Packers Morning Buzz: Looking for improvement vs. top QBs

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee, or brew some English breakfast tea if that’s your thing, and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Michael Cohen’s look at Mike Pettine’s history against top quarterbacks in the playoffs and how it compares to the work of Dom Capers.

From Michael:

While there is a significant difference in sample size between Capers’ playoff games with the Packers (16 total, 9-7 record) and Pettine’s postseason experience with the Jets (6 total, 4-2 record), the statistics clearly favor the latter in nearly every category. The disparity widens when the quality of opposing quarterbacks is considered.

» Average passing yards allowed: Capers  275.6; Pettine  246.3

» Average passing touchdowns allowed: Capers  2; Pettine  1.3

» Average passer rating allowed: Capers  89.3; Pettine  82

» Average rushing yards allowed: Capers  125.9; Pettine  117.5

» Average yards per carry allowed: Capers  4.8; Pettine  4.3

» Average rushing touchdowns allowed: Capers: 1.1; Pettine  0.7

To be clear, Capers’ defenses were not without their share of strong playoff performances, from forcing three interceptions against the Chicago Bears in the 2010 NFC Championship game to picking off Russell Wilson four times in the 2014 NFC Championship game before everything disintegrated in the closing minutes. In total, the Packers held opposing teams to 23 or fewer points eight times with Capers at the helm in the postseason.

But some of the playoff defeats were heinous. The Packers were hoodwinked in 2012 and ’13 by the read option of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who ran for a combined 279 yards and two touchdowns. They were shredded by Eli Manning and the New York Giants, whose 37-20 victory in the 2011 season featured 330 passing yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 114.5, some 31 points higher than Manning’s career average.

I chatted with readers late Thursday afternoon:

Pete Dougherty and I chatted about what the Packers are going to do at wide receiver in 2018:

Elsewhere, Bart Starr has added his endorsement of Jerry Kramer for the Hall of Fame:

It’s ranking season at Bleacher Report:

The Power Sweep sifts through the detritus of the 2017 season:

The Packers continue to fill out their coaching staff:

Bill Huber looks back at last year’s draft:

Zachary Jacobson looks at the play of Kenny Clark:

Packers Film Room is breaking down the running game:

Chat Sports includes Jordy Nelson and Clay Matthews as possible cap cuts:

Corey and Anna Linsley have become spokespeople for the Wisconsin CASA Association:

Brett Hundley went ice fishing: