The real reason McCarthy was hired has nothing to do with his barn or analytics

[MMObserver]

The guy has a .600 career winning percentage as head coach. He's more than just an expensive QB coach.

A .600 career winning percentage ... with a HOF QB under center (other than for injuries) every year ... and through domination (52-21-1/70.2% winning percentage) of the pathetic NFC North division (1 SB appearance by the Bears, Vikings, and Lions combined in 34 years and 1 SB victory among those 3 teams ever).

A head coach could literally trot out poor defenses and awful special teams year after year after year and average 9.5 wins a year with Favre and Rodgers behind center in the NFC North.

And that is exactly what transpired while Big Mac was the head coach in GB.

 

[DuncanIso]

It’s not talked about enough, but I really think the reason he was hired has nothing to do with his barn workshop or 30 min TV special about analytics.

It was 100% about he has developed Montana, Rodgers and others. The Jones’ wanted someone that would take care of their Dak investment. Basically they hired the most expensive QB coach there is.

Playcalling and team management were secondary on the list of reasons. So when Dak goes down, what’s McCarthys purpose? Develop Nooch?

It went stale in GB because Rodgers was developed to the point he no longer needed McCarthy. McCarthy is not a great HC. He’s a great specialist who needs other good specialists around him like Dom Capers to win big games.

Dak is already 5 years into his career.

I’m all for Dak, but he’s on the back side of his career as a starter. Plus, he has to overcome a terrible injury.

It was a mistake to hire big Mike.

It’s best to Move on from a bad decision as a soon as possible .

 

[Brax]

It’s not talked about enough, but I really think the reason he was hired has nothing to do with his barn workshop or 30 min TV special about analytics.

It was 100% about he has developed Montana, Rodgers and others. The Jones’ wanted someone that would take care of their Dak investment. Basically they hired the most expensive QB coach there is.

Playcalling and team management were secondary on the list of reasons. So when Dak goes down, what’s McCarthys purpose? Develop Nooch?

It went stale in GB because Rodgers was developed to the point he no longer needed McCarthy. McCarthy is not a great HC. He’s a great specialist who needs other good specialists around him like Dom Capers to win big games.

Where do you people come up with this Bull, MM had 0 to do with Montana, liked and recommended Smith over Rodgers, and inherited Farve and Rodgers when he went to GB. Farve and Rodgers where the coach whisperers to MM (the dumbest coach ever known by one of them). At this point it looks like the only thing MM does very well is shovel in the food. The reason he is here is because he is Jerrys yes man, and MM wants the $$$.

 

[buybuydandavis]

It’s not talked about enough, but I really think the reason he was hired has nothing to do with his barn workshop or 30 min TV special about analytics.

It was 100% about he has developed Montana, Rodgers and others. The Jones’ wanted someone that would take care of their Dak investment. Basically they hired the most expensive QB coach there is.

Playcalling and team management were secondary on the list of reasons. So when Dak goes down, what’s McCarthys purpose? Develop Nooch?

It went stale in GB because Rodgers was developed to the point he no longer needed McCarthy. McCarthy is not a great HC. He’s a great specialist who needs other good specialists around him like Dom Capers to win big games.

If McCarthy *can* deliver on developing a QB, it's a huge win.

 

[jterrell]

It’s not talked about enough, but I really think the reason he was hired has nothing to do with his barn workshop or 30 min TV special about analytics.

It was 100% about he has developed Montana, Rodgers and others. The Jones’ wanted someone that would take care of their Dak investment. Basically they hired the most expensive QB coach there is.

Playcalling and team management were secondary on the list of reasons. So when Dak goes down, what’s McCarthys purpose? Develop Nooch?

It went stale in GB because Rodgers was developed to the point he no longer needed McCarthy. McCarthy is not a great HC. He’s a great specialist who needs other good specialists around him like Dom Capers to win big games.

They hired him because he was the most qualified and proven guy available.
He had won a Super Bowl.
His sitting out and studying certainly helped in the interviews but Dallas liked Garrett and weren't going to replace him based off "vibes". They wanted a guy who had won a Super Bowl as Head Coach.

