BOB SANDERS FIRED January 4, 2009
Posted by PCastleberg in : Uncategorized , trackback
Well according to The National Football Post Sanders is out…if true (I have no idea of the reliability of NFP) we should see more information shortly on JSO or GBPG. NFP is the site of former Packers director of Finance Andrew Brandt.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/breaking-news-packers-fire-sanders
By National Football Post
Posted January 4, 2009
Breaking News: Packers Fire SandersThe National Football Post has just been informed that Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has been fired. More on this story as it develops.
Well that’s both Stock and Sanders gone. I would suspect that depending on the choice for DC (I am hoping for someone from outside) that the new DC will have some say over who the assistant coaches are on D.
I am hoping for Peter Giunta from the NY Giants. You can find his information here: http://firebobsanders.berserkerproductions.com/?p=18
EDIT: This is now being reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal as well
Comments»
Wow you posted this very quickly, Patrick. You must have been checking the websites every hour this weekend, hoping to hear this news, as I have been doing!
Its not personal with Sanders or Stock, and I of course wish them the best, but their units really blew it down the stretch and changes had to be made, if for no other reason than to send a message to the players.
While we’re talking coordinators, does anyone else think that Philbin should get a shot at calling plays? It seems like McCarthy has had quite a few questionable play-calls, and Wes explained earlier this year how he doesn’t really build on a strategy in any given game. I would guess that most offensive coordinators in the league call the plays, and maybe Philbin should get a shot?
I forgot. Credit to Ross for creating firebobsanders.com. I have no doubts that McCarthy and Thompson wouldn’t have come to this decision w/o the website.
Thanks Zack, I just happened to be on and my blog feed picked it up so I checked out the story and posted it. Pro Football Talk is the website of Former Packer director of Finance Andrew Brandt. Also JSO now has this story….
Thanks, Patrick. I was just coming to post this!
Well, it is very good news if true. I wonder if the coach is really looking at the firebobsanders website. Do the Packers have to wait to approach Giunta after the playoffs?
Hmm, the MJS article suggests that Moss is the most likely replacement. I have no objection to this but Patrick doesn’t think much of the idea. Is there a need to complete an agreement immediately? Or can they wait until after the Super Bowl?
Giants just need to grant permission which usually will wait until after the playoff run is done. Moss is an interesting pick only because he has 2 experiences…the 4-3 ultra conservative scheme of Bates/Sanders and the Blitz until you die approach of Haslett. The most impressive thing about that is his willingness (by published accounts) to morph schemes based on personnel. I like that.
Keeping up with the mass firings on the Defensive side of the ball – but I notice Gullickson is gone too. Maybe the 4th quarter collapses had something to do with conditioning after all?
And Winston Moss is still on the payroll …
I think the wave of hamstring injuries was the Rock’s downfall. If properly conditioned, those types of injuries should not have swarmed the Packers like they did this year.
It was sort of a Monday morning massacre wasn’t it?
All these changes are very exciting. Thompson is sending a message to McCarthy, the players, and the fans this this year was unacceptable. Thompson and McCarthy are taking control and know that THEY will be held accountable if ‘09 is another bad year. That threat should light a fire under Thompson’s rear to add some players on the defensive side of the ball.
Surprised they fired the strength coach. I had heard good things about him, and how can you go wrong with a strength coach named Rock??
Yep, kinda wonder if you would best fire Rock from a safe distance
The Rock was released or did he step down for some other slot? Also, is their going to be one last podcast to have all this aired out? I’d certainly like to hear a discussion about prospective hires.
Hurrah, hurrah. Let me just say that I love the podcast. I was a big
you fan of another unnamed podcast (Packer’s Therapy) but after hearin
g yours I can’t even listen to it anymore. Anyways now that I’m don
e kissing butt I’d like to know what you think about the off-season
moves that should be done. Personally, I believe the priority is DLine
Sign a solid D-Tackle in FA, and that gives you the option of drafting
best available DTackle/DEnd at #9 because Jenkins has shown an
ability to play either (more effective at end though) then with a Re-
vamped DLine you could move Woodson back to Safety during all of
training camp and let Tramon Williams step into his role at Corner.
With a dline that creates pressure (and god forbid a blitz every three
or four weeks) having three ball hawks in the back field like Wood,
Collins, and Williams could be deadly. Not only would the QB have
less time to throw but smaller windows to fit it through. Plus Wood’s
recognition skills could help out our run D alot if coupled with a stout
n D-tackle or maybe even two if the draft pick is there. Thanks love
the show.
We will be discussing this on this week’s show. There are several issues that you raise but the most important is who will be the D-Coordinator. Depending on which scheme type he/she goes with, depends on the needs of the team.
