Interesting boom or bust scenario. I had more of a two year window on MM just because the secondary is so young and the pass rush fragile (injury) that anything better than a 10-6 / 11-5 season with a pre Super Bowl exit from the playoffs might be a reach in 2018. Hope I'm wrong, but I see 2019 as a better target year for a Super Bowl run.

As a head Coach Big Mike has been pretty darned good.
A Super Bowl Win, multiple Championship appearances and playoff wins. Oh how we would have loved that back in the "gory days" of the 70's and 80's. Big Mike's biggest mistake has been loyalty to bad assistant coaches like Dom Capers, Edgar Bennett (who we loved as a player but he was not a good OC) and Sean Slocum the crappy Special Teams Coach that contributed the Seattle Championship game debacle. And the latest P.R. nightmare and crappy "assistant head coach and Linebackers coach Winston Moss who should never be allowed in front of a camera. McCarthy has always done a fine job rallying the troops and pulling off impressive victories. His clock management skills are not the best and his Offense has gotten to predictable (Philbin will remedy that). Big Mike has a Big heart and his overly loyal at times and that will be to his demise one day.
But hopefully with Philbin and Pettine it will not be anytime soon and they win a few more Super Bowls with Rodgers under center.
Go Pack!

When it comes to McCarthy I'm torn a bit. I mean IS the guy a highly successful HC in the NFL because of his coaching abilities, or is he a highly successful HC coach in the NFL because of Rodgers? I imagine it's a little of both. I mean a guy can't hold a HC job as long as McCarthy and not be good.

IMO the problem with McCarthy recently has been his offense has become oh so predictable. IMO having OC's like Bennett and Clements didn't really help with that. I think bringing back Philbin will be on of the best moves by the end of the 2018 season. But Philbin is back and Philbin & McCarthy go together like Salt & Pepper, Beer & Brats, Ham & Cheese (You get the idea). When Philbin was OC McCarthy just seemed to call a better play in certain situations. He seemed to make fewer stupid challenges AND the Packers just seemed to be better prepared for each weeks opponent.

McCarthy isn't a stupid man. He knows that HC seat is warm and if this team doesn't start out well (5-1) and be improving EACH week as long as they stay relatively healthy, the seat will become warmer and warmer.

When Gutekunst was hired I thought the Packers were at least a year away. Now after a few FA moves, a solid draft, and a slew of players from the last draft really just starting their NFL careers I have no doubt they can contend. IF the Packers can just stay healthy THIS team will be in the NFCCG. IF Pettine can do what I think he'll do and field a top 15 defense they'll be in the SB.

I know that's a lot of IF'S but I think each IF is reasonable. I also think Rodgers will be on a mission this year and the rest of the NFL will feel the brunt of that.

I tend to be an optimist (definition: a pessimist who has less facts, lol) so I'm in the camp for the Packers going far into the playoffs (if healthy, heh) and hopefully all the way to the big game. I disagree on CM3, his sack totals were down but he played very well last year (the film doesn't lie) and I expect Pettine's system to breath increased fire in him. That said I don't think CM3 will get anything close to his current contract in the 2019 offer and I don't think MM is in a "hot seat" season no matter what the author or many fans on blog threads think. I'm looking forward to an exciting season.
Go, Pack, Go!

I am in agreement with this article, MM's seat is hotter than many realize. TT has missed on several picks but so have the Patriots and lots of teams. TT failed to augment the depth on the the roster through FA. Problem solved, BG is less averse to FA and has made 4 very good signings. McCarthy's player development has been lacking in recent years IMO, and we saw this on full display last season. You would believe with Hundley in the MM QB school for 3 years and 3 years learning the offense, he would have developed and at least been able to run the offense at an NFL level, maybe 70% of Rodgers production. No he could not and he was lost. McCarthy is atleast partially to blame for this. With Aaron Rodgers, you can afford a few miscues in play calling, a few injuries and some holes as he covers all of it up. But a great head coach is capable of more than what McCarthy has put together. Let's put it this way, if Rodgers is healthy, and the defense is a capable unit, say top 15? There is no reason this team cannot contend, and if they can not McCarthy is gone.

I think McCarthy hasn't been appreciated well by media and fans. He could be the best HC in the league right now. (I give Belichick the accolades, but he has also had way more freedom and opportunities than MM).
Despite that I think a lot of head coaches are given way too much credit. Sean Payton missed the playoffs 3 years in a row while his HOF QB threw for 5000 yards a season. Mike Tomlin has had the best roster in the AFC for years and can't get anywhere in the playoffs. Seahawks have been slowly dying and Pete Carroll is basically tenured. I think McCarthy has earned some job security for taking the Packers deep into the playoffs for years despite the competition in the division and conference.
Sure McCarthy should get fired if they miss the playoffs (unless extraneous circumstances) but so should every HC I listed. Its just unrealistic to assume at this point the Packers won't win the division and get to the playoffs, so this perception is just frustration from fans for ugly playoffs losses through the years.
I don't think anybody is being rushed out the door. My impression from the Packers management is they know time is limited for Rodgers and McCarthy, so they are going with known quantities in building a team. Jimmy Graham and Tramon Williams are safe signings. Joe Philbin is a known quantity over a first time coordinator. Pettine over Joe Whitt is a safe hire. Brian Gutekunst in an in house hire over an outside guy, and Ted Thompson is a lead scout. McCarthy is the only coach Rodgers has played for, and has immunity from Gute firing him. Unless some great underperformance in the playoffs, McCarthy's job is as safe as anybody's.

I have posted since the 2016 NFCCG debacle in Atlanta that the Packers have been at a crossroads. Rodgers injury last season threw everything out of whack but the removal of TT and firing of Capers have shown that the Packers are trying to move in a positive direction from their crossroads. Hiring Gute, Pettine and Philbin are all good moves.

