Capers & Our Defense

My 2 biggest questions regarding Capers over the years have been 1) why does his defense not play better and 2) why do they collapse at the worst possible times?  This article indicates that since the Seattle debacle, the boot dropped play calling duties so he could focus on what the defensive coaches were pissing around with.  It appears teams had not concerns running or passing the ball against our defense before that.

 

http;//www.jsonline.com/sports...0890xb98g67860-6776csf896.html

I think the Wizard got new reading glasses.  

Would anyone be on board with making Joe Philbin our new Defensive Coordinator?

Too Funny.

Capers simplifies

Capers adjusts

Capers makes defense up-tempo

Capers, Capers, Capers

 

Right.

 

 

I think EKB's article is a good example of keeping things simple so X4 members can read fast. I think it will lead to less blown comprehension. 

WHAT?

The last year that a Capers D was winning games for the Packers was 2010. That year they had lots of IR guys and they were forced to play many inexperienced guys. So far this year the D looks good and again they are playing more inexperienced (1st/2nd year) guys - Pennel, Palmer, Thomas, Rollins, Randall, Dix. 

 

Interesting stat - in games Rodgers finished:

    In 2010 the Packers where 5-0 (including playoffs) when the Offense had 200 or less NET passing yards.

    In 2015 the Packers are (so far) 2-0 when the Offense has 200 or less NET passing yards.

 

They can win without AR being all everything with a Capers defense playing aggressively. They are running the ball well and stopping the run well. As much as the NFL has become a passing league, rush offense and defense are still extremely important!

 

 

What?

I'm sure the simplified playbook and better communication are big reasons for the defensive success so far, but I think we are also seeing the change in personnel make a difference. Having a legit NT like Raji makes a HUGE difference for the rest of the D and getting rid of less aggressive players like Hawk and Brad Jones in favor of more aggressive players like Joe Thomas and Nate Palmer is making a difference. That's not to say Joe Thomas and Nate Palmer are doing great, but they're playing fast and aggressive. Having a stronger interior presence though with Raji, Daniels and Guion is so critical though. Those guys make life so much easier on everyone.

How much is the change due to replacing the "assignment sure" Barrington with the faster Palmer/Thomas?  Things certainly picked up in the run defense after Barrington went down.

       
       

RIGHT!! Remember when new glasses helped Ricky "Wildthing" Vaughn? It all makes sense now.

I’ve been very critical of Capers these last few years.  Outside of 2010, this defense has underperformed year in, year out.  Do you know they’ve used 6 first round draft picks on this defense  since 2009 (Raji, CMIII, Jones, Perry, Randall, Clinton-Dix) compared to just 2 by the offense?  One explanation is that TT sucks at drafting defense; another explanation is that the talent is just not being developed.  I’m sure it’s a little of both but 6 first round picks in the last 6 years…….come on. 

 

Anyways, outside of Chicago, they’ve looked great this season.  And I give the credit to Capers for turning it around.  MM being more involved has probably helped.  Shedding Hawk/Jones in the middle has added way more speed and playmaking.  But I believe Raji getting back at NT has been the key.  A 3-4 defense is only as strong as it’s NT and Raji’s been a stud this year.  If a 3-4 defense can’t hold the point of attack, nothing else works.  Raji’s doing that and it shows with how well the linebackers and DE’s are playing.  

 

I’m getting excited about this defense because it’s reminding me of 2010.  And this defense will continue to improve this year.  Randall, Rollins and Gunter will all get better as the season progresses, possibly jumping Hayward and Hyde on the depth chart.  Plus, Burnett hasn’t played much at all this year.  If he can get healthy, he’s a huge improvement over Hyde/Richardson/Banjo.  

I agree with you, but if you look at that list of first rounders, the only ones we haven't gotten good production of are Perry and Jones. Perry's development has been severely hampered by injury issues and Jones was going to be a project from the beginning. Randall is still an incomplete at this point also, but early returns are promising. So 3/5 have produced well for this D, but that's only 3 players out of 11. The first rounders aren't the problem. It's been subpar talent at key positions (I.e. ILB and Safety). It's not a surprise that the D has so far been better without Hawk and Jones as starters, just like it wasn't surprising when our Safety play picked up when we weren't starting MD Jennings and Jerron McMillan.

