Green Bay - It became clear Thursday why highly regarded defensive coordinators Jerry Montgomery of Oklahoma and Dave Aranda of Wisconsin agreed to interview for an assistant coaching job with the Green Bay Packers.
The winner would become Dom Capers' right-hand man.
"I was a co-coordinator, and now I'll have the opportunity to work with one of the best coordinators in the history of the game and to learn and develop," said Montgomery, who was hired Tuesday. "I can figure out how I want to run my defense when I get the opportunity to be a D-coordinator."
Montgomery, 35, is to work side-by-side with Capers in a newly created position labeled defensive front assistant.
"We had a number of candidates come through," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Obviously, we waited until after the college recruiting season was over.[/B]
"Jerry brings a lot of energy. He did a great job in the interview process. Jerry will be a great fit for us, especially coming from such a great program as Oklahoma."[/B]
Last year, Jason Simmons worked directly under Capers handling self-scouting and other duties on defense as defensive-special teams assistant. However, Simmons said his time during the week was split 50-50 between defense and special teams, and on game days he worked strictly as the No. 3 coach for special teams.
Now, with McCarthy ready to function as the third coach for special teams behind Ron Zook and Simmons, Capers will have Montgomery as a full-time aide.
It's unclear where the Packers' interest in Montgomery stemmed. The Los Angeles native said he didn't know anyone on Green Bay's 22-man staff.
On Feb. 5, McCarthy called to inform Sooners coach Bob Stoops of his interest in Montgomery. Stoops notified Montgomery, McCarthy spoke to Montgomery and, after being interviewed Monday in Green Bay, Montgomery began work Wednesday.
"I had talks with some other (NFL) organizations but I wasn't officially offered jobs," said Montgomery. "For whatever reason it wasn't the right opportunity or fit."[/B]
A four-year starter at defensive tackle for Iowa from 1998-'01, Montgomery coached D-lines in two-year increments at Northern Iowa, Wyoming, Michigan and Oklahoma.
One of his main mentors was Ron Aiken, who was his position coach at Iowa for three seasons before going on to coach the D-line for the Arizona Cardinals from 2007-'12.
"From Kirk Ferentz to Norm Parker to Ron Aiken, I was lucky to be around what I would call a professionally run organization," said Montgomery. "You look at my track record … where we've ranked in run defense … I've got a lot of guys that I've developed that weren't high prospects that are playing in the NFL today."
Typically, Montgomery's first stop in the NFL would have been as a D-line coach.
"You never know what's going to happen," he said. "But the best thing about it, I'm going to be trained by one of the best. When I'm done with my time here, I'll be able to step in that role and feel really good about doing that.
"Obviously, I'm nowhere close to where I want to be, but this is a great opportunity. Like (Stoops said), 'How can you pass up one of the greatest organizations in the NFL?'"
Capers, 64, is of robust health and, late in the season, said he could envision himself coaching until at least 70.
Montgomery spent the last four seasons helping coach 3-4 defenses at Michigan and Oklahoma.
"I'm going to learn what we do here and adapt and help where I can," said Montgomery. "We won't be worried about what I believe in. I'll be buying into what we do here in Green Bay.
"One of my main goals was to be the best defensive line coach I could be at the highest level and start to develop as a coordinator. I moved up pretty quickly in the college ranks. This opportunity just kind of happened out of the blue.
"I'll deal directly with Dom, and also assist with the front, whether outside backers or the D-line. (The duties) were very important to me before I just jumped and accepted a job."
After Oklahoma was blown out by Clemson, 40-6, in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Stoops made Montgomery co-coordinator with brother Mike Stoops while keeping him as D-line coach.
Montgomery's reputation as a leading recruiter was enhanced when the Sooners signed defensive end Ricky DeBerry of Mechanicsville, Va.
"I spent three years recruiting (DeBerry)," said Montgomery. "To have to call him two days ago and tell him that I'd be taking off … it's hard," he said. "I'm very close with my players.
"
A lot of the kids understood. They said if I was in your shoes we'd be doing the same thing. Because their goal is to be at this level also."
In the last eight years, the schools for which Montgomery coached had just one losing season and a winning mark of .686 (72-33).
