Whats wrong with the Packers defense? If anything...

So I decided that writing about the Vikings game just annoys me…it’s that damn horn. They even hung a Packers effigy...so classless that they dont deserve a game review or an NFL team…so let’s just take the W and move on to bye week. If you care, the Cheesecake Awards are listed below.

Bye Week Defensive Review…

On defense, the Packers have been Jekyll and Hyde all season long, allowing 288.9 passing yards per game (31^st in league) and a whopping 391 total yards per outing (27^th). And yet, Green Bay allows just 20.1 points per game (10^th) and leads the league with 13 interceptions and 16 total takeaways. The stats make it look as if Dom Capers is running the good ol’ fashioned hustle on his opposing defensive coordinator. Is Capers allowing the opposition to win the battle between the 20 yard lines and then clamping down, forcing a turnover when it counts? Whether intentional or not, the method to Dom Capers’ madness is working, even though its stressful for fans and inspiration for a media desperate to find fault with a 7 – 0 team. The scary part...the defense will only get better, and the offense, well, they are just legend......wait-for-it......dary (for those of you who live under a rock, go watch How I Met Your Mother).

Much of the blame for largess in defensive yardage falls on a depleted secondary. If someone told you that Green Bay’s secondary would consist of Pat Lee, Charlie Peprah and Jarrett Bush, would you guess the Packers had a 7 – 0 record? I certainly wouldnt. With Charles Woodson unable to practice, Tramon Williams nursing a bad shoulder, Sam Shields out with a concussion, and Nick Collins on IR, yards are expected.

Whats worse, injuries have forced Charles Woodson into a role he hasnt played in years: cornerback. Yes, I know thats his actual, depth-chart-listed, position. But, over the last three seasons, Dom Capers has allowed Woodson to roam the field almost like a hybrid linebacker-safety. Woodson is having a great statistical season with a league leading five interceptions, but he is a step or two slow in coverage. Against the Vikings he showed flashes of brilliance with two interceptions (also millimeters from two more), but also surrendered a seemingly pivotal touchdown. Clearly, Woodson has amazing on the field instincts and ball awareness, perhaps the best in the modern era (move over Rod Woodson?), but his athleticism is waning. Sorry PackerNation, heroes get old...remember that guy who wore #4? Good news: Sam Shields shook off the concussion cobwebs and is cleared for action. After bye week, Woodson can return to roaming the field.

The rest of the blame for big yards goes to the Packers lack of a consistent pass rush. It’s a shame that Ted Thompson and Coach McCarthy have been unable to find more than a warm body to play opposite Clay Matthews. Erik Walden has shown SOME athleticism in coverage, but is completely inept at rushing the passer. Remember that special day in January when Walden posted three sacks and sixteen tackles against Chicago? Where did that man go? Oft injured Frank Zombo isnt much of an upgrade either, so dont go hoping for an instant fix upon Zombo's return. Brad Jones apparently cant play anything but special teams. There has to be someone else on the team that can rush the passer. Imagine the fury Clay Matthews could unleash on opposing quarterbacks if he werent double and triple teamed on most passing downs!  Next years' draft priority: OLB!

Defensive Standouts...

1) Seven games into the season, the player that stands out most is LB Desmond Bishop with an NFC leading 65 combined tackles and three sacks. Bishop is the only man Chuck Norris has ever apologized to. On pace for 119 tackles in 2011, Bishop finished with just 75 tackles in 2010. The man is absolute beast. Just go here and watch the videos.
2) Clay Matthews has been chipped and double teamed all season, and yet he leads the league in combined pass rushing statistics. Not to mention the man isnt even healthy. Watch out after bye week, the ClayMaker is back.


Week Seven Awards...
Cheesecake Awards: Clay Matthews, Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Mason Crosby
Rotten Egg Awards: Tramon Williams, Erik Walden, Charlie Peprah, Randall Cobb