Capers not happy with Packers' defense

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Charles Woodson didn't act like he was on the winning end of the Packers' 45-38 victory Sunday in San Diego.Woodson told reporters after the game that Green Bay's defensive performance was "disappointing," adding that it was "a lot of bad football."Even with the Packers improving to 8-0 on the season their 14th consecutive win dating back to December 2010 Woodson wasn't alone in those thoughts."None of us (on defense) are happy with the way we're playing right now," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said Monday. "I think that it's somewhat been the attitude for most of the year. It shows that the guys have a high standard."The Packers allowed 460 yards to the Chargers on Sunday, including back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdowns that quickly turned a 21-point lead into a seven-point game.As Capers was listing the aspects of the defense's performance that he did not like, he included the way that Green Bay started the game by allowing a first-drive touchdown. "Unfortunately, that's been our trend," Capers said.Capers also pointed to the defense's struggles to respond in "adversity times," specifically mentioning how the Packers allowed a quick touchdown following San Diego's successful onside kick in the fourth quarter.The biggest issue for both Capers and coach Mike McCarthy was miscommunication on defense. There were several long passing plays where Green Bay's secondary did not properly adjust on the field."We had a number of communication errors that resulted in players put in bad positions, bad situations, and San Diego took advantage of it," McCarthy said. "We have to clean it up. It was an unclean game."Despite an undefeated record, the Packers' passing defense has been giving up a lot of yards all season. Green Bay is currently ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed and has given up the third-most 20-plus yard plays on defense with 38."There's nobody in that defensive room that is satisfied with being 8-0," Capers said. "We've got a lot more to give and as coaches and players we've got to keep challenging ourselves to improve each week, which I think is a healthy environment."Even with all of the yards allowed, the Packers are 18th in the league in points allowed at 22.4 per game. The disparity between the defense's rankings in points allowed and yards allowed is due in part to Green Bay having the most interceptions in the NFL with 16 and the second-most total forced turnovers with 19. Only the Buffalo Bills have more takeaways with 20.The Packers added to those totals against San Diego by intercepting three of Philip Rivers' passes and running two of them back for touchdowns. The mixture of interceptions and big passing plays allowed was yet another example in Green Bay's defensive theme of bending, but not breaking.'Getting pressure and sacks on opposing quarterbacks has also been an issue this season for the Packers. In 2010, Green Bay was second in the NFL with 47 sacks, only one behind the Pittsburgh Steelers' league-leading 48 sacks. Clay Matthews alone had 13.5 sacks last season.With the 2011 season now half over, Matthews has only three sacks and the Packers rank 17th in the NFL as a team with 19 sacks, putting them on pace for nine less than a year earlier."We've got guys with a lot of pride on this defensive side of the ball," Capers said. "They want to perform better than what we're performing right now. I think all of us have to try to raise our standard. We aren't happy with the way we're playing right now."Follow Paul Imig on Twitter