Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Green Bay Packers become Mike McCarthy's second family 
BY MIKE VANDERMAUSE MVANDERMAUSE@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM AUGUST 31, 2010

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy is looking forward to having dinner Wednesday night with his oldest daughter, Alex, on the day before the Packers play the Chiefs in their final preseason game.

Alex will be a freshman this fall at Kansas in nearby Lawrence, and McCarthy said he will relish the time he can spend away from football, if only for a few hours.

Im kind of excited to go down to Kansas and see her dorm room and things like that, McCarthy said. This is neat.

McCarthy works in an all-consuming profession and has learned that if hes not careful, it can swallow him and his family up.

You feel guilty about the time youre away from your family, he said. It gets harder the older you get.

Its a selfish profession, it really is.

In his younger years as an assistant coach, McCarthy admits he struggled to separate his work and home life. Hes getting more adept at that and thinks it makes him a better coach.

Theres always something for me to do at work that I think would probably make me better, but you can also overdo it, and be paralysis from analysis, too, he said. Ive seen that go on.

While McCarthy isnt a micro-manager, he holds his staff and players accountable.

I think thats what I do, which makes me able to go home and sleep better at night, he said. And then when Im with my family, its all family.

Thats not to say McCarthy has mellowed as he prepares for his fifth season as head coach. Some of his angry outbursts during training camp could be heard loud and clear all the way across Ray Nitschke Field and into the stands. He is a stickler for detail, and when things arent performed up to those high standards, players would be wise to reach for earplugs.

Coach likes practice to look a certain way, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. When it doesnt, were going to hear about it.

I can read his body language pretty well and know when hes about to have an outburst. And then sometimes I try to sneak in there and maybe say something before he does so he doesnt have to use any colorful metaphors with fans watching.

Linebacker Nick Barnett thinks McCarthys anger has been evident more often this year, and for a good reason.

I think hes a little hungrier this year, Barnett said. Its that time. I think he knows he has a talented team. Its his responsibility for us to get where were supposed to be. Hes to the point right now where he wants to get a championship.

A little yelling wont change the players attitude toward McCarthy. They respect and appreciate him because hes consistent and approachable.

If youve got consistency from your head man, thats big, said defensive lineman Ryan Pickett.

Hes cool. Hes a players coach. Players love him. You can go to him, talk to him about anything. You can joke with him. Hes going to ask you about your family, kids.

Barnett played his first three seasons for Mike Sherman and said McCarthy is more connected to the players.

Ive had the pleasure of having talks with him every now and then out there on the field, just talking about life, his family and where he lives and that type of stuff, said Barnett of McCarthy. Cool guy. You can relate to him and you can feel comfortable talking to him. Hopefully that never changes. When Sherman was here, you didnt really feel like you could have a conversation with him. It feels good to have a coach you can talk to.

Rodgers wouldnt even consider going to McCarthys office to talk because that setting is too formal.

Hes definitely still the big boss, but weve developed a good friendship that allows us to talk a little more evenly, Rodgers said.

We talk and see eye to eye. Theres no looking up to the throne.

If the players like McCarthy, the feeling is mutual. Its no coincidence McCarthy relates more to his players now than in his first season in 2006.

I really like the people on our team, McCarthy said. I know more about them. I know the players better than I did back then. Any head coach goes through that. Youre so focused in the early years of getting your structure and program the way you want it, youre not as interested in what they think.

McCarthy is a big believer in reaching out to his players.

I think that makes me a better coach, and I think that it makes them better players, he said. Weve been able to grow with some of these players over the last 4 years.

McCarthy is ready to go to battle with these players, even if he occasionally has to raise his voice.

I would take this team anywhere, play anybody, anytime, he said.

Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.


UserPostedImage
shield4life
14 years ago
Very good read, glad to have him as a coach.
Glad To Be A Packers Fan.
RaiderPride
14 years ago
There are many good coaches out there who have be given the lable of "A Good Coach Who Does Not Have What It Takes To Win It All."

Mike has a team that on paper should get there. If they do it will be the coaching that is the difference between getting there and not getting there.

It will not be the players. It will not be that he did not have the tools, it will be that he was out coached.

If he wants to avoid that lable, this team needs to go to the promised land. This year.
""People Will Probably Never Remember What You Said, And May Never Remember What You Did. However, People Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel."
14 years ago
There are, in my opinion, two main facets to coaching. There is the coaching that takes place to prepare the team during the offseason, training camp, and week to week, and then there is game day "coaching", i.e. executing from the sidelines. So far I would say that McCarthy and co. have done an excellent job with the former this year. Rodgers, as a prime example, seems to have quickened his release and the offense as a whole has sped up to address the sack issues from last season. We frankly haven't seen many adjustments the D has made yet. The growth of the D combined with McCarthy's management of the games will help answer the question posed by RaiderPride.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
beast (4h) : Wow, 95% drop in investment revenue? Would be interesting to hear the details of why...
dfosterf (25-Jul) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : *years
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (25-Jul) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

25-Jul / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

25-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.