Our New WRs coach...

[theeaterofshades]

Great move for Bennett. Who wouldn't see this as a huge opportunity - to coach what is one of the most explosive group of receivers in the NFL, on probably the most innovative offense in the NFL. QB coach or offensive coordinator can't be far away if Bennett is successful with the WRs. He could be a head coach in 5 years easy.

I was hoping to see LeShon Johnson as RB coach - just to see it!

No, I prefer Travis Jervey! Either way they could bring the Lion they were going to buy while players in GB!

[Cheesehead Craig]

At least our WRs will be running with that high knee action now.

[pbmax]

There is nothing at all odd about a coach coaching a position he didn't play. Look at New England's staff, after all, Belichick is perfect, isn't he?

Matt Patricia – Safeties. A center-guard at Rensselaer. No pro playing experience.
Chad O'Shea - Wide receivers. A quarterback at Marshall. No pro playing experience.
Bill O'Brien - Offensive coordinator & QBs. A linebacker/defensive end at Brown. No pro playing experience
Pepper Johnson - Defensive Line. A linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz - Tight ends. An offensive lineman at Iowa.


I have said for years that Bennett is a top-notch coach because players show great improvement when coached by him, and emergency replacements perform remarkably well. He deserves the opportunity to broaden his experience level, and I am glad he is doing it with the Packers, rather than having to leave and go elsewhere.

We really should offer this site to the Journal-Sentinel and Press Gazette. Between their two stories, they emphasized the unusual nature and came up with two examples of coaches moving out of the own playing position (or career path): McCarthy and Juan Castillo for the Eagles.

The unpaid volunteers here just named seven.

[The Weasel]

I for one, welcome our new WR overlords.

[Patler]

NY Jets staff:

Mike Bloomgren - Assistant offensive coordinator. No pro or college playing experience.
Mark Carrier - Defensive line. Cornerback Southern Cal. and NFL.
Mike Devlin - Tight Ends/Asst. Offensive Line. Offensive line Iowa and Pro
Jim O'Neil – Ass’t defensive backs. Defensive end Towson Univ. No pro experience.
Bob Sutton - defensive assistant/linebackers. No college or pro playing experience.
Jeff Weeks - Outside linebackers. Wide receiver Southwest Oklahoma State. No pro experience.

It used to be common for position coaches to move around a bit, although not as common recently. I knew N.E. had several, so I went to them first. This morning I thought I would check another HC who is not married to the present-day norm, but is willing to be unconventional in an old-school sort of way. The Jets came to mind.

So, there are 11 who are either coaching outside of the positions they played, or who have not played. That's from having checked just two coaching staffs. I suspect there are a lot more, too.

[Patler]

Third team I checked, Miami Dolphins:

Steve Bush - Wide Receivers. Defensive back Southern Connecticut State. No pro playing experience.
David Corrao - Defensive Quality Control/Assistant Linebackers. Running back University of San Diego. No pro playing experience.
Brian Daboll - Offensive Coordinator. Safety Rochester. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

This is just too easy! Arizona Cardinals staff:

Ron Aiken - Defensive Line. Guard/center North Carolina A&T. No pro playing experience.
Louie Cioffi - Defensive Backs. No college or pro playing experience.
Chad Grimm - Offensive Q.C. Linebacker Virginia Tech.. No pro playing experience.
Freddie Kitchens - Tight Ends. Quarterback Alabama. No pro playing experience.
John McNulty - Wide receivers. Safety Penn State. No pro playing experience.
Mike Miller - Passing game coordinator. No college or pro playing experience.
Tommie Robinson - Running backs. Safety Troy State. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

NY Giants:


David Merritt - Secondary/Safeties. Linebacker North Carolina State and Pro.
Robert Nunn - Defensive line. Linebacker Oklahoma State 1984-87. No pro playing experience.
Michael Pope - Tight Ends. Quarterback Lenoir-Rhyne. No pro playing experience.
Sean Ryan - Wide receivers. Defensive back Hamilton College. No pro playing experience.
Mike Sullivan – Quarterbacks. Defensive back Army. No pro playing experience.

[Patler]

I have not checked every team, but of those that I did check, every team had at least 1. The Saints had 6. I don't feel like listing them all.

[vince]

As long as they don't hire Favre to be Director of Player Development, I'm good.

[MJZiggy]

I'm getting a boner.

This is not unusual.

[Fritz]

No, it's not.

[swede]

There is nothing at all odd about a coach coaching a position he didn't play. Look at New England's staff, after all, Belichick is perfect, isn't he?

Matt Patricia – Safeties. A center-guard at Rensselaer. No pro playing experience.
Chad O'Shea - Wide receivers. A quarterback at Marshall. No pro playing experience.
Bill O'Brien - Offensive coordinator & QBs. A linebacker/defensive end at Brown. No pro playing experience
Pepper Johnson - Defensive Line. A linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.
Brian Ferentz - Tight ends. An offensive lineman at Iowa.

Kevin Greene for Offensive line coach.