Just because a guy turned down a job in the past doesn’t mean he would automatically turn it down this year.
So that’s the Packers fault?
They tried to get a talented coach, and the guy turned it down. Would you rather have them NOT try to get who they believe would best fit the bill?
I’m sure they thought he would take the job.
You can’t fault them for going after Leonhard.
Originally Posted by: Cheesey
I'm not sure how you read any of my posts to arrive at this post suggesting I blame the Packers altogether or fault them for going after Leonhard.
Nothing in my posts suggests that I blame the Packers or fault them for thinking Leonhard was the right man for the job. I have an issue with Matt LaFleur seemingly getting burned again by lack of attention to detail / not being fully diligent before offering Leonhard the position of DC. Kudos to Matt for not sticking to conventional candidates, and being willing to take a risk at hiring a young college DC. But he needs to have the foresight to ensure his diligence on Leonhard has not left anything to chance. I'm not asking for anything more than simple and reasonable diligence: confirm your first choice is willing to leave the college game before offering him the job. Any reasonable diligence should have led Matt to talk to Sean McVay and at least have some insight on why Leonhard didn't accept (so, at least, LaFleur knows what concerns to address in order to convince Leonhard to accept the job) which hopefully would have let Matt to be more emphatic in confirming Leonhard would leave UW if offered the DC job. The point isn't that past is prologue, but the past should have offered LaFleur some lessons regarding Leonhard and not led him to offering the DC job to a candidate who has shown resistance to leaving the college ranks.
It's becoming a common theme that Matt LaFleur comes up just a bit short in his communication/attention to detail. Not calling a timeout when he say the horrific coverage Pettine was in immediately before the Miller TD in the Bucs game, there apparently being a "miscommunication" between Pettine and LaFleur on what coverage to be in on that play, Aaron not knowing on the last Packers' possession that it was
not 4-down territory, LaFleur abandoning his gameplan/scheme in the NFCG game two seasons in a row to ride the arm of a HOF QB who has shown he is most effective with a run-first scheme, the persistent disconnect with LaFleur publicly expressing dissatisfaction with our CBs giving cushions to opposing WRs in 3rd and long situations and yet that continuing to happen, not securing his first choice ST coordinator last year, and now this occurrence with Leonhard.
There were always going to be growing pains given how young LaFleur is, and he was a coordinator for only one year. But... I'd really like to see LaFleur get out in front of these things and close the deal. That, ultimately, is his responsibility: close the deal/job after you've put yourself in a position to do so. LaFleur should absolutely stay the HC, has done wonders with this team/offense, and is a handsome ass dude. I just think he needs to be be better prepared and manage his blind spots a little more proactively.
I'll say it again, Leonhard should never have been offered the job unless LaFleur was sure he'd accept - it's embarrassing to see a boss left without his first choice / preference of candidate when ascertaining if that candidate would accept is completely within his hands/ability. LaFleur needs to do better - he has room for improvement. That's all.
The NFL: Where Greg Jennings Happens.