I don't thing that anyone here is saying that it all falls on Capers' shoulders. Someone in a point listed approximately 6 or 7 reasons why this defense has been sub-par that were to the point. The problem I have is:
a) after so many years, 1 of which includes a ton of defensive player drafts, this defense has hardly improved at all.
b) the perception, the intuition if you like, that several players are not suited for the kinds of defense Capers runs. Case in point: Datone Jones. With my limited knowledge, his pass rushing skills became almost irrelevant in a 2-4 scheme in which he was often played.
c) the perception that player development has been lacking. Many of our top draft choices and have not emerged--Perry, Worthy (injury), DJones-- others have regressed--Burnett, BJ Raji. That's certainly not all on Capers, but as the DC he should be overseeing his players' development, and if those coaches are not doing the job, he should be on their ****.
d) confusion on defense, frequent miscommunication in the secondary. Why?
And last, the general feeling that sometimes you need a change. When you try to keep following the same path that hasn't been working again and again it has a psychological effect: players lose their confidence, their commitment and their enthusiasm. They play worse. A new DC who looks and evaluates the players differently and brings new ideas to a defense may be no better than Capers, but that's not the point. You want to make players play at their best, and it just doesn't seem to be happening here.
There are a couple of exceptions: Daniels has really emerged. Heyward was a winner from day 1. Sam Shields is near pro-bowl material. And by the football gods, I hope that Jolly's injury is not serious and that he comes back 100% next year. It will make not signing Raji so much easier.
I also accept the points that TT shoulders as much responsibility as any for his drafting strategies and his unwillingness to sign a decent FA or two. I hope that the latter changes this year. I think that FrankRizzo's post in another thread he started should be sent officially to TT, it was a helluva post.