Packers Offseason Moves- Latest: Gutekunst Hired as GM, signed to 5-year deal (Joe Philbin-OC, Mike Pettine-DC)

[pacopete4]

Glad to see Thompson staying within the organization hopefully scouting for us but also not the GM. Let another Wolf era begin! I also don’t think McCarthy needs to go.

[homer]

I've said previously that I believe that the Packers reached a handshake agreement last year to keep Wolf and Gutekunst here when they were up for other jobs and suddenly stopped pursuing other opportunities. My bet is that there is a plan in place for Ted to retire but stay on in advisory role as Ron Wolf did with Sherman his last year. I'd expect the "search for a new GM" to be quick and result in an internal hire that had already been determined.

 

Also Doug Melvin!

[PeaveyFury]

Glad to see Thompson staying within the organization hopefully scouting for us but also not the GM. Let another Wolf era begin! I also don’t think McCarthy needs to go.

 

Honestly, if they kept him on as 'Director of College Scouting', that would probably play well to both his strengths and what appeared to actually be his passion in the GM position, and I'd be fine with that.

[pacopete4]

Glad to see Thompson staying within the organization hopefully scouting for us but also not the GM. Let another Wolf era begin! I also don’t think McCarthy needs to go.

 

Honestly, if they kept him on as 'Director of College Scouting', that would probably play well to both his strengths and what appeared to actually be his passion in the GM position, and I'd be fine with that.

 

I agree. Let him find those players out of no where. I hated Thompson for the Favre fiasco but I’ve grown to respect his talents. He should be honored among the greats for bringing us another Super Bowl trophy.

[greeg35]

I'm out on any shared responsibility arrangement and I'd love to keep Russ Ball but not as gm. Wolf is the more flashy candidate but I've liked everything I've heard/read about Gutekunst. I'm not as hot on an external candidate but we'd have to look long and hard at Schneider if he's available.

 

As for Thompson I appreciated his approach and the success it brought to the team

 

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[patrickgpe]

The only bad news about the Thompson move is that it would be very unlikely that any of the top 3 internal GM candidates would return if passed up for the top job. My preference is Wolf only because of past reports of internal strife within the organization regarding free agents.

 

I also saw a list of top coaching candidates and ick. I would hope the new GM would give MM a season with a new defensive staff and see what happens. https://www.sbnation.com/2017/12/31/16825890/nfl-head-coach-candidates-2018. None here move the needle.

 

Regarding the D-Coordinator. I would hope they go for a young coordinator, like Carnell Lake rather than just go for Fox or Del Rio. I also think the Jim Leonard talk is silly, and wouldn't even be a fan consideration if he wasn't a local kid coaching UW.

 

Interesting 24 hours at 1265 Lombardi Ave for sure.

[LouisEly]

You look at those teams that are dominant right now and it's because they have pass-catching RB who's offense is capable of running through them for long periods of time, especially in the NFC. Panthers & McCaffrey, Saints & Kamara, Rams & Gurley, Vikings & Cook and on and on.

You mean like the Packers and Montgomery?

 

[sarcasm]Dalvin Cook and his 22.5 receiving yards per game (for all of four games) sure was the key to Minnesota's success this year. They really ran the offense through him! So much more than Montgomery's 21.6 receiving yards per game this year...[/sarcasm]

[CheezWizHed]

Cook might've been a bad example of a good receiving RB, but that doesn't make it a bad idea... We always seem to have the best offenses when we have a good receiving RB.

 

However, I think Williams and Jones showed a lot of promise in that area this year. I never quite understood why Montegomery wasn't better here. He was miles better than Lacy and, but really only as good as Starks. I'm hoping that the screen/RB dump off option stays in the playbook. Rodgers has needed it for a while now.

[superfly]

Cook might've been a bad example of a good receiving RB, but that doesn't make it a bad idea... We always seem to have the best offenses when we have a good receiving RB.

 

However, I think Williams and Jones showed a lot of promise in that area this year. I never quite understood why Montegomery wasn't better here. He was miles better than Lacy and, but really only as good as Starks. I'm hoping that the screen/RB dump off option stays in the playbook. Rodgers has needed it for a while now.

 

Mckinnon did the job well enough for them to fit the criteria, but we are going to have nightmares over Dalvin Cook the next several years. He is a crazy good back.

[LouisEly]

Montgomery wasn't better because he had broken ribs this year. Last year when he was healthy he averaged 5.9 YPC and 7.9 YPR. This year Cook averaged 4.8 YPC and 8.2 YPR.

[colbyjack]

I thought the same thing last year, but counting on Montgomery to be a regular contributor doesn't seem to be a wise course of action.

 

Although I don't suspect running back will be anywhere close to one of the team's priorities this offseason.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The defense being as mediocre to bad as it has been really has weakened this roster, because so many of GB's high draft picks the past few seasons have focused on defense.

