As we all patiently wait for the Superbowl — so we know which team to talk shit about the next 12 months — the Packers’ front office has been busy making personnel moves. (Also, please forgive all the purple on this post.)
Most recently, the Green Bay Packers announced that they will be parting ways with wide receiver coach Alvis Whithead:
Packers receivers coach Alvis Whitted has been let go, a source said. Coach Matt LaFleur is on the lookout for a replacement. Whitted's position group didn't have a lot of high draft picks after Davante Adams but struggled to find a consistent No. 2…. https://t.co/UcME1DfKKN
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 30, 2020
Like Demovsky said, Whithead didn’t really have that great of a receiver corp to draw from — with a WR3 for WR2 and a WR1 (Davante Adams) that spent a portion of the season with a turf toe injury on the sideline.
Packers.com quoted head coach Matt LaFleur on Whitehead’s departure:
We want to thank Alvis for all that he contributed to our success this season. He’s a great man and we wish nothing but the best for him, his wife Tracy and the rest of their family moving forward.
Whithead was an NFL player from 1998 to 2006 — playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and the Oakland Raiders. He joined the Packers coaching staff a year ago in January 2019 as part of Matt LaFleur’s new staff.
Packers Hire DB Coach Jerry Gray:
With the departure of DB Jason Simmons, the Packers have filled the vacancy with former Minnesota Vikings DB coach Jerry Gray. LaFleur kept Simmons, who spent years working his way up the Packers coaching staff ladder, around from Mike McCarthy’s staff. Now he can start fresh with someone of his choosing. Gray has been on the Vikings coaching staff since 2014. He was also the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator for a few years — LaFleur also has ties to the Titans as a former offensive coordinator for the team.
In related news, former Packers assistant coach Alex Van Pelt has been hired by the Cleveland Browns as offensive coordinator:
ESPN reports that Alex Van Pelt, who was initially hired by the Packers in 2012 as a running backs coach, is joining the Browns to be their offensive coordinator. He is replacing the departing Todd Monken, who only had the job for one year under Freddie Kitchens.
Earlier this week, it was announced that former Packers executive Rob Davis will join Mike McCarthy’s new staff:
Taking the helm as the new head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, Mike McCarthy is busy packing his staff with people connected to the Packers. NBC Sports reports that Rob Davis, a former Packer executive, will join McCarthy’s staff as an assistant coach — the first coaching position of his career. Davis, who keeps it real, was hired by the Packers in 2008 as director of player engagement. He also previous played for the Packers — including when they went to Super Bowl XXXII.
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We saw that LaFleur would reduce certain players offensive and defensive snap counts based on lack of production, or just bench them. Now we are seeing that LaFleur will let his coaches go if they don’t produce. Refreshing.
I like the move of replacing Simmons with Gray. I don’t believe Gray was on the Vikings coaching staff in 2019 and the Vikings defensive backfield regressed in 2019. One thing I have always liked about the Vikings DBs is they are willing tacklers in the run game. I think Gray will require his DBs to get Their noses dirty in the run game or sit.
I thought it was interesting, when the news came out about Whitted being fired it was claimed, Whitted was fired last week and it just leaked yesterday. Why was the news not being released for a week or more?
Could LaFleur be looking at Whitted’s replacement from one of the SB teams? Maybe LaFleur is looking at his brother, Mike from the 49ers? Mike was the 49ers receivers coach prior to this last off season. Matt tried hard to hire Mike, but the 49ers in part blocked the move by making Mike a coordinator (pass game). If you remember Whitted was one of LaFleur’s last hires.
I would not be surprised if Matt tries to hire Mike again. This year as maybe a receivers coach/pass game coordinator/assistant head coach. By giving Mike a title of assistant head coach the 49ers couldn’t block the move. Teams do this all the time. I think the Browns did this to the Packers last year with the Campen hire.
Was Rob Davis the Packers long snapper back in the day?
He sure was. Great guy too just ask Bob McGinn.
I am confused is Whitehead fired or hired? The title of the article is hired then states he was fired.
He was fired. I completely screwed this one up.
Thanks!
I’m sure that since he went from purple to green someone will say, “He was never that good, glad to see him go etc. etc. etc. Washed up etc. etc. etc.” Just like someone will say that about the genius Zimmer after he is fired mid year next season. Not saying who…just someone.
Gray is an ass kicker which is what that DB group needs big time. So im content with this hire for now.