Cory's Corner: Bring On The Urgency Police
The sluggish starts have to be a thing of the past. It comes down to pride and accountability.
It’s all about that word urgency.
It has to happen right now, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be rushed.
From 2019-2022, the Packers went 10-3 in the month of September. But from 2023-2024, they are just 4-4. It isn’t just starting slow to the season, it is also getting off to a sluggish start to games. That’s what happened in last year’s loss to the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff, both losses to the Vikings and the Week 9 loss to the Lions last year.
“That’s going to be a great reflection point this offseason,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
And I love that he addressed it right away by playing starting quarterback Jordan Love in the first preseason game. Normally that is taboo for the team’s most important position player to play in a meaningless game — especially the first preseason contest — but it shows that LaFleur is serious about starting fast right out of the gate.
Granted, Love only attempted five passes. But he also only completed one and he absorbed a sack as well. I’m glad that wasn’t on display in the season opener because Love is clearly not operating on all cylinders right now and he needs more reps to figure it out.
Green Bay has all of the ingredients to win the NFC North for the first time since 2021. But in order for that to happen, they cannot afford to sleepwalk through the first quarter of any game.
“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in the offseason. “These opportunities don’t come (very often). The life of a player in the National Football League is not very long.”
He’s right. Typically, the average NFL player has a career of about 3.3 years. Three years of doing anything isn’t very long.
Add in that the Packers kick off the season against the Lions and Commanders — both 2024 playoff teams — and having a sense of urgency comes into greater focus. No team wants to be a desperate 0-2 heading to its first road game in Cleveland on Sept. 21.
Take nothing for granted. Make every rep count and most importantly, hold teammates accountable that aren’t doing these things.
This is the year where Love needs to be more of a voice on this team. Heading into his third year as a starter, he needs to let the younger guys know what it means to be in a successful program. And with that, Love must be the urgency police. If he sees a player not giving his all — offense or defense — he has to find out why and then find a way to alleviate that.
Let’s face it, being just OK to start the games or the season isn’t OK. There isn’t a magic formula to get these guys playing lights-out football right from the kickoff. But there is something called pride and making sure you’re giving all you can when you can.
If the Packers do that, the urgency police will be a thing of the past.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
__________________________
Comments (58)
TKWorldWide
August 12, 2025 at 07:33 am
Yes, getting off to a good start in a game and/or in the season is important. But how to do it? I think it’s easy to assume it’s a lack of effort, focus, intensity…and maybe to some extent it is. But it can’t be that simple. That’s where the coaching comes in. To identify and correct what’s going wrong. If a player is dogging it or blowing assignments, I’d think an NFL coach can see it when grading the video. Not all screwups are due to lack of effort. Sometimes it’s the opposite.
Do we doubt that GB is reluctant to bench or replace a guy if the cause IS lack of focus/effort? I don’t know. At the same time, people mocked MLF earlier this summer when he said EVERY position is open for competition. They said, “Really? You just paid Zach Tom big money, but his spot is up for grabs?”
I’ve heard Booger McFarland say we can’t apply our old high school football mentality to the NFL. It IS managed differently, and players are NOT all treated the same.
So where does this leave us? I think it puts the onus on the position coaches and MLF.
GPG!
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 07:42 am
Matt was/is making them come out if they have a penalty. I know in high school I'd do anything not to let that happen. Do these guys just consider it a break?
TKWorldWide
August 12, 2025 at 09:10 am
Or pulling Hobbs out for going too hard.
Or making Rasheed take a lap for fighting. But then Jacobs and a whole bunch of other guys ran it with him.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 10:36 am
LaFleur did insistently coach not to tackle or block with urgency during camp so far. That has sunk as witnessed on Saturday. So his team does respond to coaching.
TKWorldWide
August 12, 2025 at 01:45 pm
LOL
coolhand
August 12, 2025 at 05:51 pm
These slow starts I put squarely on MLF's shoulders as he shows no intensity or urgency. The team play reflects on it's leadership and a laid back soft leader will show in how his team plays.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 07:38 am
Just get the O-line clicking together as a complete unit. That's all we need to do in preseason. Once the best 5 get it together, THEN work on the depth pieces. If they haven't decided who the top 6 or 7 are by now, we've got problems or a very good room of linemen.
MLF isn't going to take anything out of the bag just to win now but not looking inept is a long way away.
Since'61
August 12, 2025 at 08:21 am
An NFL HC in his 7th season should know how to create a sense of urgency with his players. Love is in his 3rd season as the starting QB he should have most things figured out by now. It's time for this team to get it together and play good solid football when this season begins.
