Matt LaFleur’s teaching masterclass is saving the Packers and Malik Willis

After Green Bay Packers’ QB Jordan Love went down in the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, many (together with myself) wrote off the Packers. Malik Willis stepped into the beginning function in a scenario the place Willis has by no means been profitable. Nonetheless, all of us forgot so as to add in a single necessary issue:

Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur is a playcalling WIZARD.

Two weeks later, the Packers are 2-1 and giving Love sufficient time to return again 100% wholesome. After one other win in opposition to a tricky, bodily protection, LaFleur is proving that he’s probably the greatest offensive coaches within the league and certainly one of its brightest playcallers, doing all of this with out his franchise QB obtainable.

The Packers have gone for over 150 speeding yards in every of the final two video games in opposition to two bodily defenses in Indianapolis and Tennessee, and so they’ve finished it in a lot other ways in every recreation. RB Josh Jacobs was the fulcrum of the speeding assault in opposition to the Colts, utilizing misdirection to utterly idiot the Colts’ second stage defenders. This week, it was all about Willis, who led the staff in speeding with 73 yards to go together with 202 yards passing (sack yardage takes him right down to 190). It was LaFleur empowering Willis to simply take off and run if he didn’t see any opening, and giving him loads of learn possibility seems and truly utilizing his mobility as a functioning a part of the offense.

What stands out probably the most about Willis and the Packers is simply how a lot this offensive system has helped empower him as a passer. The reads are extremely easy, however they’re attacking downfield and enjoying to Willis’ arm power. A third and 18 isn’t any downside for Willis, who places this ball on the cash for WR Christian Watson to maneuver the chains. This is likely to be probably the greatest passes I’ve ever seen Willis throw on the NFL stage, and his play was plagued by them.

LaFleur doing this with Willis provides no playcaller within the league any excuse anymore. LaFleur has this staff enjoying at an extremely excessive stage, regardless of having each a backup QB and the youngest roster within the NFL as soon as once more (according to Bookies). A damage to the franchise QB usually units a staff again, however what LaFleur is doing is retaining this staff transferring ahead, whereas unlocking extra prospects with this offense.

All the movement utilization to get into run designs, utilizing wideout Jayden Reed within the backfield after which subsequently constructing off of that in seemingly every week. These are the issues that the highest tier playcallers and coaches do, discover methods to innovate and push the bounds of what your offense can do with out seemingly your prime offensive participant obtainable. No playcaller within the NFL has any excuse to ship out mediocre offense after what LaFleur has finished with Willis and co. What we’re starting to see with Willis and the Packers, Darnold with the Vikings, and even Purdy with the 49ers is that surroundings across the QB issues. Insulating a sign caller with play calling, playmakers, and safety is way more necessary than having a prime man and simply throwing him on the market with no matter and anticipating him to win you a whole lot of video games.

LaFleur and the Packers have given Malik Willis a system he might be profitable in, and that helps Inexperienced Bay in the long term. They know they’ve a backup who can thrive if Love is out for longer than they imagined or will get damage once more, and have confirmed they will win with him. Not solely that, however they’ve doubtlessly unlocked new frontiers for his or her offense.

LaFleur and the Packers are placing on a training masterclass, and placing different playcallers within the NFL on discover.