The Green Bay Packers head into this offseason with reasons for optimism and areas they need to improve upon. The Packers were the youngest team in the NFL for the second consecutive season in 2024. Therefore, it should not be surprising that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed the need for more leadership both from Jordan Love and the team overall heading into the offseason.
Leadership An Issue for the Packers Heading into the Offseason: 2024
One of the team’s biggest disappointments in 2024 was their failure to rise to the occasion in big games. The Packers lacked a signature win against a quality opponent. In games against the elite teams in the NFC, they were 0-6 (including the playoffs). That includes two losses each against the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles.
All of the games were close. The biggest deficit during the regular season was 10 points, the playoff loss was 12 points. The rest of the team’s losses were one possession games.
However, in nearly every loss, the Packers got off to slow starts and didn’t seem ready or prepared. In the first Vikings game, the Packers trailed 28-7 at halftime but came back to lose 31-29.
In the first meeting against Detroit, the Pack trailed 17-3 at the half.
During the playoff game against the Eagles, the Packers turned the ball over on the opening kickoff and trailed 7-0 just a few plays later. They never took the lead.
And while the defense played well overall this season, the team failed to make vital stops late in games when it would have given the team one more chance to win the game if they got the ball back.
This pattern, coming up small in big games and clutch situations, shows that this team hasn’t learned to win important games against top opponents yet. More leadership is needed.
What Was Said
When the Packers cleaned out their lockers earlier this week, there were some quotes that further reiterated the need for more leadership.
LaFleur discussed the development of Love and had this to say. “The next step is just to continue to evolve as a vocal leader. I think that just comes with the position naturally, and I think he’s taken steps to get there,” he said. “But I think he can really demand a lot, because the locker room respects him. And they respect him not only as a person, but by the work he puts in. He’s a grinder.”
That is something LaFleur feels Love can definitely do, but it’s part of his development as a quarterback and a leader.
Tight end Tucker Kraft also expressed the need for more leadership on this team and a desire to provide more of it. “As a team, we just need to wake up,” Kraft said Monday as the team cleaned out their lockers. “Everyone talks about how we are not just OK making the playoffs, but we have yet to walk the walk. Going forward, I’m going to embrace everything that I have put into this game and take on a little bit more of a leadership role and get people on the same wavelength that I’m on. I feel like I have a lot to offer in that aspect.”
Leadership An Issue for the Packers Heading into the Offseason: Looking Forward
GM Brian Gutekunst may want to bring in a few carefully chosen veterans to add leadership to this unit young team. Some of the veterans that were on the roster like Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary did not play up to expectations this season. It is difficult to lead when you’re not playing at a high level.
In the past, players like Marcedes Lewis and Preston Smith provided veteran leadership for the Packers. Now, they may need to add a few guys who have been through the wars and can help a team prepare mentally and physically for important games. Obviously, these players need to contribute on the field, but the respect they can command in the locker room would be a good addition to this young team.
We will see if Gutekunst addresses this directly during the offseason. But it’s something he should strongly consider.
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