Day Before First Practice, 5 Players On Injured List

[Rutnstrut]

If, while trying to assess what is wrong with the Packers D and what can be done to fix it, you limit yourself to two explanations, you will never understand the problem in the first place. It then stands a chance to be repeated after the newness of your new hires wears off. There cannot be just two possible explanations: fire everyone or drink kool-aid because everything is fine.

Capers is perfectly capable of fielding a dominating D. He has done it before. He did it with Thompson for 2 years. It looked good for half a season last year.

But there is clearly a disconnect with the depth on the team and/or its youth and the player acquisition philosophy. He might have a coach or two who are underperforming. The team seems to be capable of either playing good pass D or good run D, but never at the same time.

The best answer to this particular problem, is to do what the Steelers do well, and what every meddling owner gets wrong. Have the GM interfere with the HC and tell him to to hire for DC. The GM will only hire a DC who knows he is getting draft and develop and seems to be able to handle it. However, you will not get the best Head Coaches that way and there is always a chance your coaches will fracture.

There is a reason there is also tension between players, coaches and front office in Pittsburgh, even though they win. And there is a reason Snyder and Jones are poor team owners.

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

[pbmax]

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

If I knew, I would be on staff. The idea about this defense and vets versus young players came to the forefront last year in a couple of articles.

I believe that Capers is more static than his reputation, though he does gamble on blitzing. So dreaming up a new D scheme isn't going to happen.

I think a lot of this goes back to Belichick's comments about switching back to a 4-3 from the hybrid. There is less teaching time, just as many injuries (maybe more with concussion protocol) and the salary cap takes vets away. So they can do less advanced tweaks and are looking to limit the amount of installations. So they run a 4-3 as base rather than a 3-4.

I think the confusion this offseason about less volume more player groups points in a similar direction. Less tweaks, more alignments with specific personnel. Its a giveaway to some degree by watching substitution patterns. So they need to put better players on field in best position to maximize chance to win individual battles.

wist has a point about the 3-3 nickel. It would help from an installation standpoint (less for young D lineman to learn). I just don't think they can run it without pulling Matthews out of the pass rush.

[bobblehead]

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

First stay healthy. Remember that Clay and Hayward weren't on the field against SF. Neither was Perry or Neal shortly after gametime (was shields out as well by halftime). That is a lot of 1st and 2nd round talent on the sidelines. Jolly was also a key cog who wasn't available at that point. I hate using injury as an excuse, but ffs, at some point you can't just say "next man up". Our safeties were the weak point of the team, but those worthless fuckers managed to stay healthy.

[Pugger]

First stay healthy. Remember that Clay and Hayward weren't on the field against SF. Neither was Perry or Neal shortly after gametime (was shields out as well by halftime). That is a lot of 1st and 2nd round talent on the sidelines. Jolly was also a key cog who wasn't available at that point. I hate using injury as an excuse, but ffs, at some point you can't just say "next man up". Our safeties were the weak point of the team, but those worthless fuckers managed to stay healthy.

Yes, I don't know why some folks talk down the fact of who we had out there against SF. After a while you run out of hale bodies. It was just sad to watch Mulumba limp after Kaepernick on that last drive. From what I'm hearing from TC the safeties we have now will be a major upgrade over that clown Jennings.

[bobblehead]

As a point of reference, and a mental exercise, we should list the D that was on the field when we needed that final stop to beat SF. Anyone care to start.

[Guiness]

As a point of reference, and a mental exercise, we should list the D that was on the field when we needed that final stop to beat SF. Anyone care to start.

From the video of CK's 11 yard run,
Bush, Hyde, Richardson, T.Will, Burnett and House
Hawk, Mulumba and Perry
Daniels and D. Jones

All are clear except House, but I'm pretty sure about him.


