THE SOFT Sally's MUST get TOUGHER

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-defense-must-get-bigger-faster-meaner-uj8both-187386551.html

[Bretsky]

In the draft, the Packers should emphasize size. And this coming spring, free agency shouldn't be treated like shark-infested waters. The draft-and-develop formula has kept Green Bay playing in January. Signing a veteran or two is needed to push the team into February.

[swede]

In the draft, the Packers should emphasize size. And this coming spring, free agency shouldn't be treated like shark-infested waters. The draft-and-develop formula has kept Green Bay playing in January. Signing a veteran or two is needed to push the team into February.

It is the off-season and Bretsky is calling for greater activity in the free agent market.

In other news, the swallows are booking flights into Capistrano.

[Joemailman]

That quote was from the article, not Bretsky. Although I'm sure he concurs.

Nothing earth-shaking there really. What defense doesn't want to get stronger and faster? Nobody's really looking to get weaker and slower.

[Bretsky]

It is the off-season and Bretsky is calling for greater activity in the free agent market.

In other news, the swallows are booking flights into Capistrano.

Bretsky is quoting the article

[red]

that 3 year 11.75 million deal for donte whitner is exactly the type of signing i's like to see TT make one or two of this offseason

not an all world player, but just a solid vet that doesn't break the bank

[wist43]

Capers exacerbates the situation by putting smallish lineups on the field. His 2 DL alignment is bad enough in any situation, but to throw that alignment out there against a power team like the 49'ers was moronic.

I agree with the article about some of the players coming back from injury helping - House, Worthy, Perry, and Bishop will help the units toughness, but even with those guys we're still underpowered in the front seven; and the back end is still going to consist of poor tacklers with a soft mentality.

Hopefully McMillian will win the Safety spot opposite Burnett. Even then though, Williams is soft and a poor tackler... as are Hayward and Shields.

Wilson, Jones, Hawk, Zombo, and Francois all need to be cut outright.

Finesse is the Packer's identity. They value coverage above all else in their LB's and DB's - that isn't going to change.

Tyler Dunne is surely a blaspheming heretic though.

[Bretsky]

Capers exacerbates the situation by putting smallish lineups on the field. His 2 DL alignment is bad enough in any situation, but to throw that alignment out there against a power team like the 49'ers was moronic.

I agree with the article about some of the players coming back from injury helping - House, Worthy, Perry, and Bishop will help the units toughness, but even with those guys we're still underpowered in the front seven; and the back end is still going to consist of poor tacklers with a soft mentality.

Hopefully McMillian will win the Safety spot opposite Burnett. Even then though, Williams is soft and a poor tackler... as are Hayward and Shields.

Wilson, Jones, Hawk, Zombo, and Francois all need to be cut outright.

Finesse is the Packer's identity. They value coverage above all else in their LB's and DB's - that isn't going to change.

Tyler Dunne is surely a blaspheming heretic though.

I dont think Shields ia a soft tackler; he was when he started but he's vastly improved and IMO is decent there. Zombo is Bready Poppinga all over..good guy....motor....limited upsde...exposed by better teams. Brad Jones can go yesterday. Wilson didn't help them nearly as much as the homers thought; he's a weak starter against quality but good enough to be in a the rotation IMO. Francois is a special team guy. Hawk......he could funtion as the 4th best LB but he should be no higher than that. At half the salary, I'm fine with Hawk back.

[swede]

It is the off-season and Bretsky is calling for greater activity in the free agent market.

In other news, the swallows are booking flights into Capistrano.

Bretsky is quoting the article

I meant that quite light-heartedly.

The problem with this year's fail is that it may leave Ted with no clear and certain sense of how to fix everything that is wrong with this team. Are we going to adjust schemes? That will impact draft and FA decisions.

Are we NOT going to adjust schemes? I don't believe this team is two rookies and a FA away. I fear that Green Bay becomes the Chiefs of the 90's. Win the division, fail in the playoffs against better teams.

