Defensive Thoughts

Damarious Randall Picking Off Superman

Let me start off saying the defense got some recognition this week when rookie cornerback Damarious Randall was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month for November.

The man with the Johnny Unitas hightops led all rookies with two interceptions on back-to-back pickings of Peyton Manning and Cam Newton. He leads the team with 12 pass breakups and recovered the onside kick in the first game against the Lions to give the Packers a chance to win the game. Sadly they didn't.



Now back to more mundane issues. As I said yesterday the defense hasn't been the problem lately, but it also hasn't been the solution at critical times. With offense sputtering along scoring 10 points against the Broncos, 16 points against the Lions and 13 points against the Bears the defense needed to step up, but instead gave up 29 points to the Broncos and a limp-armed Peyton Manning, 18 points to the Lions and 17 points to the Bears, in addition to being torched by Cam Newton in the 37-29 loss to the Panthers.

The only good game the defense has had during the past five weeks was against the Vikings holding them to just 13 points while the offense ripped off 30.

The hallmark of Dom Capers' unit is leaving the middle wide open on 3rd and long situations and giving up long drives after the offense has just score. Clutch is not a word I would use to describe the 2015 defense or any Dom Capers' defense since the Super Bowl team.

Tight ends have field days against the Packers. However the Packers defense started off great as did the offense over the first five weeks.

Here's how the opposition tight ends have done this season. Bears Week 1: Martellus Bennett (5-55-1TD); Seahawks Week 2: Jimmy Graham (1-11-0TD); Chiefs Week 3: Travis Kelce (6-80-0TD); 49ers Week 4: Garrett Celek (3-26-0TD) and Rams Week 5: Lance Kendricks (2-16-0TD). This ends the stretch where Packers were good more and 5-0-0. Tight ends caught 17 passes for 188 yards with 1 touchdown for an 11.1 per catch average.

Now to the current stretch. Chargers Week 6: Antonio Gates (9-95-0TD) and Ladarius Green (3-35-1TD) for 12 catches for 130 yards; Broncos Week 7: Virgil Green (3-61-0TD) and Owen Daniels (3-44-0TD) for 6 catches for 105 yards; Panthers Week 8: Greg Olsen (4-66-1TD) and Ed Dickson (1-6-0TD) for 5 catches for 72 yards; Lions Week 9: Eric Ebron (4-28-0TD) and Brandon Pedigrew (1-2-0TD) for 5 for 30; Vikings Week 10: Kyle Rudolph (6-106-1TD), Rhett Ellison (2-19-0TD) and Mycole Pruitt (1-8-0TD) for 9 catches for 133 yards; Bears Week 11: Zach Miller (2-10-1TD) and Khari Lee (1-7-0TD) for 3 for 17.

During this stretch tight ends caught 40 passes for 487 yards and 4 touchdowns (12.2 average) and the Packers are 2-4-0.

The open middle and totally atrocious tackling has been the hallmark of this and many Dom Capers' defenses. We also see a disturbing trend to leave receivers totally open without anyone covering them at crucial times like last week against the Bears.

While the defense hasn't been the best it also hasn't been the worst over the past three games. Too bad the offense couldn't take advantage of this stretch because I feel it won't last. Hopefully both will show up tonight to save the season.