Sometimes I don’t get it!!!
As the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers last year, Mike McCarthy’s offense finished 32nd and last in the NFL. How bad was it? That offense finished 32nd in passing, 22nd in rushing, and 30th overall in points, going eight games out of a sixteen-game schedule without an offensive touchdown.
As the Packers’ quarterbacks coach during Ray Rhodes’ short-lived and ill-fated 1999 regime, McCarthy guided Bret Favre to his second-worst season as a pro with the future HOFer throwing 24 pictures for just 23 touchdowns. Favre’s 74.7 quarterback rating was second only to his 72.2 rating in the 1993 sophomore season and this year’s train wreck of 70.9; however, this week Mike McCarthy was brought back to Green Bay and hired as the 14th Head Coach in arguably the most storied franchise in NFL history. .
The Packers had to know this was a controversial signing since McCarthy’s press conference appeared to be more preventative damage control than a celebration of the man who was going to restore its tarnished shine and return Green Bay to the promised land.
McCarthy was lauded for his past accomplishments, particularly his work with the Saints between 2000 and 2004. During that time, the Saints set 25 team and 10 individual records. Joe Horn, who caught 437 passes for 6,289 yards and 45 TDs during McCarthy’s tenure. New Orleans led the NFL in points (432) and touchdowns (49) during the 2002 season.
McCarthy’s earlier work with Kansas City was also cited. As the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach from 1995-1998, the combination of Gannon, Grbac and Bono threw an AFC-low 52 interceptions during that four-year period. Hey??? Oh!
In his year with Favre, Bret threw for 4,091 yards, but the Packers ranked seventh in passing and ninth overall in total offense.
It was also mentioned at the press conference that McCarthy had spent most of last year advising the league’s No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith, possibly an inference that Aaron Rodgers would be in good hands if Favre decides to end his career. .
Alex Smith’s season by any measure was an absolute disaster! Smith’s numbers were appalling – 84-165 (50.9%) for 875 yards and a 1/11 TD/INT ratio. Granted, Smith had little to work with, but based on his first year, he’s on pace to become a bust on the proportions of Tony Mandrich and Ryan Leaf.
McCarthy becomes the youngest coach in the NFL, three months younger than John Gruden. He inherits a young team (26.04 years old at the end of the season, 3rd in the NFL) that is fraught with uncertainties like the health of Javon Walker and Ahman Green and the return of Brett Favre.
Mike McCarthy was a surprisingly desperate hire from a surprisingly desperate franchise. The Packers had been to the playoffs five out of six years under Mike Sherman, and while the team’s talent level has dropped considerably due mostly to poor drafts, the whole Packers postseason shakeup is creating panic!
McCarthy’s coaching experience:
1987-88, Fort Hays State – Graduate Assistant
1989-91, University. Pittsburgh – Quarterbacks
1992, University. Pittsburgh – Wide Receivers
1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs – Offensive Assistant/QA
1995-98, Kansas City Chiefs – Quarterbacks
1999, Green Bay Packers – Quarterbacks
2000-04, New Orleans Saints – Offensive Coordinator
2005, San Francisco 49ers – Offensive Coordinator
2006, Green Bay Packers – Head Coach
