Being 3-4 DL is a brutal, boring and thankless job in the NFL. Their job is to occupy blocks & collapse the pocket on obvious passing plays, it is the linebackers job to fill the gaps and take on the running backs at the point of attack or pressure the QB. That being said, I agree that our DL has been very, very poor for at least the last 6 weeks or so at disengaging when the RB hits the hole.
To answer LTF's question:
If you go back and look at film for the first 6 weeks of the season, you will see an entirely different DL. Guys like Pickett and Raji were constantly able to disengage and at least get an arm (and when you are 300+ pounds and arm will do) on the RB or even disengage completely and make the tackle. When those guys are occupying their blocks and even getting an arm on a RB it just makes the job that much easier for the LB's when they hit the hole.
I agree that DL play has really suffered as of late and to answer LTF's question, It has nothing to do with Capers. People do not want to hear it or believe it but I believe it is a combination of things.
1. Fact - Aaron Rodgers makes the defense better. If people do not understand this or believe it, then I would simply say they are blind and/or know nothing about football. A-Rod on the field makes the run game better which makes the pass game better which when the 2 are combined means the offense has the ball longer. Which in turn keeps the defense fresh and rested which is especially important with those 340 lb guys on the DL in the run defense game. It is absolutely no coincidence that as soon as A-Rod was gone, the number of 3 and outs by the offense dramatically increased leading to very little rest for those guys.
To be clear on this point, it is not so much that the time of possession numbers are bad for the Packers, it is the fact that our offense has way too many times taken the ball after a 6+ minute drive by the opposing team only to go 3 and out. These are the moments that completely screw a defense.
2. Personal Opinion - The defense lost its heart and fire with the loss of Rodgers AND Matthews. The change of the defense did not happen just because of Rodgers, it happened at the same time CM3 went down. CM3 does not get enough credit for how completely and totally disruptive he is to an offense in both the passing AND running game. That guy when healthy is all over the field even on running plays, there are multiple times a game (when healthy) he crashes down the back side of the line disrupting and/or making a tackle from the backside for little to know gain.
Point being the loss of these 2 guys was such a huge blow to the defense, more so than I think most people realize.
My prediction, even without Rodgers this week, I predict the defense to look much better, I think they will be fired up and ready to go. I think we will see them play with a little more fire & intensity this week.
The only question is which offense will show up? the Detroit/1st half Dallas Offense or the Atlanta/2nd half Dallas offense? If it is the former rather than the latter, it won't matter how well the defense plays unfortunately.
