Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

[swhitset]

NFL.com came out with an article yesterday where 22 Team Executives were polled on this season's individual awards. Brian Gutekunst finished a close runnerup (by 1 vote) as NFL Executive of the year behind Bill Belichick.
Therefore, it is way overdue, but I am editing this thread title so that visitors don't think this forum is filled with half-baked jackwagons.

Why hide the truth. . Lol

 

[ARPackFan]

Therefore, it is way overdue, but I am editing this thread title so that visitors don't think this forum is filled with half-baked jackwagons.

I appreciate that as a fully baked jackwagon.

 

[PackAttack12]

Just popping in to say that 2005 and 2020 are worlds different.

I'm still a big supporter of Gutekunst. But he miscalculated big time.

 

[Dantés]

Gutekunst deserves a lot of credit for the guts to take Gary over Burns in 2019.

Burns was a more refined player and a more popular prospect. Gute swung for the bigger, better talent. He took a ton of grief for it on draft day and in the first couple seasons since.

Now Gary is head and shoulders the better player.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

Brian Gutekunst as any GM can be hot and cold in their job with any football program.
I would rate him as #7 on my personal chart.

After what happen this off season with Rodgers, drafting Jorden Love etc., I
just don't trust that front office arrogancy.

 

[Voyageur]

Gutekunst deserves a lot of credit for the guts to take Gary over Burns in 2019.

Burns was a more refined player and a more popular prospect. Gute swung for the bigger, better talent. He took a ton of grief for it on draft day and in the first couple seasons since.

Now Gary is head and shoulders the better player.

Never judge a draft in the first or second years of when it takes place. Give players two years to develop, then judge them in the third year. It's like someone shows them where the light switch is, and they can suddenly see, instead of stumbling around in the dark.

There are those who catch on right away, and get even better. There are also those that look good from the start, and never improve their game. It's all a crap shoot.

 

[gbgary]

gm of the year imo. stokes, campbell, douglas, and everyone that's played LT, have saved the season. they haven't really missed the starters those guys replaced to any appreciable amount. tremendous depth gained through the draft and FA.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Ron Wolf was always looking for QBs and drafted 7 during his 11 years as GM. He also brought in QBs as FAs trying to find someone overlooked by other teams. He and his scouting staff actually did a very good job when you consider that 4 of his drafted players had respectable NFL careers -

Aaron Brooks : 1999 / Rnd. 4; 93 Games / 90 Games Started
Matt Hasselbeck :1998 / Rnd. 6; 209 G / 160 GS
McAda : 1997; No Recorded Stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com
Wachholz (1996 / Rnd. 7); No Recorded Stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com
Barker 1995 ; No Recorded Stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com
Mark Brunell : 1993 (193 G / 151 GS)
Ty Detmer : 1992 / Rnd. 9; 54 G /25 GS - (The Packers used the 1992 first round pick to acquire Brett from the Falcons)

Thompson took Rodgers after he fell in the draft but otherwise stunk at drafting QBs. (6 QBS in 13 years). He did find a career backup in Matt Flynn.

Brett Hundley : 2015 / Rnd. 5 ; 18 G / 9 GS
B.J. Coleman : 2012 Rnd. 7 ; No Recorded Stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com
Brian Brohm : 2008 / Rnd. 2 ; 3 G / 2 GS
Matt Flynn :2008 /Rnd. 7 ; 53 G / 12 GS
Ingle Martin : 2006 / Rnd.5 ; 1 G / 0 GS
Aaron Rodgers : 2005 / Rnd. 1 - Future HOF

Wolf was good at finding QBs, Thompson was just lucky

Wolf drafted several quarterbacks while Favre was the starter but he smartly never used a pick within the first three rounds to select one.

Gutekunst should have gone that route as well.

gm of the year imo. stokes, campbell, douglas, and everyone that's played LT, have saved the season. they haven't really missed the starters those guys replaced to any appreciable amount. tremendous depth gained through the draft and FA.

Gutekunst has done a great job of adding depth at the positions mentioned but don't fool yourself about the Packers not missing the starters.

 

[Voyageur]

What's overlooked in the replacements is the coaching, and scheming done to give them the best possible chance of succeeding, despite their lack of experience, and often, limited skills. That's a credit to the people on the sidelines, developing their game plans, and teaching technique.

 

[ARPackFan]

What's overlooked in the replacements is the coaching, and scheming done to give them the best possible chance of succeeding, despite their lack of experience, and often, limited skills. That's a credit to the people on the sidelines, developing their game plans, and teaching technique.

Completely agree. The scouts & GM find the talent but if they turn the player over to an inept coaching staff then the likely outcome is failure and a short career.

If Joe Montana had been drafted by the 80s Saints he probably would have been just another Joe.

 

[gopkrs]

If Joe Montana had been drafted by the 80s Saints he probably would have been just another Joe.

