How HC Matt LaFleur’s offensive innovation will reinvent and rejuvenate Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy’s inability to adapt to the modern day NFL in essence was the determining factor that cost him his job as head coach. Think about it, who would be more expendable from an organizational standpoint? A QB who just got a 4-year, multi-million dollar extension, or a head coach whose tenure had run its course a long time ago? The answer is and always will be the latter. It goes as far back as the 2014 NFC Championship game.
 

Conservative play calling as well as stale offensive plays made Green Bay very predictable and in some aspects, unwatchable as a fan because you knew what was coming next. There was no innovation, no creativity.

In 2017, Matt LaFleur worked as an understudy to Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay.  In 2016 he was the quarterbacks coach with the Atlanta Falcons; a season in which Matt Ryan won the MVP.  He started out in 2013 with the Washington Redskins and QB Robert Griffin III.

This should end up laying the groundwork for LaFleur as it relates to his on field dynamic/relationship with his new team and quarterback.  Aaron Rodgers recently spoke about the new regime in Green Bay during an interview on the Wilde & Tausche show via ESPN Milwaukee radio: “There’s going to be no excuses this year, there’s no grace period.” “We both know who the boss is, and it’s him, but it works best when it’s a partnership.” “I think it’s going to be a fun process,” Rodgers said. “He’s a super energetic guy. A real straight-shooter and honest guy…I am excited about working with him.”

Time will tell how much of an effect LaFleur will have on Rodgers and vice-versa but it seems to be going well thus far. LaFleur’s offensive scheme with Tennessee was a West-Coast style mixing both the run (zone-running scheme) and the pass. I’d say he utilized a 60/40 run-pass ratio. This should bode well for both Rodgers and the team as a whole due to using the run to soften up the defense in order to open up the passing game later on.

Rodgers is lethal via play-action and that’s one of the best factors of Lafleur’s offensive scheme used in Tennessee. While I don’t think we’ll see the entire Titans playbook offensively used in Green Bay, I believe LaFleur will at least implement some form of it in certain offensive sets. Rodgers recently spoke about it at the team’s media availability Wednesday: “I find myself studying more on the iPad than I have in the offseason….This year it’s obviously a new system, new set of formations, new concepts and code words. We kept a few things from the old offense as well.” “This isn’t like other transitions where you kind of get a pass for the first year or two as you get acclimated to the system.” It’s pretty clear from Rodgers that he expects the team to still compete for championships under LaFleur.

Speaking of contending for championships, a near decade and a half run with multiple playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title is quite the feat for a rookie head coach to try to match; let alone succeed at. Yes, people will always look at his resume with the Titans as the OC (23rd (‘17) & 25th (‘18) in total offense, 19th (‘17) & 27th (‘18) in PPG, & 23rd (‘17) & 29th (‘18) in passing offense), there’s just one problem: he had Marcus Mariota to work with at QB, not Aaron Rodgers. Mariota himself is no slouch but he pales in comparison to Rodgers. New and innovative play calls will only make Rodgers’ game better all around at quarterback. This will also give Rodgers some fuel for his fire as a player — and that is definitely not a good thing for defenses around the league.

Rodgers now has a chip on his shoulder — to prove that he is still an elite quarterback that can lead his team to a championship. I fully expect a new, more motivated Aaron Rodgers now especially with the recent bashing of him from certain former players.

New head coach Matt LaFleur had his first team meeting Monday morning. “It was an honor to stand in front of this great group of men today for the first time. We are excited to get to work”.

The road to Super Bowl 54 starts Thursday, September 5th at Soldier Field in prime time. The Rodgers/LaFleur era in Green Bay will be put to the test week 1, it’s going to be the determining factor as to whether or not Green Bay as a team in 2019 and beyond are contenders or pretenders. Along with plenty of others, I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.

#ParkerMoes @ParkerMoes  #DHPF @DieHardPackrFan