Lesson number one on Capers defense. Constantly try to put square pegs in round holes!
Maybe we're just spoiled. But, we need to face reality. The time isn't too far off when being at the top of the heap isn't going to be easy, unless we can find the third HOF type QB in a row, to guide the Packers. It's a foregone conclusion that the reason the Patriots have been so good is that Belichick has had Brady, except for his first year as HC with the Pats. That year, they had a losing record. Belichick's run of winning football has come only while his career was locked in step with Brady. Before that, he wasn't considered a super coach, but a second tier coach pretty much suited to be a coordinator.
That pretty much tells us that today's NFL success stories on the sideline deals with the success story on the field. If you have a HOF destined QB, you win games, and do well consistently. If you don't, you may success some years, but don't count on it being often enough to make it look like you're a coaching genius. Brady makes Belichick a winner, just like I've always believed - Rodgers is the only reason that McCarthy has succeeded.
That said, the difference between the two is a chasm of coaching capability. Belichick has been able to turn lost time from Brady into a coaching moment, where he's utilized other facets of the team to pick up at least part of the slack that's there, because Brady is gone. McCarthy doesn't know how to do that. If you look at the "replacement QBs" used by McCarthy, the only one to have a .500 record is Matt Flynn, and that's because he was developed into a good system QB. He learned much with Rodgers, and he'll even tell you that his record 480 yard, 6 TD passing game Packer record had a lot to do with Rodgers having the head phones on over on the sideline calling the plays. He kept Matt loose, and on track.
The disdain the Packers seem to show towards even considering bringing Matt back to finish this year is the height of refusing to let your ego take a back seat. He could play, and has been working out. He knows the system, and his field of vision may not be as good as Rodgers, but he can still find open guys well enough to keep this team afloat, and possibly make the playoffs, so Rodgers "could" come back, and make a difference.
As far as drafting a QB, and developing them, not so easy now that the guys who were so good at it are gone. I know everyone wants to say it's McCarthy, but I don't believe that for a heartbeat. I've watched the guys over the year who worked with Rodgers, and Flynn. I saw what they brought to the table, and even Tom Clements, who left last year, was far superior to McCarthy in working with fundamentals and gamesmanship, when it comes to the position.
With McCarthy, drafting a QB and grooming them isn't an option. He is not going to be the guidance a young guy needs to develop. His career is locked at the hip with Rodgers, just like Belichick's is with Brady. I expect both coaches to walk away when their QBs do.
In the meantime, Belichick will always be better than McCarthy on the sidelines, because Belichick does everything possible to surround himself with excellent assistant coaches, not friends, and knows how to inspire players to do better, unlike McCarthy who believes it's the players' jobs to motivate themselves.
Just my opinion here. Have at it!
