The Blame Game has begun in the Green Bay Packers Front Office. After a six win season, head coach Mike McCarthy released defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and five other assistant coaches.
How bad was the defense in Green Bay? Charles Woodson and Nick Collins were both elected to the Pro Bowl, meaning there were at least bright spots in the defense.
Is it fair to blame Bob Sanders and the other assistants for the demise of the Packers?
When someone puts a someone at superstar status ahead of the team, he forgets how this can impact the rest of the team.
Mike McCarthy signed Aaron Rodgers to a contract extension, ensuring his job for the next few years. In signing Rodgers, the Packers had to make room in their salary cap, so they got rid of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
This and the Minnesota loss began the downturn of the defense in Green Bay.
Rodgers could have been signed after the season, so Gbaja-Biamila could stay all season. By getting rid of a team player, they hurt the defense and the defensive line.
The defense broke down at the end of games with teams running through their front line. Would Gbaja-Biamila have made that big of a difference? Maybe not, but two or three more wins could have won the division.
The Packers secondary held teams in check, but needed the defensive line to finish games.
The Packers also had injury problems on defense. By losing linebacker Nick Barnett, they lost a key leader on defense.
This, along with the Minnesota loss, and the defensive line problems hurt the Packers in the long run.
Mike McCarthy did not take the team's immediate success in to consideration. He thought about the future and in turn, may have sacrificed the 2008 season.
The defense did have problems; however, Bob Sanders was the scapegoat for an overall bad season.
Mike McCarthy did what he thought was best for the team and only time will tell if this was the best option.
5 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Carter Bierwirth 6 months ago
Yes you are right...only time will really tell if this was the right decision or not...but Sanders did introduce this defensive scheme...and when it was working...it worked well. The only problem with the bumb and run conservative defense...is that you need an all around very experienced team to make it work. Hence why some like Woodson excelled at the position. Collins was a good break through player...and we have very few of those so good for him.
Anyways when that defense was working it worked well...but you CAN NOT give any NFL quarterback enough time to throw the ball...it doesn't matter how many players you have in the backfield...they will eventually find a spot to throw the ball. This is called the "prevent defense" and the only thing the "prevent defense" does is prevent you from winning.
The defensive line is the most critical aspcect of the defense that really collapsed this year...but the linebackers were also very weak; especially after Nick Barnett went down. Aaron Kampman is good...but you need pressure from quick large men up front..and without that any NFL QB is gonna kill you. The cornerbacks did their job quite well...but you can't cover everyone in the NFL for too long..and every second more it gets harder and harder. I don't believe that KGB's departure hurt them too much...he wasn't producing and was plagued by injuries, although it might have been a blow morally to the defense.
I think they did the right thing letting go of Sanders. His scheme had its high moments, but far more tragedies then success. They need something much more aggressive and quick, and hopefully that's what a new coordinator will bring to them. Needless to say I still think they let go of too many coaches, but with Sanders in general I agree with the decision. TT and MM are still not escaping all blame in this season though...so if they don't produce this coming year the time will come to eject them as well.
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Tim Seeman 6 months ago
i don't know if KGB would've helped run defense much seeing as he was a third-down, pass-rushing specialist. what really hurt was the injury to the versatile cullen jenkins. he'd play DE on first and second down and move inside when KGB came onto the field in passing situations
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Bill Cagle 6 months ago
should have kept KGB, and fired Teddy thompson. How many mistakes can he make before he's fired
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Patrick Castleberg 6 months ago
You might want to check your facts. The Packers were so "cap strapped" that they had to sign a guard off the Eagles practice squad and build in a "likely to be earned bonus" of over $7,000,000 just to use up all the cap room at the end of the season. Also by NFL rules because KGB made the roster and participated in regular season games as a vested veteran his base salary was guaranteed and the majority of the money he got this year in his $7+ million salary was guaranteed so the Packers saved little if any cap room by releasing him.
KGB's release had NOTHING to do with Rodgers signing. It had everything to do with the fact that KGB couldn't produce anymore.
Seriously, this article is ridiculous. Rodgers was top 10 in nearly every relevant QB stat this year in his first year as as starter. 4000+ yards, 28 TDs, 93+ QB Rating and if the D could have stopped anyone and Mason Crosby could kick a clutch FG he would have had at least 4 come from behind 4th quarter victories.
Thompson needs to be questioned for his failure to replace Corey Williams which left the DL thin and hurt the Packers ability to get the QB but getting rid of Farve (after he unretired) and locking Rodgers up long term are two of the best moves he's made since he's been here.
And for the record Farve was likely the best QB every to wear a Packers Uni...Though Bart Star and his multiple SB rings might have something to say about that.
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Dylan Semann 6 months ago
Fire Teddy T? Amazing how quick your minds change from last year to this.
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