I realize that we may not see solid football during the preseason. But the starting players, if they play a series or two, should begin to look sharp at least. The rest of the preseason is for the second and third stringers to earn their place on the 53.
Most importantly get the starting OL ready to play consistently. They will take the offense as far as they will go and in effect take the team as far as it will go. If I was MLF the OL would be the priority for the rest of the preseason. A sense of urgency is a must have for the OL. GPG. Thanks, Since '61
Coldworld
August 12, 2025 at 08:43 am
The OL looked bad individually. Even Tom, by far the best player on the night, wasn’t truly himself. Collectively they also looked liked they had never played together. They weren’t in synch and they seemed uncertain: hesitant and unsure what their neighbors would do.
There have been some injuries it’s true. Jenkins out meant Morgan was more often at G. Banks has been troubled by a back issue when in and missed time. Rhyan had bounced between center and G. Only Tom has been a fixture. On top of that they have been platooning at RG/C and LT (recently).
So a lack of consistency of line up in part forced has been amplified by coaches. In my view it showed what this leads to on Saturday. It has seemed to be a source of problems in prior years too. That’s coaching. It’s not new and yet it persists.
That persistence and visibility obviously points fingers at the OL coach and OC. However, the fact it’s not a new but visibly persistent problem falls on the HC. Unfortunately, our HC has a history of not stepping in and stopping persistent problems or addressing coaching deficiencies until they have already come back to obviously derail a season. Right now, the handling and performance of the OL look to be this year’s potential stumbling block.
One might say the same of last year too, but hopefully the added depth at skill positions, health of Love and the coaching change on the DL seem to be rendering it in sharper focus. If this indeed proves true when looking back from the New Year, then we may indeed see what urgency means in the post Murphy era. Even at this point in August, the coaching die has already been cast. Now only time will tell.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 09:15 am
"Unfortunately, our HC has a history of not stepping in and stopping persistent problems or addressing coaching deficiencies..."
Since 2019, this has been very evident.
LaFleur is very comfortable with the status quo. Why wouldn't he be? I don't believe he is held accountable. Who is doing his performance evaluations...the Football Committee? Certainly not Gutey...not in his job description. Ed Policy is a lawyer, financial guru, and an administrator who has done most of his work at 20,000 feet setting organization goals and "policy". I don't believe he has ever managed a HC.
I also do not believe Tom was ready to play, which surprised me. In far more snaps, Morgan played better overall than Tom did in his limited cameo.
Since'61
August 12, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Coldworld I completely agree with your analysis. It's only the first pre season game but the same troubling signs from previous seasons are appearing already. Way too early to panic but not too early to have concerns.
For now I'm hoping that the injuries are minor and I'll give the team a chance until September when the games actually count. Thanks, Since '61
GregC
August 12, 2025 at 08:24 am
Jordan Love made a bad throw when he had Luke Musgrave open downfield. Aside from that, I didn't see any overt signs that he was "not operating on all cylinders" on Saturday night. Another incompletion was a blatant drop by Romeo Doubs. On the others, the receivers were not open. I just don't think there's much we can say about Jordan Love based on five passes and a sack in a preseason game.
BuckyBadger
August 12, 2025 at 08:27 am
So we are concerned about the slow starts in 2023 and 2024. In 2024 they ended up 6-3 at the bye, that is a pretty good start in the NFL. Lets thrown the fact Love missed two games and was recovering from a knee injury many thought it might take him out for the season. In 2023 Love was starting for the first time with not only the youngest roster of the NFL that year but one of the youngest the league has seen in the last decade. You don't think there might be some problems out of the gate? This narrative is starting to become silly if you ask me.
Of course you want to try to win all the games but would you rather have your team peaking in September or December? It is just about impossible to have your team peaking for 18 weeks during the season and do it for another 3 or 4 in the playoffs. The season isn't a sprint, it is a marathon with ups and downs.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 08:39 am
I agree that it's not a sprint. How about just taking the division and conference games seriously in the first part of the season? OH Wait!
BuckyBadger
August 12, 2025 at 08:45 am
You honestly think any one is not taking every game seriously? This narrative of slow starts is just that, a narrative.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 09:07 am
The teams playing the Packers don't seem to be starting out slow.
BuckyBadger
August 12, 2025 at 09:16 am
What are all these slow starts? The article plainly stated that the years before 2023 where not slow starts. You want to complain about a slow start when your QB is making his first starts but finished the year strong? Last year they where 6-3 at the bye. Lots of teams start slow and peak in December, the Chiefs have been doing it for the better part of a decade.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 09:32 am
Actually Love started out good against a Bears team in his first game as starter after Rodgers. That was a Bears with a rookie QB. Last season not so well. This goes back further than that. Since MLF has been here they've started out slowly. Not so bad if they weren't always playing in the division or conference where it all comes down to tiebreakers at the end of the season. The Packers are one of the biggest draws so the NFL is going to give their TV partners some good matchups early in the year and let the others play their non-conference games while they get up to speed.
crayzpackfan
August 12, 2025 at 09:41 am
Ask the Bengals how their slow starts have been working out for them since their Super Bowl appearance.
