Packers clean house, fire five defensive coaches

January 5, 1:59 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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                        Packers head coach Mike McCarthy

One thing that was consistent about the Green Bay Packers this season was the performance of Aaron Rodgers. The kid played well; so well in fact that he was ranked high most weeks in fantasy football lists.

But to get back to real-life football, Rodgers and his offensive mates' stats could not overcome the seeming inability of the Packers defense to hold a lead in the fourth quarter of games. Their special teams performance also took a dive from the previous year.

It all resulted in a 6-10 won/loss record in the wake of the loss of Brett Favre and posting a 13-3 record in 2007.

After ranking sixth in the NFL in 2007 the Green Bay defense sank to second worst in points allowed in the fourth quarter.

Compare that with the Packers ranking 5th in points scored and 8th in total yardage gained this season.

So it's out with the old and in with the new in Green Bay. Mike  McCarthy announced that all but one of his defensive coaches survived the blood bath.His special teams coordinator had done himself a favor and retired last week.

Here's the list of the dear departed.

Coordinator Bob Sanders

Position Coaches: Carl Hairston, Rober Nunn, Kurt Schottenheimer and Lionel Washington.

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Rock Gullickson (great name for a fitness guy)

The one surviving defensive position coach, Winton Moss is currently a candidate to repalace Jim Haslett in St. Louis.

 Now the casting about for replacements begins in earnest. This might give hope to coordinators or position coaches that don't get head coaching jobs but more intriguing is the possibility that head coaches who recently lost their jobs are candidates for Packers' jobs. Mike Nolan is being rumored as a front-runner.