matt lafleur – Page 5 – Syndication Server

Matt LaFleur: Packers QB Jordan Love will play in preseason finale vs. Seahawks

Highlights from Matt LaFleur’s press conference on Sunday coming out of Saturday night’s presesaon game vs. Patriots.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur answered questions from the media on Sunday afternoon following Saturday night’s preseason contest with the New England Patriots.

LaFleur confirmed quarterback Jordan Love will play in the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Love has started each of the Packers’ two preseason games and will now get one more on-field appearance before LaFleur’s team goes to Chicago for Week 1.

Here are some of the other highlights from LaFleur:

— Planning to make this week feel like a typical regular season week. Packers will practice on a normal schedule before Saturday’s preseason finale vs. Seahawks.

— On Kingsley Enagbare, who had two sacks and a special teams tackle vs. the Patriots: Said it was big time to run down on kickoff, make a tackle. Says he’s made a “big jump” in Year 2.

— Didn’t consider doing joint practices with Seahawks.

— On Karl Brooks: Did good things, was in the backfield a little bit. “He’s been a pretty consistent performer for us so far.” Expecting him to be a contributor come the regular season.

— On RB Emanuel Wilson: A lot of room for him to grow as a pass-blocker and on special teams. Need to be better conditioned. “He’s done a lot of good things.”

— Said he thinks Sean Clifford has put together two good games to open the preseason.

— Praised the offensive line. Didn’t think the Patriots had a quarterback hit on Jordan Love or Sean Clifford.

— On Josh Myers: Had the miscue with Jordan on the snap, but “Josh has been picking up his play, each and every week.”

— Thought Love played on time and in rhythm.

— On penalties (Packers had 11 vs. Patriots): Things called tighter in the preseason. Some tick-tack calls. Pointed out Zach Tom’s early penalty as an example. Too many penalties in critical spots.

— On Carrington Valentine, who had two coverage penalties: Every experience, you have to learn from it. “I thought CV did a lot of great things in the game.” Likes his physical, aggressive coverage style overall.

— Said Romeo Doubs had two “big-time catches” vs. Patriots.

— Credited assistant QB coach Connor Lewis for the successful challenge on Doubs’ 42-yard catch.

— On safety competition: Rudy Ford did nice job in run support situations, had a TFL. Jonathan Owens made a nice play on a RPO for a PBU. Two forced incompletions from Anthony Johnson Jr.

— Admitted being nervous about the late hit on Jordan Love and Love’s attempt to get the ball on the botched snap. Said Love is a little sore on Sunday.

— Love will play this week against the Seahawks. Wouldn’t divulge how much Love would play.

— Said there’s value playing in adjusting to a night game one week and an early kick (noon) kick the next week, especially for Love.

— Wanted the replay up faster at Lambeau Field of Doubs’ catch. Part of the homefield advantage.

— Zach Tom has done a nice job at right tackle, Packers still determining what is his best position.

— Value in playing Love and the offense’s starters is getting everyone on the field together and building cohesiveness. Developing experience in the system.

Rookie Malik Heath wants to be Packers’ new ‘goon’ at WR

Allen Lazard was the enforcer at WR for the Packers offense, but now he’s in New York. Malik Heath is ready to be Matt LaFleur’s new “goon.”

Matt LaFleur often called Allen Lazard the “goon” of his Green Bay Packers offense. Now that Lazard is in New York with Aaron Rodgers, LaFleur needs a new enforcer at the wide receiver position.

Undrafted rookie Malik Heath submitted his application with video evidence during Friday’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. On a quarterback keeper play, Heath blocked a Bengals cornerback completely out of bounds and eventually drew a penalty.

It was the definition of a “goon” play.

“They are looking for a goon, so I’m going to try and fill that role,” Heath said Sunday. “I’m going to try to do anything to make this team.”

Here’s the All-22 view of the play, via Ben Fennell:

Malik Heath! Let's go!!

Love this type of effort and intensity from a young WR! That's how you make a roster pic.twitter.com/eCacWoA2Km

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) August 12, 2023

Heath, who also caught three passes, said the block was one of the “most exciting” plays of his football career. The entire Packers sideline erupted as Heath drove the cornerback out of bounds, opening the backside for Sean Clifford to race for a big gain. The penalty tacked on 15 more yards, and the Packers finished the drive with a touchdown.

The block was the perfect example of the type of play style the Packers want in the run game.