It would be an interesting study to look at how the D players picked in the 20 spots before and after our RD1's have done in the last five years.  Could be there just weren't better D options available at our picks or that high round D talent is harder to ID than high round O talent.  Or we're not so good at drafting D.

THIS MAY GO TO THE POINT OF STREAMLINING THE DEFENSIVE PLAY CALLING.  BUT AS WHIPPERSNAPPER GOPHER DIGGER POINTED OUT THE COMMUNICATION IS LIKELY BETTER DUE TO THE ADDITION OF THE BOOT.

Yeah I agree but you'd hope to get more than "good production" out of 6 first round picks.  Yes, not all can be pro bowlers but this entire defense has seen 2 pro bowlers in the last 5 years: Woodson and CMIII.   That's pretty pathetic.  And I think that's been a big issue with this defense, the overall lack of playmakers outside of CMIII.

The depth at OLB has been key. You have Neal and Perry contributing, Elliot starting have an impact as well. This allows Matthews to freelance everywhere, which makes him the most dangerous player on the D. And don't discount the stabilizing effect HHCD is having. It's making a period without Birnett still successful.

"making a period" might belong in another thread

DOM CAPERS IN A COOL FONT!  SO 70's!  

 

Was this the font used in title for Bosom Buddies?  

 

And now I've realized that it's quite likely no one else is seeing this bitchin' font.    

More under-rated show: Bosom Buddies or Soap?

Awsum question H5!

 

 

I think that was the "That's Incredible" font.  Also Three's Company.

Thanks to everyone for refusing to let the joke die. I was getting worried for a while.

 

What, you worry?

Defense is recovering from two bad drafts and personnel misjudgments at both positions. Lots of factors contributing to the noticeable defensive improvement but I'd put personnel at the top of the list.  

Disagree.

I'd put the "boot" at the top of the list

McGinn's Sunday column dwells on the rapidly improving GB run defense. Some good stuff.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...129z1-331904641.html

Interesting piece.

 

McGinn's linking of better defensive line play with their to no longer having to cover for the woeful A.J. Hawk and whatever useless running partner they paired him with since Bishop came up lame makes a whole lot of sense.

 

Hard to believe that substituting a converted OLBer drafted in the 6th round (Palmer) and undersized UDFA (Thomas) for a former top 5 overall pick and a guy who signed a pretty hefty second contract could do such wonders for the D. 

 

I guess it doesn't really matter how assignment sure you are if you lack the physical ability to make the plays.

 

 

Speed kills and the Packers defense is loaded with it this year. 

 

Jones, Hawk,Tramon, House = slow

A simplified scheme allowing the young players to excel = BOOT

Neal, Perry, Datone = healthy

And we could already see last year the benefits of moving Clay inside = brilliant

 

all of these things = much better 2015 defense

 

When this D has been successful it's been the DL setting the tone and making plays.  Raji is playing as well as he ever has and its making a big difference. 

We are also seeing really good spot contributions from guys like Jayrone and Neal and Perry and you need that because it means they are doing their jobs.

I also think teams have figured out its really hard to throw on this D.  The Packers are loaded at the DB position and it's only going to get better once Randall and Rollins get more reps.

Good piece from McGinn. The mystery to me will always be why the organization stuck with an inadequate Hawk for so long.

 

The resurrection of Levon Kirkland types at ILB.  This is when having your aggressive, fast lightweights like Joe Thomas become important in coverage packages.

 

The old scheme was like its own prevent defense.  Prevent the ILB from getting trucked.

 

Moar please.  

I'd also add that Nate Palmer can run with guys in coverage.  He just needs some coaching on getting his head turned around.  Whitt and Perry should be giving primers to these young guys in the middle.

 

I fully expect all the Zombos, Mulumbas, etc coming in as UDFAs now being scouted as ILB projects.  But you keep that crazy Jayrone outside.

Great post, I literally said the same thing to my son during the Seattle game about teaching Palmer to turn and face the ball upon arrival.

 

However, it is so refreshing to actually see an inside linebacker running with a TE in coverage instead of hopelessly lagging behind like we saw from #50 for so many years. And Palmer is just learning coverage after being an OLBer until I think there is hope he can improve his technique.