Perhaps it took longer than expected for Mike McCarthy, but the search is over. The Packers canned defensive coordinator Bob Sanders after a miserable season, and speculation on a replacement immediately began to center around former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan.When Nolan took the job in Denver, the talk turned to former Redskins and Jaguars coordinator Gregg Williams. He ended up going to New Orleans, leaving McCarthy to what was presumably his third choice for a coordinator.
The third choice for McCarthy is a veteran coach with a ton of credibility around the NFL. Former Carolina and Houston head coach Dom Capers, a very successful defensive coach, is going to take over the Packers' defense.
Capers won a lot of fans in NFL circles for his work as a coordinator in Pittsburgh. He then had an up-and-down tenure as head coach for the expansion Carolina Panthers. From there, he returned to the ranks of coordinator with Jacksonville.
He parlayed his work there into the head job for the expansion Houston Texans. After his unsuccessful stint there ended, Capers worked in Miami and most recently with the New England Patriots.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Packers are paying a pretty penny for Capers.
He is still owed $2.6 million by the Dolphins for the 2009 season; he was hired by Miami in 2006 and was defensive coordinator in 2007.Is he worth it?
While the Packers are getting an undisclosed discounted salary for this year, a source said the team will pay Capers in excess of $2 million for 2010.
Talk to me about it in 2011.
He has talent to work with. Defensive ends Cullen Jenkins and Aaron Kampman are very good. Linebacker Nick Barnett could blossom into one of the league's best if he can stay healthy. Cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson combine with safety Nick Collins to form a pretty formidable secondary.
