Packerlifer
Cheesehead
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,782
- Reaction score
- 118
The fact that we're talking about "signs of improvement" and looking for glimmers of hope that the defense is getting better is a clear indication that we still have serious problems on that side of the ball and it very well could keep the Packers from a 14th world championship this season.
At the end of this season Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson will have to decide whether the time has come to make a major change like they did in 2009 when they replaced nearly the entire defensive coaching staff and switched to the 3-4.
The problem is simply that they haven't been able to find and develop the players who can make the 3-4 work at an elite level. Clay Matthews is the only drafted player who fits as a top notch 3-4 guy. The rest have been strikeouts, foul tips and trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
The Packers have had to take two all pro defensive ends in 4-3's, Aaron Kampman and Julius Peppers, to try to find the outside rush lb complement to the Claymaker. They drafted a guy better suited to end in a 4-3 in Nick Perry, who has done little as a 3-4 lb.
B.J. Raji is out for this year and has never been the blocker eating nose tackle he was supposed to be or that a good 3-4 defense needs. And the Packers further diluted him by their indecision to play him on the nose or at end.
Since Desmond Bishop was injured the team has been in a futile search for an inside linebacker who can rush, play the run and drop into coverage.
A.J Hawk's best seasons were his first two, when he was outside in a 4-3 scheme.
Since very few colleges play 3-4 defense it's hard to find real 3-4 guys in the draft. And since the Packers are increasingly this season playing four on the defensive line maybe it's time to just go back to a 4-3 scheme and get the players who really fit and can play it well.
At the end of this season Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson will have to decide whether the time has come to make a major change like they did in 2009 when they replaced nearly the entire defensive coaching staff and switched to the 3-4.
The problem is simply that they haven't been able to find and develop the players who can make the 3-4 work at an elite level. Clay Matthews is the only drafted player who fits as a top notch 3-4 guy. The rest have been strikeouts, foul tips and trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
The Packers have had to take two all pro defensive ends in 4-3's, Aaron Kampman and Julius Peppers, to try to find the outside rush lb complement to the Claymaker. They drafted a guy better suited to end in a 4-3 in Nick Perry, who has done little as a 3-4 lb.
B.J. Raji is out for this year and has never been the blocker eating nose tackle he was supposed to be or that a good 3-4 defense needs. And the Packers further diluted him by their indecision to play him on the nose or at end.
Since Desmond Bishop was injured the team has been in a futile search for an inside linebacker who can rush, play the run and drop into coverage.
A.J Hawk's best seasons were his first two, when he was outside in a 4-3 scheme.
Since very few colleges play 3-4 defense it's hard to find real 3-4 guys in the draft. And since the Packers are increasingly this season playing four on the defensive line maybe it's time to just go back to a 4-3 scheme and get the players who really fit and can play it well.
