Next Year's DC

[pbmax]

These players may already be on the roster. A new DC may utilize the talent we have much better.

A guy like Ryan, would be excellent. He is a motivator who's players will run through a brick wall for him. For Capers, they would step around paper mache wall - hey, don't want to stretch a hammie, ya know. As for Rex himself, he will get another HC job if he does get fired in NY - which I don't think he will.

I cringe every time I see Greene listed as a possible replacement. Does he just have lots of relatives posting on his behalf? I don't understand the desire - I would understand if our OLBs were all phenoms. We have Clay, but that is it at OLB. The rest of the lot have not stepped up into impact players. Must be based on Greene's history as a player and his fiery demeanor - but that isn't going to make him a good DC.

People who want Green to be DC also thought it was a good idea to make Mike Singletary a Head Coach. Familiarity and tenaciousness are mistaken for qualifications to be the head of a complex organizational monster.

[Smidgeon]

Jeez, after reading through these posts, I get the feeling that a lot of people think that TT is going to completely switch gears. Yes, Capers might be gone, but I don't think it's a for gone conclusion. Slocum is still our ST coach and he's been God awful for years. What's next? Are the packers going to hit free agency hard in order to fix the problems on the OL and at Safety? Lol. Keep dreaming folks.

If, and that's a big if, we get a new DC, it's most likely going to be Winston Moss or Darren Perry.

I actually shuddered when I read this. Pretty sure the only defensive coach I'd like to keep is Greene. And not as a DC. As an OLB coach. The rest can turnover. Moss, Perry, and Whitt (well, maybe not Whitt) have disappointed me. And I'm indifferent about the rest.

I'm not a "sky is falling" type person, but what's gotten to me isn't the seeming collapse of the defense several years running (I think injuries account for a lot of that). It's that when there are healthy players, they still have trouble communicating, confusing coverages, losing lane discipline, etc, and it isn't the same players over and over. Those communication problems have been there since Day 1 with the MLBs, CBs, and Ss. I just thought it was a learning process that would get better each year. It hasn't. So I'm (finally) offboard on developing the coaches.

[Smidgeon]

MM has canned a DC before (Sanders in 2009) so you never know. I hope they bring in new blood to be DC. A different POV and philosophy might not be a bad idea for 2014.

And when M3 canned said DC, he was maligned for not making that move when he took over. I remember articles about how often HCs can DCs or OCs, and the article implied in most cases it was scapegoating to cut lose a coordinator to give the HC more time in charge.

Now, having evolved my opinion about the trustworthiness of articles (sensationalist "reporting"), it could have just been a story used to stir up unrest. Even if it was, it makes me wonder: If M3 does turn over the D-staff, it will be two consecutive coordinators he chose poorly. If the third can't fix it, he'll have to answer for that. Hiring competent staff is part of his job, and frankly, he seems to be quite poor at that part of the job:

Campen
Slocum
Odd (to me) shifts of O-coaches (but I don't know if they're poor decisions because that's how people get experience and move up--they just seem odd to me: Van Pelt, Fontenot, Clements promotions/shifts/etc)
And that short list doesn't take into account the D-side either...

[Smidgeon]

How many times has he gotten over 13 sacks in a season?

Gonna edit a bit. I think clay does EVERYTHING very well and that is his skill. He is elite in that way, but there are many better pass rushers than him.

The way he single handedly beat the option play in week 1 was incredible. He makes big plays, causing fumbles, and never quits on a play. He simply does it all, but we need one more guy like a cameron wake or someone to make him look elite in pass rush.

Yep. I was going to say something along these lines as a counter point, but turns out it's the same point you're making.

He isn't a Top 3 pass rusher, but he's a Top 10 everything, and that makes for one of those rare complete players.

[run pMc]

People who want Green to be DC also thought it was a good idea to make Mike Singletary a Head Coach. Familiarity and tenaciousness are mistaken for qualifications to be the head of a complex organizational monster.

