Our New WRs coach...

[Lurker64]

Is Edgar Bennett: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/116935358.html

Curious.

[pbmax]

I like it. He has done a good job with the RBs and has earned the chance to move over. I am less certain with Fontenot taking over as RB coach, but we'll see. Coaches don't always coach the position they played, some of the better ones take on a different specialty.

And maybe ball security drills will help the WRs hands.

[vince]

That's a surprise. It's certainly admirable in terms of giving Bennett the opportunity to expand his horizons. It's a bit disappiointing in a way but I'm in no position to criticize it before we see how it works out.

[Tony Oday]

No surprise...he can kick the crap out of JJ everytime he drops the ball...fixed! :)

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I suspect YAC yards will go way up :). Time for that short passing game!

[Bretsky]

That's a surprise. It's certainly admirable in terms of giving Bennett the opportunity to expand his horizons. It's a bit disappiointing in a way but I'm in no position to criticize it before we see how it works out.


I hear you; we often follow into the trap of seeing all these coaches out there with great qualifications and then seeing our own coaches move over
On the other hand it's hard to criticize after a S Bowl

[Smidgeon]

Isn't there an anecdote about a great coach who didn't let his assistants teach the position they played? He said, "If you can coach, you can coach any position." It was probably intended to expand that coach's awareness of the entire game, but I never really understood that.

Meanwhile, the RBs and WRs share some things in common. Bennett can teach good blocking, and good catching. Not sure about the route running, but I imagine the WRs know that. I speculate that Bennett is a great motivator and knows how to get his players to do better the things they already know. This could be good news for the WR corp.

[get louder at lambeau]

Bennett can teach good blocking, and good catching. Not sure about the route running, but I imagine the WRs know that.

Bennett was a great receiving RB. He had 78 receptions in '94. I'm sure he can address running routes confidently.

[Smidgeon]

Bennett was a great receiving RB. He had 78 receptions in '94. I'm sure he can address running routes confidently.

Touche. I was thinking in the box of routes RBs typically run (i.e. go out in the flat and wait).

[Lurker64]

Touche. I was thinking in the box of routes RBs typically run (i.e. go out in the flat and wait).

Probably in the 11 or so years he's been out of football, he's had time to learn the dozen or so routes that constitute a professional WR route tree, if he didn't know them already.

[RashanGary]

The NFL and any job really is about moving up. This is a lateral move, but one that gives Bennett extra experience to one day be an OC. Good for McCarthy, giving the guys he has a chance to advance.

The natural progression for Bennett after this would be TE coach / OL assistant.


I remember looking at Tom Coughlin's career on Wiki (don't ask me why). He bounced from position to position like that until he eventually became OC and HC.

[get louder at lambeau]

I remember looking at Tom Coughlin's career on Wiki (don't ask me why).

Why?

[RashanGary]

Why?

I don't know, I just know for whatever reason I was researching Tom Coughlin's background a while back. We're football nerds. It happens.

[pbmax]

The NFL and any job really is about moving up. This is a lateral move, but one that gives Bennett extra experience to one day be an OC. Good for McCarthy, giving the guys he has a chance to advance.

The natural progression for Bennett after this would be TE coach / OL assistant.


I remember looking at Tom Coughlin's career on Wiki (don't ask me why). He bounced from position to position like that until he eventually became OC and HC.

OL or TE would be lateral again. Any Asst Position Coach would be a demotion. He already knows the blocking scheme from his own career and the ZBS he has been coaching. This move was to get him involved in the pass game. Next stop would be QB coach or OC.

Holmgren moved Reid from Oline to TE so he knew the pass scheme then QB coach then HC.

[Fritz]

The NFL and any job really is about moving up. This is a lateral move, but one that gives Bennett extra experience to one day be an OC. Good for McCarthy, giving the guys he has a chance to advance.

The natural progression for Bennett after this would be TE coach / OL assistant.


I remember looking at Tom Coughlin's career on Wiki (don't ask me why). He bounced from position to position like that until he eventually became OC and HC.

