They certainly miss Raji, never thought I'd say that and mean it. They really miss the big bodied run stuffers like Pickett and Jolly, although our pass rush has improved with Daniels, Jones, Guion, etc. I don't think you can have it both ways with this current roster, it just won't happen. I would however, play Barrington with Lattimore and only sub in Hawk. See what those guys can do together. Hawk is about done.

The secret to improving the Pack's run D is to tackle better? Seriously?

Please read below, which is being typed in BIG LETTERS (you know the sort of big letters that McCarthy told the press back back in May that they could use when he GUARANTEED the D would be better this year).

The Pack has NO NT OTHER THAN AN UNDRAFTED ROOKIE and HAS TERRIBLE INSIDE LINEBACKERS (not inexpensive mind you, because Jones and Hawk are not poorly paid by any means, just bad).

We can bash on Dom all we want, but there is (once again) a huge talent deficit at NT/ILB. The players can work on fundamentals all they want (and BTW have not Jones & Hawk been on the team for 15+ years combined?) but when you can't play you can't play.

This would be where a good lesson in defensive play-calling would help. Isnt Dom calling his defense based on "down and distance", and what he has seen the Saints do so far this season? Like, its really a guessing game when its 2nd or 3rd and short, and Payton can call either run or pass.

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesnt it work like this: Dom sends the play in, and the defense lines up, then the offense hits the line, and makes any adjustments based on what the QB sees. Maybe Dom needs some sort of alignment where he can better disguise what he wants the defense to do, and maybe make better adjustments on the line?

I still don't quite understand why they are playing Barrington over Lattimore. I thought Lattimore was doing really well at ILB when playing until he got hurt. Are they just using Lattimore on a snap count?

I really think missing Burnett really hurt the Run defense. Burnett has been playing his best football. He hasn't been perfect but he has been very good.

Also against the Saints, House was horrible. How many missed tackles did he end up with? He wasn't physical like he normally has been.

I think the biggest thing will be getting guys back healthy. Datone Jones will add more depth and keep guys on the DL fresh with a healthy rotation. Lattimore getting healthier I think will help and getting Burnett back will really help.

Another question i have though is how Capers called his defense against the Saints. Missing Burnett and Shields did he call the defense differently then he has the previous weeks? Did he change his game plan based on who was available?

McCarthy says they need to "tackle the damn ball carrier". If players are still deficient in one of the most important fundamental skills of football, why aren't they benched or sent packing? Micah Hyde or should I call him Mike's Hype has been pretty much of a stiff this year and slow like Hawk Besides just throwing himself at the ball carrier's feet, I haven't seen him do much. A lot of the defense looked like they were saving themselves for their mini vacation. Using the fundamental skills they should have learned in high school would go a long way in fixing this defense.

Ya. Dam good thing they were making those yards on the ground. It wasn't until the second half that they realized, we can pass at will and score at will, why did we screw with the run when the other was so so much easier.

We need to finally spend a top pick on Hawk's replacement. Start speculating now.

If they have moved on from Brad Jones. (And thank god they did). Why is Jones still on the roster?

Promote the best PS guy, cycle another body in to practice and jettison the dead weight. The worst thing that happens is the same as now..they get no contribution from the roster spot. The best case scenario is they unearth another Tramon Williams or Cullen Jenkins. Or even a guy like Tom Crabtree or Atari Bigby--guys that can make a limited contribution for a short time. Which beats no contribution.

1) Tackling

2) Personnel (formations)

That's it.

The fact that this team looks good and then back to bad in run defense leads me to #1 and #2.

I saw a lot of bad football by teams that looked good the week before. The league is turning into arena football. 50+ points 1,000 yards of offense. If I was considering football at a young age I sure wouldn't want to play defense. Also I wouldn't want to be skip cowless, that would really suck.

First off we have proof that a defense can improve w/o adding a bunch of people...The Dallas Cowboys.

Second, the Colts won the SB when their run defense was horrible until their SS, Bob Saunders, came back and stopped the run.

Third, Green Bay was enough good players to field a very good defense. They aren't consistent w/ their fundamentals..dropping their heads when tackling, not wrapping up, not driving through the guy when you make contact. These are fixable. Players don't like to be embarrassed by their performance. If they aren't then TT needs to get rid of them. Will they ever be a top five...I doubt it because they don't have that middle thumper. They will get better when Rodgers gives them enough of a lead to make the other teams one dimensional. Until then, they can improve enough to win games.

"1. Eliminate the Missed Tackles"

You can only get better at things you practice.

How many 3rd and Medium to Longs did the Saints convert via the run? Aggregate yards mean nothing. The inability to get off the field on 3rd down and the explosive plays in the passing game by the Saints played a larger role when looking at this from a statistical perspective. Schematically the defense was outcoached. One of two possible things occurred in the defensive pass structure on the back end. Either Capers misjudged Hyde's ability as a deep safety or Payton schemed the defense in to rolling Ha-Ha in to the box. Ha-Ha should have spent most of the night in the deep middle....the place where he' s the most effective. Hyde is not a deep middle or half field cover safety. Payton attacked the ILBs with rubs and spacing on intermediate and short route concepts. I wouldn't be worried about the run defense. I'd be more concerned with teams exploiting the lack of athleticism and instincts via the pass.