Diner News: Around The NFL

From Michael Lombardi:

6 January 2009

QUOTE:  “Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good. “ ~ Vince Lombardi, first team meeting as Packers coach (1959), as reported in Chuck Carlson’s “Game of My Life”

FROM BOB MCGINN OF THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL... McCarthy notified defensive coordinator Bob Sanders by telephone Sunday after they talked at length last week. Then he met with the six members of the defensive staff on Monday morning and released four of them. At some point, McCarthy also found time to can Rock Gullickson, the strength coach. "He beat that record in one day," said Chuck Lane, the Packers' publicist from 1966-'80 who was reminiscing Monday about the day that Bart Starr fired him and others almost 30 years ago. "This sets some sort of new record."

Based on the number of emails in my in-box, there appears to be tremendous interest in the Packers.  Heading into this season, the Packers had the look of a very talented defense. They had some young defensive linemen and some very talented coverage men, and they also had an offense that could complement their defense.  They were coming off a tough loss to the Giants, but as I have written numerous times, they needed to expand their package and have the versatility to play some zone when the match-ups in man-to-man did not favor their personnel.  However, they made mistakes last off-season and none of them had to do with Brett Favre.  They refused to pay Corey Williams, who played so well in ‘07 that the Packers designated him their franchise player and then traded him for a second-round pick.  They selected quarterback Brian Brohm with the pick and counted on Justin Harrell to step into Williams’ role. 

Now, you must understand that to run the Packers’ defensive scheme, you have to dominate in the defensive line.  This scheme is not based on creativity but rather on forcing the quarterback to feel pressure in every aspect of his play -- forcing him to make tight throws into tight windows and be very accurate.  It requires the team to have a middle linebacker who can play pass first, and it wants to utilize seven-man fronts and hold up against the run.  To defeat this scheme, the opponent must be talented in the offensive line and at wide receiver. 

So with that as a backdrop, the Packers lost one of their best defensive linemen in Cullen Jenkins, and after trading Williams, they could not get any production from Harrell, making their once-dominating defensive line very blockable.  Then they lost their starting Mike backer, Nick Barnett; their best coverage man, Al Harris, for an extended period; and their strong safety, Atari Bigby. The result: They could not compensate for all the injuries. 

Injuries are never an excuse for a team, but in the case of the Packers, I really do not feel Bob Sanders would be in the unemployment line had these not occurred.  This is the same man who was part of a 13-win season in ’07. The factors that cost them their jobs had more to do with injuries than Sanders’ lack of talent as a coach. 

Where do the Packers go from here?  Well, they have drafted and procured talent to fit this scheme.  In addition, most of the players in their defensive backfield are only suited for this kind of defense.  If they change the scheme, they will have to change some of the players, and this may result in some tough transitional times.  They can stay with the scheme and enhance it with new ideas built around their base defense -- expand and add more defensive lineman to help get their defense back to the ‘07 level.  If I were with the Packers, I would make sure we placed a higher importance on getting more defensive lineman and would never let a young one walk out of the building when it looked like he might be a great player in the league.  No matter what direction the Packers choose, they must get some defensive linemen who can dominate. 

My guess is that Winston Moss will be the new coordinator. He can help in the transitional phase since he is remaining on the staff, and I doubt very strongly he is going to want to work with a new coach and new scheme.  Keeping Moss tells me the Packers may interview others, but they will end up hiring him.  Why keep Moss if you are bringing in another coach?  Mike Nolan would help enhance the scheme, but his idea of how to play defense and the Moss’ idea are slightly different.  Not that either is wrong; it’s just that both are different in their approaches.  Moss is a very good young coach who is interviewing for head coaching jobs and feels his time is now. 

FROM NICHOLAS J. COSONIKA OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS... The Lions have interviewed Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, whose teams had first-round byes, and Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray, whose team missed the playoffs. It is unclear whether Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is a candidate. He reportedly has removed his name from consideration, but some say that is untrue. Another name popped up Monday: Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who played quarterback at Michigan and spent time with the Lions before the 2001 season. Nationalfootballpost.com listed the Lions as one of three teams interested in him.

I mentioned on NFL Network and here at The Post yesterday that the Jets would try to talk to Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who I feel is one of the best young coaches in America.  The Rams and the Lions are also going to speak with him. 

