while Luke Musgrave ran a curl route that drew the attention of the safety. With the safety crashing down on Musgrave, a pocket in the back left corner of the end zone opened up for Watson who was running a crossing route. With a free release for Watson’s speed, the two Chargers defenders couldn’t keep up, resulting in a relatively easy score on beautifully thrown ball by Love.

While Love gave credit to LaFleur for the play design, it was actually tight ends coach John Dunn who drew that play up on the fly. We often hear the phrase “in game adjustments” thrown around, and, well, that’s exactly what this was. The Chargers gave Green Bay a similar look defensively earlier in that same drive, and Dunn had a counter for it the next time around.

“I’ve got to John Dunn all the credit in the world on that,” said LaFleur. “There was a play earlier in that drive… We always look at the pictures and he (John Dunn) saw something there. He suggested a play and then we called it, hit the coverage and those guys went out there and executed it. It was a great job by Christian hauling ass across the field and Jordan made a good throw. The credit goes to John Dunn in that situation.”

This scoring play was a promising development for the Packers young offense for a few reasons. The first being that this group has struggled to make timely adjustments throughout the course of the season, which to a degree, is likely a product of all the inexperience on that side of the ball. In this instance, however, it was an adjustment made on the fly in the midst of a drive and the execution was on point.

The other reason to be encouraged is that Green Bay was able to utilize Watson’s speed and get him the ball in space on a relatively easy pitch and catch. While Watson’s downfield presence is what might standout most from his breakout performance as a rookie in 2022, the Packers did an excellent job of getting him involved on crossing routes, slants, and end-arounds, which led to explosive plays. This season, there have been fewer of those opportunities for Watson.

“We hit one against Denver that was about the last one with Christian,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich last week when asked about getting Watson involved in other ways.” I think some of them have just gone to other people as we’re going. We’re seeing a lot of differences in coverages. More shell where those crossing routes aren’t really that great, so we’ve kind of had to adjust a few things. As we keep going those opportunities will present itself, especially if we keep running the ball well. Those single-high coverages will hopefully help us out with the crossing routes.”

I do think that there can be a more concerted effort by LaFleur and his staff to give Watson more opportunities on these types of over-the-middle routes. But also, as the Packers offense as a whole continues to find success elsewhere, Watson – who still draws a lot of attention – is going to benefit from that as well.

As Stenavich mentioned, an improved run game will force defenses out of that split-safety look, while the continued big play ability from Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and others will take some of the playmaking burden off of Watson’s shoulders. The touchdown pass he caught against Los Angeles is a prime example of that, with the safety flying downhill towards Musgrave.

Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love: ‘Our confidence in him is not wavering one bit’

Despite some of Jordan Love’s struggles, Packers coach Matt LaFleur is more concerned about what is happening around the QB.

Jordan Love has thrown six interceptions during the Green Bay Packers’ current three-game losing streak, including defeat-sealing interceptions in back-to-back games, but Matt LaFleur’s confidence in his first-year starting quarterback hasn’t changed.

In fact, LaFleur’s concern is less about the quarterback and more about what’s happening around Love.

“He’s done enough for me to show me, it’s all right there. And it’s not just him. It’s getting the other 10, everybody on the same page. We can’t have break downs up front, and we have to make sure we don’t have busts, whether it’s receivers, tight ends, backs…it all works in unison. So the better everyone is around him, the better he’s going to look. Our confidence in him is not wavering one bit.”

The Packers scored only 17 points and lost 19-17 to the Broncos on Sunday in Denver. After leading the Packers to the go-ahead score, Love was provided one final opportunity to win the game after the Broncos re-took the lead in the fourth quarter, but he threw an interception on 3rd-and-20 inside Denver territory.

LaFleur described the ups and downs and on-the-fly learning as “part of our journey together.”

Love made timing mistakes on back-to-back plays to end Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. On 2nd-and-20, LaFleur said Love didn’t get to Christian Watson in time and threw behind him. On the interception on 3rd-and-20, LaFleur said the timing was off and Love threw too late in the play, giving the single-high safety too much time to make the play on the ball.

“He’s learning every time he goes out there,” LaFleur said. “It’s part of the growth process.”

LaFleur said he’d like to “over-communicate” with Love during critical situations.

On 3rd-and-20, Love had a chance to check the ball down and live for fourth down, but he attacked downfield and threw the pick.

Chaos has been the only consistency for the Packers offense in 2023.

Individual breakdowns along the offensive line — both in the run game and pass protection — have become more and more common, and the youth in the passing game — particularly at receiver and tight end — continues to create busted plays. As a playcaller, LaFleur has admitted failures nearly each and every week as he attempts to figure out what his team can do offensively.

LaFleur’s continued confidence in Love reflects the problems around the quarterback. Can the Packers get an accurate evaluation of Love — the most important part of the 2023 season for the franchise — until everything around him settles?

Matt LaFleur jumped up and down seeing Christian Watson open before Jordan Love’s game-losing INT

Matt LaFleur thought the Packers were gonna win before having his hopes brutally crushed.

The Green Bay Packers had no business even having a chance to win Monday night. After an uneven, sloppy affair (especially on offense, according to Jaire Alexander) against the Las Vegas Raiders, though, the Packers found themselves with a game-deciding possession after the two-minute warning.

And they still wasted it — much to head coach Matt LaFleur’s chagrin.

With just over a minute to go, the Packers were deep in Raiders territory, looking for that glorious, decisive moment on a third-and-long. When Christian Watson came open on a deep route, it sure seemed like Green Bay was about to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. Most teams (read: good teams) don’t miss opportunities like this.

Folks, the Packers are not a good team.

Via a video from The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak, LaFleur was so excited seeing Watson come open that he started jumping up and down on the sideline. That’s what you call excellent play design and trust in your players’ abilities, right? Right? LaFleur probably felt so deflated then when Jordan Love waited way too long to pull the trigger, eventually throwing a horrific game-losing interception:

Oof. That’s brutal to watch. LaFleur got a great reminder on this sequence. Even when you dial up a great play, you’re still at the mercy of your players’ successful execution of your vision.

Twitter reacts to the Raiders’ 17-13 victory over the Packers on Monday Night Football

Here is a look at some of the best takes from Twitter as the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Green Bay Packers 17-13 on Monday Night Football.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers aren’t exactly in rebuilding phases — more like rebooting stages. Nevertheless putting two marquee franchises on Monday Night Football is certain to draw some interest.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love had a horrendous night with three interceptions and a 53.3 completion percentage. Throw in a couple of sacks, and it is no surprise Love left with a 32.2 passer rating.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs only had 69 yards on 20 carries, but his 2-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter gave the Raiders the lead for good.

Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter.

Packers coach knows ‘we got our ass kicked’ by the Lions

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was not happy with his team’s effort in “getting whooped” by the Lions on Thursday night

Postgame locker rooms for a losing team are never a pleasant place to be. Players are sullen, exhausted, often edgy about the loss and sometimes quite angry. The coaches of the losing teams typically keep things collected and save the tongue-lashing and visible frustration for when the cameras and reporters are gone, however.

That was not what happened in Green Bay after Thursday night’s 34-20 road win by the Lions. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was animatedly angry with the performance of his team, which fell behind 27-3 and was nearly run into nearby Lake Michigan by the visitors from Detroit.

LaFleur was quick to give the Lions credit in his postgame press conference, and he started out by sprinkling in some praise for his team’s better performance in the second half.

“Give Detroit a lot of credit. They came in and whooped us pretty good,” LaFleur said. “I was pleased with our team’s effort in the second half. I challenged them at halftime to just continue to go out and compete and I felt we did that. We had an opportunity; we were down 10 and we had a bad penalty to make it a three-possession game. But, every area, there’s a lot of improvement out there for us. I think any time you go out there and you can’t effectively run the football and conversely can’t stop the run, that’s a recipe for losing football and that’s what happened tonight.

Give Detroit credit. We knew they were a tough opponent, but they manhandled us really in every phase.”

The longer he talked and the more he thought about the whooping from a divisional rival, the more LaFleur’s tone changed.

“I mean, you saw it. We got our ass kicked,” LaFleur said, blood pressure visibly rising when asked about being annihilated in the first half. “If I knew, it wouldn’t have happened. It wasn’t good enough. They whipped us. They manhandled us. Again, if I knew the answer to that, it wouldn’t have happened.”

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Packers’ comeback over Saints fueled by two-point decision and conversion

Matt LaFleur’s decision to go for two helped fuel the Packers’ comeback iwn over the Saints. Here’s why.

The Green Bay Packers trailed by 14 points — or two touchdowns and two extra points — before Jordan Love’s 1-yard touchdown run with 6:58 left in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Matt LaFleur’s decision following the touchdown helped fuel the Packers’ incredible comeback win.

Instead of kicking the extra point to make the score 17-10, LaFleur heeded the advice of assistant quarterbacks coach Connor Lewis and went for two.

“I’ve got this guy Connor Lewis in my ear, non stop, saying ‘Go for two, go for two,'” LaFleur said.

Why? The theory of the idea is simple.

Love’s touchdown run cut the Saints’ lead to 17-9, or eight points. Regardless of whether the Packers kicked the extra point or failed the two-point conversion, they’d be down one score and would have a chance to tie the game on the next possession. However, if the Packers converted the two-point conversion and then trailed by six points, a touchdown and extra point on the next drive would take the lead and possibly win the game.

LaFleur’s decision paid off in a big way.

Although LaFleur didn’t love the playcall and the timing of the motion and snap wasn’t right, his quarterback made it happen. Love bought time on a busted play and appeared ready to take off running before collecting and firing to Samori Toure to his left. Marshon Lattimore didn’t realize the ball was coming before it was too late, and Toure made the catch for two points.

“I didn’t feel great about the playcall. The execution definitely wasn’t how we practiced it. But I had a lot of belief in the way our quarterback was playing. He was making off schedule plays,” LaFleur said. “If the initial read isn’t there, we have a guy who can go off schedule. That’s what happened.”

