Look, I get it. You’re probably a Vikings fan if you’re reading this, and you don’t want to hear too much about the Packers’ 2010 championship run.
But I think it’s worth noting, mostly because the Vikings just hired the former defensive coordinator of the 2010 Green Bay team.
Dom Capers will be a senior defensive assistant for the Vikings. He should add experience to a coaching staff that features co-defensive coordinators in Adam Zimmer and Andre Patterson, including a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Zimmer.
The Good
Though he is a polarizing figure among Packers fans, Capers’ 2010 defense was very solid.
The Packers ranked sixth in turnovers caused that year.
Only two NFL teams allowed fewer rushing touchdowns, the Steelers and the Ravens. And only four teams gave up fewer passing yards than Green Bay that season.
Clay Matthews had a career-high 13.5 sacks in 2010. Capers’ defense also did a good job of providing pressure from the defensive tackle position. B.J. Raji had 6.5 sacks and Cullen Jenkins finished with seven on the year.
Green Bay was relatively good about providing pressure in the passing game, and keeping rushing touchdowns to a minimum, resulting in just 15 points given up per game that season, second only to the Steelers.
The not so good
By the time Capers left the Packers, his defense looked a lot different than the one that helped him earn a ring. Green Bay gave up 24 points a game in 2017, which ranked as the seventh most in the NFL. The year before that, they had given up 24.3 points.
In 2017 when Capers alluded to sticking around to coach longer, Packers fans voiced their frustrations about their coordinator not wanting to hang up the headset, per 12up.com
Capers came into Green Bay and created a defense that could get to opposing quarterbacks and keep opposing offenses out of the end zone. By the time he was gone, certain Packers fans rejoiced. It will be interesting to see what Capers legacy will be with the Vikings.