From the play by play, the following players also made tackles on SF's final drive
B. Jones
Raji
M. Jennings (sweet god...if anyone says anything bad about Bush ever again, I'll just answer with "Jennings")

[run pMc]

From the video of CK's 11 yard run,
Bush, Hyde, Richardson, T.Will, Burnett and House
Hawk, Mulumba and Perry
Daniels and D. Jones

All are clear except House, but I'm pretty sure about him.


From the play by play, the following players also made tackles on SF's final drive
B. Jones
Raji
M. Jennings (sweet god...if anyone says anything bad about Bush ever again, I'll just answer with "Jennings")

LOL re: Doc Jennings vs. J.Bush.

Looking over those names, you would not call that a championship defense -- or even a strong playoff contender defense.
3 rookies (D.Jones, Mulumba, Hyde), one player a few games removed from the PUP (Richardson), Mulumba and Perry with bad wheels, etc.

no...just...no.

[pbmax]

Mathews, Neal and Shields were out.

[denverYooper]

Mulumba, Bush, TWill, Burnett,

[pbmax]

House was definitely the sub for Shields when he was declared out.

[bobblehead]

So basically our 2 best defensive players by my estimation (shields and Mathews) were out the entire and most of the game.

[pbmax]

So basically our 2 best defensive players by my estimation (shields and Mathews) were out the entire and most of the game.

Shields was out before the game. Neal tweaked his Knee very early.

[pbmax]

Shields was out before the game. Neal tweaked his Knee very early.

Wrong: Shields hurt 2nd play of Defense.

[pbmax]

GameBook:

Defense
LDE 90 B.Raji NT 79 R.Pickett RDE 76 M.Daniels
LOLB 96 M.Neal BLB 50 A.Hawk MLB 59 B.Jones ROLB 55 A.Mulumba
LCB 38 T.Williams RCB 37 S.Shields
SS 42 M.Burnett FS 43 M.Jennings

Mulumba got the start over Perry because of the foot injury. Perry went in when Neal got hurt.

Shields was reported injured in the Game Blog at 3:46 PM. Neal is reported hurt at 3:53 PM.

[hoosier]

All of which should not cause us to forget that the defense played pretty well in that game. It was the offense that really fell short.

[pbmax]

All of which should not cause us to forget that the defense played pretty well in that game. It was the offense that really fell short.

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

[Joemailman]

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

Specifically how they need to improve in the red zone. With just over 6 minutes left, down 20-17, Packers had a 1st and goal at the SF 9. They had to settle for a 24 yard field goal to tie the game. Packers scored TD's 50.72 pct of the time in the red zone. That was 26th in the NFL. While those numbers are likely affected by Rodgers' absence, red zone efficiency wasn't great before he got hurt.

[run pMc]

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

I'm hoping the OL improves...you'd think it almost has to, with Bulaga & Sherrod back and Newhouse gone. There were times when Lacy made that line look good by squeezing 3 yards out of a play that would've been no gain with Alex Green. A full offseason for Tolzien and signing Flynnsanity should improve the QB depth behind Rodgers, and I think they move on without Finley and get by at TE. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy and upright makes them the team to beat in the NFCN.

[pbmax]

I'm hoping the OL improves...you'd think it almost has to, with Bulaga & Sherrod back and Newhouse gone. There were times when Lacy made that line look good by squeezing 3 yards out of a play that would've been no gain with Alex Green. A full offseason for Tolzien and signing Flynnsanity should improve the QB depth behind Rodgers, and I think they move on without Finley and get by at TE. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy and upright makes them the team to beat in the NFCN.

Pass blocking must be better. When I was re-reading Game Stories for the playoff loss to the 49ers (to find when Neal and Shields were injured), each article mentioned how Rodgers got the team on the board after escaping a sure sack and finding Cobb on 4th and 2 to setup their first touchdown. Its indicative of how much of the year went against strong D lines.

[Joemailman]

Turns out Jerel Worthy had back surgery in the spring. He thinks he'll be back soon. He needs to be. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/269257471.html