I think my problem with the 3 man rush is that it is too reactive. Indeed, I think that's my problem with the Packer D in general.
I think the Capers approach is more "read-and-react." Buddy Ryan's 4-6, or in earlier days, the Purple People Eaters or the Lombardi/Hanner/Bengston defense were more attack-and-make-the-other-guy-adjust.
Attack defenses depend on good, but disciplined tackling. Not on the killer highlight-film shot, but sound wrap-up-and-drive-through-the-guy tackling. It doesn't mean freelancing, it means "We're not afraid of you, we're coming through *here* and you have to stop us or you're dead."
Read-and-react depends above all on having more acceleration -- acceleration through the hole the offensive scheme reveals after snap, closing speed if you're in coverage. Speed that sees the hole one guy is leaving and getting there before the other guy closes it. Speed that sees where the guy in front of you is going and beating him there. If you are Nick Collins or Tramon (before injury) or Sir Chuck before last year, it works. And it is the kind of thing that can yield lots of INTS even when you don't have that acceleration edge, because by reading, you see the other guy's mistakes and can take advantage of them.
But if the other guy doesn't make a mistake, and something happens to lose that acceleration edge (aging for Woodson, injury for Collins and Williams, bad tackling technique, you get big plays the other way and the other team moving down the field. And unless the acceleration edge is profound, you don't get sacks and you don't get quarterback pressure.
And the three man rush is the ultimate in read-and-react. Rush three and you're almost guaranteed to give the QB extra time. And because even a weak-noodle quarterback can put more speed on the ball than the fastest DB can run, that means you pretty need an error by the other guy to stop them.
Three man rush = "React, react, react."
I want a defense that is "
You react,
you react,
YOU react."
[grin1]
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)