McCarthy on Packers' QB Coach Change: I Never Got Into This to Be Popular
-- Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy's decision to replace Alex Van Pelt with Frank Cignetti Jr. as the team's quarterbacks coach didn't sit right with Aaron Rodgers, as documented last month.
"I thought that was an interesting change, really without consulting me," Rodgers said of his former position coach's departure on ESPN Radio's Golic and Wingo.
"There's a close connection between quarterback and quarterback coach and that was an interesting decision."
Van Pelt, now working with Andy Dalton and co. in Cincinnati, was an 11-year NFL veteran. It's one of the reasons why he and Rodgers connected so fluently and why Rodgers was evidently so dejected to learn of his exploring of other options. His contract expired at the end of the season, and it was ultimately his decision not to return to the team.
Rather than add fuel to the already dwindling flames of what was once a small fire, McCarthy accepted it as expected backlash.
"Change is difficult," McCarthy told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. "There's a personal and professional component to it. The personal part is very difficult. In Alex's specific situation, our relationship is 18 years old."
McCarthy and Cignetti were graduate assistants at the University of Pittsburgh in 1989 before once again finding their way back into each other's orbit in New Orleans in 2000 -- McCarthy as the offensive coordinator and Cignetti as the quarterbacks coach.
"At the end of the day, every decision I make, I do what I feel is in the best interest of the Green Bay Packers."
The removal of Van Pelt was arguably off-set with the reuniting of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who Rodgers enjoyed the early, successful years of his career with. Philbin was the Packers' offensive coordinator in 2011 when he pieced together one of the most impressive quarterbacked seasons in league history.
The only obstacle that Cignetti needs to overcome is getting on the same page with Rodgers, which could be difficult to do after sharing such an interpersonal relationship with his former position coach for four seasons.
"I don't think it's difficult at all," Cignetti told ESPN's Rob Demovsky of coaching Rodgers.
"Because one, coaching's teaching. ANd getting in that quarterback classroom, you build a relationship and you understand that, hey, we're an extension of each other. And it's so exciting to go out on that field whether it's the practice field or game field and see these guys execute and make plays, I'm really looking forward to it."
That's something that McCarthy will likely leave to the two of them and allow their newfound relationship to evolve on its own. Cignetti's hiring is just one of the many coaching and personnel staff changes to take place in Green Bay just in January alone.
"I never got into this to be popular," McCarthy said. "That's the reality of being a head coach in this league."
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (35)
dobber
March 03, 2018 at 01:01 pm
How many QB coaches has ARod had over the years? THree, I think? I think at each stage, people have lamented the close bond he'd developed with the coach he'd just lost. Seems he redevelops those bonds...I'm not terribly concerned.
JDK52
March 03, 2018 at 01:23 pm
Wasn't Van Pelt the QB coach when Rodgers had his year-long funk between 15'-16'? Wasn't Van Pelt also in charge of getting a certain no. 7 ready to play in emergency situations prior to that fateful day last October?
Hmm.
dobber
March 03, 2018 at 07:11 pm
I think that was the infamous "Shared WR-QB Coach" year...
ZacharyJacobson
March 03, 2018 at 01:35 pm
Four; Bevell, Clements, McAdoo, Van Pelt. Not too concerned about how he connects with Cignetti either. Only concern is that going through so many positional coach changes in the span of about a decade kind of makes it look like they lack consistency/reflects poorly on Rodgers.
dobber
March 03, 2018 at 01:41 pm
I lost Bevell in there. Thanks!
I'd be curious to know what the average term of a positional coach is in the league...most turn over with HC changes, and if HCs only last--on average--4 or 5 years? I wouldn't be surprised if this kind of turnover would be par for the course for QB coaches over this time span, and emphasized by the fact that starting QBs usually don't last this long, too.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 03, 2018 at 03:24 pm
Probably should add MM as a QB coach, though I get that he was not his position coach. Just assuming that MM put some time in on AR, particularly early in his career.
I am wholly unconcerned.
Oppy
March 04, 2018 at 02:49 am
Bevell, Clements and McAdoo left for job opportunities. I don't know how that could reflect poorly on the Packers. Other teams wanted to give them promotions that weren't available in GB.
