Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has addressed the ongoing debate about the team’s wide receiver corps, particularly in the wake of trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Despite a lack of a 1,000-yard receiver since the trade, LaFleur expressed confidence in his current group of wideouts, dismissing the notion that the team needs a clear WR1.
LaFleur did not hold back in his critique of the media’s focus on the concept of a singular top receiver.
“I want to vomit every time I hear ‘No. 1 receiver,’ to be honest with you,” LaFleur said. “It drives me crazy. That’s something you guys talk about, I feel like we’ve got a bunch of them.
“I think the beauty of them is they’re all capable of doing many things, which gives us a lot of versatility from an offensive perspective, in terms of how we use these guys and deploy their talents.”
The Packers’ head coach reiterated that the team does not necessarily need a standout WR1.
“They’re all capable of being a ‘No. 1,’ in some capacity,” he added. “It’s just how do we want to attack somebody and where do we want to put those guys. Who’s gonna get the ball? I don’t know. It could change on a week-to-week basis. We saw it last year.”
When asked specifically about rookie Dontayvion Wicks, who impressed in the preseason opener with a notable 65-yard reception against the Cleveland Browns, LaFleur was enthusiastic.
“He made a hell of a play,” LaFleur said. “That could be tough. Maybe we’ll be a 10-personnel team. Who knows?”
These remarks are consistent with LaFleur’s previous statements about the advantages of having a diverse and unpredictable receiving corps.
Last July, he emphasized the strategic benefit of not relying on a single focal point.
“I think the beauty of our corps was you just never know who it’s gonna be, each and every week,” he previously stated. “It seems like a new guy is the focal point and I think that just gives us a lot of flexibility on offense and keeps defenses a little bit more on their heels.”
Heading into the 2024 season, LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love aim to build on last year’s 9-8 campaign.
Green Bay certainly seems like a team headed in the right direction. After all, they came so very close to knocking off the San Francisco 49ers on the road in the playoffs.
With the strides Love and the young receivers have made, the Packers are expecting big things this season.
What are your thoughts on LaFleur’s comments???