How these moves, FA signings and draft choices play out on the field is TBD. Like NP and many other posters here I think that 2019 should be the better year for an SB run but 2018 can be if many things break correctly.

As always health will be the key for this team. While I believe that our rookie and second year players possess some solid talent they will not be ready to make significant contributions if we lose our veteran starters to injury, especially on the defense. OL performance will be a critical factor as well.

As usual, the Packers will go as far as Aaron Rodgers takes them. If the defense emerges into a solid unit 2018 could be a special season. For me the Packers first goal is to get through the preseason healthy. If we can field our best 53 we have a good chance against anybody. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61

" If everything falls into place, this team could win a championship. That’s not hyperbole either, I genuinely believe that. Yet, I also believe the team could go 9-7 or 8-8 and fall out of the playoff picture again.

Hedge much?...This pure optimist speak with the pessimist protection card showing.

I think that if EVERYTHING (and I mean just about everything) goes right at OLB, WR, CB and (knock on wood), injuries, this is a title team. I really do. In the real world where bad breaks happen and the other guys get paid too, this is unlikely, but possible.

I do think that this team is pointing to 2019 with the youth at CB, S, WR and LB (behind the oft injured older guys). I think 2019 is the most likely Lombardi year.

That said, if this team doesn't at least compete for the NFCN, MM will be gone and the reset button will be hit harder than this year.

Thanks for a good article in this downtime of packers news. Of course we don’t know what to expect this season. None of us have the ability to predict the future. But the changes that have been made this year portend a better outcome. I am convinced that this seems to be a better team. The only rub is that many other NFC teams seem better as well. So it’s a question of “Is our improvements better than their improvements”?
I think they are.

GB needs to draft a pass rusher with a first round pick next season no matter how CM3 or Perry plays. I assume that will be an OLB. I would be hesitant to pay CM3 big money even if he does hit double-digit sacks and generally looks better.

I've no idea how warm MM's chair is. If we don't do so well this year, it depends on why. Are there extenuating circumstances that provide MM with more excuses for underwhelming results? I should think we'd have to appear in the conference championship game in order for MM to be reasonably safe, assuming we don't get blown out despite good health.

With a solid offense and a much improved defense including the coach plus Philbin back in the mix it is very possible to make a push for the super bowl but we never know about injuries I doubt Perry stays healthy , but hopefully Biegel or Gilbert step up .

Packer Greg says Greenbay will be better in 2019/2020. Don't forget that they leveraged some draft equity and some help this year in the last draft to get New Orleans first pick next year.

I'm focused on 2019 and beyond. I just don't think 1 offseason is enough time for a new GM to fix Ted's entire mess.

I wish the Packers organization felt the same as I and allocated resources accordingly, but they don't. So I'll just hope for the best.

Just to beat some of the other posters to it, like Croat. No i cant do a better job at coaching the Packers. I also could not do a better job that TT did at GM. That does not mean that i am not entitled to an opinion. It also doesnt mean that i cant find fault with the body of work that either have done.

There are some on here like Croat that feel if you cant do better yourself, you should be quiet.

I couldnt be a better GM or HC than Matt Millen or Wayne Fontes either. That doesnt mean I'd like to see them in Green Bay.

Despite a very good record with a HOF QB, I believe MM got himself on a warm seat by some poor decisions about his staff. He is overly loyal to assistants who underperform. Besides fielding average to below average defenses for several years, two players were allowed to leave (Hyde and Heyward) who became immediate pro bowlers on other teams. How is that not a serious indictment of Caper's talent evaluation skills as well as an inability to scheme for the talent he has? That should have been Caper's last year, yet he hung on for a couple of more years. Rinse and repeat for S. Slocum. He also has had a couple of less than innovative OC's since Philbin left.

I believe MM is a very good coach in his own right, but has a blind spot for loyal, but underperforming staff. I would be surprised if the Packer FO was not acutely aware of these issues. I really like the changes that were made to the staff this year and I hope it all turns around, but if McCarthy is wrong about Pettine, that seat could go from warm to hot.

2018 will show areas of improvement for the Pack. I believe the "D" will establish itself by the end of the season but it may very well be too late to salvage the season.

2018 is really only a bridge to season 2019. ---- 2019 is when the Pack will return to their rightful perch atop the NFC Conference.

What's really consequential about 2018. --- The "new" hierarchy in GB will finally realize that MM is no longer the HC to lead GB back to the SB. --- MM will be long gone after season 2018.

Sadly you're probably right Samson. Nonetheless i will still watch every snap in 2018 and hope for the best.

Sadly you're probably right Samson. Nonetheless i will still watch every snap in 2018 and hope for the best.

I expect to see the defensive line decent this year and with the next draft 2 first round OLB picks making 19 a great year.

I expect to see the defensive line decent this year and with the next draft 2 first round OLB picks making 19 a great year.

It's important.

The article is very correct! New everything except MM. I'm looking forward to seeing his new playbook. It must have unpredictability, be creative, and show schemes that get receivers open. The running backs must be utilized fully. If not, MM is gone!! 9-7 season is totally unacceptable, and no playoff game is the end for MM.

Expectations: If A-rod Stays Healthy. MM stops the clock ticking. And that won't be a bad thing. The age of the players tells me that things could change. ON defense: Daniels 29 House 29 Wilkerson 28 Williams 35 Mathews 32 Perry 28 ///// ON Offense: Rodgers 34 cobb 28 Graham 31 Bulaga 29 Lewis 34 Kendricks 30. So Who will be here next year? I expect these guys and others to do well. Dix and Mathews need to be all-pro again.