Capers Bringing a 3-4 Scheme To Titletown

A year after changing the image of the offense by replacing the individual that takes the snaps from center for the first time in 15 years, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson made another historic move on the other side of the ball.
On January 19th, the Packers announced not only the hiring of a defensive coordinator guru Dom Capers but by doing so head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear Lambeau Field will be home to the 3-4 defensive scheme.
"From an offensive standpoint, it creates targeting problems," McCarthy said during the press conference announcing Capers' hiring in principle. “It’s an excellent run defense [and it] creates pass rush on the quarterback. It really cuts the menu of the offense probably in half of what you would normally do [against] a four-man front."
Capers interviewed with McCarthy for two days after McCarthy had interviewed ex-49ers coach Mike Nolan, longtime NFL defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former New Orleans Saints coach and St. Louis Rams interim coach Jim Haslett.
There’s no denying on Lombardi Avenue that Green Bay’s disappointing 6-10 record last year was attributed to the fact they finished 22nd in points allowed, 20th in yards allowed and 26th in stopping the run.
The questions around that surround the Packers franchise is all about how quickly the current players that failed under Bob Sanders (whom McCarthy fired along with most of the defensive position coaches) can make the transition to the different schemes and techniques involved.
NFL Network analyst and former Oakland Raiders general manager/executive Michael Lombardi said the fans might see similar defensive numbers to 2008 because Capers may have to flip the roster in order to see more positive results.
“It takes two years to really develop a new system, one year to teach it, the second year to develop the players,” Lombardi said during an exclusive e-mail interview.
While some point to the potential of the 2009 first round picks (nose tackle B.J. Raji and outside linebacker Clay Matthews Jr.) as the first signs of transition, most analysts have pointed to the development of two-time pro bowler Aaron Kampman to the extra linebacker position as the linchpin of success for this defense.
"Well, I think it's going to be a good move for him," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said at the combine in February. "He's a little more talented player than people think.”
Kampman has accumulated 37 over the past three seasons but has never played a full season without his hand in the ground at the defensive line position.
“I feel there will be some transitional elements of moving from one defense to another, as well as personnel,” Lombardi said.
The scheme simply involves pressuring with five or more different rushers while dropping others into coverage, often times in zone coverage.
“It will not be a smooth--the speed needed to run that scheme is not to the level on the Packers right now,” Lombardi said.
However, Lombardi said the focus of Capers and his staff, which includes one of his former 3-4 blitzing linebackers in Kevin Greene, will be and should be generating enough speed in the outside rush to resemble the "Blitzburgh" style of playing the 3-4 created by him and current Steelers defensive guru Dick LeBeau.
In an always changing NFL, the Packers franchise has made the distinctive decision to pattern themselves after the last two Super Bowl Champions. However, history shows it may take longer than the 2009 season before McCarthy’s dream of a puzzling, dominant defense becomes a fear for the other three NFC Central head coaches.