Packers switching up D

The hiring of Dom Capers is very significant to what team will be playing at Lambeau on Sundays. Our new defensive coordinator is bringing his 3-4 defense with him. This means...

1. The Packers can now fit all 4 linebackers on the field. With Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk manning the middle flanked by Brandon Chillar and Brady Poppinga(who played in a 3-4 at BYU).
2. Don't be suprised if Aaron Kampman makes the move to rush LBer at times.
3. Pickett and Jenkins are perfect big bodies for the front of the defense.
4. We can draft a good player at #9 to help the transition to the 3-4 defense such as Everette Brown of Florida State, Brian Orakpo of Texas, or Aaron Maybin of PSU.
5. The scheme is designed to put pressure on the pocket so the linebacking play will be critical.

I am excited about the possibilities this scheme change gives us. I think this could go extremely right or completely wrong. Time will tell, but in the spirit of change I like this move because the Pittsburgh Steelers play it so well and it gets them to the Super Bowl, this guy could build a great unit.

It's Capers!

Dom Capers has accepted the defensive coordinator position on Mike McCarthey's staff. The former Texans coach and recently Patriots secondary coach is very experienced and should be a solid addition.

Peppers wants to explore free agency

Carolina Peppers has stated he would like to eplore other options outside Carolina. This was a possibility suggested by me after they blew up in the playoffs. THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR TED THOMPSON! Julius Peppers paired with Aaron Kampan with Ryan Pickett and a healthy Cullen Jenkins could be one of the league's best. With Peppers we could be Super Bowl contenders with a few other moves. He has the potential to have a Reggie White Impact all-over again in Green Bay, which Thompson should emphasize when he courts him on signing with the Packers. This is a once-in-a-decade chance to land an elite Defensive End who excels against both the pass and run. I hope my dreams turn into a reality.

Looking at the draft

Picking at #9
With USC QB Mark Sanchez declaring for the draft, the packers could gain a very favorable position picking at # 9. Its assumed Detroit will take either Sanchez or Stafford at #1 to start the rebuilding process. If the other QB makes it past KC he could slip all the way to #10 where the 49ers certainly wouldn't pass on a franchise QB to replace the retreads they have. This means teams needing a QB might try to trade with the Packers to leapfrog the 49ers, or maybe the 49ers would swap picks with us and we could pick up a 3rd or 4th rounder in return. Either way it's an interesting scenario that could play out.

Team Needs
DL - Our defensive line needs to be upgraded this offseason through free agency or the draft.
OT - With Tauscher possibly done as a Packers and Clifton on the wrong side of 30 the Packers will probably look at a offensive tackle if the right one is available in the first few rounds.
S - Nick Collins should be resigned but Bigby and Rouse can be replaced relatively easily, probably in the second round at earliest.
P - No need to pull a Mike Sherman and draft a punter in the 3rd round, but taking a punter in the seventh round would probably get us an upgrade.

Possibilities at #9
Ted Thompson almost always goes the BPA route, but this year he may be forced to trade down or reach at #9 to stabalize the glaring defensive line problem. Some talented underclassmen have returned to school which hurts the Packers, but we should be able to get a starting-caliber player inside the top-10.

• DE/OLB Aaron Maybin (PSU)
• DE Brian Orakpo (TEX)
• DE Everette Brown (FSU)
• DT B.J. Rajii (BC)
• DE Michael Johnson (GT)
• CB Malcolm Jenkins (OSU)
• OT Jason Smith (BU)

These are possibilities right now, but I am skeptical of really light DE's who are under 270 because they can easily bust like Jamal Reynolds did for us ten years ago. I'm just hoping whoever we get ends up panning out, and not be a bust and never on the field like Justin Harrel.

Greg Williams to Saints!

Greg Williams will not be joining Mike McCarthy's staff after signing on to be the New Orleans Saints Defensive coordinator. McCarthy has lost out on the top two targets to replace Bob Sanders, and he will now have to replace him with either LB coach Winston Moss or one of the other candidates available. This is very disappointing considering a high quality coordinator could help propel this team to the next level with a few additions on defense. The next defensive coordinator will ave a big impact on McCarthy's future so he better get it right after missing out on two quality experienced coaches in the past week.

Quick Huddle

• With so many underclassmen such as Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy and Ole Miss DE Greg Hardy returning to school the Packers chance of landing a top-flight D linemen is diminishing, which could force Ted Thompson to trade down or select the best player available no matter the position.
• With the Panthers exiting early in playoffs despite coming in with Super Bowl aspirations DE Julius Peppers may give more thought to exploring the free agent market, and if he does Ted Thompson would be wise to make a very strong effort to acquire a guy who could make our defense one of the best in the league.
• There are internet rumors going around that Al Harris is on his way out. Doubtful. Tramon Williams did play well this year, but do you honestly think Ted Thompson is gonna split on of the best CB tandems on the league? Come on

NOLAN TO DENVER!

Mike Nolan is apparently headed to Denver to become the Broncos' Defensive coordinator under new head coach 32 year-old Josh McDaniels. The Packers have missed out on their first choice and presumed next D coordinator in Nolan. Greg Willians now is the top choice with the possibility of McCarthy waiting to interview Eagles secondary coach Sean McDermott, who has become a hot name to be promoted. He would bring aggresive schemes with him, which seems to be a priority for the next defensive coach of the Packers. McCarthy might now be pressured to go hard after Williams to secure the position with the best available coach.

D GETS A FACELIFT, SANDERS OUT!

Mike McCarthy fired defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and all of his defensive assistants except LB coach/assistant head coach Winston Moss. Sanders' D coughed up late leads in many of the close games and was a key reason for the firing. Moss is a leading candidate to replace Sanders, but there are several experienced coaches available this offseason that might be a better option to obtain the highest quality coach. I hope whoever takes over the defense emphasizes playing to the players' strengths and is aggresive getting to the quaterback. Obviously we did not have enough quality on the line this year and no one besides Aaron Kampman got to the quartback. If we bring in more talent via free agency or the draft or both, and gain a starter next to Pickett at DT or a DE so we can move Cullen Jenkins inside the new coach will the right personelle to have a chance to succeed. Ted Thompson has to acquire talent on the D line no matter what!

QUICK HUDDLE

• The new assistant coaches will be very important to the success of the defense, so watch what happens
• Greg Jennings say he's 99.9% positive he won't hold out for a new contract, hopefully Thomposon realizes how valuable he is and signs him quickly.
• ProFootballWeekly says Mark Tauscher likely will not return and his successor at RT would be last year's 4th round pick Breno Giacomini.