Well said, Ken, Amen!!!

Wow! An insightful, realistic analysis rather than the usual rah-rah crap we tend to get this time of year. Kudos to the writer!

Nice synopsis, Ken. Always enjoy your articles.

I would also add a 4th individual and it goes without saying: Ed Policy and his "policies" running the team.

Will he promote Gutey or someone else to finally run the football operation as a GM in the mold of Wolf and Ted? Or will he maintain the management by committee structure where he makes all the important decisions on the football side?

Will he be heard from often regarding day to day operations or be the strong, silent Administrative minded President like Bob Harlan, supporting and empowering behind the scenes while building the Team's balance sheet?

So far, Ed seems content staying out of the limelight.

" This will be the year we find out. This year will answer a lot of questions. "

I THINK NOT.

Barring catastrophic injuries, the Packers should win close to the 9.5 games they are projected to win by most gambling services.

GB has a number of good players or at least players who show promise of being good. There are not many glaring holes on the roster. However, there are also not many position groups or individual players who appear to be elite.

At QB, Jordan Love looks destined to be at least a top 10-12 QB as long as his health holds up and his receivers don't fail him. There are also currently 9 QBs with better odds of winning the MVP than our #10.

No reason to think Green Bay will not field an above average defense with potential future head coach Hafley leading the group. That said, the edge and CB rooms, the two most important positions on most NFL defenses, are not exactly the envy of the league.

In 2025, the Packers will undoubtedly once again be one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in the NFL, MLF will likely continue to win more games than he loses as head coach, and Gutey will ensure the roster remains young and and competitive.

However, virtually no one not wearing the green and gold glasses projects the Packers to play in next February's Super Bowl.

The 2025 Packers remain a step below the serious contenders to take home the Lombardi Trophy.

In short, I suspect that at the end of the 2025 season we will FIND OUT that the Packers will look pretty much like they have looked every season since 2011.

Great analysis. It's all laid out for the Packers this year. Two playoff appearances in the last to years with the youngest team in the league can't be dismissed. They're young but experienced. The next step is the most important step, into SB contention. To do that they need to beat the good teams in the league and they will get that opportunity. I think we're all pumped for this year. We're ready for a special run with this team. Accolades will follow. GPG!

The next best steps for MLF are getting the team ready to play at the beginning of the season, assignment sure and penalty free. The last two should be heavy on the professional players shoulders too.

If these things happen, Jordan Love should only have to be a game manager not the "HERO" many complained about the last QB. The line should be better to aid an already productive run game and there's no way the receivers can drop as many passes as they did last season at crucial times.

Special teams are at least starting in a better place than the last couple of questionable seasons.

Last season we just had hope of an improved defense. This season we KNOW it will be at least adequate if not dominating even without great confidence in the CB room. The safety room, LBs and line will make them better.

After 2022, the writing was on the wall and there were a lot of pieces that were sent packing. The rebuilding of the nucleus started then. There are only 15 players of the almost 90 in camp that suited up with 12....and some won't make it to the 53 (either by trade, injury, or cut). That's tremendous turnover in two seasons.

Gute and MLF should be on the 'hot-seat' and perhaps GB needs to experience another disappointing showing in their division or flame out early in the play-offs before GB wakes up and shakes up.

If Love was a free agent tomorrow, the majority of teams would go a bit crazy to obtain him. Superior teams surround their QB with supporting casts and Love would shine. GB is late to the game in that respect: he should always have had authentic WR#1& 2, an elite LT & a top-tier play-caller.

It would be a win for Love if GB let him go.

Love is already taking heat for not over-coming the weaknesses of in-game management skills (MLF problem), the WR's (Golden is a rookie and the others inconsistent), the D-L (same horses-new coach?-risky), thin CB room, etc.

I can't disagree with a single point Ken made, and the indented paragraphs brought me old-school reading comfort. Let there be answers!

At some point a team has to become truly good or the cycle begins over again. This is true of both the roster and coaching. Players have to develop, enough picks have to hit and the coach needs to get them to out perform themselves when it matters.

We now may be young but key pieces are aging quietly while questions remain about how good others really are and the end of first contracts is approaching for a number. Arguably 2 of the 3 best players are currently expensive FAs (Jacobs and McKinney). Tom is the homegrown example. Kraft so far is the sole home grown player on the cusp (let’s hope Golden soon joins him). Love sits on the cusp too.

At some point a roster needs to move from promising to genuinely threatening. At some point a coach has to not just win in games we are expected to and when it matters. Yes we’ve been blessed with winning records, but for at least 2/3 of that time we have had both a hall of fame lock as a corner and a joke of a division.

