Dom Capers had to be smiling during Thursdays night practice when he saw two of his linebackers make outstanding pass breakups while dropping into coverage.
During a team period in which the No. 1 defense worked against the scout-team offense, outside backer Brady Poppinga and inside backer A.J. Hawk defended passes on consecutive plays.
Poppingas came against rookie receiver JaRon Harris, who ran out an out route from the left slot. Poppinga, playing the right outside spot because Clay Matthews and Jeremy Thompson remain out due to injuries, dropped into coverage and quickly broke toward Harris. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn threw the ball perfectly to Harris outside shoulder, but Poppinga closed in a hurry and knocked the ball away.
On the very next play, Hawk trailed tight end Devin Frischknecht on a deep route down the seam. Third-string quarterback Brian Brohm floated the ball and Hawk, with his back to the ball, threw up his hand at the last second and knocked it down.
Covering receivers and tight ends was one of the biggest question marks about this linebacking corps in the switch to the 3-4 defense under Capers but for one night at least, it wasnt a problem.