Report: Packers' Mike McCarthy to Relinquish Play-Calling Duties

According to reports, Tom Clements will take over play calling and Edgar Bennett will be promoted to offensive coordinator.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy—Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy—Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports.

It may not be a situation on par with the Seattle Seahawks and the scrutiny they've gotten for their play-calling in the Super Bowl, but the Green Bay Packers are considering a change of their own.

According to Chris Havel of WDUZ radio in Green Bay:

Several other outlets have since come out with similar reports.

McCarthy seems to be feeling the need for change in light of an NFC Championship overtime loss to the Seahawks, a game in which the Packers had a two-score lead with just five minutes left and included several missed opportunities.

The Packers head coach has also been the team's primary play-caller for several seasons, dating back to the time Joe Philbin was the offensive coordinator.

Philbin and his successor, Tom Clements, have held the role of designing game plans, exploiting weaknesses and taking advantage of strengths. But McCarthy has always held the reins on game day.

If reports are true, Clements would relay play calls to quarterback Aaron Rodgers while McCarthy would focus more on game management, deciding when to take timeouts, challenge calls and talking to officials.

Bennett, currently wide receivers coach, would get a promotion to offensive coordinator, taking over Clements' former role of developing game plans.

McCarthy received criticism in the NFC Championship game when they ran Eddie Lacy up the gut three times in a row in their own territory with a two-score lead instead of putting the ball in the hands of their best player, Rodgers. The Packers were forced to punt.

That's hardly the only questionable coaching decision McCarthy has made, however. In the first quarter, the Packers gave the ball to fullback John Kuhn on second-and-1 from the one-yard line and eventually had to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.

During the 2014 regular season, McCarthy was 0 of 3 in challenging calls made by the officials before coming up with a cruicial challenge that was overturned in the divisional round against the Cowboys when a pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant was ruled incomplete.

The Packers or McCarthy have not confirmed any such change.

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Comments (56)

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Horse's picture

February 08, 2015 at 06:45 pm

This is rich. No one has a single clue what MM has in mind as far as who does what and when is concerned. Maybe we all should wait a little to see what MM has to say before the knee jerking commences.

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PackerAaron's picture

February 08, 2015 at 06:47 pm

Uh, you're the first comment. So, if anyone is knee jerking...

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Horse's picture

February 08, 2015 at 07:11 pm

Cute, but reblogging what an outside the building blogger reports as fact has been proven to be foolhardy over and over.

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PackerAaron's picture

February 08, 2015 at 07:59 pm

No one reported anything as fact. Brian cited a specific report and referenced several others.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 08, 2015 at 08:40 pm

This topic is as good as any to discuss as the off season gets started, IMO. Multiple beat reporters are saying it is under consideration, at the very least. So why shouldn't it be up for discussion at a place like this?

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lebowski's picture

February 08, 2015 at 06:53 pm

Always thought EB was being groomed for offensive coordinator, but this seems like a 'too many chiefs' scenario. Clements' only job would be to call the plays? Edgar creates the game plan but then lacks the power to implement it? McCarthy willing to delegate all that? Not sure how all this will gel, obviously, anxious to hear more.

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Idiot Fan's picture

February 08, 2015 at 06:57 pm

I guess if TC draws up the plan and MM calls the plays today, then EB drawing up the plan and TC calling the plays won't be too different. Although I'm not totally sure what that leaves for MM to do other than general oversight. But in many ways that sounds superior to me - having someone who's concentrating on the bigger picture all the time.

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MarkinMadison's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:26 am

Tom Silverstein's article talks about the fact that many other teams already have employed this structure, including the Seahawks and the Patriots. When you consider the relative lack of success on challenges for the Packers I think it makes some sense. The other thing is that if you believe the POC line - that MM is just too Marty-ballesque, then this is a way to maybe have the personality of the play-calling happen without a whole-sale regime change, which we all know ain't gonna happen.

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Idiot Fan's picture

February 08, 2015 at 06:54 pm

Honest self-reflection is a critical part of success in the NFL (and life in general), and I give credit to MM for swallowing his pride and making this decision.

My only other request is that MM take a look at advanced stats and see that what is generally assumed to be the "safe" play isn't always the best one.

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Horse's picture

February 08, 2015 at 07:16 pm

When Philbin was OC, MM actually sent plays in but limiting it to that misses what play calling is and how it happens. Philbin was actively in MM's ear and involved in virtually every play call according to TT. Philbin crafted game plans and the result was that MM would see a menu of plays based on the plan and the situation. No one knows yet if either EB or TC can bring what Philbin did but I'd bet that's what MM has in mind.

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PackerAaron's picture

February 08, 2015 at 08:00 pm

Wait, so now baseless speculation is ok? Wow, things move fast in the comments section.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:01 am

I don't think the menu of plays is from any one single coach. I think the entire staff has a hand in the process of making up the game day play sheet. When they say that the OC, no matter who it is, is "responsible" for the game plan and play sheet, I think they mean he leads the process of developing it, not that he develops it by himself.

For that reason, I don't think a shake up in titles and responsibilities will result in a substantial difference in how that play sheet is put together. Nor do I think who is picking particular plays off that sheet and putting them into a specific in game sequence will make a substantial difference. There might be minor tweaks here and there. But nothing substantial.

As I've said elsewhere, the big benefit of such a potential change is allowing McCarthy to focus on the bigger picture on gameday, IMO.

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Idiot Fan's picture

February 09, 2015 at 11:16 am

Haven't you heard? Joe Philbin had all the good plays, and he took them with him to FL.

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zoellner25's picture

February 08, 2015 at 07:29 pm

I agree the Packer's offensive hierarchy is set up very strangely, I think this shows MM is holding himself accountable for screw ups that are happening with game management. He is willing to make the change. I think this will actually help the offense because of ARod's chemistry with Clements dating back to QB coach. ARod loves Clements and counts for something in my book. Gotta do what it takes to win a SB.

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Justin Ritzel's picture

February 08, 2015 at 07:50 pm

Always thought, when he is in a groove, McCarthy is one of the better playcallers in the game (great analysis, I know), but sometimes struggles with the in-game decisions, like bad challenges, situational football, etc.

We'll see what happens. Rodgers has a good relationship with Clements, so if anything that is a major positive.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 08, 2015 at 08:30 pm

For me, this change would not be so much about playcalling. I have no sense of dissatisfaction with McCarthy calling the plays nor do I think he is some kind of savant at it.

But I think there are real overall gains to be made by freeing McCarthy from it. If he's not concentrating on beating the play clock and keeping a high tempo on offense, he'll have a better awareness of the overall picture of managing the team.

I'm glad McCarthy is at least considering it.

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Samson's picture

February 08, 2015 at 08:51 pm

This is the beginning of the end for MM. --- One more year should about do it.

It's an utter disgrace that MM wasn't even aware that CM3 wasn't on the field during the most critical time in an NFC Championship game. Completely unacceptable for a GB Packer HC.

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Jordan's picture

February 09, 2015 at 02:33 am

Mike McCarthy disgraced the Packer organization by his performance against the seahawks. There's a lot of idiot blowhard posters on cheeseheadtv that you have to ignore.

Capers and his defense handed McCarthy the Seahawks game. McCarthy choked. It's not the first time, but hopefully it's the last time Mike McCarthy will ever call an NFL game.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 08:15 am

McCarthy has led the Packers to 3 NFC CG games in his tenure. That outstanding record of success is mitigated by ugly losses in 2 of those games. But still, it would take a pretty big train wreck in 2015 for it to be his last year in GB, IMO.

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 08:57 am

Playing 6 games a season against the likes of the Bears, Lions & Vikings. ---- What happens at playoff time when the competition level increases ??

