Mike McCarthy Retires His Sharpie: Clements Promoted to Playcaller

[Carolina_Packer]

I heard Rich Gannon on his show on Sirius-XM NFL Radio saying he didn't like the move because he thought so highly of MM's play calling ability in the league and thought that TC might not be as good as McCarthy. I hope TC doesn't miss a beat, or that McCarthy doesn't get the itch back to call plays if Green Bay's offense struggles early on as they've been prone to do lately.

[pbmax]

I am going on record as being worried about this move(s).

The one clear area he could have known more and adjusted to was Matthews injury in regulation, but he claims not much will change.

On special teams, this might make a difference as a coach and several writers suggested having the HC in the meetings is going to focus the vets on the units.

On offense, he didn't need to improve as a play caller but has passed that off. He did need to retool his situational coaching and we get no idea if that will happen. Being in all three coaches meetings isn't going to help that.

I think there is opportunity here (after all he isn't going to tell us everything) but I also think there is danger.

Not to mention I don't know how Van Pelt is going to coach QBs and WRs together.

[Patler]

Obviously, there is risk in this. The only aspect of the Packers that has been consistently good has been the offensive output. Just as obviously, MM was a huge part of that, so changing that is risky.

On the other hand, defense and special teams have ranged from very bad to lackluster during most of MM's time, only reaching "OK" a couple times. If MM can instill in those groups the same focus and consistency that the offense has had, the results could be significant.

It's hard to make significant improvement in most things without undertaking some degree of risk. These changes will make for an interesting subplot to the 2015 season.

[vince]

I've never seen this type of arrangement of coaches. I like it, though it does add a few chiefs to the reservation.

I think this is a big vote of confidence in Rodgers' control and command of the offense too. Clements, the former quarterback, seems to have a constant chip on his shoulder. He hates the media so he's got that going for him.

McCarthy is looking right over their shoulder, and my sense is that, like others have said, McCarthy has a way of improving what he gets involved with, so I'd say there's a benefit to him becoming more involved in all three phases.

Rodgers' on-field command of the offense somewhat reduces the importance of playcalling role anyway. The obvious rapport that Clements and Rodgers have puts two like-minded QBs in command, with the proven playcaller right there.

Edgar Bennett too, is obviously a stud of a coach too in McCarthy's eyes, and his increased role would seem to be a good thing. But let's face it, he's still 3rd in command (probably 4th actually behind Rodgers) so he's covered too if coordinator inexperience rears it's head.

I'd say the offense remains in capable hands - as long as Rodgers stays upright anyway. You got a coach on the field and three coaches on the sideline. Between em all they'll get it figured out.

[woodbuck27]

I'm not so naïve to imagine that after nine years Mike McCarthy suddenly had the light come on and all by himself decided to make so many important changes with accompanying risk. Mike McCarthy is easy to profile as a conservative man in terms of decision making.

a) He's rarely disturbed the teams coaching staff unless of a departure. An exception was bringing in Dom Capers as DC.

b) Suddenly....gone is the Mike McCarthy with that signature look clutching and hiding behind a play sheet; so absorbed in the play calling. I believe I read that to come before a microphone and make a formal announcement of this (personal decision?) before the media ....wasn't easy. If you make the decision then shouldn't it be easy to be proud to announce that?

c) Suddenly after nine seasons, Mike McCarthy almost magically came to the realization that he misses the things that a Head Coach is responsible for off the field (offense, defense and ST's), and on it during games. The HC is loaded with responsibility and must certainly be held responsible after designations.

Suddenly for Mike McCarthy the 'light came on' and he arrives at the realization (as many fans already see) !

i) That he fails to know when to toss a challenge flag so as not to blow a time out.

ii) Otherwise fails to call out officiating on their decisions because he's so concerned with his next play call.

iii) That he's unaware of the status of his MVP on 'D' (Clay Matthews) over an approximately 20 minutes of real time (including commercial breaks).

iv) That he.... didn't ensure proper alignment on the faked FG that was the catalyst for the Seattle comeback. Forget blocking a FG attempt when you have a 16 point lead. To allow a TD was simply outrageous incompetence. MM was ultimately responsible for that error in strategy. He was also responsible for ensuring that Brandon Bostick knew exactly what he had to do on the hands team on the successful Seattle onside kick.

Don't blame the player that you train and place in the action. It's MM's responsibility to ensure every man knows his assignment and simply ..... does his job !

As the Packers Head Coach he's responsible for it all after what the teams GM gives to him to work with..

Suddenly Mike McCarthy of his own avails hands (maybe?) what he does best over to a man Tom Clements who he's had on his staff for nine years in two capacities (QB Coach and the last three seasons as the Packers OC). That's the same Mike McCarthy that post NFCC game got all pissy on Jan. 18 RE: any question on his play calling post game and after a historic team collapse and blown Super Bowl bid. " He ...wasn't going to question 'his' play calls."



That ... wasn't the correct response. Too many of MM's responses wern't correct.


Suddenly ....and within just three weeks (and with about a week away due to a family matter of loss). All by himself. That post game Mike McCarthy makes many significant changes to his coaching staff including:

a) Dismissing a ST Coordinator (and rumored friend) that has been questionable in terms of competence for over the top too many years and still employed with MM's grace.

b) Hiring two more additions to his coaching staff. Former San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari was hired to assist offensive line coach James Campen and Jerry Montgomery was hired to help with the defensive front and assist DC Dom Capers.

c) Promote Tom Clements from Packers OC to Associate Head Coach with play calling responsibility.

d) Replace Clements with Edgar Bennett as OC.

e) Add responsibility to the job description of coach Alex Van Pelt who's now QB's coach and WR's coach.

f) Address the ST vacancy by formally (after rumor)...make Ron Zook ST Coordinator and Jason Simmons his assistant.