[Patler]

I fear that Green Bay becomes the Chiefs of the 90's. Win the division, fail in the playoffs against better teams.

They don't have to "become" anything. That is what they have been sine 2002. Six division championships, eight playoff appearances, one SB appearance and quite a few noteworthy playoff failures.

[red]

They don't have to "become" anything. That is what they have been sine 2002. Six division championships, eight playoff appearances, one SB appearance and quite a few noteworthy playoff failures.

i think you can take that all the way back to about 1992 or so. i don't remember too many missed playoffs under favre. there was of course the 4-12 year. but we were pretty good other then that

15 trips to the playoffs, 2 super bowls in 20 seasons

i guess the plus is that we could have 0 superbowls

[pbmax]

They don't have to "become" anything. That is what they have been sine 2002. Six division championships, eight playoff appearances, one SB appearance and quite a few noteworthy playoff failures.

Most playoff teams fall into this category. Every year, 12 teams make the playoffs. Since 2002, three teams have won multiple Super Bowls. Giants, Steelers and Patriots.

That Packer Super Bowl win makes all the difference among playoff fodder. Chiefs fans would give their eye teeth for that win.

If someone wants to argue the Packers have not been as good as these franchises, that would be a fair point.

[red]

Most playoff teams fall into this category. Every year, 12 teams make the playoffs. Since 2002, three teams have won multiple Super Bowls. Giants, Steelers and Patriots.

That Packer Super Bowl win makes all the difference among playoff fodder. Chiefs fans would give their eye teeth for that win.

If someone wants to argue the Packers have not been as good as these franchises, that would be a fair point.

we're not as good as those franchises

[pbmax]

we're not as good as those franchises

Fair point.

[pbmax]

Capers exacerbates the situation by putting smallish lineups on the field. His 2 DL alignment is bad enough in any situation, but to throw that alignment out there against a power team like the 49'ers was moronic.

I agree with the article about some of the players coming back from injury helping - House, Worthy, Perry, and Bishop will help the units toughness, but even with those guys we're still underpowered in the front seven; and the back end is still going to consist of poor tacklers with a soft mentality.

Hopefully McMillian will win the Safety spot opposite Burnett. Even then though, Williams is soft and a poor tackler... as are Hayward and Shields.

Wilson, Jones, Hawk, Zombo, and Francois all need to be cut outright.

Finesse is the Packer's identity. They value coverage above all else in their LB's and DB's - that isn't going to change.

Tyler Dunne is surely a blaspheming heretic though.

wist and I are approaching critical mass here and might soon agree on all points. If that happens, I would stock up on canned good.

But first two issues remain.

One, the nickel versus the 49ers was clearly an expectation that the 49ers were going to pass or at least were more of a threat to pass than run (probably the latter). Capers doesn't throw the nickel out there on 3rd and 2 against a running team. He does it when he expects a team to respond to 3rd and short with 3 wide and shotgun.

49ers clearly went against that tendency. They ran as much read option as they had in the previous four games plus CK's scrambles.

That throws game planning for a loop. CK clearly is a dual threat and cannot be treated like a conventional QB. He threatened to and did beat the Packers through the air, but he gashed them on the ground even on third and long. As everyone who has watched Rodgers run for first downs, the QB must be accounted for even in passing formations.

So a conventional approach is going to be problematic. Blitzing him didn't work. Conventional rush didn't work. They will need to contain him and just squeeze the pocket. They need to get faster everywhere in the defense and more physical in the line. CK's long touchdown came against the base D.

Depending on which players step up, they might have to play more zone in short areas and let Jones cover TEs. Can you envision a nickel package versus the 49ers where Jones comes in to cover Davis replacing a DL? What might really help is a very physical DB at safety who can cover TEs. McMillan could be that guy. The coaches liked his coverage in camp. He was under consideration for the dime slot corner.