Should they fire Mike McCarthy? It may not be so simple

Should the Green Bay Packers get rid of head coach Mike McCarthy? The answer may not be that simple.

Whenever an aspiring playoff team starts slowly, there is usually something or someone to blame. Sometimes the answers are as simple as injuries to one or more key players, sometimes the answer is much more complicated. But, most often, the head coach is the main culprit.

When your quarterback is a most useful player twice and perhaps the best quarterback of all time, and that a new general manager is in town, there is no doubt that the responsibility will fall. On the main coach.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy is on the proverbial hot seat this season. With his team at an underperforming 3-4-1, McCarthy's headquarters may have never been so hot.

In previous seasons, McCarthy may not have had to worry. Ted Thompson was the general manager and McCarthy was his first and only head coach hired during his tenure.

But this season, a new general manager has set up his own form of team management and the Packers have been much more diverse in their team management than under Thompson.

Although Brian Gutekunst worked side by side with McCarthy prior to his hiring at GM, he might seek to hire himself. And McCarthy gives him reasons to hire again.

The exploration of his playbook by McCarthy seems so far sterile and more like his previous.

McCarthy has also been criticized for not having "engineered" to get players to open or give the ball to a particular player. This criticism was addressed by both the current and former players, the most notable being by Aaron Rodgers after the victory against the Bills.

Any conversation would not be over without mentioning the McCarthy phone game. Last Sunday's game was a perfect example of McCarthy at his worst. Three consecutive passes on a first goal since the two yard line when Aaron Jones went through the Patriots' defense until this point is more than doubtful.

Also play the disparity of calls. The Packers had only 25 games in the playoffs against 43 for the passes, including four by Rodgers. That's more than double the calls.

The Packers only followed very late in the two-digit points game. There was no reason to have such a disparity in the called games. The racing game worked, perhaps better than the passing game.

With the control that Rodgers has on the line of scrimmage, the question of the face-off is pure speculation. Rodgers could be changing plays into something else. This is not speculation, it's the management of McCarthy's game.

McCarthy has not yet used a return in a selected ability. Prior to the season, McCarthy had stated that there would be a committee approach to the semi-final position but that he would ultimately stay with the burning hand.

It was not the case. Aaron Jones has been warm hand since his return from suspension but has not seen the charge that half a meter of his caliber should see.

Any of these reasons could be enough to frustrate the reception and let it pull hair. It was clear all season, the coach from the other sideline got the upper hand on McCarthy.

There is also speculation that McCarthy's message to the team has become as obsolete as his call to the game. The Packers have made insignificant efforts in more than a few games this season. This is a reflection of the head coach.

If the players stop responding and the offense is out of date, the time has come to move on, is not it?

The answer may not be that simple.

From the point of view of the front office, there will be a ton of pressure to get the right recruitment. This is not a reconstruction project. The team will have a 35-year-old 35-year-old who wants to win more rings now. There is not much time to allow a coach to settle.

The GM must also ensure that the coach has the qualifications that will allow a MVP twice to react and respect each other. Maybe someone who has already won and who has already won a Super Bowl before, either as a coordinator or head coach.

If this company was wrong, Aaron Rodgers would lose another 2 to 4 years.

The same pressure on the general manager would be double that of the coach. They would enter a pressure cooker knowing that it was not time to "build" their culture. It's already in place and it starts with Rodgers. Which, by the way, did not have exactly the best relationship with the previous coach.

For these reasons, someone like Lincoln Riley would not be the best choice. Gutekunst might have a big bet to make. The same can be said for any coordinator in the making without a head coach or Super Bowl experience.

I had the success of Doug Pederson and Sean McVay has a little changed the story. But for every McVay, there is a Norv Turner. For every Pederson, there is a Mike McCoy. The guys who were considered the next big things in the training and showed that they are better coordinators than the main coaches.

Turner and McCoy have never had Rodgers, but Rodgers, as we see, do not guarantee the victories. The job could also be too big for a coach who is not ready for the next stage, which will cost the team and Rodgers more years.

This could be a bet that the team does not want to take.

In addition, should the rental be an offensive guy or a defensive guy? If you go on defense then you will be looking for an offensive coordinator with the pedigree of a winner. These guys could stand or head to a coaching position such as it is.

Two coaches that the Packers could possibly watch or land, who meet the criteria that I deem important (Super Bowl experience), come with big question marks.

One is the Patriotes' coordinator, Josh McDaniels. McDaniels has already had a chance as a head coach and has not behaved well. Although many agree that he was just not ready, who will say it now?

Yes, the years have passed and he has had time to mature, but the act of heart change last year can prove that he did not do it. One day, he was to be the next head coach of the Colts, but not the next day.

Who said that he would even want the job? Was his change of heart due to the promise to take over from Belichick? Would Aaron Rodgers be much more attractive than Andrew Luck?

The second would be an old foe Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh is currently the Michigan coach and has been associated with a return to the NFL every year since leaving. Could it be work that could keep it away from college football?

And if he could, would he be the right employee? Harbaugh used his home in San Francisco, and would his style of working with Rodgers be difficult?

A secondary concern would be what to do with the defense. If there is a new rookie, will Mike Pettine or the defense rebuild for the second consecutive season?

There are more factors than those who need to get into a hiring of a head coach. The Packers will eventually have to choose to go with the coach they know or in the unknown.

It's easy to say that things need to change, but few Super Bowl coaches are waiting to be hired. There will always be talent to hire, but with a quarterback and a base of more and more exciting followers for another ring, the choice must be right or we simply lose more years.