Packers' Championship Dreams a Superior 'Defensive Mindset' Away From Fruition

-- If this offseason in Green Bay has shown anything, it's that there has been an evident need and desire for change -- both amongst coaching staff and players alike.

But the Green Bay Packers' are in the midst of that grand change. They already ousted Ted Thompson, their former general manager of 13 seasons, to a senior advisor position and replaced him with Brian Gutekunst. They also fired ex-defensive coordinator Dom Capers and hired on Mike Pettine, who fielded top-five defenses in his four-year stint with the New York Jets.

Entering 2018, that's where the biggest change needs to be; on defense. Coach Mike McCarthy implied as much at the NFL Scouting Combine back in February.

"It's got to be a mentality," McCarthy said. "I'm sick and tired of our defense feeling like the stepchild. I mean, how many times do you have to tell them, 'You're not the stepchild'?"

That tune hasn't changed, and while the Packers may still have an obvious deficiency at cornerback, the signing of veteran Tramon Williams helped mitigate -- even in the slightest -- any woes there may be. And, in a relatively deep and skilled cornerback class upcoming in April's draft, there's a good chance to stock up on talent.

It's a chance for the Packers to make up for the underwhelming stints of Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, the last two cornerbacks they drafted in the early rounds.

Randall was shipped off to Cleveland this offseason whereas Rollins is coming off of an Achilles injury and his play beforehand already wasn't much to write home about.

The Packers, who finished in the bottom-third of the league in virtually every major defensive category and 23rd in average passing yards allowed per game, desperately need some form of a turnaround.

Whether that's in the form of second-year jumps from players such as linebacker Vince Biegel and defensive lineman Montravius Adams, who should both have a full, healthy offseason under their belts, or the continued ascension in play from defensive end Kenny Clark and linebacker Blake Martinez; it just needs to be enough to host a middle-of-the-pack defense.

"I want the defensive mindset to be better than the offense's," McCarthy said at the NFL Annual Meetings on Tuesday, essentially echoing his same sentiments at his season-ending press conference in early January.

"I'm not talking about stats. I'm not talking about knocking the s— out of somebody in practice. I'm not talking about the bulls—."

This upcoming season marks the first time in McCarthy's head coaching career in Green Bay that he won't have Thompson surveying all other aspects of football operations that Gutekunst now has under wraps. While Thompson is still in the building, the Packers have already shown glimpses of taking different approaches to a multitude of facets in free agency.

The new outlook has left McCarthy to be more outspoken this offseason, speaking out on things that went wrong in 2017 when the Packers went 7-9 and where certain players on the roster stood at season's end.

McCarthy showed no restraint at the end of the season when he said Randall, who was benched in a game last September, needed to "clean his own house," implying the 30th overall pick in 2015 needed to focus on himself after calling out certain coaches on the team.

There's a new philosophy and a new mindset now, and knowing that quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn't exactly getting any younger, instilling that fresh mentality in the players doesn't need to wait.

"I want them to come in here every day and feel like they are leading the team to a championship. I want special teams to do the same thing. I know the offense works that way. So we need to do that as a football team."

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (34)

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Since'61's picture

March 30, 2018 at 09:19 am

If MMs statement in the last paragraph of this article is accurate, which I am assuming it is, why hasn't that been true for the entire football team and who is responsible?

IMO, MM should have instilled that attitude from day one in 2006. Better late than never, I guess. In any case I agree that the attitude needs to be there and that the defense needs to be injected with nasty attitude as I have posted for years here since 2010.

We'll see. Thanks, Since '61

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dobber's picture

March 30, 2018 at 09:31 am

I was a "superior tall and athletic" mindset away from being a top D-I basketball recruit at center, too.

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worztik's picture

March 30, 2018 at 10:44 am

HAHA!!!

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4thand1's picture

March 30, 2018 at 09:38 am

It took this team this long to figure out we need defense after winning it all in 2010/11? MM said in that SB run we have a championship QB and we're going to ride him. A QB can only do so much, so we found out the hard way. Capers must have been coaching for free and tight wad Ted kept him on board. Gute inherited a mess on defense and hopefully it'll be respectable this year.

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Bert's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:11 pm

Good question. I have my doubts about McCarthy if it took this long for him to figure it out.........Better late than never....but geeez.

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Fire_Gute's picture

March 30, 2018 at 10:20 am

I still don't understand this stepchild talk. Wouldn't the stepchild be fed the scraps and neglected. This defense wasn't fed the scraps, it was given all the choice cuts. And if it was neglected by letting Capers watch it, whose fault was that.

A new defensive mindset isn't going to fix all the damage done by TT and Capers. Hopefully that's all that was wrong with Haha and he can go back to average. And hopefully there will be a player or 2 who breaks out, there better be with all the draft picks wasted the last couple of years.

