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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Packerlifer" data-source="post: 615810" data-attributes="member: 1242">Part 8:    Mike McCarthy's switch of the Packers to a 3-4 defense was the second time in club history that a head coach had made such a move in the midst of his coaching tenure. Bart Starr had done it in 1980 and the Packers played the scheme for the next 14 years, through 4 different coaching regimes.    <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37856129.html" target="_blank">http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37856129.html </a>    The first task in implementing the new scheme was rebuilding the defensive coaching staff. After considering several prominent NFL defensive coaches for the coordinator position the Packers landed probably the best man for the job considering the circumstances Dom Capers.    Capers was considered something of a father of NFL 3-4 defense. He had gained notice for his work of introducing it in Pittsburgh in the early '90's and that defense, continued under assistant **** LeBeau, went on to become the gold standard of defense in the league for years afterward. He had also had experience building an entire team. He had been the first head coach of two expansion franchises Carolina and Houston.    <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37807024.html" target="_blank">http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37807024.html </a>    <a href="http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Capers-LeBeau-and-the-3-4/6d0a0ead-31c4-4ad5-9dc3-ef7a108822db" target="_blank">http://www.packers.com/media-center/videos/Capers-LeBeau-and-the-3-4/6d0a0ead-31c4-4ad5-9dc3-ef7a108822db </a>     <a href="https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqINOBaFVHDwAZXz7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNzdzbGJsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVklEUUJDSwRncG9zAzM-?p=Dom+Capers&vid=c4d39b48057d2088c57e3e7549258d20&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DWN.9hX%252fjD%252bHW93KXxKi7acpsw%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D225%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcItEhRJdOZg&***=Dom+Capers+on+the+3-4&c=2&h=225&w=300&l=97&sigr=11brkj9dj&sigt=10l1d2hfq&sigi=12oanab5d&age=1237992204&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=sfp&tt=b" target="_blank">https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqINOBaFVHDwAZXz7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNzdzbGJsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVklEUUJDSwRncG9zAzM-?p=Dom+Capers&vid=c4d39b48057d2088c57e3e7549258d20&turl=http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=WN.9hX%2fjD%2bHW93KXxKi7acpsw&pid=15.1&h=225&w=300&c=7&rs=1&rurl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cItEhRJdOZg&***=Dom+Capers+on+the+3-4&c=2&h=225&w=300&l=97&sigr=11brkj9dj&sigt=10l1d2hfq&sigi=12oanab5d&age=1237992204&fr2=p:s,v:v&fr=sfp&tt=b </a>    Filling out the staff the Packers hired recent Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac as defensive line coach and made a couple of in-house promotions of Joe Whitt, Jr. as cornerbacks coach and Scott McGurley as defensive quality control assistant. Two of the more intriquing hires after Capers were Darren Perry as safeties coach and Kevin Green as outside linebackers coach. Both Perry and Greene had played in Capers' and later LeBeau's 3-4 system.     <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Greene" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Greene </a>     <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Perry" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Perry </a>    As they did in the 1980 conversion the Packers used two first round picks in the draft to address the crucial nose tackle and linebacker positions. With their first pick at #9 they took big dt B.J. Raji, projecting him to fill the nose tackle. Ted Thompson then traded the Packers' second and two third round picks to New England for the Patriots' first round at #26 and landed Southern California de Clay Matthews. Matthews, a late bloomer, was considered undersized for defensive end in an NFL 4-3 but an ideal prototype for outside rush linebacker in the 3-4.     With his final picks in the sixth and seventh rounds TT added de Jarius Wynn, cb Brandon Underwood and lb Brad Jones.      <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/43604117.html" target="_blank">http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/43604117.html </a>     In a free agency move they brought in a safety who had played in Pittsburgh's 3-4 Anthony Smith. Smith wouldn't make the final cut and would become a tag along on IR in the Super Bowl season the next year.      <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Smith_%28safety%29" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Smith_%28safety%29 </a>    For the most part, though, the Packers expected their current personnel to make the adjustments to the new scheme. Ryan Pickett could play the nose and end positions, in alternation with Raji. Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly were big body ends like Capers preferred in his system.     The secondary was little impacted by the change, except perhaps for opening more roles for Charles Woodson and safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby.     A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett would fill the inside linebacker spots.     The one player for whom the change was most dramatic was  Pro Bowl end Aaron Kampman. The Packers moved the all pro to outside linebacker. "Kampy" would play the position to his best, but uncomfortably, in '09. The change, though, would factor into his decision to leave the Packers in free agency to return to 4-3 end with Jacksonville in 2010.      <a href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2009/6/4/898330/the-aaron-kampman-question" target="_blank">http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2009/6/4/898330/the-aaron-kampman-question </a>      <a href="http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/roster/2009?sort=pos" target="_blank">http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/roster/2009?sort=pos </a>     The Packers would make the new defense work better and faster than most anticipated in 2009. The unit posted its highest defensive rankings since the Super Bowl teams of the 1990's. They produced the NFL's second ranked defense, behind the Jets, and were Number One in the NFC. They ranked first against the run, 5th  against the pass and were 7th in scoring allowing 18.6 ppg.     Although they managed only a modest 37 qb sacks they were ball hawks; snaring 30 INT's and recovering 12 opponent fumbles.      Clay Matthews had a sensational first season. He led the team with 10 sacks and 45.5 pressures,  recovered 3 fumbles, returned one for a touchdown, registered 36 tackles and 12 assists. He became the first Packers' rookie to go to the Pro Bowl in his first season since James Lofton in 1978 and was voted the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.     Top draft pick B.J. Raji was more underwhelming. He was dogged by injuries in preseason and missed several games with injury during the year. He alternated at end and nose tackle and wound up with only 1 sack, 19 tackles and 6 assists.     <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MattCl99.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MattCl99.htm </a>     <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RajiBJ99.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RajiBJ99.htm </a>     Charles Woodson was the league's defensive player of the year. He had 9 interceptions, forced 4 fumbles and recovered one, got 2 qb sacks, made 66 tackles and another 8 assists.      Nick Barnett led the team in tackles with 82 plus 23 assists, followed by A.J. Hawk with 67 and 22. Nick Collins made 6 interceptions with Atari Bigby and Tramon Williams registering 4 each.     The Aaron Kampman experiement, though, did not work out so well. He played only 9 games before suffering a season ending injury. In his one year at olb Kampy made only 3.5 sacks and 42 tackles and assists.     With the defense in top form and the offense, led by ascending qb Aaron Rodgers, the third highest scoring in the league the Packers returned to the playoffs with a strong 11-5 season. The only shadow on the year was that they failed to recapture the NFC North title, thanks to their old qb Brett Favre.    For the second year in a row Favre pulled another of his retirement/unretirement stunts and joined up with Minnesota; with whom he had been angling to join for over a year to "stick it" to the Packers - or at least to Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.    With Favre playing for them the Vikings defeated the Packers twice during the season and beat them out for the division title. In two games against "ol' #4" the Packer defense was hapless to stop him. The ex-Packer hit them for over 500 passing yards, 7 td's  and put 68 points on the board against his old club. The Packer defense couldn't lay a glove on him getting no sacks and no interceptions off the NFL's career interception leader.     Favre wasn't the only elite veteran quarterback to give the Packers defense problems. Ben Roethlisberger lit them up for 503 yds in a shoot-out loss at Pittsburgh. And in the Wild Card playoff in Arizona Kurt Warner shelled them for 5 td's and 379 yds.     Defense went by the boards for both teams in that game, as the Packers and Cardinals combined for an NFL playoff record 96 points and 1,024 yds. The difference was the Packers got only 1 sack and an inconsequential fumble recovery while the Arizona defense got 5 sacks on Aaron Rodgers and 3 turnovers, which they cashed in for 20 pts. Including the game winner on the first play of overtime when they blitzed Rodgers and forced a fumble which was returned to the td while the entire officiating crew missed a blatant face mask penalty which caused the fumble in the first place.