THE COACHING WHEEL

Many people have been saying lately that 2009 could be a do or die year for Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. I am on the other side of that street, however, unless the Packers flop with another 6-10 record or worse. McCarthy took over a 4-12 team after the 2005 season, and after struggling out to a 1-4 and then 4-8 start, his influence began to take over as the Packers closed out the season with 4 straight wins and finished 8-8. The 2007 season speaks for itself at 13-3. And 2008, admittedly, was a struggle. But I do not blame the 6-10 record on McCarthy. He has always been an offensive minded coach (previous jobs he has held are quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, offensive quality control, and offensive coordinator). And his offense has never been the problem in Green Bay. In 2006, the offense was 9th in the league. In 2007, 2nd. In 2008, 8th. Rather, it has been the defense, under Bob Sanders that seems to have been the Pack's Achilles' heel, finishing 12th, 11th, and 20th from 2006-2008. The team will be moving to a 3-4 defense, and there needs to be a little bit of leeway for a transitioning period.

I am also a strong believer that not all blame can be put on a coach, and they have a tendency to catch a lot of undeserved heat. The Packers defense has definitely been affected by injuries. But, eventually, someone needs to catch the brunt of the blame and its much easier to lay it on one person rather than an entire defensive squad. And it was time for Sanders to go.

Now that I am on the track of coaches being fired, there have been a lot of rumors about Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach. And his story reminds me a lot of former Packers tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. Jagz was fired, embarrassingly, by Boston College last month after he interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching position. How un-American is that? A guy is looking to pursue moving up the ladder in his profession, and he is canned for chasing his American dream? He ended up as the offensive coordinator in Tampa. BC should be ashamed. Texas Tech is trying to work out a contract extension with Leach, but the two sides can't come to an agreement. Tech is upset that Leach interviewed for the University of Washington's vacant position, supposedly without telling anyone in Lubbock. The terms of the extension that the two sides are at odds about are in reference to how much the school would owe Leach if he were fired and what should happen if he were to want to interview for another coaching position. Tech is, in essence, trying to keep Leach from chasing his American dream, the same way BC did to Jagodzinski. And for that, Tech and BC, you should be embarassed.