Really doubt that. My favorite Montana non moment. I think his senior year in college. I think he was in the Cotton Bowl and got hurt or something and Notre Dame was way behind. I went outside to throw a football around. When I got back; Notre Dame had won. He came back in the game.

 

[milani]

Seems only fitting we have thread for this guy. I’m going to be honest, I just don’t like this guy…never have. Yes he’s spent some money and bought in some guys but he just strikes me as a smug know it all type of dude. His drafts have been ok, not great. Plus I’m sure Rodgers and Adams both hate the guy so there’s that.

I just cannot say how much more I prefer him to Ted Thompson. If Gute was here all those years I believe we win a couple more SBs.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I just cannot say how much more I prefer him to Ted Thompson. If Gute was here all those years I believe we win a couple more SBs.

I don't think you are giving TT enough credit for the first half to 3/4'ers of his time with GB. He was a pretty damn good GM up until his final years. I think he was actually better at seeing talent in the draft than Gute has been so far. Gute has excelled past TT in Free Agents during the off season and has really shined this season in some moves during the season. The book isn't finished yet on Gute and a QB named Rodgers, that Ted drafted, may have a lot to do with how his final chapters go.

 

[Voyageur]

Actually, I thought Thompson did a great job. This article gives a synopsis of the moves he made, to get us out of cap hell, and to move the team forward. The years late in his term were marred by his health, which may have been covered up by those around him, if for no other reason than they cared for him, as a person. It may not have played out well to some people, as fans, but inside 1265 Lombardi Ave., the people who are there still treat each other like family. Thompson was not going to be thrown under the bus.

The problem is, some people carry a grudge, and it deals with how Favre left. I was there, for that first Shareholders Meeting, after that happened, and outside the stadium it was an interesting scenario. In fact, I was interviewed that day, on TV, about it, and I told them I thought people were seriously overreacting. It was obvious Favre didn't really want to be in GB any longer. It was time to let him go. I feel the same way about Rodgers. If he wants to stay, that's great. If he wants to go, that's fine too. Like they say; "Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out."

I wasn't convinced that the 3 headed approach to management was going to work from day one. I thought everything should channel through the GM. I'm still of that belief, but I have to give Gutey credit for the job he's done in drafting, and through free agency, without spending enormous money on guys who just aren't going to give you a decent ROI.

I do hold him accountable though for being part of the Rodgers problem. That doesn't excuse Rodgers, just saying that it takes two to tango.

When this season is over, and cooler heads prevail, I'm hoping that the two men find that they aren't as far apart on what they wish for with the Packers, and make the team better for it. At least, that's what I hope, because I think both bring something special to the table. For me, this is a big change, because I thought there were people way better for the job than Gutekunst, who in my opinion, should get major consideration as Executive of the Year, in the NFL. The guy has earned that title.

 

[Poppa San]

Wolf drafted several quarterbacks while Favre was the starter but he smartly never used a pick within the first three rounds to select one.

Wolf left in Favre's what 8th season? Far different scenario than his 14th. If Wolf stayed, he'd have been looking into a high draft round QB around or before the Rodgers draft year.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I just cannot say how much more I prefer him to Ted Thompson. If Gute was here all those years I believe we win a couple more SBs.

I understand that Gutekunst wasn't in charge of making decisions before becoming general manager but he has been with the team since 1998 and either director of college scouting or player personnel since 2012.

Wolf left in Favre's what 8th season? Far different scenario than his 14th. If Wolf stayed, he'd have been looking into a high draft round QB around or before the Rodgers draft year.

That's a fair point. As far as I remember most other teams that have had an aging HOF quarterback didn't spend a first rounder on his possible successor while he was still around though.

 

[Voyageur]

If you're looking for the historical record as to when QBs in the NFL were drafted, this is one of the best references. It goes all the way back to 1937. It includes the year, round, team making draft, and their college.

QBs Drafted

 

[milani]

I understand that Gutekunst wasn't in charge of making decisions before becoming general manager but he has been with the team since 1998 and either director of college scouting or player personnel since 2012.



That's a fair point. As far as I remember most other teams that have had an aging HOF quarterback didn't spend a first rounder on his possible successor while he was still around though.

Had Rodgers started as a rookie both he and the team would have taken their lumps for a couple years. Favre gave them the best chance if winning in 2006 and 2007.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

That's a fair point. As far as I remember most other teams that have had an aging HOF quarterback didn't spend a first rounder on his possible successor while he was still around though.

Yet the Packers did it with Favre/Rodgers and Rodgers/Love.

- Giants: Eli Manning/Jones (#6 pick).
- Ravens: Joe Flacco/Jackson (#32 pick)
- Cowboys: Aikman/Walsh (#1 pick on both)
- Buccaneers: Young/Testaverde (#1)
- Bengals: Anderson/Esiason (Anderson isn't in HOF yet)

Flacco and Ken Anderson may or may not get into the HOF, but both were very good QB's. Both Aikman and Young were young when their teams used #1 picks on another QB, but still teams pumping a lot of resources into the QB position. Young was interesting in that the Buccaneers obviously didn't know what they had with him and while the 49'ers already had Joe Montana, they were willing to give up a 2nd and 4th rounder to get Young.

