The single biggest question facing the Green Bay Packers this offseason is their secondary. Heading into the NFC Championship Game, PFF identified the biggest potential liability for each remaining team in the playoffs, and for Green Bay it was “the entire secondary.” That proved to be painfully accurate for the Packers, as the unit conspired to let Julio Jones in particular run riot and put them to the sword in Atlanta’s 44-21 win.

The issue isn’t just that the secondary is bad, which would be a question that needed to be answered, but with at least a clear and definitive pathway to do so. The issue is more that it’s young, and has now shown play at either extreme of the spectrum.

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Originally Posted by: Smokey 

The GM had us stocked. The training staff couldn't keep them on the field.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

Stocked ? Training staff ?

Nerd, watch a little less of Barney the Dinosaur, please . The training staff is concerned with preventing and then attending to player injuries. Placing the blame on them for players on field injuries is crazy. As for the GM's "stocking" the team, he ordered poor products.

A new GM and a new DC should change the Packers focus from Offense to Defense. The less points a Packer Defense allows, the better off the Offense (and Aaron Rodgers) will fare. The Offense should be in better health by next season and key players should be retained. The Defense needs a whole new look.

Only a change of GB's GM and GB's DC can change the Packer focus to be the TOP Defense in the NFL. New players, new on field looks, new practice methods, new thinking .

Originally Posted by: Smokey 

Who can argue against this?

Originally Posted by: MintBaconDrivel 

Keep in mind that this defense's problem is not only the secondary, it's just one of the problems.

The major problem IMO is the pass rush. Our defensive line / linebackers are just not able to make it to the opposing quarterback or to put enough pressure so they can force throws or make mistakes.

The year we won the SB look at our d-line: Ryan Pickett - Cullen Jenkins - C.J. Wilson - Howard Green - B.J. Raji - Jarius Wynn

We finished #2 in the season. I remember opposing offensive lines had to double team Jenkins, which opened up the game for Matthews. On the other hand they double teamed Matthews they had B.J. Raji coming in from the middle of the line.

Defensive line (This year vs SB year)

2010: Jenkins 7 sacks - Raji 6.5 sacks - Wynn 1.5 sack - Green 1 sack Picket 1 sack = 17 sacks only from the d-line.
2016: Daniels 4 sacks - Jones 1 sack - Lowry 2 sacks - Eliott 1 sack = 8 sacks

Fair to say that the defensive line was no where to be found this year to help the passing defense.

Linebackers (This year vs SB year)

2010: CM3 13.5 sacks - Zombo 4 sacks - Bishop 3 sacks - Walden 2 sacks - A.J. Hawk 0.5 sack - Chillar 1 sack - Neal 2 sacks - Poppinga 1 sack = 27 sacks
2016: Julius Peppers 7.5 sacks - Nick Perry 11 sacks - Clay Matthews 5 sacks - Farrell - 2 sacks = 25.5 sacks

As you can tell the linebackers are quite close compared to 2010 season but the defensive line as you can see applied no pressure on the opposing QB's which everyone knows what happens. Opposing QB's tend to rip apart your defensive secondary. Sure the run defense was good this year but let's face it, it's a pass first driven league and when your defense can't stop 3rd downs and long you've got a problem.

The secondary needs to be fixed as well but I don't think it's a big fix. If we can re-sign Hyde, draft some talent or sign a free agent & if Randall or Rollins wake up we should be fine but if there's no pressure from our defensive line to push that line, no matter who the CB is on the opposing side the QB is going to find someone open.

Regardless of all this I still think Capers should be gone! I think this teams defensive players aren't being used to their strengths. I keep saying it over and over, the scheme is broken specially when it comes to the pass game. The middle of the field is way open. Imagine you've got Gunter & Burnett covering Julio Jones and you see that his still killing you maybe it's time to use one of those players to blitz or something or be creative.

Capers isn't what he use to be, the NFL evolved, the QB's got more elite and Caper scheme unfortunately will not get us a SB.

Originally Posted by: shield4life 

Isn't this the egg and chicken story?
If the pass rush is very good the secondary just needs to cover for a short time.
But it the secondary is very good the QB won't find anyone and the pass rush will arrive.

Many QBs are experts against the blitz but no QB can complete a pass if the WR is covered by a shutdown CB.

I say fix the secondary, let the rest play itself.

Originally Posted by: luigis 

Well if our defensive line can apply some pressure without blitzing then we wouldn't have to worry the QB picking up the blitz on those big three downs cause we wouldn't need to blitz as often and disguise our plays.

Originally Posted by: shield4life