Last year we were lucky to win a game in our division and arguably were tactically whipped even in the one we did. Divisional opponents know us, our roster and our coaches better than anyone. Last year they out-thought us and outplayed us. If that is repeated not only does mediocrity beckon, but LaFleur will have little to hide behind.

This regime is 7 years in. It’s at a point where it has to start showing more. We have to see players developing not plateauing and we have to see some breaking out. We also have to accept that we may not have Hafley for long if his D takes a jump, whether directly or through more astute coaching hires—Covington’s success or otherwise will go a long way to that of the D this year. Good coaches have windows too. Particularly ones that make good hires.

If the season is just mediocre and ends similarly to the last one, I think Mr. Policy will have to look hard at whether his pilots have the ability to bring the team to the destination we should all desire.

So I agree with Ken, there’s a very good chance this is a pivotal season for the current off field regime. It’s time for LaFleur to step up and deliver. It’s time a few more of Gute’s draft choices stand out. The two are not entirely independent, of course.

We will be fine.

"Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”

On that note,
P.Burp

No one is on the hot seat in Green Bay nor should they be. They would have to lose 10 games for anyone to be worried about their position and even than they would probably get another year. If they year ends with a whimper the seats might warm up next year but this core is set up for at least a 2 year run. Love is paid and not going anywhere until after 2026. You don't fire coaches who have produced playoff seasons and have a young squad that looks to be improving. Barring a 3-14 season the group will be back in 2026 to make another run at it.

When the leadership of a franchise changes, the person in charge usually wants to bring in someone to run the show. Gutey and MLF are on the clock. This season will define our teams long term future. I’m rooting hard for our staff, Go Pack Go!!!

With our kickers in place (please keep them healthy) I think our ST's rating will be massively better this year. The start of the season last year included some losses that were directly tied to poor kicking. I'm bullish on our defense under Hafley and love all the shiny new draft toys. As I do most years, I just try to enjoy the games for what they are (sports games) and just enjoy the wins when they come. "Are you not entertained?" If I can answer that I am that's all I can ask for as a fan. GPG!

WITH ALL THE MONEY GOING TO THE OL.
THE DEPTH OF OFFENSIVE WEAPONS.

JORDAN LOVE WILL BE THE ONLY
ONE; - TO BE OR NOT TO BE!
.

Very good article.

Gute: I am pretty high on Gute with his drafting and FA signings. There have been a few draftees that have been questionable such as Myers at Center and taking the tackle out of AZ in the 24 draft. I really wanted Cooper DeJean out of Iowa.

LaFleur: I think LAF needs to work on his coaching decisions and in game adjustments to be successful. I am sure he is spending a lot of time thinking about improving the team but he also needs to look at himself as well. Do a better job of challenging plays in game. Make better in game adjustments and just do not get outcoached by other teams. I have to wonder if that is even possible.

Love: He is the key player to get us over the top. Yes, we need other players to step up but he is the key guy for us. If he plays well, we will succeed.

Ken most of your points are somewhat relevant. But lets be on the positive and not the negative side of things. For example - how many teams have made the playoffs after moving on from a potential HOF QB - not too many.
Secondly - I attribute most of those bad time-outs to Rodgers - who trained Love - time to get that fixed yes. How about those bad challenges - who is in the replay booth. Fix that for sure.

It is easy to point out all the faults of the organization - but having gone through some of the other bad stretches ( and maybe I am aging myself) I am actually happy with the team and its management ( although they let themselves be held hostage by AR in his later years) .

This is going to be a tough year - Lions are still strong ( but will have their own challenges since their staff has been poached) and the Bears will be improved.

Each and every year when you are near the top of the pack you have to face the top other teams due to where you finished - and what other division is on tap. And the home schedule is the toughest in a long time. Go Pack

This will chiefly be an observe - learn - assess year for Ed Policy. There is no good reason for him to rush-in and upset the current zeitgeist. Nor needlessly stamp his signature on Murphy's work. I'm sure that the Board is also not clamoring for any large changes - as the Packers are well-positionned to have a very successful year.

It is highly likely that Policy has already had "comfort" talks with Gutekunst and LaFleur. This is the usual practice during management transitions. If so - then I doubt that Gutekunst and LaFleur are losing any sleep over their job security. The same with Love.

Spot on.

I think Love will be better, which obviously bodes well for the entire organization.

Whatever happens this season, I hope it's an easy decision for Policy. If the Packers have a winning record in the division, earn a higher playoff seed, and do some damage in the playoffs, then an extension is in play for Gute and MLF. If we miss the playoffs, it shouldn't be.

But what happens if we have a similar record to last season, just squeak into the playoffs, and are bounced quickly? That doesn't seem like progress to me--more like spinning your wheels.

