I really don't think Capers record after a couple of years is that anomalous. That's opponent familiarity and film.
Later situations where he has succeeded probably have as much to do with player acquisition than work ethic. Like LeBeau, he has a scheme and wants to use it. And if it requires complex and tiny adjustments, he prefers that to alterations in scheme. So LeBeau and he prefer vets, but only LeBeau gets them.
But I do not mean to sell the adjustment he needs to make short. To change to a multiple player substitution scheme (more differentiated than base/nickel/dime) is a big step and maybe something he is not built to do.