By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Packers’ Adams excited by change; New coach LaFleur filling out staff
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Super Bowl’s safest bet in recent years is that New England will be playing in it.
The next-safest bet is that Tom Brady will be the MVP.
The Patriots’ quarterback is the NFL’s greatest player of all time. That notion is neither novel nor likely to spark any heated debate from its dwindling number of detractors.
What can you say? Brady owns all the records and all the wins – in games both big and small – that a fan could ever hope for. A victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday would add another chapter to one of the NFL’s greatest stories ever told.
It also would further the view that head coach Bill Belichick is the NFL’s greatest coach of all time.
In Green Bay, Packers’ fans would be quick to counter with the Vince Lombardi-Bart Starr coach-QB tandem as the greatest.
Certainly, Lombardi-Starr was the most dominant combination of its era. The same could be said of the Steelers’ Chuck Knoll and Terry Bradshaw in the ‘70s and the 49ers’ Bill Walsh and Joe Montana of the ‘80s and the ‘90s.
Arguments aside, the Patriots’ Belichick and Brady do the NFL a great service each season. They remind fans that their team can be a perennial Super Bowl contender if it has three elements: An exceptional coach and an ultra-talented QB surrounded by a seemingly endless parade of competent, talented teammates.
Whether the Rams’ Sean McVay and Jared Goff ever approach Belichick-Brady status remains to be seen. That duo begins to carve out its legacy on Sunday in Atlanta. A victory over the Patriots, especially as 2 ½ point underdogs, would be a terrific first step down the path of greatness.
So what does this mean for the Packers?
In a word, it means hope.
If the Rams can go from 4-12 to a Super Bowl berth in three seasons, the Packers definitely can go from 6-9-1 to an appearance in next year’s big game.
Why? Well, it starts with Aaron Rodgers, who along with the Saints’ Drew Brees joins Brady as the NFL’s top three veteran quarterbacks. That’s a tremendous advantage in Green Bay where the Packers already have the great QB. If LaFleur proves to be the right coach for the job – and that remains a big if – the Packers should be back in the playoffs in 2019.
Obviously, the perception that the Packers were a perennial upper-echelon team was shattered last season.
So how does Green Bay go from being a 6-9-1 also-ran under Mike McCarthy to a legit playoff team under LaFleur?
Part of LaFleur’s plan, according to Packers’ Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams, is to create the illusion of complexity.
It seems preferable to the illusion of exceptionalism that had been in play in Green Bay far too long. So how does it work?
Adams, who met with LaFleur in Green Bay last week before leaving for the Pro Bowl, explained it in an ESPN interview. He began by saying LaFleur made “a great first impression.”
“Great guy, young cat, which is great … You can be personable with him,” Adams said. “He’s a good guy. I like his philosophy. He wants to bring in a new kind of innovative style – an illusion of complexity. I like the idea of that. He kind of explained that to me. A great first impression so we’ll see how it goes.”
The illusion of complexity is an interesting concept. It sure sounds a lot cooler than the old phrase, “KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid.”
It suggests that, in fact, there’s nothing incredibly complex about LaFleur’s offense. It’s more about the presentation, and the execution, than it is simply winning one-on-one battles.
In LaFleur’s perfect world, a run play looks like a pass play – and vice-versa – until the last possible second before the snap. A defense will be confronted with multiple formations, plenty of motion and a lot of pre-snap hocus pocus.
All the while, the offense knows where it’s going to attack.
In addition to the illusion of complexity, LaFleur also plans to incorporate a heavy dose of balance between the run and pass.
If a team is too pass heavy, or too predictable in any way, for that matter, it’s easier to defend. Why should a defense bite on all the pre-snap trickery when it knows there’s a 75-percent chance it’ll be a pass anyway?
Belichick discussed McVay’s offensive attack during an interview as part of the Super Bowl LIII run-up. It is interesting in that LaFleur is a McVay disciple.
Belichick said, “(The Rams) switch things up a lot, they just do it with the same players. That’s what makes them so good – everybody can do everything.”
It’s called balance. It’s also called not having to substitute heavily – and perhaps risk tipping your play-calling hand – if running backs can catch the football out of the backfield and receivers can be shifty in the slot or effective as a runner on jet sweeps and such.
Throughout Super Bowl LIII, I will be watching to see how Brady relies on his experience as well as his talent to KO the Rams. I’ll also be curious to see how McVay’s offense goes about trying to attack Belichick’s defense.
At New Orleans, the Rams’ Goff had an awful start. If he was nervous in the NFC Championship Game, I’ve got to believe it will be even more pronounced in the Super Bowl.
I’m predicting the Patriots will succeed where New Orleans failed by making Goff’s early mistakes quite costly. I see the Patriots building an early lead and fending off a late Rams’ rally.
Super Bowl LIII final: Patriots 31, Rams 27.
** Back in Green Bay, LaFleur is assembling his staff. Here is the latest:
* Offensive coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett in; Joe Philbin out.
* Quarterbacks coach: Luke Getsy in; Frank Cignetti, Jr., and Jim Hostler, out.
* Running backs coach: Ben Sirmans returns.
* Offensive line: Adam Stenavich, in; James Campen, Jeff Blasko, out.
* Wide receivers: Vacant; David Raih, out.
* Tight ends: Justin Outten, in; Brian Angelichio, out.
* Defensive coordinator: Mike Pettine returns.
* Defensive line: Jerry Montgomery returns.
* Linebackers: Kirk Olivadotti, inside linebackers; Mike Smith, outside linebackers, in; Scott McCurley, Patrick Graham, out.
* Defensive Backs: Jason Simmons, in; Joe Whitt, Jr., out.
* Special teams coordinator: Vacant; Ron Zook, out.
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly