Green Bay Packers: 5 Defensive coordinators to replace Mike Pettine

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator candidate No. 2: Jerry Gray/Mike Smith

There are two candidates that are currently on the Packers staff that would make sense for promotions to defensive coordinator. Whether or not that’s the direction that the franchise should go is up for debate but, if Green Bay wants to simply have someone who has coached the more effective units on the Packers, then it would make sense for either Jerry Gray or Mike Smith be the guys.

In the case of Gray, he actually just completed his first year with the Packers as the defensive backs coach. And while the secondary has been criticized outside of Jaire Alexander and the safety play, it should be noted that Green Bay played well on the back end despite some shortcomings with talent, which is a testament to Gray. He also has NFL defensive coordinator experience (eight years). That makes him an attractive in-house option.

Smith is a bit of a different story. The 39-year-old outside linebackers coach was at the helm of one of the most dominant units on the Green Bay roster. Not only did he effectively deploy players like Za’Darius Smith but also helped to work with Rashan Gary, a player who showed great development in year two. With his track record there and the apparent mentality and demeanor to lead, Smith could be a guy who gets his first shot as a coordinator.