The Packers didn't have a huge playmaker at inside linebacker with Hawk and Bishop in 2010 either.
You took the words out of my mouth. Nobody is going to confuse the 2010 versions of Hawk or Bishop with a Willis or a Wagner.
However, there is a point to be made there.
In 2010, Hawk and Bishop combined for 4 INTs, 2 forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and 18 passes defended, respectable play making numbers.
In 2016, Ryan, Martinez and Thomas combined for 2 INTs, 0 forced fumbles, 1 sack and 12 passes defended.
It's fairly obvious that more play making is needed out of the ILB position and the best chance for that would be the savvy Burnett on passing downs.
Expecting to recreate the 2010 defense is fanciful. Raji, Jenkins, Hawk, Bishop, Matthews, Woodson, Williams and Collins all had their best seasons or close to it. The "Wombo" (Walden/Zombo) even chipped in for 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Pickett was solid.
Conversely, It was hardly Rodgers at his finest. He threw only 475 balls in 15 games for 28 TDs and 11 INTs. He didn't even make the Pro Bowl. His playoff stat line is hard to argue with given the 109.8 rating. Still, that was 274 yds. per game. His yards, TDs, INTs in 4 playoff games that season closely match the numbers in 3 games last season.
Since 2010, the formula has remained the same and I'm not expecting much different this season: just outscore 'em, win the Division, see what happens. We are to expect Rodgers to make up the difference with mediocre-to-poor defenses. With unproven rookies and second year players, heretofore under-performing third year players, and only one FA add in House who, when you get down to it, has a less than stellar resume, are we to expect anything different?
Now, if we can get a mid-ranked defense that can step up in the 4th. quarter to close out games in the playoffs while the offense is hitting on all cylinders, then we've got a shot.
Capers should have been fired after the Seattle disaster for failing to develop a culture of finishing. Thompson? Yeah, without significant improvement out of this defense, which hinges on those 1st. through 3rd. year players, then any benefit of the doubt regarding his eye for defensive talent will have dissolved and it will be time for the gold watch.
Now, if the Packers make the playoffs and lose in the Wild Card round by blowing a 4th. quarter lead, I don't expect anybody to be fired or retired, as regrettable as that might be. At that point we might need to escalate the problem to a "Fire Murphy" thread.
Not really, though. More like a "Kick Murphy upstairs to Chairman of the Board and the defacto president of non-football operations and hire a President to handle football operations" thread.