One might expect a little extra pep in the step of the folks wearing green and yellow during practice after back-to-back years of significant turnover and changes in the front office, coaching staff, and roster, but the team’s new head coach isn’t seeing it as often as he would like.
“We have to operate with more urgency, just in and out of the huddle,” Matt LaFluer said, via Fox 11 News. “I don’t want to have to condition these guys after practice. I’d rather that practice time be spent for meaningful reps. The conditioning should be in practice, hustling from drill to drill, in and out of the huddle and just practicing with a purpose.”
Usually, a head coaching change, an injection new talent, and an exodus of familiar faces provides a boot to the backside and gets guys going. But judging by what LaFleur is saying, that’s not how things have been recently — and he is letting everyone know.
Operating with urgency shouldn’t be something that pops up at this point in training camp. The Packers have all sorts of motivating factors that should pushing them, and yet, conditioning, hustling, practicing with a purpose, and urgency are issues. I don’t get it. You would think that missing the postseason back-to-back years and falling behind the Bears and Vikings in the NFC North standings would put some fire in the belly. Or maybe there is too much fire in the belly? Safety Josh Jones got pulled from practice on Wednesday and was benched after fighting with running back Tra Carson after playing long past the whistle.
It certainly sounds like things are off on the right foot in Packerland during the early stages of training camp! Now, where is that sarcasm font widget when I need it?