 

Realistically, the only thing they should prioritize on defense personnelwise is pass rushing (OLB, DE) - the rest of the improvement needs to happen with a new defensive staff and the players they already have in the room. That's because offensively, OL and TE positions need to be addressed in early rounds of the next few drafts - there just isn't impact talent or depth on GB's roster at those position groups. For all the WR's Green Bay typically carries, I think that position needs some serious attention, too. Cobb or Nelson won't be around next year, unless both take significant pay cuts. Adams is really good, but I worry about him longterm with his concussion issues. I feel like they need to move on from Davis and Janis and bring in some young receivers that can be more than special teams gunners or punt fair catchers.

[FVBrewerFan]

The defense being as mediocre to bad as it has been really has weakened this roster, because so many of GB's high draft picks the past few seasons have focused on defense.

 

Realistically, the only thing they should prioritize on defense personnelwise is pass rushing (OLB, DE) - the rest of the improvement needs to happen with a new defensive staff and the players they already have in the room. That's because offensively, OL and TE positions need to be addressed in early rounds of the next few drafts - there just isn't impact talent or depth on GB's roster at those position groups. For all the WR's Green Bay typically carries, I think that position needs some serious attention, too. Cobb or Nelson won't be around next year, unless both take significant pay cuts. Adams is really good, but I worry about him longterm with his concussion issues. I feel like they need to move on from Davis and Janis and bring in some young receivers that can be more than special teams gunners or punt fair catchers.

 

I think they need help almost everywhere. Will the secondary benefit from a new DC/scheme? Yes, I think that's true. But I think they need more talent there also. I think Barnett is too slow, and the CBs are fine but could really use one stud at CB. That cures a lot of problems on defense right there. Clinton-Dix I think would really benefit from a new scheme. The elephant in the room is whether they stick with a 3-4ish type of base defense or if they go back to the 4-3.

 

Also, I find it interesting if the new GM is in-house, why haven't they announced it the same day? Maybe it just leaked before they were ready, but you would think if it's Wolf or one of the others they would know that already and announce it?

[FVBrewerFan]

So, the Packers don't have a GM, yet McCarthy's contract was extended through 2019 season today. That seems very backwards to me.

[rwa12]

From the way I read it, he was extended at some point midseason, it just came to light today.

[jerichoholicninja]

What I read said it happened during the season. Also, the fact that they only extended him one year really doesn't seem like much of a sign of faith.

[homer]

What I read said it happened during the season. Also, the fact that they only extended him one year really doesn't seem like much of a sign of faith.

 

They did the same thing with Sherman then canned him with two years left. Didn't want a lame duck coach.

[JohnBriggs12]

First, let's forget about Dave Aranda, or Jim Leonhard. Neither is ready to become an NFL defensive coordinator. Leonhard will eventually be a fine one if he chooses to but to hire him off one season at Wisconsin which had a talented veteran group on defense would make a nice story, but not necessarily a wise move.

 

The guy to hire is Vic Fangio. The Bears finished 5-11 but they had close to a top 10 defense with an offense that couldn't sustain drives. Fangio was defensive coordinator when Harbaugh was coaching the 49ers and is a 3-4 coordinator.

[patrickgpe]

Fangio would be a good choice. i am sure he will be quite in demand, but maybe the chance to stick it to the bears would be enough to get him here.

[nate82]

Fangio would be a good choice. i am sure he will be quite in demand, but maybe the chance to stick it to the bears would be enough to get him here.

 

The Bears are still looking at bringing Fangio back. He has an outside chance of being their head coach.

 

He could also fit in as the Cardinals head coach also. Fangio is going to get paid this off season regardless and I don't see the motivation of sticking it to the Bears for him as they are looking to bring him back as their d-coordinator.

[pacopete4]

Isn’t Fangio in the running for the head job for the bears?

[jerichoholicninja]

Fangio would be a good choice. i am sure he will be quite in demand, but maybe the chance to stick it to the bears would be enough to get him here.

 

Not sure what his reasons for sticking it to them would be. They didn't fire him.

[adambr2]

Fangio would be a good choice. i am sure he will be quite in demand, but maybe the chance to stick it to the bears would be enough to get him here.

 

Not sure what his reasons for sticking it to them would be. They didn't fire him.

 

They haven't fired him, but that doesn't mean he'll be staying. If he doesn't get the HC gig, which it doesn't look like he will, it's highly possible he'll take an opportunity elsewhere rather than stay under the new HC.

 

Jim Bates left the Packers DC post under similar circumstances when Mike Sherman was fired.

[PeaveyFury]

Fangio has been my #1 choice since it looked like both Fox and Capers would be fired. I'd be beyond thrilled if that came to fruition.

[patrickgpe]

Regarding GM, personally I think it should be a few day process. You access if Schneider wants to come home, if he does he gets the job. If he doesn't you hire Wolf.

 

 

It would be nice to get a GM in place soon before the defensive staff gets hired and I am sure most candidates will be hired within the next 2-3 weeks before the super bowl moratorium.