Is Green Bay Packers’ Mike McCarthy finished making offseason changes?

It looks like Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is making some serious coaching changes this offseason.

The organization has already fired special teams coach Shawn Slocum, after the Packers finished dead last in rankings for the unit in 2014.

There didn’t look to be any other major changes on the way.

Dom Capers.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

In 2013, fans called for the head of longtime defensive coordinator Dom Capers, after the defense fell flat on its face against the run and the pass.

McCarthy wouldn’t commit to any comings or goings after that season ended in disappointment … again, at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.

In the end, Capers kept his job and the Packers were fully committed to improving the defense moving forward into 2014.

It worked.

This season brought about its own debates with the offense being the cause of concern among some, despite the fact that points were scored in large bunches, massive amounts of yards were gained and the team was 12-4.

There were instances of suspect play-calling from time to time during the year. The old cliché rings true still: if it works, you’re a genius – if it doesn’t, you’re an idiot.

The Packers finished the season 12-4, suffering two of those terrible losses in the first three games of the season (Seattle and Detroit). They enjoyed a loss drought until the New Orleans Saints game, and then flew through the second half of the season, only stumbling once at Buffalo before entering the post-season as the #2 seed in the NFC.

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Those four losses brought about the most complaints over play-calling. Either the Packers offense seemed to be too passive – or too aggressive to win.

Miraculously, the play-calling was heralded for 12 other games of the season.

The play-calling was never called into question more than it was after the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks a few weeks ago.

The Packers had two separate drives stall inside the Seattle 1-yard line. McCarthy pounded the ball with Eddie Lacy; he aired it out on the gun of Aaron Rodgers. Nothing generated a blueprint for punching the ball in for seven points.

On both drives, McCarthy and the Packers settled for Mason Crosby field goals; a trend that seemed dangerous at CenturyLink Field.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Fans would gripe about the offensive calls made in the fourth quarter of that Championship Game – Rodgers and Co. couldn’t sustain a drive. Lacy, who had been productive against the fearsome front seven of the Seahawks all afternoon, was getting nowhere fast.

The Packers continued pounding the football for one, two yards at a time.

In particular, after the Packers defense had given up a touchdown to the Seahawks deep in the fourth quarter, the offense needed to move the chains and run the clock.

After three failed run plays in a row, however, they were forced to punt the ball back to a hot-handed Seahawks team that would eventually drive the ball down the field and take the late lead.

Many blamed McCarthy for being too passive in his attempt to spare Rodgers’ injured calf. Passing plays were few and far between – plays deemed necessary to move the ball down the field and keep the Seahawks offense on the sidelines.

Those fans that were so vocal about McCarthy needing to relinquish control of the playbook on Sundays … got their wish.

According to NFL insiders, McCarthy has decided to make some coaching changes heading into 2015 that will make Edgar Bennett, wide receivers coach for the Packers, the offensive coordinator, a position previously held by Tom Clements.

Clements is now taking over the play-calling duties on the sidelines.

Is this move a good one by the Packers?

Only time will tell. However, many analysts and experts agree that McCarthy is one of the better play-callers in the league.

Is he being unfairly judged based on the precedent that the Packers’ offense has set in recent memory … and the disablement of it after the calf injury Rodgers’ sustained in Tampa?

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Can we really rest it all on the shoulders of the head coach?

The offseason changes the Packers made in preparation of 2014 were all fundamental in getting them into the NFC Championship to begin with.

In-season practice schedules were rearranged for health benefits, new procedures were put in place to keep the players performing at a high level. Schemes and personnel changes were highly successful.

Maybe this is just another chapter in this new book the Packers are writing. After all, in order to get past your roadblocks, you have to hurdle them and learn from those mistakes.

This could be McCarthy’s way of hurdling the epic collapse in the NFC Championship Game.

If it works, he’s a genius. If it doesn’t … well … back to the drawing board.

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