Will Defense Carry the Day?

section19Member

This team is so mature and unselfish and closely knit. In the midst of the recent tragedy, I'd like to think the defense realizes it seriously needs to support it's bros on the other side of the ball this weekend.

If there is going to be any distractions this week it will obviously be with the offense. Philbin is their guy. I believe the funeral is today.

I'd like to imagine defensive leaders like Woodson, Pickett and Matthews making it clear to their unit that they have to step up big time on Sunday in case the O struggles. Keep the Giants under control so the O doesn't have to get into a shootout. Help carry the load and take the pressure off the O to score every time they have the ball.

I'm hoping it's the D that really steps up this weekend and plays inspired.

P.S. - On the flip side, I don't really feel the O will struggle that much. I think Rodgers & Co. will want to play well for their mourning coach. In a way it does remind me of when Irv passed. The team will be focused and play well because they know that's what their coach would want.

1/12/128:54 AM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

Yes. Next question.

1/12/128:55 AM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

"Carry"? Likely not, but I expect them to be up to the challenge and perform very well. Something new from Dom would not surprise me at all. Have we seen much of the 3-2-6 this year?

1/12/129:06 AM

TdogProspective Member

FWIW, the funeral is Friday

1/12/129:11 AM

michiganjoeMember

quote:
Originally posted by section19:
If there is going to be any distractions this week it will obviously be with the offense.

I see that as more of a rallying point than a distraction.

I've seen no indication that the defense is capable of carrying the day, but they can play better than they have and that's what I expect.

1/12/1212:49 PM

Ryan GrantMember

I don't think they are capable of carrying to be honest. I hope they play much better than they have

1/12/1212:54 PM

fightphoe93Member

If Dom Capers has been holding anything back schematically, now's the time to unleash any blitzes and other stuff he's had under wraps.

If there's one thing I could see Capers doing differently, it would be bringing Matthews on a pass rush from all sorts of different angles and places. I think Capers has been pretty consistent about mostly using Matthews just from that LOLB position and not really moving him from there.

Perhaps he just thinks this 2011 defense blows too many assignments and that's why he hasn't shuffled guys around too much, but maybe he has sort of kept a few tricks up his sleeve that he's about to use in the playoffs.

1/12/1212:58 PM

JackBauerMember

I'd like to think that Capers will come up with a wrinkle or two, but at this point in the season you are what your record says you are (referring to big plays & yards allowed).

The rules have become so relaxed that this IS the new normal. The more telling stat's to me have to be points allowed & takeaways.

The Giant's offense WILL move the ball, but the Special Teams can't afford to give up any points, they need no worse than a draw in turnovers, and Pickett needs to hold the point because we just can't afford to let those backs wear down the DB's.

1/12/121:12 PM

bubbleboy789Member

Definitely not carry. I'd expect them to give up plenty of yards. But I also expect them to limit their big plays and create turnovers.

1/12/121:19 PM

TwinRigMember

Capers and MM talk about limiting the explosive plays. I'm hoping the Packers do well with the fundamenals on Sunday - blocking, tackling and catching the damn ball.

If they do not give up the 50+ yard TDs they should be ok. I can live with one, but not numerous big plays.

1/12/121:30 PM

bubbleboy789Member

big plays were the only reason New York was even in the first game.

go up early, limit big plays, eli will throw up some dumb passes and turn it over.

1/12/121:35 PM

50k ClubMember

Didn't Capers unveil the corner blitz in the playoffs last year (Sam Shields and Woodson)? Or was that earlier? Also, he had Clay blitz up the middle (delayed) against the Eagles in the playoffs as well. Again, I don't know if he was doing that earlier or continued through the playoffs.

I think Dom will rotate guys (So'Oto, Jones, Walden) opposite Clay to see if they can spark a pass rush. Bishop being healthy may provide some opportunity for him to blitz as well. I think that's where the most difference needs to be made is pressure. Our DL is what it is, and I don't expect much difference there. Same with our secondary. Our LBs have to make it happen. Whether Capers does that with stunts/twists or combination blitzes with the LBs/CBs, our LBs must step up. Hawk needs to be good instead of average.

1/12/123:01 PM

BILL HMember

So far this season Capers and his defense has equalled

mostly failure,well since Capers isnt the defensive backs coach all those opposing long passes caught and all those open recievers running rampant all over the field uncovered cant be blamed on him I guess,but he is the boss on defense.will they carry the day?

tell us how you really feel,and dont sugar coat it.

1/12/123:30 PM

BadgemanMember

What I will be watching is the 1st down run defense. In recent games, it seems they have been continuously gashed for 5-7 yds on 1st down. It's driven me nuts. It should help having Green and Pickett back, but this outfit has been so consistently porous all season that my expectations of a sudden return to 2011 playoff form are quite low. My more realistic hope is for 2-3 turnovers and to force 2-3 FG attempts instead of tds. Do that and I can see a 35-20 type Packer W.

1/12/126:04 PM

macdaddyMember

IT IS TIME. IT IS TIME.

1/12/126:06 PM

GreenBayLAMember

D is what it is. I'm looking for Capers to utilize different situational player substitutions in playoffs to create confusion and favorable matchups. Too bad Francois has hamstring injury...

1/12/127:10 PM

YATittleMember

I think our D will surprise a lot of people, like the second Viking game. They are proud men who don't like to be dissed so easily.

1/12/129:25 PM

Music CityMember

Yes... it will.

1/12/1210:15 PM

Dave in GASay my name!

Charles will have at least 1 pick...

1/12/1210:43 PM

Pistol GBMember

Defense: more about attitude and effort than skill, about imposing your will on the other team.

What macdaddy said.

1/12/1210:46 PM

Timmy!TIMMAAAAYYY!!

quote:
Originally posted by Badgeman:
What I will be watching is the 1st down run defense...

The Packers were very good (Top-10 or better) vs the rush until roughly around the bye week, then went on a steady decline. There's so many factors, I have no idea what is responsible, but, the point is, they have the capability to be solid against the run.

1/13/122:13 AM

hntr74Member

More worried about the OL jelling and doing its job than the defense.

Taking a team wide long look at what went wrong on both sides of the ball in the Chiefs game is all they need to beat the Giants. Pack was punched every which way but blue that game and the Giants will be bringing their best blue.

Its going to be a heck of a game with the pack winning but not without all their fight.

1/13/124:53 AM

TschmackMember

You have to think the player on D are sick and tired of getting bashed by the fans and media and they will come out with something to prove. That's my hope anyway.

If the D can even play at an average level this is a Superbowl caliber team. They just can't play like they have the last few weeks and expect to go very far.

1/13/125:49 AM

GoallineLarge Antenna

quote:
Originally posted by JackBauer:
I'd like to think that Capers will come up with a wrinkle or two, but at this point in the season you are what your record says you are (referring to big plays & yards allowed).

The rules have become so relaxed that this IS the new normal. The more telling stat's to me have to be points allowed & takeaways.

The Giant's offense WILL move the ball, but the Special Teams can't afford to give up any points, they need no worse than a draw in turnovers, and Pickett needs to hold the point because we just can't afford to let those backs wear down the DB's.

So much smarter than BK. I bet you are funnier and have better hair as well.

1/13/1211:48 AM

Ryan GrantMember

I'm sure the D is sick of hearing about how bad they are, but they have had 16 games to prove they are a solid D any they simply aren't. I hope they can pick it up a notch in the playoffs, but honestly I would be surprised if they do. The offense will have to carry them through the playoffs in order to get Lombardi #5 this year.

1/13/1211:52 AM

michiganjoeMember

quote:
Originally posted by Ryan Grant:
I hope they can pick it up a notch in the playoffs, but honestly I would be surprised if they do.

Clean up their tackling and mental mistakes and that's a notch right there.

1/13/1212:40 PM

chickenboyTic Toc

Better DL pass rush adds a notch. Run defense could improve and then you can add another notch.

1/13/1212:48 PM

Ryan GrantMember

I would love to see the D really step up. If they do, I don't feel anyone could stop us.

1/13/124:04 PM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

Yeah, in more ways than one

1/13/125:29 PM

Mcpacker64Member

Last game verses NYG biggest hurt was the performances of the safties & the LT.

1/13/125:42 PM

Mcpacker64Member

The performances of the D front has been damn dissapointing too!!!

1/13/125:45 PM

ilcuquiTHE F*** WITH FASHION

Me likey.

quote:
@BobMcGinn: Dom Capers and Packers assts. conducted rare brutal film critique with full defense during bye wk. Egos checked at door. But will it help?

EDIT: More in JSO story just posted. Link

quote:
Coordinator Dom Capers and his defensive coaching staff for the Green Bay Packers came down harder on their players during the bye week than they have all season.

Capers orchestrated a year-end tape review for the defense as a whole that wasn't for the faint of heart.

Then the five defensive position coaches met individually with the 25 players on defense in soul-searching sessions that traditionally are held after the season... "We were honest - it wasn't a feel-good meeting," cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. "We put unflattering film out there..."

The obvious intent was perhaps a last-ditch attempt to turn the defense around in time for the NFC divisional playoff game Sunday against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field...

...It was a dramatic departure for Capers, whose day-after-game routine always is conducted by the position coaches in their mini-auditorium rooms watching tape with their players only.

"That was our first time going through it like that," defensive end Ryan Pickett said. "It wasn't holding nothing back. If that was my gap, they went through it and said, 'Hey, 'Pick,' that was your gap.' We showed things that were hurting us all year."

The meeting marked the most critical that the Packers had seen Capers all season... Play after play appeared on the screen. Good play and then bad play. Good play and then bad play.

"I thought it was a good idea that Dom did it," said Whitt. "It showed that when we do things the right way we're very good, and we when we don't do things the right way we're very poor. It's about doing our job, and doing it the right way."

Raji, for one, was excited to see Capers' approach.

"It was for the betterment of the team," he said. "Hopefully, no one took it negatively. I would encourage it to go on more."

1/13/1211:03 PM

michiganjoeMember

Looks like Dom is desperately searching for the switch that some claimed he was going to flip for the playoff run. I expect the defense to play better on Sunday, but it is what it is and a miraculous turnaround isn't happening.

1/14/121:39 AM

GreenBayLAMember

Kudos to Dom for having the balls to call out his players and give praise where due. Time to rock'n'roll!

1/14/123:37 AM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

The switch has been flipped to the "ON" position.

Here's the issue (which we should be able to overcome)

No Cullen Jenkins (Mike Neal we need you to step up!)

No Nick Collins

These types of coaching techniques are what it takes to win a championship. Now it's on the players to execute the game plan.

1/14/123:45 AM

michiganjoeMember

The odds of Neal stepping up this year appear to be right around zero. So'oto had a sack and a pick taken away by a questionable call against the Lions and he's the better option to provide some juice for the defense. He may be raw, but he continually makes things happen when he's on the field.

1/14/127:52 AM