The Green Bay Packers are 4-3 and right in the mix in the NFC. While Philadelphia is the early team to beat, they are an unknown. Even without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers should be able to stay in the hunt. Of course, for that to happen the Packers can’t have the worst defense in the league.
When a team loses a player like Rodgers there is no way you can expect to be scoring at the same rate. For the Packers to succeed the Packers defense is going to have step its game up. Looking at the Packers odds for the season, there isn’t much hope in defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ skills.
The Packers defense has been shredded by every good offense they faced this year. Those would be Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans. Capers can even be complimented for reviving the Cincinnati Bengals offense, which hadn’t scored a TD until they came to Green Bay and scored on their first drive.
There can only be two reasons for the Packers defense to be so bad, currently 23rd in the NFL. That is poor talent or poor coaching. Obviously for me, I lean toward coaching. But it could be talent, too. I don’t know. I do know something has to change on defense if the Packers are going to have any hope of overcoming Rodgers’ injury.
I had great seats at the game last week and I was just in awe at how easy the Saints picked apart the Packers defense. It was like the Packers were in slow motion. Once the Packers offense melted down the Saints did exactly what they wanted, when they wanted. Drew Brees had a guy open on every play.
Obviously, Hundley has to play better and head coach Mike McCarthy needs to just let it rip. If Hundley can’t do it, he can’t do it, but at least give him a chance. McCarthy pretty much said that himself since after the loss. Hopefully we see a different offense in two weeks. But that won’t help if the defense can’t hold up it’s end.
Nothing has changed in the last six years so it’s highly unlikely things change now. When it comes time to assess Rodgers’ career and why he only has one Super Bowl, it’s the defense. Offensive minded coaches always seem to forgo the defense. No coincidence the guy with five Super Bowls rings is a defensive minded coach.
The Lions and Steelers are the only bigtime offenses the Packers face the rest of the way. If the Packers defense can’t take care of the rest, the Packers are in trouble. And Capers should be fired once and for all.