Dom Capers Appears To Be Coaching His Final Game

The Teflon Dom label won’t apply anymore. Dom Capers is reportedly out as Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator following the season finale.

It’s a move many have long demanded, but coach Mike McCarthy has been slow to make. The Packers are ranked 22nd in the the league in total defense heading into week 17.

Capers, who has been with the Packers for nine seasons, hasn’t produced a top 10 defense since 2010. The Packers had the fifth-ranked defense during their Super Bowl run.

The defense was ranked last in the NFL the following season. Here are some more failings. The Packers defense has been outside the top 15 in six of the last seven years. In four of seven years they’ve been in the bottom third of the league.

Although Capers should shoulder a lot of blame for the Packers’ inability to field a strong defense, I’d argue that general manager Ted Thompson should get some of it too. Thompson hasn’t exactly given Capers a bunch of studs to work with. He couldn’t replace Nick Collins for how many years? With a defense we all know is based on rushing the passer, Thompson couldn’t seem to find enough pass rushers either.

The notable failures in the pass rush are Datone Jones and, other than his contract year, Nick Perry. And let’s not leave out the consistent disaster at the cornerback position of late.

It would be nice if Thompson followed Capers out the door, but at least we’re getting one change that’s long overdue.