Another depressing post-season loss brings the NFC North season to an end. The complete collapse of the defense in a big game is nothing if not familiar to Packer fans, kinda like getting used to Favre throwing a dumb interception to cost them a game. That kind of game leaves a bad, bad, bad taste in your mouth.
I’m a huge fan of Dom Capers, I love his versatility, his in game adjustments, and his aggressive style of play. But he fucked up big time by not having his defense prepared for that game. He should have spent every second of every day prepping for the zone read and pound those sight adjustments into the heads of an overmatched dumbass LB corp. He also should have cut down on the man coverage to keep eyes on the QB. Badly prepped, badly called defense cost the Packers a ton. I’m not saying Dom needs to go, he’s got a pretty good track record with the Packers, but this loss is on him and on that defense.
The D line showed this season it is good, but nowhere near good enough for teams with great O lines; they got pushed around all game. But the biggest problem was the linebacking corp. Eric Walden was absolutely horrible, made to look the fool on numerous plays. Dezmon Moses was only slightly better, except when he was pass rushing where was just as bad. And Clay Matthews had a bad game (for him), being beaten by Joe Staley for most of the day and getting turned around. Hawk couldn’t keep up in coverage, Jones was pedestrian at best, and the LB crew as a whole should be embarrassed. The DB’s weren’t a whole lot better, with some loose coverage and, outside of a beautiful pick 6, they didn’t make a difference at all. I fear Charles Woodson is done in a Packer uniform.
Bad preparation, bad coaching, and bad play were a huge part of the loss. I sure wish they had Desmond Bishop, DJ Smith, and Nick Price out there for the game, so there is a bit of an injury excuse, but it is just that, an excuse. Although I’d love for once, just once, the Packers to have a healthy season like the Bears did a couple years ago. Having all your players makes a huge difference.
Many of the same problems going into the offseason last year, are still there this year. While I think the CB position is much, much stronger, they need another playmaking safety in the DB. But mostly it’s getting another guy opposite Clay Matthews (Nick Price), getting stronger on the D Line (Mike Daniels, Jerel Worthy), and rebuilding that O line (Brian Bulaga and Derrick Sherrod). I’m hopeful that the Packers will get some of those guys back healthy for next year, and they are a good team. But you have to be great to win the Super Bowl.
I think the Packers are going to lose a few big names this offseason, including Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Charles Woodson. They’ll have to decide if AJ Hawk, John Kuhn, and Jermichael Finley are worth the money and cap room they’ll be taking up, and they’ll likely have to break the bank to extend Clay Matthews, BJ Raji, and maybe throw more money at Aaron Rodgers. Should be interesting to watch. Because I seriously need something to get the awful taste of that last game out of my mouth. At least they’re not the Bears and Lions though.