The Level-Headed Thread About the Defense.

[wist43]

I agree with the diagnosis but not the cure. There is nothing in Capers scheme that is soft or finesse, but Thompson drafted pass rushing 4-3 lineman plus a true tweener OLB/DE to plug the gaps from 2011. Capers has run a 4-3 and 3-4 hybrid, but only at the behest of Tom Coughlin and mostly due to personnel.

Capers, McCarthy and Thompson made a potentially big miscalculation in the last draft. The depth on this team in the front seven is not suited to the primary defensive alignment. It addressed pass rushing interior lineman but nothing in base.

Its a mismatch and since it involves depth, probably could be overcome if the LBs were better. But they aren't.

I agree Max. After last years draft most of us looked at the players TT picked and started x'ing and o'ing as to how they could fit a more traditional 3-4; of course they don't fit a traditional 3-4, Capers didn't use them to maximum effectiveness, and we had problems most of the year.

I like the players TT picked, but most of them are better suited as role players in a 4-3. Even though I am a strong advocate of the 3-4, given the players TT handed him, I would have hoped Capers would have been more creative in how he used them; showed more 4-3 looks on passing downs; and used more of a traditional 3-4 base on run downs.

Capers misused the front seven all year IMO. If TT brings in a couple more fat guys, and improves the talent at LB, maybe he can make his scheme work better? But I have no faith in Capers, and never will.

One thing is for sure, missed tackles and bad angles by the players aside, there's no excuse for the mess Capers threw out on the field on Saturday. You could just tell how much Charles Woodson wanted to speak his mind and come right out and call Capers an idiot when he disgustedly said they made changes at all throughout the game. There's no excuse for that.

[Iron Mike]

Capers, McCarthy and Thompson made a potentially big miscalculation in the last draft. The depth on this team in the front seven is not suited to the primary defensive alignment. It addressed pass rushing interior lineman but nothing in base.

Also, with the result of almost no interior pass rush.

[rbaloha1]

Teo reminds me a lot of Hawk to be honest. He's a great college player who faced weak competition in the ACC. I think I'd rather stick to SEC front 7 players when possible. They just seem to have a lot more recent success in the NFL in my opinion.

Man, I hope you are wrong.

Entering his senior season, Teo's weakness was pass coverage -- 0 career interceptions.

Teo dropped weight and learned to turn his hips faster and the result was a heisman type year. The difference with Hawk is Teo takes on blockers while Hawk is run around guy. Plus Teo is a leader and respected -- Hawk is not.

[rbaloha1]

So after missing so many tackles that is what the Packers need????

I don't get it.

Entering the game espn analyst Trevor Matrich mentioned how bama was going to confuse Teo by making him hesitate for a split second. Teo was a little hesitant in the first half which resulted in missed tackles and failure to get off blocks.

ND and Teo never faced this type of speed and power -- yes, very nfl-like.

Teo is tebow with game. A hard worker who will get it done with reps, better coaching and film study.

Teo or a similar style ilb is what the Packers need to become a more physical defense.

[Deputy Nutz]

The packers couldn't stop the veer read. Simple. Once the veer read was successful the defense was confused and played on they're heals the entire game. I blame Walden specifically. He is a situational player and when he is asked to play every down he is unserviceable. Plus Jones is a special teams player lined up on the same side as Walden. When Peterson gashed the packers he did so running to the right, over Walden. I am all for bashing Thompson when I can but he did the right thing in drafting Perry. Perry was a force at the point of attack and holding the edge, he got hurt and because Walden was having a decent season as a rotational guy everyone thought the Packers wouldn't miss a beat. Wrong

The packers seemed to control the run much better in the beginning of the year, but the front wore down, which hampered the play of the linebackers as well. When Pickett, Wilson, and Raji were fresh linemen couldn't get to Hawk, Smith, and Jones. Those three got injured and wore down at the end of the year. Raji is a pre-madonna, he want to make the big play so he stands up or charges too far into the backfield leaving gaps when he doesn't make the play. I honestly don't think the packers can afford to resign him, but they have no one on the roster to replace him with. Hawk is serviceable but at a certain point you can't pay him to be just serviceable. He can't get off blocks fast enough and his feet are slow.

This defense is set with a young secondary, I thin the Packer can still use Woodson, because md Jennings is small and lacks instincts. Burnett is good not great. The Packers are going to be really good at cornerback if House can stay on the field, Shields keeps improving , and Heyward improves his athleticism over the off season.

Capers is a fine coordinator. Packer fans are more emotional after a loss than a 7 month prego woman. They must blame, worse than even Cowboy fan. This wasn't a Super Bowl quality team, to many gaps on the offensive line, a passive running game, and a qb and receiver unit that didn't have the chemistry they had in past years. Nobody is blaming the offensive for this loss, which is a mistake. The Packers offense couldn't move the football and help out their defense. The defense was worn out by the start of the fourth quarter. Their last touchdown was a gimme, and never should have happened even in garbage time. The Packers offense only managed to score 17 meaningful points. To me they failed just as bad as the defense.