In fact, LaFleur said blocking at the wide receiver position is an “important” part of the Packers offense even if it’s “not always the sexy thing to do” for a pass-catcher. It’s tough work that gets noticed by the coaching staff and can help a young, undrafted player find a role on a roster.

The 6-2, 213-pound Heath said he embraces blocking and the physical side of the game. He got experience blocking in the run game at Ole Miss and is ready to do more of it for LaFleur in Green Bay.

Assuming the Packers keep six receivers, it’s possible Heath is currently the front runner to be the sixth receiver on the 53-man roster. He was impressive during the offseason workout program, made catch after catch during training camp practices and now has an excellent preseason debut on tape.

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Matt LaFleur happy with Jordan Love’s poise, command in preseason opener

Packers QB Jordan Love completed seven passes and threw a touchdown pass in the preseason opener in Cincinnati.

The sample size was small — just 12 total snaps and 10 passes — but Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur was pleased with the poise and command of Jordan Love in his preseason debut as the starting quarterback on Friday night in Cincinnati.

Love, who played two series, completed 7-of-10 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown during the Packers’ 36-19 win.

“All in all, I thought it was a good first performance,” LaFleur said. “Very limited action…A lot to learn from, and a lot of good came out of it.”

LaFleur said Love would probably “love” to have back a missed throw to rookie tight end Luke Musgrave, who was running wide open on a third-down play during the first series. Love called it a “routine” throw that he “just missed.” But save for one misfire, LaFleur appreciated the way Love handled the overall job responsibilities of playing the position.

“Just the poise he showed, the command he showed. I thought we were getting in and out of the huddle quickly,” LaFleur said. “I thought it was a really good first exposure for him for this season.”

Love completed short passes to Aaron Jones and Luke Musgrave to open the first possession but then just missed on a deep shot down the field to Christian Watson. LaFleur said it “looked like an accurate ball” but he probably wanted Love to do more to hold the safety — Dax Hill, in this case — another second longer to give himself a chance to hit the throw. Hill darted over from centerfield and broke it up.

LaFleur did say the Packers want Love “putting more air” on go balls like the one to Watson. The trajectory of the pass wasn’t necessarily the problem, but instead the eye discipline on holding the safety. Love credited Hill will making a terrific play.

Love did connect with Watson on a quick throw to convert a third down to open the second series. He also hit Romeo Doubs for 12 yards on a designed rollout before connecting with Doubs again for a 9-yard touchdown on a double crosser concept that saw Watson occupy the single-high safety. Love recognized the safety double Watson, giving Doubs the one-on-one opportunity in the end zone.

Will the touchdown pass to Doubs represent Love’s last throw of the preseason? LaFleur said no.

“I would anticipate him playing some more,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur wouldn’t say if Love would play against the New England Patriots next Saturday night following two joint practices next week. The Packers finish the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks before taking on the Chicago Bears on Sept. 10 in Week 1.

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Packers coach Matt LaFleur sits down with NFL Network

Matt LaFleur spoke with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network for a few minutes following Thursday’s practice.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur sat down with Tom Pelissero of NFL Network for a quick interview after Thursday’s practice.

Here are a few highlights:

— On 2023 Packers: “I see a lot of growth, and I see it every day…I like the mentality of this team.”

— On live tackling drills: Important for young players to feel the physicality of NFL before preseason games.

— On Jordan Love: “I just love his presence, his poise.”

— On first-year expectations: “It’s more than just Jordan Love. It’s the receiers, the tight ends, it’s how do we block for him, it’s how are we running the football? We’ve got two great backs, we’ve got most of our experience in the backfield and up front, how do we lean into that? How do we get these other guys to come along? There’s a lot of youth there. There’s a lot of excitement with that. We can see the talent, how do we harness that talent? How do we put these guys in great situations so they can go out there and show what they can do?”

— On Christian Watson: Important for him to be healthy during the offseason and into training camp. Once again commented on his intelligence. “He’s got all the tools that you look for.”

— On Luke Musgrave: “He can run. I was teasing the receivers the other day… He was the fastest guy on the offense (by GPS tracking)… He’s an exciting young prospect that has a lot of potential in that body. We’ve got to get it out of him.”

— On New York Jets: “Green Bay East.” Cares a lot about many people in the Jets organization.

