News on Kapaman is Not Good
The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of changing their base defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. The news that came out today in regards to Packers Aaron Kapaman and the change should worry Packer fans.
With the hiring Dom Capers as defensive coordinator the Packers made it official that they would be switching to the 3-4 defense. With that decision comes along the decision if current personel can fit into the scheme.
One of those decision was to move Kapaman from defensive end to outside linebacker.
The thing is that the responsibilities of an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme is pretty much the same as a defensive end in a 4-3. Both have containment responsibilities of the football, which means keeping the ball inside the tackles. Also, both rush the passer usually.
However, there is one big difference that Kapaman is struggling with. That being the way a 3-4 outside linebacker and a 4-3 defensive end rushes the passer.
In a 4-3 defense the defensive end is usually lined up in a three point stance. In a 3-4 the outside linebacker is line up in a two point stance. A three point stance means two feet and one hand touching the ground and a two point stance refers to a players standing up at the line of scrimmage.
There is a tremendous difference, because in a three point stance you fire out of your stance already low, which allows you to get under your opponents pads easier. That allows you to stand him up straight, which gives you leverage to easily perform a move to get by him to get to the quarterback.
In a two point stance the defender is coming down to the level of the offensive tackle. Thus the Kapaman needs to learn that he before he engages the tackle he needs to get low, and then attack the offensive tackle.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Kapaman is struggling in practice as he was dominated be offensive tackle Allen Barbre Wednesday.
If Kapaman does not learn he needs to get lower than the offensive tackle and then come up into him to gain leverage, then the Packers are going to have a long season.