“Depending on which scheme type He/SHE goes with…”? That begs a question, has there ever been any female coordinators in the NFL? Do you think there are any qualified? That would break a barrier. Begging another question, if you found a female say, field goal kicker, who could ice them from 50+ on a consistent basis in a hostile environment with hostile weather conditions would you hire her? Maybe this topic would provide the grist for interesting dialogue. Maybe perhaps this is one for a sports radio talk show. What say you all? Mark
I agree with most of what you say, Brenden. Thompson needs to sign an impact defensive lineman, whether it be a tackle or an end. Doesn’t have to be Haynesoworth or Peppers, but its gotta be someone solid. In the draft, you can take best player available at #9 (except for a QB or WR), then draft a DL, LB, or OT with the few picks. I’m confident that our new coordinator can get at least a little bit more out of our current LBs than Sanders did.
I disagree about moving Woodson to Safety. I just don’t think its a good idea to move one of the Top 5 guys in the league at his position to a new position. Not saying he would be bad there, but I think he’s most effective at CB, and hopefully Bigby will be healthy enough to own the SS position again. I think Williams will still get plenty of time at CB.
This team is really just a couple of defensive players and a coordinator away from winning 10-12 games next season. I would hate to see the defense struggle for a year trying to convert to a 3-4. It sounds like Kampman, Jenkins, Hawk, and Poppinga would all be poor fits for a 3-4, and it would be difficult to find three or four effective starters for the front-7 in one off-season.
BTW, what influence does the other MM (Mark Murphy) have relating to the Green Bay Packer personnel and coaching decisions? Can anyone tell me? Or does he just have PR and admin responsibilities? Mark
I really hope the Pack don’t go 3-4, simply on the basis that – according to all I read – neither Kampy nor Cullen Jenkins would fit the scheme. You would have to ask why we would throw away the 2 best D-linemen we have?!
I am leaning towards Gregg Williams – but then, what do I know?
I privately called Sanders a she-man….so…..
I also know a couple of women who appear to know as much about defenses as Sanders did.
And I don’t care if Air Bud is our kicker, as long as they are made.
Exciting week.
I guess what I’m saying about Woodson is that if we get him alot of safety reps in Camp then he’ll know the position much better if we do have to move him again like we did in the Carolina game, not all the time. I agree he is one of the best corners ever and taking him away from that would be silly. But to be fair I am not a believer in Bigby at all. I know he made some plays for turnovers and big hits but I remember just as many times that season screaming at the tv because he lost his head and got called for a late hit or even worse kicking a ball out of bounds (one of the dumbest penalties I’ve ever seen) I think our view of him is based mostly on his play at the end of the 2007 season, and that’s now two seasons ago. Rouse, I’m still not sure about. I don’t think we should waste a draft pick on a safety and at least with woodson back there we would now it was not a point of weakness. Of course this is all hinged on the play of Tramon Williams but he seems to have used his opportunities. When he stepped in for Harris the cornerback play didn’t seem to drop off at all, and that’s really saying something given how young he is. I guess now though it might be more dificult to shake things up in the secondary like that with a whole new coaching staff coming in, there will be enough to learn as it is.
I disagree that we should move Woodson to Safety. We should get Bigby healthy and leave Woodson where he is. IMO we are stronger with Woodson and Harris/Williams at CB and Collins and Bigby at Safety. Our problems at Safety had a ton to do with Bigby being injured. If he comes back healthy (and there is no reason to think he should not) then we should be fine at Safety.
An interesting quote from the Journal Sentinel online article:
Not only did McCarthy rail behind closed doors against the plethora of wide-open receivers, soft run defense, lack of physical play and a slew of fourth-quarter folds, he undoubtedly was aware of unrest among the defensive coaches that started early in the season.
According to one source, Sanders and Nunn stood united in support of the scheme whereas the other coaches to various degrees advocated change.
“Sanders and Nunn wanted to do it the Bates way, that it was tried and true,” the source said. “But there was another camp within the staff headed by Moss that didn’t like the scheme Sanders was using. There was a lot of bitching and griping.
“They caught themselves and didn’t let it continue. But the job is hard enough. It’s even harder if you have to get the assistants on the same page each week.”
Full article here:
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37127204.html#
Which might explain some of the antics on the field during games (linebackers arguing with defensive backs etc)
Hi all
The Press Gazette is reporting that Mike Nolan is favorite to become DC – but not necessarily to run a 3-4 defense. This quote is particularly interesting:
‘“He’s good now. He’s smart,” said the scout who’s familiar with Nolan. “He can run 3-4, 4-3, he knows it all. It depends on what personnel you have. He’ll do whatever, morph to whatever. He’ll use your players to their strengths. He’s smart that way.”’
Using our players to their strengths – sounds good, you would think
The full article is here: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090106/PKR01/90106162/1058
I thought Coach Nolan showed a great deal of class when he was fired from SF. Could he be the man to turn round the Packers D?
‘“He’s good now. He’s smart,” said the scout who’s familiar with Nolan. “He can run 3-4, 4-3, he knows it all. It depends on what personnel you have. He’ll do whatever, morph to whatever. He’ll use your players to their strengths. He’s smart that way.”’
Hold on there a second. You’re telling me that a DC is actually allowed to make changes to his defense and adapt it to the players he has, rather than simpy run it the same way no matter what the personnel or results are? Wow. What a fascinating concept!!