Packers Finalize Offensive Coaching Staff
Mike McCarthy announced several changes to his offensive staff this morning, including the hiring of Alex Van Pelt
By PackerAaron
The Green Bay Packers have named Jerry Fontenot tight ends coach, Ben McAdoo quarterbacks coach and Alex Van Pelt running backs coach. The team also announced that John Rushing will now serve as offensive assistant/special teams and Joel Hilgenberg will now serve as assistant offensive line coach. Head Coach Mike McCarthy made the announcement Monday.
Van Pelt will be entering his seventh season as an NFL coach, having served as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past two seasons.
I have already been bombarded on Twitter with questions regarding the fact that many of the Packers' offensive coaches are seemingly coaching "out of position", ie coaching positions they didn't play.
My thoughts on this are simple - good football coaches are good football coaches, no matter what position they played in their playing days. Mike McCarthy is considered one of the better developers of quarterbacks in the NFL, yet he played tight end in college.
I trust McCarthy to know what kind of men he's got coaching on his staff.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Comments (4)
February 13, 2012 at 09:31 am
From what I have seen, I interpret it to be less about a coaches "specialty" and more about their progression through the coaching ranks. That is, you start coaching a position like RB and then move up the latter from there.
February 13, 2012 at 06:06 pm
TT on hiring MM as head coach of the Packers: He hired a good man, not just a good coach.
MM on how he views his assistant coaches: He wants men of integrity, men who are leaders of men, and strong teachers.
Edgar Bennet was a RB. He was a RB coach. He was a first-year WR coach this past season. He did a pretty damn good job, for a guy with relatively little coaching experience, and zero experience as a WR (Playing or coaching.)
Edgar Bennet is a good man, a man of integrity, a leader of men, and a strong teacher.
I trust the decisions of MM in regards to his coaching staff. Beyond the fact I don't have any reason thus far to truly doubt his decision making, there's a great thing going on here in GB: It is a place of development and opportunity for players and coaches alike.
We have QB's and WR's willing to ride MAJOR pine and turn down active roster contracts to stay on our PS to learn and develop as players.. Unheard of.
We also have a HC who not only fills holes frequently by promoting from within, but actively promotes the worthiness of his assistant coaches' to be given coordinator or HC jobs elsewhere in the media.. Sure, we protect a coach here and there from interviewing, but more often than not, MM is all about guys growing, expanding their horizons, and getting opportunity to move up on move on if the opportunity presents itself.
If this continues, you can bet young, talented coaches and players will want to sign on with the GBP.
February 13, 2012 at 06:07 pm
Yikes, sorry bout the length, just started blathering!
February 13, 2012 at 06:22 pm
OKay, quick quote from Alex Van Pelt (as posted on Packers.com) that may shed some light on MM's philosophy on hiring a QB coach as a RB coach- this makes perfect sense for this offense:
"“My area of expertise would be having them look at the game as a quarterback would; understanding protections, seeing tips in protections, the blitzes. I’ll be bringing a different view to them of the passing game. I’ll learn as I go along and I’ll lean on guys like Edgar (Bennett) and Jerry (Fontenot),” Van Pelt said."
MM coached Van Pelt at Pitt and then at KC, so they have a history, as well.