There was also HOF'er Jim Kelly drafted by the Bills in the first round, while Joe Ferguson was still playing very well.

I probably missed a few, as well as noticed a lot of second rounders taken when a team already had a future HOF at QB. The bottom line, the Packers aren't the only teams to spend high draft resources on a QB (twice for the Packers) while they already had a great QB on their team.

 

[Schultz]

STOP with using facts in a disagreement on the internet.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Yet the Packers did it with Favre/Rodgers and Rodgers/Love.

- Giants: Eli Manning/Jones (#6 pick).
- Ravens: Joe Flacco/Jackson (#32 pick)
- Cowboys: Aikman/Walsh (#1 pick on both)
- Buccaneers: Young/Testaverde (#1)
- Bengals: Anderson/Esiason (Anderson isn't in HOF yet)

Flacco and Ken Anderson may or may not get into the HOF, but both were very good QB's. Both Aikman and Young were young when their teams used #1 picks on another QB, but still teams pumping a lot of resources into the QB position. Young was interesting in that the Buccaneers obviously didn't know what they had with him and while the 49'ers already had Joe Montana, they were willing to give up a 2nd and 4th rounder to get Young.

There was also HOF'er Jim Kelly drafted by the Bills in the first round, while Joe Ferguson was still playing very well.

I probably missed a few, as well as noticed a lot of second rounders taken when a team already had a future HOF at QB. The bottom line, the Packers aren't the only teams to spend high draft resources on a QB (twice for the Packers) while they already had a great QB on their team.

I'm sorry, Poker, but none of the examples you brought up above resembles anything close to the situation the Packers found themselves in in last year's draft.

Aside of the fact that Eli and Flacco weren't even close to being elite quarterbacks both of their teams hadn't made the playoffs for either two (Giants with Eli going 8-23) or three consecutive seasons (Ravens) at the time their successors were drafted.

The Cowboys drafted Aikman and Walsh in the same year. The Buccaneers had a record of 3-16 with Young starting at the time they drafted Testaverde.

Ken Anderson was still playing reasonably well but as you mentioned he wasn't a HOF talent. In addition the Bengals didn't spend a first rounder on Esiason.

Joe Ferguson led the league in interceptions the season before Kelly was drafted.

 

[Voyageur]

I'm sorry, Poker, but none of the examples you brought up above resembles anything close to the situation the Packers found themselves in in last year's draft.

Aside of the fact that Eli and Flacco weren't even close to being elite quarterbacks both of their teams hadn't made the playoffs for either two (Giants with Eli going 8-23) or three consecutive seasons (Ravens) at the time their successors were drafted.

The Cowboys drafted Aikman and Walsh in the same year. The Buccaneers had a record of 3-16 with Young starting at the time they drafted Testaverde.

Ken Anderson was still playing reasonably well but as you mentioned he wasn't a HOF talent. In addition the Bengals didn't spend a first rounder on Esiason.

Joe Ferguson led the league in interceptions the season before Kelly was drafted.

I believe Walsh was drafted in the supplemental draft in the same year that Aikman was drafted #1 in the regular draft? Interestingly enough the Cowboys spent the #1 pick in the 1989 draft on Aikman, and with the very first pick of the supplemental draft, spent their 1990 first round pick by grabbing Walsh.

At the time, it seemed strange, but Jimmy Johnson was Walsh's coach in college, so many believed he'd end up with Walsh under center, and Aikman relegated to a back up role, then traded. Sometimes you got it right from the start, and don't even know it.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm sorry, Poker, but none of the examples you brought up above resembles anything close to the situation the Packers found themselves in in last year's draft.

Of course they don't....in your opinion and it doesn't fit your narrative. Yours and others narrative that the Packers are the only team to ever spend draft capital on a QB, while they already had a top starter is just not true, but I don't expect you to admit it.

 

[tynimiller]

Of course they don't....in your opinion and it doesn't fit your narrative. Yours and others narrative that the Packers are the only team to ever spend draft capital on a QB, while they already had a top starter is just not true, but I don't expect you to admit it.

I'd include some others to a lessor degree as well:

Jimmy G/Lance
Flacco/Lamar
Brady/Trask

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'd include some others to a lessor degree as well:

Jimmy G/Lance
Flacco/Lamar
Brady/Trask

Right....but those don't fit the "exact" parameters some want to be able to use in calling the Love pick a complete failure on Gute's part.

I did include Lamar.

TT drafting Brian Brohm with a second round pick (#56) seemed like a huge waste too. However, it is what GM's do when they see what they perceive to be a bargain at a position that they might not be fully sure of in the near future.