You're the GM; What's Your Move?

[Smidgeon]

So it's obviously waaay too early to consider the season lost, but there are certainly troubling elements we all (I, at least) expected to be fixed with the introduction of two coordinators.
Initially, I wasn't on the "Fire M3 with the rest!" bandwagon, but I was convinced during the offseason. However, he's already been retained.

So consider yourself Gutenkunst. Consider this post-week 3. The Packers offense is stagnant but has one of the most talented QBs and one of the best (if underused) young RBs in the NFL (highest YPC with at least 85 touches going to beginning of last year). You also have a good #1 receiver (leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns since 2016) and one of the best LTs in the NFL (2 All-Pro selections). On defense, you have a young group of CBs that could eventually be the best in the league and a star on the D Line who's only going to get better.

I like Pettine on the defensive side and think his defense will only get better as its rebuilt in his image. He has already said he doesn't want to be a HC again.

On the offense, this should be M3's last year. The pool of candidates to replace him will be small as it's a requirement his first name is Mike. So either we have to find someone with that name already, or we'll have to convince someone to change his name for consistency's sake.

The replacement should be an offensive specialist to maximize Rodgers, groom Kizer, and pair with Pettine.

But the big question is when do you let M3 go? At the end of the season? At the bye if they can't overcome the stagnation?

What talent do you bring in? They need a safety. So it's either take the lumps with Josh Jones and hope he gets better or bring in someone else. I don't know who all the veterans on the street are (besides Reid, I know about him and would have no issue if that was the choice), so I don't know who is the best choice. It's a tough position because they need help and it isn't the offseason where most improvement can be made.

So what would you do if you had control? When would you fire M3 (assume Murphy backs you on all suggestions), who would you replace him with? Would you require his replacement to keep Pettine? What players would you sign/trade for to help immediately, this season? Who would you cut, and if you cut them, who replaces them?

[mraynrand]

I wouldn’t fire him during the season that’s for sure. That would drive away potential coaches.

Packers will be competing with a lot of teams for next coach, particularly Cleveland which I suspect wil b the choicest spot. (Unless Mayfield plays so lights out that he saves Hue’s job)

Stubby’s problem seems to be an unwillingness or inability to bring in younger innovative offensive minds. As if he’s so confident that he thinks he doesn’t need it or is afraid of getting sacked (legally) in favor of the new guy.

[pbmax]

Redoing coordinators without removing McCarthy was a mistake. His turnover of the coaches was both due and damning. And that mistake leaves you with a possibly untenable position concerning Pettine as he is going to want to be considered for a HC opening.

In hindsight, when McCarthy registered his disappointment with Murphy about coordination with personnel and coordinators (I am guessing mostly Capers because that is my contention, but it also might true for the offensive side) Murphy should have insisted on a fix that did not involve himself. He has no experience in these matters (coordination, head coach, personnel) and thinking he can successfully navigate the different demands is hubris.

My suggestions:

1. Fire McCarthy. Its impossible to accurately separate out individual achievement in football and coaching, but his offense has been in grinding its gears for too long. Its now a happy coincidence when the offense rattles off 4 good games. R-E-L-A-X and run the table are now aberrations. If playoffs aren't in cards, do it Week 10. If playoffs happen, oh well, do what they couldn't do to Mularkey last year. Make the change during regular season and get in on all the top candidates. Don't fall in love with one. But probably hire Monken.

Look at what McVay can do when all he wants to do is run a dive: https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/sta...28811579240448

2. Have Gutenkunst hire the next HC. Demand a plan that includes exactly how the needs of the coordinators about players will be met. That plan has to include how the coordinators have to meet the style of the GM, prior to the damn coordinators being hired. Asking Ted to do Belichick would have been disastrous. Much easier to hire a DC who can use young talent.

3. Promise Pettine an interview but not the job. If Murphy and Gute and the veteran players like his system and style, tell him they will go to bat for him with the new coach but the ultimate call is with that coach.

4. Drafting. Forgot about doubling up on positions or a unit. That is draining talent. If Gute is willing to do slightly more FA than Ted, then go back to BPA drafting even in Round 1. The lack of difference makers is alarming. If its truly close, get pass rush as first priority, safety second. LB third especially if Pettine stays.

5. Free Agency. Wilkerson was working OK. But to increase pass rush you will need more than one guy or you must pay that one guy more. I would look for everything but pass rush in FA.

[mraynrand]

To clarify I meant you shouldn’t fire Stubby at the bye. If you have two weeks left and they are out of playoffs, then sure. Pettine could work as head coach with the right offensive guy. But you probably need to get that guy from a playoff team and he will probably be a guy looking to be HC. Fortunately Pettine has claimed he isn’t all that interested in head coaching again. Seemingly.

