Here was Jimmy Johnson on Fox: “Mike McCarthy, second-year head coach, my coach of the year. The guy is 9-3 on the road since he has been in Green Bay. He rebuilt the defense. Because Brett Favre is playing under control, even though he had some interceptions today. He is doing an outstanding job. Without a running game, they are now maybe the best team in the NFC.”
And here, from the postgame chat at PackerInsider, was Greg Bedard, on why McCarthy has been successful: “One, he has a great feel for what the players need, as far as rest and whether they need tough love, or a pat on the back. The players really respond for him for that reason. The other is he devises gameplans to win that one game. I can’t tell you how many coaches are just flat-out stubborn, even to the detriment of their team. Give McCarthy credit for doing what’s necessary, even if it doesn’t pad his ego.”
