Chavez Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 (edited) Bob Sanders fired. Green Bay - Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has been fired by coach Mike McCarthy, according to a report at nationalfootballpost.com. Sanders had been the defensive coordinator since McCarthy's first season in 2006. Sanders first joined the Packers in '05 under former coordinator Jim Bates. When Bates was not asked to stay on after McCarthy was hired, Sanders got the job and kept the same defense, which he also ran with the Miami Dolphins. The Packers' defense finished 22nd in points allowed, 20th in yardage allowed and 26th in rushing yards allowed. Sanders' 4-3 scheme, which featured press coverage by cornerbacks and little if no blitzing, came under scrutiny at the end of the '07 season when the New York Giants picked it apart in the NFC championship game. Assistant head coach/linebackers coach Winston Moss (noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!) could be a leading candidate to replace Sanders if he does not get the St. Louis Rams head coaching job. Despite an NFL.com report to the contrary, Moss isn't scheduled for a second interview with the Rams. Even if the Rams had a lot of interest, Moss may very well feel being a coordinator would be his best move at this time. He has often talked of his plan of being a head coach. That would undoubtedly call for him to call his own defense, something he has not done in 10 years as an NFL assistant. Moss said he is not married to Sanders' scheme, or the blitz-heavy strategy used by Jim Haslett, Moss' boss for six seasons with the New Orleans Saints. "I'm more along the line of whatever players that you end of having, put them in a great scheme, put them the best possible position to make a play and then get the hell out of the way," Moss said. If McCarthy decides to switch schemes and go more for a 3-4 defense, former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan and former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel are available. Nolan hired McCarthy as the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2005. If McCarthy wanted to use a 3-4, it would call for a lot of changes on the defensive line. Aaron Kampman is too light for end in that scheme, and doesn't have the right skills to be an outside linebacker. Likewise, Cullen Jenkins would have to gain weight. Both players likely wouldn't want to switch. They are very good players in their current positions. Other options on the 4-3 track include former Jacksonville Jaguars coordinator Gregg Williams. Edited January 5, 2009 by Chavez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I think it's fairly obvious that the Packers need to hire Brett Favre as DC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Ryan Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Did Sanders cause Kampmans motor to die this year, or Nick Barnett to get hurt. Those along with the lack of a true compliment pass rusher opposite Kampman were the reason for this defense to fail. The back end of this defense was solid, but they can only cover or hold (Al Harris) for so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 (edited) The National Football Post reports the Packers entire defensive staff -- save linebackers coach Winston Moss -- is being fired along with defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel disputes a NFL.com report that Moss has a second interview lined up with the Rams. As the only defensive coach remaining, the assistant head coach may be the favorite to take over as Packers defensive coordinator. LINK The National Football Post is saying Winston Moss could be the next DC. That would be a way to keep him on staff. Edited January 5, 2009 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Did Sanders cause Kampmans motor to die this year, or Nick Barnett to get hurt. Those along with the lack of a true compliment pass rusher opposite Kampman were the reason for this defense to fail. The back end of this defense was solid, but they can only cover or hold (Al Harris) for so long. Sgt. Ryan, oh how I have missed your stupidity on the boards... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 The National Football Post is saying Winston Moss could be the next DC. That would be a way to keep him on staff. What's so great about Moss? The LBs have been more or less a non-factor for years, this year especially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 What's so great about Moss? The LBs have been more or less a non-factor for years, this year especially. I don't know what they see either. Poppinga didn't do anything great, and AJ Hawk regressed. I'm hoping for a DC new to the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I'd like to see them take someone good from the Bears or Vikings staffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 I'd like to see them take someone good from the Bears or Vikings staffs. ...the hot rumor I'm seeing is Nolan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt Ryan Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Sgt. Ryan, oh how I have missed your stupidity on the boards... Do you disagree with anything I said. Really. Im not saying the DC firing wasnt deserving, but until they get more players on that side of the ball, Im not sure it will make much difference who is the DC. But whatever you say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Do you disagree with anything I said. Really. Im not saying the DC firing wasnt deserving, but until they get more players on that side of the ball, Im not sure it will make much difference who is the DC. But whatever you say. Actually, Yes, I do disagree. In your initial post you inferred that the DC was not deserving to get fired, which he absolutely was. They have enough talent to be a decent defense. Not great, but decent to pretty good, and they came up very short. Green Bay couldn't get any pressure with there front four after Cullen Jenkins injury... Did Sanders dial up any blitz packages with any linebackers? Safties? Nope. He just continued to hope that his front four would magically start getting pressure. He was extremely predictable in what he was going to do, and it cost them numerous times down the stretch. His defensive approach was to sit back and wait to get picked apart. As far as not having enough players on the defensive side of the ball... Al Harris and Charles Woodson is a great duo. Nick Collins by some was considered a defensive player of the year for the majority of the year. Atari Bigby last season was brilliant. He was injured though. Sanders couldn't get anything out of AJ Hawk, who regressed immensley this year, and has come up short last year when he had a healthy Nick Barnett. The D Line has Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett... Not necessarily studs, but not spare parts either. My point isn't that Sanders should have turned this defense into an elite group, rather, just a solid group, and he couldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) Profootballtalk.com suggests that ex-49ers coach Mike Nolan is the early frontrunner to serve as Green Bay's defensive coordinator in 2009. Nolan is reportedly already lining up his assistants. Nolan was at his best coordinating Baltimore's defense from 2001-2004 before flaming out in San Francisco. His main competition is thought to be current Packers linebackers coach Winston Moss and current Rams "interim" coach Jim Haslett. McCarhy wants a new defense Edited January 6, 2009 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Green Bay couldn't get any pressure with there front four after Cullen Jenkins