Packers Fans Ready for Mike McCarthy to Move On

by
Former Writers
December 2, 2018

spikegrant via Wikimedia Commons

After 13 Seasons Packers Fans Are Ready to Part Ways with Head Coach, Mike McCarthy

The Green Bay Packers’ head coach has been with the organization for 12 years now. In fact, Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have been together longer than any other HC-QB duo in the league other than Bill Belichick and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.

Since Rodgers became the starting QB in 2008, together they have earned eight playoff berths, won the NFC North five times, made it to three NFC Championships and won one Super Bowl.

2018 Season

The Packers have had one of the most disappointing seasons since 2008. After 12 weeks of football, the Packers sit at 4-6-1. They have lost four out of their last five games, and are in a position to miss the playoffs for the second year straight.

Last season, Rodgers went down in Week 6 with a broken collarbone, and he was forced to miss the rest of the season. Before he went down, Rodgers was having an MVP season leading the league with 16 touchdowns. He led the Packers to a 4-1 record, but ultimately they ended 7-9 under backup quarterback Brett Hundley.

When the two-time MVP returned, it was supposed to be Packers 2.0. Green Bay was expected to breeze their way to the playoffs with the exception of a division rival, the Minnesota Vikings. They did have one of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the league. Other than when Rodgers brought the Packers back from down 17-0 to beat the Chicago Bears in Week 1, it’s been nothing like that.

Turnovers have been the staple of the Packers’ season. A fumble on a kick return against the Los Angeles Rams gave away the game. A fumble in the red zone against the Patriots gave away their momentum and the lead. A botched punt against the Detroit Lions swayed the game from the beginning. Then, another messed up punt gave the Vikings the ball back at a pivotal time in the game.

At 4-6-1 it seems that the Packers’ chances to make the playoffs are almost mute. Green Bay would need to win out these last five games in order to be in the running. This is possible since their schedule leans in their favor. However, teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers would need to lose at least twice in these last five weeks.

Why McCarthy Needs the Boot

Other than turnovers, bad calls, and overall stupid decisions have been the other headline of the Packers’ season. Mike McCarthy has had plenty of time to go for it on fourth down or challenge a call that he would blatantly win. Time and again, he has decided not to do it, and in the end, it screwed Green Bay over.

Other than his horrible calls so far this season, McCarthy’s way of coaching is highly old school. His offensive schemes have hardly changed in the 13 years he has been the head coach. Although Rodgers is one of the best with his ability to ad-lib, defenses are mostly able to read what they are going to do.

The media has been pointing out the tension between the quarterback and the head coach. McCarthy calls the plays and Rodgers doesn’t want to run them. Rodgers gives his ideas, but McCarthy doesn’t like to listen. As much success that McCarthy and Rodgers have had, it seems that this season is different. The former Super Bowl MVP’s talent has been going to waste.

If the Packers fail to make the playoffs, which seems likely, Mike McCarthy’s job will possibly be up for grabs. For McCarthy’s job to be safe, I believe that Green Bay would need to make it deep into the playoffs.

A fresh face, fresh eyes, and significant changes could be good for this franchise. I mean, look at the defensive sides of things. Dom Capers was the Packers’ DC for nine years, and he only had one top-ranked defense. This season, they brought in Mike Pettine, and it has made a world of a difference. It still needs plenty of work, but Green Bay’s defense has made vast improvements.

McCarthy’s time in Green Bay has expired. It’s time to move on. It’s obvious a change in power could help this struggling Packers team tremendously.