Packers expected to hire Alvis Whitted to coach WRs
-- If your memory serves you correctly, then you may recognize Matt LaFleur's newest assistant.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday night that the Green Bay Packers are expected to hire former NFL wide receiver Alvis Whitted to coach the same position on LaFleur's coaching staff.
Whitted played professionally for nine seasons, spending four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars -- after they drafted him in the seventh round -- and five with the Oakland Raiders. He tallied over 1,000 receiving yards on 74 receptions as well as six touchdowns in that nine-year span.
Whitted is filling the position previously held by David Raih, who the Packers agreed to part ways with given he was one of Mike McCarthy's final offensive assistants.
Luke Getsy is also back in Green Bay working within the offense, but this time around, as a quarterbacks coach as opposed to working with the wide receivers as he did for two seasons. Instead, it'll be Whitted's show to run.
Whitted's coaching career has been brief, but consistent. He was UCLA's offensive quality control coach in 2011 before being hired by Colorado State in 2012, serving as their receivers coach ever since. One of his most recent successes has been Michael Gallup, who has been a third-round gem for the Dallas Cowboys so far.
As it stands, running backs coach Ben Sirmans is the only offensive assistant from the McCarthy era to be retained on the Packers' staff. Otherwise, it's mostly made up of fresh, young faces.
The Packers also interviewed another former wide receiver in Wes Welker this past week, though it was unclear which position he was interviewing for.
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (38)
Spock
January 30, 2019 at 08:04 am
I guess the Packers are "getting younger" at coaches this year as well as their yearly "getting younger" at players. :) Don't know anything about this guy but I always like when a coach is coaching players at something he played. I wasn't a fan of MM's "cross-training" of coaches approach the last several many years. I hope that MLF retains Ben Sirmans just like he's kept Pettine.
MarkinMadison
January 30, 2019 at 09:11 am
Clearly the goal is to hold down the coaching payroll by recruiting and retaining young coaches. This allows the Packers to save overhead salary dollars for critical staff members like Murphy. And don't forget that we are still taking a salary hit on MM's contract as he stays at home to smell the manure in his backyard outside of Green Bay.
(For those of you who don't get it, yes that was sarcasm. And yes, McCarthy has a HUGE animal facility that regularly spreads manure right next to his McMansion.)
Skip greenBayless
January 30, 2019 at 11:07 am
Actually I don't think you were being sarcastic. I think you really meant this but were afraid to be honest. I actually agree. It really does appear the Packers are going extremely cheap on the assistant coaches. You talk about a depressing day in WI. Yesterday I had my hopes the Packers would sign a true winner in Wes Welker to coach up the entire green crop of receivers. Today I wake up and it's 50 below zero wind chills and instead of signing Welker we get Elvis Whitted? There is absolutely NOTHING inspiring or exciting with anything the Packers are doing since they fired MM. It's all hope and change and people "trusting" LaFleur and Gutey. Good luck with that.
Dash
carlos
January 30, 2019 at 04:20 pm
Where do you live? Blizzard and very cold here also, up on Lake Superior, but not quite that cold.
LambeauPlain
January 30, 2019 at 08:15 am
Looks like Sirmans is the only O coach who will be retained.
STs need a huge infusion of coaching talent. Now I read after Murphy nixed Rizzi’s salary demands, he finally agreed to pay the man. But Rizzi said, thanks but no thanks. Murphy needs to focus on skating rinks.
Hawg Hanner
January 30, 2019 at 08:45 am
Sick and tired of the derisive remarks made on Murphy. If you had any business knowledge you would understand the need to properly administer salary levels. Prior uninformed postings on this subject blamed Russ Ball for not hiring Rizzi. Just thank God Murphy has been in Green Bay and for what he has accomplished with the stadium, the district et. al and for putting the franchise on a firm financial footing
cuervo
January 30, 2019 at 08:54 am
Agree, As I've said before Mark Murphy has accomplished more in his lifetime than most could hope to accomplish in 2 or 3 lifetimes. Those that don't appreciate his leadership don't understand what the duties of a CEO of a multi-million dollar company are, and never will.
Ziff Davis
January 30, 2019 at 08:55 am
Everybody wants to have a scapegoat. Before Murphy it was McCarthy and before that it was Ted and before that was Capers....People don't want to accept things are as complex as they are.
fastmoving
January 30, 2019 at 10:41 am
"People don't want to accept things are as complex as they are."
thanks man. right on the money. in the last couple of years seems like people just want to have simple, easy answers. but thats never worked out. you can see it anywhere you look
TheVOR
January 30, 2019 at 09:03 am
Well dude, you can say what you want about Mark Murphy, but Bob Harlan had more to do with the renovation of Lambeau Field than Murphy. Also, make no mistake about the simple fact that under his franchise leadership, he allowed the MM/DOM Capers era to last way longer than it should have, and effectively the same can be said about Ted Thompson, he also turned a blind eye to that.
