The Packers announced a couple coaching staff changes shortly after the end of the 2015 season. TE coach Jerry Fontenot and RB coach Sam Gash were let go.
Fontenot had been with the team 10 seasons, but the Packers moved on. The offensive shakeup has begun it would seem in a post-season that ended too soon due to offensive ineptitude. The tight ends apparently didn’t make enough of a difference and running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks were inconsistent at best.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Jerry for the past 10 seasons,” said Mike McCarthy. “He has given a lot to this organization and has been a big part of our success. We wish Jerry, Stephanie and their family all the best moving forward.”
But apparently Fontenot has not been a big enough part of the offense’s success. And the Packers will move forward still looking for a tight end who is a significant threat.
Sam Gash helped Eddie Lacy come to prominence in the league but will now be looking for work. “I would like to thank Sam for his contributions to the team over the past two seasons,” said McCarthy. “We hope for the best for Sam, Alicia and their family in the future.” And the Packers will look for consistency out of Lacy and Starks moving forward.
All in all…these changes mark the fact that the Packers organization will not settle for medocrity. But the question remains…were these coaches the source of the problem? Let us know in the comments below or back on the Facebook Fanpage.
Go Pack!
McCarthy is the bigger problem. 8 and 7 in playoffs does not cut it. Too many times this season the team looked unprepared and his play calling at times drives me insane. Sometimes a shake up at the top sends the right message. Rodgers is only going to last for so long. The time to win is now. This is now the second time he seems to have a disconnect with his quarterback. Hard to believe only 2 Super Bowls between Favre and Rodgers. Go Pack!
Completely disagree. The hole that McCarthy brought us out of after that piece of shit Sherman is awesome. He’s gone to the playoffs every year kicking ass in the regular season. Judging his performance solely on the playoffs is anecdotal, especially considering he has a super bowl under his belt. Overall his player development and overall success is fantastic.
@Jim
The Packers organization will not release McCarthy until they see his coaching is mediocre or getting decimated.
McCarthy and Rodgers can and must win a Super Bowl in the next 3 years or it will be time to completely reorganize the entire team and coaching.
I honestly did not see the Packers winning the SB this year even at 6-0. Banged up, beaten up and out for the season ruins any chemistry. I’m a die hard fan that fantasies SB wins every year.
Reality sets in, the “Dynasty” or franchise, is always one throw away since Rodgers win at the SB.
We need a new culture in GB! We need young talent in GB! I don’t care if it takes years to develop that talent. It needs to be done. Losing years will happen. We’ve lived through those years.
The culture in Foxborough is solid for over 20 years. The coach finds ways to requires his staff to train the talent and relay that message to them. That is a good coach with decent talent of late. Look. They will make the SB again. Why?
I think you’re right about McCarthy’s job being secure, but I don’t think it should be.
I firmly believe we’ve had enough talented players on both sides of the ball to win SBs last year and this year – even with all the injuries this year. Ultimately, it was failing to move the chains and keeping pressure on opposing QBs late, which cost us wins. Even when Cobb and Hyde went down, we had Palmer off balance and making uncharacteristic mistakes – until we went zone at the end and gave up 3 scores. And we’re terrible at playing zone D, almost always giving up huge yardage and scores in zone. These problems are more about coaches not keeping their players in the best positions to make plays, than a lack of talented players. This seems to be a pattern for McCarthy’s teams – other than a late run in 2010.
What we’re lacking is an offensive play caller with the instincts to put teams away (move the chains and score more points), and a defensive coordinator who keeps pressure on opposing QBs with a lead. Until these 2 things change, I don’t see us beating elite teams in the playoffs. I think a shake up at Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator is long overdue.
Your absolutely correct! Hire chip kelly and Rob Ryan and let’s show the world what a force we can be!
It’s time to consider how Murphy plays into this. He limits Teds spending so the team can continually grow the corporate coffers. Look how well this has served them. The stadium upgrades, now the purchase of more real estate to build the fan experience and new revenue streams across the street. The cost to us is championships. As long as a fairly competitive team takes the field and stays within the confines of the teams corporate philosophy to grow the business they are achieving their goals. US fans continue to support their long term goals by spending our money with them. It’s a successful plan, no doubt. I love the team, love going to the stadium, restaurants and HOF. And I’ll go to the new shops, bars whatever. But it is costing us Lombardis.
A new defensive coordinator….Capers has gotten stale and blitzes on almost every down. Opponents know what he’s gonna do before his players do ! Time to go, Dom..!
How do you modivate players today. All the money and egos. Vince and George Halas won’t last a week in todays game. Coaches have become baby sitters.
Time for Murphy and TT to leave and get fresh blood in there and pick up expereinced players and not all draft choices. We don’t need all the improvements that Murphy is putting in take that money and get better players. Tired of waiting all these years for another super bowl !
My thoght is McCarthy has been known to be conservative, and it is proven, look at last year and this year. Every game the offense looks the same, no deception, no new wrinkles, just the same plays week in and week out. The short passing game will open the running game not vice versa.if you want to run I would love to see Crockett get some reps, he seemed like he ignited that team, and I think he could run wide, instead of 2 yd Lacy off tackle. My gosh the offense stunk after week 6 and nothing changed thru week 16, and that is the coaches problem!