[pbmax]

4. (con't) More Draft priorities, this time not forgetting the offense:

1. pass rush
2. OT
3. Safety

[Carolina_Packer]

I would wait until the season is over, but secretly be working out my list of replacement candidates. There's nothing to be gained from firing him in season, and it could be bad optics as one person alluded to. He's a long-standing coach. As much as people complain about him, you have to show respect as an organization, which will inform the next person to take the job. The position would get filled regardless of how they handle it, but you never know if the best candidate would take a pass on the job if he didn't like the way Green Bay handled the coaching change. I can't imagine the organization NOT handling it with class, although low-balling Jordy surprised me.

[Tony Oday]

I'd put Devon House on IR

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

I would wait until the season is over, but secretly be working out my list of replacement candidates. There's nothing to be gained from firing him in season, and it could be bad optics as one person alluded to. He's a long-standing coach. As much as people complain about him, you have to show respect as an organization, which will inform the next person to take the job. The position would get filled regardless of how they handle it, but you never know if the best candidate would take a pass on the job if he didn't like the way Green Bay handled the coaching change. I can't imagine the organization NOT handling it with class, although low-balling Jordy surprised me.

I don't know, I wanna believe that a potential new coach would have some old style values but in today's world, I think the new coach would be looking at it for the money/contract and would give a rat's ass how Green Bay handled the coaching change.

I say fire his ass....

[The Shadow]

Fire Joe Whitt - which should have been done long ago. I don't know - but years of secondary 'miscommunications' has gotten old.

[Teamcheez1]

Fire Joe Whitt - which should have been done long ago. I don't know - but years of secondary 'miscommunications' has gotten old.

Is it secondary miscommunications or players inexperience and/or failing to make the play? I feel the secondary has more talent and is playing better (except for Brice) than I have seen in years.

[Tony Oday]

Trade a third and Ha Ha for Earl Thomas. Sign the kneeler Reid. Tell Fat Mike to get Jones more touches.

[KYPack]

If this continues to trend...
Fire MM right after the season.
Goot makes the new hire, new coach builds the staff.

After that, we are back in some uncharted water, but we need to take the plunge.

What if MM makes the play-offs?

Still pull the trigger?

[pbmax]

Fire Joe Whitt - which should have been done long ago. I don't know - but years of secondary 'miscommunications' has gotten old.

Is it secondary miscommunications or players inexperience and/or failing to make the play? I feel the secondary has more talent and is playing better (except for Brice) than I have seen in years.

I debated this in my response and decided against insisting Whitt be gone.

But I have no answers for what is happening at safety. Dix seems to have regressed and he really seems to be thinking about getting hurt and his next deal (hence his absence from OTAs). Brice might simply have these flaws as a deep safety. I am not sure how to judge Whitt with this cast of safeties. He definitely has the CBs paying better, but there is an influx of talent and vets.

[pbmax]

What if MM makes the play-offs?

Still pull the trigger?

I would be stunned if Murphy did that. Really stunned. I would instead expect some drama about the next contract. Maybe he decides to be insulted and leave. But that could be March and all the popular candidates will be gone.

I would prefer in or end of season termination. And I really prefer an offensive side guy who is innovative and leaves the D alone except for game management.

I still think McCarthy has 80-90% of what it takes to coach successfully in this league. He still has the locker room and slow starts aside, the team responds to him. He's pretty proactive on the sports science front. He supports the players publicly even when they are screwing up and he rarely loses them. He brought Woodson around to his way of doing things and had him and Al Harris at minicamps. That's not nothing.

But his calling card is his offense and it looks more and more like it doesn't function without dominant talent.

[Patler]

But his calling card is his offense and it looks more and more like it doesn't function without dominant talent.

It seems to be getting even worse. They struggle with average performances by Rodgers, even though his average may be higher than the common QB's. He needs to be at the top of his game, even against mediocre teams. There was a time when RBs and WRs were brought in off the street because of injuries, and the offense didn't seem to skip a beat. There were seasons when they used something like 5 or 6 RBs, or 8 - 10 WRs and the offense still produced. Penalties, sacks or other negative yardage most often was a bump in the road, not a barricade for that drive. Now it seems that any negative play kills a drive. They often seem to struggle even with a first or second down incomplete pass. (Maybe I'm just forgetting when adversity has been overcome.)

When was the last time the Packers offense "clicked" for almost an entire game? I am happy now to see it run smooth for two of the four quarters. Something is stale, but is it because of the overall plan (McCarthy) or the at line changes/decisions and overall execution (Rodgers)? Are there indeed more "little plays" to be had, and does he focus too much on the big plays. Is the Packers average time from snap to throw so long because of design, or because Rodgers knows he can extend plays for ever and therefore disregards the shorter stuff?