MM's Growth as a Coach

good thread and post....

I agree....I think when a young head coach starts out...it's usually the "my way or highway" attitude....they want to look in control and look like they know what they are doing....they don't take criticism well and are more on edge...add in the BrINT drama at the beginning of his tenure, and MM had every right to be on edge.

I do believe mid-season last year was a turning point...with all of the hype coming into the season that this is their year...then, all of the weird injuries and ball bounces...I think MM just relaxed and thought "what the hell"...backs against the wall, too many inexperienced guys, not much chemistry at some spots....I think he decided to change his approach a bit....and...by being more relaxed and cerebral and going with the flow - helped this team to focus and relax, too.

it worked...

Very insightful posts. I liked the camera shot of McCarthy's face lighting up as he realized Cobb was going all the way. Read somewhere else that McCarthy made the comment that it was a good thing Cobb couldn't hear him in his mike as he watched Cobb head out of the endzone when Cobb had been told to take a knee.
I hope that Cobb has more of those runs where he "just can't help himself" and has to make a run for it. He could be a real gem and McCarthy may be just the coach to loosen the reins a bit on him. Will be an interesting year.

Don't know if it's something that has been with him all along or if it's something that's developed, but the guy is one of the most efficient motivators I've ever seen. He's been with the team through some extremely tough times. Replacing a popular coach in Sherman, losing the Championship game, the Favre fiasco, so many slow starts, the injuries, all of the doubts about this team in the past few years, and yet he's never lost this team or his own focus. The players all seem to respect him and he keeps them humble. I would love to know what he says to these guys behind closed doors; he's got skills so many leaders would kill for.

MM is one of the best play callers in the NFL. He is the BEST at figuring out match-ups and taking advantage of teams and their weaknesses. Plus, name one coach who develops quarterbacks better than MM.



I can't really think of a weakness for Mike McCarthy. He could dress better, I guess. LOL

The fact that McCarthy looks more like a truck driver than Bellichek or Walsh just adds to the fact that he was born to coach his team.

The playcalling is actually pretty ballsy and smart 95% of the time. He has had a few snafus, but none like the eggs Sherman used to lay.

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Originally posted by Rusty:
Don't know if it's something that has been with him all along or if it's something that's developed, but the guy is one of the most efficient motivators I've ever seen. He's been with the team through some extremely tough times. Replacing a popular coach in Sherman, losing the Championship game, the Favre fiasco, so many slow starts, the injuries, all of the doubts about this team in the past few years, and yet he's never lost this team or his own focus. The players all seem to respect him and he keeps them humble. I would love to know what he says to these guys behind closed doors; he's got skills so many leaders would kill for.

Excellent point. The blank framed pictured in film room next to all the championship team photos last year was a stroke of genius. Getting their fingers measured for rings the night BEFORE Super Bowl XLV. The mantra of 16 quarters when the playoffs started last year...all great ideas for motivation. Whether they were his or not, is a side note. MM is a GREAT motivator too. Jeez, just build his statue now!

Good points about his motivational skills, but I remember when we also were dissing him for not having the players ready to go at the start of a game/year. Then we were all about "where's the fire? where's the kick-ass attitude a great coach needs?"

Oh, he did mention that one improvement he could make is to lose weight, so I guess there is something he can improve upon!

At the beginning of last year I thought MM time management and playing call skills were abysmal. Last night I came to the same conclusion as fandame, MM has real devolved as a coach since the beginning of last year. I guess coaches can get better at their job just as players.
While on the subject I think Ted Thompson has become a much better GM over the last few years.

I sometime really hate spell check.

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Supper Bowl

quote:

Originally posted by lynndickey83:
The blank framed pictured in film room next to all the championship team photos last year was a stroke of genius.

I thought I read last year that the blank team photo was Rodgers' idea and he approached MM about it. Anyone else remember it that way?

MCCarthy has done a number of impressive things since coming here as HC;

1) Dealing w/ Favre (instilled a LITTLE discipline in Favre, which is a big accomplishment), then was one of the decicion makers who voiced the "It's time to move on," montra;

2) "Retooled" after his first NFC Championship game and three years later was back playing for a Super Bowl;

3) Continuity in the staff Personally, I thought his initial staff was inexperienced and had a lack of proven success, thus setting McCarthy up for failure... five years later virtually the same staff still exists and most are lauded as being top line assistants...This shows that McCarthy's philosophies are respected and trusted by his assistants. Hiring Dom Capers was ballsy, because it came w/ a risk (Former, realitively successful head coach who could disrupt the HC if he exerts too much of his own will);

4) flexable & fluid , from players to schemes (no huddle, reverse wish-bone, 4-3 to 3-4, et al) McCarthy has a knack for successfully changing things - and making them work . . . Also, coming out of the chute "on fire" has been a near 180 degree change from the previous few years. Both those things suggest that the above issues might have been as much the PLAYERS issue as they were MM and his staff's problem. Meaning the players may have finally bought, 100 percent, into McCarthy and his system, motivational techniques, leadership style etc.

5) Penalties , this is perplexing to me, but somehow his team went from one of the worst, to one of the best in PA. Generally, that just DOESN'T happen. But it DID . . .and that, to me, is one of the most impressive things he has done since being here.

6) "He whose ranks are united in purpose will be vitorious." Sun Tsu : See the Charles Woodson story for the most comprehesive illustration of how McCarthy took a man who was bitter & antagonistic, and made HIM the team leader, which was a huge step in "uniting in purpose" his ranks...

Bottom line: McCarthy is probably the best LEADER in the NFL and has developed into one of the best overall head coaches.

I have always like MM. But in the last year or two, I was critical of him as a HC. And more than once claimed "he was not an elite HC...yet". He certainly has had many trying times since he took over the Packers. And

I believe his job was hanging tenously in the balance after they had that disgusting loss to TB and a couple of other opponents who they should have beat in 2009. To his credit, he revamped the coaching staff and re-thought his game-day strategies.

Last year, it all seemed to work out and come together despite the turmoil and injuries. And I think it was due almost solely to the job he and his staff did to keep players ready and focued.

I am glad for MM. And the Packers too.

I don't think he's gained any wait. What the hell is this all about. His mission statement was write on.

I've always liked McCarthy as a person. Packer people for sure. Yes, he's improved quite a bit as a head coach. Not perfect, but getting better every game. He really uses the talent on his team well, and I think he'll have more options this year than ever before. Let us not forget that he's now taken two different Packer teams to the NFC Championship game.

Mike seems like a really cool guy. Somebody you could toss down a few cold ones with at a bar. Very approachable.

He's no Ron Roenicke but he's getting there.

Roenicke = Childress

No mention of his development of #12? The guy runs a QB camp that other teams' QBs attend, and has placed #12 on the path to the HOF.

The other thing that gets me really juiced every year is how he takes personnel groupings and molds them like clay. Last year 5 RB/FBs. This year, 5 TEs. It's ridiculous- he innovates and cretaes and re-news... Bellichik gets all this "genius" crap thrown at him but Mcarthy has more rings and more playoff wins over the last 5 years.

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Originally posted by Fandame:
I thought something clicked with him about mid-season last year.