Not every slow start to a season is created equal. Every game should be played to win no matter what part of the season it is. Players and coaches are paid a lot of money. The networks pay a lot of money to broadcast the games. Advertisers are paying lots of money selling their shit in TV ads. Gamblers are betting lots of money on the games. Fan's are paying for tickets, merch, streaming subscriptions and Sunday Ticket. Everyone involved deserves an honest to God effort from all players and coaches every gameday.
Start out 2-4 and suddenly your two best players go down for 3 weeks and that slow start turns into 2-7 or 3-6 with a huge hole to climb out of with a hard schedule ahead. If there were a place in the season to slump it would be 2-3 games in the middle of the season. You should always try to start strong and finish strong. But make no bones about it, the effort from everyone should be 100 percent for every single game all season long. All invested parties mentioned above deserve no less.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 10:05 am
Agree...and while just a preseason game, most of the team $millionaires only had to play a few minutes of game clock time. Not much urgency to play quality minutes. More like just getting the reps in and taking a seat.
The regular season is indeed a long one, yet each individual game needs to be played like a sprint due to focused game planning, preparation and practice. Fortunately there were some 2nd, 3rd team defensive players who played urgently during their snaps. O and STs...not much.
Also, why does it seem Packers ALWAYS have the longest injury list before games with many starters off the practice field every week. Injuries are part of the game, so is missed practice time...but the Packers seem to often lead NFL in both most weeks.
mnbadger
August 12, 2025 at 11:07 am
The chiefs have also been to a handful of SB's with a hall of fame qb and HC.
Kind of an apples to cucumbers comparison.
Hopefully we (coaches and players) get our heads out of our butts very soon and learn to enjoy the fresh air of professional football.
GPG!
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 09:31 am
Not sure what your point is...they most assuredly did not "peak" last December. Far from it. LaFleur coasted the team into the playoffs after they had earned a seed. They played with very little "sense of urgency".
It is indeed a long season. Still, one thing I had instilled in me by my football and wrestling coaches was "you perform how you practice".
That quite simply appears what happened on Saturday...even if it seems silly to you.
Snap the ball
August 12, 2025 at 09:42 am
They lost to the Bears at home because of poor lock management. Which changed the playoff seating.
Which screwed us over.
GregC
August 12, 2025 at 09:59 am
The outcome of that game had no impact on the playoff seeding.
pantz_bURp
August 12, 2025 at 08:33 am
*Bring On The Urgency Police*
"Roxanne, Put on the red light"...
Stings a bit,
P. Burp
mnbadger
August 12, 2025 at 11:10 am
They have to sell their bodies to the night!
GPG!
LeotisHarris
August 12, 2025 at 08:38 am
TK said it well. Identity and culture. WTF kind of culture allows for what happened against the Jets? In addition to the men at the top, there has to be leaders in each position group, guys you would effing die for that you would never ever let down. Where are those guys? You are on the field competing for your job, ffs!
I want so badly to see some spark out of this team, for leaders to emerge. It all comes from the top, and it appears time and time again that the chair in that lofty perch is empty.
Bitternotsour
August 12, 2025 at 08:53 am
I might suggest at this point that this is the first game of the preseason everyone is overreacting to.
While noting that, i'd also say that it's completely unexpected.
here's an interesting thing that I just learned regarding Jordan Love "Consistency eludes him, but he gets better as the stakes rise and has a ridiculous 107.6 quarterback rating in his career from Week 10 on, completing 67 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns to just four interceptions (going 11-6 in 17 career starts in those weeks) (Jason LaCanfora).
Not how you start, it's how you finish.
mnbadger
August 12, 2025 at 11:13 am
We're 1 and 3 in the playoffs the last three years, with bad interceptions in the losses.
Not exactly how you want to finish.
GPG!
nagawicka
August 12, 2025 at 03:23 pm
If you'd made that observation about Favre's postseason INTs/game or Rodgers' postseason performance-- I'd believe you on this.