I was fortunate to work with Harbaugh at the Hotel, and I hired his brother John in Philadelphia, his first NFL job.  At the Hotel, we were looking for a former player who could come in, work with the quarterbacks and learn how to coach.  John called me about his brother, and I have been a fan ever since.  He will win; he will succeed in anything he does.  He is rare in that he is a former player with head coaching experience. 

He is the most competitive person I have ever been associated with, and he combines his competitive nature with a high degree of intelligence.  An example of this competitive nature was never more evident than when we both attended a father-son basketball tournament while our boys were in the eighth grade.  The event, called “Runts and Grunts,” included two-on-two games featuring fathers and sons.  The fathers could not score, and the first team to seven won.

Well, Jim’s son was a good player but was suffering from the flu, and the best player in the eighth grade had a father who played Division I ball in college.  Without going into details, Jim played this game as if it was the Super Bowl.  He had drive and passion, and his only thought was winning -- which he did.  That experience made me a believer. 

Jim has a thirst for knowledge. He is always trying to improve, and he is always thinking of his team.  He has the drive and the determination to be a success, and the fact he is a coach who was a former player will give him an instant credibility in the locker room. 

During the twilight of Bill Walsh’s life, I used to visit and have lunch with my hero, and we would talk about Jim.  Bill loved Jim and loved the potential he saw in him. It was as if Bill saw a younger version of himself. He wanted to open up his head and pour all his knowledge into Jim.   We both knew that Jim would one day win in the Pac-10, win a Super Bowl and be a legendary coach.  I know he loves Stanford and is in the process of finalizing an extension there.  But one day, he will be in the NFL and will be a great hire. 

FROM MIKE CHAPPEL OF THE INDY STAR... Marvin Harrison's place in NFL history is set, but he could be history with the Colts. In an unforgiving business, he might not be considered worth the investment. Harrison, 36, is due a $9 million base salary in 2009 and will count $13.4 million against a league salary cap that's expected to be in the $123 million range.  Management faces some difficult decisions regarding its veteran free agents. The list includes three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden and backup running back Dominic Rhodes.

I watched Marvin Harrison all season and really have great respect for his game, but I am confident, based on the tape I have seen, that he will not be back in Indy next year.  He cannot make the plays he needs to make, but his cap number creates a problem for the Colts.  I am sure that as classy as the Colts are, they will handle this decision with care and try to make it as painless as possible.  However, the market for Harrison will not be strong and he will have to face the reality that the end of a magnificent career is near. 

FROM MIKE KLIS OF THE DENVER POST... In the past three seasons, Montrae Holland has played for three of the NFL's most ingenious offensive coaches — Sean Payton, Mike Shanahan and Jason Garrett.  Payton and Shanahan were head coaches. Garrett will try to become one today when he interviews for the Broncos' head coaching job at Dove Valley. "He was like a head coach without being the head coach," Holland said of Garrett, the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator. "I think he has the swagger of a head coach.  He'd be a big get for you, if they pull the trigger." Holland is an offensive guard who played for Payton's New Orleans Saints in 2006, when Payton was named the NFL's coach of the year. Signed by the Broncos after that season, Holland started all 16 games for Shanahan in 2007, but he got beat out in 2008 after reporting to training camp overweight.

It is very interesting to see the Broncos go in an offensive direction.  I really feel the team needs to improve its overall toughness and needs to find a way to improve the defense.  As I mentioned yesterday, Jeremy Bates and Rick Dennison of the Broncos’ staff are very good coaches and have accomplished much more in the NFL than Mr. Garrett.  Garrett is struggling to handle the Cowboys’ situation; what makes anyone feel he can handle an entire team?  Even in coaches, past performance predicts future achievement.  If Garrrett is on the list, then why not talk to Harbaugh?  He has been a head coach, he has coached an entire team and he has played in the NFL.  He has all the qualities that Garrett is selling, but with more experience. 

My oldest son had the best line the other day when I was complaining about how some of these teams are interviewing coaches with lawyers and accountants, and not football men.  I kept asking him, “How would they even know what to ask a coach?”  His reply: “Dad, they are not interviewing coaches, they are interviewing people.”  That Fordham Jesuit education is well worth it. Enough said....

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