Obviously we’re past Capers’ second year in Green Bay. That said, Aaron Nalger just tweeted the following :



I don’t know if I buy it. I also don’t remember talk of it last season, but you guys are the only people with whom I really talk about the Packers. So if it didn’t show up here, I probably didn’t see it.

Anyway, it’s a disturbing thought. Do you all think it holds water? Anyone who has the football-research-fu willing to check it out? If it is the case, is it a scheme thing or a personal thing? Things are obviously broken this season and no one seems to be able to put a finger on exactly what is wrong with the defense. Perhaps it’s some kind of bug about Dom Capers.

---

What's frustrating is that the Packers continue to give up the big pass play each week. What happened to our ability to shut down an opponent's pass game? We can stop the run pretty well, but that pass defense needs to be shored up if we're going to get to and win the Super Bowl.

---

I highly, highly doubt this.

Firstly, are we talking about Capers time as HC, or just as DC? He was only DC of the Steelers and Dolphins, and was fired as Dolphins DC after his second year.

If we include his time as HC, then we have to understand he was HC both times of expansion teams. Really, anyone willing to draw conclusive evidence from his time as HC of expansion teams is overlooking the steep, steep hill Capers faced from the start. It's really hard to say his sample size is reasonable to make such a conclusion.

Frankly, the fact is we've had communication issues. It's hard to blame Capers for this... in fact especially since the scheme that gives the freedom to Tramon / Charles to opt out of coverages also generates the turnovers that have saved our ass this year. You'd expect the players to be able to pass of receivers, especially since they did it effectively last year.

Then there is the fact that, outside of Claymaker, there is no other persistent pass-rushing threat. That is a huge problem. Getting to the QB will create an improvement for our pass D, and we have no one that can consistently do that other than Clay. Neal is hurt. Raji is not the answer (perhaps he could be if he did not play almost every snap, but then that would bring with it other problems). Walden/Zombo can definitely be improved upon. I think I saw Brad Jones pass-rushing on the play that gates scored the TD from inside the redzone. When you are relying on a player like Brad Jones to generate a rush... well you most definitely have personnel problems at OLB.

Finally, there is the fact that (as Wilde points, via Pat Kirwan column back during the lockout)  teams are prepared for Capers' scheme and have worked on developing ways to exploit it. Almost all teams have come out masterfully against this D; their scripted players are specifically designed to attack Capers. When you are the top dog, you should expect to be targeted. Capers D scheme has been.

Really, we are what we are this season. We can improve tackling, and frankly the communication issues can be cleared up as well. There is no reason why we cannot limit our big plays and return to being a dominating run D. That should be sufficient enough to give us a shot to repeat as champs.

But it is obvious that in the off-season we will need to improve our defensive personnel, namely to improve our pass-rush and coverage from LBs. Maybe Chillar is healed and brought back, because he'd bring a much needed skill set. Improved talent would most definitely help Capers. Frankly, I would not point the finger at Capers, although that is not to say he cannot devise ways to better respond to the way teams are attacking his scheme at the start of games. But Capers is not the problem, and he most definitely is part of whatever solution going forward.

---

Agreed. Unlike his predecessor, Capers can do it with smoke and mirrors if necessary. Look at all the players he lost last year, and he still got it done. If/when Neal returns, that's gonna be a huge boost to the defense. Losing Collins hurt as well. I think Raji's having to play out of position, in an effort to get push from the outside, which is what Jenkins did last year, and what Neal is supposed to be doing this year. Remember the implosion of 2008? Well this time we're at least winning despite it all.
Another factor is that we went up against a really good team this week.

---

Good team or not there were far too many blown coverages which led to touchdowns. That is NOT the same as good coverage not mattering because the talent the defender was up against.

---

Difference between last year and this year ... Pass rush was better. Last year we we're able to get to the QB, this year most often it's like we're almost there but don't get it done. You give the QB time he will find a WR open. Last year the blitz rushes we're so good that the opposing QB's we're rattled & that has to do with the play of our d-line. I'm not too worried too, this problems could be adjusted due the talent on defense.

* I hope Neal provides that extra boost for the line, cause we could use a pass rushing d-lineman.

---

Recently I took the position that the main problem on defense was the secondary, or at least, coverage breakdowns. Right now I'm convinced it's a deadlocked tie between the inconsistent pass rush and coverage breakdowns. For example, look at Desmond Bishop. You could argue Gates destroyed him, but Bishop also played an integral part in the Peprah INT that put 6 points on the board. On that play, Rivers had a little bit of inside pressure and forced the throw on a bad angle. Look at Tramon: when he got hung out with no safety help, Rivers and Jackson made him pay. However, on the nifty Cover 2 zone play, he started back at a deep flat zone that mirrored a cover 3. When Woodson back pedaled into the deep half, Tramon sprinted to the flat to make the INT and pick-six. This defense can make plays when they are assignment sure and there's a little pressure.

But there were simply too many times yesterday where the 5-6 man pressures were picked up and/or there were communication/assignment breakdowns in the secondary. Though Peprah made a couple of huge game changing plays, he also bit on play action and hung Tramon out to dry. Burnett did the same thing. Woodson had too many penalties (though some were suspect). The linebackers were schooled in the open field when covering the RBs.

My biggest concern is that one day Rodgers is going to be human and throw a couple of picks or get sack stripped. Without him throwing 3-4 TDs a game and being the bastion of efficiency, the defense won't be able to get away with giving up 350+ passing yards and multiple big plays. To think that there have been some really close games with the unprecedented level of quarterback play from Rodgers is, well, troubling.

---

Inconsistent pass rush? What are you talking about, the Packers consistently don't rush the passer.

---

I didn't like letting Jenkins go, I don't like it now.

We seem snake-bit with Neal's health, (It has the small scent of a Justin Harrel feel to it 🙏 ) our "other" OLB besides Matthews isn't doing his job-whichever one it might be on a given play, and we miss Collins.

Dom is either ham-strung due to personnel shortcomings or is too slow/conservative to react to changing circumstances.

Our offensive line is starting to piss me off again.

(Sorry, had to get that one in while I was bitching, lol)

Aaron looks like the best ever, to me. (Equal opportunity praise-thing)

8-0 I have to trust the veteran leadership/pride to right the defensive ship, and have quite a bit of confidence that they will do so, as I do with Dom. I think he plays the "percentages" too much, which makes us (fans) nervous...

...That can be a good thing coming off this last game. My bet is that we "dial it up" on the pressure packages this week.

If we never rushed 3 again, I'd be happy, but I'm just a friggin' fan, and want to smash the friggin' QB on the other team.

---