Capers

[Smeefers]

I don't feel like Cullen Jenkins made that that much difference in the pass rush. Hell, the guy didn't even play that much during the playoff run, did he? So why else might the defense have been so much better last year? Were teams not doubling Clay as much? Collins's injury?

What the hell happened?

Oh, that's easy. Wynn, Raji, Hawk, Zombo, Walden and Jones all took a step back. Tramon has taken a step back - being one of the most targeted* CB's in the game probably doesn't help, especially when he doesn't have safety help very much, which is probably why he's one of the most targeted cb's. It's also a big difference when you loose Nick Collins and replace him with peprah instead of loosing Morgan Burnett and replacing him with peprah. Burnett had a broken hand for half the season. I think Sam Shields is playing just as good as he did last year, no real improvement, which is disappointing. Woodson is getting old, still good, but old. Clay leads the league in pressures but he can't get to the qb with any sacks.

Basically, our stars stayed good, our young guys didn't improve and our vets regressed a little. I still blame it all on the lock out.

*http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog...-2011-numbers/

[jdrats]

Rumors out today that McKenzie may be interested in Capers as HC for the Raiders.

I don't know what our problem has been on defense this year, but I'd rather have Capers back again next year than anyone else. I'd love to see many years of a McCarthy/Capers combo and hopefully a long run of Packers dominance.

[Tarlam!]

I still blame it all on the lock out.

Agree with everything you wrote - all makes sense. We shouldn't, however, use the lockout as an excuse. Unless we count and compare all other teams' rookings and sophomore players, we don't have a benchmark. As it is, the Packers and Steelers players had the shortest off season, so if anything, they had a slight advantage.

[sharpe1027]

Agree with everything you wrote - all makes sense. We shouldn't, however, use the lockout as an excuse. Unless we count and compare all other teams' rookings and sophomore players, we don't have a benchmark. As it is, the Packers and Steelers players had the shortest off season, so if anything, they had a slight advantage.

Or a disadvantage. Aren't the off season programs part of the reason that first and second year players make big improvements? Less time would not help in that respect.

[mraynrand]

What the hell happened?

One thing is that the aggressiveness of the secondary has diminished. I don't know how the hell Tramon Williams played through his shoulder separation. I've had that injury - I couldn't raise my arm over my head for two months. Even with a harness, how do you tackle with that? Some guys miss a season with that injury. Burnett played with a cast. Collins was lost. You put that together and Capers basically has his hands tied. He can't play that agressive man coverage at corners, with a single high safety and not get burned, especially without a pass rush, so he has to play a lot of off coverage. Look at the tapes. How many games, how many times have you seen the CBs 10-15 yards off the LOS? You're just going to give up a lot of yards that way.

[ND72]

+1 No team has more passing attempts against them than the Packers. They're 27th in the league in sacks, but last in sacks per pass attempt. To the extent there's a problem, that's it.
Give any QB (see Tebow vs. Steelers) time to throw the ball without pressure and they'll get the ball downfield and be successful, regardless of how good the guys covering are. Of course the Packers would be better with Nick Collins back there, but without more pressure I'm not sure they'd have been much better.

Despite the lack of pressure, the Packers have a top 10 defense (#9) in defensive passer rating, which is what matters most to determining a defense's contribution to winning games. They make plays and almost always win the turnover battle. If they could get to the QB with their front 7 (while covering hot TE/RB routes), they'd be dominant.

Maybe Jones and So'oto can improve that in the playoffs.

GREAT stat. Someone on NFL network mentioned this as well, nobody really had much of a comeback to that...yet many of the NFL network guys are going with Giants.

[ND72]

Rumors out today that McKenzie may be interested in Capers as HC for the Raiders.

I don't know what our problem has been on defense this year, but I'd rather have Capers back again next year than anyone else. I'd love to see many years of a McCarthy/Capers combo and hopefully a long run of Packers dominance.

I've heard Winston Moss with Perry or Greene going as DC with him, and Edgar going as OC. (Madison espn)

[denverYooper]

GREAT stat. Someone on NFL network mentioned this as well, nobody really had much of a comeback to that...yet many of the NFL network guys are going with Giants.

Jason Cole on our local yak was talking about that. He said that teams have to throw to keep up but they're not as successful as most media heads would make it seem.

[Smeefers]

Agree with everything you wrote - all makes sense. We shouldn't, however, use the lockout as an excuse. Unless we count and compare all other teams' rookings and sophomore players, we don't have a benchmark. As it is, the Packers and Steelers players had the shortest off season, so if anything, they had a slight advantage.

I guess I just don't agree with you. I don't think Brett got better when he skipped the training camps. I don't think veterans improve or stay the same when they're not participating in pre season team activities. I understand other teams had the same disadvantage, but I don't think that means it didn't hurt us too. I also think some of the guys who suffered the most are the guys who didn't play much last year because of injury. Either way, or D should be playing better, but I don't think they're playing poorly either. Regardless of our yardage totals, I think we're a middle of the pack D.

[Tarlam!]

Or a disadvantage. Aren't the off season programs part of the reason that first and second year players make big improvements? Less time would not help in that respect.

Since all teams were affected by the lockout, the was no disadvantage to any team. Green Bay and Pittburgh still had a game to play after everyone else, meaning, they had more practice time and game reps than any other team last year.

[sharpe1027]

Since all teams were affected by the lockout, the was no disadvantage to any team. Green Bay and Pittburgh still had a game to play after everyone else, meaning, they had more practice time and game reps than any other team last year.

IDK, playing in the SB also meant that players are not ready/willing/motivated to begin their off season workout programs as quickly as other teams. The Packers were one of the few teams that did not to have a single player organized workout session. That means that players were completely on their own until the first minicamp (~July?). Probably fine for Veterans who know the ropes, but not so good for young guys that need to improve.

[Tarlam!]

Sharpy, don't you remember Rodgers' postgame interview week 1?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/09/aaron-rodgers-eager-to-chide-offseason-workout-critics/

[sharpe1027]

Sharpy, don't you remember Rodgers' postgame interview week 1?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...rkout-critics/

Obviously, the team has done great overall. They only lost one game! However, I was specifically talking about a possible reason why younger players have not shown as much improvement as might be expected. The Rodgers article doesn't really address that. Not saying it is necessarily the reason, but it's at least plausible.

[Guiness]

I've heard Winston Moss with Perry or Greene going as DC with him, and Edgar going as OC. (Madison espn)

Much as I'd hate to see him go, I almost hope Bennett gets that job. He's put in his time, worked his way through the ranks, and that's the next logical step for him - seems like he deserves it.
Greene as a DC seems like quite a jump though. How much coaching did he have before GB? I'm pretty sure it's his first job. He's the OLB coach here, doesn't seem like he'd get much overall insight into what it takes to run the whole defense.

[sharpe1027]

Much as I'd hate to see him go, I almost hope Bennett gets that job. He's put in his time, worked his way through the ranks, and that's the next logical step for him - seems like he deserves it.
Greene as a DC seems like quite a jump though. How much coaching did he have before GB? I'm pretty sure it's his first job. He's the OLB coach here, doesn't seem like he'd get much overall insight into what it takes to run the whole defense.

Virtually zero. I would not be happy with that decision, but what do I know?