Press Gazette McCarthey Article.

[RashanGary]

While the Green Bay Packers were getting used to having a new coach for the first time in six seasons, Mike McCarthy was doing some adjusting of his own.

For the last 14 seasons, McCarthy was an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, Packers, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.

Now, McCarthy is in charge, and he’s not entirely used to it.

“Itââ� �€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s different. I’m not going to lie to you,” McCarthy said after Saturday’s second minicamp practice. “Iââ⠀šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢m used to doing a lot more coaching. There’s times where you feel like you want to jump into drills. It’s been a good experience for me to sit back and watch these guys coach.”

If McCarthy is uncomfortable with his role, he’s doing a great job of disguising it from his assistants and players.

“Heââ� �€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a natural,” offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. “Heââ� �€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a great communicator. He’s a blue-collar, no-nonsense guy. The players really respond to that.”

Starting receiver Donald Driver agrees with that assessment, saying McCarthy has won over the players after just two days and three practices.

“I don’t think they would have given him that position if he had to earn respect,” Driver said. “I think he pretty much has that respect already, and I think everyone in that locker room already respects him as a man.”

McCarthy addressed the team for the first time before Friday’s practice, telling the players what he expected in the wake of last season’s 4-12 record.

“I really felt like he was believable. Now, it just has to be done,” quarterback Brett Favre said. “I think the tough thing for a head coach is getting 53 guys to believe in one thing and not stray off after two games. They have to buy into that, and I think a big part of that is the type of guys you have. I think, for the most part, what was said (Friday), guys have heard it before elsewhere — maybe in college or with other teams — but did they believe it? I can’t speak for every guy in this building, but to me, it was believable.”

Jagodzinski said he’s not surprised the players have responded so well to McCarthy.

“With him, there’s no gray area,” Jagodzinski said. “You won’t ever wonder what he wants you to do, because he’ll tell you exactly what he wants you to do.”

While many players were careful not to criticize former coach Mike Sherman, who was fired after last season, many said they welcome the change.

“Thereâà ¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s no question it’s a big change,” cornerback Al Harris said. “There are all kinds of changes around this team, with all the new players and the coaches. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.”

McCarthy said he understood the importance of Friday morning’s speech, but said he was most excited to get everybody on the field.

“(This is something) you prepare a long time for,” McCarthy said. “We had a lot of administrative things to address, and like I’ve said already, we couldn’t wait to get into the football. Once we got into the football, it was a natural. It’s where we all belong.”

McCarthy’s coaching style is decidedly different from Sherman’s. While Sherman generally stood in the middle of the field to watch all aspects of practice, McCarthy spent the majority of his time working with the quarterbacks and the offense.

“Iââ⠀šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢m very conscious of making sure (Jagodzinski) has the platform to do his job,” McCarthy said. “Weââ� �€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢re doing the offense together, but I don’t believe in micromanagement. I think in the long run it can really hurt what you’re trying to accomplish.”

The approach has been well received.

“Heââ� �€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s an exciting guy to be around,” cornerback Charles Woodson said. “I know it’s early, but you can tell the players respect him and respond to him.”

Jagodzinski agrees, and says that in addition to McCarthy’s knowledge of the game, his biggest asset is his personality.

“You can see his passion in the way he coaches,” Jagodzinski said. “He has so much fun out there that you can’t help but be excited about it.”


Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlins@postcrescent.com

[RashanGary]

So far so good.

[swede]

I have a good feeling about Mike McCarthy, but from here on out I declare a six-month moratorium on the expressions "blue-collar" or "no-nonsense" as applied to MM.

Come on people, work a little harder at describing the guy!

Other than that rant, thanks for the post, Nick.

[Patler]

I have a good feeling about Mike McCarthy, but from here on out I declare a six-month moratorium on the expressions "blue-collar" or "no-nonsense" as applied to MM.

Come on people, work a little harder at describing the guy!

Other than that rant, thanks for the post, Nick.

