Football Notes

Packing it in after a season

Capers reflects on stint with Patriots

DOM CAPERSPositive experience

By Mike Reiss

January 25, 2009

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When the Patriots hired Dom Capers as a special assistant/secondary coach last February, it was considered a coup. It's not often that a respected, two-time NFL head coach is available, and willing, to join a staff as a position coach.

At the time, one line of thinking was that the attack-minded 3-4 scheme adopted by Capers might fuse with Bill Belichick's version.

In retrospect, those thoughts, like Capers's preferred style, were a bit aggressive. After one season, Capers left the team, hired last week as the defensive coordinator of the Packers.

Capers's impact on the Patriots' defense was not easily detected, because from a scheme standpoint, there didn't appear to be major differences. Surely, Capers played a part in honing the technique of rookie cornerbacks Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite - and in helping safety Brandon Meriweather progress in his second season - but it wasn't as if the Patriots suddenly became an attack-from-all-angles unit like the defenses Capers coached in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s.

As he embraced his new challenge in Green Bay, beginning the transition in which the Packers will switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, Capers touched on his brief stint with the Patriots.

"It was a very positive experience, but obviously I'm disappointed that we didn't make the playoffs," he said via telephone from his Lambeau Field office. "Overall, it was a new experience for me, coaching the secondary again. The last time I did it was in New Orleans, in 1991.

"I was very impressed with the overall organization. Obviously, New England has been a most successful team since Bill has been there, and as a coach, you're always interested in what enables it to be that successful. Bill's as knowledgeable about the game as anyone in the game - in all three phases of the game. He does a great job of preparing the team, a great job of demanding the players' focus and attention to detail.

"I think he does a great job of picking the right type of players, who have the mental and physical capabilities of doing the things he wants to do. That part of it was a really good experience. I enjoyed the year, enjoyed the players, enjoyed the coaching staff. I just wish we had a chance [in the playoffs]."

Capers described the Patriots' secondary as a "good group of guys to work with, hard workers who would do anything you ask them to."

He felt Meriweather made progress, while cornerback Ellis Hobbs was "a tough guy who is there all the time." He also believed Wilhite "made good progress in the last four games, when we put him in there as a starter" and that Wheatley was "coming along" before his season-ending wrist injury Nov. 2.

Capers also touched on what he believes makes the Patriots' 3-4 different from other teams', such as his old Steelers units.

"I think every 3-4 defense has a little different flair to it, and our defense there at New England, Bill had his style in terms of the flexibility and the number of things you can do with it," Capers said. "I think Bill does a great job of featuring your best players, and one of the things that's obvious is that you're going to have outstanding front people, with their down linemen up front. They're very, very good players and to me that's where it all starts.

"I think this past year, the addition of Jerod Mayo, that added something from a speed standpoint at the linebacker position. And the veteran players on the team are knowledgeable players and they have the ability to adjust and adapt during the course of the game, which you can't do if guys don't have a good grasp of the overall defense."

The Steelers' scheme, which Capers ran under Bill Cowher from 1992-94, has a different look.

"They probably run more fire zones and attack and pressure from different angles a little more," Capers said. "I think what they're doing is featuring their strength, the linebacker corps. James Harrison was the [defensive] player of the year this year. Combined with [LaMarr] Woodley, those guys had a lot of sacks [27 1/2]. Then you have [safety Troy] Polamalu and his ability to blitz. He's a playmaker and they utilize him. We saw that in the game this past weekend."

Capers wouldn't specify if he planned to adopt any New England-based ideas or schemes in his new job, saying that every coach hopes to pick up a few things that could lead to improvements. While the Giants were interested in hiring him as their defensive coordinator, Capers indicated that Green Bay was his only official interview.

"When I came out, I just felt very comfortable," he said. "I liked what I saw, I have a lot of respect for [head coach] Mike [McCarthy], and just thought it was best for me. With the tradition, the rabid fans, and the small town, it's a unique setting."

As for what he left behind, Capers said, "I came in with the idea just like any job I had - to figure out my role and do the very best job I could to help the team win. To me, it was an interesting year to watch in terms of how the team handled the adversity that you face, because every team faces adversity. I leave and take this job with very positive feelings."

Jones the star of this show

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has insisted he won't be changing head coaches, but given all the storm clouds still hovering over the team, would anyone really be surprised if he changes course?

Within the last two weeks alone, the Cowboys have made more headlines than any team in the league.

They are considering cutting receiver Terrell Owens because of his negative influence on team chemistry - a smart move - and already parted ways with cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, whose addition this season turned out to be more hype than substance.

But the biggest bombshell came last Tuesday when the Dallas Morning News, citing unidentified sources, reported that the team charter left late for road games five times this season because players were late to the airport, which reflected a lack of discipline, commitment, and accountability. The report stated that the Cowboys also reduced the amount of player fines under coach Wade Phillips, although that decision was made by Jerry Jones.

The report seemed to rile the Cowboys, and when American Airlines issued a statement from the captain who flies the team charter later in the week, it probably had Jones's fingerprints all over it. American Airlines, not surprisingly, said every flight left on time.