Dude, when your life gets that boring, there is this thing called porn...

[KYPack]

I don't know, I just know for whatever reason I was researching Tom c's background a while back. We're football nerds. It happens.

I figured you were going in a different direction with this. Coughlin was a WR coach for the Pack under Forrest Gregg. In that capacity, he cut a good friend of mine. When I asked him about it, he told me that Coughlin was a total asshole, but would probably be a HC someday.

Coughlin would write numbers on the footballs and ask the receivers what number they caught. He said he cut players based on their ability to remember the number. They all wanted to kill him.

None of 'em followed thru.

[Fritz]

Well KY, your friend was right...guy had some foresight if he could tell Coughlin would be a HC someday.

How'd Forrest Gregg ever get the Bungals to the Super Bowl anyway? He seemed a terrible head coach in Green Bay. Just terrible. Coaching like it was still 1967.

[red]

its a little odd at first sight seeing a well known packer running back coaching the wr's, but maybe he's just got what it takes to be a coach. and edgar does have that same kind of attitude that you see in driver and jennings so i think he'll fit in great with those guys

also, i don't ever remember bennett having problem catching or holding on to the ball, he could have a big impact in that department

i like the move

[BlueBrewer]

still not as odd as a offense to defense move like Philly

[RashanGary]

OL or TE would be lateral again. Any Asst Position Coach would be a demotion. He already knows the blocking scheme from his own career and the ZBS he has been coaching. This move was to get him involved in the pass game. Next stop would be QB coach or OC.

Holmgren moved Reid from Oline to TE so he knew the pass scheme then QB coach then HC.

Yeah, that might make more sense. I was thinking it was so different (QB's) that they might not go that route just because it doesn't help the team much. For Bennett, that would be the ultimate next position.

[RashanGary]

I figured you were going in a different direction with this. Coughlin was a WR coach for the Pack under Forrest Gregg. In that capacity, he cut a good friend of mine. When I asked him about it, he told me that Coughlin was a total asshole, but would probably be a HC someday.

Coughlin would write numbers on the footballs and ask the receivers what number they caught. He said he cut players based on their ability to remember the number. They all wanted to kill him.

Non of 'em followed thru.

Sounds like he was always an ass hole. Cool story though.

[MJZiggy]

I think Edgar's earned the opportunity to try a new position if he wants. If it gets him experience to move up further, well then, Go Edgar!

[gbgary]

The NFL and any job really is about moving up. This is a lateral move, but one that gives Bennett extra experience to one day be an OC. Good for McCarthy, giving the guys he has a chance to advance.

The natural progression for Bennett after this would be TE coach / OL assistant.


I remember looking at Tom Coughlin's career on Wiki (don't ask me why). He bounced from position to position like that until he eventually became OC and HC.


McCarthy: This is something we've been preparing for. "i'm excited to promote. It's something we've had foresight" to coach them together.



MM called it a promotion.

[Lurker64]

MM called it a promotion.

Considering how much we run the ball, it probably would be a promotion in MM's eyes ;p

[mraynrand]

Great move for Bennett. Who wouldn't see this as a huge opportunity - to coach what is one of the most explosive group of receivers in the NFL, on probably the most innovative offense in the NFL. QB coach or offensive coordinator can't be far away if Bennett is successful with the WRs. He could be a head coach in 5 years easy.

I was hoping to see LeShon Johnson as RB coach - just to see it!

[vince]

Listening to McCarthy talk about these changes has convinced me they are good moves.

I thought this is a pretty good summary article.

http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110225/PKR01/110225153/Team-fills-coaching-vacancies-with-surprise-inside-moves

Green Bay Packers fill coaching vacancies from inside with surprise moves
By Pete Dougherty • pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com • February 25, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike McCarthy’s coaching changes, on paper, look strange indeed.

On Friday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers’ coach announced that Edgar Bennett is leaving his post as running backs coach and replacing departed Jimmy Robinson as receivers coach.

