Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur isn’t afraid to hire an assistant he has never worked with before. When putting together his offensive staff in his first season as the Packers head coach, he hired two coaches he had never worked with. Both, for vital positions on his offensive staff. Nathaniel Hackett and Luke Getsy were hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Getsy would go on to add pass game coordinator to his job title. Even with not working with LaFleur, both would become key components for the Packers offensive success. So much so, that both earned promotions this off-season. Hackett was hired as the Denver Broncos head
coach. While Getsy, was hired as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator. LaFleur is hoping to find hiring success again by hiring Tom Clements as the new quarterbacks coach.
Tom Clements a Familiar Name to Green Bay Packers Fans
While Tom Clements has never worked with LaFleur, he isn’t a stranger to Title Town. Clements served as a Green Bay Packers assistant from 2006 to 2016 under former head coach Mike McCarthy. During that span, he held three different job titles, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, and assistant coach/offense.
Out of those three positions he held, quarterbacks coach is what Clements is most known for. The biggest reason for this is that he was Aaron Rodgers first quarterbacks coach in the NFL. McCarthy has been given a lot of credit for helping develop Rodgers. However, Clements was a very big driving force in helping Rodgers become the quarterback he currently is. While working with Tom Clements, Rodgers won the first two of his four league MVP awards. Working again with Clements gives him another shot as the NFL MVP. That relationship would be a good one to bet on.
Bringing Clements back to Green Bay is an intriguing move. Many will point strictly to his relationship with Rodgers. However, it is much more than just Tom Clements relationship with Aaron Rodgers.
The Hiring of Tom Clements a Win-Win Situation for the Packers
Recently, Samuel Davel at WIsportsheroics.com wrote a piece discussing if the hiring of Tom Clements was a panic move by LaFleur. In Davel’s well-written piece at WIsportsheroics.com, he discusses if the Packers panicked by hiring Clements. The thought behind this theory is that they hired him just to please Rodgers.
If you look at Clements coaching career, specifically his ability to coach the quarterback position, it is more than just Rodgers. Yes, he and Rodgers had a very tight bond when they worked together. But Clements also helped mold Rodgers into one of the most gifted quarterbacks to play in the NFL. Many forget that when Rodgers was drafted, he came from the Jeff Tedford school of quarterback. Tedford, who was Rodgers coach at the University of California, had a very distinct way of coaching his quarterbacks. His quarterbacks, which includes Rodgers, held the ball high and all had similar deliveries. When Rodgers came to Green Bay, Clements had to break down Rodgers mechanics and re-teach him a delivery that would be best at the NFL level. The process wasn't an easy one, but it was one that paid off big for Rodgers and the Packers.
But Tom Clements hiring isn’t just about Aaron Rodgers. Clements has had success working with other quarterbacks as well. Not only did he work with Rodgers, but he also worked with Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. In 2007, Clements second season with the Packers, Favre passed for over 4,100 yards with 28 touchdown passes. The season before Clements arrived, Favre threw 29 interceptions. The following season, under Clements guidance, Favre threw just 18.
Clements has also worked, and had success with, a “new age” quarterback as well. From 2019 to 2020, Clements served as the Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator. In his first season with the Cardinals, he worked with rookie quarterback, former number one overall pick, and Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. Not only was Murray a rookie, but so was Clements boss, head coach Kliff Kingsbury. In those two seasons working with Murray, Murray combined to throw for 7,693 yards with 46 touchdowns.
His work with the young Murray is another reason that bringing Tom Clements on board is a good decision by LaFleur.
Looking for Some Needed Love
General manager Brian Gutekunst in 2020 traded up in the first round of the NFL Draft and selected quarterback, Jordan Love. The decision will be discussed for years. However, no matter the case, the Packers have Love on their roster and it is up to LaFleur and his staff to develop him.
Nothing against Luke Getsy, the Packers former quarterbacks coach, from all indications he was good at his job. But when it comes to Love, a very raw quarterback prospect, it seems that his best chance in developing is with Clements. Clements has the track record (with Favre, Rodgers, and finally Murray). Who better to help Love become the quarterback that Gutekunst was envisioning when he traded up to get him.
Love played sparingly last season and to be honest, the results were pretty underwhelming. That doesn’t mean that he can’t play or that he won’t develop. But it does mean that he needs guidance.
LaFleur has a background in coaching quarterbacks, but as the head coach, he has more things to worry about. For example, the special teams unit. So having someone with Clements experience should help the young quarterback.
Clements is a Rodgers “guy” but he is also a very good coach. Having him back in the fold will only help the Packers. If things go to plan, finding the best promo code for melbet and other online betting sites will only ramp up as next season becomes this one.
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