| Have you looked at the list of new
NFL head coaches lately? Do you have any idea who these guys are? I must admit, it took
some research to learn about some of football’s newest leaders. So when a colleague
asked me which coach I thought would have the most success, I was lucky enough to have had
somewhat of a clue.
My answer: new Packers head coach Mike Sherman.
St. Louis’ Mike Martz is a good one as well. After all, it was his offense that
piled up all those points this past season. The Jets’ Al Groh has a good chance too,
because of all the talent New York will bring back this coming season. But I’m
sticking with Sherman.
While I haven’t had the good fortune of meeting him yet, Sherman comes off as a
disciplinarian of the highest degree. He will not be taken advantage of, as was the case
with former head coach Ray Rhodes. Sherman doesn’t have a lot of NFL experience
— he has been in the league for only three seasons — but he has learned from one
of the best in Mike Holmgren. Remember, Sherman was the Packers’ TE coach under
Holmgren from 1997 to ’98 before moving with Holmgren to Seattle and becoming the
Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.
Granted, one season as a coordinator does not a head coach make. But let’s look
past his NFL experience (or lack thereof) and harken back to Sherman’s days as a
college coach.
From 1989 to ’96, Sherman was the OL coach for Texas A&M and UCLA. Though he
was only at the college level, Sherman’s expertise in blocking and running the
football could pay huge dividends for a Packers team that needed better balance last
season. In fact, Sherman has said he will call the offensive plays, so look for QB Brett
Favre to do a little more handing off than he’s used to — which is a good thing
for Green Bay.
While he had his moments, Favre was not the Favre we had come to know and love
(depending on your allegiances) the last two seasons. After throwing no more than 16
interceptions from 1994 to ’97, Favre threw 23 in both the ’98 and ’99
seasons. Considering those numbers, it would make sense for the Packers to throw less
often. Besides, Favre isn’t getting any younger, and the injury bug started to creep
into his system last season.
The Packers should also be better off on the other side of the ball, where former
Broncos DB coach Ed Donatell takes over as defensive coordinator. Donatell will bring
Denver’s aggressive scheme to Green Bay, so look for more blitzing and more packages
featuring eight men in the box.
If nothing else, the Packers will be better coached next season. Yes, they will have
some holes to fill on defense (DEs Keith McKenzie and Vaughn Booker and NT Gilbert Brown
aren’t expected to be re-signed), but at the very least, the groundwork will be laid
for future success.
And the man in charge of it all will be General Sherman. |
