"CRITICAL OFFSEASON"...sniff sniff....Change is in the Air

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-will-make-changes-after-getting-demolished-in-playoffs-again-jk8c80g-186722401.html

[rbaloha1]

Yup -- bring some physicality which starts with Teo. Aloha to Hawk and his $5.4 million cap number.

Drafting more agile players -- Hawk?

[call_me_ishmael]

I would like to see the Packers focus on becoming a more physical team that can pound the ball and stop the run when needed. I would like the focus to be on the front 7 and OL. I would also like to see a power back picked high. Would not mind the back from Alabama at all. He runs hard!

Part of me wonders if we've seen another evolution of the game in the past few years. The dominating offenses of the Packers and the Saints have caused some NFC teams to respond. Look at how Seattle, SF, NYG are all built. These teams are built on tough, nasty defense and a solid running game. These teams are constructed in such a way that they can out muscle the late 2000s Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton teams. Any thoughts?

[pbmax]

I would like to see the Packers focus on becoming a more physical team that can pound the ball and stop the run when needed. I would like the focus to be on the front 7 and OL. I would also like to see a power back picked high. Would not mind the back from Alabama at all. He runs hard!

How much do you think the O line will change, personnel wise?

Both Sherrod and Bulaga will be back next year. That is seven potential starters with Newhouse, Lang, EDS, Sitton and Barclay. Van Roten, the recently signed center/guard and Shea Allard put the camp roster at 10.

He might draft an interior guy to backup EDS and play Guard. Maybe a tackle. but will two new players change the play on the line? Seems too hopeful.

[call_me_ishmael]

How much do you think the O line will change, personnel wise?

Both Sherrod and Bulaga will be back next year. That is seven potential starters with Newhouse, Lang, EDS, Sitton and Barclay. Van Roten, the recently signed center/guard and Shea Allard put the camp roster at 10.

He might draft an interior guy to backup EDS and play Guard. Maybe a tackle. but will two new players change the play on the line? Seems too hopeful.

I agree with you. I don't know what the answer is. In theory, it should be a pretty good line. Buluga should be a pro bowl type guy. Lang is expected to be a very good guard based on his extension. Sitton is paid like a premiere guard. EDS is expected to be at least average I would think. Newhouse wasn't completely horrible and I would hope between him and Sherrod they could at least be serviceable.

I guess I always thought Sitton, Bulaga and Lang were more of the brawler mode than finesse mode. Seems strange that we still cannot consistently run the ball.

[Bretsky]

I think we still have to stock the D in the draft and pray we hit on a serious contributers at DL and LB
Oh......and maybe a free agent or two ....maybe ?

[Bretsky]

When we dissect this team we see some superstars and a lot of things we consider to be holes at starting positions. But we can only do so much in a year with the draft.
We are not built like San Francisco

But we need to build a team tough enough so we don't get our asses handed to us in the trenches against the tougher teams.

[Freak Out]

As bad as the OL played during the year one would think that with the players coming off IR they might be ok...who pays center next year? Hopefully Saturday is long fucking gone.

[packrulz]

The zone blocking scheme the Packers try to use is a failure, I wish they would scrap it. I think the running backs are fine. Likewise, the 3-4 defense has been a failure the last few years. Lousy pass rush, and can't stop the run. If they're going to stay with the 3-4, they need to upgrade at linebacker, safety, and cornerback.

[mraynrand]

everything being predicating on not having a clusterF of injuries, I think the O line should be fine. I don't see all that much need to go and get someone to pound the ball. Would be nice to have a more natural running back, but I find it ironic that Ravens and Niners made adjustments to become more adept in the downfield passing game. NE improved interior blocking to get critical yards in the run game. I see no problem with Lang, EDS and Sitton inside.

The front 7 on the defense is a shambles, and needs 3-4 better players, including a stud. Maybe 2 of those guys are on the roster. Draft a stud and/or actually use FA to get better. Try not being injured all the time. See you next year.

[rbaloha1]

O-line is fine.

It is the front seven and safeties that need to be addressed. What happened to a head hunting safety?

Capers is the old style d-coordinator that fails to account for the qb. Need more modern type thinking and personnel to match.

[hoosier]

I understand the perception that the Packers need to toughen up on defense in order to regain the edge that they seem to have lost in the past year or so. But the beating they took from San Fran wasn't just about physicality. It was also about scheme, or execution, or both. The two things that stood out were the third down blitzes where the GB man defense left no one to account for the QB, and the read-option plays where the OLBs crashed inside and nobody was left on the edge to force Kaepernick back inside. To me it looked like the Packer defense thought it was playing against Matthew Stafford or some other immobile quarterback. You have to make Kaepernick beat you through the air. He might well have done that, but if he had we wouldn't be sitting here talking about how the Packers need to retool their defense by swapping out their "finesse" players for hard hitters. In looking at the entire season I think the Packers currently have a better than average defense that could well get even better with a healthy Bishop and off-season development from guys like Perry, Hayward, Moses and Daniels. Saturday was not a fluke, but I doubt very much that Desmond Bishop would have made a difference given the Packers failure to adjust (or execute?) any better than they did.

