It was expected, but the move wasn’t swift, that’s for sure. However, the Green Bay Packers made what some would consider a long-overdue move and fired defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
Coach Mike McCarthy refused to address any potential changes after the Packers dropped their season finale to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. It’s also known that McCarthy hates firing people. Well, Mike, who does like firing people?
Capers had been with the Packers since 2009. His last top-10 defense came in 2010. Surely not coincidentally, that’s the last championship the Packers won.
The Packers finished 22nd in total defense in 2017. Following 2010, when the Packers were fifth in total defense, Capers’ defenses were, in order, last, 11th, 25th, 15th, 15th, 22nd and 22nd.
Clearly, things have been going in the wrong direction.
The leader in the clubhouse to replace Capers appears to be former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Is this the end of the offseason upheaval with the Packers?
We already know there will be more changes to the team’s defensive coaching staff.
It may not stop there, however. General manager Ted Thompson cannot feel 100 percent safe after the season — and talent level — we all just witnessed. There’s even a chance that McCarthy himself isn’t safe.
It will be an interesting week at 1265 Lombardi Ave.