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:30 am

The same thing that happens to 31 teams each and every year...they fall short of a Lombardi Trophy. I've said it before and I still believe it...as long as the Packers are consistently making the playoffs, I'm ok with their organizational setup. I get that making the playoffs is not the ultimate goal but it is a necessary and reasonably attained first step toward the ultimate goal, which is exceedingly difficult to achieve.

Prior to this season, for an entire decade Bill Belichick had been one of the 31, and not the 1--after piling up wins against the likes of the Jets, Bills and Dolphins but failing when the level of competition increased. He was "squandering" the golden years of a truly great QB. IOWs, the same things said in criticism of McCarthy applied equally to Bill Belichick for an entire decade.

Like I said, it will take a massive train wreck, on par with the worst projections of the most pessimistic posters this board has ever seen, for McCarthy to get canned after 2015. Or some extraordinary off field incident I can't even imagine. His seat is at a comfortable room temperature and not at all hot. You're welcome to the opinion that is a bad thing for the Packers. But don't fool yourself into believing it is untrue. One more year "should" do nothing but move us further along in the HC tenure of Mike McCarthy.

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:59 am

"same thing happens to 31 teams"
"fall short of the Lombardi Trophy"
"exceedingly difficult to achieve"

All excuses. You have no idea the inner mind-set that exists in the Packer organization, so please don't pretend you do. ---- Historically, many HCs all through the NFL lose part of their power (ie --- personnel, play-calling, etc.) just prior to losing their position as HC.

A losing record in 2015 & MM is history in GB.

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murphy's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:14 am

"You have no idea the inner mind-set that exists in the Packer organization, so please don't pretend you do."

"A losing record in 2015 & MM is history in GB."

You should take your own advice.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:18 am

That's not much of a point you got there, Samson. A tired platitude about making excuses and a nonsensical attack over my claims about inside knowledge of organization thinking as you do the exact same thing from the opposite direction. You even doubled-down on your clairvoyance the very sentence after you attacked mine. Such a lack of self-awareness is the hallmark of the internet troll that knows little besides arguing. Been there, done that, lost interest in it a while ago.

Enjoy the last word. Or not. If you want another response from me, be more interesting.

Have a nice day,

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:24 pm

Usually people quit after they've been exposed. (ask Stroh/DannyDS)

I used historical reference to support my opinion. --- You used nothing except more of your 'homeristic bumper slogans'. Your posts will improve with a little more knowledge.

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murphy's picture

February 09, 2015 at 01:32 pm

"historical reference"

Where's your supporting evidence?

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Bugeater's picture

February 09, 2015 at 08:39 am

Yeah, that disgraceful 12-4 record and #2 playoff seed were hard to swallow this year! It's just horrible to have to endure this hardship!

I don't know how much longer I can take it!

Oh, and since you're a dope, I'm being sarcastic.

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:02 am

Any opinions about John Fox? Good records don't ensure job security.

MM (as is TT) is being carried by a HOF QB. --- It wouldn't take much to turn playoff defeats into victories. --- MM has proven he's not up to the job.

AR is now 30+. GB needs a competent HC before AR loses it or hangs it up.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:26 am

John Fox is a very good HC the Broncos were foolish to let go. John Elway as GM is starting to remind me of Dan Snyder's tenure in Washington. I suspect it won't be long before the results in Denver begin to match those from Washington. Fortunately for all of us, the Packers show no such characteristics.

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:17 am

Elway tried to Free Agent his way to a SB. After Manning the Broncos will become the Browns.

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 11:40 am

Samson is skipcowless.

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calabasa's picture

February 08, 2015 at 09:46 pm

This is the best possible news to come out of GB today, but I can't say why. Sounds like it makes sense and I like the humility it takes to give it to someone else.

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Icebowler's picture

February 08, 2015 at 10:37 pm

Did any of you see the Super Bowl sound replays? I was particularly impressed seeing and hearing Belichick imploring and instructing the defense in the 4th quarter. This is obviously something he couldn't be doing if he were calling offensive plays. Toward the end of a game, the HC needs to be free to address anything and everything that affects the big picture.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 09, 2015 at 05:42 pm

Have to agree. And I think the DC needs to be on the field for the exact exact same reason.

