Relationship goals: Packers’ Rodgers, LaFleur in sync
Veteran QB, 2nd-year coach have NFC North champs on roll
All the concern about how well Packers coachMatt LaFleur would work with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers have disappeared near the end of their second season together.
LaFleur, whocametoGreenBay afterone unremarkable season as the Titans offensive coordinator, has teamed with Rodgers to make the Packers one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses.
“We’ve had a great time together,” Rodgers said. “We’ve been laughing all the way to the NFC championship (game) last year and back in the playoffs this year about any question about ourworking relationship. It’s been a lot of funworking together.”
The 41-year-old LaFleur has emerged as one of the league’s bright young coaches as he prepares to face his former boss Sunday night when the NFC North champion Packers (11-3) host the Titans in a matchup between two of the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. MikeVrabel has the Titans (10-4) on the verge of a second straight playoffberth.
LaFleurowns a24-6recordwiththePackers and is one of only six coaches in NFL history to win at least 24 of their first 30 games. He’scomea longway since that 2018 season with the Titans, when they ranked 25th in yards per game and 27th in points pergamewhile going9-7andfailing to reach the playoffs.
Yet LaFleur says he learned plenty from that year working with Vrabel, who held everyone accountable, from his coaches to every player on the roster.
“He was really direct in his communication, laid out the expectations,” LaFleur said. “(They) were crystal clear for everybody.
You knew where you stood and what your responsibilities were and what the expectations were. I thought he did an outstanding job with that. It’s something I’ve tried to carry over, aswell.”
Last season, the Packers went 13-3 and won plenty of close games by leaning heavily on its defense.
When the Packers struggled to score last season, it led to questions on how long it might take for Rodgers to get comfortable with LaFleur’soffense. Themove fromMike McCarthy to LaFleur after the 2018 season was thePackers’ firstheadcoachingchange sinceRodgers took over as starting quarterback in 2008.
WhenthePackers tradedupfour spots to draftUtahState quarterbackJordanLove in the first round in April, speculation intensified about Rodgers’ long-term future in GreenBay.
Rodgers and LaFleur have responded by helping the Packers (11-3) boast one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses. They jumponteams earlyby scoring 31 points per game, up from23.5 last season.
And Rodgers has produced one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame-caliber career by throwing 40 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.
LaFleur has praised Rodgers throughout the season and called him the MVP front-runner lastweek. Rodgers has complimented LaFleur’s play-calling while noting how the team’s offseason Zoom sessions helped them build chemistry. Rodgers also credited LaFleur for assembling a quality group of assistant coaches.
“He’s got a great group of teachers, and I enjoy the working relationship, enjoy the friendship, enjoy the communication,” Rodgers said.“We’ve had a good run so far.”
The Packers offense had one of its few hiccups last week, as they scored touchdowns on their first three drives but gained only49yards after halftime in a24-16victory over the Panthers.
That gives the Packers plenty of incentive as LaFleur gets ready to match up with Vrabel, whohas noticedhowwellhis former offensive coordinator has fared with the Packers. Sunday night’s game will mark the first time the third-year Titans coach has matched wits with a head coach who once worked on his staff.
“I thinkMatt’s got a confidence to him about what he believes in,” Vrabel said. “I think he’s a hard worker. I think he’s got a toughness to him, having been in a lot of different places, worked his way up. Not afraid tomove his family for another opportunity and then turn that opportunity into something else. Those are all really strong qualities. I do think he has learned fromthe people that he’s been around, and he’s been around a lot of great coaches.”
LaFleur looks forward to showingVrabel how much he’s grown over the last couple seasons.
“I really enjoyed my time in Tennessee, like I said, learned a lot,” LaFleur said. “Now I hope we come up with a good game plan, play our best footballandgo beat their butt.”