Capers out as Packers defensive coordinator

Jan 2, 2018 - 1:37 AM GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Dom Capers is out as the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator.

Now, the question is, who will replace Capers? And how many other defensive assistants will be shown the door?

Green Bay's defense has ranged from mediocre to awful since it won Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 campaign. And after another disappointing year, Capers' nine-year run came to an end when he was fired Sunday night.

Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac and inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley were also fired.

"I think we all need to get better," Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews said after Green Bay's 35-11 loss to Detroit Sunday. "I mean, if you look up and down the board ... I thought we did a great job in some areas, and a subpar job in others."

The Capers' Era can be viewed two ways.

The early years were filled with successes and helped the Packers win the 45th Super Bowl.

Green Bay finished second in total defense and seventh in scoring defense in 2009, Capers' first season on the job. The Packers then ranked fifth in total defense and second in scoring defense in their 2010 Super Bowl season.

"He's definitely a legend in this game," Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels said of Capers.

But after that 2010 season, things went south and haven't improved since.

From 2011-16, the Packers' average finish in total defense was 20th, and they were in the bottom 10 of the NFL three times. Green Bay also had an average finish of 17th in scoring defense, never ranking better than 11th (2012) and never worse than 25th (2013).

Green Bay was mired in mediocrity -- or worse -- despite the fact general manager Ted Thompson invested far more early draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.

Each of Green Bay's first picks from 2012-17 was devoted to defense. Thompson used his first six draft picks in 2012 on the defense. And in 2017, Thompson's first four picks were on the defensive side of the ball.

But whether it was Thompson's drafting or Capers' coaching -- or both -- the defense never made the necessary jump to take the Packers back to the Super Bowl.

This season was more of the same.

After quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone in Week 6, Green Bay desperately needed its defense to take a major jump. But that never happened.

The Packers finished 22nd in total defense (348.9) and 26th in scoring defense (24.0). Opposing quarterbacks had a 102.0 passer rating against Green Bay this year, the highest figure in franchise history. And opposing quarterbacks completed 67.8 percent of their passes, which is also the worst in franchise history.

"We'll see what this offseason brings as far as guys taking that next step within the organization already, free agency and that if that's the case, or through the draft," Matthews said. "For the most part, everybody needs to get better. It really doesn't matter what year you're in. I'm going into Year 10, and we've all got to get better."

Any improvement will now be done under a new coordinator.

Early front-runners for the job include Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Cleveland defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

"We just have to be more exact in everything that we do," Daniels said. "I think you can't get more basic than that. It's always good to get back to the basics. I think when we all do that, we'll make the improvements, and we'll advance in the way we'd like to.

"I think we've got all the guys -- players, coaches. We've got it done before. This year we've just come up short earlier than we have in the past."

--Center Corey Linsley would have been a top target on the free-agent market in March. But the Packers signed Linsley to a three-year deal on Saturday that will pay him up to $25.5 million.

"Obviously, I think this is an amazing place," Linsley said after the loss to the Lions. "I was unbelievably fortunate to get drafted here and for them to make a financial investment into the next three years, that means a lot to me. I have to hold up my end of the bargain and compete and get better and grow as a player, which I expect to do. That investment into me, I appreciate it and I'm looking forward to three good seasons."

--Wide receiver Davante Adams signed a four-year, $58 million extension last Friday. Adams was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

"I'm really happy for him and to see his progression as a player and a man over the last four years," Packers wideout Randall Cobb said. "I have the utmost respect for him. I'm very excited about him and his future."

With Adams locked up for the foreseeable future, the Packers can turn their attention to both Jordy Nelson and Cobb, who are both entering the final years of their contracts. Cobb's cap number is $12.75 million in 2018, while Nelson's is $12.55.

Green Bay clearly can't pay such hefty salaries to three different receivers next season. And with Adams the new anchor of the group, these are tenuous times for both Nelson and Cobb.

"I wake up every morning and try to be the best person I can be and make the decisions that are right for me and my family and go from there," Cobb said.

--Safety Morgan Burnett wasn't one of the Packers to receive a new contract last weekend. Instead, Burnett -- who just finished his eighth season with the Packers -- appears set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

"My situation is I just sit back," Burnett said. "I know God has me covered. I have a lot of faith, so I'm just going to see where the chips fall from there."

Burnett turns 29 on Jan. 13 and believes he has a lot of good football left. Whether that's in Green Bay remains to be seen.

"Of course, I want to be back with my brothers," Burnett said. "This band, this locker room, this bond that we built, it's fun playing with these guys.

"I hate that we've got to end it now, because now it means everyone is going to go their separate ways. I'm going to miss everyone in this locker room, because we have a tight bond and you're going to miss your brothers."

NOTES: QB Brett Hundley finished the year 3-6 as a starter with nine touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 70.6 passer rating. ... RB Jamaal Williams was being evaluated for a concussion after Sunday's game.