Many people believe Gute has done a great job rebuilding this team from the Rodgers era. It's true he has done many fine things and has not shied away from signing notable free agents, but...oh, the peculiar methodology and so-so results with those premium draft picks (which includes the third round, also). That's the best chance of finding your stars and impact players: rounds 1-3; and if you're not hitting on them with more frequency, it's tough to climb the playoff ladder, even if you are quite adapt at drafting in the later rounds and finding quality UDFAs.

So I agree: this is a pivotal year for the organization. I hope we pass with flying colors, but if not, everything from top to bottom will have to be examined closely. Just being competitive isn't the standard in Green Bay, and no one should settle for that.

Bad take: there were never any excuses handed out like candy. For *what*. Not every draft pick magically turns into a Clay Matthews; 99.9% of rostered players in this league are solid or just ok. Not every walleye you catch is a keeper. That said, Gute continually comes up with your 7th-round starters (e.g., Rasheed Walker, tauscher, driver, tom) and solid UDFA guys like Stackhouse. You'd prefer only rostering 1st & 2nd round draft picks maybe? You can't really complain that Gute's not out on the field or not finding guys. For every LVN, he's got a Cox; for every Kalen King he's got a Micah Robinson (see Nags' camp kudos). Can't say Gute's not out looking for guys or not finding guys. YOU take some other team's player personnel office. I'll keep the Packers'.

Correct, LaFleur's teams weren't brutal or dominating or on-point enough to win in the playoffs. Either you do or you don't-- and the only option is to do it again the next year. Somehow saddling LaFleur with McCarthy's epic postseason collapses [& Favres! my god] doesn't sit right. You've got a better horse to ride into the playoffs? There isn't one. SO FAR is the only required take on Jordan Love (after season 1), no excuses necessary. Who would need excuses? We've all seen a football game before. It's not your first one. Is it?
Overall, it's true: last year the Packers were erratic, out-of-sync and didn't play up to our [high-level] capabilities. That's not scapegoatable so much as recognizable growing pains obvious to any fan. IF what LaFleur shows you makes good-&-mad, then where were ya during McCarthy's long string of postseason total collapses or when Favre terminated every postseason run with multiple interceptions for years on end? AWOL maybe.

So the mindset is not credible. This is the Year we 'find out'? Come ON. We 'Find Out' exactly who Gutekunst, LaFleur and Love are EVERY YEAR and in real time. We *already* know who they are. And all three have performed at an extremely/relatively [YMMV] high level relative to the NFL-industry standard, using the Packer Way-- And the proof is in the insight that all 3 have been able to make the Packers legit contenders. SETTING THEM UP to call it a failure is a failure of perspective on the fan's part. Here the thing ::: Gute put Matt who put Jordan in a position to succeed. NFL fans can't ask for more, given the Jerry Jones Dan Snyder bs americans have to deal with for no good reason. As per usual, the Packer Way has us looking like we could compete to take it all. THAT's the victory on the Admin side at 1265. But the reality is this is the NFL, and other rosters of very large angry well-paid men feel the same way; so chances are the Packers fall short like 31 other teams do every year. We have the ingredients to win & bring home the Lombardi Trophy. It looks good. Not winning it all will NEVER mean 'drrr, today I found out who Gute & LeFleur REALLY are'. Like they're somehow hapless charlie brown chumps b/c Love's numbers were off 3 completions or we get beat by a superior team. Building a gallows while the work is still stellar and before the season kicks off doesn't speak well of the perspective or logic operating here. What exactly do you WANT? Would Gute bringing in a *3rd* stellar quarterback satisfy you? Would Gute bringing in a *5th and 6th* running back be enough, even though we've got 4 already, to satisfy you? What's that? he did? Would Gute bringing in a *9th and 10th* Justin Jefferson-level wide receiver satisfy you? No? Golden @ #1 not enough for ya? Then what're Sam Brown, Julian Hicks and Cornelius Johnson doing here looking so good? Win or lose, in 2026 these same three guys will be putting together another 'looks great' roster of full of legit prospects leading into next season. 'We've got the guys & tools' [aka gute & matt did their jobs & you can SEE it], 'so I'm gonna look super-close to indict these failures at the slightest mis-sstep' is not really a satisfactory fan-related standpoint. There are rewarding fan perspectives that you can enjoy. Sit back and watch the seriously competitive in-conference play this upcoming season; that's the good part, not some dumb list of numbers or awards. Turning it off when stats and mvps are supposed to be talk-worthy, no one gave a rat's ass what favre's numbers were *as long as* none of those numbers were the multiple interceptions terminating the final playoff game of that year's postseason run.