Everyone keeps saying all we have to do is nail it in the draft. Well dang, if only TT tried that the last few years. One draft class isn't going to fix this d. We almost get 2 draft classes if you consider that 1st,3rd and 4th from last year were all hurt and didn't do a whole lot. But we still have to make a few moves on top of that.

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NickPerry's picture

March 31, 2018 at 10:18 am

"Everyone keeps saying all we have to do is nail it in the draft. Well dang, if only TT tried that the last few years. One draft class isn't going to fix this d. We almost get 2 draft classes if you consider that 1st,3rd and 4th from last year were all hurt and didn't do a whole lot. But we still have to make a few moves on top of that."

I've said this exact thing but when I said it I referred to the 2017 Saints draft class doing that exact thing. I mean why couldn't the Packers have the same success, especially with a different GM pulling the trigger on the picks. The Saints also had excellent production from the previous draft class with Michael Thomas and Von Bell.

Why couldn't the Packers do the same thing? If King stays healthy and Jones makes any kind of jump to go with Jones and Williams that's a damn good start. I think Biegel could help this football team not just on ST, but also on defense playing for a guy like Pettine.

If the draft falls right and all these QB's are selected the Packers will be in a position for a top tier player at a position of need. Jackson, Ward, Landry, Ridley, or Smith are all players who could be there at #14. With the depth at CB in this class the Packers could fix a lot of problems.

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TarynsEyes's picture

March 30, 2018 at 10:33 am

Can't wait for his first post game and tells us how good a football player____ is, when the entire Packer nation knows and sees otherwise, and brushes the bad play off as a thing that needs to be cleaned up.....pad level etc.

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holmesmd's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:06 pm

Like Fackrell? Lol. Eye roll

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Bearmeat's picture

March 30, 2018 at 10:42 am

Ugh. This is so frustrating.

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GBPDAN1's picture

March 30, 2018 at 07:00 pm

Definitely frustrating. TT and brass has failed since our 2010 SB. We should have equalled or Passed Dallas, Niners and Patriots in SB victories (5) and really should be tied at 6 with Pittsburgh by now.

Finally, they seem to be realizing their shortcomings ! Let's hope it's not to late and AR gets another SB or 2 to lock him in as GOAT.

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jh9's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:02 am

Let's see... The Packers want to improve the defense. They want to change the mindset. Specifically they want to improve the pass defense.

What do they do?

They trade away a 25 y.o. DB. They release a 29 y.o. DB who was immediately signed by the Steelers. And they sign a 35 y.o. cornerback who last played with the Packers in 2014 that no one else wanted.

Hmmm...

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RobinsonDavis's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:34 pm

This has been the problem in my mind, specifically with DBs. We find good players, coach them up, then don't re-sign them. Many of these players we could have had for $5-7 million per year (Shields the exception). Instead we look for the cheaper alternative looking for a $3-4 million guy, or trying to coach-up the next draft-pick or free agent.

We seem to go ALL-in, searching for the "potential" next starter, instead of working to accommodate proven talent whose gifts and downside are known. This philosophy leaves you one-wrong draft pick and/or one-injury away from disaster. Supporting TGRs statement, I would love nice to have 3 veteran corners for insurance, while drafting a couple of studs to eventually replace them.

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holmesmd's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:14 pm

FWIW. Williams is the best CB on our roster the day he was signed. He was very good last year. You probably hated Peppers as it appears your have age prejudice issues? The silver zombie didn’t even make him an offer! “I know, Fackrell, Biegel, and the made of glass twins.. Perry & Clay will save the day!”Lol. Peppers left and was CAR sack leader on a defense head and shoulders above the Packer’s. His productivity has yet to be replaced and may not be for a few years. Yet one of many puzzling moves by TT:(

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jh9's picture

March 31, 2018 at 01:04 pm

My take on the Packers re-signing Tramon Williams is not about age-prejudice. It is about an organization that will lose their once-in-a-generation HOF QB if they don't make a serious challenge this season to win a Lombardi Trophy.

If the Packers are serious about "changing the defensive mindset," why sign a player they released four years ago? How does that change the defensive mindset? What kind of message does it send to your franchise QB that the organization he works for is doing everything they can to put the best players around him to win another Super Bowl?

Tramon Williams couldn't cover Julio Jones in 2014. What makes you think he could cover Julio Jones in 2018? And you think a player like Aaron Rodgers doesn't know that?

Between CBs on NFL rosters and FA CBs there is a pool of about 150 players to choose from. Finding that quality, veteran CB takes work and imagination. And, yes, god forbid, it might mean making a trade.

