Packers' Jenkins: Players are 'handcuffed' in defensive system
From the Journal Sentinel:
Green Bay — Quarterback Brett Favre has frustrated his share of players, coaches and fans over the years and so it was no surprise that he was at it again Sunday.
For the second time in four weeks, Favre frustrated the Green Bay Packers defense so much that one of its members spoke in less than glowing terms about the way players are being used in first-year defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 system.
Defensive end Cullen Jenkins spoke out after the Packers' 38-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, saying he felt "handcuffed" in the new defense and that the coaches weren't putting the players in the positions where they can be most successful. Jenkins' complaint comes on the heels of cornerback Charles Woodson questioning why the Packers didn't blitz more in the loss to the Vikings Oct. 5 in the Metrodome.
"Basically, we have good players on this defense," Jenkins said after Favre completed a two-game whitewashing of the Packers in which he was not sacked once. "We've got Pro Bowl players on this defense and they were sent to the Pro Bowl doing certain things. And they're not doing those things.
"It's tough. We have players who are good at doing stuff and we're not doing it. You want to win, and when you're not winning those things you start questioning, is it that people really want to win or they really want to accomplish another goal, just running what they want to run? I don't know. It's tough, though."
Jenkins would not be specific as to which players were being held back, but it doesn't take a genius to know he's probably talking about himself, Aaron Kampman, who has had to move from end to linebacker, and Johnny Jolly, who has had to move from defensive tackle to end. All three are playing different positions from those they played in the 4-3 in previous years.
