Packers OC Joe Philbin Interviews, John Dorsey Doesn't, and Brad Jones Could Be The Starter

by Brandon on Jan 5, 2012 7:01 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

The Green Bay Packers have one more practice on Thursday before taking the weekend off. And that's good because people have some interviews to get to.

Philbin has another interview scheduled - JSOnline. It's been reported that offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will interview with the Chiefs, but he's expected to have another one with an unknown team. It's no surprise that he's in demand after the year the Packers have had.

Packers’ John Dorsey declines offer to interview for Colts G.M. | ProFootballTalk. It's not been reported why their college scouting guru wouldn't want to interview with the Colts. He would be a strong candidate, if they did interview him.

Jones could be back as Packers starting linebacker - JSOnline. Some actual football news! After injuries eventually forced Brad Jones onto the I.R. in 2010, I thought he'd compete for the starting job in 2011. Instead, Erik Walden was never challenged for the job. Even without Frank Zombo for most of the season, Jones never seemed to be an option.

The team might prefer to start a bigger player at linebacker, and Walden's got about 10 pounds on Jones. While it hasn't been a good season for Walden, Jones didn't stand out until the final game of the regular season. I'm not expecting much from him, but he probably has more playmaking potential right now than Walden.

And, by the way, Jones tackled a fan who got onto the field last Sunday because he was cold and didn't want to wait for the security guards to catch him.

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Comments

It would be awesome if Brad Jones pulled a James Starks and came out of nowhere at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. We desperately need a pass rush. I wonder how Jones would have done if Clay Matthews was out there.

by smileyfacejackson on Jan 5, 2012 9:15 AM CST reply actions

Jones was around two years ago, hurt last year.

He can’t come out of nowhere if he already was a pleasant surprise in his rookie year!

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

smart

from what I remember, he is a really smart dude. Wanted to get into brain surgery I believe.

by Acme on Jan 5, 2012 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

Wow, didn't know that. Certainly falls outside the stereotype of young NFL players!

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

yeah

old NFL players are usually the ones who get into brain surgery

by tmoneyttime1 on Jan 5, 2012 5:39 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Misconstrued what I said, but whatevs.

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

Jones.

Really like the guy. I think he was into the astrophysics/spaceman stuff they have at CU. He went there, I went there – we’re like brothers. Crosby and Jones represent… Go Buffs.

by ctxsix on Jan 6, 2012 12:02 AM CST up reply actions

just messing with you dude

by tmoneyttime1 on Jan 6, 2012 12:41 AM CST up reply actions

Mhmm...

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 6, 2012 1:07 AM CST up reply actions

Pack have some good young LBs

Other than the obvious need of a pass rushing OLB opposite of Clay, I think the Pack has a lot of depth at LB. I’ve been encouraged by backups Francois, Brad Jones, and DJ Smith. Vic So’oto looked great in the preseason and in limited time towards the end of the regular season as well. I’ve been disappointed in Eric Walden though. Zombo is OK when he’s healthy.

I think the Packers need to spend their first 3 picks on the D-Line and LBs with an emphasis on the pass rush.

Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson

by LenBarson on Jan 5, 2012 9:17 AM CST reply actions

they have alot of young linebackers, but the problem is most of them suck

Packers Season

by OznCoop on Jan 5, 2012 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't put it that harshly.

I’d say they are all average to slightly above average, but with potential. Most of our previously OLB’s have been injured consistently (Jones, Zombo) and one has shown flashes but has about run his course in town (Walden). Both Jones and Zombo were late picks and injuries have really impacted the learning curve for both.

But I agree, if there is someone whose value correlates with the pick we are at, I’d love to get another pass rusher to help ease some pressure off of Matthews (either a penetrating 3-4 DE…rare…or an OLB).

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

Zombo was undrafted...

But I really thought both of those guys had more power than Walden. I wouldn’t mind a change, if it meant more consistency and coverage in the flat. Too many times what looks like a a tackle for a loss turns into 5-6 yrds.

by stratefaced on Jan 5, 2012 3:24 PM CST up reply actions

I just want someone to keep contain and be able to read at least a portion of screens.

That isn’t too much to ask, is it?

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 11:28 PM CST up reply actions

Jones..

What a great kid. He had some real nice quotes in the JS. A real Packer

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Jan 5, 2012 10:29 AM CST reply actions

Philbin

I’ve never really understood how McCarthy and Philbin divide up the offensive coordinator gig. McCarthy is the play-caller, right? So what other parts of the OC job does he cover, and what is left for the official OC? I can see why Philbin might want to move to a place where he’d get more responsibility, and working for a defense-minded head coach like ol’ Romeo makes sense.

by LA Cheese on Jan 5, 2012 11:29 AM CST reply actions

I believe they share alot of the responsibilities...

Taken from Ask Vic on the Packer’s website,

An offensive coordinator does a lot more than call plays. He breaks down film of the opponent’s defense. He identifies scheme tendencies according to down and distance and he designs a game plan. Philbin and Head Coach Mike McCarthy no doubt share in those responsibilities and collaborate on the design of the game plan, but I think Coach McCarthy would tell you he couldn’t perform all of the coordinator’s responsibilities and all of the head coach’s, too.

I would say that while McCarthy is a great leader, he needs an equally great supporting cast to make sure things are getting done.

by stratefaced on Jan 5, 2012 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Rules

I thought teams were prohibited from approaching coaches while their teams were still active in the postseason.

by clincher on Jan 5, 2012 12:26 PM CST reply actions

that changed a number of years ago

…I think. I believe it was nicknamed “the John Fox rule” because that rule kept him from interviewing while he was an assistant, and by the time the Giants’ season was over, the coaching vacancies were filled. So they changed it to allowing assistants to interview for HC jobs during their playoff bye week.

by Anthony Dilweg on Jan 5, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

OLB rotation

I would like to see more of an olb rotation, kind of like how it was last year. Walden has started virtually every game this year, and has been unimpressive. Im not sure why they didn’t rotate Jones in more in the regular season. I always felt he had the best coverage skills out of the 3 (Jones, Walden, Zombo).

by Katsuya89 on Jan 5, 2012 2:46 PM CST reply actions

Injuries have really held back Jones/Zombo all year.

I’d love a rotation, too.

by msc32887 on Jan 5, 2012 3:02 PM CST up reply actions

joel'sjock

The dearth of quality OLB’s opposite of Matthews should be obvious to all. Everyone is a little below average IMO. We need to upgrade this position. Remember the KC game when they where running out the clock. It seemed like four stright times they went wide to their left and no one was there.

by joel'sjock on Jan 5, 2012 3:40 PM CST reply actions

Brad Jones

Jones, more or less, lost his starting job at OLB due to injury. McCarthy called it “being available.” He’s had some trouble staying injury free. He wasn’t able to compete fully for the ROLB spot during the shortened off-season because of nagging injuries. Now with Walden having played exceptionally poorly these last few games, he is getting a shot to re-gain the position he lost. And I’m glad for it. I think of all the LBs who have been at that spot over the past 3 years, he has the most potential. He’s a fast, athletic guy with a lot of upside.

by MikeDB on Jan 5, 2012 5:03 PM CST reply actions

***

It should have said that McCarthy called it, “not being available.”

by MikeDB on Jan 5, 2012 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

I think of all the LBs who have been at that spot over the past 3 years, he has the most potential. He’s a fast, athletic guy with a lot of upside.

Agreed. I’m excited to see if he can show something.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 5, 2012 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

Surprised...

I’m surprised that Dorsey would turn down an interview w/ the Colts. That seems like it would be a pretty good gig. 1st overall pick in the draft and the right to take Luck, could trade Manning or give Luck a year to grow behind him. The team is older and clearly going to be rebuilding and you would have the Franchise QB to build around. Its not like he would be saddled w/ Caldwell either… I don’t see any reason the Colts would be tied to Caldwell as the HC. Would be able to get the HC you want, draft a Franchise QB, then build the roster to fit the new HC’s schemes.

Seems like alot of positives in Indy… Much more than in Oak for McKenzie.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 5, 2012 7:27 PM CST reply actions

Hmm..

that Manning/Luck scenerio has the potential to be a real $hit storm if not handled properly. Does Dorsey really want to be the guy that forces out Manning? I think he saw that movie with #4 and it was fortunate to end up favorably for the Packers.

I get he could trade the #1 pick, but the Raiders gig may be a lot less pressure to start with

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Jan 6, 2012 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

I was going to disagree with you, but as I was writing the comment I realized that I couldn't make a definitive statement.

I think Manning publicly stated approval to draft a QB in the first round, but who knows how he really feels. Will he be the guy that is willing to walk away after a couple of years, during which Luck develops and learns the system? The best move for the Colts now is to draft Luck and hope for the best, if he is what they think he is (and actually do something about it, right Dennis Green?).

by msc32887 on Jan 6, 2012 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

The Colts have to do what's best for the Colts.

Not for Peyton, not for Daddy Manning.

by mike_o on Jan 6, 2012 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Yep.

Hope them the best in the transition, team chemistry can turn poisonous in a situation like this.

by msc32887 on Jan 6, 2012 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

Luck

I don’t see it as a big problem. If he picks Luck, I would trade Manning now. Forcing him out, if you wanna call it that, is only a problem if Manning makes it a problem. I think Manning would handle it alot better than #4 did. I wouldn’t even think twice about it. Draft Luck, trade Manning and move forward. I think everyone realizes that the Manningettes don’t have another SB run in them. Time to move forward and if I was Dorsey, thats exactly how I would sell it to the fans!

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 6, 2012 6:49 PM CST up reply actions

I thought I read somewhere that Manning said he wouldn't play for anyone else..

can’t remember where, but I think it was NFL.com. But I think they all say that until something is imminent. Not like he would want to start rumors only to have nothing develop. Then again, maybe he just retires.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 7, 2012 12:45 AM CST up reply actions

he has nothing left to prove

so if his neck injury really does put him at risk of more serious long term injury, he’d be better off retiring. But I think he wants to prove that he still has it after that injury.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 7, 2012 1:26 AM CST up reply actions