Previous articles by McGinn, et al, bashing McCarthy and his purported inability to land quality coaches were clearly premature, overblown and ultimately misguided. While his lack of track record caused difficulty in attracting top assistant coaching candidates when he was first hired, that is no longer the case, The combined experience and reputations of the staff he has now put together is second to none in the league. While that clearly doesn't necessarily translate to production on the field, it says a lot about the solid repuation that McCarthy has developed among the coaching fraternity and inside experts throughout the league.
BUILDING A STAFF EASIER THIS TIME
Putting together a coaching staff is a lot easier when you have 27 wins and a trip to the NFC Championship game on your resume. Mike McCarthy found that out over the past few weeks. “The only assistansts who wanted to come to Green Bay three years ago were those who had either worked with McCarthy in the past (Jeff Jagodzinski) or those who had worked with McCarthy in the past and were desperate for a job (pretty much everyone else),” said a person familiar with the situation. “Things were different this time. Defensive coaches Dom Capers, Mike Trgovac and Darren Perry had other opportunities, but they chose to come to Green Bay. That tells you that McCarthy - even after a disappointing season - has earned a pretty solid reputation around the National Football League.”
Speaking of the new additions to the staff, while Capers, Trgovac and Kevin Greene garnered the most fanfare, the assistant with the best chance to be a head coach some day could be Darren Perry (safeties). “He was on the fast track until Bill Cowher retired and Mike Tomlin decided to go in a different direction with the Steelers,” said the source. “Perry wound up in Oakland - which these days is akin to being in witness protection. People tend to forget about you.”
Fortunately, Capers has a very good memory. He coached Perry with the Steelers for three seasons in the early 90s and recommended him to McCarthy. “Perry is young, personable and bright and has been influenced by some of the finest defensive strategists in the game - including Dick LeBeau,” said the source. “If the Packers win, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back on that fast track in a hurry.” Think anybody was saying that three years ago about Kurt Schottenheimer?
Putting together a coaching staff is a lot easier when you have 27 wins and a trip to the NFC Championship game on your resume. Mike McCarthy found that out over the past few weeks. “The only assistansts who wanted to come to Green Bay three years ago were those who had either worked with McCarthy in the past (Jeff Jagodzinski) or those who had worked with McCarthy in the past and were desperate for a job (pretty much everyone else),” said a person familiar with the situation. “Things were different this time. Defensive coaches Dom Capers, Mike Trgovac and Darren Perry had other opportunities, but they chose to come to Green Bay. That tells you that McCarthy - even after a disappointing season - has earned a pretty solid reputation around the National Football League.”
Speaking of the new additions to the staff, while Capers, Trgovac and Kevin Greene garnered the most fanfare, the assistant with the best chance to be a head coach some day could be Darren Perry (safeties). “He was on the fast track until Bill Cowher retired and Mike Tomlin decided to go in a different direction with the Steelers,” said the source. “Perry wound up in Oakland - which these days is akin to being in witness protection. People tend to forget about you.”
Fortunately, Capers has a very good memory. He coached Perry with the Steelers for three seasons in the early 90s and recommended him to McCarthy. “Perry is young, personable and bright and has been influenced by some of the finest defensive strategists in the game - including Dick LeBeau,” said the source. “If the Packers win, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back on that fast track in a hurry.” Think anybody was saying that three years ago about Kurt Schottenheimer?

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