 

[jterrell]

Where do you people come up with this Bull, MM had 0 to do with Montana, liked and recommended Smith over Rodgers, and inherited Farve and Rodgers when he went to GB. Farve and Rodgers where the coach whisperers to MM (the dumbest coach ever known by one of them). At this point it looks like the only thing MM does very well is shovel in the food. The reason he is here is because he is Jerrys yes man, and MM wants the $$$.

This post is simply wrong on every level. Its an exaggeration far beyond the OP.

MM was known as a QB guru long before Rodgers took his first snap in GB.
And after having Rodgers he boosted spare parts QBs to big contracts or solid trade return in guys like Scott Tolzien and Brett Hundley.
He carried on the QB school tradition he learned in the early 90s in KC.
Like anything voices get stale and grow flat. His time in GB ended poorly.

MM chose the location that he felt gave him the best chance to win big. That was with Dak and in Dallas where nothing went right (losing 3 of 5 returning OL starters) yet the offense was still highest output for passing in the league when Dak went down. .
Jerry chose him because he had the best resume of available guys. He didn't want to repeat growing pains of JG with a first time HC and he didn't wanna just tap the Belichick well which has largely run dry across the league.
Little known secret but NFL teams have very few real choices as Head Coach without just taking a flyer.
MM had 8 straight playoff seasons and 5 division titles in those 8 years. He had a very proven resume before a final 2 seasons of acrimony and discord when he seemed to openly want to be fired.


The Dallas hire may backfire but MM was a good choice and a refreshing change of direction for a franchise that was so even-keeled and calm you could barely tell they were alive.

The Cowboys currently have 52M worth of players cap hits on Injured Reserve. That's the 2nd most in football.
The only team higher is San Fran who went from the Super Bowl last year to currently under 500.
Perhaps let's hold off trying to score this one as some failure of the Head Coach.

 

[jterrell]

If McCarthy *can* deliver on developing a QB, it's a huge win.

It's truly a shame to have these kinds of discussions on the boards where so many of the posters are just intellectually dishonest twits.

Jerry told us and MM has told us exactly what he wants at QB. A much deeper room than we ever had here. They went out and got a quality vet back up for the first time since Dak's rookie year.
They drafted a guy late and added a proven vet.
They'll likely draft another guy late this year.
It's a far cry from keeping a spare around 3 or 4 years then replacing him with another spare who can't get a job anywhere else.
MM at least has a plan to develop and build a QB depth chart for once.
Does that make him a guru? No.
Does it mean Dallas got far better at QB development? Yes.

Dak improved massively working with Tom Brady's personal QB Coach. --footwork and ball security
Then he improved with "air it out" Kitna in being aggressive and taking those deep shots.
There isn't much left MM was gonna bring Dak but he can definitely help build a QB depth chart that starts providing return in terms of supp picks or trade capital.

Dallas kept Kellen Moore to call plays and work with Dak.
MM wasn't brought in to be any QB whisperer.
He was brought in to win games especially in the playoffs.
His Ron Wolf shared value of QB drafting and development was just a small part of that hire that may take 3-4 years to fully show up.

 

[blumayne38]

You may be right about that. But what I don’t understand is why they didn’t look seriously at anyone else. Other than the Rooney Rule interview they had by phone with Marvin Lewis, they did no other interviews besides McCarthy. I’m just curious why. Most organizations usually interview more candidates. Obviously this isn’t like most organizations.

Maybe they wanted it all to crash and burn...who knows?

 

[MarcusRock]

I submit "The real reason" the Cowboys hired McCarthy has less to do with his coaching acumen than some of his other demonstrated "attributes."

The most appropriate person in the organization to play Santa Claus at a Dallas area hospital? Can't think of what else.

 

[MMObserver]

This post is simply wrong on every level. Its an exaggeration far beyond the OP.

MM was known as a QB guru long before Rodgers took his first snap in GB.
And after having Rodgers he boosted spare parts QBs to big contracts or solid trade return in guys like Scott Tolzien and Brett Hundley.

Hate to interpose facts into a "legend of Big Mac the QB guru" thread, but here goes.

Scott Tolzien was a nobody, journeyman QB who was largely allowed to be Rodgers backup QB in 2013 because he played collegiately at Wisconsin.

