The Green Bay Packers' offense was a hot mess for much of the 2015 season. With receivers injured and unable to get open, the offensive line being consistently banged-up, and a starting running back who was just called out for weight issues by his head coach, the odds of the unit remaining the same for next season were slim to none.
If it's a shakeup on the offensive coaching staff that you wanted, the Green Bay Packers are starting to give you your wish. Today, Mike McCarthy made the first change on his staff, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Michael Cohen:
The #Packers have fired running backs coach Sam Gash. He was informed of the decision today.
— Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) January 19, 2016
Gash has served as the Packers' running backs coach for the past two years, and during each year they finished in the top half of the league in total rushing yards, ranking 11th in 2014 and 12th in 2015. Eddie Lacy ranked ninth in the NFL in rushing yardage a season ago, but as James Starks picked up a bigger workload in 2015, Lacy slipped to 20th this year. Lacy's yards-per-carry average also dropped from 4.6 a season ago to 4.1.
A former NFL fullback, Gash also spent five seasons as the Detroit Lions' running backs coach prior to his tenure in Green Bay.
One of the big questions this season is whether or not the Packers will hire a dedicated wide receivers coach to take some of the burden off QB/WR coach Alex Van Pelt. However, filling the now-vacant running backs coach role may be a more urgent priority at present.