Packers special teams would not wear any identifying badges or uniforms.
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Yep, personnel makes the big difference.
However, 7 blocked kicks don't happen if the ST coach is doing his job. There may not be a big time KO returner but the lines of both offense and defense are strong enough to form a coherent blocking unit despite injuries.
This seems more his style
http://news.uwlax.edu/wp-content/upl.../03/Blake3.jpg
What will I do on Wednesdays now?
I'm pausing my football break by posting my sincere joy over this overdue news.
Fuck you Slocum. It's been a long time that someone could suck so long and keep their job in this league
The thing is though, they had the same win/loss record despite the vastly improved special teams play. Maybe they should have focused more on upgrading their defense. It is possible to place too much emphasis on special teams. You don't want to be terrible as the Packers were, but you don't have to be great either.
8 years too late. MM's job was on the line if he didn't do this.
I do wonder how much Ted has to push. For this or the D makeover before 2009. M3 certainly is loyal. We don't really know and we don't know what would push M3 over the edge. He has never really instituted a firing for reasons solely important to him (that we know of, except maybe Stock to promote Slocum). We don't know how much he would tolerate on his own.
This move by Mike McCarthy to dismiss Shawn Slocum was a 'no brainer'.
If Mike Mccarthy had entered next season with Slocum still installed as his ST Co-ordinator. he would have been bare assed open for much criticism; any more crucial screw ups on ST's possibly prompting his demise?
So who does M3 hire to take Slocum's spot? Does he promote Zook (I hope not) or hire Morton (which would be hilariously ironic but obviously won't happen due to last year's firing and Morton probably not ready yet) or someone else? Who's left? Due to the Packers making it deep into the playoffs and M3's brother dying and therefore stuff getting pushed back even further, the usual pool seems shallow.
An up and comer from somewhere is what I hope. From outside the org.
Is the ST coordinator now at the level of the OC and DC, the next level below the headcoach (and maybe the assistant headcoach)?
Would Special Teams Coordinator be a promotion for Edgar Bennett???????
When Cromwell was the Packers' ST coach he was a neophyte in the coaching ranks. Are you suggesting they get him back?
ST in the past was almost an entry level position, but I think that has changed over the years. Now it is common to have 1 or 2 assistants under the ST coordinator, and/or a quality control guy helping out. He has his own "staff". The position used to be a "coach", now it is "coordinator".
It has been said that MM used Slocum as his sideline assistant, maybe because of a personal relationship, but also because the ST coordinator doesn't have a lot of in game strategy to be concerned with, unlike the O and D coaches that have to strategize.
I agree with your recommended path for Bennett, but I think ST coordinator could also, in today's game, offer another step up for him, and maybe keep him around a while longer.
ST used to be coached by a position coach or a head coach. It was the last group to get a coordinator.
Yup. It went from being a side job for someone with other primary coaching responsibilities, to being just a singular "coach" who might also help out with another position, to being a coach with no other significant responsibilities (This is what it was during the '90s) to now being a "coordinator" position with dedicated special teams assistants under him.
That said, and with no disrespect to special teamers, I have a hard time understanding what a Special Teams Coordinator and one or two assistants do all day long during the season, let alone in the off-season.
Of course, I have a hard time seeing the need for 20 coaches in a sport played by 11 on O and D.
How long before we see "O-line Assistant - Centers", "O-line Assistant - Guards" and "O-line Assistant Tackles"? Can further specialization to "Left Tackles" and "Right Tackles" be far off?
Long snapping, hold, punting and kicking are significantly different skils and responsibilities. Shouldn't there be at least three assistants (lets ignore kickoffs, for now!)
But I digress...............
Make EB the STC. Performance would certainly improve.
Edgar being mentioned reminds me of something I have been wondering. Any chance that the lifelong running back is having trouble teaching releases off the LOS by his receivers?
Jimmy Robinson, former WR coach, played the position and Driver and Jennings rarely had trouble releasing off the line, though as each aged, they also got to play more in the slot. Teams, including the Packers at times, go to great lengths to get off the line, but it seems to be more of a struggle these days.
Two comments:
First, I think part of the problem is that they are seeing more and more big cornerbacks, as teams realize they need bigger guys to go up against the big WRs that are becoming more common, and since teams like Seattle have proven that bigger cornerbacks can still be very effective, if you chose wisely.
The other comment I have is from an article near the end of the season. Maybe it was even after the Dallas game. Rodgers commented about Adams, and one thing he mentioned was how much he had improved in releasing off the LOS. I remember it, because I thought it was an especially good sign for a rookie WR adapting to play in the NFL.
Not that I disagree, but who do you see struggling with the release? Cobb normally gets off pretty good, but he has the advantage of normally being in the slot. Nelson gets tied up from time to time. After Adams the other WR were so worthless I can't even really grade them.
Plus MM seems to like to cross-train his coaches. Outside looking in, you'd wonder why a head coach would appoint a running back to coach receivers, but he's a big believer in cross-training, which if you think about it builds the resume up to perhaps someday be a HC.
I think they should hire Chuck Cecil to run special teams. :)
Zook is top candidate according to Bob who is apparently speaking to the one veteran coordinator currently available (Joe Marciano).
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...290711531.html
Also some non-specific blame passing:
So is it the hiring and firing or the personnel? No one knows, they are just laughing.Quote:
"It also reflects on the head coach," one coordinator said. "They've done it a long time and haven't been very good. I guess you could lay it all on Shawn but they don't have great special teams personnel.
"Other thing, they've changed the assistants forever there. We used to laugh about that. They fire the assistants. Like, what are they doing that for?"