From Inside Training Camp: My interview with #Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who talks expectations for Jordan Love, the high upside of Christian Watson and the fastest man in camp — 6-6, 253-pound rookie TE Luke Musgrave. pic.twitter.com/x7OtQQeOn2

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 3, 2023

Matt LaFleur wants ‘very, very talented’ rookie Carrington Valentine to continue building on early success

Packers rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine has turned into one of the must-watch young players of training camp.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur wants to see rookie Carrington Valentine — who delivered a pick-six during Monday’s practice — continue to build on his early success during the offseason and into training camp.

LaFleur believes Valentine has the skill set to be a “good player” at the NFL level.

“He’s extremely athletic, has made those splash plays,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “I love how he competes. He goes out there and challenges it. You can coach him hard, he’s receptive to the coaching. I think we have a good young player right there. I’m excited to see what he’s able to do when we get into some of these competitive practices going against a team like Cincinnati next week… and then into the preseason games. Certainly we’re early on, only one day in pads. But I think he’s got a great attitude…I think this kid is very, very talented, and he has to continue to build on his early success.”

During a team period on Monday, Valentine, a seventh-round pick, jumped a Danny Etling pass, made the interception and almost certainly would have scored a touchdown in a real-game setting. It was another standout play for a rookie who has made plenty of noise, even dating back to the offseason workout program.

The depth chart reflects Valentine’s ascendance. He’s been a second-team cornerback on the boundary behind Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas throughout training camp.

The next challenges for Valentine: building the consistency all coaches want to see in a player, and proving he can keep making plays when the setting or competition changes. The Packers will go to Lambeau Field for Family Night on Saturday, and there are joint practices against the Bengals and Patriots and three preseason games between now and roster cutdown day.

Matt LaFleur on Christian Watson: One of the most intelligent players I’ve been around

Packers WR Christian Watson is healthy and confident entering Year 2, and Matt LaFleur believes he’s one of the “most intelligent players” he’s ever been around.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said receiver Christian Watson looks confident and healthy entering Year 2, and the young receiver’s incredible intelligence gives the Packers offense more flexibility and makes the passing game harder to defend overall.

After missing most of training camp as a rookie last year, Watson is full-go to start his second season, giving him a chance to pick up where he left off over the second half of 2022.

“Just seems like a much more confident player. I think we saw that take shape last year, halfway through the season. Any time you’re a young player and you miss all of training camp essentially, that’s tough, difficult,” LaFleur said Monday. “Him being healthy, he had a really good offseason, and just his knowledge of our offense. He’s one of the most intelligent players I’ve ever been around, especially at the wide receiver position.”

Watson had three 100-yard receiving games and scored eight total touchdowns over the final eight games of last season, sparking to life a Packers offense that lacked a dynamic weapon at receiver.

Expect the Packers to put even more on Watson’s plate in 2023.

LaFleur said the Packers can line up Watson at the “Z” on one play and then move him to “F” or “X” on the next play without him having an issue. He called it a “unique” ability that gives the Packers a lot of flexibility in terms of personnel at receiver.

More specifically, moving Watson around makes it hard to “roll coverage” to him.

“That’s a great asset for (an offense),” LaFleur said.

Packers hopeful OL Sean Rhyan is responding ‘the right way’ to lost rookie season

Packers coach Matt LaFleur is hopeful that Sean Rhyan, a 2022 third-rounder, is responding the “right way” after a lost rookie season.

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Sean Rhyan was on the field for one snap in one game as a rookie and then lost the final six games of 2022 due to a suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substance, but coach Matt LaFleur is hopeful that the third-round pick is ready to rebound to his disappointing first season in the NFL.

If nothing else, Rhyan showed up to training camp in better physical shape in Year 2.

“I think he’s in much better shape than he was a year ago. I think that’s pretty evident,” LaFleur said Thursday. “Hopefully, he can build on that and continue to learn and grow within our offense. It’s going to come down to his ability to go out there and compete and do it on a consistent basis.”

Rhyan, the 92nd overall pick out of UCLA, was the only third-rounder from the 2022 draft to not play a single snap from scimmage in Year 1 and the only third-rounder to play in fewer in four games. The suspension robbed Rhyan of any chance to make an impact late in his rookie season.

For LaFleur, Rhyan’s path forward is all about responding the right way.

“Every year is a new year for all these guys,” LaFleur said. “Hopefully, he learned from that experience. You don’t always learn from your successes. Sometimes you have to fall on your face a little bit. It’s about how you respond to that, but I do think he’s responsded the right way and I’m excited to his approach he’s taken. He’s locked in in the meetings.