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DBcheeseN's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:15 am

I think Mark and Ted helped Mike reach this decision (if true). The Seattle game was one of the biggest debacles in pro football history. Changes had to be made. I applaud this and think this gives Packers the best chance to win the Super Bowl.

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Jordan's picture

February 09, 2015 at 02:40 am

I've been watching the NFL since the early 70's. I've never seen anything like the Packers collapse. It was truly an epic collapse that will live in infamy with Packer fans forever (or at least a long, long time). "Historic" is a pretty good description. They'll be watching Packers vs Seahwaks on NFL Films in the year 2032.

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NickPerry's picture

February 09, 2015 at 06:23 am

Hmmmm??? Did you watch the Buffalo / Houston playoff game in January of 1993? Buffalo was down 35-3 in the 2nd half and playing with a backup QB and won 41-38. Now that's epic!
What happened in Seattle was a horrible, devastating way to lose a game, especially 5:07 away from the SB and Morgan Burnett just got you the ball back. If this is true and happens then McCarthy is actually showing me the balls I thought were gone.
You can't argue McCarthys success and most complaints about the HC have been he's predictable in certain situations and he has these "Brain Farts" at the worst possible time, (See Just about any challenge). Kudos to McCarthy for admitting first there's a problem then doing something to "Fix" the problem.

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Jamie24's picture

February 09, 2015 at 04:35 am

Hot Take alert: Under these circumstances and conditions, Edgar Bennett would make for a better HC than Mike McCarthy.

MM was brought in specifically to run the offense. That's his forte, his calling-card, and his self-worth. If he's not doing that, is he really that great of a HC?

Personally I think Edgar Bennett is going to be a great HC someday. Everything you hear about how he conducts himself with his players both inside his WR room and on the field suggests as much.

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jimtalkbox's picture

February 09, 2015 at 09:56 am

I'm interested to see how this will play out. (not to get my cart before more my horse)

I don't think McCarthy is as bad of a playcaller as he is sometimes made out to be, but he's not perfect either. I hope he's not having a knee-jerk reaction to the NFC Champ game.

Plays working/not working aren't dependent on just one person.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:00 am

I am now able to visit football sites again. Whew! I'm over it -- finally.

I don't think taking away MM's play calling would help or hurt anything. Could we have been more aggressive in the Seahawks loss - sure. But what if HHCD knocked down that 2-point conversion? What if Jordy didn't stumble coming out of the quick out pass in the redzone?

If anything - we should work on personnel groupings.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:54 am

I agree...
You can't blame the play calling for the loss... There was so many things that could have been done differently that would have changed the outcome.

The personnel groupings/packages are things I would like to see changed up a bit. McCarthy while I like his play calling and offense as a whole, there are times he gets into a rut/routine and just uses the same personnel over and over, even if it isn't working.

Our offense seems to run the best when we are using multiple player personnel and packages.

Also, when something works, i would like to see them stick with it more or use it more. For example. When the defense has no answer for Cobb in the backfield, use him there more.

Things like that I would like to see done more often.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 11:52 am

" McCarthy while I like his play calling and offense as a whole, there are times he gets into a rut/routine and just uses the same personnel over and over, even if it isn't working.":

============================

Agreed. Which is another reason I like moving play calls elsewhere. I think he would pick up on those routines (and successes you mentioned later) more easily if he's not focused on calling a play a few seconds in to the play clock to keep the offensive tempo high.

It moves him out of the mindset of sticking with the game plan and allows him to consider adjustments. I think there is value to the team there. And this team was as close as you can possibly get to a Lombardi without actually winning one. So small adjustment can make all the difference that is needed.

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MarkinMadison's picture

February 09, 2015 at 10:38 am

Here is what I find truly ironic: MM is getting criticized here for running Eddie Lacy three times on goal-to-go against the Seahawks, and Pete Carroll is getting killed in Seattle for NOT running Lynch three times on goal-to-go in the Super Bowl.

