Packers guard reveals how much Matt LaFleur is grasping at straws to fix offense
Aaron Rodgers is gone, and the Green Bay Packers lack an offensive identity.
The Packers can't run the football, ranking 27th in the NFL for rushing yards per game. They can't consistently throw it, either, completing a league-worst 55.6 percent of passes.
Some blame falls on play-calling. A lot is on execution. Whether it's poor blocking from the offensive line, inaccurate throws from Jordan Love, or mistakes from the receivers, the offense entered the bye week a complete mess.
Head coach Matt LaFleur needs to figure out a plan. He's had two weeks to evaluate the offense in detail, learning from what hasn't worked and what has. Before the bye, LaFleur said he would spend time studying other teams.
"I'm going to study some things around the league and see what I can steal," said LaFleur, per Jason B. Hirschhorn of The Leap.
Right guard Jon Runyan Jr. may have hinted at a potential change.
Jon Runyan reveals Packers plan to take page out of Dolphins playbook
The Packers could make some changes after the bye. Runyan spoke about the offense's identity and how we could see similarities to the Miami Dolphins' offense moving forward.
"I think we're slowly developing and finding our identity," said Runyan. "This year, we've got a really young squad. A lot of playmakers. Kind of a different offense, too. Get the ball out in space and see what those young kids can do with it. And that's exciting, that's kind of where football is going to now. Looking at Miami, their offense, I feel like our offense can and will have shades of that going forward."
Well, it would be a good week to turn into the Dolphins. Denver's defense allowed 70 points to Miami earlier this season.
The Dolphins win with speed. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, and Devon Achane are among the fastest players at their positions in the NFL.
The Packers, too, have plenty of speed. Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave can fly past defenders. Rookie Dontayvion Wicks isn't as fast as the others, but he has displayed elite separation ability this season.
However, it's easy to say: "Oh, we'll just be more like the Dolphins." It's another to actually execute it.
Every team in the NFL is striving for that. Miami is averaging a league-high 498.7 yards and 37.2 points per game. The next closest team in offensive yards is the Philadelphia Eagles at 395.0.
The Packers don't have a wide receiver as good as Hill or Waddle. Jordan Love isn't playing at a level anywhere near Tua Tagovailoa, who has thrown for 1,876 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions this season.
Naturally, there will be some similarities between the two schemes. LaFleur and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel worked under Kyle Shanahan together in Atlanta, and McDaniel was Shanahan's offensive coordinator in 2021.
But the Packers need to find their own identity. Green Bay started the season strong, but as defenses have adjusted, the Packers have offered very little offensively. They need to figure things out quickly.
We'll see whether the Packers take a page out of the Dolphins' playbook after the bye.