Why would anyone accept this as a critique. When it outperforms and resembles his predecessors.
crayzpackfan
August 12, 2025 at 09:03 am
You're not wrong. It seems this team has been void of a respected, vocal team leader for quite some time now. Maybe there's someone behind the scenes we don't get to see. But on gameday and during the games, I don't see any Reggie Whites, Favre's, Woodson's, or anyone getting guys amped up, settled down, or holding players accountable. It's actually kind of weird.
davekenya
August 12, 2025 at 10:15 am
Right! Being 'tough' and 'having an attitude' and 'being focused in' are parts of who you are individually and part of who the team is collectively. These don't ebb and flow throughout a season but are there every game for you! The fact that some teams always seem 'soft' while other teams (ex. Lombardi's Packers or Carroll's Seahawks) always seem 'tough' is a reflection of the team's identity and ethos. It's who you are. Get on board. It already seemed to ooze out of every Jets' player in the first pre-season for their new HC Glenn.
The personalities of the most successful NFL head coaches are not monolithic. You can find examples of quiet, stoic leaders alongside boisterous, emotionally charged ones. What the all seem to have is:
Unwavering consistency and steadiness
They're exceptional communicators
An intense desire to win, but they remain composed under pressure
Best coaches are always learning and adapting
Most successful coaches have a defined philosophy that guides everything they do
I'm curious how folks see MLK aligning with these principles..
mnbadger
August 12, 2025 at 11:17 am
Great summary of what it takes to be a successful coach.
I find it hard to see many of those characteristics in mlf.
Yells at officials more than his players or staff.
Always looks lost, as if wandering in a good corn maize.
GPG!
dobber
August 12, 2025 at 02:02 pm
Love your post, dk.
splitpea1
August 12, 2025 at 03:33 pm
The only thing I would add is they hire the right assistants to help teach the players the finer points of their craft or to take charge of areas that aren't a strength; for instance, Andy Reid's hiring of Spags was an absolutely brilliant move that has and still is paying dividends.
Leatherhead
August 12, 2025 at 11:37 am
You too?
Cue Allen Iverson. It was a practice, against a team that's already had a practice to get organized. We didn't play a lot of our big dogs because it was a practice.
It is a long-ass season. Much better to start slow and finish strong than vice-versa. Waay too much being read into a practice.
GregC
August 12, 2025 at 11:58 am
I was hoping things would settle down here after a few days, but instead it's gone in the opposite direction.
crayzpackfan
August 12, 2025 at 01:55 pm
It isn't wise to start slow in any season or any game. It's a long season where momentum is everything. Many bad things happen during a season like injuries, bad calls by the refs, bad bounces and many other things. Having to play catch up all year in games or in a season can be exhausting. It takes its toll towards the end of a season and in the playoffs. Every game should be maximum effort and execution at the very least. It's much better to be 4-1 or 6-2 when bad things happen than behind the 8 ball while looking up at everyone else. It builds confidence, sets the tone early and it creates a bit of leeway when a team hits a rough patch. I would much rather hit that rough patch with a few wins stacked up then I would having a losing record. I'm not talking about losing a preseason game either. I'm talking about how they looked while losing that game. It was some of the most uninspired football I have seen since, well, last year with this team.
Bitternotsour
August 12, 2025 at 03:38 pm
I'm kinda guessing here, but I think you might have failed the marshmallow test.
Coldworld
August 12, 2025 at 05:37 pm
It’s good to play your best football in December and January, but that’s not the same as starting slow. The NFL is short enough and tight enough in terms of margins that you don’t cede games or assume consistent health. This is particularly true when early games are divisional.
Pre season football often isn’t pretty, because, if starters play, there are few surprises. What it shows is technique, instinct and how well the team is prepared attitudinally, individually and in units. How well the lines work together, how in rhythm the skill played are with their QB, how coordinated the backfield is, and so on.
Once the regular season begins, tactics and game planning obscure this. However, by December most things are scouted and by January the competition gets tougher. The harder the match up the more important the things pre-season displays become. Quite often, where teams are closely matched, those basics become dispositive.
Think back as far as our last playoff exit in January if you want a very clear example of how these failings can undo a team and did ours.
Bitternotsour
August 12, 2025 at 08:46 pm
sorry, but injuries and an exceptionally bad call on a turnover that wasn't a turnover undid the season. Nixon recovered the fumble that was caused by an illegal hit. Jenkins went down. Shit happens.
You need not only be good, you must also be lucky. The gods, they frowned on us.
Snap the ball
August 12, 2025 at 09:39 am
Hard to complete passes when you almost get drilled.
I’m not a fan of the pistol or shotgun but the left guard play he would have got sacked 3 to 4 times under center and on the first play
Leatherhead
August 12, 2025 at 12:06 pm
In an early season practice.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 09:48 am
Cory: "It has to happen right now, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be rushed." So kinda start some urgent things but do so slowly?