<a href="http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20100112&Category=PKR07&ArtNo=100112158&Ref=AR&Border=0" target="_blank">http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20100112&Category=PKR07&ArtNo=100112158&Ref=AR&Border=0 </a>     <a href="http://www.packershistory.net/2009PACKERS.html" target="_blank">http://www.packershistory.net/2009PACKERS.html </a>    In 2010 the Packers did, of course, win the franchise's 13th NFL world championship but didn't take an easy route to getting it done. They were inconsistent much of the season and plagued by an epidemic of injuries that eventually put 15 players, including at least 9 starters, on their IR.     <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2010_injuries.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/2010_injuries.htm </a>   Lost on the defense for all or major portions of the season were cb Al Harris, linebackers Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Brad Jones, Brady Poppinga, and s Atari Bigby. Two prime draft picks who were counted on to make a contribution in their first year s Morgan Burnett and de Mike Neal were hurt before they could even get started. Additionally Aaron Kampman left in free agency and de Johnny Jolly got in trouble for controlled substance violations, which would put him out of football for the next three years.    Fortunately the Packers had or found the players to step up and step in to fill these voids. Two young ascending vets cb Tramon Williams and lb Desmond Bishop moved early on into starting roles with the team. Williams led the club with 6 INT's for the season and Bishop was second on the team with 75 tackles and 28 assists. He also had 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and his 32 yd. interception return for a td off Brett Favre was the differential score in a crucial midseason win over the Vikings at Lambeau Field.    A pair of undrafted rookies cb Sam Shields and lb Frank Zombo became timely playmakers and 3 players added via the waiver wire provided depth and a number of critical contributions to the success of the team; linebackers Erik Walden and Robert Francois and de Howard Green.    Safety Charlie Peprah, in his second tour with the Pack filled in ably when Bigby and Burnett both went down. And 7th round draft pick de C.J. Wilson showed promise for the line.    The core of the defense avoided the injury bug for the most part. And with Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins, Cullen Jenkins, Ryan Pickett, A.J. Hawk, B.J. Raji  the Packers fielded a top five defensive unit for the 2010 season.    They had the #2 scoring defense in the league, allowing only 15 ppg and were ranked 5th against the pass. They improved their quarterback sacks significantly tallying 47, though turnovers were slightly down with 24 INT's and 10 fumble recoveries. The unit did score 4 td's on turnovers.    They were only 18th on their run defense ranking, allowing opponents a 4.7 ypc average.    Clay Matthews had another sensational season; leading the team with 13.5 sacks, combining for 59 tackles and assists, intercepting a pass and forcing 2 fumbles, defensing 4 passes and scoring a td.     B.J. Raji showed more like the player who was the club's top draft pick the year before. He started all 16 games and produced 6.5 sacks, 39 tackles and assists and even defensed 3 passes.     Charles Woodson dropped off dramatically on his INT total with just 2 picks but led the team with 76 tackles 16 assists, forced 5 fumbles, defensed 5 more passes, and registered a pair of qb sacks.     Nick Collins with 4 INT's, 12 passes defensed, 70 tackles, A.J. Hawk with 72 tackles, 39 assists and 4 turnovers, and Cullen Jenkins with 7 sacks were among the other defenders with notable seasons.     Matthews, Woodson and Collins were named All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl but did not play in the game because they were involved in preparation for the Super Bowl.     <a href="http://www.packershistory.net/2010PACKERS.html" target="_blank">http://www.packershistory.net/2010PACKERS.html </a>     With two games remaining on the schedule the Packers were sitting at 8-6 and on the outside of the playoff circle looking in. They needed to win their final two against the Giants and Bears to get a wild card berth. They would at that point start, carrying over into 2011, a club record and NFL historic 19 game winning streak.     In the season finale at Lambeau the Packers wrestled their way past the Bears 10-3 to get the NFC's sixth and final "seed." Chicago had already clinched the NFC North title and number two seed in the playoffs but played this game to win. Their defense bottled up the Packers offense but the Packers defense was even better. Although they allowed 110 yds. rushing they held the Bears to 227 total yards, sacked qb Jay Cutler 6 times and picked him twice. Erik Walden had 2 sacks and Nick Collins intercepted at the Packer 11 yd line in the final 20 seconds to seal the win.<a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101020gnb.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101020gnb.htm </a>    The Packers march through the playoffs that season was the greatest in club history; considering all the circumstances. No previous Packers world championship team had to play and win 3 straight road playoff games to bring the title to Titletown. And, though it's become overlooked in seasons since, the defense was foundational to that run.    