Running the Green Bay Packers should be about more than fielding average to competitive football, because after all, true greatness is measured by Championships in the NFL, not 1 and done's with a 15 & 1 teams that tank in the Playoffs, and poor draft after poor draft being allowed by a GM who was allowed to operate for 3-4 years longer than he should have. Sorry, Mark Murphy needs to take his place and live up to the complacency he allowed for the last 4 years.
My last comment, he better be right about Matt LaFleur, because if this doesn't work, he absolute needs to be fired! He deserves every mention of his role of complacency in the decline of this franchise, under his watch.
Ziff Davis
January 30, 2019 at 09:20 am
lol listen to your argument. you're mad he wasn't involved enough in the hiring and firings and now are upset that he is? He could be doing a terrible job but its too soon to pass judgement. Things aren't black and white. Ted was a great GM for a while but needed to go eventually, McCarthy was good until he wasn't, Capers had top 5 D in the league until he didn't. It's hard to evaluate these things in real time, just saying let the new changes play out before calling for more changes.
Thegreatreynoldo
January 30, 2019 at 10:11 am
Yes, every company has a salary structure. Rizzi can certainly argue that he is one of the best and can at least suggest that he is the best ST coordinator in the NFL. And companies have been known to pay for the best. NE just plunked down $4M for McDaniels.
I don't think Hackett is in any position to ask to renegotiate his contract if Rizzi gets big bucks. I really don't think Pettine is either. I suppose there is a number that I might recoil from if it were drastically out of line. I'd guess the number is $500K at issue.
It should also be noted that short of Venezuelan levels of incompetence, Murphy is running a business that can't possibly fail to make a profit.
dblbogey
January 30, 2019 at 10:48 am
That's just VOR. He's always been a glass completely empty kind of guy.
LambeauPlain
January 30, 2019 at 08:17 am
But I do like this WR coach!
4zone
January 30, 2019 at 08:17 am
Another underwhelming hire.
TKWorldWide
January 30, 2019 at 08:28 am
Another well thought out, knowledgeable, overwhelming response.
~~~
cuervo
January 30, 2019 at 08:45 am
"Another underwhelming hire."
Why don't you enlighten everyone here on the list of WR coaches you had on your radar and briefly list their qualifactions that would make them a better hire than this one?
I must say, for whatever reason, the coaching search comments from many resemble an episode or two of the "As the World Turns" or some other soap opera as the uninformed inform us of the impending assistant coaching disasters to come.
dobber
January 31, 2019 at 06:07 am
Nicely stated. All I'll say is that in building his staff, LaF has given the impression that it's more like "what can I find?" than "I have a plan". Does it mean he's picking the wrong people? I can't tell. We see it all the time when we hire: just because a candidate wasn't the first on the interview list, and didn't have the flashiest resume doesn't mean they can't turn out to be the right person at the right time.
PatrickGB
January 30, 2019 at 08:52 am
Well, he can’t be worse than Rah. Otherwise it’s a wait and see hire. I suppose that a big name hire could make some of us happy but I have to trust that the team is doing the right thing. As others have noted this is another example that this years coaching staff is younger and open to new ideas. That’s what we all have been clamoring for anyway.
WestCoastPackerBacker
January 30, 2019 at 09:00 am
Everyone ragging on Murphy/Ball for not hiring Rizzi. Well if he was so great, why is he still not employed? And why did Miami dump him?
Nobody knows what went on in the interviews or salary discussions.
Besides, an overpaid ST coach messes up the structure of the new staff right out of the gate.
LeotisHarris
January 30, 2019 at 09:21 am
The only other Packer named Alvis ended up in the Hall of Fame as a player, so he has that going for him.
I have no idea who would have been an exciting hire as WR coach. I do think the notion the Packers are attempting to save money by hiring younger coaches is silly. During these turbulent times, I find it helpful to remember the wise words of our colleague Lare; "it is what it is, not what is was, and not what it will be."
Hawg Hanner
January 30, 2019 at 12:41 pm
Thanks. The following is from another article on the Mennenga hiring "Silverstein said that the Packers later met Rizzi's number, but he opted to pull himself out of the running." Lrt's hope we can at least extinguish the criticism about operating on the cheap which is unwarranted
Skip greenBayless
January 30, 2019 at 02:16 pm
I think it certainly is warranted. The Packers are going cheap on the entire coaching staff. The new head coach is making half of what MM is/was making. So they offered a few extra bucks to Rizzi's numbers and he still turned them down. I am sure Rizzi wants no part of an organization in total chaos at the moment. Hiring no name cheap guys including high school coaches. We are quickly turning into the laughing stock of the league. They better hit on 3 to 4 rookies in this draft or Gutey will be Goney shortly.
Dash
dobber
January 30, 2019 at 09:49 am
With all the young WR on the roster, my question is: can he teach? That's what I want to know. Coming from the college ranks, they actually have time to do it.
Lare
January 30, 2019 at 10:55 am
This is my main point. While fans are always enamored with a coach's experience, the bottom line is how well they can teach players how to do things the right way.
Whenever you see players making the same mistakes over and over again, either they can't learn or they have ineffective coaching.
