Packers' Defense, Please, Pick it up Already!

So you say the Packers aren't that good?  Well, that's only half right.  When your team is No. 5 in the league in points scored and are holding a head-scratching 5-7 record, the blame needs to go to the defense.  Not to say the Packers haven't had their struggles elsewhere (two long fourth quarter kick returns by the Panthers, a too-little-too-late decision to finally cut the punter that's been struggling all season, untimely offensive turnovers and stalled drives, etc.), but the defense just hasn't been able to step up with the game on the line. The Packers' ability to stop the run varies week-to-week.  One week they are bad stopping the run and the next week, they are awful.  Gap discipline is nonexistent when it comes to the big men upfront.  They are too easily forced out of the way, or simply abandon their gap responsibilities chasing after the running back, opening up the cutback lane.  That wouldn't be as big of a problem if the linebackers would just ... (link)