Packers promote Slocum to special teams coach

[packers11]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37550999.html

[Fritz]

Does this mean that MM likes Slocum so much - he considered moving Slocum to the defensive staff before hiring a coordinator - that the guy was a slam dunk pick? So good that MM didn't need to do a big search? Or does it mean MM is so wrapped up in his DC search that someone had to remind him he needed a special teams coach, so he just said "Oh, yeah, that's right. Uhh, I guess we'll promote that guy that was the assistant last year." Or does it mean something else?

???

[Patler]

Does this mean that MM likes Slocum so much - he considered moving Slocum to the defensive staff before hiring a coordinator - that the guy was a slam dunk pick? So good that MM didn't need to do a big search? Or does it mean MM is so wrapped up in his DC search that someone had to remind him he needed a special teams coach, so he just said "Oh, yeah, that's right. Uhh, I guess we'll promote that guy that was the assistant last year." Or does it mean something else?

???

I think it means that MM has a very difficult time expanding his coach searches beyond the group of coaches with which he has worked before. I disliked this in his original staff, and I dislike it in his current efforts. In his original staff announcements he made a big deal about mentioning the few with which he had no prior relationship. I thought it was some what odd at the time. Now I see it as a problem with him.

[pbmax]

I agree with your assessment Patler, but given that we didn't know that Jim Haslett was in town for two days until after the fact, I think its possible that interviews occurred and have not been reported.

[pbmax]

Ah, see? I occasionally get one right.

from JSOnline

A National Football League source said coach Mike McCarthy decided to promote Slocum after interviewing at least two outside candidates in the last week.

[pbmax]

And then I should read the entire article:

Mike Priefer: Kansas City and Herm Edwards connection
Larry Mac Duff: San Francisco with McCarthy
Brian Schneider: Can't find the connection here, but took another job

Mac Duff has a pretty good resume, and Priefer would just seem to be a recommendation, so this search doesn't seem out of the norm. But the result, as Patler mentioned, is familiar.

That said, the hire that backfired the most was Sanders, who was unfamiliar to M3. Next would be Schottenheimer, who M3 knew.

[LL2]

Does this mean that MM likes Slocum so much - he considered moving Slocum to the defensive staff before hiring a coordinator - that the guy was a slam dunk pick? So good that MM didn't need to do a big search? Or does it mean MM is so wrapped up in his DC search that someone had to remind him he needed a special teams coach, so he just said "Oh, yeah, that's right. Uhh, I guess we'll promote that guy that was the assistant last year." Or does it mean something else?

???

I think it means that MM has a very difficult time expanding his coach searches beyond the group of coaches with which he has worked before. I disliked this in his original staff, and I dislike it in his current efforts. In his original staff announcements he made a big deal about mentioning the few with which he had no prior relationship. I thought it was some what odd at the time. Now I see it as a problem with him.

I tend to agree. It almost seems as if MM is interviewing Nolan, Haslet, and Williams to make it look like he is interested in outside people.

[Ballboy]

this is a status quo move...if we were going to fire Stock, why would we promote one of his assistants who would have the same basic scheme with maybe a few of his own variations?

This is a dumb move.

[Patler]

this is a status quo move...if we were going to fire Stock, why would we promote one of his assistants who would have the same basic scheme with maybe a few of his own variations?

This is a dumb move.

I don't necessarily think that Slocum will be StockII. I think a good assistant to a coordinator does what he is asked to do (although he may make other suggestions), but given the chance to be in charge, might do things differently on his own.

My concern is that there seemed to be a lot of other guys out there with pretty good track records of success on Special Teams; yet MM sticks with a guy with whom he has a relationship extending back much farther than just with the Packers, a guy with an NFL background not nearly as proven as some others. But, apparently MM thinks highly of Slocum, and considered him for a spot on the defensive coaching staff. I just hope he is right. I'm all for giving a good candidate an opportunity, but MM does not have time to make a mistake at this stage.

[Patler]

I tend to agree. It almost seems as if MM is interviewing Nolan, Haslet, and Williams to make it look like he is interested in outside people.

The way I look at it, Nolan and Haslett are not outsiders. Both are coaches with whom MM has a background. I think Williams is the only one that MM has not worked with before.

[Patler]

And then I should read the entire article:

Mike Priefer: Kansas City and Herm Edwards connection
Larry Mac Duff: San Francisco with McCarthy
Brian Schneider: Can't find the connection here, but took another job

Mac Duff has a pretty good resume, and Priefer would just seem to be a recommendation, so this search doesn't seem out of the norm. But the result, as Patler mentioned, is familiar.

That said, the hire that backfired the most was Sanders, who was unfamiliar to M3. Next would be Schottenheimer, who M3 knew.

That's true, and Sanders was the one I was thinking about earlier. In a press conference when Sanders was announced, MM made a big deal that he had never worked with him before, but was hiring him anyway. He said little about why Sanders was the best guy for the job and instead alluded to this providing "continuity". He made more of the fact that he had asked Bates to stay, but Bates declined. This was when a first had the feeling that MM did not really believe strongly in Sanders, which was wrong for the critical position of DC for a head coach who is offense oriented.

A simple mention of no prior background with him would have been fine, but I thought MM made too much about it with Sanders and with another of the coaches (Moss maybe?). To me the important thing is to get the best people available, and that often may not be someone that you worked with before. Why would it be when MM himself worked on a lot of staffs for teams that were not real successful.

[run pMc]

I don't know a thing about this ST guy, but if M3 thinks he's the best candidate, then good for him.

Anybody notice this at the bottom of the article?

Surgery complete: Center Scott Wells underwent surgery to repair a torn right labrum Tuesday, which was discovered in his physical after the season, a source familiar with the operation said.

Was this guy suiting up with a torn labrum? Ouch.

[rbaloha1]

Lets trust MM's judgment on this one.

[Pacopete4]

Lets trust MM's judgment on this one.

Why? What's he done to ear our trust, him or TT in this specific department?

[rbaloha1]

Lets trust MM's judgment on this one.

Why? What's he done to ear our trust, him or TT in this specific department?

Good point. Bad move with the punter but good draft selections with Crosby and Blackmon.

Maybe its more blind faith. I mean how much worse can it get than Stock?