And recapping my post above: read Silverstein's article, note that other teams have been doing this for a while (including the Seahawks and Patriots). MM fired after 2015? I really, really doubt it.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:28 pm

It is Ironic.

Although the plays McCarthy is getting criticized for wasn't goal to go. It was the 3 plays after Burnett's interception.

About the only way I see McCarthy getting fired is if they somehow manage to win 0 games next year.

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HankScorpio's picture

February 09, 2015 at 05:40 pm

Given that McCarthy just signed an extension in November, I'm not sure anything on the field in 2015 could cost him his job. He's had too much success and TT just does not strike me as the kind of guy that would allow one bad season to override a bunch of good ones. Being a coach is not like being a player, where Father Time eventually forces you out. Well, I guess that could happen but it seems well in to the future before that possibility arises for McCarthy

There would likely be plenty of "excuses" for TT to grasp on to in the event of a poor season in 2015. The 2014 Packers were not an "out of nowhere" CG participant, who often follow up their surprise season with a big backslide. So a poor season would likely feature a boatload of injuries, including Rodgers. Rodgers being out for a significant period of time = automatic pass on a poor record for McCarthy, IMO.

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pacman's picture

February 09, 2015 at 11:29 am

I'm happy. I don't think any of us can know the internals to say if this fixes anything specific. And firing MM was not really an option. But I think this shows that management was determined to show their seriousness about tweeking things. If this included MM, then kudo's to him. If it was in spite of him, then he has been put on notice. All we need now is somebody to make sure we don't rush 3 on 3rd an long when you have been getting through to the QB all day and I'm all gung ho! for next season.

And first thing MM has to say at his next PR is our goal is the SB. None of this crap from Ketchman about winning the division. That's just a pit stop.

Now we just have to stay healthy! Can you imagine how many massages AR and CM are going to get in the off season?

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 11:50 am

Nothing like a good back and forth. Great post. Nice to see the trolls back to liven up the board. They would like nothing better than the Packers to start firing coaches like the merry-go-round of coaches in Detroit, Chicago, and Minnesota. How's that working for them? Suh says he wants to play for a winning team, lmfao!

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:10 pm

"Suh says he wants to play for a winning team"

You must be dumb. --- Name the last player who stated he'd like to play for a 'losing' team. ---- Try thinking for a change.

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:36 pm

Well the Lions had a good season, got screwed in Dallas and he threw the team under the bus. Apparently you are "dumb" not to notice the difference. troll on , cowskipless, you suck.

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Samson's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:22 pm

Amazing how with a little time the "homers" can start to rewrite history. (in this case just a few weeks).

MM is a C- HC. --- MM blew it. ----This is why the Packers watched the SB from their couches just like the fans. --- The conversation at this time in 2016 will be how the new regime will lead the Pack back.

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:39 pm

You also predicted 6-10. The gig is up, I knew you couldn't stay away. Just like the past when you flooded the site with negative posts, welcher.

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4thand1's picture

February 09, 2015 at 12:48 pm

Did anyone see any interviews with Rodgers after the MVP award? He was asked point blank how bad his calf injury was. He said it was bad and hurt like hell.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 09, 2015 at 03:46 pm

We all figured that though. I'd rather hear from Clay...

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murphy's picture

February 09, 2015 at 03:40 pm

We did hear from Clay. His story didn't change much from his post game statement, though.

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Gianich's picture

February 09, 2015 at 04:46 pm

Mashed Potato Mike scheming again!

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acularw's picture

February 10, 2015 at 11:44 am

I think this could help. McCarthy is a good coach but is one of the worst game managers in the NFL. If he is willing to learn more about situational football in this off season, that will help the team.

4th downs, timeouts at the end of the 1st half/game, adjustments to the other team, etc. Ideally, he would hire a consultant with an analytics background to really help with this. Maybe even have him on the sideline. People always complain about analytics as if you can only consider them in a vaccum, but if a smart football coach understands them he can give them proper weighting when making a decision and still include other football factors...

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