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The Green Bay Packers’ defense under Dom Capers utilized a base 3-4 scheme in name, but in name only. The team essentially lined up in a 2-4-5 (or 4-2-5, depending on how you view the edge rushers) as their base defense, pulling a down lineman off the field in favor of a fifth defensive back on most snaps.
With Capers out of the picture, Mike Pettine brings a wealth of experience running 3-4 defenses, but his last season was spent working with the Seahawks and their 4-3, cover-3 scheme. That experience plus his willingness to be versatile and multiple up front means that he will likely have a slew of different ideas and personnel groupings that look quite a bit different than the handful of packages that Packers fans have become accustomed to seeing over the years.
For example, this could manifest itself in more 4-3 under looks, or we could see an entirely different nickel package. With a supposedly “teachable” system being installed in the coming weeks, look for the Packers’ defense to look quite a bit different this fall, both due to personnel and scheme.
Fast learner Oren Burks expects to pick up Packers' defense rapidly | Packers.com
Burks' experience at Vanderbilt consisted of playing different positions and learning the entire defense rather than just his own responsibilities; those qualities should give him a chance to make an early impact in Mike Pettine's scheme.
Packers pass-rush prospect C.J. Johnson looking to defy odds | Packersnews.com
Calling Johnson a pass rusher is probably a bit of a misnomer at this point - he's just 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, so he's definitely too small to hold up there in the NFL. However, if he's able to bulk up or transition inside, his explosiveness and agility could make him an intriguing player in training camp.
Packers not expected to pursue WR Dez Bryant | Packers Wire
All this talk about Dez and the Packers is just that -- talk. Ian Rapoport says that "nothing is imminent" between the two sides and that he "senses nothing" happening.
NFC North projected starters: Packers on track; Bears fascinate - NFL.com
These are some interesting choices by Gregg Rosenthal. He has the Packers in a 3-3-5 nickel alignment, which could be a fun way to get all of the team’s talented defensive linemen on the field more, and he projects J'Mon Moore as the starter at wide receiver over Geronimo Allison.
These 4 NFL teams are due for a rebound season in 2018 - SBNation.com
The Packers aren't listed but they fit one of Geoff Schwartz's criteria for a turnaround season: a quarterback coming off a major injury.
Finally, we’re starting something a little different in today’s Cheese Curds. We’ll wrap up the morning news dump with something hilarious or interesting that has nothing to do with the Packers. Today, enjoy this great story from the Great White North.
'We made a mistake:' Alberta charges zoo after ice-cream-eating bear video | CTV News
Click for the headline, stay for the video of a Dairy Queen employee feeding a bear ice cream through a drive-thru window.