After another loss on Monday Night Football, Green Bay Packers fans took to the internet to voice their frustrations about losing back-to-back games at home. While there is plenty of criticism to go around, one person became the target more than anyone else: head coach Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur's role as playcaller has come into question over the past few weeks, as Green Bay's offense has struggled to finish off drives, especially in the last two games. Even former players, such as Kurt Benkert, are weighing in, calling for LaFleur to relinquish the playcalling duties, believing that he has become predictable and stagnant.
There is some legitimacy to these critiques. Josh Jacobs told the media after the loss to Philadelphia that the Eagles' defense called out the 4th-and-1 run that he fumbled. Armchair quarterbacks have also pointed out that the scheme has seemingly kept Jordan Love on a short leash, with a heavy dose of run plays and wide receiver screen plays.
These sentiments have been granted legs due to new Packers president Ed Policy showing hesitancy to extend LaFleur beyond the end of his current deal. Even the Green Bay media has now asked LaFleur if he believes he is coaching for his job.
However, the Packers are very noticeably struggling up front on the offensive line. The line is the foundation of any football team and establishes both the pass and the run game. Watching the game with that in mind, it is clear to see that there is someone else who should be on the hot seat: Brian Gutekunst.
Brian Gutekunst should shoulder blame for Packers' offensive woes
This may go without saying, but this isn't necessarily a call for Gutekunst to be fired. Rather, it is a call for fans to take a broader look at the issue. Let's break this down a bit further.
Take the 4th-and-1 play that the Eagles stopped by getting to Josh Jacobs in the backfield. Yes, Philadelphia expected the play. However, the Pro Bowl back had very little opportunity at success due to the offensive line getting obliterated.
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Jacobs barely has the ball before finding one of his offensive linemen in his lap. To LaFleur's credit here, the concept is there. The Eagles' defense was defending the pass, given the game situation, and by running up to the line in no-huddle, they were unable to get a sub package into the game.
A zone-run scheme like Green Bay's can make up for a depleted offensive line, as it goes towards an area, not a single assignment, and allows the back to find the hole instead of a designed spot where the runner has to go.
Another critique from the game was the Packers' offense staying on the field on 4th-and-9 instead of kicking a long field goal. At several key junctions of the game, Love had passes fall incomplete due to drops, most notably a drop by wide receiver-turned-cornerback-turned-wide receiver again Bo Melton. Green Bay also had a pair of big plays wiped out by illegal formations.
So, how is this the fault of Brian Gutekunst?
The Packers have a depth problem on the offensive line and at receiver. Up front, after Elgton Jenkins went down with an injury, Green Bay turned to Sean Rhyan at center, with Jordan Morgan and Aaron Banks at guard, and Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom at tackle. The problem? Of the Packers' current front five, two guys, Morgan and Rhyan, are playing out of position, while Tom and Banks have been battling injury all season.
Combine that with the depth at receiver, with Romeo Doubs now battling injury, the Packers' receiver group is made up of Christian Watson, who was playing in his third game back from a torn ACL, Dontayvion Wicks, who also just returned from injury, the aforementioned Bo Melton, rookie Savion Williams, and Malik Heath, who has incredibly limited playing time as well, and struggled with consistency.
Facing these types of situations would make even the great Vince Lombardi struggle. Next man up only goes so far. The Packers took a risk when they let Josh Myers walk in free agency and signed Banks to a massive deal with the intention of moving Jenkins to center. By no stretch of the imagination was Myers an all-time great, but he worked within the offense and kept Jenkins at guard, his best position.
Gutekunst has made a lot of good moves in his tenure. Drafting Jordan Love, signing Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, and trading for Micah Parsons certainly warrants plenty of praise. To the contrary, he has struggled with identifying immediate impact players in the draft, instead choosing numerous projects in the first round.
A few have hit, most notably Rashan Gary and Love. Others have been solid: Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker come to mind. But others, like Eric Stokes, Jordan Morgan, and Lukas Van Ness, haven't found the same success.
As great and exciting as the Parsons trade has been, the move certainly comes with a small degree of regret. Would the Packers be able to draft someone in the next two first rounds that would make the type of impact that Parsons will make in his time in Green Bay? Probably not.
The Packers are run well enough to make the playoffs on a yearly basis and would be picking in the mid-20s, at the earliest. But by doing so, they are now limited to adding immediate-impact caliber players without giving up more assets.
This is a bed that Gutekunst has made, and he must now sleep in it. LaFleur can only operate with the players he is given. While Policy hasn't committed to LaFleur beyond next season, he hasn't committed to Gutekunst either.
For years, fans have proclaimed "In Gute We Trust," but that mantra may be on borrowed time.