Diagnosing poor defensive performances

Another week, another poor performance by the Green Bay Packers defense. The defense couldn’t get a stop for most of the game Sunday, allowing drives of 69, 63, 59, 85 and 63 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. Even the rush defense, so good early in the season, allowed 232 yards. Adrian Peterson had 146 of those yards, while Toby Gerhart added 91. Through the air, a lost Packers secondary allowed Christian Ponder to pass for 232 yards. Exactly what is wrong? Packers coach Mike McCarthy shot down growing dissatisfaction in the fan base with the job defensive coordinator Dom Capers is doing. “I’m very comfortable with our coaching staff,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s definitely one of the strengths of our program.” McCarthy says Capers and the defensive coaches are doing their job. “It’s a very talented, organized defensive staff,” he said. “I really like their teaching ability, their command and their personalities.” The problem seems to be with players executing the scheme and making plays. “When you’re talking about preparation and execution, we need to play better,” he said after spending Monday morning going through every defensive play call. “Time and time again we have excellent leverage, but we don’t complete the play.” Perhaps the Packers are lucky to be playing so soon after a disappointing game. “We don’t have a chance if we don’t come out and play better defensively,” linebacker A.J. Hawk said. “We have a big test Thursday. I think it’s good to have a short week.” Mike Neal said the anger defensive players are feeling is motivation. “I like that feeling,” he said. “I’m mad and I’m ready to play.” “We’re in a valley right now and we need to get out of it,” McCarthy said. There is certainly plenty on the line Thursday in Detroit. The Packers could leapfrog the Lions in the division race with a win. Depending on what the Chicago Bears do on Sunday against the Vikings, the Packers could find themselves leading the division with four games left to play. “We still feel like our destiny is ahead of us,” cornerback Tramon Williams said. “With that said, we just need to keep working. Hopefully the turnaround will turnaround soon.”