Bennett’s background has nothing to suggest this as a way to fill the receivers job. He played running back for eight seasons in the NFL, and it’s the only position he’s coached in his six seasons as an NFL assistant.

But after Robinson left the Packers to become assistant head coach-receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, Bennett went hard after the receivers job and won over McCarthy with his preparation and attention to detail. It was enough to convince the Packers’ coach that Bennett’s desire to expand his expertise also will be good for the team.

“At the end of the day the guy jumped through the door to do the job,” McCarthy said Friday after his annual press conference at the NFL scouting combine. “I’m going to be there, Tom (Clements, the quarterbacks coach) is going to be there. We’ve got a veteran group (at receiver). It’s going to be healthy.”

Along with moving Bennett to receivers coach, McCarthy made another unusual move by promoting Jerry Fontenot from offensive line assistant to replace Bennett as running backs coach. Fontenot had a 16-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL and had helped coach the Packers’ offensive line the past five years.

McCarthy also promoted John Rushing from offensive quality control coach to a combined role as assistant wide receivers coach-special teams coach, and hired Joel Hilgenberg as the new offensive quality control coach. Hilgenberg had a 10-year career as an NFL offensive lineman and was an intern on the Packers’ staff for part of last offseason and training camp.

While the moves for Bennett and Fontenot appear unusual considering their backgrounds, they’re hardly unprecedented job changes in the NFL. This offseason, for instance, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid made a major out-of-the-box change on his coaching staff by moving offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator. Castillo had been the Eagles’ offensive line coach the past 13 years, though he had some background on defense, as a player at linebacker for Texas A&I and then San Antonio of the USFL; as a linebackers-defensive line coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1982-85; and as a defensive coordinator as a high school assistant in Texas from 1986-89.

In Bennett’s six seasons as the Packers’ running backs coach, he’s proven to be conscientious, a hard worker and a good teacher, so there’s every reason to think he quickly can learn the schematic details of the Packers’ passing game that he didn’t pick up in his previous duties.

The harder part will be learning and then imparting the nuances of the position, which came naturally for Robinson, who played receiver in the NFL for six seasons and coached receivers for all 26 years he’s been a college or pro assistant.

It’s similar to what McCarthy went through as a young assistant after playing tight end in college but then eventually becoming a quarterbacks coach in the NFL. The main difference is, McCarthy began working with quarterbacks as a volunteer and then graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, and then was a quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons before becoming their quarterbacks coach in 1995.

Bennett is making the position change at the NFL level. McCarthy, though, said he likes to promote from within when possible, that he thinks the change will invigorate his coaches and players, and that Bennett will get ample support from himself and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

“We (coaches) spend a lot of time together, we don’t just throw the plan in and everybody goes to their (meeting) room,” McCarthy said. “There’s a lot of group interaction. But on the other side of it, Edgar’s a very passionate guy, hard working. Trust me, this will be a positive. Jimmy is an outstanding coach, did an excellent job with that group, but change is healthy for everybody. It’s a great opportunity Jimmy has in Dallas, and I think a fresh face in the receiver room – Edgar brings a lot of credibility. I think it will be very positive.”

One of Bennett’s strengths as running backs coach was teaching ball security, and in his interview with McCarthy he stressed that he’d make that his greatest point of emphasis for the receivers. The Packers’ receivers didn’t have major problems with fumbles, but Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and James Jones had three each, and Donald Driver one.

“Edgar’s first goal is to make them handle the football better,” McCarthy said. “That’s something he feels he does a very good job of as a coach, whether he’s coaching tight ends, running backs, receivers, that’s not going to change. That’s one of the things – he had five things in his interview he wanted to accomplish with the group, he’d already broken it down.”

Bennett also will get help coaching the receivers from Rushing, who as a quality control coach the last two seasons assisted Robinson. Rushing also will have expanded duties on special teams, and his promotion means he won’t have to do the computer data entry that’s a huge part of a quality-control assistant’s duties. That now will become Hilgenberg’s responsibility, along with assisting offensive line coach James Campen.