[rbaloha1]

I understand the perception that the Packers need to toughen up on defense in order to regain the edge that they seem to have lost in the past year or so. But the beating they took from San Fran wasn't just about physicality. It was also about scheme, or execution, or both. The two things that stood out were the third down blitzes where the GB man defense left no one to account for the QB, and the read-option plays where the OLBs crashed inside and nobody was left on the edge to force Kaepernick back inside. To me it looked like the Packer defense thought it was playing against Matthew Stafford or some other immobile quarterback. You have to make Kaepernick beat you through the air. He might well have done that, but if he had we wouldn't be sitting here talking about how the Packers need to retool their defense by swapping out their "finesse" players for hard hitters. In looking at the entire season I think the Packers currently have a better than average defense that could well get even better with a healthy Bishop and off-season development from guys like Perry, Hayward, Moses and Daniels. Saturday was not a fluke, but I doubt very much that Desmond Bishop would have made a difference given the Packers failure to adjust (or execute?) any better than they did.

For sure it is a combination of things.

But whatever it is change is imperative which starts from the mindset of the coordinator.

BTW Greg Roman the niners o coordinator was on Caper's Carolina staff and knew exactly what Capers would call in numerous situations. This is the tpe of information Buck and Aikman provide during a telecast. All those whiners need to be quiet and listen.

Keep the fan mail coming -- I know the O'reilly bullies are silly but do not be intimadated

[Patler]

It's hard to have a successful defense when the roster is continually turning over and isn't allowed to mature. Whether that has been the case with the Packers is up for debate.

But what isn't is that Thompson has leaned away from acquiring big, physical players like Bishop in favor of more agile players like A.J. Hawk, Morgan Burnett, Brad Jones, D.J. Smith, M.D. Jennings, Sam Shields, Frank Zombo, Casey Hayward and Mike Daniels.

First-round pick Nick Perry was more in the Bishop style of physical player ... Terrell Manning might be able to add some pop to the lineup .....

Safety Jerron McMillian, another physical type ... Cornerback Davon House looked like he might add some muscle to the defense....

Silverstein gets an "F" for proposing a theory, then supporting it with facts.
He proposed that TT has leaned away fron acquiring physical players, then identifies four acquired in the last two years that do appear to be physical types. Unfortunately, all four had their seasons impacted greatly by injuries.

For some reason, the Packers can't seem to catch a break on defense with the health and performance of players:

Justin Harrell comes on board with some very interesting skills and natural gifts, but never gets on the field due to injury after injury.

Johnny Jolly shows a real presence on the DL, a performance many people said was worthy of the Pro Bowl, and he gets himself suspended, apparently for life.

Tramon Williams has a year that causes people to mention him among the best cover-corners in the league, then has an injury that completely takes away his style of play last year, and seemed to change him even this year.

Nick Collins developed to the point of meriting mention with the best safeties in the game today, and has his career ended by mere inches on a freak injury.

Davon House looks like the all-around CB the defense needs for a while in preseason, and goes down to injury that takes away his role.

Desmond Bishop waits years, then finally makes a real physical impact as a starter, gets injured and now has to be considered a question mark for next year.

Mike Neal, another high draft pick, loses two years of development to injuries, then gets himself suspended for the start of this season.

Nick Perry, another first rounder, hardly has a chance to make an impact his rookie season before going on IR. Unfortunately, the better part of a year's on-field experience in converting to LB is lost.

Sam Shields up and down career seems to reach a new level, and he loses a big chunk of his first season as a starter to injury.

Clay Matthews' ongoing hamstring concerns finally cost him significant playing time this year. This has been a continual issue since his rookie year, what will the future bring for him?

Manning, Smith, McMillan all could have had larger roles this season, but circumstances denied them their opportunities.

The defensive roster just can't seem to develop the cohesion it needs.

[rbaloha1]

Silverstein gets an "F" for proposing a theory, then supporting it with facts.
He proposed that TT has leaned away fron acquiring physical players, then identifies four acquired in the last two years that do appear to be physical types. Unfortunately, all four had their seasons impacted greatly by injuries.

For some reason, the Packers can't seem to catch a break on defense with the health and performance of players:

Justin Harrell comes on board with some very interesting skills and natural gifts, but never gets on the field due to injury after injury.

Johnny Jolly shows a real presence on the DL, a performance many people said was worthy of the Pro Bowl, and he gets himself suspended, apparently for life.

Tramon Williams has a year that causes people to mention him among the best cover-corners in the league, then has an injury that completely takes away his style of play last year, and seemed to change him even this year.

Nick Collins developed to the point of meriting mention with the best safeties in the game today, and has his career ended by mere inches on a freak injury.

Davon House looks like the all-around CB the defense needs for a while in preseason, and goes down to injury that takes away his role.

Desmond Bishop waits years, then finally makes a real physical impact as a starter, gets injured and now has to be considered a question mark for next year.

Mike Neal, another high draft pick, loses two years of development to injuries, then gets himself suspended for the start of this season.

Nick Perry, another first rounder, hardly has a chance to make an impact his rookie season before going on IR. Unfortunately, the better part of a year's on-field experience in converting to LB is lost.

Sam Shields up and down career seems to reach a new level, and he loses a big chunk of his first season as a starter to injury.

Clay Matthews' ongoing hamstring concerns finally cost him significant playing time this year. This has been a continual issue since his rookie year, what will the future bring for him?

Manning, Smith, McMillan all could have had larger roles this season, but circumstances denied them their opportunities.

The defensive roster just can't seem to develop the cohesion it needs.

Good stuff. You guys are both right.

Capers still needs to go.