At 17-11, the stage was set. Of course, that’s exactly what happened. Love and the Packers got the ball back and then drove 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and extra point. Instead of the game being tied at 17, the Packers took a one-point lead, which held up after the Saints missed a field goal.

“There was a lot of belief that we were going to find a way,” LaFleur said. “Everything broke right for us.”

Matt LaFleur says Packers LT David Bakhtiari had swelling in knee before Week 2

Matt LaFleur on David Bakhtiari not playing vs. Falcons: “His knee is injured. There was swelling.”

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said swelling in David Bakhtiari’s surgically repaired knee was to blame for his team’s starting left tackle missing Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Bakhtiari was listed as questionable entering the contest and was made inactive for Sunday despite playing in Week 1. LaFleur dismissed the idea that the artificial turf in Atlanta played a factor in Bakhtiari’s availability.

“His knee is injured. There was swelling,” LaFleur said Monday.

LaFleur also said he didn’t think Bakhtiari would have played Sunday had the game been at Lambeau Field.

All offseason and training camp, LaFleur said Bakhtiari’s knee would create a “fluid” situation in which the Packers might have to make late adjustments based on how the knee was feeling day to day.

Swelling has been a problem for Bakhtiari throughout his recovery from a significant knee injury suffered on New Year’s Eve in 2020. Three surgeries and almost three years later, Bakhtiari and the Packerws are still dealing the impact of the injury.

It’s unclear if Bakhtiari will play during Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. He hasn’t practiced since Aug. 30.

Rasheed Walker and Yosh Nijman rotated in and out in place of Bakhtiari at left tackle. The Packers are also dealing with a multiple-week injury to left guard Elgton Jenkins, creating moving parts along the offensive line entering Week 3.

In terms of looking ahead, the Packers will practice and put up the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. A final injury report arrives Friday.

Bakhtiari played 30 pass-blocking snaps in Week 1 and did not give up a pressure.

Has Rudy Ford emerged as front runner for Packers second starting safety role?

Matt LaFleur has a good idea who will start next to Darnell Savage at safety come Week 1, and Rudy Ford is starting to look like the top candidate.

Is the roster battle for the Green Bay Packers second starting safety role alongside Darnell Savage finally taking shape?

Nearly a week ago, GM Brian Gutekunst said that, at that time, no one had truly emerged and set themselves apart from the rest for that starting spot. And while nothing is set in stone at this time, there does appear to at least be a front runner.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good indication,” said Matt LaFleur when asked about that second starting spot on Thursday. “But there is still more football in front of us. We’ve got, obviously, a practice today, and a game.”

As LaFleur said was going to happen at the beginning of training camp, there has been a heavy rotation at this position, with Rudy Ford first spending time with the starters at the start of camp, followed by Jonathan Owens, along with Tarvarius Moore and Anthony Johnson being worked in as well and seeing some snaps with the ones.

However, over the last week, things have come full circle, with Ford back in that starting role, where he spent all of offseason programs and the first week or so of training camp. Perhaps this is all part of the Packers plan at the position to continually rotate players in order to give them opportunities. But also, with the preseason winding down and the regular season near, this also could be a sign that Ford is going to be starting come Week 1.

“He’s done a nice job,” said LaFleur about Ford. “He’s going out there and executing his responsibility. He’s being physical and trusting what he’s seeing and playing fast. He’s done a really nice job.

“Communication is a really big part of that position and making sure that everyone is one the same page. I think he’s handled that pretty well. Hopefully, he can put together another good practice today and go out there and compete in the game at a high level.”

When called upon during the second half of last season, Ford gave the Packers some much-needed stability at the position. He proved to be a willing run defender, and capable tackler, ranking 19th among all safeties in PFF’s run-stop rate metric.

Being able to defend the run is a very vital part to playing safety in Joe Barry’s defense. With the frequency at which he uses light boxes, being a sound tackler, taking on blockers, and filling gaps are key responsibilities of playing this position in this scheme.

It sounds simple, but Ford also did what was asked of him. As LaFleur mentioned, he’s been a good communicator with the back-end of the defense pre-snap, and was where he was supposed to be, which resulted in him flashing some playmaking ability with four takeaways last season. For a position group that too often dealt with miscommunications and coverage breakdowns, Ford provided some reliability.

As Barry has discussed on a few occasions this offseason, ultimately what the team is looking for at the safety position right now is consistency, from day-to-day and down-to-down.

Whether it’s Ford or any of the other safeties on the roster playing next to Savage in Week 1, the Packers are going to remain flexible with that role, willing to make changes depending on what takes place in the game as well as during the week in practice. However, for now, Ford seems to be the favorite.

“It could be pretty fluid throughout the course of the year,” added LaFleur. “You never want to say ‘hey, this is it.’ Guys are going to compete, continue to learn and grow. Hopefully it’s a competitive situation throughout the course of the season. As soon as you get complacent, somebody is going to pass you by.”