4-3 vs. 3-4 defense

Before the Packers hire a new defensive coordinator to replace Bob Sanders, they first have to figure out if they want to overhaul their 4-3 defense.

Throughout much of the Packers history they have stuck with the traditional 4-3: four down lineman and three linebackers in the front seven.

In a 4-3 scheme the Packers would currently start Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins at defensive end and Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett at defensive tackle. The three linebackers would be A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Brady Poppinga.

If the Packers went to the 3-4 it could be a challenge with their current personnel. Ryan Pickett would hold down the middle with Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins on the outside. The four linebackers would line up behind and sometimes there would be one on the line of scrimmage.

While the 4-3 scheme is still dominant in the NFL, the 3-4 offers plenty of arguments. For instance, three of the remaining eight teams in the playoffs prefer the 3-4.

One of the players that would be affected by a change is Brady Poppinga, but he says he'd be open to it.

"I can pretty much adjust to any scheme that exists that is really out there," said Poppinga on Monday, January 5th. "I'm not really a scheme guy. I'm more of a guy who's having the right approach of dictating to the offense."

Regardless if the Packers choose to make a defensive schematic change or not, head coach Mike McCarthy says another 6-and-10 season is simply not an option.