Green Bay Packers fill coaching vacancies from inside with surprise moves
INDIANAPOLIS Mike McCarthys coaching changes, on paper, look strange indeed
On Friday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers coach announced that Edgar Bennett is leaving his post as running backs coach and replacing departed Jimmy Robinson as receivers coach.
Bennetts background has nothing to suggest this as a way to fill the receivers job. He played running back for eight seasons in the NFL, and its the only position hes coached in his six seasons as an NFL assistant.
But after Robinson left the Packers to become assistant head coach-receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, Bennett went hard after the receivers job and won over McCarthy with his preparation and attention to detail. It was enough to convince the Packers coach that Bennetts desire to expand his expertise also will be good for the team.
At the end of the day the guy jumped through the door to do the job, McCarthy said Friday after his annual press conference at the NFL scouting combine. Im going to be there, Tom (Clements, the quarterbacks coach) is going to be there. Weve got a veteran group (at receiver). Its going to be healthy.
Along with moving Bennett to receivers coach, McCarthy made another unusual move by promoting Jerry Fontenot from offensive line assistant to replace Bennett as running backs coach. Fontenot had a 16-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL and had helped coach the Packers offensive line the past five years.
McCarthy also promoted John Rushing from offensive quality control coach to a combined role as assistant wide receivers coach-special teams coach, and hired Joel Hilgenberg as the new offensive quality control coach. Hilgenberg had a 10-year career as an NFL offensive lineman and was an intern on the Packers staff for part of last offseason and training camp.
While the moves for Bennett and Fontenot appear unusual considering their backgrounds, theyre hardly unprecedented job changes in the NFL. This offseason, for instance, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid made a major out-of-the-box change on his coaching staff by moving offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator. Castillo had been the Eagles offensive line coach the past 13 years, though he had some background on defense, as a player at linebacker for Texas A&I and then San Antonio of the USFL; as a linebackers-defensive line coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1982-85; and as a defensive coordinator as a high school assistant in Texas from 1986-89.
In Bennetts six seasons as the Packers running backs coach, hes proven to be conscientious, a hard worker and a good teacher, so theres every reason to think he quickly can learn the schematic details of the Packers passing game that he didnt pick up in his previous duties.
The harder part will be learning and then imparting the nuances of the position, which came naturally for Robinson, who played receiver in the NFL for six seasons and coached receivers for all 26 years hes been a college or pro assistant.
Its similar to what McCarthy went through as a young assistant after playing tight end in college but then eventually becoming a quarterbacks coach in the NFL. The main difference is, McCarthy began working with quarterbacks as a volunteer and then graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, and then was a quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons before becoming their quarterbacks coach in 1995.
Bennett is making the position change at the NFL level. McCarthy, though, said he likes to promote from within when possible, that he thinks the change will invigorate his coaches and players, and that Bennett will get ample support from himself and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
We (coaches) spend a lot of time together, we dont just throw the plan in and everybody goes to their (meeting) room, McCarthy said. Theres a lot of group interaction. But on the other side of it, Edgars a very passionate guy, hard working. Trust me, this will be a positive. Jimmy is an outstanding coach, did an excellent job with that group, but change is healthy for everybody. Its a great opportunity Jimmy has in Dallas, and I think a fresh face in the receiver room Edgar brings a lot of credibility. I think it will be very positive.
One of Bennetts strengths as running backs coach was teaching ball security, and in his interview with McCarthy he stressed that hed make that his greatest point of emphasis for the receivers. The Packers receivers didnt have major problems with fumbles, but Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and James Jones had three each, and Donald Driver one.
Edgars first goal is to make them handle the football better, McCarthy said. Thats something he feels he does a very good job of as a coach, whether hes coaching tight ends, running backs, receivers, thats not going to change. Thats one of the things he had five things in his interview he wanted to accomplish with the group, hed already broken it down.
Bennett also will get help coaching the receivers from Rushing, who as a quality control coach the last two seasons assisted Robinson. Rushing also will have expanded duties on special teams, and his promotion means he wont have to do the computer data entry thats a huge part of a quality-control assistants duties. That now will become Hilgenbergs responsibility, along with assisting offensive line coach James Campen.
Frankly, I thought wed have more movement on our staff, McCarthy said. Weve been trying to develop younger coaches. Jerry Fontenot is one of those younger coaches. John Rushing is one of those younger coaches. It was an opportunity to move these guys up. Im really excited the way this worked out. A lot of time, a lot of thought, a lot of planning went into this. I know our players will be excited to see these guys promoted. Were going to be a better offense next year, thats our focus.
As offensive line assistant, Fontenot worked closely with Campen and Bennett on the running game, which will help prepare him for coaching running back. Though like Bennett at receivers coach, there are some details of coaching running backs hell have to learn.
Its a very good coaching staff, McCarthy said. Weve been together going on six years. We want to get better, and were always looking for ways to get better. Ive had a chance to sit down at length with Joe Philbin, and we felt with this new structure that we can get involved in certain areas and hopefully we can improve.
GBPressGazette wrote: