August 3, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers looks on prior to the Family Night scrimmage at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

A deeply disturbing trend has formed since the Green Bay Packers’ playoff loss this past weekend.

History and fact have been thrown out the window in favor of pitchforks and anger. Far too many voices are calling for the head of defensive coordinator Dom Capers. These people will tell you how bad the tackling was and how poor game planning became. These claims are always coupled with demands for any number of possible replacements.

These accusations are meritless, and Dom Capers should be retained as defensive coordinator.

As always, the numbers do not lie. The defense finished eleventh in points allowed, a feat made all the more impressive by the fact the Packers play in the league’s highest scoring division. Even more telling, Green Bay finished eighth overall in Football Outsiders’ weighted defensive rankings. Now, consider the fact that the 2012 Green Bay defense lost Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, D.J. Smith, Nick Perry, C.J. Wilson, and Mike Neal for multiple games this season. This meant consider playing time for many rookies such as Casey Hayward, Dezman Moses, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels. To perform at the level Green Bay did with so many injuries and shifting lineups is a credit to the coaching staff, and we haven’t even gotten into Desmond Bishop and the “bad tackling.”

Oct 28, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings (23) fumbles the football as Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett (42) and linebacker Brad Jones (59) watch for the ball during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The perception that the Packers were a bad tackling team this year is perhaps the most frustrating. It was a constant theme during the three games against the Minnesota Vikings and their all-everything running back Adrian Peterson. It’s the calling card of just about every armchair general manager who wants to see Capers ousted.

Well, here’s the reality: the Packers had the third fewest missed tackles in the NFL this year. That’s top three in the league, ladies and gentlemen. If the Packers weren’t a good tackling team this year, then nobody was.

Not only are most of the accusations of Capers factually incorrect, but the suggestions we’ve heard to succeed him range from bad to hysterical. Prior to his hiring by the St. Louis Rams, many were calling for Rob Ryan. Why? The only explanation I can conjure is he coaches a 3-4 and he’s not Dom Capers. Any cursory analysis of Ryan’s defensive record should quickly dismiss him as a reasonable candidate. He’s been a defensive coordinator every year from 2004 through 2012. In that time, he’s never finished with a top 10 defense in points allowed. Worse still, he’s finished in the bottom half seven times. Most of these teams had very capable defensive talent, especially these last few years with the Dallas Cowboys. Ryan is just not a good coach, and certainly not someone worthy of replacing Capers.

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith reacts to play against the Detroit Lions during 2nd Half of a game at Ford Field. Bears won 26-24. Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Yet, the far more egregious replacement suggestion is Lovie Smith. Now, Smith is one of the better defensive minds in the league. He’s run strong defenses during his time in Chicago and St. Louis and will be a good hire for someone. That doesn’t change the fact he’s a terrible schematic fit for the Packers. Smith runs a cover-2 base 4-3 defense. This defense demands pressure primarily from the four man rushes with the middle and weakside linebacker have the freedom to play in space.

Even though Green Bay has a fair amount of talent on the defensive side of the ball, that talent does not fit into Smith’s defense. Specifically, the cover-2 has no position for the Packers’ best defensive players, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews. Raji is the prototype 3-4 nose tackle. His strength is that he can take on two or more blockers and still provide push up in the middle to free the pass rushers. In a 4-3, Raji is moved away from the 0 gap and forced to play where it is easier for offensive lineman to block him out of the play. Charles Woodson also wouldn’t have a proper spot in this defense. Woodson will be a full-time safety going forward. In the cover-2, that position rarely plays around the line of scrimmage. Woodson’s best trait at this point in his career is to move down toward the linebackers and either cover the slot or rush the passer. He could not do this in the cover-2 as a safety. And while Raji and Woodson’s production would be greatly diminished, neither would constitute the greatest atrocity. That distinction would fall upon Clay Matthews who would be left with no position at all.

