Why did McCarthy fire most of the staff?

[Partial]

I'm really surprised they kept Moss. Why? If they're going to let the entire defensive staff go so the coordinator can start fresh, why keep that guy?

Also, why let Lionel Washington go? From all accounts, the players LOVE him and will gladly fight for him. Isn't that the exact result you want from players? The secondary performed pretty well this year, and the players loved playing for Washington. Just seems like an odd move to me.

[retailguy]

Since I know virtually nothing about defensive schemes, I'll throw out a question that puzzles me. Could GB adapt to a 3-4 and continue to use the "bump & run" secondary with Harris/Woodson? Or does moving to a 3-4 necessitate a change in secondary coverage?

Yes and no. Like a 4-3, depending on the scheme, you can use man (bump or off) or zone (off) coverage. Tampa cover 2 has the corners playing mostly zone/off. The Dallas cover 2 (or whatever it's called) has the corners playing mostly man/bump. Similarly, in a 3-4, you can play either zone or man (bump or off). I think the best defenses can mix it up, but you have to play to your strengths. Woodson could play either system. Harris would get killed playing off coverage.

What about Williams?

[Cleft Crusty]

I was listening to Chmura talk about the D coordinator on his radio show last week. Chmura's take is that schemes are not the problem.

I agree for the most part. Players are the problem. Packers had a run 'o the mill group before the injuries, and after the injures, they had a lousy front 7. You can't win with crapola, no matter what scheme you invent. Eventually you have to block and tackle.

[HarveyWallbangers]

For instance, Jim Jones in Philly is no firebrand. But maybe the team needs a kick.

Jim Jones? Nice. Johnson isn't a fiery personality, but his schemes are aggressive. I think that's one way to get an aggressive/fiery defense. Sanders is neither a fiery personality nor does he have an aggressive scheme.

[Zool]

I was listening to Chmura talk about the D coordinator on his radio show last week. Chmura's take is that schemes are not the problem.

I agree for the most part. Players are the problem. Packers had a run 'o the mill group before the injuries, and after the injures, they had a lousy front 7. You can't win with crapola, no matter what scheme you invent. Eventually you have to block and tackle.

But you cant fire the entire front 7, and someone had to be the scapegoat.

[HarveyWallbangers]

What about Williams?

Hard to say, for me. He looked pretty good playing bump, and he has the atheltic ability for any scheme. However, a lot of the best zone corners are smart players and good tacklers. Think Ronde Barber and Antoine Winfield. I can't say one way or the other whether he fits that description.

[Cleft Crusty]

I was listening to Chmura talk about the D coordinator on his radio show last week. Chmura's take is that schemes are not the problem.

I agree for the most part. Players are the problem. Packers had a run 'o the mill group before the injuries, and after the injures, they had a lousy front 7. You can't win with crapola, no matter what scheme you invent. Eventually you have to block and tackle.

But you cant fire the entire front 7, and someone had to be the scapegoat.

This is true. And McCarthy can't fire Thompson or bad luck.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't know why people think this is going to be easy, the PAckers will have winning seasons every year.

the team tanks to 6-9 in an injury-filled season, and suddenly management is on the hot seat. Bill Cowher was on the griddle until he became a genius. All the coaches and GMs have down cycles.

I think you got to look at a 5 year history to judge. TT has been in a senior position for long enough, I suppose. Most say he has outstanding track record.

[mission]

I don't know why people think this is going to be easy, the PAckers will have winning seasons every year.

the team tanks to 6-9 in an injury-filled season, and suddenly management is on the hot seat. Bill Cowher was on the griddle until he became a genius. All the coaches and GMs have down cycles.

I think you got to look at a 5 year history to judge. TT has been in a senior position for long enough, I suppose. Most say he has outstanding track record.

MM is not a genius...

[Cleft Crusty]

TT has been in a senior position for long enough, I suppose. Most say he has outstanding track record.

He is credited with much of Seattle's personnel success, specifically in the draft.

In four years as Packer GM he is 32-32 regular season and 1-1 in one postseason.


Is that outstanding?


edit: I gave TT credit for one too many wins. He is 31-33 in the regular season.

[Harlan Huckleby]

TT is an excellent drafter.

His overly-conservative shortcomings are well documented.

I think he is gonna prove himself. But he does have to get the team to the promised land in the next three years.

[AV David]

I believe this means Winston Moss is the new DC and wants to run a new system. How can you bring in a new DC and make him take WM, who could be seen as a real threat to the new DC and whom is being groomed for "something" apparently. I suppose he could make room for him as ST coach or on offense, but that sees unlikely. Can you really keep him around if he is NOT the DC?

As to the 3-4, it is in substantial essence the Oklahoma 5-2 used in high school and college. The "ends" tend to be more like tackles in size and duties. The OLB spots are the most difficult positions because they have to act as a hybrid DE and a hybrid OLB. The OLB have to be fast, they are responsible for the edge. The ILB have to be relatively big, fast is a bonus. The Guard or OT are generally assigned to block the ILB and tend to have a pretty clean shot at them. They have to stand up to an "Iso" lead block by the FB. An ILB HAS to be able to stand up to blocks by O linemen. The DE is often tasked (running plays) with chucking the OT to disrupt his block on the ILB.

I don't see Kampman as a good fit at OLB. You really have to be pretty fast. I can see Picket as the NT. I can see Jenkins as a DE. I don't know where J Thompson or Kampman fit in a 3-4/5-2.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Hunter is 6'4" 270 and can run like the wind (he ran 4.55 coming out). I'm sure he could slim down a bit. Merriman, Porter, Woodley, Suggs, Shaun Phillips are all 3-4 OLBs who are in the 260 range. Hunter might fit perfectly as an OLB in a 3-4 defense. Thompson is 6'4" 270 and ran 4.7 coming out. Not sure if that is fast enough or not. Poppinga has slimmed down, but was a DE in college. A lot of people thought he'd be a 3-4 LB.

LE Kampman?
NT Pickett
RE Jenkins
OLB Poppinga, Chillar, Hunter, Thompson?
ILB Hawk, Barnett?

[cpk1994]

I believe this means Winston Moss is the new DC and wants to run a new system. How can you bring in a new DC and make him take WM, who could be seen as a real threat to the new DC and whom is being groomed for "something" apparently. I suppose he could make room for him as ST coach or on offense, but that sees unlikely. Can you really keep him around if he is NOT the DC?

As to the 3-4, it is in substantial essence the Oklahoma 5-2 used in high school and college. The "ends" tend to be more like tackles in size and duties. The OLB spots are the most difficult positions because they have to act as a hybrid DE and a hybrid OLB. The OLB have to be fast, they are responsible for the edge. The ILB have to be relatively big, fast is a bonus. The Guard or OT are generally assigned to block the ILB and tend to have a pretty clean shot at them. They have to stand up to an "Iso" lead block by the FB. An ILB HAS to be able to stand up to blocks by O linemen. The DE is often tasked (running plays) with chucking the OT to disrupt his block on the ILB.

I don't see Kampman as a good fit at OLB. You really have to be pretty fast. I can see Picket as the NT. I can see Jenkins as a DE. I don't know where J Thompson or Kampman fit in a 3-4/5-2.

Or it could just be that McCarthy doesn't want to fire a guy under consideration for a head job.

[Partial]

TT is an excellent drafter.

TT has been an OK drafter. He has done well in later rounds and had less success early on. Too soon to tell imo.