But I want this franchise do everything in their power to bring in the most talented players now to win that Super Bowl for Aaron Rodgers. And I believe there are much better options available to the Packers than re-signing a player they released four years ago.

You're welcome to your opinion. I've just stated mine.

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holmesmd's picture

March 31, 2018 at 09:56 am

I agree with much of your sentiment. I think you are confused about Williams. One player at one position will not define a “defensive mindset” in it’s entirety. He’s GB’s best corner! So what if he’s older. No one can cover Julio but I’m sure King would get that assignment anyway. I don’t see how signing a proven productive CB like Williams doesn’t improve the defense. Time will tell.

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jh9's picture

March 31, 2018 at 10:32 am

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holmesmd's picture

April 01, 2018 at 11:15 am

No, most of the time they can’t. No one on the Packers can, that’s for sure. Now a healthy Kk with more experience should be able to. We shall see

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:13 am

APC thinks our CB depth chart is King and Twill outside, Rollins in the slot as the starters. Pipkens, Brown, Hawkins, and Waters as depth. Perhaps add two rookies drafted somewhere in the first 4 or 5 rounds. GB just has to acquire another Veteran FA, imo.

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Bearmeat's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:38 am

At a minimum.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:38 pm

I'd stick with the draft. With 12 picks, we can easily move up in Rounds 2 and 3 to target CB's, and the last thing we want in a rebuild is fewer roster slots for developing young talent.

2018 isn't everything, and when fixing a messed up roster and cap, a little patience is a big virtue.

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jww061356's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:44 am

Honestly, based on what I've read, I don't really have a beef with letting Randall go. Obviously, they thought Burnett was not part of the solution. But I'm not buying that this was an attitude problem. This is a talent/scheme problem, and I think the problem with the scheme is on both sides of the ball. We are so predictable, the other team knows what we are going to do before we do. In fact, based on the way the defense looked last year, I think opposing offenses knew our assignments better than we did.

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RobinsonDavis's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:15 pm

It wasn't that difficult, 5-6 man blitz package with one on one coverage on key 3rd downs 60% of the time, leaving the middle wide-open most of the time. Odds were better than a coin-flip.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:42 pm

Randall should have stayed at slot, Hyde should have played only safety, Hayward should have stayed on the boundary...

...is there ANY player McCapers used well?

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holmesmd's picture

March 30, 2018 at 11:18 pm

Hayward is one of the best slot CB’s in the league, no? The boundary?! He’s short & slow to play there. He’s not a boundary CB IMO.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 31, 2018 at 10:03 am

Amd yet, that's where he's tearing it up.

I agree he's far from the prototype, but his tehnique is serving him well outside.

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holmesmd's picture

April 01, 2018 at 11:18 am

Ok, I thought he was playing mostly in the slot for the Chargers. I stand corrected. I’m surprised at his success outside based on his metrics. Now I’m even more frustrated that GB failed to retain him:(

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 30, 2018 at 12:04 pm

Just a reminder: Every insanely stupid move by Capers over the past few years was approved by McCarthy.

I'm as thrilled as anyone about Pettine (or any other biped chosen to replace the previous disaster), but it blows my mind that McCarthy could scapegoat both coordinatores and actually have his organizational power increased as a result.

Incredible.

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Lare's picture

March 30, 2018 at 01:04 pm

Seems funny that none of the major changes happened until after Thomson was relieved of his duties as GM. The buck stopped with him, perhaps he was more involved in coaching/coordinator decisions than we were led to believe.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 31, 2018 at 10:04 am

Perhaps, indeed.

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PatrickGB's picture

March 30, 2018 at 01:59 pm

Its seems that the coaching staff forgot about the "develop" part of "draft and develop". Also, the scheme sucked, regardless of injuries.

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Demon's picture

March 30, 2018 at 04:31 pm

Agreed A.L.P. mccarthy scapegoated both coordinators and several other asst coaches but, he gets a free pass.

Old phrase, "the fish rots head first" besides he was the one who hired all these clowns, he was also the one who allowed them to stay on staff several years.

As for Pettine, ( remember mccarthy hired him too)
im going to use the wait and see approach. For him to build a respectable D with the current roster, he would be more of a miracle worker than Anne Bancroft

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flackcatcher's picture

March 31, 2018 at 07:29 pm

There is only one person safe at 1265. That is Brian Gutekunst the Packers GM. Mark Murphy the Packers President is on his last year. The Coach Mike McCarthy is on a 'show me' contract, and he knows it. Russ Ball is seen as being scapegoated by both McCarthy and Murphy for their own reasons. His status is uncertain. The Packers have not had a situation this unstable since Ron Wolfs first year as GM.

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John Kirk's picture

March 31, 2018 at 07:47 pm

What do you mean by Mark Murphy is on his last year?

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