After Rodgers got hurt mid-season in 2013, Tolzien, in his regular season debut, completed 24-of-39 attempts for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 27–13 loss to the Eagles. In his next start again the Giants, Tolzien went 24 of 34 and threw for 339 yards, but also threw 3 interceptions in a 27–13 loss. He started the next week against the Vikings but was so bad he was replaced and never started in GB again.

He was later allowed to walk and became the backup to Andrew Luck in Indy, where he signed a two-year contract worth just $3.50 million with $500,000 guaranteed (big $?).

In Indy, Tolzien started week 1 of 2017 against the Rams and threw for 128 passing yards with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, until being benched in favor of Jacoby Brisset in that game. That effectively ended the illustrious career of one Scott Tolzien.

As an aside, any guess which team Tolzien is a QB coach for now ... loyalty matters.

As for Brett Hundley, Big Mac enthusiastically praised the former UCLA QB when the Pack traded up to select him in the 5th round of the 2015 draft.

The QB whisperer then had 2 full seasons to mold Hundley as Rodgers' backup QB.

Thus, when Rodgers went down in game 6 of the 2017 season (with the Pack at 4-1 and in a 0-0 game) Big Mac defiantly declared the Packers had no need to bring in a QB from outside the organization (think Kap) ... "I have three years invested in Brett Hundley, I have great confidence in Brett Hundley. I have two years invested in Joe Callahan. It’s a quarterback room that has structure. I feel great about the room.” https://packerswire.usatoday.com/20...e-mccarthy-commits-to-hundley-callahan-at-qb/

Hundley rewarded Big Mac for all that confidence by going 3-7 and finishing with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Unbelievably, after years and years of stellar QB play, Hundley led the Packers to two shutout losses, at Lambeau.

When GB finally fired its (medically) incompetent GM in January of 2018, his successor quickly got rid of Hundley for a 6th round pick in a trade with Seattle.

Hundley then signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals worth $1.88 million in 2019.

GB got crappy play from, and nothing but a 6th round pick (a steal at that) in return for, Tolzien & Hundley. They both did next to nothing in the NFL.

But yeah, there is no doubt that Big Mac was their QB whisperer.

 

[DasSchnitzel]

If that was true Jones could have fired Garrett after the 2018 season and hired McCarthy then. He already was fired before the 2018 season was over.

Jones hadn't given up on Garrett yet.

I don't think Jones ever gave up on Garrett.

 

[KingintheNorth]

It was 100% about he has developed Montana, Rodgers and others

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Ha!

Do you guys just dream this stuff up? Or do you think if you say it, people will just believe it?

Joe Montana was a 37-year old, 14-year veteran with 4 Super Bowl rings in 1993 when Mike McCarthy joined the staff as a Quality Control coach. How exactly did he develop Joe Montana?


You're trying way too hard.

 

[Captain-Crash]

hum, could it be jerry needed a fat ugly guy on the party bus to make him look a little better?

 

[gjkoeppen]

Jones hadn't given up on Garrett yet.

I don't think Jones ever gave up on Garrett.

That has to be the silliest comment I've seen all day. Jones never gave up on Garrett but he fired him. Ya that make all the sense in the world - to you.
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[KingintheNorth]

Hey, when I was talking to Babe Laufenberg on the sideline before the Rams-Cowboys playoff game, I was two feet away from Peyton Manning. Dak Prescott also said what's up to me as he walked by.

That's 3 NFL quarterbacks in a 5-minute span.

I too am a QB Whisperer!

 

[DasSchnitzel]

That has to be the silliest comment I've seen all day. Jones never gave up on Garrett but he fired him. Ya that make all the sense in the world - to you.
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Business leaders make personnel decisions they don't want to make all the time.

 

[jterrell]

Hate to interpose facts into a "legend of Big Mac the QB guru" thread, but here goes.

Scott Tolzien was a nobody, journeyman QB who was largely allowed to be Rodgers backup QB in 2013 because he played collegiately at Wisconsin.

After Rodgers got hurt mid-season in 2013, Tolzien, in his regular season debut, completed 24-of-39 attempts for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 27–13 loss to the Eagles. In his next start again the Giants, Tolzien went 24 of 34 and threw for 339 yards, but also threw 3 interceptions in a 27–13 loss. He started the next week against the Vikings but was so bad he was replaced and never started in GB again.

