* It was very difficult decision to fire his assistants. He put a lot of time and thought into the decision. It came down to he didn't feel they were heading in the right direction. Things that occurred in Year 1 showed up again in Year 3.
I was pleased that he didn't fire his assistants the day the season ended. He gave the process a lot of time and (no doubt agonizing) thought, and he didn't make the rash move of firing everyone. In fact, he kept Moss. Whether that was a good move will obviously remain to be seen.
* The Packers' starting point will be the 3-4 formation on defense. It creates problems for the offense. The Packers will use both four-man and three-man fronts.
Looks like everyone clamoring for a hybrid defense will get their wish granted. I like this idea: it promotes flexibility and gives us more options. Plus it creates the possibility for confusing the opposing offense with our formations. I'd like to see us move toward a system similar to what the Ravens run, in which they conceal their defensive formation until just before the ball is snapped. I think that, combined with bump-n-run coverage, would give opposing quarterbacks fits.
* One of the priorities was hiring someone with defensive coordinator experience.
A solid decision in my opinion, and one which I applaud.
* Winston Moss will continue in his position as linebackers coach and assistant head coach.
As I said elsewhere, this indicates to me that McCarthy tacitly supported the mutiny against Sanders all along, but couldn't come out and say so for political and cohesion reasons. I'm looking forward to seeing how Capers and Moss work together.
* It was McCarthy's decision to fire his assistants. He kept Ted Thompson abreast of the situation, but Thompson had no problem changing to the 3-4.
Screw all the trolls who say that McCarthy is nothing more than a Thompson puppet. I've never believed that for a moment.
* It's important for Slocum to put his blueprint on the job.
I see McCarthy's encouraging of independence in his staff as a positive. This is probably one of the reasons why Moss was retained -- he showed a pronounced independent streak last season, yet was enough of a team player to go along with Sanders' system when he was overruled. I respect a coach who retains staff who have the the courage to express their honest opinions yet also follow orders.
Neither McCarthy nor Thompson are assembling a staff of sycophants, which can only benefit the team in the long run.
* Capers is the best fit for the organization, although he didn't answer whether he offered the job to someone else first.
A) This is no one's business (unnecessarily gives away strategic info); and š even if it were, to admit to offering the position elsewhere would not only weaken Green Bay's standing, it would also make Capers look like he was a choice of last resort and risk alienating him -- which is the last thing McCarthy wants to do.
* A change in direction in the program was needed and he doesn't see it as an act of desperation to fire so many assistants.
I agree. If he had fired everyone, I might be inclined to view it differently, but Capers has the chance to hand-pick his staff now.
Overall, I think we got the press conference we expected out of McCarthy. No earth-shaking revelations, no significant retractions.