The next step will be proving an ability to be consistent on the field. Camp practices and preseason games will be vital to Rhyan carving out a role and ensuring his on the 53-man roster to start 2023, espescially in a deep offensive line group. During the first practice on Wednesday, Rhyan got reps as the second-team left guard.

“Ultimately, he’s got to go do it on the field,” LaFleur said.

Making sure he’s on the field is part of the process. Rhyan told Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com that he removed all supplements from his program and continues to work with the Packers nutrition staff to ensure there’s no repeat suspension.

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Exploring Matt LaFleur’s ‘NFL Coach of the Year’ opportunity in 2023

Why Packers coach Matt LaFleur has such a great opportunity in the NFL Coach of the Year award race in 2023.

Entering the official start of training camp Wednesday, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has the sixth-best odds to be the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2023, per BetMGM. At +1800, LaFleur trails Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Denver’s Sean Payton, Chicago’s Matt Eberflus, Atlanta’s Arthur Smith and New York’s Robert Saleh.

The odds help highlight LaFleur’s opportunity. Despite winning 13 games during each of his first three seasons as the Packers coach, LaFleur never received the Coach of the Year postseason recognition. For most voters, the reason was likely easy to ascertain: LaFleur inherited Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer at the game’s most important position.

Now, obviously, the situation is much different. The Packers are coming off a losing season. Rodgers is in New York. The roster is young. Unlike 2019, there were no big free-agent additions to spark a revival. In 2023, the success and failure of the Green Bay Packers falls so squarely on LaFleur and his ability to maximize what he has in terms of personnel, especially on offense.

His candidacy as a top “Coach of the Year” candidate will be difficult to ignore if the Packers are successful in 2023.

Jordan Love, the Packers’ hand-picked successor at quarterback, is getting his opportunity as a starter. The success or failure of Love will be a direct reflection of both his last three years of development under LaFleur and LaFleur’s ability to manage and help a first-year starting quarterback in his system.

In terms of the roster, the Packers saw many established veterans leave Green Bay during the offseason, including Rodgers, Mason Crosby, Marcedes Lewis, Adrian Amos and Allen Lazard. LaFleur’s team is young at key spots, and he knows it. Maybe Brian Gutekunst added a quality contributor in a free-agent signing like Tarvarius Moore or Jonathan Owens, but there is no addition like Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith to ignite the roster in 2023. This is all to say that LaFleur must find a way to get much more out of a team that is far less experienced than the one that won only eight games in 2022.

Because of the quarterback situation and the state of the roster coming off of last year, few outsiders believe the Packers are contenders in the NFC North. But the division lacks a dominant team and appears wide open, giving the Packers a real opportunity to surprise after finishing third in 2022.

So, what if Love is good and the Packers come alive with a young roster and win the NFC North? Well, it would be nothing short of LaFleur’s best coaching job to date, and he’d become an excellent candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, an award that so often goes to an unexpectedly good team lacking a top quarterback.

LaFleur almost certainly doesn’t care about the award and is singuarly focused on making the 2023 Green Bay Packers the best football team it can be, but this year is an incredible opportunity for him to win NFL Coach of the Year. He’s leading a monumental transition at quarterback. He must maximize a young roster. Expectations are low. Potential is high. Can LaFleur put all the pieces together and open a new contending window for the Packers in Year 1 of the post-Rodgers era? If the answer is yes, he’ll cement himself as one of the league’s top coaches while also giving himself a terrific chance to win an award he probably deserved long before 2023.

What to know from Packers’ pre-training camp press conferences

Everything to know from the Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst press conferences kicking off Packers training camp.

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The Green Bay Packers kicked off training camp with press conferences from coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst on Tuesday. The two answered questions from the assembled media for over 30 minutes.

Here are all the important things to know from the two press conferences on Tuesday:

Coach Matt LaFleur

— LaFleur says Packers are young, especially on offense, and that brings the “unknown” aspect, but the talent of the youth is “exciting.” Every year has unique challenges. “How quickly can we acclimate these young players, and how we come together as a team.”

— Has an awareness of personnel and youth on offense entering training camp.

— Calls playing time for the preseason a “fluid” situation. Thinks there’s a lot of value in having two different joint practice opportunities (vs. Bengals, Patriots).