Mike McCarthy as Green Bay Packers Head Coach has little to celebrate since 2010-11 but failure in the post season (playoffs). His losing record screamed ...change.

I know that Aaron Rodgers wasn't happy how the NFCC game was handled from his HC's perspective.

I know that a responsibility of a competent Head Coach is to groom his coaching staff for promotion. Mike McCarthy has been obviously stagnant or neglected that duty until yesterday, 12 Feb. 2015.

I believe that Mike McCarthy was allowed the privilege he's earned as a solid Head Coach looking at the entire NFL as a comparison. I believe that Mike McCarthy was allowed to save face. I believe that Mike McCarthy was by certain means and persuasion called out to make these post NFCC game changes and to do so as a clear result of the monumental failure that has been brewing for the last four years.

If he failed to do so. I believe Mike McCarthy might very well have been put on notice. Another season like we've endured since the last Super Bowl might have ended in his dismissal.

[denverYooper]

Obviously, there is risk in this. The only aspect of the Packers that has been consistently good has been the offensive output. Just as obviously, MM was a huge part of that, so changing that is risky.

On the other hand, defense and special teams have ranged from very bad to lackluster during most of MM's time, only reaching "OK" a couple times. If MM can instill in those groups the same focus and consistency that the offense has had, the results could be significant.

It's hard to make significant improvement in most things without undertaking some degree of risk. These changes will make for an interesting subplot to the 2015 season.

This is where I see it. M3, from what I gather, has mostly focused on the offense and given wide berth to the other coaches to run their areas of the team. Maybe it is his approach and preparation that need to be percolated through the rest of the areas of the team.

[ThunderDan]

Just heard on the radio this morning that it was MM who wanted all of the changes.

He went to TT and Mark Murphy with his year-end evaluation of the team and said here are the change I think we need. Both TT and Murphy thought that MM should continue play calling and urged MM to not make as drastic of a change. MM said that's how he wanted to run the team next year and TT and Murphy agreed.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/02/20090209/Opinion/NFL-Head-Coaches-Hold-The-Toughest-CEO-Job-In-America.aspx

NFL head coaches hold the toughest CEO job in America

PATRICK LENCIONI

Published February 9, 2009

[woodbuck27]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1666834-a-detailed-list-of-an-nfl-coachs-responsibility

A Detailed List of an NFL Coach's Responsibility

By Andrew Garda , Featured Columnist

Jun 9, 2013

Comment woodbuck27:

This is from BR yet a decent one page and informative read.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Just heard on the radio this morning that it was MM who wanted all of the changes.

He went to TT and Mark Murphy with his year-end evaluation of the team and said here are the change I think we need. Both TT and Murphy thought that MM should continue play calling and urged MM to not make as drastic of a change. MM said that's how he wanted to run the team next year and TT and Murphy agreed.

If true, I give Stubby all the credit in the world.

Obviously, all was not right with the status quo. A team cannot suffer the collapse we did in the NFCC and not try to prevent the same thing from happening in the future. It's typical that upper management wanted to look at the collapse as an aberration. They're satisfied with success. Stubby actually believes his own press clippings. His goal is a Super Bowl win and last year he was as close as he could come to a Super Bowl...and failed. Big time.

As all good leaders do, he took charge of the situation and shook things up. He wants more accountability in phases of the team he had neglected in the past.

Stubby swallowed his ego and did what he thought necessary to reach his goal.

Great stuff. So great I might even stop calling him Stubby.

...Nah, Stubby it is.

[woodbuck27]

Just heard on the radio this morning that it was MM who wanted all of the changes.

He went to TT and Mark Murphy with his year-end evaluation of the team and said here are the change I think we need. Both TT and Murphy thought that MM should continue play calling and urged MM to not make as drastic of a change. MM said that's how he wanted to run the team next year and TT and Murphy agreed.

" Both TT and Murphy thought that MM should continue play calling and urged MM to not make as drastic of a change. " ThunderDan

Then what are we the Green Bay Packer fans to think of the decision making skills of Mark Murphy and Ted Thompson?

Of their overall management skills?

[pbmax]

Just heard on the radio this morning that it was MM who wanted all of the changes.

He went to TT and Mark Murphy with his year-end evaluation of the team and said here are the change I think we need. Both TT and Murphy thought that MM should continue play calling and urged MM to not make as drastic of a change. MM said that's how he wanted to run the team next year and TT and Murphy agreed.

Did they mention who the source was?

Gives the lie to my theory Ted was pushing for M3 to pull back a bit.

Get the feeling M3 was steamed his team was knocking Seattle around and didn't finish the job?

[Maxie the Taxi]

Did they mention who the source was?

Gives the lie to my theory Ted was pushing for M3 to pull back a bit.

Get the feeling M3 was steamed his team was knocking Seattle around and didn't finish the job?

Ba da bing!

[ThunderDan]

Did they mention who the source was?

Gives the lie to my theory Ted was pushing for M3 to pull back a bit.

Get the feeling M3 was steamed his team was knocking Seattle around and didn't finish the job?

It was Tom Pippins from Fox 6 Sports out of Milwaukee who said TT and Murphy were not onboard with MM's changes initially.

[Smidgeon]

Did they mention who the source was?

Gives the lie to my theory Ted was pushing for M3 to pull back a bit.

Get the feeling M3 was steamed his team was knocking Seattle around and didn't finish the job?

M3 was the source. It was attributed to him in the JS blog about the changes:

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/291700331.html