Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
Another story around the job he has done.. however this one digs a little deeper and some nuts and bolts included.

Enjoy..


Capers' defense successful despite Packers' many injuries 

Green Bay The rise of the Green Bay Packers to the top rung in scoring defense despite a maelstrom of injuries is a tribute to the players, the coaches and the scheme.

Above all, it is a tribute to Dom Capers, who has held firm to his fire-zone scheme and reaped the benefits in Year 2 as defensive coordinator in Green Bay.

"He's done an outstanding job," said Mike Trgovac, the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator from 2003-'08 who joined Capers as defensive line coach last year.

"As an ex-coordinator, the one thing I'm most impressed with Dom is he stays the course. He's never too high. He's never too low. He never panics. He believes in his system."

A month ago, the Packers ranked 12th in points allowed. After allowing merely 30 points in the last four games, they lead the National Football League in points allowed with 166, just ahead of Chicago (172), Pittsburgh (181), the New York Jets (187) and Baltimore (188).

The ranking is a source of pride within the organization, which hasn't finished a season allowing the fewest points since its last championship in 1996 (210).

"All the other stats . . . third down, turnovers, all of them really become insignificant when it comes to really measuring a good defense," safeties coach Darren Perry said. "It comes down to the points allowed."

Starters Morgan Burnett, Nick Barnett and Brad Jones all were on injured reserve by Oct. 27. Situational substitutes Justin Harrell, Brady Poppinga, Mike Neal and Brandon Chillar also are on that season-ending list, as is Derrick Martin.

By the numbers, six defensive starters have missed a total of 23 games, and 11 defensive subs have missed a total of 41 games.

Neither category accounts for the eight weeks safety Atari Bigby spent on the physically unable to perform list or the nine weeks for cornerback Al Harris, both of whom started in 2009.

No NFL team has had the weight of injury press down upon it this season quite like Green Bay.

Through the lineup juggling, the street signings and the time involved with tutoring players for new jobs, Capers never once came across as nonplused.

"He trusts his assistants to teach guys what they need to know," Trgovac said. "He's going to call his game. He's not a big believer in changing a bunch of things because a guy is out."

On early downs, Capers uses a 3-4 front with a safety down to curtail the run. His base coverage in that look is "man free" in which the other safety is deep and just everyone else is playing man-to-man.

Earlier in the season, the Packers played mostly Cover-2 and Cover-2 Man on third down. Now it's a mix of coverages.

"If you were scouting us on third down and tried to say, 'Listen, you're going to get this coverage 70, 80% of the time,' I don't think you could say that," said Perry.

By design, the Packers also are unpredictable in the red zone. In the words of cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt, "We were horrible last year in the red zone. Now I think we're much improved."

Ranked 28th in red-zone efficiency a year ago, Green Bay is tied for 15th now. It's a reflection of having allowed just six touchdown passes of 20 yards or less compared to a whopping 27 in 17 games last year.

Capers doesn't employ a wide variety of personnel packages. If the opponent is running effectively, he will jump into a "Bear" front. For three-quarters of the game, the Packers generally play a 4-2 or 3-3 and, on occasion, the "Psycho" 1-5 grouping.

"When you look at our package, it doesn't seem like a whole hell of a lot," Trgovac said. "But a team playing you, you see a look and you can bring this and this and this. I love the flexibility of it."

Perry, who played free safety under Capers in Pittsburgh from 1992-'94, acknowledged that the coordinator is pressuring less these days. Through 11 games, Capers has rushed five or more on 31.8% of passes (up from 27% in '09) and six or more merely 3.3% (down from 4.5%).

Out of 453 dropbacks, the Packers have rushed six 13 times and seven twice. Interestingly, Capers has rushed three or fewer (17.2%) almost twice as often as last year (8.8%).

"A lot of the scheme is four-man, but you don't know which four," Trgovac said. "Some is five-man, but you don't know which five. When you get into all that six-man and seven-man stuff, that's where a lot of the big plays come from."

The Packers have yielded six passes of 35 yards or more, but merely one touchdown pass longer than 23. A pass rush ranked fifth is one factor. Tramon Williams' sensational season is a second. Fewer blown assignments are a third.

"Communication," Whitt said. "That was our issue last year. We cleaned things up as a staff and we don't have those issues now."

Clay Matthews leads the NFL in sacks with 11, but only four were the classic variety in which he beat a tackle. Some were pure hustle plays by Matthews, while still others were the result of Capers freeing Matthews with various zone blitzes, stunts and rush locations.

"He helps all of them," said Whitt. "If you show you can make plays, he will create chances for you."

The combination of rush and coverage has enabled the defense to rank second behind only Chicago in opponents' passer rating (70.0). Moreover, Green Bay is tied for seventh in take-aways with 21.

Based on rankings, the fall of a run defense from No. 1 in 2009 to No. 18 this year might appear to be a serious blemish. But the yields of 112.6 and 4.50 per carry would be 90.2 and 4.05 if the composite quarterbacks' rushing totals (30-246-8.2) were eliminated.

If Capers has said it once in interviews he has said it 100 times, stopping the run is at the core of what he seeks to do each week.

"It's a hard team to run against because they play physical up front, they fly to the football and they got a bunch of big bodies," an NFL personnel director said at midweek. "They're smart, they're tough and they're big.

"Dom does a great job of mixing up his blitzes and getting to the quarterback. I think they're well-coached. They get more out of less.

"If you can protect the passer, I think you can get to them a little bit with the pass. But they've got a guy (Matthews) who arguably is playing as good as any defensive player in the league right now. You have to account for him within the scheme."

After the Packers return home from each road game, the 60-year-old Capers immediately breaks down the tape, famously crunches statistics, sleeps in his office and is set with the plan for the day when the assistants arrive by 5 a.m.

"We come off the plane, he does not go home," said Whitt. "Seriously. He's a tireless worker, he's honest, he's down the line and he listens. That's why the players respect him so much."

So far, the 25th NFL season for Capers has been one of his finest.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Pack93z
  • Pack93z
  • Select Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
This shows a pretty good illustration of how special the 01' Ravens defense was... But we are looking solid so far.

HOW THEY STACK UP

The NFL leader in points allowed since 2000, as well as the Green Bay Packers' points allowed and NFL ranking:


Year 	Leader, points     GB points 	Rank
2009 	NY Jets, 236 	        297 	7
2008 	Pittsburgh, 223 	380 	22
2007 	Indianapolis, 262 	291 	T6
2006 	Baltimore, 201   	366 	T25
2005 	Chicago, 202 	        344 	T19
2004 	Pittsburgh, 251 	380 	23
2003 	New England, 238 	307 	11
2002 	Tampa Bay, 196 	        328 	12
2001 	Chicago, 203 	        266 	5
2000 	Baltimore, 165   	323 	14


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (58m) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (58m) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (2h) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (14h) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (14h) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (14h) : Tom*
Martha Careful (22h) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
24m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

34m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

38m / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

12h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Around The NFL / bboystyle

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / wpr

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / wpr

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / wpr

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / wpr

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.