“Frankly, I thought we’d have more movement on our staff,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been trying to develop younger coaches. Jerry Fontenot is one of those younger coaches. John Rushing is one of those younger coaches. It was an opportunity to move these guys up. I’m really excited the way this worked out. A lot of time, a lot of thought, a lot of planning went into this. I know our players will be excited to see these guys promoted. We’re going to be a better offense next year, that’s our focus.”

As offensive line assistant, Fontenot worked closely with Campen and Bennett on the running game, which will help prepare him for coaching running back. Though like Bennett at receivers coach, there are some details of coaching running backs he’ll have to learn.

“It’s a very good coaching staff,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been together going on six years. We want to get better, and we’re always looking for ways to get better. I’ve had a chance to sit down at length with Joe Philbin, and we felt with this new structure that we can get involved in certain areas and hopefully we can improve.”

[King Friday]

Strikes me as odd. Having an OL player teach the RBs...and a RB teach the WRs? Probably good experience for the coaches...but I'm not sure it will work wonders for our players. Things worked pretty well this year when they were coaching positions they actually have life long experience with. I could see moving one guy into an area he doesn't have a lot of experience...but two?

Position coaches are EXTREMELY important in the NFL. They are the ones who have the greatest impact on coaching up young talent, and the best people to do that are the ones that have experience playing those positions IMO. The Bennett move doesn't bother me that much...he's a hard worker and I think will work well with out WRs. RB is a position of concern to me at present...Starks needs some serious coaching. Not sure I want a former OL guy doing that.

[pbmax]

Strikes me as odd. Having an OL player teach the RBs...and a RB teach the WRs? Probably good experience for the coaches...but I'm not sure it will work wonders for our players. Things worked pretty well this year when they were coaching positions they actually have life long experience with. I could see moving one guy into an area he doesn't have a lot of experience...but two?

Position coaches are EXTREMELY important in the NFL. They are the ones who have the greatest impact on coaching up young talent, and the best people to do that are the ones that have experience playing those positions IMO. The Bennett move doesn't bother me that much...he's a hard worker and I think will work well with out WRs. RB is a position of concern to me at present...Starks needs some serious coaching. Not sure I want a former OL guy doing that.

Would it ease your mind to know Andy Reid made the jump from OL coach to TE coach pretty successfully? The only thing unusual is that its two of them at once.

[Patler]

There is nothing at all odd about a coach coaching a position he didn't play. Look at New England's staff, after all, Belichick is perfect, isn't he?

Matt Patricia – Safeties. A center-guard at Rensselaer. No pro playing experience.
Chad O'Shea - Wide receivers. A quarterback at Marshall. No pro playing experience.
Bill O'Brien - Offensive coordinator & QBs. A linebacker/defensive end at Brown. No pro playing experience
Pepper Johnson - Defensive Line. A linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz - Tight ends. An offensive lineman at Iowa.


I have said for years that Bennett is a top-notch coach because players show great improvement when coached by him, and emergency replacements perform remarkably well. He deserves the opportunity to broaden his experience level, and I am glad he is doing it with the Packers, rather than having to leave and go elsewhere.

[Fritz]

I'm getting a boner.

[theeaterofshades]

Great move for Bennett. Who wouldn't see this as a huge opportunity - to coach what is one of the most explosive group of receivers in the NFL, on probably the most innovative offense in the NFL. QB coach or offensive coordinator can't be far away if Bennett is successful with the WRs. He could be a head coach in 5 years easy.

I was hoping to see LeShon Johnson as RB coach - just to see it!

No, I prefer Travis Jervey! Either way they could bring the Lion they were going to buy while players in GB!

[Cheesehead Craig]

At least our WRs will be running with that high knee action now.

[pbmax]

There is nothing at all odd about a coach coaching a position he didn't play. Look at New England's staff, after all, Belichick is perfect, isn't he?

Matt Patricia – Safeties. A center-guard at Rensselaer. No pro playing experience.
Chad O'Shea - Wide receivers. A quarterback at Marshall. No pro playing experience.
Bill O'Brien - Offensive coordinator & QBs. A linebacker/defensive end at Brown. No pro playing experience
Pepper Johnson - Defensive Line. A linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz - Tight ends. An offensive lineman at Iowa.


I have said for years that Bennett is a top-notch coach because players show great improvement when coached by him, and emergency replacements perform remarkably well. He deserves the opportunity to broaden his experience level, and I am glad he is doing it with the Packers, rather than having to leave and go elsewhere.

We really should offer this site to the Journal-Sentinel and Press Gazette. Between their two stories, they emphasized the unusual nature and came up with two examples of coaches moving out of the own playing position (or career path): McCarthy and Juan Castillo for the Eagles.

The unpaid volunteers here just named seven.

[The Weasel]

I for one, welcome our new WR overlords.

[Patler]

NY Jets staff:

Mike Bloomgren - Assistant offensive coordinator. No pro or college playing experience.
Mark Carrier - Defensive line. Cornerback Southern Cal. and NFL.
Mike Devlin - Tight Ends/Asst. Offensive Line. Offensive line Iowa and Pro
Jim O'Neil – Ass’t defensive backs. Defensive end Towson Univ. No pro experience.
Bob Sutton - defensive assistant/linebackers. No college or pro playing experience.
Jeff Weeks - Outside linebackers. Wide receiver Southwest Oklahoma State. No pro experience.

It used to be common for position coaches to move around a bit, although not as common recently. I knew N.E. had several, so I went to them first. This morning I thought I would check another HC who is not married to the present-day norm, but is willing to be unconventional in an old-school sort of way. The Jets came to mind.

So, there are 11 who are either coaching outside of the positions they played, or who have not played. That's from having checked just two coaching staffs. I suspect there are a lot more, too.

[Patler]

Third team I checked, Miami Dolphins:

Steve Bush - Wide Receivers. Defensive back Southern Connecticut State. No pro playing experience.
David Corrao - Defensive Quality Control/Assistant Linebackers. Running back University of San Diego. No pro playing experience.
Brian Daboll - Offensive Coordinator. Safety Rochester. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

This is just too easy! Arizona Cardinals staff:

Ron Aiken - Defensive Line. Guard/center North Carolina A&T. No pro playing experience.
Louie Cioffi - Defensive Backs. No college or pro playing experience.
Chad Grimm - Offensive Q.C. Linebacker Virginia Tech.. No pro playing experience.
Freddie Kitchens - Tight Ends. Quarterback Alabama. No pro playing experience.
John McNulty - Wide receivers. Safety Penn State. No pro playing experience.
Mike Miller - Passing game coordinator. No college or pro playing experience.
Tommie Robinson - Running backs. Safety Troy State. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

NY Giants:


David Merritt - Secondary/Safeties. Linebacker North Carolina State and Pro.
Robert Nunn - Defensive line. Linebacker Oklahoma State 1984-87. No pro playing experience.
Michael Pope - Tight Ends. Quarterback Lenoir-Rhyne. No pro playing experience.
Sean Ryan - Wide receivers. Defensive back Hamilton College. No pro playing experience.
Mike Sullivan – Quarterbacks. Defensive back Army. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

I have not checked every team, but of those that I did check, every team had at least 1. The Saints had 6. I don't feel like listing them all.

[vince]

As long as they don't hire Favre to be Director of Player Development, I'm good.

[MJZiggy]

I'm getting a boner.
This is not unusual.

[Fritz]

No, it's not.

[swede]

There is nothing at all odd about a coach coaching a position he didn't play. Look at New England's staff, after all, Belichick is perfect, isn't he?

Matt Patricia – Safeties. A center-guard at Rensselaer. No pro playing experience.
Chad O'Shea - Wide receivers. A quarterback at Marshall. No pro playing experience.
Bill O'Brien - Offensive coordinator & QBs. A linebacker/defensive end at Brown. No pro playing experience
Pepper Johnson - Defensive Line. A linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz - Tight ends. An offensive lineman at Iowa.



Kevin Greene for Offensive line coach.