Even as Matt LaFleur put a pretty bow on his third off-season program, he has to be tied in knots over his looming third regular season as Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers.
The organized team activities wrapped up today and LaFleur cut his players loose a couple of hours early after morning meetings. “Kinda wanted to throw ’em a bone”, said LaFleur after the hard work his team put in over the past month.
In 40 days, the squad will reconvene for the start of training camp and all signs point to a camp that will open without the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player. Aaron Rodgers and the organization remain at odds over philosophy and communication issues, so much so, Rodgers has vowed privately to never play for the team again. The Packers have been steadfast about not trading Rodgers. It’s turned into an unsightly game of chicken that has podcasters and the national media eager to offer up opinions and theories on a daily basis.
Where does that leave LaFleur?
With Rodgers blowing off the entire off-season program, in and of itself, not that big a deal considering his experience and stature, it left LaFleur coaching up the collection of participating quarterbacks, Jordan Love, Blake Bortles, Kurt Benkert and Jake Dolegala. Names that probably won’t strike fear in the Purple People Eaters or Monsters of the Midway.
When training camp convenes, will LaFleur have to plan practices both with and without Rodgers? And what was his summer break message for Love? Here’s the answers from his OTA wrap zoom session today.
So what if Rodgers maintains his stance and holds out of camp, subject to a $50,000.00 per day, non-rescindable fine? What if it carries into the regular season when he will have racked up over 2 million in fines? Is he really willing to retire, sit out 2021 through his 38th birthday just to finish his career elsewhere? He might.
That will leave LaFleur to prep the four horesman of Lombardi Avenue starting July 27. Some thoughts on each.
Jordan Love
Trading up to pick the Utah State QB without telling the incumbent starter is just one of the reasons we haven’t seen the starter. After watching Love at every open OTA and mini-camp practice open to the media, it’s clear he has the athleticism required, a fluid delivery, much improved footwork and he got a ton of reps. There’s some accuracy concerns but he also put together a pretty passing display on day two of the mini-camp against veterans. Coaches say he has a strong command of the system and simply needs to execute plays in live action. I’m not sure a handful of padded training camp practices and only three pre-season games will get him ready for the live bullets but LaFleur may not have a choice.
Blake Bortles
If there’s any reservations about Love’s readiness, the ball may be in the hands of the 8 year veteran. The former number one pick needed three seasons to win 11 games but led Jacksonville to a 10-6 record and into the AFC Championship Game in 2017 when working with now the Pack’s offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. At least Bortles has faced plenty of those bullets. In 78 games, he went 24-49 as the starter, throwing for 17,649 yards with 103 touchdown and 75 interceptions. (By the way, in 197 games, Rodgers has tossed 89 picks). I didn’t pay much attention to the Jags while Bortles was there but nearly everyone watching him these past couple of weeks made note of an unusual dip in his throwing motion. The passes do get where they’re supposed to go but it sure takes a long time for him to drop his arm below the shoulder, bring it back up and release the ball. The arm strength is nothing to write home about but he just have to be the transition starter.
Kurt Benkert
To be honest, he might have been my favorite QB to watch. Not just because his locks pour out the back of his helmet, the sturdy, former Virginia Cavalier has maybe the strongest arm of the bunch. He spent 2019 on the Falcons injured reserve list and the practice squad last year, active for one game. That is one more than Love as you know. He came to Green Bay for a tryout during rookie orientation week and landed a contract. That says something. Even LaFleur admitted today, they just might have something to develop but Benkert is a pile of clay right now that needs a lot more molding.
Jake Dolegala
Easily the tallest of the QB’s he towers over the others. From Central Connecticut to the Cincinnati Bengals for a year as the inactive number three and last season with New England, Dolegala hasn’t hit the field in a regular season game yet, but then again, neither has Love. To keep from having assistant coaches toss balls in position group drills, Dolegala was brought to the OTA’s as an extra arm but like Benkert, wound up signing a free agent contract. If number 18 takes the first snap against the New Orleans Saints on September 12….I’ll let you finish the sentence.
The Rodgers drama will continue to play out and no matter how it ends, there will be football and that’s something to look forward to. T-minus 40 days, enjoy the break.
