Day Before First Practice, 5 Players On Injured List

[bobblehead]

Well, if your criteria are getting into the playoffs consistently but not getting to the SB since 2010, let's see who else should be fired if their teams don't make it to the SB:

Bill Belichek
Sean Payton
Mike Tomlin

Who am I missing on this list of hot seat candidates?

Everyone except for about 3 coaches. Does SF bitch about Harbaugh because he keeps choking with no Super Bowl victory to show for his efforts....or just cuz he is a DICK!!!

[Pugger]

If not winning the SB is grounds for removal no team in the league would have any stability. This team has shown it can make it to the post season repeatedly even with a ridiculous number of injuries to key players. Isn't that the goal - to make the playoffs first? You can't win squat sitting at home in January. Yes, it is disappointing to lose in the playoffs. We all want to win it all but only one team every year is happy in February. I submit if we can stay relatively healthy this season - for a change - we'll make a lot of noise this season. Isn't that what we all want?

[Rutnstrut]

So you are all happy with the status quo on defense? Like I said, doing the same thing and expecting different results doesn't seem to be working. Yes a total house cleaning would be extreme. But just wait until years from now when they have no Rodgers and it's plain to see they didn't capitalize on the window. For Kool-aid drinkers I am always surprised that some of you don't expect more of this team. Do I expect a Superbowl win every year, no. But there is no reason this team shouldn't have went deep into the playoffs the last few years.

[pbmax]

If, while trying to assess what is wrong with the Packers D and what can be done to fix it, you limit yourself to two explanations, you will never understand the problem in the first place. It then stands a chance to be repeated after the newness of your new hires wears off. There cannot be just two possible explanations: fire everyone or drink kool-aid because everything is fine.

Capers is perfectly capable of fielding a dominating D. He has done it before. He did it with Thompson for 2 years. It looked good for half a season last year.

But there is clearly a disconnect with the depth on the team and/or its youth and the player acquisition philosophy. He might have a coach or two who are underperforming. The team seems to be capable of either playing good pass D or good run D, but never at the same time.

The best answer to this particular problem, is to do what the Steelers do well, and what every meddling owner gets wrong. Have the GM interfere with the HC and tell him to to hire for DC. The GM will only hire a DC who knows he is getting draft and develop and seems to be able to handle it. However, you will not get the best Head Coaches that way and there is always a chance your coaches will fracture.

There is a reason there is also tension between players, coaches and front office in Pittsburgh, even though they win. And there is a reason Snyder and Jones are poor team owners.

[Rutnstrut]

If, while trying to assess what is wrong with the Packers D and what can be done to fix it, you limit yourself to two explanations, you will never understand the problem in the first place. It then stands a chance to be repeated after the newness of your new hires wears off. There cannot be just two possible explanations: fire everyone or drink kool-aid because everything is fine.

Capers is perfectly capable of fielding a dominating D. He has done it before. He did it with Thompson for 2 years. It looked good for half a season last year.

But there is clearly a disconnect with the depth on the team and/or its youth and the player acquisition philosophy. He might have a coach or two who are underperforming. The team seems to be capable of either playing good pass D or good run D, but never at the same time.

The best answer to this particular problem, is to do what the Steelers do well, and what every meddling owner gets wrong. Have the GM interfere with the HC and tell him to to hire for DC. The GM will only hire a DC who knows he is getting draft and develop and seems to be able to handle it. However, you will not get the best Head Coaches that way and there is always a chance your coaches will fracture.

There is a reason there is also tension between players, coaches and front office in Pittsburgh, even though they win. And there is a reason Snyder and Jones are poor team owners.

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

[pbmax]

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

If I knew, I would be on staff. The idea about this defense and vets versus young players came to the forefront last year in a couple of articles.

I believe that Capers is more static than his reputation, though he does gamble on blitzing. So dreaming up a new D scheme isn't going to happen.

I think a lot of this goes back to Belichick's comments about switching back to a 4-3 from the hybrid. There is less teaching time, just as many injuries (maybe more with concussion protocol) and the salary cap takes vets away. So they can do less advanced tweaks and are looking to limit the amount of installations. So they run a 4-3 as base rather than a 3-4.

I think the confusion this offseason about less volume more player groups points in a similar direction. Less tweaks, more alignments with specific personnel. Its a giveaway to some degree by watching substitution patterns. So they need to put better players on field in best position to maximize chance to win individual battles.

wist has a point about the 3-3 nickel. It would help from an installation standpoint (less for young D lineman to learn). I just don't think they can run it without pulling Matthews out of the pass rush.

[Patler]

So you are all happy with the status quo on defense? Like I said, doing the same thing and expecting different results doesn't seem to be working. Yes a total house cleaning would be extreme. But just wait until years from now when they have no Rodgers and it's plain to see they didn't capitalize on the window. For Kool-aid drinkers I am always surprised that some of you don't expect more of this team. Do I expect a Superbowl win every year, no. But there is no reason this team shouldn't have went deep into the playoffs the last few years.

I am extremely disappointed in the performance of the Packers the last three seasons. Going into 2011, this looked like a team that had it all and was young to boot. I expected SB appearances not every year, but certainly every few, maybe a back-to-back as some other teams had. However, it is what it is, and after a season is done I don't see a need to whine and complain about it. I simply start discussing what can happen the next season. Many things have contributed to the rapid decline of the defense, most being personnel related. Their five top difference makers from 2010 all disappeared or regressed in impact significantly (Woodson, Collins, Raji, Williams and Matthews). Each was a special performer in 2010, and their decline in impact began immediately in 2011 with the loss of Collins and the declines by Williams and Woodson. Raji disappeared and Matthews can't stay on the field. That's a lot to fix, and so far none of the attempts have worked, due to both injury and disappointing performances.

I hope it bottomed out in 2013. There will be a significant turnover on D this year. Compared to 2013, 2 of the primary DL, at least 1 LB, the 3rd CB and 1 starting safety will be different. That's 5 of 12 positions. There could be another 1 or 2 as well. They don't need to change the defensive scheme as much as they need to find the players to play it well. You can win a lot of different ways,

[bobblehead]

So what do you think GB needs to do to fix it?

First stay healthy. Remember that Clay and Hayward weren't on the field against SF. Neither was Perry or Neal shortly after gametime (was shields out as well by halftime). That is a lot of 1st and 2nd round talent on the sidelines. Jolly was also a key cog who wasn't available at that point. I hate using injury as an excuse, but ffs, at some point you can't just say "next man up". Our safeties were the weak point of the team, but those worthless fuckers managed to stay healthy.

[bobblehead]

As a point of reference, and a mental exercise, we should list the D that was on the field when we needed that final stop to beat SF. Anyone care to start.

[pbmax]

Mathews, Neal and Shields were out.

[denverYooper]

Mulumba, Bush, TWill, Burnett,

[Guiness]

As a point of reference, and a mental exercise, we should list the D that was on the field when we needed that final stop to beat SF. Anyone care to start.

From the video of CK's 11 yard run,
Bush, Hyde, Richardson, T.Will, Burnett and House
Hawk, Mulumba and Perry
Daniels and D. Jones

All are clear except House, but I'm pretty sure about him.


From the play by play, the following players also made tackles on SF's final drive
B. Jones
Raji
M. Jennings (sweet god...if anyone says anything bad about Bush ever again, I'll just answer with "Jennings")

[Pugger]

First stay healthy. Remember that Clay and Hayward weren't on the field against SF. Neither was Perry or Neal shortly after gametime (was shields out as well by halftime). That is a lot of 1st and 2nd round talent on the sidelines. Jolly was also a key cog who wasn't available at that point. I hate using injury as an excuse, but ffs, at some point you can't just say "next man up". Our safeties were the weak point of the team, but those worthless fuckers managed to stay healthy.

Yes, I don't know why some folks talk down the fact of who we had out there against SF. After a while you run out of hale bodies. It was just sad to watch Mulumba limp after Kaepernick on that last drive. From what I'm hearing from TC the safeties we have now will be a major upgrade over that clown Jennings.

[run pMc]

From the video of CK's 11 yard run,
Bush, Hyde, Richardson, T.Will, Burnett and House
Hawk, Mulumba and Perry
Daniels and D. Jones

All are clear except House, but I'm pretty sure about him.


From the play by play, the following players also made tackles on SF's final drive
B. Jones
Raji
M. Jennings (sweet god...if anyone says anything bad about Bush ever again, I'll just answer with "Jennings")

LOL re: Doc Jennings vs. J.Bush.

Looking over those names, you would not call that a championship defense -- or even a strong playoff contender defense.
3 rookies (D.Jones, Mulumba, Hyde), one player a few games removed from the PUP (Richardson), Mulumba and Perry with bad wheels, etc.

no...just...no.

[pbmax]

House was definitely the sub for Shields when he was declared out.