Green Bay Packers: 3 Ways defense has improved in 2018

The hiring of Mike Pettine

Improving a struggling defense starts with who is in charge. For years, fans clamored for the firing of Dom Capers. After a poor defensive game, fans littered the comment sections of numerous social media outlets calling for Capers to be fired. In 2010, his scheme was one of the best in the league. Now it rarely worked. Granted the talent wasn’t as great, but everyone knew it was time for Capers to go after 2018.

Now the Green Bay Packers needed to find a viable suitor to run the struggling defense.

Mike Pettine was hired to not only help improve the defense but bring it back to elite levels it was once capable of. Pettine was the man in charge of the defense during the early 2010’s with the Jets and Bills. Both teams had a formidable defense even though winning was rarely seen. The defenses in New York ranked first, third, fifth and eighth. As the Bills’ defensive coordinator in 2013, his unit ranked 10th.

Head coach Mike McCarthy was in favor of the signing. Some of the players loved the addition as well. That includes Mike Daniels, who said this about the signing (per Packers Wire of USA Today):

"“It felt like Christmas Day. Every day I wake up and I keep getting reminded he’s our defensive coordinator. (Pettine) has had top-10 defenses everywhere he’s went. He’s just successful.”"

Pettine was easily the best candidate for the job. He brings a winning attitude to the organization. On top of that, many of the players and coaches love him too.