The Packers Hire Darren Perry to Coach the Safeties

by Brandon on Jan 27, 2009 3:15 PM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Mike McCarthy had already promoted Joe Whitt Jr. as a secondary coach, and now he's added Darren Perry to coach the safeties. Perry was a great player in the mid-90s for Pittsburgh, although I think his career was derailed due to injuries by 1997 (or thereabout). He's been a secondary coach in Pittsburgh and Oakland for the past few seasons. I'm sure he's good, but he doesn't deserve all the credit for Oakland's great CB Nnamdi Asomugha and he doesn't deserve all the blame for the CB DeAngelo Hall fiasco either. Although if this means that the Packers are going hard after Asomugha in free agency, then hiring Perry is a brillant move.

Why would the Packers go after Asomugha in free agency? Although cornerback isn't an area of need, if the best cornerback in the NFL wants to play on your team, you should let him play. CB Charles Woodson and CB Al Harris are both still good players, but Asomugha is so good that he would be an upgrade, and at age 27, he will still be playing at an elite level for the next few seasons. If they are going to spend major money in free agency, GM Ted Thompson might as well get someone who really deserves it.

I noticed yesterday that Kevin Greene was hired to specifically coach the outside linebackers, and now Perry will coach specifically the safeties. At first it seemed odd to have specific position coaches instead of a general linebackers coach or secondary coach. But it's not; it's just a change in titles. The Packers had two secondary coaches last season; Kurt Schottenheimer and Lionel Washington. Instead of labeling them as either the safeties or cornerbacks coach, Schottenheimer was the secondary coach and Washington was the assistant. Either way, there are still two secondary coaches on staff no matter the title.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Although if this means that the Packers are going hard after Asomugha in free agency, then hiring Perry is a brillant move.

Yes, please. Even if any pursuit of Asomugha is coupled with the departure of Al Harris, which would be a bittersweet moment for Packer fans, this move reeks of awesome.

My main issue here? While Green Bay might have sufficient cap room for two big-time free agents, will Thompson use it? After all, it’s widely agreed that Green Bay needs the most help on the defensive line, where Albert Haynesworth, Julius Peppers, or (with the shift to a 3-4) Terrell Suggs would be arguably more valuable.

Don’t get me wrong, signing Asomugha would be outstanding (and a continuation of the trend of Green Bay taking prominent Oakland CB’s). However, given Thompson’s stance towards free agency, we’re likely to make only one big acquisition, and I would prefer to use that opportunity in the front seven. But that’s just me.

"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."

by Mitchell Maurer on Jan 27, 2009 3:28 PM CST reply actions

Yes

Why not Harris, Asomugha, Woodson, Collins and Williams as NB! that would be a secondary! With Woodson getting some safety experience this year why not put him in out there. If we got Asomugha! I am a Bigby fan but hey if we can put 4 players like that out there then we have to do it!

by bizzle4 on Jan 27, 2009 4:43 PM CST reply actions

Woodson did not look comfortable at safety this year

he’s probably our best player, but he’s best as a corner. Having four guys with name recognition in the secondary is straight out of the Jerry Jones school of personnel. I don’t want Nnamdi, I don’t want Peppers.

I want Haynesworth!

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jan 27, 2009 4:53 PM CST up reply actions

Haynesworth

Haynesworth will be overpaid by someone, probably within the first week or so of free agency. That just isn’t the Packers’ MO. I agree he should be highly valued, but the Packers simply do not overpay on the open free agent market. Especially not Thompson.

The Packers aren’t getting Haynesworth.

It's called "playing the percentages."

by hilbelink on Jan 28, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

At the time

didn’t you think the Packers did and had to overpay to get Charles Woodson. How’d that turn out?

by jobe on Jan 28, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, I don’t think they overpaid for Woodson at all. His market value was depressed somewhat by his (perceived) issues in his later years in Oakland. The honeymoon period was over, so to speak, and it had been some time since he’d made the Pro Bowl.

Woodson’s services were NOT in high demand at that time. Without other suitors driving up his price, the Packers could afford to jump in and sign him at a reasonable value.

Haynesworth’s value will be through the roof, because of his talent level, and because there are so few other top DLs coming into FA this year. Many will (attempt to) bid on him, and his price will be inflated. The Packers do not sign at inflated FA prices.

It's called "playing the percentages."

by hilbelink on Jan 29, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

I agree with the Woodson things you have said and with Haynesworth (i know I will get a lot of grief from the pro-Haynesworth people) is he that good? I mean Mike Montgomery had more tackles then Albert this year. At 320 I will say he poses as a big man in the middle but he has been very inconsistent in play. His 8.5 sacks this year is way above his career average which is about 3. He has only played in all 16 games once his rookie year. His career average for tackles is around 39 no too close to the 51 he got this year. (has only had more then 50 tackles one other time in 2005 52)
So with the money that really will be flying around him, is his inconsistency and injury risk really worth it?

by bizzle4 on Feb 1, 2009 1:47 AM CST up reply actions