The biggest thing to come out of Green Bay Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy’s press conference about his new coaching staff was this one. He’s rebuilding the damn playbook.
“We’ve taken a back-to-basics approach on offense. We’re going back and building a playbook like you would with a first year as a staff,” McCarthy said.
I don’t know if I like the term back-to-basics, as if the Packers are going to run some basic offense, but I do like the idea.
We — and many others — have criticized the Packers’ offense in recent years for becoming stale and predictable. Was that McCarthy’s fault? Was it Tom Clements’ fault? Was it Edgar Bennett’s fault?
We don’t really know who does what in terms of the offensive coaches, so who knows? We just know McCarthy calls the plays, except for the brief period when Clements did.
What we do know is the Packers won a Super Bowl when Joe Philbin was offensive coordinator. Joe Philbin is once again offensive coordinator.
And that means nothing unless the Packers start innovating on offense again.
Remember 2014, when the Packers beat the New England Patriots? After the game, Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick shared some words with McCarthy during the postgame handshake. Our assumption has always been that he told McCarthy what a great game he called. And McCarthy did, for once, call a great game. McCarthy would only say that Belichick was very gracious.
Has McCarthy called a great game since? Has his playbook evolved since?
I don’t know about the game, but the playbook pretty much seems to be the same one the Packers have had year after year. There’s nothing innovative. McCarthy just thinks he can outsmart the defense with his brilliant call.
So yes, it’s about damn time you rebuild that the damn playbook!
Yesssssssssss. Been begging for this for the past 3 seasons. The offense has gone stale, the play-calling predictable, and execution less than inspiring.
I’m legitimately (cautiously) excited to have Philbin back, and to see where all this “reinvention” goes.
Is this being done on behalf of Rodgers or for Hundley. Are they trying to cover up the mistake called Brett Hundley.
Very good question Bob. I also think it might be changed now only because Philbin is back, and he is the one who will rebuild it. Is it to far out of the realm to believe that most of the Packers current playbook, originated years ago from Philbin?
I also think it’s a good thing to have an offensive coordinator that is given that power. Not the poser OC’s who were just around to run the meetings (of that old offense).
Maybe….Fat Mike can let Philbin call his own plays, the ones Philbins going to be creating. Then maybe Fat Mike can do his job, and over see the whole team, instead of burying his head in a Dennys menu all game. That includes overseeing special teams. When is the last time our special teams ranked better than 22nd?
Anyone listen to McCarthy speak today? Is it anyone shocked how bad this team was (is) broken? (Is) till proven otherwise.
I think everyone realizes they’ve been eating at the same restaurant, ordering the same food off the same menu for the past three years, and they’re finally ready to try that new place down the street with [insert trend] infused style food and craft cocktails.
Lol. Good analogy. Let’s hope they serve high quality, spicy, hot food with good booze all at a reasonable price and don’t close down before they’ve acquired a taste…..
I can tell this article was written by someone that has no clue about NFL offenses and playcalling. Chip Kelly’s offense was “innovative.” No, the packers need an offense that puts the players in the best position to succeed, takes advantages of their strengths, and can execute simple assignments
Weird comment “No, the (p)Packers need an offense that puts the players in the best position to succeed, takes advantages of their strengths, and can execute simple assignments.” Congrats, you just described every offensive design objective in the NFL.
Bill Walsh’s offense was innovative, but the difference between his offense and Chip Kelly’s was Walsh’s worked. Paul Brown would probably say Sam Wyche had a better grasp of the root of what Walsh was able to claim as his offensive design because the 49ers had better athletes than the Bengals.
Let’s be honest, NFL offenses can’t really get much more innovative than they are now. The west coast offense was probably the most recent lasting innovation on offense. Sure, Mike Martz’s 7 step drop deep crossing route offense worked for a while because they had an all pro left tackle and the rest of the offensive line was very good. That offense did not last long. Ditto for the wildcat gimmick, the read option isn’t something the packers should run. Chip Kelly’s blitzkrieg offense had a fairly short shelf life. I think McCarthy does need to do a better job of making adjustments and putting his players in a better position to succeed. And he needs better talent.
Does the new playbook rely on proper pad level?
I just watched McCarthys presser…
Two things struck me. One being he said they don’t try to put a square peg in a round hole. To me, that was a direct shot at Ted. I can only assume that he means from now on. Speaking of which, will Ty be moved to the slot where he should be, or did the Packers ruin him with the running back square peg experiment? Ty can do what Cobb does, if not better, for about 9 million less a year, (no brainer) to me, we’ll see what happens. But he bulked up, not sure he can come back, but i’m hoping. One things for damn sure, he isn’t a running back.
Then McCarthy spoke about how him and Murphy talked more in the last 3 weeks, then they have since they’ve known each other. Not exactly shocking news to me.
Too many of the main players involved in the old mess, still there, almost everyone…Murphy, BG, TT, MM. The only one really gone is Capers. This is not what i meant by wanting new blood, a new voice.
Sorry i don’t seem so optimistic….but i’m more of a “show me” don’t tell me, kind of guy.
Not only do they have Montgomery trying to be a running back, they put Cobb in the backfield a few times a game too. $10 mil a year to be the occasional trick play.
It doesn’t necessarily bother me that Ty bulked up, when he did get to the open field last year, he still displayed a lot of shiftiness. I think he will be fine in the slot. Percy Harvin was a pretty bulky guy for his size. The problem I am seeing is I am not sure Jordy is an outside guy anymore. The Brett Hundley effect hurt him for sure, but I could tell he had lost a step. A move to the slot is in his near future, like what the Cardinals did with Fitzgerald. The Packers will have essentially 3 slot receivers at that point. Yet another decision for BG to make (And another draft pick/free agent signing to make to get another outside WR). Sigh…..
When Teddy bipolar bear was replaced I said maybe not to little but to late.
Now it’s clear it’s much to little and to late.
Yep!
Loving the new moniker !
My biggest Hope is that it doesn’t morph into MM^2BGSUCK……
MM^2BGMP*
Does anyone else find it refreshing that there’s been no Killer comment since the smackdown article after Heidis choked…. ?
Maybe he’s trolling the Saints forums.
She’d be trolling Eagles fan blogs, without a doubt.
Oh, definitely…..
Self-punishing little thing that she is…..
haha back to basics. They strayed from going run-run-screen or flat pass a couple times last year and they’re going back to the basics….where were they the last several years. it’s comical. McCarthy has no clue what a current day offense is supposed to look like. we need to “go back to the basics” and “block and tackle better”…..good stuff Mike, keep up the great work coach.
The fucking offense has been good enough to win a superbowl since McCarthy was hired. Every year except this one. With the waste of three years called Brett Hundley that McCarthy was saddled with because of Teddy T.