The Packers are making a change on special teams. They are firing ST coordinator Shawn Mennenga, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). A longtime college coach, Mennenga had previously served as Browns assistant ST coach before joining Matt LaFleur‘s staff in 2019. The Packers are expected to promote assistant ST coach Maurice Drayton to replace Mennenga, Pelissero tweets. At least one other team was interested in Drayton for such a role, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Drayton was in contention for this job two years ago.
Here is the latest out of Green Bay and from around the league:
- Mike Pettine may not be locked in as Packers defensive coordinator next season. The veteran DC opted not to sign an extension last year, and Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes his contract is up. The Packers invested heavily in their pass rush and used three first-round picks on defenders from 2018-19 but dropped from 15th in defensive DVOA in 2019 to 17th this past season. Pettine is a holdover from Mike McCarthy‘s staff, having arrived in 2018.
- Colts running backs coach Tom Rathman announced his retirement Thursday. The Colts hired Rathman in 2017, after his eight-year tenure as 49ers running backs coach ended. Rathman attempted to retire in 2019 and ’20, but the Colts successfully lobbied him to stay on, per The Athletic’s Stephen Holder (on Twitter). A decorated fullback who won two Super Bowls with the 49ers, Rathman coached running backs from 1997-2020. Sixteen of those years came in San Francisco.
- Staying with the Colts, they are hiring former Jaguars QBs coach Scott Milanovich to replace Marcus Brady in that position, Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star tweets. Milanovich was Jacksonville’s QBs coach from 2017-19. Otherwise, he has spent his career in the CFL, having coached the Toronto Argonauts and, in 2020, the Edmonton Eskimos. The Colts promoted Brady to OC last week.
- Longtime NFL wideout Keenan McCardell will resurface in Minnesota. The Vikings are hiring McCardell as receivers coach, per Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). A longtime Jaguars pass catcher who broke into the coaching ranks in 2010, McCardell served as Jacksonville’s receivers coach from 2017-20 under Doug Marrone.
- Ex-Colts DC Ted Monachino will be the Falcons‘ outside linebackers coach under Arthur Smith next season. Monachino, Indy’s DC from 2016-17, spent the past two years with the Bears. The Falcons also hired Jon Hoke to coach defensive backs. The older brother of Maryland HC Brady Hoke, Jon was the Terrapins’ defensive coordinator from 2019-20 but has coached NFL DBs for several seasons.
The special teams sucked so u promote the assistant of the guy who sucked? Wtf Pack?
Maybe he had good ideas but the actual coordinator refused to implement them..?
Brady Hoke is the head coach at San Diego St and has also never coached at Maryland
Pettine wasn’t terrible as the Packers’ DC, but the team could certainly improve in its scheming and playcalling. It may not be bad to see some change, but only if the next coach they get is an actual improvement. This is one of those things where it could go very well or very poorly pretty easily. There are still a couple of holes or areas for improvement (one of the corner spots, middle linebacker, edge rusher, and maybe a defensive end), but the defense is not devoid of talent overall. Whomever they replace Pettine with-if they do end up doing that-should be someone that better puts their proven playmakers in better positions to use their talents, without sacrificing the rest of the defense to do so. I personally think that they could improve, but shouldn’t rush Petrine out the door until they are sure that they can.
Overall the defense improved when Barnes was a regular at ILB. Upgrading either Lowry or Lancaster i think is a top need.
And putting a cardboard cutout of Charles Woodson in place of king would be an upgrade too. I realize whoever plays opposite Jaire is going to be the “weak” link, but it seemed that dude was either injured, lost in coverage or couldn’t tackle on every other play.
Agreed. Barnes was a nice surprise for them. If I were a Packers fan though, I’d still like to see someone else brought in to solidify the position just in case. I agree with you regarding King-really, the only option I think with him if he is not let go is to play him aggressively as a big heavy press corner with safety help overtop, Legion of Boom style. That requires a super and smart rang-y safety that you are now committing to a main role, though, so it’s an ask. I see him as replacement worthy right now.
Aside from the need-ier positions, Gary is an interesting case-after starting slow, he really picked up later this season. Of course, Gary was rotational and not an actual starter. The question is figuring out where he stands going forward-does he replace Preston Smith, or do the Packers draft someone else?
Agreed pjcolt… I lose faith in an article with such a gaff. Hoke was Michigan then SDSt, then back to Michigan, then back to SDSt. Others stops I believe, none of which were Maryland. Thats Locksley. They don’t even look alike.
Who would be the main candidate to replace Pettine if Pack decides to move on?
Good question, and it looks like he is officially out now..