Improve The Special Teams: Reshuffle The Coaches

by Brandon on Jan 28, 2010 11:28 PM CST in Green Bay Packers News Comment 9 comments

If there's one area the Green Bay Packers have to improve next season it's the special teams. The returns and coverage were awful. I'm willing to give K Mason Crosby another chance, but he needs competition in training camp, and I don't want to see another season with P Jeremy Kapinos. There are no great options in free agency so this is something they'll have to address in the draft, or with an undrafted free agent.

In a small move toward improving the special teams, Mike McCarthy changed the duties of two former NFL players. Former special team KR Chad Morton is moving from the Football Operations side, where he was a Coaching Administrator who compiled game film and stats, to become the Assistant Special Teams coach. Former Packer S Curtis Fuller held the position last year, and he's taking over Morton's old job. While I'm sure Fuller played on special teams as a pro, Morton was an outstanding kick returner back in 2002 for the Jets, and a free agent signing by Daniel Snyder for the 2003 Redskins. It seems obvious Morton would be a special teams coach.

Also, there was a minor reshuffling in that Mark Lovat is now Dave Redding's boss as the new head strength and conditioning coach. Redding came out of retirement last year, he had previously worked with McCarthy in Kansas City, so it's not surprising to see he is apparently acting as a mentor for Lovat.

Overall this is a major departure from last year when after McCarthy's postseason evaluation, he released the entire defensive coaching staff (except inside LB coach Winston Moss), and strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson. Special teams coach Mike Stock had retired earlier that month.

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It'd be nice to hire a different special teams coach

Get out of my dreams and into my Chuckie Carr
-Molitorfan 12/23/09

by Michael M on Jan 29, 2010 12:08 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I find it interesting....

That a former returner would be an effective ST coach. Not to discount his credentials, but it seems to me that the returners would be more focused on avoiding the blockers and the guys that they’re blocking rather than understanding how the scheme is set up. And frankly, I don’t remember Morton playing on the coverage teams; only the return team. Then again, Morton was almost exclusively a speedy ST player during his career. I can only hope that this will strengthen our struggling “third team”.

"Career highlights? I had two. I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets." - Bob Uecker

by texwestern on Jan 29, 2010 12:59 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I am guessing that as assistant ST coach, his role will be working with the returners allowing the ST Coach to focus on the other guys. That would make the most sense to me. I am sure he knows what good blocking looks like though…he’s part of all the practices and watches the blocking schemes develop. I hope he helps us get this aspect going!!

by TrevorR on Jan 29, 2010 9:17 AM CST up reply actions

In theory, just as a good QB needs to intimately understand the defenses he plays against, a returner should understand the coverages he’s facing as well. But, as I never played, that’s just my opinion. I’m guessing this is just giving him a shot to learn more and potentially become a better coach. Like Trevor says, he’ll probably just work to help the returners.

TBD

by pumpkinking on Jan 30, 2010 10:26 AM CST up reply actions