Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I didn’t hear Green Bay defensive end Cullen Jenkins become the latest Packers player to criticize the team’s new defensive scheme. But I do know that Jenkins rarely makes verbal waves, and when you read the quotes in print, they’re pretty direct and clear.
Jenkins told reporters after Sunday’s 38-26 loss to Minnesota that some players feel they are in “handcuffs” in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme. Jenkins also questioned the motivation of some of Capers’ play selections Here are the key passages, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Last month, cornerback Charles Woodson criticized Capers for not calling enough blitzes in a 30-23 loss at Minnesota. Sunday, Woodson said he had no problem with the play calling and said he was surprised the blitzes didn’t get to Vikings quarterback Brett Favre more often.
Every team is frustrated after a tough loss, and this isn’t the first time I’ve head players criticizing a new system. But it’s clear that tensions are high in the Packers' locker room, and on at least two occasions, the enmity has been focused at Capers. Stay tuned.
Continuing around the NFC North:
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- I didn’t hear Green Bay defensive end Cullen Jenkins become the latest Packers player to criticize the team’s new defensive scheme. But I do know that Jenkins rarely makes verbal waves, and when you read the quotes in print, they’re pretty direct and clear.
Jenkins told reporters after Sunday’s 38-26 loss to Minnesota that some players feel they are in “handcuffs” in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme. Jenkins also questioned the motivation of some of Capers’ play selections Here are the key passages, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
“Basically, we have good players on this defense. We've got Pro Bowl players on this defense and they were sent to the Pro Bowl doing certain things. And they're not doing those things. It's tough. We have players who are good at doing stuff and we're not doing it. You want to win, and when you're not winning those things you start questioning, is it that people really want to win or they really want to accomplish another goal, just running what they want to run? I don't know. It's tough, though.”Jenkins went on to say: "Are we doing everything we can to win games or are we doing everything we can to run a certain thing that we want to run? I want to win and I want to do whatever it takes to win. At some point, you have to take the handcuffs off and let the boys play.”
Last month, cornerback Charles Woodson criticized Capers for not calling enough blitzes in a 30-23 loss at Minnesota. Sunday, Woodson said he had no problem with the play calling and said he was surprised the blitzes didn’t get to Vikings quarterback Brett Favre more often.
Every team is frustrated after a tough loss, and this isn’t the first time I’ve head players criticizing a new system. But it’s clear that tensions are high in the Packers' locker room, and on at least two occasions, the enmity has been focused at Capers. Stay tuned.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed notable improvement in the second half Sunday but it wasn’t enough, writes Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly showed no remorse for a critical personal foul call in the first half, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
- Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin finished with 261 all-purpose yards Sunday. Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune chronicles Harvin’s day.
- Favre told Peter King of SportsIllustrated.com that he strained a groin muscle in practice Wednesday and said he was worried about dropping back in the game.
- Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t seem upset about his verbal confrontation with Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune after the Bears’ 30-7 victory over Cleveland: “[T]he way the Bears' offense played was more worthy of apology than audacity.”
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times: “At some point -- and it's coming soon -- the Bears will be what they are. Right now, they strongly resemble a stumbling bunch, confused and lacking an identity.”
- Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Lions’ 17-10 loss to St. Louis: Even by the Lions' lowly standards, this was ridiculous.”
- Lions center Dominic Raiola confronted fans who were razzing quarterback Matthew Stafford, writes John Niyo of the News. Raiola was fined $7,500 for that last season.
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