OK, he seems like a straight shooter, a nuts and bolts sort of guy. What you see is what you get with him. He doesn't put on aires, or try to be something he is not. A real down to earth individual who isn't afraid of hard work. He just rolls up his sleeves and gets at it. Will do what it takes to get the job done, not afraid to get his hands dirty. He demands respect, but gives it in return.

How's that? :smile:

[RashanGary]

I'm glad to hear that he's spending most of his time with the offense. I'm a believer that most good or great coaches bring something special to the table. Usually that something special relates to a certain aspect of football. McCarthy is the QB position and the passing game.

When a guy butts his nose into areas that he is not proficient in, it causes problems. The head coach doesn't need to teach the DB's how to play zone, but he damn well better let them know if they're loafing around.

The point of the story is to do what you do and do it well. Hire someone who knows what their doing to do what you can't. There is nothing wrong with not knowing everything as long as you hire someone who knows what you don't.

Sherman was too involved with the defense before Bates. I think it hurt the team.

[RashanGary]

McCarthy seems to be letting Jags have his way with the running game too. That is really refreshing.

Sherman was a line coach. He was most knowledgable and able to teach the run game. He seemed to even have his nose in the passing game quite a bit. I liked Sherman and thought he was so organized and efficient in preparation that it made up for a ton of things that he did wrong.

Hopefully McCarthy can match that organization, but allow each specialist to coach their positions.

[No Mo Moss]

I have a good feeling about Mike McCarthy, but from here on out I declare a six-month moratorium on the expressions "blue-collar" or "no-nonsense" as applied to MM.

Come on people, work a little harder at describing the guy!

Other than that rant, thanks for the post, Nick.

Add "Gray Area" to that list. "There is no gray area with him." Enough already.

[Fritz]

"OK, he seems like a straight shooter, a nuts and bolts sort of guy. What you see is what you get with him. He doesn't put on aires, or try to be something he is not. A real down to earth individual who isn't afraid of hard work. He just rolls up his sleeves and gets at it. Will do what it takes to get the job done, not afraid to get his hands dirty. He demands respect, but gives it in return."

Swede, can we ban every single phrase used above? I think Shamrock had to work to get them all in.

[swede]

Hey, he had his nose to the grindstone and gave 110%

That's all I can ask.

[Patler]

"OK, he seems like a straight shooter, a nuts and bolts sort of guy. What you see is what you get with him. He doesn't put on aires, or try to be something he is not. A real down to earth individual who isn't afraid of hard work. He just rolls up his sleeves and gets at it. Will do what it takes to get the job done, not afraid to get his hands dirty. He demands respect, but gives it in return."

Swede, can we ban every single phrase used above? I think Shamrock had to work to get them all in.

Nah, it was a piece of cake! Like falling off a log. They flow from my keyboard like water off a duck's back. I could write them in my sleep.

Really, its second nature to me!

:mrgreen:

[BooHoo]

I'm holding off my thoughts/opinion of MM until later in the year. To early to tell! :?

[Noodle]

These kind of stories are entertaining, but geez, the guy just got here. In the immortal words of The Wolf, Let's not start **** each other's **** just yet. If we go 2-4 to start, then let's see how folks feel about the guy.

One guy I'm already growing tired of is Jags. If he gets his nose any farther up 3M's butt, we're not gonna see him for the rest of the season.

Having said all that, change is a good thing. I like all of the new kids, I like the feeling that we have a chance to be ok this year, and I like that we're still in a position, from a cap perspective, to pick up some studs after the June 1 cuts.

It's good to be a Packer fan.

[Tarlam!]

It's good to be a Packer fan.


Never ever in the history of this forum has so much been said in so few words. We, who are about to cheer, salute you!

Anyone got any kool-aide? :shock:

[billy_oliver880]

It's good to be a Packer fan.


Never ever in the history of this forum has so much been said in so few words. We, who are about to cheer, salute you!

Anyone got any kool-aide? :shock:

Can we get that in pill form?

[MJZiggy]

It's good to be a Packer fan.


Never ever in the history of this forum has so much been said in so few words. We, who are about to cheer, salute you!

Anyone got any kool-aide? :shock:

Can we get that in pill form?

sugar cubes.