McCarthy's plan, personality part of play-calling
packersnews.com
by Tom Silverstein on 08/28/16
“I look at play-calling as No. 1, your plan,” McCarthy said. “No. 2, your personality, it has to be reflected on how you want your offense to play. And the end of that is the performance...
After two days of practice, McCarthy retreats to his office and starts calling the game in his head, watching film of the opposition to see how it might react to some of the plays he’s calling. He has extensive notes on nearly every defensive coordinator in the NFL and he not only knows their tendencies, he knows their tendencies in breaking tendency...
“Away games are great because I’ll just sit in my hotel room and just get my workout in, watch the games and call the game,” McCarthy said from a planning room adjacent to his office. “When I’m at home, I’ll do it from here."
On game day, McCarthy isolates himself and rarely breaks away from thinking about the game.
On a typical play sheet, McCarthy has many of the plays highlighted, some indicating run plays, third downs, red zone, “shot” plays or short yardage. He has a spot for 4-minute offense and a whole column devoted to 2-minute offense. Several of the columns are for when the Packers are in no-huddle, and they are broken down into personnel groupings.
There are reminders of what defense the opposition likes against his personnel.
“Anytime I call a play, I have two plays (ready),” McCarthy said. “If I call a shot play, I have the play called after the shot and I have got the second-down play (if it’s incomplete). Every time you call a play you have to have two plays that will react to the outcome of that play.”
McCarthy is dialed in on three plays, the one he’s calling and the next two and he has to relay to Rodgers as quickly as possible, especially when the team is in no-huddle. Rodgers said the two have been together so long, he often can predict the play that’s going to be read off.
“Life in competition is still about behavioral patterns, being in touch with behavioral patterns,” McCarthy said. “If you’re going to focus on their behavioral pattern or your behavioral pattern, if it comes push and shove, make sure you’re focused on your own." continue
Past the click there are quotes from Rodgers about how they communicate on game days. This season should go much smoother without having to shake up the structure of the coaching staff and in game mechanics 3/4 of the way through the season.
