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When you finish 13-3 and one game short of the Super Bowl, you don’t expect a lot of turnover on your coaching staff.
As Packers head coach Matt LaFleur embarked on his second off-season in charge, he made some tweaks to his staff that was more about fixing some small leaks rather than filling gaping holes.
When secondary coach Jason Simmons left for Carolina, the young LaFleur jumped at adding veteran assistant Jerry Gray to replace him. It’s a move that the head coach is already glad he made given the work Gray did in Minnesota.
LaFleur also fired wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted after basically every receiver not named Davante Adams severely underperformed and elevated Jason Vrable to replace him. Given the Packers didn’t add much talent outside of Devin Funchess at the position, it’s clear LaFleur felt coaching played a bigger role last year than many fans and analysts.
The coach also retained Mike Pettine and Shawn Mennenga after a disappointing season from the defense and special teams, respectively. The leash will definitely be shorter for both in 2020, whenever the season does actually start.
You can read more on the coaching staff changes plus why Nitschke > Butkus according to a former Packer in today’s cheese curds.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur gushes over Jerry Gray hire, coaching promotions—PackersNews.com
Not to put on too much of a tinfoil cheesehead but with Pettine on the supposed hotseat and Gray being a former coordinator, could this be a succession plan should the defense fail to live up to expectations again this season?
Packers have ‘discussed’ bringing back CB Tramon Williams—Packers Wire
Tramon Williams continues to defy Father Time and his leadership as well as ability would still be a welcome addition in Green Bay.
Bill Lueck, Part I: Ray Nitschke was better than Butkus—Packers.com
Take it from a guy who practiced across from Ray Nitschke and had some run ins with him: 66 was better than 51.
NFL extends virtual offseason, eyes return of coaches—NFL.com
Coaches may soon be allowed to return to team facilities but the return of players may still be far off with training camp now scheduled to open in less than two months.
Boy, 12, Remains Totally Calm Despite The Massive Bear Creeping Up Behind Him—Huffington Post
As any Packers fan can attest: it doesn’t take much to stop a Bear.