Packers' coaching staff shaping up with latest moves

GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has continued to raid former Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano’s staff, hiring assistant special teams coach Maurice Drayton for a similar position.

A source confirmed that Drayton would replace Jason Simmons as special teams coordinator Ron Zook’s assistant. The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier first reported Drayton had accepted the job.

Simmons is expected to be promoted to a defensive position, most likely with the cornerbacks, according to a source. Joe Whitt Jr., who was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator, won’t coach cornerbacks and Simmons is likely to take his place, according to another source.

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Simmons, who played cornerback in the NFL, assisted with the defensive backs in 2014 before being moved to special teams. McCarthy and Zook have spoken highly of the job Simmons has done on special teams and may have felt he was ready for more responsibility.

The Packers also have hired back inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley, a source confirmed, but at what position isn’t clear. ESPN.com first reported McCurley’s rehiring.

McCurley was fired along with defensive coordinator Dom Capers and defensive line coach Mike Trgovac the day after the season ended. It’s unclear why McCarthy decided to bring him back.

McCarthy hired former New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham, but early indications were he was going to coach linebackers.

A source said associate head coach/linebackers Winston Moss remains on the staff, so McCurley may be filling the defensive quality control position vacated by Tim McGarigle, who left for a job at Northwestern.

McCurley served as a quality control assistant before serving as Moss’ assistant.

Drayton is the third member of the 2017 Colts coaching staff to join the Packers, following Joe Philbin (offensive coordinator) and coach Jim Hostler (wide receivers). A fourth member of that staff, Gary Emanuel, interviewed for the vacant defensive line position and could join the Packers as well.

Drayton began his coaching career at The Citadel, serving on the same staff as Whitt in the early 2000s, and had a coaching internship with the Packers when Mike Sherman was head coach. After a series of jobs following his first stint at The Citadel, he returned to the school and coached there through 2015.

He joined the Colts staff as assistant special teams coach in 2016.

McCarthy still is waiting on safeties coach Darren Perry to decide on his future. Perry may have an opportunity for a coordinator or position job and is being allowed to interview with other teams. Perry has interviewed in Houston, where defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel remains a candidate for the Tennessee Titans job and might not return.

 However, it is believed he interviewed for the open safeties job.