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posted 05/16/2007
The Packers' 2007 rookies will practice for the first time with the veteran players at this weekend's mandatory minicamp.
Meanwhile, another kind of "rookie" will be adjusting to a new job, too.
Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will be conducting his first practices as a coordinator in the NFL, and while the 24-year coaching veteran has worked long and hard to get to this level in his career, he'll be starting over in some respects.
As the Packers conduct four practices and several meetings in their first official preparations for the 2007 season, Philbin sees one of his primary tasks as a fairly simple but nonetheless vital one - getting to know all of the offensive players.
Well-respected by the offensive linemen and tight ends he's worked with as a position coach the past four seasons, Philbin will put a premium on establishing similar relationships with everyone on offense, beginning this weekend.
"There are some guys on the team I don't know as well perhaps as others that I dealt with directly last year," Philbin said. "I need to do a good job getting myself around and foster a positive relationship with the other guys on the offensive side of the ball. There's no question about that.
"I have good familiarity with a lot of guys, but certainly not all of them, so that's an area of emphasis for me."
Philbin's focus on relationships stems from his view of the coaching profession, which is that coaches are teachers and motivators. To successfully show players what to do, how to do it, and motivate them to do it consistently requires trust in the leader, and Philbin is taking on his biggest leadership role yet in the NFL.
He sees no reason to change the type of coach he is, so the relatively quiet educator with an understated enthusiasm in practice isn't going to transform into an incessantly vocal drill sergeant letting everyone know who's in charge on offense. More likely, as he's done in the past with the offensive line, he'll continue working with players individually or in small groups to instruct and correct, all in conjunction with fostering relationships across the offensive roster.
"That relationship - how they feel about the direction of our offense - that's important," Philbin said. "I'm going to have to be myself, and hopefully guys will respond to that, and I'm sure they will."
Philbin's goals for the weekend are as basic as his approach. He wants to see the offense establish the right rhythm and fundamental soundness to practice that will carry over into the organized team activities (OTAs) in June and training camp beginning in late July.
He plans to continue working at times specifically with the offensive line and coaches James Campen and Jerry Fontenot simply because of the sheer number of players currently at that position. Also, the trio saw first-hand last year how well the young offensive linemen responded to the extra attention that can be given with three coaches in front of the group.
But Philbin has the utmost trust in Campen and Fontenot to continue the strides made with the line last year, and much of the time he'll need to take a wider view of things.
"The biggest thing when you're the coordinator is the overall picture of the offense," he said. "On the field specifically, it's the tempo and the attitude they practice with more than anything else.
"We have a great staff. Those guys are excellent coaches and they certainly don't need me sticking my big nose in their business. (QB coach) Tom Clements is going to handle the reads of the quarterback and the decision-making of the quarterback. (WR coach) Jimmy Robinson is going to talk to guys about converting versus Cover-2.
"But one thing I want to make sure is that we're finishing things the right way, we're precise in what we're doing, we're fundamentally sound. I think the tempo and the pace the offense practices with starts with me."
Fundamentals will be especially important for the rookies, who got their first taste of NFL practices two weeks ago but at an admittedly slower pace. Philbin said one thing to watch with the rookies this weekend in the meetings and on the field is whether they're simply memorizing plays or starting to grasp the overall offensive concepts.
Philbin knows that will not happen overnight, nor is he naïve enough to believe he'll immediately connect with every offensive player as he settles into his new role. But for a coach who worked at eight different colleges before cracking the NFL ranks in 2003, patience is nothing new.
"You have to build a level of trust with individuals, and that takes time," Philbin said. "I don't expect on Friday at 10:30 a.m. after our first meeting for those guys to say, 'Boy that guy is one of the best coordinators ...'
"Things take time to build. Good things take time. If we get the right character men and guys that have their interest in the organization and the team in the right spot, I think we'll be fine."