Packers: Three keys to have a successful 2019 offseason

1. Find the right head coach

This is first and the most obvious thing on the checklist. The Packers must get this hire right. Picking the wrong candidate will only waste more years of Rodgers’ prime and it’s even possible we could be doing this again in two years.

The next head coach must be able to get Rodgers back to his MVP level play and get the offense rolling again. He must also have the credentials to be able to back up what he’s trying to get through to Rodgers. As we all know, Rodgers is as head strong as they come and must buy into what the new coach is selling. If he doesn’t, things could go south in a hurry.

Of the known candidates, I feel these three fit this criteria and are the best options to replace McCarthy:

Josh McDaniels: McDaniels has the pedigree of working with the Patriots and Tom Brady. He has the experience with a top level quarterback and an innovative offense for a combined 10 years. He will hold Rodgers accountable and knows what it takes to win. His cons are well known and considerable, but he could be the right man.

Dan Campbell: Campbell, unlike many other candidates, can say he has experience as a player. Campbell played in 134 games over 11 seasons with four different teams. He has also spent the last three seasons learning from one of the brightest offensive minds in the game in Sean Peyton.

Of what I feel are the three top candidates, Campbell has the least amount of coaching experience but is a fast riser in the ranks and has already replaced Joe Philbin once.

Adam Gase: New to the party is Adam Gase. Gase’s involvement in the coaching search was just announced on Friday with an interview scheduled for this Sunday, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Gase led Payton Manning through three prolific seasons towards the end of his career but hasn’t had much to work with since then. Gase has had the likes of Jay Cutler and Ryan Tannehill since then yet has still managed to end up just two games under .500 as a head coach (23-25).

In addition to getting Rodgers and the offense back on track, the perfect scenario would see this head coach be there for the development of the heir at quarterback.

I also feel it would benefit the team if Mike Pettine stayed on as defensive coordinator. Pettine worked wonders with a large group of backups due to injury. Allowing players to grow into this system would be greatly beneficial. Hiring another coordinator would mean three different coordinators in three years for the core of this defense.