Perhaps the two top candidates for the Green Bay Packers' opening at head coach also have two of the most major concerns about their football past.
Many publications have cited both former Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels among the leaders for the job after the first round of interviews.
But as WTMJ Packers Radio Network analyst and ESPN Milwaukee “Wilde and Tausch” co-host Mark Tauscher explained, each has baggage that must be addressed.
Tauscher told Wisconsin's Morning News that the Packers should discern McDaniels with a level of skepticism after initially taking the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job in 2018 before reneging on the post.
“Anytime you have somebody that committed, had assistant coaches that uprooted, moved to Indy to get that ball rolling and at the last minute, pulled out of there, I think he has to have a really good explanation for how any why that happened,” said Tauscher.
McDaniels also coached the Denver Broncos in 2009-10, going 11-17 in 28 games.
“The idea that just because you worked under a genius in Bill Belichick (who has won five Super Bowls coaching the Patriots), that doesn't mean it's going to translate over. I'm skeptical on that one. Obviously his success with Belichick is great, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be a head coach yet.”
Nor perhaps is Gase for the role in Green Bay, despite past success at the coordinator level with Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos. Gase went 23-25 in three seasons with the Dolphins, making the playoffs in 2016, but stumbling with Ryan Tannehill and Jay Cutler as his quarterbacks.
“You could say 'They didn't have a quarterback.' There are a lot of different reasons for that,” said Tauscher.
“The bottom line is, Miami is not any better off than they were when Adam Gase was down there. I understand he was with the Broncos, Peyton Manning, all of those things. That's great. But when it's his job, did he do anything spectacular? I don't think so.”
Tauscher conveyed that the greatest key to success for a new Packers coach will not just be a successful relationship with two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but getting the best out of him such as his form in 2010, 2011 and 2014 which included two NFL MVP's, a Super Bowl MVP and a win in Super Bowl XLV.
“Whoever this is going to end up being, their whole success and the biggest piece of it is 'How do we get Aaron Rodgers playing at the level when he is at his best?' That's when the team is at its best. There are a lot of underlying things that have to get figured out, but that is job one,” said Tauscher.
“What the plan is, how you're going to challenge him, how that is going to sit has to be part of any equation.”
Tauscher also gave his pick for who may be the most intriguing coach possibility for the Packers. Listen in your podcast player above.