Matt LaFleur addresses concerns, possible change with return duties
One of the most frustrating parts of the Packers disappointing start to the season has been their special teams unit, and the slew of turnovers they’ve had.
While Green Bay wide receiver Amari Rodgers is supremely talented, fans were calling for his head when he fumbled once again against the Dallas Cowboys. Rodgers has now fumbled four times returning punts for Green Bay, something they simply can’t afford.
Luckily, Matt LaFleur’s team found victory, but the Packers coach addresses the concerns for the future.
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“We’ve got to go through and kind of evaluate the situation,” explained LaFleur. “It sucks for Amari. I feel for him. He’s a guy that works his butt off on a daily basis, and I know he wants, he wants to go out there and excel, and it was a tough break. Obviously it was a critical turnover that we can’t have, that’s something we talk about all the time.
“Obviously the ball is everything. When you have it in your hands, you hold it for everybody in the organization. We can’t put it on the ground, especially when we’re in a situation, a tight ball game. Going to get the ball at midfield. Thought he had a decent return. You know, we coughed it up. We can’t do that.”
Regardless of all the fumbles, LaFleur has been hesitant to move Rodgers out of the spot, but it’s getting harder to defend with each fumble.
“I think anytime that you put somebody back there, first and foremost, you have to have somebody you trust, that’s going to consistently catch the football,” added the Packers coach. “I think he’s shown that, although I know he’s put a couple on the ground, and that does happen, but there is a trust that he’s going to make the catch, going to make the right decision.
“But again, we’ll evaluate everything, and see how we move forward.”
Indisputably, the Packers need to take a long, hard look at the return game and decide what to do with Amari Rodgers, especially now that they’re embroiled in a tight race for one of the NFC’s wild card spots.