In the Wild Card playoff at Philadelphia, scene of previous Packers playoff heartbreak, the Packers held off the Eagles as Tramon Williams intercepted a Michael Vick pass in the end zone with 36 seconds remaining and Philly on an apparent game winning drive.    <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101090phi.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101090phi.htm </a>    Aaron Rodgers' virtually flawless performance in the Packers' upset of the NFC top seed Falcons in Atlanta overshadowed all else in the Pack's Divisional round win. But the defense allowed the Falcons only 194 total yards and registered 5 qb sacks and forced 4 turnovers in the game. Tramon Williams 70 yd. pick six just before halftime broke a close game open and set the Packers' rout in motion.    <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101150atl.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101150atl.htm </a>    The NFC Championship game at Soldier Field brought the league's two oldest rivals together for the third time that season and for the second time in their long history in a playoff game. The Packers and Bears had split their season meetings, each winning on their own court. Chicago had beaten Green Bay out for the NFC North title.    The Bears defense was tough on the Packers' offense. After scoring two first half td's the offense was shut out for the final 44 minutes of the game. Chicago forced Green Bay into 8 punts and got a rare two interception game off Aaron Rodgers.    The Packers defense, though, did the Bears one better. Holding them to 83 yds. rushing and netting 3 turnovers the Packer D forced Chicago into 9 punts, including their first 5 possession in a row. The Bears were only 1 of 13 on third down conversions. Jay Cutler managed only 6 completions in 14 attempts before being forced out of the game with a knee injury.     The differential score in the game was B.J. Raji's 18 yd pick six return off back-up Caleb Hanie in the fourth quarter. That staked the Packers to a 21-7 lead but Hanie, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 153 yds. hit the Packers for a long td pass to make it a one score game with plenty of time remaining. Sam Shields sealed the victory with an interception at the Packers' 12 yd line with 37 seconds remaining.     <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101230chi.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201101230chi.htm </a>    Super Bowl XLV, played at the new $2.3 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas pitted the Packers, the club with the most NFL world championships, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the franchise with the most Super Bowl wins and appearances. It was the Packers' fifth appearance in the Super Bowl but their first in 13 years. The Steelers were two years removed from winning a Super Bowl and were an experienced and confident bunch. The Packers, though, more than matched their confidence and determination.    The Packers hit the Steelers with a flurry of opening punches that opened up a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. Perhaps the biggest was Nick Collins' 37 yd. interception and return for a td in the first quarter that ultimately proved to be the differential margin in the game.    The defense, though, took a big hit when Charles Woodson was forced from the game in the second period with a fractured collar bone. But as they had done all season guys stepped up and stepped in to carry on with the mission. Jarrett Bush, subbing for Woodson, picked off a pass in the second quarter that stopped a Pittsburgh drive and the Packer offense converted into another td.    The Steelers, though, didn't fold. Their famed defense shut down the Packers offense for much of the remainder of the game but every time Pittsburgh seemed on the verge of switching the momentum of the game in their favor the Packer defense made a stopping or turning play.    In the third period rookie Frank Zombo got the Packers' only sack of the game on qb Ben Roethlisberger to stop a drive and force the Steelers into a 52 yd field goal attempt, which was no good.    The biggest play came early in the fourth, with the Packers lead down to 21-17 and the Steelers driving to the Green Bay 33. Clay Matthews forced and Desmond Bishop recovered a fumble by rb Rashard Mendenhall. The offense cashed it in with Aaron Rodgers' third td pass of the game to Greg Jennings.    In the final two minutes, with the Packers leading 31-25, the Steelers had their last chance with the ball. Two years before against the Cardinals in the Super Bowl Ben Roethlisberger had led them on a game winning score in the final seconds under similar circumstances. This time the Packers would allow him no heroics. They secured the Packers' 13th world championship and 4th Super Bowl win - their first in 14 years- by forcing Pittsburgh into 3 straight incomplete passes to take over on down and run out the final 49 seconds.    The Packer defense in Super Bowl XLV ended 7 of 12 Steelers' possessions in punts, turnovers or on downs.    <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm" target="_blank">http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm </a>End of Part 8.</blockquote>

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