By Will Case
Its not the Packers' way of doing things. They don't typically find talent from inside the division for either players or staff. Ted Thompson rarely uses free agency or trades to build depth. Even rarer do they find that talent from inside the NFC North. That's the way the Lions, Bears, and Vikings recruit talent. But one possibility could make the Packers rethink their ways of doing things.
As some teams settle in with their new coaches, others will continue the search and the rumor mill continue to produce. One of the latest rumors has been, "what if the Packers hired Lovie Smith as Defensive Coordinator".
After "black Monday" dislodged Lovie Smith from his head coaching job with the Chicago Bears, many fans were left wondering what would be next for the defensive-minded coach.
To a lot of fans, the firing came as a surprise, after Smith found a good measure of success in Chicago. He led the Bears to a super bowl appearance in 2006 and an NFC title game appearance in 2010. Before Chicago, he was tremendously successful as the St. Louis Rams Defensive Coordinator before landing the Bears job in 2004. Smith's teams have always done well defensively, but the offenses could never seem to get to the next level. Two back-to-back late-season meltdowns in 2011 and 2012 nailed his coffin shut. For the bears, his performance was simply unacceptable.
Most Packer fans first reaction would be one of despise for the ex-rival coach. But on second thought, it could make a lot of sense.
There is uncertainty around what Mike McCarthy plans to do with the defense next year and especially with Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers. After a league worst against the pass and getting embarrassed against the New York Giants in the Divisional round, the defense was supposed to get fixed. This year's divisional round proved more of the same: the defense proved to be the packers downfall. Why not see what happens if Lovie Smith could focus on just a defensive unit?
What's in it for Smith? We see it too often. A successful Defensive Coordinator that lands a head coaching job and then falls flat on their face(Dom Capers & Houston Texans). Smith said he is prepared to sit out this season, but one has to think, what if?
If revenge against the windy city is on his mind at all…it could be the perfect fit.