The Dallas Morning News is standing by its original story, but regardless of which side you believe, the moral of the Cowboys' overall story seems to be this: Since Bill Parcells stepped down as coach following the 2006 season, the Cowboys have been slowly tearing apart at the seams.

And for that, the finger-pointing should start at the top, with Jones.

Qualified to make a snap judgment

Giants punter Jeff Feagles just completed his 21st NFL season, giving him a wide-ranging perspective on excellence. So where would he rank Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie among others he's worked with over his career?

"I think Zak is up there with all of them," Feagles said. "He is very consistent, which is what you need at that position, and he has done a great job. When I am back there, the last thing I want to have to do is worry about where the snap is going to be, and I've never had to do that with Zak. I am just real fortunate that he is really good."

As a thank you of sorts, the 42-year-old Feagles planned to fly DeOssie to Hawaii as his guest at the Pro Bowl. But it turns out DeOssie made it on his own, with Eagles coach Andy Reid selecting him Thursday as the NFC's "need player." DeOssie became the second player from Brown on the NFC squad, joining Arizona's Sean Morey, who was selected as a special teams player.

"I think it's deserving," Feagles said. "He did a wonderful job, not only snapping the ball, but in coverage and blocking."

DeOssie had 13 special teams tackles this season. Giants kicker John Carney also made the Pro Bowl, so DeOssie will have two familiar faces to work with in Hawaii.

Etc.

Oh, Lito

One of the surprising aspects of the Eagles' loss to the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game was how far cornerback Lito Sheppard fell on the team's depth chart. Sheppard was demoted to the No. 4 corner and wasn't even part of the dime package (six defensive backs), replaced by rookie safety Quintin Demps, who was beaten on a 62-yard touchdown catch by Larry Fitzgerald. Last year, the Eagles turned down a third-round draft choice from teams interested in Sheppard. This year, they might be fortunate to get a third.

Two-way coaches

In filling out their coaching staffs, Eric Mangini (Browns) and Josh McDaniels (Broncos) have taken different approaches - Mangini going with a heavy Patriots emphasis, while McDaniels hasn't hired anyone from New England. Mangini's coordinators in Cleveland - Brian Daboll (offense), Rob Ryan (defense), and Brad Seely (special teams) - spent a combined 19 seasons with the Patriots. Daboll was a receivers coach from 2002-06, Ryan coached linebackers from 2000-03, and Seely directed the special teams the last 10 seasons. On the flip side, McDaniels tabbed longtime Panthers assistant Mike McCoy as his offensive coordinator, former 49ers coach Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator, and former Jaguars, Giants, and Chiefs assistant Mike Priefer to lead the special teams.

A call for change

With the Chiefs doing the expected and firing coach Herm Edwards Friday, it created the 11th coaching change this offseason, a total that includes Oakland, which hasn't finalized its plans with interim coach Tom Cable. That matches the NFL record, set in 1997.

Ivy honor

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was honored Thursday night at the Ivy Football Association dinner, which, every other year, recognizes one former player from each Ivy League school for their "service to their various communities, professions, charitable causes, and to their alma maters." Kraft, who attended Columbia, was introduced at the black-tie event at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York by ESPN's Chris Berman (Brown). Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Princeton) was one of the other honorees.

Will he take a hit?

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is due base salaries of $6.725 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010, and $9.275 million in 2011, and it's likely he'll be approached by team officials to take a pay cut. Tomlinson's future has been a sizzling topic in San Diego, as he'll be 30 on June 23, which is often the age when running backs who have taken as many hits as he has start declining. Tomlinson posted a message on his website last week saying he has no intention of leaving, although his true feelings - as well as those of the Chargers' decision-makers - will be revealed at the negotiating table.

Film student

Patriots coach Bill Belichick welcomed analyst Cris Collinsworth at Gillette Stadium last Thursday and broke down footage of the Steelers and Cardinals, which NBC plans to run leading into its Super Bowl XLIII broadcast. Belichick focused on both teams' defenses, identifying their strengths and also ways in which opponents might attack their areas of vulnerability.

The late show

The 2009 season will get off to a later start because of how the calendar falls, with kickoff weekend scheduled for Sept. 10-14. That means just three weeks of action in September, with the end of the regular season coming on the first weekend in January. Super Bowl XLIV, to be held in Miami, is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2010.

Light's spotlight

Patriots left tackle Matt Light on the matchup between the Cardinals and Steelers: "What Arizona can do on offense compared to how Pittsburgh plays on defense, it will be fun to watch that unfold. Obviously, Pittsburgh is going to play their physical style of game, they don't make a lot of mistakes, and they get after you pretty good. It will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh's offense attacks Arizona's defense, because Arizona has been playing good defense through the postseason, creating turnovers."

Did you know?

Because of a manpower shortage during World War II, the Cardinals and Steelers merged in the 1944 season to form Card-Pitt. The Cardinals were based in Chicago at the time and the teams split home games between Chicago's Comiskey Park and Pittsburgh's Forbes Field.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.