Cheese Curds, 2/2: Jerry Gray in the running for DC job; Packers love developing QBs

The race to replace Mike Pettine is officially in top gear. The Green Bay Packers are holding interviews this week to identify a new defensive coordinator, and head coach Matt LaFleur gave a small glimpse into the team’s plans for the next few days in his press conference on Monday.

While we already know about a few candidates for the job, LaFleur confirmed that at least one member of the team’s 2020 coaching staff is in the running. Further confirmation comes that Jerry Gray is that candidate, a logical choice given his multiple tenures as a DC with other teams in the past.

While the coach works on building his staff, the general manager was taking questions on Monday about the draft, roster-building, and in particular his 2020 draft picks — namely Jordan Love. Brian Gutekunst stands by his pick, but now the plans forward for Love are murky with Aaron Rodgers playing at a literal MVP level. Gutey hopes to see Love in some preseason action in 2021, but how long he will sit and whether he actually ends up being the player to take over for Rodgers someday is very much in question.

That and much more in today’s curds.

5 things learned at Packers' season-ending news conference | Packers.com
One of the items that head coach Matt LaFleur revealed is that the Packers currently have one internal candidate for their open defensive coordinator job, in addition to a multitude of external candidates. Additionally, Brian Gutekunst made it clear that the Packers will continue drafting and developing quarterbacks, as he is seemingly a believer in Ron Wolf's strategy from the 1990s.

Jerry Gray, Ejiro Evero among top candidates to succeed Mike Pettine | Packersnews.com
That internal candidate is apparently Gray, who joined the Packers’ coaching staff as DBs coach before last season. He has eight years of experience as a defensive coordinator, first for five years in Buffalo then from 2011-2013 with the Titans, but he has historically run 4-3 defenses.

Is Jordan Love still the Packers' heir apparent, an insurance policy or trade bait? - ESPN
Once the dust settled on last year's draft, this writer always believed that the Packers picked Love as insurance, similar to when the Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo. Insurance can of course become trade bait down the line.

All-Senior Bowl Team | Packer Report
One writer who was in Mobile last week gives his thoughts on some of the top performers in practice, highlighting some names to know heading into a strange draft season.

Six arrested after changing Hollywood sign to “HOLLYBOOB” | LA Times
According to police, the group of five men and one woman were trying to make a statement in support of breast cancer awareness.