This post was edited on 2/14 11:34 AM by JMISASANO
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/291750711.html
The winner would become Dom Capers' right-hand man.
"I was a co-coordinator, and now I'll have the opportunity to work with one of the best coordinators in the history of the game and to learn and develop," said Montgomery, who was hired Tuesday. "I can figure out how I want to run my defense when I get the opportunity to be a D-coordinator."
Montgomery, 35, is to work side-by-side with Capers in a newly created position labeled defensive front assistant.
"We had a number of candidates come through," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Obviously, we waited until after the college recruiting season was over.[/B]
"Jerry brings a lot of energy. He did a great job in the interview process. Jerry will be a great fit for us, especially coming from such a great program as Oklahoma."[/B]
Last year, Jason Simmons worked directly under Capers handling self-scouting and other duties on defense as defensive-special teams assistant. However, Simmons said his time during the week was split 50-50 between defense and special teams, and on game days he worked strictly as the No. 3 coach for special teams.
Now, with McCarthy ready to function as the third coach for special teams behind Ron Zook and Simmons, Capers will have Montgomery as a full-time aide.
It's unclear where the Packers' interest in Montgomery stemmed. The Los Angeles native said he didn't know anyone on Green Bay's 22-man staff.
On Feb. 5, McCarthy called to inform Sooners coach Bob Stoops of his interest in Montgomery. Stoops notified Montgomery, McCarthy spoke to Montgomery and, after being interviewed Monday in Green Bay, Montgomery began work Wednesday.
"I had talks with some other (NFL) organizations but I wasn't officially offered jobs," said Montgomery. "For whatever reason it wasn't the right opportunity or fit."[/B]
A four-year starter at defensive tackle for Iowa from 1998-'01, Montgomery coached D-lines in two-year increments at Northern Iowa, Wyoming, Michigan and Oklahoma.
One of his main mentors was Ron Aiken, who was his position coach at Iowa for three seasons before going on to coach the D-line for the Arizona Cardinals from 2007-'12.
"From Kirk Ferentz to Norm Parker to Ron Aiken, I was lucky to be around what I would call a professionally run organization," said Montgomery. "You look at my track record … where we've ranked in run defense … I've got a lot of guys that I've developed that weren't high prospects that are playing in the NFL today."
Typically, Montgomery's first stop in the NFL would have been as a D-line coach.
"You never know what's going to happen," he said. "But the best thing about it, I'm going to be trained by one of the best. When I'm done with my time here, I'll be able to step in that role and feel really good about doing that.
"Obviously, I'm nowhere close to where I want to be, but this is a great opportunity. Like (Stoops said), 'How can you pass up one of the greatest organizations in the NFL?'"
Capers, 64, is of robust health and, late in the season, said he could envision himself coaching until at least 70.
Montgomery spent the last four seasons helping coach 3-4 defenses at Michigan and Oklahoma.
"I'm going to learn what we do here and adapt and help where I can," said Montgomery. "We won't be worried about what I believe in. I'll be buying into what we do here in Green Bay.
"One of my main goals was to be the best defensive line coach I could be at the highest level and start to develop as a coordinator. I moved up pretty quickly in the college ranks. This opportunity just kind of happened out of the blue.
"I'll deal directly with Dom, and also assist with the front, whether outside backers or the D-line. (The duties) were very important to me before I just jumped and accepted a job."
After Oklahoma was blown out by Clemson, 40-6, in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Stoops made Montgomery co-coordinator with brother Mike Stoops while keeping him as D-line coach.
Montgomery's reputation as a leading recruiter was enhanced when the Sooners signed defensive end Ricky DeBerry of Mechanicsville, Va.
"I spent three years recruiting (DeBerry)," said Montgomery. "To have to call him two days ago and tell him that I'd be taking off … it's hard," he said. "I'm very close with my players.
"
A lot of the kids understood. They said if I was in your shoes we'd be doing the same thing. Because their goal is to be at this level also."
In the last eight years, the schools for which Montgomery coached had just one losing season and a winning mark of .686 (72-33).
This post was edited on 2/14 11:34 AM by JMISASANO
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/291750711.html