The pretense that Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst are on thin ice has no basis in reality whatsoever. They'll all three be back to do it again this time next year. The only reason you have the option to assert 'now we'll find out' is because Jordan, Matt and Brian put Packers Fans in this position, where legitimate hope is based on the positive reality that those three have built, visibly, already. The premise that Gute *following orders* by drafting a WR 1st round (etc.etc.) somehow puts Gute's/Matt's/Jordan's back against the wall b/c they're markedly improving the team is just so much bvllshit. Does everybody need to get better? How is that news. The outlook is positive by any standard measure. Asserting these guys are at the end of their run b/c a small faction of fans are at the end of their rope doesn't involve editorial or football judgment. Yes they do have to tighten up and get back on track executionwise, so what: *these* are the guys to do it and no one should think otherwise.

Excellent article Ken. You have pointed out many of the concerns/issues with the current roster and some issues such as Gute's drafting and MLF's coaching that have existed for several seasons.

As for Love, assuming he remains healthy, this is the season he needs to show us more of his upside if in fact he has more upside. We need to see him develop as an NFL QB. He does not necessarily need to be elite but he at least needs to demonstrate that his decision making, accuracy and leadership are moving forward to the point where he can lead the team to overcome adversity during a game and throughout a season.

Bottom line this is season 8 for Gute and season 7 for MLF. The systemic issues we have seen from the Packers over the last 6 seasons need to be mitigated if not disappear completely. Love needs to take a step up towards the next level. We'll see. GPG! Thanks, Since '61

Pack will be 13-4.

At the risk of over simplifying things, if Love can replicate, or come close to, the success he had during the 2nd half of '23...with the current roster we have...I think everything else takes care of itself. As I've said numerous times, 2025 is when we finally find out what we have in Jordan Love. I'm cautiously optimistic.

This is not something I can agree with.

"" The season ended with two sluggish losses to the Vikings and the lowly Bears, and then a beatdown in the playoffs at Philadelphia""

See, I see it as a bad loss to Minnesota, a game that made no difference to our playoff seeding against Chicago where we rested a bunch of starters, and a tough effort on the road against the eventual Champs without a number of our key guys on offense. I wouldn't call that a beatdown. I'd call it an unfortunate opening kickoff return and some bad officiating and we started the game down 0-7, then had a slugfest the rest of the way. It would have helped to have had Jenkins, Reed, Watson, and Doubs on the field, but we weren't that lucky.

This insinuation that we folded or disintegrated towards the end is wrong. That was a damn good effort against Philadelphia but we just didn't have enough firepower on offense with all the injuries.

To the rest of your point, it's absolutely time. I mean, the day that Gutekunst interviewed for the job, the question was "What's the Plan? And Gutekunst said something like "We'll squeeze every drop we can out of Rodgers for a couple of years, and we'll draft his replacement, and we'll develop him, and when he's ready, we'll have a good team around him. We'll have a good offensive line, a solid run game, and if we've done the other stuff right, this offense should roll".

So yeah, if we go out there and score 10 in a playoff loss again, that'll be really disappointing. Not nearly as disappointing as missing the playoffs, but still, disappointing. I think this season IS a culmination of the Original Plan, with Gutekunst, LaFleur, and Love as the guys with their bacon on the line. Policy, of course, is immune but has power to act. If we win, everybody's happy,but if we don't, changes could happen.

Solid if scary analysis. Muchísimas gracias.

Hi Ken, Thank You for the column ... unfortunately I am not going to jump on the (oh thank you Ken train) like alot of the many CH posters did and heres why. When you say this is the year we find out this, and this is the year we find out that, well guess what you can say that about every year! More importantly is did the GM like in any other professional sport PUT THE TEAM IN POSITION TO WIN ... and the answer for the Packers would be yes...

We have the horses to go far into the playoffs, but the man who holds the reins doesn't have a great playoff history. He's a nice guy, but the playoffs have brutally exposed his weaknesses which have been written on this website ad nauseum. This is a make or break year for MLF. He won't go 1-7 again in the North, but he better get a playoff win or he should be out. He has needs to mirror the success of his defensive coordinator and give us a top offense that doesn't sputter at key times and a ST that doesn't lose ballgames.

Good article, Ken.

The one factor I see people overlooking or oversimplifying is Jordan Love’s growth. In his first year as a starter he obviously struggled for many games but was growing as a QB. The second half of his first year not only showed how much and how fast he grew but also revealed a glimpse of his potential ceiling. Last year no one seems to discuss his growth as a second-year starter. Instead the focus is on his below-ceiling performance while injured. By contrast, I view last year through the lens of his growth. And he did. He gained invaluable experience playing injured and with his receivers having drops. This is his third year as a starter. Very few QBs currently in the NFL have come close to Jordan’s ceiling over a nine-game stretch. The only ones who have have played longer. No guarantees obviously but I think Jordan’s being seriously underrated by most.