In Dom We Trust...

Do we have any other choice?


million-dollar-bill-dom-200x120-copy3

million-dollar-bill-dom-200x120-copy3

Do we have any other choice?

Dom Capers was hired by Mike McCarthy to restore the Green Bay Packer defense to prominence. He wasn't McCarthy's first choice, but after Mike Nolan and Gregg Williams spurned the Packers, and Jim Haslett was left hanging, McCarthy moved fast to lock up Capers before the NY Giants could.

Capers, 58, has 38 years of coaching experience, including 23 years in the National Football League. He has been a defensive coordinator seven of those years (Pittsburgh, '92-'94; Jacksonville 1999-2000; and Miami '06-'07) and head coach nine of them (Carolina 1995-'98 and Houston 2001-'05).

Fortunately for the Packers, his record as a coordinator is much better than his record as a head coach. Not that he took on easy tasks. As Capers has jokingly said, "I'm the only guy stupid enough to take two head coaching jobs with expansion teams."

Capers has experience with the 3-4 in Pittsburgh, Carolina, Jacksonville, Houston, Miami and New England. This is the third time he will be converting a 4-3 team.

Based on his history, the 20th-ranked Packers defense can count on a quick turnaround.

When Capers took over the 25th-ranked Jaguars defense in 1999, the Jaguars moved up to fourth in the rankings and led the league in scoring defense. And when he converted the Dolphins to a 3-4 in 2006, they improved from 18th to fourth in the defensive rankings.

"The most foolish thing you can do is put in a scheme and plug your players into that," Capers has said. "You have to have enough flexibility to put your best 11 football players out there and feature what they do best. We know where we would kind of like to go. How fast we'll get there is another thing."

That having been said, Capers strongly favors the 3-4, which is gaining popularity in the league. There are now 12 teams playing the 3-4, but the Packers will be one of only three using it in the NFC.

Capers considers the scarcity of 3-4 teams in the NFC as a benefit to the Packers. "If you are one of the few, it becomes a little bit of an advantage," Capers said. "There are only three days each week to prepare, and if your opponents go five or six weeks in a row preparing for 4-3 teams, it helps."

"The two top defenses in the league played the 3-4 last year in Pittsburgh and Baltimore," Capers said. "That means something to coaches."

Kevin Greene, Green Bay’s new outside linebackers coach, was a training-camp volunteer in Pittsburgh last summer.  He worked closely with outside backer LaMarr Woodley, who had a breakout season in 2008. If nothing else, Greene's experience as a pass-rushing linebacker means he knows what it takes to get to the quarterback from the OLB spot.

Aaron Kampman has been working closely with Greene, and according to Mike McCarthy, Kampman has firmly grasped the mental aspect of playing that position.

Capers is excited about the Packers two first-round draft picks, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews, especially since they are well suited for the 3-4. "Both of them have the kind of physical tools to do a lot of the things we like to ask them to do," Capers said.

"Raji has really good size and really good athletic ability for his size. He can play nose, he can play defensive end if we ask him to bump out and do that. Matthews has the ability not only to rush but to drop into coverage. We're excited about having them."

Dom Capers took the Packers job, he says, because his gut told him it's a great match. Said Capers, "I had conversations with numerous teams and when it came down to it I felt this was the best match and best marriage and felt excellent."

So now that the honeymoon is over, I ask the question: Will it be a marriage made in heaven?

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You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco's articles on several sports websites: NFL Touchdown, Packers Lounge, Packer Chatters , Jersey Al's Blog and  Bleacher Report.

 

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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP

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Comments (10)

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MrBacon's picture

June 11, 2009 at 08:23 am

Capers won't guarentee sucess, thats up to the players. What he does guarentee is with his knowledge, the players wont be confused how to stop a 6 play drive, when they can't get a 3 and out.

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Jersey Al's picture

June 11, 2009 at 10:36 am

Like he says, he knows where he wants to go with the defense, just not how long it will take...

I'll be ecstatic if only he is able to get the defense to stop 3rd and longs. I remember so many third and longs where we let the other team off the hook.

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Justin Case's picture

June 11, 2009 at 10:22 am

I like Dom because he wears a toupe. You can see the chin straps.

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Jersey Al's picture

June 11, 2009 at 10:37 am

He better watch out when he goes to Chicago, it being the Windy City...

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Asshalo's picture

June 11, 2009 at 10:36 am

If we're in the top five on defense, you have to believe we're considered a legit contender for the NFC crown and maybe the superbowl (assuming we have a top 8 offense like last year). It would certainly catch a lot of people off guard, including many fans.

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Jersey Al's picture

June 11, 2009 at 11:02 am

I agree with your premise. We need improvement on Special teams as well. I think it's being addressed, as my last article discussed. Still worried about the punters, though...

Based on by what margin and how we lost games last year, one would think that a turnaround is very possible. yet I hear some fans talk like we will suck now for years to come. I don't get it.

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jeremiah's picture

June 11, 2009 at 09:32 pm

al thoe fans are just pissy FAVRE fans. there is no reason why the pack can't win 12 games this year.

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Asshalo's picture

June 12, 2009 at 07:50 am

especially with that schedule. In my mind anything less than 9 wins is a bad season. You got the NFC west, not to mention the Lions twice, Cleveland and Cincy. If we win the games we're supposed to and win more than we loose in the division, we're pretty much locks for the playoffs. I like that we have Dal, Balt, Pitt late in the season. If they win the games they're supposed to, those will be great tests before the playoffs.

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Greg C.'s picture

June 11, 2009 at 04:37 pm

I think Capers was a fantastic hire--better than Nolan and about as good as Williams. I like it that he has turned some defenses around in his first year. I wonder why they haven't been able to sustain it, however. Jacksonville and Miami both fell back to the pack in Capers' second season. Did those teams stop upgrading the talent, thinking that Capers could do more with less? Did opponents begin catching onto his schemes? Or was it just some kind of fluke or coincidence, one way or another? I wonder if anybody has ever searched for an explanation.

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Jersey Al's picture

June 11, 2009 at 05:27 pm

I wanted Williams, but Capers is a fine alternative.

You ask some very good questions, Greg. Could be a research project for someone...

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