Silverstein: Packers reach agreement with Dom Capers as DC

[bobblehead]

OK, I read that whole damn article and took one thing away. The dude is an NFL head coach in Carolina making probably a cool million plus even then and his wife is working as....a flight attendent?? What was taking down about 25K a year? WTF!!!

[vince]

Packers, Capers reach agreement on deal

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37807024.html

Interesting passage in the middle of the article about how the Eagles would not have allowed McDermott to get away. He is supposedly being groomed to take over in Philly when Johnson retires, which could be sooner than later with his chronic back problems. Previous reports indicated that the Eagles would not have stood in his way.

Previous reports also had a Nolan deal done, Williams holding out for the Titans, and Capers bypassing the Packers for New York or Dallas, so I guess there shouldn't be much surprise here.

[Fritz]

Packers, Capers reach agreement on deal

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37807024.html

Interesting passage in the middle of the article about how the Eagles would not have allowed McDermott to get away. He is supposedly being groomed to take over in Philly when Johnson retires, which could be sooner than later with his chronic back problems. Previous reports indicated that the Eagles would not have stood in his way.

Previous reports also had a Nolan deal done, Williams holding out for the Titans, and Capers bypassing the Packers for New York or Dallas, so I guess there shouldn't be much surprise here.

My thoughts exactly, Vince. Sounds like no way no how was Reid going to let McDermott go. I wonder when MM knew this, though. You'd think that word would've been out for a little while, any way. In that case, it makes one wonder why MM waited so long to interview Capers - it seemed like MM was waiting for an assistant or two to free up from the playoffs. Maybe, though, that assistant was with the Steelers or Cards, and MM couldn't wait any longer. Who knows.

Having said that, for all the folks who made that point about why, if Capers was so strong a candidate, MM waited so long to talk to him, well, the same could be said about all the other teams who have been searching for DC's (Cowboys, for just one example) or who have recently hired head coaches who would need to put a staff together. It's just been a long strange trip, as Jerry Garcia would say.

In sum, I am fine with the hire, though I still have some trepidation if we hear Capers is going to a 3-4. My hope is that he'll run more of a 4-3 with some wrinkles. Something un-Bates-like.

[vince]

I would have been fine with Nolan, Williams, Haslett, Capers, McDermott or a number of other candidates...

I don't purport to know more than McCarthy and the Packer organization about any of these candidates or what their professional assessment is of the existing players are and which defensive approach will be most successful and how quickly.

Capers may have been their second or third choice in the end. Who knows for sure but McCarthy & Co. There has been, and still is, a lot of demand out there for defensive coordinators. First, second, or hundredth choice, he's a solid coach and defensive mind - and is a good philosophical fit for the Packer program.

His record stands on its own, he brings a ton of credibility on the defensive front, and he appears to have little ego to conflict with McCarthy's - unlike the other two guys perhaps.

Now we get to hear what he has to say and see how he does.

I think he comes into a very good situation with a team that has a lot of flexibility, and that suffered a number of tough injuries through the season and underperformed coming off a top 10 defensive performance in '07. Add a couple new guys into the mix at key spots this offseason for impact and depth and I think high expectations are justified for the unit next year.

[RashanGary]

I was higher on Capers than Nolan and Williams, so I'm happy. I'm intrigued by a possible move to the 3-4.

I didn't think about Capers at first, but after his name got thrown in, I was also more impressed by his resume than the other two. Another good thing is that McCarthy got to interview several candidates. He knew what type of options were out there and got to choose one that has a similar vision for how practice and game structure will work.

Based on McCarthy's patient, detailed search for a good fit and Capers experience and success, I think this is going to be a great hire.

[Bretsky]

Good hire; we have somebody qualified running our D. Can't say that for the past three years.

When Willliams shot us down Capers and Haslett were the next two

We chose the one we wanted; good hire.

[privatepacker]

I sat in front of coach Capers once at a UT football game. He was very approachable and really a nice guy. Came from a small town and went to Kent State. I think he was good coach before he was an assist. w/ New England. Can you imagine how good he is now after being w/ BB and seeing how he runs things? We may have hit the jackpot.