[rbaloha1]

The packers couldn't stop the veer read. Simple. Once the veer read was successful the defense was confused and played on they're heals the entire game. I blame Walden specifically. He is a situational player and when he is asked to play every down he is unserviceable. Plus Jones is a special teams player lined up on the same side as Walden. When Peterson gashed the packers he did so running to the right, over Walden. I am all for bashing Thompson when I can but he did the right thing in drafting Perry. Perry was a force at the point of attack and holding the edge, he got hurt and because Walden was having a decent season as a rotational guy everyone thought the Packers wouldn't miss a beat. Wrong

The packers seemed to control the run much better in the beginning of the year, but the front wore down, which hampered the play of the linebackers as well. When Pickett, Wilson, and Rajiv were fresh linemen couldn't get to Hawk, Smith, and Jones. Those three got injured and wore down at the end of the year. Rajiv is a pre-madonna, he want to make the big play so he stands up or charges too far into the backfield leaving gaps when he doesn't make the play. I honestly don't thin the packers can afford to resign him, but they have no one on the roster to replace him with. Hawk is serviceable but at a certain point you can't pay him to be just serviceable. He can't get off blocks fast enough and his feet are slow.

This defense is set with a young secondary, I thin the Packer can still use Woodson, because md Jennings is small and lacks instincts. Burnett is good not great. The Packers are going to be really good at cornerback if House can stay on the field, Shields keeps improving , and Heyward improves his athleticism over the off season.

Capers is a fine coordinator. Packer fans are more emotional after a loss than a 7 month prego woman. They must blame, worse than even Cowboy fan. This wasn't a Super Bowl quality team, to many gaps on the offensive line, a passive running game, and a qb and receiver unit that didn't have the chemistry they had in past years. Nobody is blaming the offensive for this loss, which is a mistake. The Packers offense couldn't move the football and help out their defense. The defense was worn out by the start of the fourth quarter. Their last touchdown was a gimme, and never should have happened even in garbage time. The Packers offense only managed to score 17 meaningful points. To me they failed just as bad as the defense.

What is the answer then? Status quo?

[rbaloha1]

“We just need a better mindset as a defense,” Bishop said. “You see it in a few people, but you need an entire team in order to be successful. I think that’s what we need to change the most.”

A Ravens type mindset is what is needed. Is Hawk part of the "few people?"

[Deputy Nutz]

Teo=Hawk. He got absolutely destroyed at the point of attack against Alabama. It was a very telling game for him. His defensive linemen couldn't protect him and he got hammered. Teo played in front of a mammoth defensive line and they allowed him to make plays all season long. If I was a GM, I would take him in the second round, maybe late first, but he isn't a top ten pick.

[Deputy Nutz]

“We just need a better mindset as a defense,” Bishop said. “You see it in a few people, but you need an entire team in order to be successful. I think that’s what we need to change the most.”

A Ravens type mindset is what is needed. Is Hawk part of the "few people?"

I thin Hawk's issues are more physical than mental. Maybe connecting the physical to the mental, I think he does everything he can, but he isn't Ray Lewis.

[Deputy Nutz]

What is the answer then? Status quo?

The Packers lost in the second round of the playoffs to a better team. Get over it. You don't need to sink the ship because there are a few mice on board. Next year they might have better luck on the injury front, Rodgers and his receivers regain their chemistry, along with the defense getting back Bishop, Perry, and Worthy. Also figuring out how to stop the veer.

[rbaloha1]

Teo=Hawk. He got absolutely destroyed at the point of attack against Alabama. It was a very telling game for him. His defensive linemen couldn't protect him and he got hammered. Teo played in front of a mammoth defensive line and they allowed him to make plays all season long. If I was a GM, I would take him in the second round, maybe late first, but he isn't a top ten pick.

Perfect for the Packers. Teo is not another Hawk.

[Smeefers]

Do you own an AJ Hawk jersey?

No, but I do like him as a player. I think he's pretty darn solid and that's more than I can say for a lot of guys on our team.

[Smeefers]

Draft Manti Teo to replace Hawk.

Hawk had a better year but is not close to an elite player.

Here we go in the land of dreams again. Teo is going to be a high first round draft pick. If he falls to us, sure, grab him and see how he does. I suggest this action with any top 1-10 talent.

As for Hawk being an elite player, I don't think he is one. He's a solid above average player and he gets paid like a solid above average player.

[rbaloha1]

The Packers lost in the second round of the playoffs to a better team. Get over it. You don't need to sink the ship because there are a few mice on board. Next year they might have better luck on the injury front, Rodgers and his receivers regain their chemistry, along with the defense getting back Bishop, Perry, and Worthy. Also figuring out how to stop the veer.

Blah Blah Blah!

Is your answer to keep everything the same and hope for this and hope for that?

[rbaloha1]

Here we go in the land of dreams again. Teo is going to be a high first round draft pick. If he falls to us, sure, grab him and see how he does. I suggest this action with any top 1-10 talent.

As for Hawk being an elite player, I don't think he is one. He's a solid above average player and he gets paid like a solid above average player.

Was A-ROD dropping a dream? My only point is to acquire Teo if there is a legit opportunity.