Bearmeat
March 04, 2018 at 07:49 am
I'm not concerned that there is a new QB coach. I AM concerned that that guy is Frank Cignetti. His offenses have absolutely SUCKED for years. Most recently under Jeff Fischer in STL/LA. Yep - he was Jeff Fischer's OC.
Tundraboy
March 04, 2018 at 03:07 pm
Agree. Bringing in a MM crony or former associate,does not add anything imo or have real credibility. Just another situation where we have to have faith in MM. Don't have much left of that. Have seen all I need to from MM.
JDK52
March 03, 2018 at 01:19 pm
Not concerned at all. Rodgers is a serious competitor and will do whatever is necessary to be sucessful. I'll continue to trust that until I see significant evidence to the contrary.
Haha, I also like how MM kind of said "I was friends with AVP first, deal with it" rather than try to defend the decision.
TKWorldWide
March 03, 2018 at 02:31 pm
I’m glad MM isn’t concerned with being popular, because....
(Nope. Gonna lay off the low hanging fruit.)
~~~
dobber
March 03, 2018 at 04:27 pm
...Ashwaubenon junior prom is coming up and he's hoping to be crowned King?
DD
March 03, 2018 at 04:49 pm
MM, stay off the weed!
Couch Cleats
March 03, 2018 at 03:01 pm
At this point do we really think that Rodgers needs a lot of coaching? Someone had to get the blame for Hundley "Not being ready" as MM said this week. I guess AVP is the one holding that bag now (even though I'm holding the HC and supposed QB Guru accountable for that one anyway).
The list of contributions the self proclaimed "Highly Successful HC" has made to this team is starting to get pretty small from where I'm standing. It's looking like he's just had a Highly Successful QB to put wins on his record.
If the 2018 Packers don't light it up I'll be shocked if he's coaching them in 2019.
Couch Cleats
March 03, 2018 at 03:01 pm
At this point do we really think that Rodgers needs a lot of coaching? Someone had to get the blame for Hundley "Not being ready" as MM said this week. I guess AVP is the one holding that bag now (even though I'm holding the HC and supposed QB Guru accountable for that one anyway).
The list of contributions the self proclaimed "Highly Successful HC" has made to this team is starting to get pretty small from where I'm standing. It's looking like he's just had a Highly Successful QB to put wins on his record.
If the 2018 Packers don't light it up I'll be shocked if he's coaching them in 2019.
DD
March 03, 2018 at 04:49 pm
Couch cleats: Correcto on all accounts. MM did not improve Hundley during the backup or as a starter. Warch the film MM as you always say. Correct mistakes. Well MM receives an F grade for that. One more year, SB appearance or out!!
DD
March 03, 2018 at 04:44 pm
We'll you got this right MM. You're not too popular. You have not improved player's or the offense since Rodgers arrived. Yes a SB, thanks to some luck and a great defensive year, but overall you have fallen way short of expectations.
Bert
March 03, 2018 at 05:20 pm
Always nice to see MM demanding nothing but excellence out of his coaching staff.......said with a tinge of sarcasm.
John Ramble Kirk
March 03, 2018 at 07:46 pm
Mike does what's in the best interests of the Green Bay Packers? First, I've heard of that. He refused to fire his buddies for years to the peril of the organization. He pigheadedly trotted out his star student in Brett Hundley while he was posting donuts and looking completely inept. This guy does NOT do what is in the best interest of the Packers and is beyond fortunate to retain his position in what should've been a total housecleaning. Forgot to look in the basement and just left it a mess.
As for Cignetti...I watched his lockerroom interview after he was hired. He seemed like a really nice guy, but I immediately thought Aaron was going to think...Who is this clown? That should be an interesting relationship to follow. Will he be retained after this season?
flackcatcher
March 03, 2018 at 08:02 pm
The really big takeaway is MM admitting that his offensive scheme failed and he never adjusted during the season. We knew this offense was built around Rodgers, but never to this extent. Even if Hundley didn't have his problems football wise, we now know he never stood a chance to be successful in the offensive system. MM admitted as much. (shakes head) Unreal.
Oppy
March 04, 2018 at 02:55 am
Matt Flynn did pretty well in this offensive system.
He even set a Packers franchise record for TDs in a single game in this system.
