Morning Buzz: Packers coaching staff taking shape

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Michael Cohen’s look at five pressing issues facing Mike Pettine as he takes control of the Packers defense.

From Michael:

If selecting Mike Pettine as the new defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers yields initial results on par with those of Dom Capers, who was dismissed from the position Jan. 1, coach Mike McCarthy will be a very popular man.

For all of the deterioration his defenses experienced, Capers transformed the Packers in radical fashion upon his arrival in 2009. His first group finished second in total defense, first in rushing defense, fifth in passing defense, second in opposing quarterback passer rating and led the league in interceptions. His second group finished fifth in total defense, fifth in passing defense, second in interceptions, second in points and led the league in opposing quarterback passer rating.

Oh, and the Packers won the Super Bowl in his second year, too.

It would be difficult for any coordinator to replicate the early success of Capers, let alone surpass it, but such is the challenge facing Pettine, a former head coach with the Cleveland Browns and two-time defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. The good news is the Packers hardly could be worse than they were this season, when Capers’ troops finished 31st in opposing quarterback passer rating, 30th in opposing quarterback completion percentage, 23rd in passing defense and 26th in points.

The Packers are filling out their coaching staff on Pettine’s side of the ball:

No trip across the pond for Green Bay in 2018:

I chatted with readers via Facebook Live late yesterday afternoon:

Elsewhere, Zach Kruse makes the case for Clay Matthews:

Tom Oates gives his report card on the offseason moves so far:

Let’s check in with life in another dimension:

Today is a pretty big day in Packers history:

Speaking of history, Cliff Christl is always a must-read:

Life imitates the NFL’s longest-running rivalry, specifically the stretch through the 80s:

English Packers fans continue to wait:

Cheesehead TV looks at the complexities of Pettine’s defense:

Brian Jones of 247Sports thinks the Packers will be more aggressive in free agency:

Power Sweep looks at Gutekunst’s thoughts on free agency:

Happy Friday everyone: