National Football League

Packers' McCarthy will 'miss' calling plays, but hands over duties

Published Feb. 12, 2015 4:50 p.m. ET

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mike McCarthy had considered going this route in previous years. But every time he went through the offseason evaluation process, the Green Bay Packers head coach decided to hang onto his role as offensive play-caller.

After nine seasons operating in that fashion and getting to within an overtime loss of Super Bowl XLIX, McCarthy decided the time has come to change the structure in which the Packers operate.

"Tom Clements is the play-caller," McCarthy announced at a Thursday press conference in which Clements' title was changed from offensive coordinator to associate head coach / offense. "I felt the play-calling was something I could still do. But the commitment you have to make Monday through Saturday, I didn't think it would work as good as I know it will work with Tom taking the responsibilities on offense that I've had in the past."

Green Bay finished No. 1 in the NFL in scoring during the 2014 regular season with 30.4 points per game, so the move is somewhat surprising, although McCarthy had come under some criticism for his play-calling in the final minutes of the NFC championship game loss to Seattle.

"What we do on offense, we do as good or better than anybody in this business," McCarthy said. "So we're in tune with that. But we think these adjustments will definitely help us continue to grow and stay above the standard of offense that we have set here in Green Bay."

The promotion for Clements was one of seven changes the Packers made to their coaching staff. Edgar Bennett going from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator and Alex Van Pelt adding wide receivers coach to his responsibilities while continuing as the quarterbacks coach were among them, but nothing will have as big of an impact as McCarthy stepping down as play-caller.

"I think I have a lot more to offer," McCarthy said. "I've enjoyed these last two days going through the cut-ups with the defensive assistants, the staff, giving the offense perspective the whole time. . . . Now to be a lot more directly involved with the implementation of the defensive schemes, the evaluation of those schemes and then obviously the in-season coaching. I'm looking forward to that.

"And I will spend a lot of time with the special teams. Special teams needs to improve. It's an area definitely of concern in the past. We have to continue to develop our young players, get them ready to play and contribute as quickly as possible. And we need to get more out of our veterans. To me, that's the hole in our special teams. The consistency and the standard of play in our veteran players is not where it needs to be. And that will be a direct focus of mine."

Tom Clements

In an effort to correct a special teams group that finished last in the Dallas Morning News' annual rankings, McCarthy fired special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum on Jan. 30. McCarthy promoted from within the organization, choosing Ron Zook -- who served as special teams assistant in 2014 -- as coordinator.

When it came down to McCarthy making the decision to relinquish being the offensive play-caller, it was all about quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"Aaron Rodgers is unique, the way we call the game, it's a lot different than the way it was called three years ago," McCarthy said. "I feel very good about where Aaron is and the command. Not only Aaron, but our veteran offensive linemen, our veteran receivers, we're able to do a lot of things at the line of scrimmage, take advantage of a lot of things, make adjustments on the sidelines, so I feel very good about the mechanics and the opportunity to get better. It will make us all better."

Rodgers has been working directly with Clements for nine years. Clements was the quarterbacks coach from 2006-11 and became offensive coordinator in 2012.

"The relationship between the play-caller and Aaron Rodgers is of critical importance, and that's a big part of the decision," McCarthy said. "Aaron has an excellent working relationship with Tom and Alex Van Pelt and really all of our offensive assistants, and Edgar and I will be part of that from his offensive coordinator position. The fit with Aaron is of the highest priority and that's why I thought this was the right decision."

However, McCarthy said, "I can still call a play if I need to."

McCarthy joins the majority of NFL head coaches who do not calls plays on either side of the ball, as only 10 now have that role either offensively or defensively.

This was not a move dictated by general manager Ted Thompson. It was a decision McCarthy made all on his own.

"This is something I obviously felt very strongly about," McCarthy said. "Frankly, when I went to Ted Thompson and told him about the change I was going to make, and even in a conversation with (team president) Mark Murphy, their first comment was 'Whoa, you're really going to give up the play calling?' So this is something I've given a lot of thought, and it's something that's a big decision that's taken years to make."

But even with his decision now final, McCarthy is already thinking about how difficult it will be on game days once the 2015 regular season begins.

"It's hard to do," McCarthy said. "I'm going to miss it. I know that."

McCarthy later added, "It's going to make us better. I'm very confident in that. That's why I did it. It's fun to call plays on Sundays. Don't get me wrong. It's probably, of my job responsibilities, it's something I enjoy more than anything as far as the game. There's nothing like Sundays. You can't get what an NFL player or an NFL coach gets on Sunday in another industry, in my opinion. To go out there and compete against the coordinator who's across the field is something I've taken a lot of pride in, had success in, really enjoyed. But this change and the confidence I have in Tom and Aaron, I feel great about it and we'll be better for it."

McCarthy was heavily criticized for his conservative play-calling towards the end of the NFC championship game in which the Packers gave up a 12-point lead in the final five minutes to lose at Seattle. Green Bay ran the ball three times for a total of minus-4 yards, punting to the Seahawks with 3:52 left on the clock.

But it wasn't that one game that led to McCarthy coming to this decision.

"Well, I mean, the reason to do this is about winning championships," McCarthy said. "That part never changes. This process that I go through is the same each and every year. This is not the first time I thought about this. I think this is the time to do it. I think our staff is ready. I think it's an opportunity for a number of guys to grow, and it's an opportunity for them to make an impact. I feel we'll be better offensively from that.

"I know I have a lot more to offer to our football team, and they're going to get that. But this is a decision that's made over the long haul. One game doesn't make decisions on how you run your program. Never has been, never will be here."

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