Motivation tool for defense, next season

[Wilbur]

Fish, let me add that the Packer coaches learned a bit about what 3-4 schemes the LBs and safeties can support, as well. The Saints' LBs closed off the short middle and had obviously coached their safeties to anticipate the formations/plays that AZ would run to the flats. The Saints played the short middle of the field much better than the Packers did, and it was the big defensive difference in those two games.

The early offensive turnovers by GB also dictated a change in the offensive priorities in that playoff game. The ground game would have produced in a balanced offensive attack, but GB had to get the ball in the air significantly more as a result of being behind all game. The fact that the Packer offense racked up yards and points against a defense that was defending against a pass-oriented attack really says something. The GB defense had to be more honest against the Cardinals' run-pass options, yet still allowed the Packers enough opportunities to win the game.

Despite having 'all the wrong personnel' for the 3-4 and playing that defense for the first season, the Packers did quite well executing it for most of the season. All things being the same, at this point next year the outcome would be much different, IMO.