injury... Did Sanders dial up any blitz packages with any linebackers? Safties? Nope. He just continued to hope that his front four would magically start getting pressure. Actually, he did start calling blitzes, though you may not have noticed because only Chillar and Woodson managed to get there on occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Profootballtalk.com suggests that ex-49ers coach Mike Nolan is the early frontrunner to serve as Green Bay's defensive coordinator in 2009.Nolan is reportedly already lining up his assistants. Nolan was at his best coordinating Baltimore's defense from 2001-2004 before flaming out in San Francisco. His main competition is thought to be current Packers linebackers coach Winston Moss and current Rams "interim" coach Jim Haslett. McCarhy wants a new defense I'd be all for Mike Nolan taking over as DC... Although it makes me wonder what they do with Kampman. He's not a 3-4 end, and I don't think he can play OLB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Now Gregg Williams is also in the picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Update Mike McCarthy has met with the first of two candidates he’s looking at hardest for his next defensive coordinator. The Green Bay Packers’ coach had Mike Nolan in for an interview Thursday, an NFL source said, and is likely to meet with another longtime NFL defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, in the next couple of days unless Williams is hired by another team first. McCarthy knows Nolan well because the two worked together for a season — as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach in 2005, Nolan hired McCarthy as offensive coordinator. The two by all accounts have an excellent relationship, and Nolan is regarded by several league sources as the front-runner for the job. They nevertheless would have plenty to discuss in an interview, beginning with what scheme to run next season and beyond. Nolan has used primarily a 3-4 defense in recent years, but he also has run a 4-3 and could run either, depending on what he and McCarthy think is best for the Packers’ personnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Sources said Sean McDermott has drawn interest from McCarthy, but since he can't interview him for at least another week -- and possibly as long as three weeks if the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl -- he may not consider him. It's possible he'll choose between Nolan and Williams and go forward with assembling the rest of his defensive staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I believe he can interview him but can't offer him anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I believe he can interview him but can't offer him anything. Only for a head coaching position, not a lateral move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Only for a head coaching position, not a lateral move. Not even if it's an upward move from assistant to DC for instance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Not even if it's an upward move from assistant to DC for instance? No, the rules only classify coaching positions as either "head coach" or "assistant coaches". Here's the section: • Assistant Coaches. These rules govern cases involving assistant coaches: Under Contract During Season. During a club’s playing season, including postseason if applicable (excluding Pro Bowl), the following actions are prohibited concerning an assistant coach who is under contract, unless the involved coach has been dismissed by his club: (1) No assistant coach may discuss or accept employment for the current or a future season with another club in the League; (2) no club, directly or through an intermediary, may request permission to discuss employment with an assistant coach for the current or a future season; and (3) no employer club may grant another club permission to discuss employment with one of its assistant coaches for the current or a future season. This prohibition applies to employment with another club in any capacity, including head coach, except for the postseason procedure described in paragraph two below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Haslett interviewed with McCarthy Monday and Tuesday By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel Jan. 13, 2009 6:39 p.m. Green Bay -- St. Louis Rams interim coach Jim Haslett met with Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy and members of his staff on Monday and Tuesday, and has moved into position as a leading candidate to become McCarthy's new defensive coordinator. Haslett arrived in Green Bay Monday night and had dinner with McCarthy and several members of his staff, and then completed a full interview Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the visit. Haslett remains a strong candidate in the race to become St. Louis' head coach, but if the Rams go in another direction, he will need a job. Haslett was head coach of the New Orleans Saints when he hired McCarthy as his offensive coordinator in 2000 and the two worked together for five seasons. Haslett was St. Louis' defensive coordinator last year under Scott Linehan and then was elevated to interim head coach at mid-season after Linehan was fired. McCarthy likes Haslett's aggressive style of defense, which includes a heavy amount of blitzing. It probably wouldn't take long for the two men to get on the same page on what kind of defense they want to run. McCarthy is still waiting to hear from Gregg Williams, the former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator, who interviewed with the coach last Friday. But Williams remains in a holding pattern, waiting to see if an opening occurs in Tennessee where he was once defensive coordinator. Williams is still considering Green Bay, according to a source with connections to him. But he is also considering the New Orleans Saints, who are pushing hard to hire him. Haslett flew to Green Bay Monday to meet face-to-face with McCarthy and get to know several members of McCarthy's staff. Packers vice president of football administration, Russ Ball, served in a similar position in New Orleans when Haslett was head coach and has as much familiarity with him as McCarthy. Haslett and McCarthy had spoken a week or so ago about the job, and at that time it appeared Haslett had a very good chance of becoming Rams head coach. Haslett is still in the running, but the Rams are also considering Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. The Rams also interviewed Packers assistant head coach / linebackers Winston Moss, but Moss isn't believed to be in the final five. McCarthy might not know Haslett's availability until the Rams decide on their head coach. That could happen as early as the end of the week or sometime early next week. If Haslett is hired, there's a chance Moss would be more willing to stick around. Haslett hired Moss in 2000 to be a quality control assistant and then promoted him quickly to linebackers coach where he remained until McCarthy hired him in 2006. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 So we've gone from Nolan to Williams to Haslett so far. Dom Capers can't be too far behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I wouldn't mind bringing Donatel or Jim Bates back. Both did good jobs here. I'm not as high on guys looking for a HC job in a year or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 So we've gone from Nolan to Williams to Haslett so far. Dom Capers can't be too far behind. Apparently Capers interviewed today with McCarthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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