[Patler]

Capers seems to have some flexibility and some creativity in his defensive philosophy. Sanders had little.

The defense seems to have some players with evident talent displayed overtime and often in Kampman, Woodson and Harris. It has others who seem to have talent, but they have not displayed it consistently, or they have not gotten to the levels we think they might, including guys like Jenkins, Barnett, Williams and Collins. It has other guys we thing or thought had talent, but we really have not seen it with any certainty; Hawk, Bigby, Jolly, Blackmon. There are other solid, role playing players like Chiller, Poppinga, Cole. There are "projects," but ones who seemed worth the investment at least at one time, Harrell, Lee, Montgomery, Thompson, Hunter. It is not a "bare cupboard" by any means.

Maybe now with some flexibility, creativity and experience in a DC we will see:
- if Hawk is the player many thought he was coming out of college or a disappointment,
- if Collins and Barnett can take the next step of being players that influence a game from start to finish,
- if Kampman's ability and determination can be maximized in a scheme,
- if Jenkins will ever be more than a flash here and a flash there;
- if some of the projects can become legitimate NFL players;
- if collectively this seemingly talented group can take over game situations
- if TT actually has brought in players for a good defense, or if he has failed on that side of the ball.

In very limited opportunities, Chiller displayed more of a feel for blitzing than anyone else. It will be essential for at least a couple other LBs or safeties to also develop that feel because Capers will use it. Guys like Hawk, Barnett, Collins, Bigby.

Hopefully we will see that there is more talent on defense than has been displayed recently; or if TT has failed in that area. I believe if it is there, Capers will find a way to use it.

[pbmax]

More proof that most good football coaches are connected to Ohio in some way. Its a little odd how many college and pro coaches are either from there, or have spent time there.

[Packnut]

Capers

ANYTHING is better than what we had. Gee, may-be we might acually see one freakin well timed blitz next season. That would be something new and exciting. May-be our LB's might play just a tad closer to the the line and be able to make a play for negative yardage. Just may-be, we might even have the miracle of miracles and confuse an oppossing QB.

[sheepshead]

I cant punch a hole in this hire at all. There are any number of former head coaches as coordinators in the NFL. Hopefully, this "marriage " hoists a few Lombardis soon!

[PackerPro42]

One benefit that will come out of this, is that it will enable us to truly pick the BPA in this year's draft. Now we're not limited to the prototypical 4-3 defensive prospects, which enables us to look at a lot of new prospects. The two that stick out to me are Everette Brown and Rey Maualuga.

[LL2]

I'm glad MM got Capers. As intriguing as McDermott may sound I think the Packers needed to go with an experienced coach at this stage in MM coaching of the Packers. Also, it will be good for the veterans and the guys that are becoming veterans like Collins that they have a D coach that knows what he is talking about. Now if Capers can convince TT to go after a stud like Peppers that would be awesome!

[pbmax]

I'm glad MM got Capers. As intriguing as McDermott may sound I think the Packers needed to go with an experienced coach at this stage in MM coaching of the Packers. Also, it will be good for the veterans and the guys that are becoming veterans like Collins that they have a D coach that knows what he is talking about. Now if Capers can convince TT to go after a stud like Peppers that would be awesome!

I agree with the thought about the experienced coordinator. The only thing that worried me about the position coaches (who were all from terrific backgrounds) was the possible on the job training. There is enough about this franchise in flux that a steady hand on defense, even with a new scheme, will be welcome. Not so sure about Peppers, he is older and has been hurt. He seemed to be in a contract drive this year.

[pbmax]

I cannot believe there isn't more traffic here after this hire. Is everyone doing research? Celebrating MLK day? Or traveling to the inauguration?

How is this for uninformed speculation: Caper chooses Packers over Giants interview because he gets to run a 3-4 or 3-4 hybrid unlike his situation in Jacksonville, where he was asked to run 4-3 by Coughlin?