Last season, I asked the question, how close are the Packers to a Super Bowl? At the time, the answer felt obvious. During the offseason, the Packers acquiring Micah Parsons answered the question for the organization. The Packers felt that they were one massive piece away from landing in contention.
After the Parsons trade, many in the media and sportsbooks seemed to agree with the Packers analysis. They became Super Bowl favorites in the eyes of many, including me. I truly believed that with an elite pass rush, steady quarterback play, and disciplined coaching would be enough to get them there.
However, many things fell apart. When it rains, it pours, and the Packers were clearly not going to catch a break. Yes, every team deals with injuries. The Packers lost two of their core pieces in Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons, ending Super Bowl conversations quickly.
As we look ahead to Sunday’s Super Bowl, it’s fair to ask what the Seahawks and Patriots have that the Packers lack and what Green Bay must fix this offseason to get back into the Super Bowl conversation next year.
Packers Offseason Needs to get to the Super Bowl
After the most disastrous end to a season imaginable, the Packers had to start their offseason work immediately. Ed Policy decision to retain Russ Ball, Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur, signals that he still believes this group can reach the ultimate goal.
However, when you look at the Seahawks and Patriots, coaching becomes an obvious question. Mike Vrabel is in his first season with the Patriots. The Patriots roster is good, but not incredible. This year, Vrabel was one of the most competent coaches especially when it came to game management.
The importance of game management cannot be overstated. It is absolutely a factor in the Patriots making it to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Matt LaFleur’s game management has been in question for all seven seasons as the Packers Head Coach.
On the other side, you have Mike Macdonald for the Seahawks. Macdonald is only in his second year and had his team firing on all cylinders. Sam Darnold’s confidence has only grown since his time in Minnesota. The Seahawks defense continued to be a top unit all year.
In my opinion, the Packers’ most glaring need is a defense that does not solely rely on Micah Parsons. While Parsons is the major piece needed for a Super Bowl, the other players around him need to play disciplined. Losing Devonte Wyatt only made that challenge tougher.
The Packers do not need a ton of stars on defense. They need players who will take responsibility for their performance, especially with Parsons not on the field. Parsons made comments about the lack of conditioning and overall focus of the defense, and new coordinator Jonathan Gannon has plenty to fix.
Overall, the Packers decisions on the coaching staff and the defense are going to define their season. When I look at the offseason coaching hires, I do agree with Policy’s decision to keep LaFleur. Nonetheless, LaFleur has to step up specifically in his special teams’ oversight and game management.
If the Packers want to make the Super Bowl, they must be willing to address issues that have plagued this team for years. This includes making special teams a priority and improving the pass rush outside of Parsons. The Packers’ offseason moves will reveal how close they are to a Super Bowl.
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