So, I don't know, Maybe the system isn't so Rodgers-centric as you may think it is.
flackcatcher
March 04, 2018 at 08:00 pm
After they picked up Flynn the Packers reverted to their 2010-2011 west coast scheme. Packers had cut Flynn, so he did not know the new scheme when he was resigned. Most of team was familiar with the old scheme, so they had little problems picking up the old play book. The Packers were so successful in the second half of that season that they kept the 2011 west coast ran it for the 2014 season. In 2015, MM went back to the 2013 one back scheme and we all know how that turned out.
Since'61
March 03, 2018 at 08:53 pm
So far during this offseason, the more MM speaks the more I wonder where has he been since about 2014. Suddenly he is having all of these epiphanies about the coaching changes. Hasn't it been obvious since the collapse in Seattle? Maybe he is finally getting over the shock of losing that game and his brother within about 10 days. It's really concerning that it has taken so long to make these changes. Maybe Murphy finally stepped in and forced his hand. We'll probably never know. Thanks, Since '61
JDK52
March 03, 2018 at 09:00 pm
'61, just wanted to say I appreciate your measured response. Too many guys flying off the handle around here lately.
As far as epiphanies go, I would mention that McMcarthy made some fairly drastic changes in '15 that turned out to be almost universally bad. My opinion is he's taken until now to unravel all the knots that the post-Seattle collapse-collapse created.
Did it take too long? Yeah, the NFL isn't too kind to those who take three years to adjust. Glad he's finally there, though.
Since'61
March 04, 2018 at 08:38 am
JDK. Good point. Nice post. Thanks, Since '61
Thegreatreynoldo
March 04, 2018 at 07:48 pm
So, bad hires and bad other decisions coupled with taking too long to recognize and rectify them. Having a hard time finding a positive attribute in those words. Well, let's hope MM is indeed finally there, and that the Pettine hire is as good as we all think it is.
I groan every time MM hires yet another Pittsburgh guy. Still, QB coach is a thankless job in GB: if somehow AR improves the credit is as likely to go to Philbin as to Cignetti.
Tundraboy
March 04, 2018 at 08:42 pm
"Suddenly he is having all of these epiphanies about the coaching changes. "
Took the words right out of my mouth. God I can't wait for the draft and real news to begin.
carlos
March 05, 2018 at 06:57 am
Listening to the Lion’s coach’s interview makes me nervous. Highly intelligent, interesting guy. I’m afraid the Lions got a good coach finally. I was sort of comparing him to McCarthy while listening to his interview.
Packer_Fan
March 03, 2018 at 09:47 pm
Hundley should have been more ready to play better than he did. Van Pelt was responsible for that. And Van Pelt should have known that Hundley had those issues and brought it up to MM and TT. TT was responsible for letting the better third QB go to New Orleans. So, things got messed up without AR and someone had to take responsibility. I see Van Pelt as the guy most responsible. And I think it is time for a change in coaches.
4thand1
March 04, 2018 at 08:03 am
It's funny MM defended Hundley to no end. Never heard anyone talk to AVP about Hundley and his lack of development. Rodgers will make another QB coach look good so he can move on in a few years.
stockholder
March 04, 2018 at 07:42 am
Power and Management power. (MM is power to lead; players, etc.) But management is power to control. MM was not going make changes to his staff, until he knew management power changed. He's used his power like a preacher. Constantly playing to TTs control of draft picks, free-Agency, and "FIX CAPER"S DEFENSE". (He's a very smart coach.) MM followed" In Ted we Trust"! MM knew he could make changes. Changes long over due. The plan was play the picks, and use Arron Rodgers. Until TT failed with the Caper's Plan! You won't see these changes at QB until; "Management power and control", decide they don't want to pay A-ROD. A-Rods new contract says NO changes at QB. A-Rod is management's plan, and MM must do what he thinks is best for A-ROD. Gute has to draft a QB or MM stays with Hundley. He can't upset the A-Rod plan. Control is, what it is.
carlos
March 05, 2018 at 07:02 am
Is it me or did it seem like a lot of front office and players wanted out of Green Bay? I hope I’m wrong and this weird feeling is just me.
Donster
March 04, 2018 at 08:37 am
Not concerned. Van Pelt didn't do a very good job with Brett Hundley now did he.
Samson
March 04, 2018 at 08:23 pm
I'm more concerned about AR's health going forward than any of the new MM cronies being hired in GB.
Royalty Free GM
March 05, 2018 at 05:13 am
We still have enough time to fire MM...