So what happens now?

[Fritz]

Thing is, in a pass happy league, losing your #1 & #2 CBs is bound to hurt badly; maybe not immediately but over time opponents find out why they are backup CBs. Then when your #3 CB misses a monthly along with the only pass rusher who attracts attention, it gets even worse. Now it looks like they will be without their starting ILBs. There are a million built in excuses, especially when they can say they played "OK" the first month.

I prefer to look at the entire body of work, and say that with many changes of personnel, in the last 6 years Capers defenses have not had a single strong feature. Enough is enough.

Someone has to be the scapegoat for this season. Two years ago it was Slocom and a couple random assistants. It's Capers turn.

Mikey Mike has a long history of ditching assistants from time to time. Whether that' s smart or just covering for your own inadequacies is hard to say. But I would agree that despite the injuries, something's gotta be done. Capers' defenses have not been of championship caliber - closest was 2014, but then I can't get the image of Micah Hyde allowing a cross-field two-point conversion pass float over his head.

My guess is that Capers will "retire," and we'll try someone else. I dunno who. Problem is, the offense has not been altogether productive the past couple of years, and that's been with a healthy Rodgers. Can McCarthy fire himself? And not just as offensive coordinator, either.

My guess is that the organization takes the long view - the whole "even Pittsburgh has its down years" thing. Maybe that's the best approach. But the whole organization seems to be losing its luster. Has been for some time now.

Time for Ted to go? Or is it just all these injuries? Ah, hell.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I predict that Capers is fired but his hair piece stays on.

[Harlan Huckleby]

My guess is that the organization takes the long view - the whole "even Pittsburgh has its down years" thing. Maybe that's the best approach. But the whole organization seems to be losing its luster. Has been for some time now.

The organization had its luster even in the 80s.

I find it comical that people expect the home team to be better than 8-8 every year. The NFL is not Lake Wobegone. The occasional down years thing really is a thing.

Firing Capers is silly, IMO. I remember the pans to the coaching booth in September/October when the defense was playing well. The announcers hailed Capers as the Grand Old Man of defensive coaching.

Losing the top 2 corners is not fixable, and they lost more than that.

[VegasPackFan]

As to TT, yes, I think he blew it this year with the Rb situation. HOWEVER, weren't his methods of not blowing big FA $$'s and building through the draft universally praised in the media and NFL circles the last few years? I'm still not a big fan of bringing in guys that have already had their best years and too often coast on a big FA contract as part of this team. At the same time, I'm thinking maybe just a little more balance in this area. Take a few measured chances on key guys. And for God sakes at least draft a fast, multi-dimension RB this year. We passed on a bunch of those for some reason.

[Smidgeon]

The organization had its luster even in the 80s.

I find it comical that people expect the home team to be better than 8-8 every year. The NFL is not Lake Wobegone. The occasional down years thing really is a thing.

Firing Capers is silly, IMO. I remember the pans to the coaching booth in September/October when the defense was playing well. The announcers hailed Capers as the Grand Old Man of defensive coaching.

Losing the top 2 corners is not fixable, and they lost more than that.

Since when are you supposed to be a voice of reason? Is there some sort of subtle sarcastic criticism I'm missing here?

[pittstang5]

This may be a little off topic, but wasn't Jerry Montgomery hired to take over for Capers, when the "time was right." I thought I read that somewhere.

[denverYooper]

What happens is that the Packers try a few things that ultimately don't magically cover up the lack of talent and finish no better than 6-10.

Assuming MM stays I expect the following:
1) Capers goes, as a scapegoat, and for not being able to scheme for limited talent (hard to say who can).
2) Offensive coaching structure changes. Right now you have MM, an offensive minded HC who calls the plays, Tom Clements - Associate Head Coach/Offense, and Edgar Bennett - Offensive Coordinator. This is looking and feeling like a too many cooks situation.
3) Develop a scheme for beating man coverage.
4) Figure out what is wrong with Rodger's deep balls and either fix it with an improved training regiment, or scheme away from it.

