McCarthy Passes Play Calling Baton, Announces New Staff

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy made it official today.

The much-rumored passing of the play calling baton has come to fruition. The Packers announced that, along with their complete coaching staff for 2015 on Thursday.

McCarthy has promoted offensive coordinator Tom Clements to associate head coach/offense and handed him the keys to a Porsche. Clements will handle the play-calling duties moving forward. The Packers also promoted receivers coach Edgar Bennett to offensive coordinator.

McCarthy made it clear that the move was made so that he could focus more on the bigger picture.

“I have a lot more to offer, the assistants, the staff. There’s a vision you give to your team and I will be more directly involved in defense schemes. And I will spend a lot of time with special teams. It’s an area of concern. We have to develop our young players and we need to get more out of our veterans,” McCarthy said.

With Bennett moving to offensive coordinator, it created the need for a new receivers coach. Quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt is taking on the added responsibility of that role.

As expected, assistant special teams coach Ron Zook was named special teams coach, replacing the dispatched Shawn Slocum. Jason Simmons moves into the assistant special teams coach role.

Finally, the two most recent hires now have titles, as well.

Jerry Montgomery, who was the defensive line coach at Oklahoma, will serve as a defensive front assistant. Former 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari will serve as assistant offensive line coach.