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Chicago Bears 21-13. Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

One of the reasons Matthews was still available at the twenty-sixth pick in the 2009 draft was scheme fit. Matthews is not large enough to play defensive end, nor can his pass rushing skills be fully realized playing linebacker in a 4-3. The only way to maximize his ability is as a 3-4 outside linebacker. If Smith were to be hired, Clay Matthews would essentially become Aaron Kampman the sequel. For those who have forgotten, Kampman was the Packers’ best pass rusher back when they featured a 4-3 base defense. In the four years prior to the Packers’ switch to a 3-4, Kampman averaged just under 11 sacks a season. In all the years combined since the switch, Kampman has only acquired 7.5 sacks. If the Packers don’t want to repeat history, they’ll steer clear Lovie Smith and a switch back to a 4-3.

Now, Capers does deserve criticism for the way the defense performed against the 49ers. Colin Kaepernick was unaccounted for nearly the entire night, and the final score reflected it. However, one game does not justify a coordinator change. The defense needs to continue to improve in 2013 or Capers may actually be ousted. Given that the Packers are a smart organization, they’ll approach this as they do everything else: using reason.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

Lovie Smith is looking for a new home. Could it be in Green Bay?

By Darryl Krejci

To Lovie or not to Lovie, that is the question.

After the past season or two, many of us have tired of the failing defensive schemes, missed tackles, blown assignments and total gashing of the D Line in playoff losses and regular season beat-downs (which is defined by anything other than a victory of more than 47 points).  Like Caesar at the Coliseum, we are calling for the heads of those who have failed and look for the next Spartacus.

But is Lovie our Spartacus?

Full disclosure, yes I am in the camp that is calling for the end of Dom Capers time in Green Bay as I can no longer handle the anguish that comes with each defensive performance that is a cross between the Three Stooges, Keystone Cops and every Road Runner and Wiley E. Coyote cartoon that has aired.

But Lovie?!?!?

Let’s break this down from a rational standpoint.

First, he was with the Bears. That should be enough to end the conversation right there. It would be paramount to hiring Ditka to run, well run, anything associated with the Green and Gold. Look at our past history, the last guy of any note that came from the Bears to Green Bay was Jim McMahon. All he did was embarrass us at the White House by wearing a Bears jersey. You might be able to take the player/coach out of Chicago, but ya can’t take da Bears out of the guy.

Putting Lovie on “OUR” sidelines would cause not only Curly and Vince to roll over a few times in their graves, but I truly believe that by placing Lovie on the Packers’ sideline it would cause a tear in the fabric of time and space and result in a complete shift of the magnetic poles, plunging the world into a thousand years of darkness!

Secondly, I can’t get past the name. It is not that it is a bad name but does it instill fear?  At least with the name Dom, it harkens back to the days of the Godfather.  Imagine Michael Corleone sitting there with his Lieutenants planning their next job and in walks their trigger guy, Lovie. Where is the fear? Where is the edge? All I can think of is Thurston Howell III calling for his wife Lovie and asking her where his teddy bear is (which leads to how did the Professor manage to build a radio out of coconuts but could not figure a way off that island?).

I want a defense that is run by a man that when he walks into a room, even the great Ray Nitschke would be in awe. What would Ray say about a guy named Lovie (let alone from the Bears)? There would be this low rumbling and growl then a flash and then pieces of this and that scattered all over. He never would allow such a thing to happen.

Lovie Smith is a man without a team. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Third, when Lovie was hired he proclaimed his goal was to defeat the Packers. What was his overall record against us, 2 and 32?  I mean we owned them, he wore a big ole’ “L” on his jacket not cause it was his initial but because it stood for the losses we inflicted on his teams. Losses, means lack of wins, means one who does not bask in the glow of victory. Is that what we want for our Defense? A guy that can’t be victorious? We have that now (to a lesser degree).  I do not want to hear about how his defenses were so good. I subscribe to the philosophy that defense wins championships. How many of those did Lovie win? NADA, ZERO, ZILCH and ZIP!  His defenses did not result in anything more than the sum of nothing. I want a coach that will employ a defense that has more swag than Chuck Norris. In fact that is the answer! We need Chuck Norris to be the next defensive coordinator.

Finally, let us be realistic, would Lovie really want to come to Green Bay?  I consulted with some of the top names in NFL circles, OK so I talked to the gang down at Crabby’s Diner. Slim and Shorty said Lovie probably wants to take some time off and thaw out from all those years freezing his backside off at Soldier Field. Grandpa Bob said that if Lovie even tried to cross from Ashwaubenon into Green Bay it would be a cold day in Cudahy before the Packer faithful would allow such a thing and then old Joe Kano who says he remembers watching Curly play at the old City Stadium, said that having Lovie coach the defense would be like ordering a second plate of pancakes.

It might look good on the menu but once you get it in front of you, you have to think to yourself, ‘man that was a silly thing to do.’

So the question remains, to Lovie or not to Lovie?

I go back to my pick for the next defensive coordinator, Chuck Norris  Simply because it is Chuck Norris and who in their right mind is going to tell him he cannot coach the defense?

Pass the pancakes!

March 16, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery (center) poses for a photo after a press conference introducing wide receiver Brandon Marshall (left) and quarterback Jason Campbell at Halas Hall . Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

In the week following the firing of head coach Lovie Smith, many jokes and laughs have come at the expense of the Chicago Bears and their coaching search.

During that time, Bears General Manager Phil Emery has interviewed at least 10 (and probably more) candidates ranging from special teams coordinators to Canadian Football League coaches while avoiding most of the popular names such as Chip Kelly and John Gruden. It seems like there will be many more interviews before the Emery even approaches any candidate for a second sit down.

Laugh now, but regret it later. This is exactly what a smart organization does.

Unless a team is trying to nail down a big fish – an approach that isn’t fail-safe by any means – there is no incentive to rush a decision. Nor is there any good reason not to interview as many viable candidates as possible. It wasn’t that long ago that the Green Bay Packers were chastised for doing exactly what the Bears are doing now.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on the sidelines in the third quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Following the 2005 season, Packers general manager Ted Thompson embarked on a coaching search which involved holdover defensive coordinator Jim Bates, Maurice Carthon, Brad Childress, Ron Rivera, Wade Phillips, Sean Payton, and an out of left field candidate, Mike McCarthy.

Everyone knows who ended up with the job, and while nearly all those names have been head coaches at some point, all but perhaps Payton have failed to accomplish as much as McCarthy. McCarthy leads all the candidates the Packers considered in wins and winning percentage in the regular season and the playoffs. He, along with Payton, are the only head coaches in the group to win a Super Bowl. McCarthy has a shot at a second ring this year.

Now back to the Bears. By expanding their search outside of the expected candidates, they’ve given themselves a greater view of what is really available on the coaching market. Consequently, they may come to prefer a candidate that few fans even knew about just weeks earlier. These surprise hires may not rally a fan base, but winning with the right coach does, and it definitely outshines the afterglow of a popular but ultimately ill-advised hire.

The Bears have looked primarily at offensive coordinators, which makes sense given their woes on that side of the ball in recent years. In addition to looking at an array of candidates, Emery has been smart to also consider coaches from teams that don’t have great records. Joe DeCamillis of the Dallas Cowboys (8-8), Mike Sullivan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9), and Pete Carmichael Jr. of the New Orleans Saints (7-9) have all interviewed with the Bears this past week.

This provides another parallel to McCarthy’s hiring. McCarthy had just completed his first season as the offensive coordinator of the 4-12 San Francisco 49ers when he interviewed with Green Bay. That hire clearly worked out, and proves to show how team success is not always emblematic of the quality of assistant coaches.

We won’t know who the Bears hire for several days, and we certainly won’t know how that hire works out for several years, but all indications suggest this will be a smart hire.

A hire that should make Packers fans worry, not laugh.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn. Also Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow Lombardiave on Twitter.

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March 16, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery speaks at a press conference introducing new signings wide receiver Brandon Marshall (not pictured) and quarterback Jason Campbell (not pictured) at Halas Hall . Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

At the conclusion of the 2009 season, the Chicago Bears fired underperforming offensive coordinator Ron Turner. The Bears were only 19^th in points scored and for the third straight year finished outside the top 10. Making matters worse, Chicago had given up a king’s ransom to the Denver Broncos just a year earlier for Jay Cutler, a disgruntled but talented quarterback.

With this as the backdrop, the Bears formally requested to interview Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.

That request was ultimately denied by the Packers. League rules permit teams to deny permission to interview their coaches in all cases except when the interview is for a head coaching position. This time around, the Packers won’t be able to keep the Bears away. If Clements is ultimately the guy the Bears think can lead them into a new era of prosperity, he will be theirs.

Clements joined the Packers in 2006 as part of Mike McCarthy’s original coaching staff. Originally only the quarterbacks coach, Clements took over as offensive coordinator when that position became available following Joe Philbin’s departure for the Miami Dolphins last offseason.

Dec 9, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin retunes to the sideline against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Should the Bears hire Clements, it would be a significant blow to the Packers. While Mike McCarthy rather than the offensive coordinator calls the plays, the coordinator is nearly as responsible for the weekly offensive gameplan and halftime adjustments. For further proof, compare the offensive production of 2011 (Philbin’s last year) to 2012. While Green Bay still possesses a dynamic offense, Philbin’s loss was huge.

Clements loss could be greater.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has said repeatedly that he owes his greatest debt to Clements for developing him into the player he is today. While it’s unlikely Rodgers would regress if Clements was to leave, it may be difficult to find another coordinator who would command the same respect from Rodgers.

The presumptive “next man up” to fill Clements shoes would be current quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo. Rodgers openly campaigned for a different coach to take over at quarterbacks coach following Clements’ promotion as he felt a coach who had actually played the position could offer more. Rodgers will most likely accept McAdoo as the offensive coordinator, but there exists the possibility that McAdoo may not always be able to properly communicate with the team’s franchise player. That’s not a knock against Rodgers. It’s rare for a player and coach to have such an open, honest, and trusting relationship as the one he has with Clements.

Oct 28, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy calls in a play in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Byron Hetzler-USA TODAY Sports

The one thing that may prevent Clements from becoming the next head coach of the Bears is age. Coaching in the NFL is a difficult, stressful profession, especially as the head man. Clements will turn 60 prior to the start of next season, making his window as a viable head coach a small one for someone who has never previously held the position. Clements’ most likely competitors for the job are the much younger Mike McCoy (40), Joe DeCamillis (47), and Keith Armstrong (47). While the coaching profession masquarades as a meritocracy, it’s a far more political matter than many care to admit. Age could be the reason the Bears turn elsewhere.

Whether Clements is hired by the Bears or not, this is yet another sign that McCarthy’s coaching staff will see much upheaval in the coming seasons. No team can have as much success as the Packers without losing their top assistants. Whether it’s Clements, McAdoo, or well-regarded defensive coaches Joe Whitt, Darren Perry, Kevin Greene, and Winston Moss, there will be familiar faces moving on to bigger positions over the next few years.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter: @JBHirschhorn

December 30, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid walks off the field after losing to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. It was his final game as head coach of the Eagles. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

“Black Monday” is historically the day after the final National Football League regular season games have been played. It’s the day when coaching staff firings are announced

If a normal year is considered black, today, Monday, Dec. 31, might go down in league history as the blackest of the black, the black hole where no light can seep in or out.

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith. He won’t have to worry about beating the Green Bay Packers anymore as he was fired Monday.
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Already today, there have been, as of this writing, as many as 10 head coaches and general managers who have been given their pink slips – including our beloved Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith. I have a suggestion for the coach who takes over that storied franchise – don’t make defeating the Green Bay Packers your sole mission in life. Before you do, you might want to ask Lovie how that all went down.

In any event, the sound of the revolving doors over the next couple of weeks should be a loud hum as teams across the league scramble to hire the next coach that will take their franchise to the Super Bowl.

For us Green Bay Packers fans, the only thing we should worry about is whether some of these desperate teams sweep in and raid our coaching staff … though the team can somewhat control that situation, rarely do franchises stand in the way of someone improving their lot in life – and that’s the way it should be.

One of the best sites for keeping track of all that’s happening today and will be continuing throughout the next few weeks is at profootballtalk.com … Here is the link to the updated information.

Enjoy, and better yet, relish in the fact that the Packers are in the Playoffs once again, play at home this weekend and are preparing to take revenge on the Minnesota Vikings.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (left), president Mark Murphy (center) and general manager Ted Thompson gather during training camp last summer. Murphy was named to the NFL competition committee today - just one of many announcement to come out of Packers camp the past couple of days. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

One wouldn’t have thought it was football season the past couple of days because of the amount of news that’s poured out of the Green Bay Packers camp.

Coaching changes, the team’s president being named to a prestigious committee and the annual selection of the team’s greatest fan to the Hall of Fame.

All of this has been covered across Packers Nation by the media and what better way to recap all these developments that to link a few right here.

So, if you’ve been as busy as I have the past few days and haven’t really had the chance to surf the Packers Internet, here are a few to check out:

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Clements is being bantered about as a possible replacement to Raheem Morris as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but if he doesn’t land there or take another coordinator’s position outside of Green Bay, speculation is that he will be promoted to the position by Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that because of their penchant to promote from within, Clements will take over the position vacated by Philbin who was named head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

“Your first intent is to look within,” McCarthy is quoted by the newspaper. “That’s where you start. But I don’t want to talk about that now. This is Joe’s moment. He deserves all the attention. You don’t replace people like Joe. I’m going to miss him personally a whole lot, forget as a professional. He’s someone I enjoy being around. He’s a great guy. This is a very good opportunity for him.”

But if McCarthy is going to keep Clements around, he most likely will have to act fast – that is unless Clements is offered the head coaching job in Tampa.

Joe Philbin is now the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, having accepted the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

With the announcement last night that Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will be taking the helm as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, huge decisions now face Packers coach Mike McCarthy about how to fill the vacancy and what other coaches and players may follow.

The announcement isn’t a shocker for the Packers given the fact that Philbin interviewed twice with the Dolphins and has certainly earned the right to become a head coach – helping to build and develop the Packers’ vaunted offense behind the play of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Philbin is ready to make the move. He’s been with the Packers for nearly 10 years and has earned his stripes. And without question, his move comes at the right time. Surely he enjoyed his time in Green Bay, but the loss of his son to drowning two weeks ago probably gives him good reason for a new venue for himself and his family. There’s something to say about getting a fresh start in a new situation.

See more after the jump and Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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What does the future hold for Jermichael Finley?

It’s going to be a long offseason, that’s for sure – for both Green Bay Packers fans and the team.

Following yesterday’s humbling loss to the New York Giants, the Packers organization’s leaders have some difficult choices ahead in their attempt to improve the team and getting it back to winning playoff games and another Super Bowl.

There is much speculation out there about which directions the team will go, especially regarding player personnel and coaches. How that all plays out will be exciting to follow and will be the talk of the town for the next few months.

What happens with Donald Driver and Chad Clifton? What about Ryan Grant? Do the Packers allow their coaching staff to be raided like it was back when Mike Holmgren left and took much of the staff with him? Will Ted Thompson go back to the draft to select more talent from that pool or does he actually delve into the free agent market to find established players to fill voids? And what about Jermichael Finley?

These and so many other questions won’t be answered in the short-term, but will occupy our time as fans and journalists in the coming weeks and months.

Here’s a poll of hypothetical changes that could be in store for the franchise. Consider which of these are most likely to occur:

As it turns out, according to a tweet from Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the senior Wolf knew more than one would expect. It turns out that the younger Wolf will probably take over in Green Bay as the next head of pro personnel.

It should be a good fit for Wolf, who has been in Green Bay for a number of years.

@BobMcGinnBob McGinn

Could Packers executive Reggie McKenzie be headed to Oakland? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

With the news that Green Bay Packers executive Reggie McKenzie was interviewing today by the Oakland Raiders for a front office position, it becomes even more clear that success brings more success for those members of a coaching staff that is successful.

Talk not only about McKenzie being eyed by other teams is sure to extend to other coaches and executives now working for the Packers.

The question is how many will leave the successful program that they have helped build. No doubt there will be a few. But who will they be and how many?

Consider today’s poll …

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