RajiRoar
14 years ago
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Green Bay - It wouldn't work. All of his demands, high expectations and the lectures about accountability - the players would see right through it all if there was one set of standards for them and another for him.

He knows that. That's why Mike McCarthy got up in front of his Green Bay Packers the day after that brutally close loss in Chicago.

"I took too much of a risk when I challenged the fumble," McCarthy told his players. "It was risky, and I did it, and in hindsight, I should not have done that."

The players studied him. They had just been pummeled physically, whipped mentally with 18 penalties and roasted publicly after the 20-17 early-season loss. But here was McCarthy, not singling anyone out, not making excuses, but taking his share of culpability.

"He will own up to any mistake he makes," said special teams player Jarrett Bush.

"We all respect that," said guard Josh Sitton.

Respect has to be earned. After five years as head coach of the Packers, McCarthy has it.

"A lot of times a guy gets in front you and you're not really listening," said nose tackle B.J. Raji. "With Coach McCarthy, when he talks, his presence is felt. And you kind of rally behind him."

The Packers need another rally now. It will take three road victories, starting Sunday at Philadelphia, to get to the Super Bowl. There is no question they look to McCarthy to get them there with his unique brand of leadership, a style that is not really known outside the team, partly because McCarthy prefers it that way.

Where it all starts
There's a reason why the players don't seem uptight after a turnover or other mistake and why they don't turn on one another when they lose a close game, and it starts with the coach.

McCarthy is not a screamer for the sake of theatrics. If practice turns sloppy, he breaks the monotone buzz of the fluorescent lights in the Don Hutson Center with angry, sharp instructions. He yells. Profanity is used just to emphasize the point. But once it's made, McCarthy moves on, without the long, drawn-out drama.

One player said McCarthy was hot-tempered earlier in the year with the special teams, but that was all behind closed doors.

McCarthy doesn't chew out a player just to make an example out of him.

"But no one gets a pass, either," said fullback Korey Hall. "That's one of the good things about him - you never have to wonder where you stand. He's a straightforward guy."

McCarthy expects his players to dress professionally for game day and on the road - no sweats or practice T-shirt - but he isn't checking for polished shoes and neck ties. He doesn't insult them by micromanaging.

McCarthy cares about other details, like their workload. He's known for adjusting the practice schedule to be more forgiving on their joints and muscles, beginning in training camp and through the 17-week season.

"He takes care of players physically throughout the week," said punter Tim Masthay. "You're not treated like just pieces of meat."

But above all, communication matters the most.

"He's got an open door," offensive lineman Jason Spitz said. "He doesn't just sit there, an empty ear you're talking to. He listens and gives you feedback right away."

If something comes up, a player can call him and explain, and they will find a reasonable and even compromising McCarthy.

If they don't communicate, players get called out for being immature and unprofessional.

"He don't tolerate you being late," said tight end Donald Lee. "One year it snowed real bad and a lot of guys were late. He told us he didn't appreciate that and don't let that happen again. Leave earlier."

McCarthy narrows his focus
There is one player in particular he pushes more than the rest - quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"No question, this offense relies so much on the quarterback and for him to make the right decisions," Sitton said. "McCarthy is always on him."

While McCarthy praises his quarterback at the podium, he's always pushing him to be a leader. Once after Rodgers was named the NFC player of the week, McCarthy laughed because he hadn't even rewarded Rodgers with one of the coveted game balls, given to the players with the best individual performances.

"A lot is expected of Aaron just because they know what he's capable of doing," said backup quarterback Matt Flynn. "So they may grade him a little harder."

McCarthy does not run his team with a dictatorial style, which is appreciated.

"Everyone enjoys coming to work," said Flynn. "Everyone's not tight around here. Aaron's kind of a goofy guy and he kind of lets him do his thing. He lets us all kind of be ourselves - as long as we get to work when we need to."

When it comes to McCarthy's approach during the game, the Packers say they admire most that he's not afraid to take chances - the onside kick to start the game at New England, the fourth-down shot to go for the win against Detroit.

"He's not afraid to fire his gun," said Spitz. "You've got to respect that."

Losses take a toll. McCarthy doesn't sleep after them, going over every play in his mind because he is the offensive play caller.

"If it doesn't affect you, you shouldn't be coaching," said Spitz. "He has that passion for the game. If you're not emotionally tied up in this, then you're not really into any of it."

McCarthy wears his disappointment in a loss like a tacky plaid sports coat, looking uncomfortable and miserable for the following day.

"Oh, I have seen him upset, disappointed," Lee said. "The games we're supposed to win and we don't. After we've worked so hard and we don't come away with the win."

That's also the time when McCarthy rolls up his sleeves and gets after it.

"When you lose, it's more work, to be honest with you," said McCarthy. "It's always nice when you win because you can come in and demand even more. When you lose, there's more things you have to push to get back in to place."

"He's always up in his office working late. I always see him when I'm here watching film," said Bush.

Rallying around a theme
McCarthy uses a theme every week to help address the Packers and keep them focused.

"I feel a major part of my responsibility is to keep my finger on the pulse of the football team," said McCarthy. "Whatever I feel we need as a team, that's where the theme comes from."

Overcoming adversity was a popular theme early in the year. Peak performance was the major theme in December. Last week, for the must-win rematch against Chicago at home, the theme was carpe diem.

"Seize the day," said Raji. "Do-or-die situation for us. If we don't win, we go home. The theme fit and it helped us win."

McCarthy also tries to inspire his players.

"He's a pretty strong Catholic," said Hall. "A lot of his prayers and pregame speeches are passages from the Bible that we kind of try to relate to."

McCarthy also likes to lighten things up. He often shows clips of movies. A couple of players, when asked, couldn't really remember the point behind one of McCarthy's movie choices - "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead."

"But it was funny," said Spitz. Maybe that was the only point. "He's just trying to keep it interesting.

"He will tell you he's a just a typical Pittsburgh guy. As long as you know that, you know what he's talking about. I mean, I love him. He tells it how it is, there's no B.S. Solid football coach. He's a good dude."

It is not always perfect. One player would not comment on McCarthy and wouldn't say why. And McCarthy himself can seem sensitive or defensive on some topics, often trying to steer conversations toward positive themes and away from anything he considers overly critical.

"You have three choices in life when looking at any situation," said McCarthy. "You can take a positive angle, a negative angle or no angle at all.

"I clearly believe in positive mind-sets. Positive needs to be the starting point. I believe in positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is a useful teaching tool, but it is a short-term teaching tool.

"At the end of the day, when you're building a program, it's all about culture. Positive culture equates growth, and that is very important to me - that everyone in our program continue to grow."



MintBaconDrivel
Dec, 11, 2012 - FOREVER!
Kingkoopa
14 years ago
Fantastic article, thanks for posting that. 🙂
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peteralan71
14 years ago
Gain the respect of your players, and they will lay down in front of a train for you. Lose their respect, and you will be thrown in front of the train.
Green Bay: Home of the Green & Gold. And the hunter orange. And the camouflage.
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IronMan
14 years ago

It is not always perfect. One player would not comment on McCarthy and wouldn't say why.


I have no doubt that this unnamed player is James Starks. Hall of Fame running backs should not be inactive on game day. Period.
musccy
14 years ago

It is not always perfect. One player would not comment on McCarthy and wouldn't say why.

"IronMan" wrote:


I have no doubt that this unnamed player is James Starks. Hall of Fame running backs should not be inactive on game day. Period.



haha, +1

Good article, though. MM has been criticized for numerous things, including that he doesn't appear to be very 'rah rah' but one of the most important aspects in coaching is relating to your athletes/players and getting them to respect you. That's why guys like Marvin Lewis, Coughlin, and Fisher are still coaching with their respective teams.
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

It wouldn't work. All of his demands, high expectations and the lectures about accountability - the players would see right through it all if there was one set of standards for them and another for him.



Maybe this is one of the reasons why he lost so much weight? I'd love to see a professional coach look athletic -- obviously, not as athletic as the guys he's coaching, but muscular and fit. I respect McCarthy for putting in the effort to lose all that weight, now it would be fun to see him get a bit cut. He's got the athletic trainers on staff, after all. 😉
UserPostedImage
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Atari Bigby was the one whom wouldn't talk about McCarthy.
UserPostedImage
IronMan
14 years ago

Atari Bigby was the one whom wouldn't talk about McCarthy.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:

Is this a guess or do you know for sure? And if so, where did you read it?
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