WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF DOM CAPERS

[Fritz]

Maybe the Packers do have a Super Bowl defense. Through the New Orleans game they certainly did not. However, over the last 4 weeks the Packers have held some very good offenses below their season averages:

Held Chicago to 14. They average 22.
Held Philadelphia to 20. They average 31.
Held Minnesota to 21. They average 19.
Held New England to 21 They average 32.

Only against Minnesota did they underperform, and that was because they went prevent after taking an 11 point lead. I think any defense that can hold New England and Philadelphia to those kind of numbers gives its team a chance to win any game.

It's the run defense. I do think the NE running backs sliced through or ran over the defense. I grudgingly agree with Wist on the point that NE could've run for lots and lots of yards had they run it more.

[pbmax]

Several of us suggested this, as early as last season, but due to injuries, they haven't had the LB horses to do it

It was a move a lot of people discussed trying to upgrade the talent on the field. My concern was coverage and it has been borne out, however the pluses have outweighed the negatives so far.

I think it will be wise for Dom to keep changing personnel not only to get the best matchup, but I suspect teams could take greater advantage of Clay if they knew each game he will be the dime ILB. The Patriots got one by him in the second half by flooding his zone. Matthews reacted to the first guy, even though he had help there, and the next guy was wide open.

[pbmax]

I kept calling and calling and following Stubby around Green Bay to tell them our ideas - until the restraining order, that is.

Did you use Cellcom?

[pbmax]

Yeah I don't agree that Dom and Ted are a perfect fit. Ted operates with the only decent philosophy for today's NFL. You live and die by the draft and fish for bargains in FA. All that youth and inexperience is an issue for any coach but it seems especially tough for Dom's schemes.

I have mentioned this before but I am nearly convinced that the Steelers unconventional player personnel structure (esp. college side) was not just a reaction to Dan Rooney booting his brother Art Rooney Jr. out of the department (he had been the GM) in the mid-80s, but also a reaction to the needs of the 3-4 defense Cowher/Capers/LeBeau wanted to run. Cowher wanted a hand in personnel and the roster and I think finding the correct D personnel was always an issue.

When Capers and LeBeau left and Haslett was the DC, they changed the LBs. When LeBeau came back, they changed them again.

[mraynrand]

It was a move a lot of people discussed trying to upgrade the talent on the field. My concern was coverage and it has been borne out, however the pluses have outweighed the negatives so far.

I think it will be wise for Dom to keep changing personnel not only to get the best matchup, but I suspect teams could take greater advantage of Clay if they knew each game he will be the dime ILB. The Patriots got one by him in the second half by flooding his zone. Matthews reacted to the first guy, even though he had help there, and the next guy was wide open.

I suggested moving Clay there as the new "W" position - like Woodson, except that in Clay's case, he would shuttle three positions: DL, OLB, Safety, where Woodson shuffled LB, Safety, Corner. But the freelancing aspect is what I liked, because Clay was getting eaten up by LTs.

And you're right about the coverage. Cheat game-planned to get Vereen (I think) across from Clay as much as possible to exploit his limitations in coverage.

mix it up, keep 'em guessing. Even if you're out of position from time to time (as the Packer D was against NE), the switching schemes and formations can befuddle an offense, even one led by Brady.

[mraynrand]

Did you use Cellcom?

man, that's embarrassing. Was it really worth the coin, Stubby? I expected Cobb to say "Yeah, what is ya, ignorant?"

[Fritz]

It was a move a lot of people discussed trying to upgrade the talent on the field. My concern was coverage and it has been borne out, however the pluses have outweighed the negatives so far.

I think it will be wise for Dom to keep changing personnel not only to get the best matchup, but I suspect teams could take greater advantage of Clay if they knew each game he will be the dime ILB. The Patriots got one by him in the second half by flooding his zone. Matthews reacted to the first guy, even though he had help there, and the next guy was wide open.

I wonder if some of this recent success is a result of having fewer injured players and thus being able to field a defense that is not only more talented but better understands the schemes and calls as well. There seems to be less confusion and Capers seems to be able to dial up more shit than he has in the past. Maybe Clinton-Dix deserves a lot of credit; he seems to understand a lot for a rookie. Dom finally isn't being forced to play raw rookies everywhere.

[pbmax]

I wonder if some of this recent success is a result of having fewer injured players and thus being able to field a defense that is not only more talented but better understands the schemes and calls as well. There seems to be less confusion and Capers seems to be able to dial up more shit than he has in the past. Maybe Clinton-Dix deserves a lot of credit; he seems to understand a lot for a rookie. Dom finally isn't being forced to play raw rookies everywhere.

Health definitely helps. Not sure about number of calls. It was the offseason goal to make fewer adjustments and play more personnel, but I am not sure that has led to fewer alignments or coverages. It might mean he is tweaking game plans less to cover shortcomings.

[George Cumby]

Agreed, Fritz. HHCD has solidified the back end and the new practice schedule seems to have solved (fingers crossed) the injury problem. Dunderd-dominator is now weapons free and can dial up all sorts of stuff that he can't with an injury depleted squad.

That's what I think this week but the winds of a fan's heart blow fickle.

[pbmax]

On Matthews evolving role:

“Believe me, there’s an awareness on my part in terms of the number of times he’s rushing and dropping. The bottom line is, what gives us the best chance of getting them stopped? He’s done a nice job with the run. You just obviously have to be conscious of how much you’re asking him to go backwards and how much you’re asking him to go forwards.”

http://www.espnwisconsin.com/page.php?page_id=278

[Cheesehead Craig]

Agreed, Fritz. HHCD has solidified the back end and the new practice schedule seems to have solved (fingers crossed) the injury problem. Dunderd-dominator is now weapons free and can dial up all sorts of stuff that he can't with an injury depleted squad.

That's what I think this week but the winds of a fan's heart blow fickle.

I think that the drafting of HHCD did almost as much as getting the man himself. The Safeties were put on notice that they were going to be replaced and I think it stepped up their game.

[deake]

It's the run defense. I do think the NE running backs sliced through or ran over the defense. I grudgingly agree with Wist on the point that NE could've run for lots and lots of yards had they run it more.

I think one of the problems in the NE game was the absence of Perry, Neal doesn't set the edge as well as Perry and when Elliott came in he didn't set the edge at all.

[mraynrand]

Health definitely helps. Not sure about number of calls. It was the offseason goal to make fewer adjustments and play more personnel, but I am not sure that has led to fewer alignments or coverages. It might mean he is tweaking game plans less to cover shortcomings.

At first it makes you wonder why other teams don't do no huddle more on the Packers, except that they have versatility within their groupings. Probably another Capers flaw!

[Carolina_Packer]

So, how do you reconcile the defensive performance we saw against New England and the one we saw last night in the second half vs. Atlanta? What gives?

For the X's and O's people on the board, what did you see the Packers trying to do to defend and what adjustments needed to be made? Coverage lapses, no consistent pressure against a patch-work Atlanta line. It should have been easier for Capers to come up with something to take away Julio and Ryan torching them like they did.

Were the schemes sound but the execution just not there? That Shields free release give up on the Jones TD was amazing. It looked like he had no recognition. If he re-directs him at all in his 5 yard window of opportunity, then the safety help may have gotten there in time, it may have thrown off the timing enough or Ryan may have had to go to a different read.

[mraynrand]

Shields obviously wasn't himself. But even after they replaced him with House, they left House on an island against Jones. Obviously the game plan was to allow Jones to catch 200-300 yards and run himself out of the game from pure exhaustion. Another Capers stratagem that worked to perfection. I think a raise is in order.