Aaron Rodgers did not play for eight games last season. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Orlando - An unexpected but beneficial consequence of losing QB Aaron Rodgers for eight games last season was that Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy was forced to emphasize his running game.

It was fortunate that his offensive line stayed healthy and his rookie phenom, Eddie Lacy, performed like a future all-pro.

But he thinks regardless of production, the experience would serve his offense well this season with Rodgers back under center. Teams loaded up the line of scrimmage with defenders in order to slow down Lacy and take advantage of the fact backup Matt Flynn couldn't stretch the field because of below-average arm strength.

When doing his off-season evaluation, McCarthy noted how well his team handled those situations when the defense knew he was going to run the ball and he did anyways.

"The experience of losing Aaron last year has helped the development of our running game," McCarthy said during an NFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings. "Running the ball against eight-man fronts is something you have to do in this league. Usually for us, it’s been more situational.

"But to do it on an every-down basis has been a real benefit for us. I think we can expand off that."

McCarthy said that he has gotten what he has wanted out of the movement toward a no-huddle offense where Rodgers gets to change plays at the line of scrimmage based on how the defense lines up. He said it has been a process to get that done and now that it is functioning well, he doesn't foresee a lot of changes.

"I like the mechanics of our offense," he said. I think it’s taken two years, really the year before we got it right. Really, the last year and a half, I think we’ve been operating what’s most effective for our offensive people."

McCarthy said increased responsibilities facing NFL head coaches has led him to consider giving up play-calling duties. He said he always does a yearly evaluation to make sure he's happy with the way the process works and that he's not stretching himself too thin.

But he said now is not the time for him to make a change.

"I think about it," he said. "I go through every responsibility, not only for myself but of the assistant coaches and how we’re tailoring responsibility to the players. I mean, that’s a huge part of my job – to make sure responsibility is clear, detailed, and everybody is on the same page, starting with myself.

"Yeah, I’m going to call ‘em this year, yeah."

McCarthy said calling plays is a part of the job he loves.

"Oh yeah, that’s an exciting challenge every week to go against the coordinator on the other side of the field," he said. "Oh yeah. I enjoy it, but at the end of the day, when you do job description and job responsibility for everybody in your operation, the deciding factor is what I feel is best for the football team.

"If I felt we would be better served to have someone else call the plays, frankly, I’d give that up. But I just don’t think we’re there right now."