Remember all the talk about how he "wouldn't play rookies" and all that? I just think Dom likes to do with his own guys. Look at is track record. First couple years, he always does great. Then once he gets set on some guys he likes, his teams tend to descend.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

What rookies should have been played that were not since he has been in GB? His history here shows that he will play guys when they earn playing time. I can't think of a case where a rookie was clearly better than a veteran and was not playing.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

Dom doesn't make players miss tackles, and blow assignments, and fail to get pressure on opposing team QBs.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

This defensive failures is a combination of a few things. First, you don't switch to a 3-4 without having the linebackers to play the defense. You have to, and I reiterate have to, have the bookend OLB which we still don't really have - and this lies in the lab of Uncle Ted. Kudos to what Peppers has done this year - wish we had him 5 years ago. The second thing is the career ending injury to Nick Collins. That was a blow you don't expect or really recover from. Nick was a once in a generation safety with 4.3 speed, covering ability, tackling, and could knock the snot out of a guy. He was Aaron Rodgers on defense, masking our deficiencies.

Throw in all the other injuries to other players, and yes, pretty easy to make Dom a whipping boy. We've finally recovered from bad luck with injuries so let it ride with Dom. We just might have a very good New Year.

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 

That was the big story last year and/or the year before. "The scheme is to complex, the scheme is too specialized." Couldn't play the rooks. Wouldn't play Richardson or that other guy at S last year either. Wouldn't put Datone on the field.

And AJ should have been replaced long ago.

The history shows that as soon as Mike started getting involved with the D, guys started getting ont he field and making plays.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

Do you really think a defensive coordinator has nothing to do with how his players tackle, communicate, or execute the defense? Of course the blame doesn't exclusively fall on a coach, just like it doesn't the players. But a coach absolutely gets some of the blame for poor tackling, technique, years of massive communication breakdowns, historical defensive failures in the playoffs, etc.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 

Sorry but that is crap. Sure the scheme is complex, so it takes rookies time to learn it to become ready to play, but rookies and young players have consistently earned more playing time as the season goes on. Richardson, Datone, Daniels, Boyd, Hayward, Hyde, Ha-Ha. Its not difference with the offense, players earn field time by their performance in practice, and when they prove on the field, they earn more play time.

Originally Posted by: PackFanWithTwins 

Soon as Mike gets involved with that side of the ball, suddenly younger guys are playing. And playing well.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann