Packers pass on Haslett, hire Dom Capers

[HornIt]

Packers land Dom Capers as defensive coordinator
By Pete Dougherty • January 18, 2009

Mike McCarthy’s search for a defensive coordinator ended Sunday night when he hired Dom Capers to run the Green Bay Packers’ defense, an NFL source said.


Capers has been a head coach for Carolina and Houston and a defensive coordinator for three other NFL teams.

He interviewed with McCarthy on Friday night and Saturday. McCarthy might have moved quickly to hire him because the New York Giants also reportedly were interested in hiring Capers as their defensive coordinator.

A league source on Sunday night said the Packers had agreed to terms with Capers to replace the fired Bob Sanders. The contract has not been signed, according to the source, but that it expected to be finalized on Monday.

The move probably signals a change for the Packers to a 3-4 defense from the 4-3 defense, though the move could be gradual. Capers has worked in both systems and last season was special assistant-secondary for the New England Patriots, who use a mix of 3-4 and 4-3.

But Capers mostly has run the 3-4 in his career. He made his name in coaching circles with his innovative use of zone blitzes in that scheme as defensive coordinator for Pittsburgh from 1992 to 1994, and as Carolina’s head coach from 1995 to 1998.

In 1996, his second season with Carolina, the Panthers advanced to the NFC championship game, where they lost to the Packers.

Capers was defensive coordinator for Jacksonville (1999-2000) and Miami (2007). He started work as Houston’s head coach in 2001, though the expansion team didn’t start playing until 2002. He was fired after the 2005 season.

The Giants also reportedly were interested in hiring Capers after their defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, was hired as the St. Louis Rams’ head coach on Saturday.

[Nick]

McCarthy has now said the Packers will be switching to a 3-4 defense. Interesting, to say the least. Are the days of double-digit sacks for Aaron Kampman over? Is Ryan Pickett going to be the NG in the 3-4 scheme?

[moloch41]

I think it's possible that Haslett will not even have a job in the NFL in a cooridinator position.