Saturday, January 3, 2009

Mike Stock Retires

Tom Silverstein's report of Mike Stock's "retirement" is a nice piece of reporting. We learn how Tracy White did supplemental films sessions with coverage and return unit members. If White was perceived as a real leader of these units, and McCarthy allowed Thompson to cut him, you have to wonder. If McCarthy isn't encouraged to tell TT the deal on the ground, he is just a disembodied chess player using the players as pawns. Expecting a unit to coalesce around an new leader instantly is poor people management.

What did Danny Lansanah add? Chances are the Packers will draft a LB and Lansanah won't even make the roster next year. What did that gain? As the team floundered on defense, adding Pettway and keeping White might have added spark to the coverage and return units. This is the one place the team had to improve itself at midseason.

I doubt Stock's schemes are much different that others NFL special teams coordinators use. And I doubt his coaching techniques are much different either. I think the some of the players stunk. I also think cutting White sent a terrible message that Special Teams play doesn't matter and won't keep you on the roster.

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