Ted Thompson Could End Up Getting Dom Capers Fired
By Erik Lambert
There’s no doubt that the man under the most fire for the Green Bay Packers’ failure to reach another Super Bowl is defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
It’s hard to argue that point given his unit allowed 75 points scored in the final two games of the year against Dallas and Atlanta. Winning championships is difficult when stuff like that happens. Now there is a growing belief that if his group doesn’t hold up their end in 2017, there’s a strong chance he could be fired after eight seasons on the job.
Is that fair? Yes and no. At the end of the day his job is to make the best of what he has. Some argue he’s done that, others think he hasn’t. Looking at the overall landscape though, the man to blame for these defensive shortcomings has to be GM Ted Thompson. Adam Schein of NFL.com explained how this is the case.
"“I believe Dom Capers, with a wealth of experience in this league, is a wise defensive mind. But results are results — and lately, the results have been quite uninspiring.In Capers’ first two seasons with Green Bay, 2009 and 2010, the Packers ranked second and fifth in total defense. Oh, and Green Bay won a Super Bowl. Since then? The Pack have ranked 32nd, 11th, 25th, 15th, 15th and 22nd last season. Just not good enough.I give Mike McCarthy credit for explaining last month why Capers is his guy. And I do blame Ted Thompson for failing to restock Capers’ cupboard with defensive talent. But if the Packers fail to make the Super Bowl and the defense holds them back … Look out, Dom.”"
Dom Capers a victim of one-sided GM?
For a little perspective on what this means. Keep this in mind. Through his first five seasons, Thompson drafted three Pro Bowl defenders in Nick Collins, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews for that side of the ball. Through the next seven, excluding this year, he has managed only one in safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Casey Heyward did reach a Pro Bowl as well but that was with the Chargers.
What makes it look even worse is that four of those other 1st round picks besides Clinton-Dix were defenders as well. Nick Perry had 11 sacks last year but was ineffective mostly before that. Datone Jones was a bust. Damarious Randall and Kenny Clark haven’t shown signs of being major players yet either. It makes one think that Thompson might not have the eye for talent on defense that he does for offense. In that same span from 2005 to 2016 he’s collected seven Pro Bowlers on that side of the ball.
Capers is like any coach. He’s only as good as the talent given to him. The Packers, contrary to popular belief, aren’t good enough. Until that changes, Capers can only do the best he can.