— On Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes: “Hopeful” both will be back this summer. They put in the work during rehab. “They are doing really well.” Plan all along was to start camp on the PUP list. “Provided there are no setbacks, I would see them eventually coming off (PUP).”

— Excited about players working out with Jordan Love this summer. Mentions benefit of guys getting together outside of the facility.

— Strongly believes in the efficiency of the new football facilities at Lambeau Field. Coaches now on the first floor with players. Better logistically. “It’s by far the best facility I’ve been in at this level.”

— Not concerned about heat during training camp. Will keep players hydrated but wants camp to be hard/uncomfortable. Team can’t control air quality and will adjust accordingly.

— Wants to see Jordan Love get better every day. “Can’t give him enough reps.” More consistent on a daily basis. “He has complete command of our offense. He’s put the work in.”

— Unsure on Love’s playing time during preseason. Says it will be fluid.

— On safety competition: “Would like to see two guys separate themselves.” Likes group overall.

— Says it will be a challenge to get four quarterbacks reps, especially with Love commanding so many. Alex McGough has “attacked” the process the right way early on.

— Wants to see rookie tight ends with the pads on. Getting off the ball in the run game. “They are talented guys, they’ve picked up the offense well.” They’ve got a lot to learn, demanding position.

— On adding another kicker: “We’ll see.”

— Calls the backup quarterback situation a “fluid situation.”

— On offensive line competitions: “We’re always preaching competition.” Says Packers are trying to find the best five.

— Attempting to stay ahead of trends, study teams, add wrinkles. Need plays to play off of other plays. Must keep defense off-balance.

— Feel like a different training camp? “Feels like Year 1.” Says it’s exciting. “We’re going to coach these guys hard.”

GM Brian Gutekunst

— Said he’s “very excited” about current wide receiver group. Looked at veteran market and will continue to assess, but he noted the current receivers are young and need to play and get the reps. “They need to play, they need the reps, so we’re excited about that.”

— Like quarterback Alex McGough. USFL champion. “Big, strong, good looking athlete. Always had a big arm.” Believes he’s progressed as a young player. Opportunity in USFL helped.

— On USFL: Teams have a history on players in the league. Players on betting on themselves, important to keep developing. Nice avenue to look at players before training camp.

— Unsure of Jordan Love’s preseason playing time. Would like to get him the experience but also wants him protected from injury. Goes for all the young players on the roster. It will be a “feel thing” for Matt LaFleur.

— Joint practices provide live look while protecting quarterbacks, more control. Preseason provide the chaotic experiences for players.

— He wants to “see how training camp goes” before deciding on the kicker situation.

— Always looking for “consistency” in young players. Everyone can “flash,” but teams look for consistent players who can make plays down in and down out within the scheme.

— On the NFC North: The whole division is talented. Every year is a new year. Too many unknowns to predict how the division looks overall.

— Competition and depth along offensive is “very important” to Packers. Have a lot of young players coming to camp, adds to “healthy” competition. Calls it a “really deep” group. Had 13 players returning from last year. Helps evaluation phases of training camp and preseason games to have good depth along the offensive line.

— On international player Kenneth Odumegwu: “He’s working his tail off, growing. Accepted by the guys, and I think he’s enjoying himself…he’s done a great job.”

— Complimented the new Lambeau Field facilities. Improves efficiency between coaches, front office and players.

— Said the Packers will be “very cautious” on Rashan Gary’s recovery timeline. Suggests Gary will get a chance to practice during training camp and Week 1 isn’t off the table.

— On Marcedes Lewis: Called it a tough decision but “things can change fast.” Doesn’t rule out bringing back the veteran tight end.

— On rookie class: Seem to be “team-first guys.” Hard workers. Excited to see how the handle adversity, approach opportunities. Likes the makeup of the rookies.

— “We’re counting on a lot of young guys this year.” Says the youth is exciting.

NFC North roundtable: Who will be division’s coach of the year?

Who will be the NFC North’s best coach in 2023? Our writers for the Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings make their picks.

The Chicago Bears are building around Justin Fields, the Detroit Lions are entering the season as betting favorites to win the division, the Green Bay Packers are transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love and the Minnesota Vikings are attempting to repeat as division champs for the first time since 2008-09.

There’s a lot going on in the NFC North this season.

In the latest of a series of posts previewing the division ahead of the 2023 season, Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, Zach Kruse of Packers Wire and Tyler Forness of Vikings Wire answered the question: Who will be the division’s coach of the year?

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