CheesyTex
January 30, 2019 at 10:57 am
He's had 2 pretty good ones go to the NFL, from Colorado State no less.
IMO that speaks pretty well of his ability to teach.
Also has a prospect at CSU (Preston Williams, similar profile to EQ and MVS) that may be on Packers board for this draft. Just sayin'...
Doug Niemczynski
January 30, 2019 at 09:50 am
I know it might be a little early but what does anybody think about trading our 12th pick and our 30th pick to move up a few slots or even a first pick maybe a second pick do we get Drew lock quarterback. I mean our team is getting younger now and it's time for a change you look around the league and is all the new quarterbacks DeShaun Watson Patrick Mahomes I mean the list goes on I realize there's four five years left in Aaron Rodgers but I think the table has turned and I think it's time to get younger remember when majokowski got hurt Brett Favre came in and never left and that we drafted Aaron Rodgers I believe three or four years before Favre left cuz it takes a while to learn the offense even though college teams are learning a lot of the NFL offenses and we could always trade Aaron Rodgers for couple first round picks for the next year. I know nobody wants to trade Aaron Rodgers but I mean look at our team where you getting a lot of young players we are redeveloping our team and having somebody like Drew lock as an understudy under Aaron Rodgers would be hugely beneficial and having a great backup cuz you can see when Aaron Rodgers goes out we just lose the game. because Denver respect and number 10 or 11 whatever pick they have to get Drew lock so we can move up and grab them let me know what everybody thinks
Doug Niemczynski
January 30, 2019 at 09:55 am
Sorry about the long run on sentences.
dobber
January 30, 2019 at 10:02 am
If I'm moving up from #12, it's not to draft Drew Lock. I'm trying to get someone like Josh Allen (if he can be reached with #12/30), and then hoping I've made good enough moves in FA and with my other day 1/2 picks to fill holes that I couldn't fill because I dealt away pick 30.
CheesyTex
January 30, 2019 at 11:04 am
Too many holes to fill. Can't waste top of draft capital on futures.
JonathanSpader
January 31, 2019 at 05:37 am
Doug,
I said something similar in a different thread. 4 dislikes is a good start but you have a ways to go to catch up with mine. You wouldn't need to package both 1st round picks. Lock has been mocked by a lot of "draft experts" as the #10 pick to the Broncos.
I would not trade anything to reach up and grab him. I'd take him if he fell to us at #12. For me he reminds me of Brett Farve. Cannon of an arm but definitely has some questionable decision making. He would have an opportunity Farve never did though. As you mentioned he could be groomed behind Rodgers and learn from one of the best to play the game.
dobber
January 31, 2019 at 06:09 am
He reminds me just as much of Jay Cutler coming out of Vandy.
JonathanSpader
January 31, 2019 at 05:38 am
Doug,
I said something similar in a different thread. 4 dislikes is a good start but you have a ways to go to catch up with mine. You wouldn't need to package both 1st round picks. Lock has been mocked by a lot of "draft experts" as the #10 pick to the Broncos.
I would not trade anything to reach up and grab him. I'd take him if he fell to us at #12. For me he reminds me of Brett Farve. Cannon of an arm but definitely has some questionable decision making. He would have an opportunity Farve never did though. As you mentioned he could be groomed behind Rodgers and learn from one of the best to play the game.
scullyitsme
January 30, 2019 at 10:06 am
Personally I like the new young approach. This only works if everyone buys into what Lafleurs selling. That can be hard with older coaches with pre conceived ideas. Also players. Which brings us to the biggest hurdle, will Rodgers buy in? If LaFleur hands Rodgers a game plan that makes him brees or Brady dinking and dunking all over the place will he carry it out? Can he carry it out? Rodgers worst pass since he’s been in the league has been the dump/ screen pass. He’s put a ton of those in the dirt, much less in stride. Mentally can he contain hisself? That’s my biggest question of the off season, oh and oline, with a couple more studs on the oline it might not matter.
Justin84
January 30, 2019 at 02:27 pm
Everyone saying Siramnins is the only hold over on offense from big Mac's staff.... are we all forgetting Getsy coached with MM for 4 years. Dont be obtuse
CoachJV
January 30, 2019 at 08:19 pm
It's comical that everyone thinks that the Packers are going "cheap" with the coaching hires. While it may be true that new coaches get paid less, it's not really about that at all... this is about culture.
The NFL is changing right before our eyes, whether we like it or not. It is changing. It is changing in scheme, in athleticism, in philosophy, and in age.
A new generation is on us, taking over whether we're prepared to give them the reigns or not.
If you read the Complacency article... we needed a big culture change. Our beloved Packers became constipated from our own cheese, and now... we need an enema.
Every. Single. Thing. that's happening to us now - all the changes - are good things.
Go Pack Go....
JonathanSpader
January 31, 2019 at 05:40 am
There's one problem with your theory Coach JV Rodgers gave up dairy... lol
CoachJV
January 31, 2019 at 06:47 am
LMAO