He was later allowed to walk and became the backup to Andrew Luck in Indy, where he signed a two-year contract worth just $3.50 million with $500,000 guaranteed (big $?).

In Indy, Tolzien started week 1 of 2017 against the Rams and threw for 128 passing yards with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, until being benched in favor of Jacoby Brisset in that game. That effectively ended the illustrious career of one Scott Tolzien.

As an aside, any guess which team Tolzien is a QB coach for now ... loyalty matters.

As for Brett Hundley, Big Mac enthusiastically praised the former UCLA QB when the Pack traded up to select him in the 5th round of the 2015 draft.

The QB whisperer then had 2 full seasons to mold Hundley as Rodgers' backup QB.

Thus, when Rodgers went down in game 6 of the 2017 season (with the Pack at 4-1 and in a 0-0 game) Big Mac defiantly declared the Packers had no need to bring in a QB from outside the organization (think Kap) ... "I have three years invested in Brett Hundley, I have great confidence in Brett Hundley. I have two years invested in Joe Callahan. It’s a quarterback room that has structure. I feel great about the room.” https://packerswire.usatoday.com/20...e-mccarthy-commits-to-hundley-callahan-at-qb/

Hundley rewarded Big Mac for all that confidence by going 3-7 and finishing with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Unbelievably, after years and years of stellar QB play, Hundley led the Packers to two shutout losses, at Lambeau.

When GB finally fired its (medically) incompetent GM in January of 2018, his successor quickly got rid of Hundley for a 6th round pick in a trade with Seattle.

Hundley then signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals worth $1.88 million in 2019.

GB got crappy play from, and nothing but a 6th round pick (a steal at that) in return for, Tolzien & Hundley. They both did next to nothing in the NFL.

But yeah, there is no doubt that Big Mac was their QB whisperer.

Brett Hundley was a 5th round QB who is still in the league. Not sure whom all but MM you have been observing but that's a good draft choice use.
Perhaps you'd care to compare him to Dallas back up QBs whom can't even get jobs when they leave except as High School coaches.
Scott Tolzien was an undrafted guy who after a year in SF came to GB and hung around for 3 years then got another 2 in Indy.
If you are scoring along at home that a 6 year career for a guy who was an undrafted FA.

But as a knowledgeable MM observer surely you know about Matt Hasselbeck who credits MM as being the driving force behind his later success with Seattle.

You also know about Matt Flynn who made what 20M in his NFL career?

Maybe you know Graham Harrell better than me(doubtful) a rising star in offensive coaching former coaches kid who credits MM heavily.

 

[jterrell]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Ha!

Do you guys just dream this stuff up? Or do you think if you say it, people will just believe it?

Joe Montana was a 37-year old, 14-year veteran with 4 Super Bowl rings in 1993 when Mike McCarthy joined the staff as a Quality Control coach. How exactly did he develop Joe Montana?


You're trying way too hard.

Paul Hackett was the QB guru coaching Montana. But MM was a QB coaching asst in the room with a notepad merely taking notes. He's told the stories hundreds of times.
MM learned form watching Montana he didn't teach him a thing.

MM obviously gets credit for AR from everyone but AR. It's a weird one but AR is so ridiculously naturally talented while also being the largest jerk at QB in the league which is why he fell by the way.
All in all few guys can say they've been in the QB room with Montana, Favre, Rodgers.

Phil Jackson wasn't responsible for Michael Jordan or Kobe or Shaq but he can say he was the head coach of all 3.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Yeah I don’t know why they didn’t see this coming. They should have known that a Pandemic was going to hit and both Tackles would be out all season. Fools. I blame Mike for Dak’s ankle too........

Tyron Smith hasn't been healthy for a full season since 2015. So, maybe don't assume this will be the magic year tyron regains his health for a full season and fill out that back-up spot with JAGS? No crystal ball required on that one. But I get it. The goal here is recreate Matt Millen's Detroit Lions.

 

[gjkoeppen]

Business leaders make personnel decisions they don't want to make all the time.

Think about what you just said. Business leaders make personal decisions. To make what you said make any sense, but it still doesn't is if you said, business leaders make business decision that they personally don't want to make. But here's why even that is still wrong because at the moment Jones fired Garrett he gave up on him. If he hadn't he wouldn't have fired him.
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