default-cbs-image

Since their 6-0 start that saw them average 27.3 points per game, the Green Bay Packers have a record of just 2-4 and a 20.8 points per game average. In response to that downturn, head coach Mike McCarthy is taking play calling duties back from offensive coordinator Tom Clements, according to a report from FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.

As we wrote when it was first reported that McCarthy would give up play calling duties, McCarthy's play calling was never really Green Bay's problem. Green Bay's offense had in fact been uniformly excellent with McCarthy calling plays. Check out their league wide ranks in passing offense, rushing offense, overall offense, and scoring during McCarthy's tenure prior to this year.

Packers Offense
Year Pass DVOA Rush DVOA Overall DVOA Points/Game
2006 17 23 19 18.1
2007 6 12 5 27.2
2008 10 17 11 26.2
2009 9 2 5 28.8
2010 5 10 7 24.3
2011 1 7 1 35.0
2012 3 13 3 27.1
2013 13 3 9 26.1
2014 2 6 1 30.4
AVERAGE 7.3 10.3 6.8 27.1

Again, uniformly excellent. The Packers had five top-5 finishes in offensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, which adjusts performance for down, distance, and opponent) and twice claimed the top spot with McCarthy calling plays. They finished outside the top-10 only twice in nine seasons, one of which was Aaron Rodgers' first year as the starter. Their scoring average of 27.1 points per game during his tenure would routinely rank in the top-5 to 10 in the league. Far more than play calling, what McCarthy struggled with was situational football and game management.

And that gets at the issue here, which is not with play-calling but rather with game management. McCarthy has long been known as one of the NFL's most conservative coaches, rarely taking chances on fourth downs, two-point conversions or the like until absolutely necessitated by the score and game situation. He's been known to get bogged down with conservative calls once the Packers get into Mason Crosby's field goal range, and especially in the red zone. With the amount of offensive talent on hand, particularly with Rodgers' pinpoint accuracy and the bruising running style of Eddie Lacy, it would behoove him to be more aggressive.

Green Bay has not really gotten any more aggressive this season, though some of that may admittedly be owed to the absence of Jordy Nelson and the sagging performance of Lacy. McCarthy taking over play-calling duties again could help alleviate their recent offensive downturn as one could make the argument that Clements has not exactly put the players in the best possible position to succeed, but it still seems more likely than not that McCarthy will have the same issues with conservativism and game management that have plagued him in the past.

The Packers are well set up to make the playoffs in the NFC, but getting through the conference and into the Super Bowl will likely take more than just returning the head coach to play calling responsibilities. Especially if they wind up in a matchup with the Carolina Panthers again, the Packers will have to get more aggressive about their situational football to beat a team that is playing better than almost anyone on both sides of the ball.

Mike McCarthy will call plays for the Packers again. (USATSI)