Urgency: The quality or condition of being urgent; insistence; pressure.
Penalites, drops, missed blocks and routes, fumbles, poor on field decisions will continue if there is no insistence to eliminate the mistakes and hold people accountable...players and coaches.
Two weeks time to sort these things out before lions week. Hoping for "urgency" to begin on September 1st is a fools hope. The best result from Saturday's pathetic display is that a sense of urgency begins today.
Cheezehead72
August 12, 2025 at 10:03 am
I might have all the ingredients to make a Soufflé but until I do it correctly it is not a Soufflé. Just to let you know I do not have the knowledge to make a Soufflé.
Yes I thought we had the players but after that game I have the feeling they are not ready for primetime and I wonder what the team has been doing since the start of training camp.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 10:30 am
What has the team been doing over the last month? That was my feeling watching that game. No reason to panic but whoever manages MLF has hopefully done a deep review with him:
"What worked, what didn't, what will be done differently, what did your deep reviews with your individual coaches reveal to you?"
Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results...well you know the thing.
LaFleur is an intelligent man, and I believe he is a tireless worker, and he is not going to become St. Vince. But he most certainly needs to challenge the status quo he is so comfortable with.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 11:05 am
I think it's the master plan to look bad and give the Lions false hope and confidence.
That's the only explanation that can explain the last outing. They've got this. No problems.
stockholder
August 12, 2025 at 10:32 am
I don't blame MLF.
I don't blame Rodgers, since he's gone.
I do blame Gute. -
How? Fucking up the OL!
Rodgers went through this
and everyone turned on him.
Sure MM got fired.
And Rodgers became public enemy #1.
So let's put the blame on Gute.
Shit slides down hill.
MLF made the most of OL, WRs, etc.
And they took the blame for Love's
inconsistency.
(Again with the off season moves)
But no matter what, it effects everyone.
Instead of going after the head of
a rattling snake.
You still can't see the more Love gets
protected from criticism.
The more the others have made up for it.
So far ;reversing it, has always taken time.
dobber
August 12, 2025 at 10:34 am
Narratives.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 10:44 am
Narratives sliding down hill too.
stockholder
August 12, 2025 at 10:59 am
Defying gravity, will keep you out of the cellar.
Fire Gute and bring in better QB competition.
Wolf had too.
barutanseijin
August 12, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Twelve turned to eight
Nightly pillow wet with tears
Blame someone, anyone
packer132
August 12, 2025 at 05:22 pm
Bring olden days
goneby why blame who
stars are paid to
play while hurt
HarryHodag
August 12, 2025 at 11:06 am
I'm one of the few here who remembers the Lombardi era. There was no lack of urgency then. The rules have changed since then but the players knew that when they entered play it was 100 percent effort or a hellish aftermath from Lombardi.
Matt LF says the right things but the players seem to just shrug it off and then go 'ho-hum' and go on.
While fans need to be aware that 3 preseason games, 17 regular season games and 1-4 games in the playoffs make for a ridiculously long season, but as a professional the players should realize they have to GO when the time comes around.
It's a bit like a Broadway cast simply saying, 'I don't care' when patrons have paid big bucks to see professional acting.
T7Steve
August 12, 2025 at 11:18 am
The lackadaisical attitude leads to injuries and is probably why the injury list is so long and growing longer.
LambeauPlain
August 12, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Hafley: "These 3 preseason games are incredibly important. As a Defense we didn't translate what I was seeing in practice to the game. That was disappointing. And that's on me!"
LaFleur, when asked if he was pleased with Training Camp so far. Matt: "No."
nagawicka
August 12, 2025 at 03:16 pm
This has to be the only sport where fans tell GMs & HCs to do what they're already doing (have urgency!) and then credit themselves with being the 'first' voicing earnest concerns when 'the urgency Polizei' is last relative to players/coaches/staff *and* old school relaxed fans in recognizing that: Hey, it's a work in progress. They're working on it, applying the drive, focus and urgency required months and years before this article was a gleam in cheesehead.tv's eye. In breaking news, LaFleur hisself and Gute hisself have already said so. Seems like Vince Lombardi had the right idea about touchdowns and training camp "Act like you've been there before." Perspective and a sense of proportion dictate that neither the entire populace of northeastern Wisconsin nor its collective unconscious is required to be all up in arms over the standard unfolding of the training camp process. May the *first* to cry wolf and summon in the law [wut] hear his neighbor's eye-rolling so hard it sounds like incoming August thunder at the St Norbert practice field.
NFLfan
August 12, 2025 at 03:26 pm
Packers may just have to fail an a big enough way to finally make necessary changes.