EXTRA EXTRA!! McCarthy Extended Through 2015

[pbmax]

Further regarding Gullickson, there were numerous printed articles about maximum lift competitions in the weight room. Position groups competed within themselves and against others. Several players talked about it, too, especially for various leg lifts. There was a suggestion in one blog that Harrell hurt his back in one of those "competitions". (Interesting side not - Spitz supposedly was the monster in those competitions for the O-line, and ends up with the same injury as Harrell.) After those articles appeared, the team went out and had a rash of hamstring injuries that year. Player after player missed time with hamstring problems.

Redding said when he first came, and mentions in the JSO article today, that one of his primary functions was to be certain that players didn't overdue the weights they worked with. He mentioned one time that the competitive nature of the players had to be channeled away from maximum lifts and directed toward maintaining functional strength through out a long workout, so they would have the same strength at the end of a game as at the start. I suspect the maximum lift competitions were infrequent under him.

I have a concern similar to those hamstring injuries from this year and its the shoulder issues everyone seemed to have. I hope they have smoked out any possible workout connection before players return for camp/offseason workouts.

[Patler]

I have a concern similar to those hamstring injuries from this year and its the shoulder issues everyone seemed to have. I hope they have smoked out any possible workout connection before players return for camp/offseason workouts.

Ya, I was thinking the same thing.

[Iron Mike]

If I was a NFC North fan of anyone but the Packers, that would be my avatar.

Ahem.....

[KYPack]

Further regarding Gullickson, there were numerous printed articles about maximum lift competitions in the weight room. Position groups competed within themselves and against others. Several players talked about it, too, especially for various leg lifts. There was a suggestion in one blog that Harrell hurt his back in one of those "competitions". (Interesting side not - Spitz supposedly was the monster in those competitions for the O-line, and ends up with the same injury as Harrell.) After those articles appeared, the team went out and had a rash of hamstring injuries that year. Player after player missed time with hamstring problems.

Redding said when he first came, and mentions in the JSO article today, that one of his primary functions was to be certain that players didn't overdue the weights they worked with. He mentioned one time that the competitive nature of the players had to be channeled away from maximum lifts and directed toward maintaining functional strength through out a long workout, so they would have the same strength at the end of a game as at the start. I suspect the maximum lift competitions were infrequent under him.

I heard the same things. Gullickson seemed to come from the "plate head" school of training. Redman is an old time football guy and was brought in to turn around the weight room and train Lovat as his replacement.

Mac started a little slow, but has definitely put his stamp on the staff. I think the GBP has a great coaching staff. ST, I dunno, but maybe Slocum is starting to grow into the job. Seemed like ST improved during the play-offs, but it's still our scariest group.

[vince]

Slocum seemed to do just enough to keep his job. By all accounts, he did a great job with Masthay, and the kickoff and coverage team did have a lot of turnover.

I'm not a fan of the strategy they employed with Crosby and kickoffs with the directional pooch kicks, et al. though. Kick the damn ball deep and cover it like a bunch of crazed kamikazes I say. Your guys have a 30-40 yard running start. They oughta be able to blow up some guys and hit the damn returner around the 20-25 with reliability.

[Joemailman]

Slocum seemed to do just enough to keep his job. By all accounts, he did a great job with Masthay, and the kickoff and coverage team did have a lot of turnover.

I'm not a fan of the strategy they employed with Crosby and kickoffs with the directional pooch kicks, et al. though. Kick the damn ball deep and cover it like a bunch of crazed kamikazes I say. Your guys have a 30-40 yard running start. They oughta be able to blow up some guys and hit the damn returner around the 20-25 with reliability.

I think the directional kicking was an admission of how bad they were at covering kickoffs. Winning the Super Bowl probably saved Slocum. Improving the kickoff coverage has to be the #1 ST goal this year. Hopefully, the turnover due to injuries was a big factor, as that is doubtful to be repeated in 2011.