NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Senior writer jclombardi profiles DC Capers, LBC Greene, and TE Quarless.

Capers defense successful despite Packers many injuries: The rise of the Green Bay Packers to the top rung in scoring defense despite a maelstrom of injuries is a tribute to the players, the coaches and the scheme. Above all, it is a tribute to Dom Capers, who has held firm to his fire-zone scheme and reaped the benefits in Year 2 as defensive coordinator in Green Bay. ”He’s done an outstanding job,” said Mike Trgovac, the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator from 2003-’08 who joined Capers as defensive line coach last year. ”As an ex-coordinator, the one thing I’m most impressed with Dom is he stays the course. He’s never too high. He’s never too low. He never panics. He believes in his system.” After allowing merely 30 points in the last four games, they lead the National Football League in points allowed with 166. The ranking is a source of pride within the organization, which hasn’t finished a season allowing the fewest points since its last championship in 1996 (210). The combination of rush and coverage has enabled the defense to rank second behind only Chicago in opponents’ passer rating (70.0). Moreover, Green Bay is tied for seventh in take-aways with 21. Based on rankings, the fall of a run defense from No. 1 in 2009 to No. 18 this year might appear to be a serious blemish. But the yields of 112.6 and 4.50 per carry would be 90.2 and 4.05 if the composite quarterbacks’ rushing totals (30-246-8.2) were eliminated. If Capers has said it once in interviews he has said it 100 times, stopping the run is at the core of what he seeks to do each week. ”It’s a hard team to run against because they play physical up front, they fly to the football and they got a bunch of big bodies,” an NFL personnel director said at midweek. “They’re smart, they’re tough and they’re big. ”Dom does a great job of mixing up his blitzes and getting to the quarterback. I think they’re well-coached. They get more out of less.

Greene focuses on coaching: After his playing career ended, Greene was reluctant to get into coaching. It wasn't until 2009, when the Packers hired Dom Capers as their defensive coordinator, that Greene got serious about coaching. Greene decided it was the right time to give coaching a shot. He's turned out to be a perfect mentor for OLB Matthews as well as for young up-and-comers. He's an intense coach, but also fiercely defends his "kids" at every turn. Greene said of coaching, "(As a player), you’re in the flame and you get burned and you feel that. (As a coach), you’re standing next to the fire and you feel its warmth. It feels good. There’s adrenaline and it feels good. "You just be yourself, and coach from your heart. That’s what I think. Obviously the scheme and everything, I know the scheme and can teach it to the kids. But I think you just coach from the heart. I know a lot of little nuances of the position that I can bring to light for some of these kids that another coach may not see.” Every Friday, Packers coach Mike McCarthy has one of the assistant coaches address the team. Friday was Greene's turn, and according to Zombo, the message was "a reality check to everybody on the team. 'How hard are you really working, on the field, off the field?' You could tell a lot of guys took it to heart." McCarthy acknowledged that there was some uncertainty when he interviewed Greene at Capers' recommendation because of Greene's limited coaching work, but McCarthy left the interview very impressed and has continued to be impressed ever since. "To me, a lot of the hiring of a staff is about fit," McCarthy explained Friday. "He had not coached in a full-time position before, but did a number of the internships, so there were a lot of positive recommendations that came Kevin's way as far as his ability to coach and what he experienced in those training camps. Definitely, the potential was there. It jumped right out at you. "You can see growth all the way through his development as a coach. We were right, and he brings a lot of passion and he's very good at what he does. It's very natural for him."

