Packers: What they can learn from final four playoff teams
By Jesse Fry
The Green Bay Packers can learn something from each team playing in the NFL’s Championship Weekend.
The NFL is a copycat league, do something new and innovative and there are sure to be 31 other teams now incorporating your concepts.
The Green Bay Packers‘ new coach Matt LaFleur will be no different.
The Packers are already acting in this manner by simply hiring LaFleur. He was on the NFL’s hot-shot new head coach Sean McVay’s coaching staff. As the offensive coordinator for the Rams in McVay’s first year as head man, LaFleur had a front-row seat to what has become the new offensive craze in football.
The Packers are not alone, as the Cardinals, Browns and possibly the Bengals have all made hires that have a similar feel as the McVay hire. That is a young, offensive-minded coach with a new and innovative way.
The imitation does not stop with hires, in fact it increases on the field. If you’re not trying to steal a concept or two you’re not trying hard enough to win. In every aspect of the NFL, someone is copying what someone else did.
LaFleur is certain to incorporate many of the same concepts he learned along his journey. As an associate of the Shanahan family as well as McVay, the Packers offense could look like a mix and match of their concepts. But what are some other things LaFleur can learn and bring to the Packers?
He need only look to the final four teams playing this weekend to find ideas.
From the Patriots
Have faith in veterans not drafted by this team.
Previous GM Ted Thompson did not give the team a lot of veteran help. So far, Brian Gutekunst hasn’t shown the same disdain to free agency. But one thing the Packers have not done is take a chance on a veteran player with some concerns. The Patriots and Bill Belichick have made a living taking risks on certain players.
Players like Corey Dillon, Josh Gordon and Randy Moss were all guys that had character concerns the Patriots were able to turn around and get production from.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Wes Welker and Chris Hogan were players that were mis/underused by their previous teams, and the Patriots found roles for them and they have thrived.
The list goes on and on. If the Packers can start using mid-level free agents to supplement the misses in the draft, the team can close the gap on the Bears in a hurry. Not since the Packers brought in Koren Robinson have they taken a chance on a player with risk. It’s time to change that.