Re #4, Cook made some of those deep balls look a little more on the mark.

[SMBASS]

More than likely nothing. "We do what we do.", "What difference at this point does it make?", etc., etc., etc. The most I see happening is possibly replacing Dom at the end of the season and I'm not even sure about that.

[red]

Yes the defense sucks and is badly injured

However, 24 points isn't gonna win a ton of games in today's NFL. The offense is also badly broken, for almost 2 years now, without the huge injury excuse (except for jordy last year)

[pbmax]

Mikey Mike has a long history of ditching assistants from time to time. Whether that' s smart or just covering for your own inadequacies is hard to say. But I would agree that despite the injuries, something's gotta be done. Capers' defenses have not been of championship caliber - closest was 2014, but then I can't get the image of Micah Hyde allowing a cross-field two-point conversion pass float over his head.

My guess is that Capers will "retire," and we'll try someone else. I dunno who. Problem is, the offense has not been altogether productive the past couple of years, and that's been with a healthy Rodgers. Can McCarthy fire himself? And not just as offensive coordinator, either.

I know that he has dumped assistants before, but honestly, is there any assistant he has punted that you wish to see return? He is too loyal, not too ruthless.

[pbmax]

Re #4, Cook made some of those deep balls look a little more on the mark.

Those fade routes were right out of college. Specifically Spurrier. Fun to see a "relatively" easy throw.

Also, despite limitations, Cobb competes like a madman. He volunteered for punt return duty AND he went after that jump ball like he was Darryl Dawkins and not Maurice Cheeks.

[Bretsky]

I'd be a fan of Sean Payton or Hoodie Genius JR

[Carolina_Packer]

As to TT, yes, I think he blew it this year with the Rb situation. HOWEVER, weren't his methods of not blowing big FA $$'s and building through the draft universally praised in the media and NFL circles the last few years? I'm still not a big fan of bringing in guys that have already had their best years and too often coast on a big FA contract as part of this team. At the same time, I'm thinking maybe just a little more balance in this area. Take a few measured chances on key guys. And for God sakes at least draft a fast, multi-dimension RB this year. We passed on a bunch of those for some reason.

I've read other comments like this and I just don't get it. How do we know what they would have done with RB depth, had John Crockett not gotten hurt coming out of preseason? I think they would have kept him as depth, and perhaps Perillo would have been a roster casualty sooner than last week. TT finds players and helps shape the roster, but I'm sure MM has a lot of say over roster decisions, and whether they keep two or three RB's coming out of preseason. Knowing that they grade each player, and likely try and keep the best 53, perhaps they thought the extra WR was more valuable and talented than the third RB, with what was left after Crockett's injury. Perhaps that guy was able to play special teams better. You know what we can all agree on? Injuries suck. They have affected the level of play and how MM and staff is able to coordinate the offense, and certainly the defensive calls with all of those green players, too.

Now, nobody expects GB to run the ball, but I think they should keep trying to do so. Establish it with the guys you have. Create better down and distance for the passing attack. Keep the offense on the field longer, putting pressure on the opposing offense by hopefully scoring points, and eating clock, which keeps the defense off the field more. There's your defense.

On defense, you HAVE to stop the run. Period! If they can stop the run and not count on DB help to generate a pass rush, then they won't have to leave their inexperienced corners out to dry as they struggle to realize coverage and are probably thinking too much (and panicking based on their previous performances).

[Cheesehead Craig]

However, 24 points isn't gonna win a ton of games in today's NFL.

The Packers do average 24.7 ppg this season, which is 11th best in the NFL. They give up 27.6 ppg, which is 6th worst.

24 ppg is enough to win plenty in the NFL, it's just when your defense allows more than that is the problem. The offense may have it's issues, but the defense is just turrible.

[Zool]

However, 24 points isn't gonna win a ton of games in today's NFL.

Well math would disagree with you.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/t...sition/defense