Maturity: Andrew Quarless has changed so much that the Green Bay Packers rookie tight end has even changed his name. "Drew. That's what everybody calls me," Quarless said. It's his game that's changed for the better. "He's grown up a lot," Packers coach McCarthy. "I think since the bye week, you really see him starting to make a move. He's in better shape. His awareness is improving every week. We're definitely counting on him to contribute here down the stretch." QB Rodgers was counting on him last Sunday, before the Packers' 16-play, 90-yard touchdown drive tied the game. Rodgers told Quarless so before the offense went onto the field. Quarless delivered with 11- and 19-yard catches. "He still has a ways to go. He reminds me of a young Jermichael Finley in that he doesn't quite fully understand the offense yet," Rodgers said. "But I feel he's getting better. I went to him on the sidelines before the last drive and I said, 'Hey, I need at least one big play out of you this drive,' and he made a big play to get us a first down. Those are the kinds of things you like to see from him. I still think he has a lot of untapped potential that he can dig into if he really dedicates himself to the game plan and getting better each day in practice." Those comments from Rodgers are similar to the thoughts he had on Finley as a rookie. He struggled to grasp the offense and to gain Rodgers' faith, something Quarless is doing bit-by-bit now. "That meant a lot to me, for him to have that confidence and that faith in me to say, 'I'm looking for you,'" Quarless said. "I say it all the time: I was thrown in the fire. I'm just trying to make it out and get better.”

Trap Game: Looking Ahead?

“It’s way too early for that. We ain’t even thinking about that right now.”

—Bears DE Julius Peppers, when asked about the Super Bowl.

The Bears visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Brian Urlacher and crew will be facing a 3^rd string QB in Drew Stanton, who's subbing for the injured Shaun Hill, who's subbing for Mathew Stafford…who never really recovered from his week-one body shot compliments of one Mr. Julius Peppers.

The Bears are 8-3, the Lions 2-9. Should be an easy win, right?

Yep, I agree.

But while you track how many yards and TDs guys like Cutler and Forte put on the board and how many sacks and turnovers the Bears D forces, I'm going to follow (and  take time to appreciate) some of the Bears' unsung heroes from this surprise, 1^st place season. You know, guys like…

Peanut Tillman – Not only is Peanut tied for second on the team with 3 INTs (Chris Harris), he's 2nd behind only Brian Urlacher in total tackles. Hard to believe he's in his 8th year, but Tillman is one of the most physical tacklers in the league. True to form, he's forced 4 fumbles and recovered two others. During the preseason, Bears followers were ready to annoint Zack Bowman the team's #1 corner, especially after he flip-flopped sides with Tillman. But when the regular season began, it was Peanut whose play allowed him to reclaim that role.

Robbie Gould – The third most accurate kicker in NFL history is up to his old tricks again this year. He's 18 for 22 on field goals (82% success rate). Every time he trots on the field, I try to stop and appreciate how spoiled we are knowing our kicker is automatic for any attempt less than 50 yards. Gould will hold a home-field advantage against every opposing kicker who enters Soldier Field between now and the playoffs. And should he need to make a big kick in a climate-controlled dome, let's say…oh…in the ATL next month, he'll be money.

Chris Harris/Danieal Manning – Besides the Vikings game, I can't think of another time when the Bears were burned by a deep pass play. Sure, Lovie's Cover-2 D is predicated on stopping the big play; but you'd expect a busted coverage every once in a while. With Harris and Manning manning the defensive backfield, that hasn't happened this year. Both players are stout in run support, which has contributed to the Bears lofty second-place league standing in rush defense. The success of Harris and Manning has allowed Lovie to bring Major Wright along slowly, without thrusting the rookie into action before he's ready.

Earl Bennett – Okay, so he's becoming more of a household name, especially after last week's 2-TD game vs. the Eagles. But while Knox and Hester make more of the ESPN-worthy plays, I'll take me some Bennett any day. Earl reminds me of Tom Waddle – the 5-foot nothing, pasty-white WR who did all the dirty work for Ditka's offense in the early '90s. All Bennett does is make the tough, clutch catches over the middle that turn into first downs. Rarely does he drop a pass. And he's also played special teams this year, so you know he's tough.

Frank Omiyale – Poor Frank. Since signing with the Bears in the 2009 offseason, he's went from left guard, to right tackle, to left tackle. His play of late has kept former first-round tackle, Chris Williams, at left guard. While Frank is still good for a false start and sack allowed per game, he's settled down to the point where he does more good than bad.

Lions Prediction:

As for the game itself, I'm confident the Bears will put up plenty of points against the Lion's 25th-ranked defense. And they won't give up many Lions scores either, considering they'll be facing a third-string QB making his 2nd career start.

Bears: 30, Lions: 13