Agree. Greene's not ready to be a DC IMO. The good DC's like Horton, Mike Zimmer, et al. who could coach a 3-4 are more likely to get chances at a HC job. I'm not sure a guy on a losing team like Wade Phillips would be any good either; I always get the sense he's angling for a HC spot.

I think the players have been responsible (not being gap disciplined, the safeties playing subpar this year) and wonder if the front-office emphasis on youth/inexperience leads to broken/bad plays. Despite this, and allthe injuries, Capers and staff bear some responsibility...the play of the defense has regressed this season. Maybe they've been tuned out and need a change? I'm not in the building so I don't know, but the game results aren't good.

[woodbuck27]

I actually shuddered when I read this. Pretty sure the only defensive coach I'd like to keep is Greene. And not as a DC. As an OLB coach. The rest can turnover. Moss, Perry, and Whitt (well, maybe not Whitt) have disappointed me. And I'm indifferent about the rest.

I'm not a "sky is falling" type person, but what's gotten to me isn't the seeming collapse of the defense several years running (I think injuries account for a lot of that). It's that when there are healthy players, they still have trouble communicating, confusing coverages, losing lane discipline, etc, and it isn't the same players over and over. Those communication problems have been there since Day 1 with the MLBs, CBs, and Ss. I just thought it was a learning process that would get better each year. It hasn't. So I'm (finally) offboard on developing the coaches.

Yes something is definitely wrong with our coaching on the defensive side and ST's.

How much longer is MM going to paint that fact over? It's become 'a dark red stain' and darker with time. All those coats of clear coat that Mike McCarthy uses over and over just don't cut it..... in terms of obliterating that stain.

That coaching circle should in my humble opinion .... be broken.

The Green Bay Packers must make many changes. Demonstrate as a primary focus a determination to remaining at the top as a competitive NFL team. As it is now the Green Bay Packers need adjustments to remain in that conversation.

Otherwise what will players like Clay 'NFL Mega Star' Matthews III and Aaron 'just me' Rodgers think?

Please TT and MM .... don't embarrass these players.

Imagine it going as it's now going and the Green Bay Packers losing too often and paying Clay and Aaron what they've commited to? Imagine the media commentary on that note!

The last thing we all need to see is the Green Bay Packers and this franchise associated with the word 'embarrassment'.

GO PACK GO !

[Smidgeon]

Agree. Greene's not ready to be a DC IMO. The good DC's like Horton, Mike Zimmer, et al. who could coach a 3-4 are more likely to get chances at a HC job. I'm not sure a guy on a losing team like Wade Phillips would be any good either; I always get the sense he's angling for a HC spot.

I think the players have been responsible (not being gap disciplined, the safeties playing subpar this year) and wonder if the front-office emphasis on youth/inexperience leads to broken/bad plays. Despite this, and allthe injuries, Capers and staff bear some responsibility...the play of the defense has regressed this season. Maybe they've been tuned out and need a change? I'm not in the building so I don't know, but the game results aren't good.

Except that everyone in the secondary with more than two starts (so excluding Hyde, Banjo, McMillian, and Hayward) is in at least their third season:

Tramon, 12 starts, 7th season
Jennings, 12 starts, 3rd season
Shields, 10 starts, 4th season
Burnett, 9 starts, 4th season
House, 5 starts, 3rd season

I would expect by the third season that they're no longer considered young or inexperienced. They should know the system backwards and forwards. In fact, this group should be the nucleus of the defense. They've been together and grown together in the same system with the same position coaches for a few years now. They should know how to play together and work with each other. Too many broken plays for this much experience. And that's why I tend to blame the coaches. The only players that seem to rise above and be reliable on the back end are the ones that seemed to have done it on their own. It's like the O-line: they get better in spite of the coach and not because of them.

Too many breakdowns, too often, for too long.

[dahammer001]

My main criticism of M3 is that he is loyal to a fault to his staff. Ray Rhodes was loyal too, and that loyalty cost him his job...