Green Bay coach rues Pack’s lack of ‘impact’

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s offseason started way too early for his liking.

Three days after the 49ers ended their season, the Packers are in the thick of starting to look ahead to 2014. For all the strengths on offense, it’s the defense that again needs a tuneup.

“We need more impact players. We need more players making plays on defense. I think that’s stating the obvious,” McCarthy said Wednesday in his season-ending news conference. “I feel that those guys are here, but do we have more coming in? That’s really what the offseason is for.”

Green Bay finished 8-8-1 but benefited from stumbles by Chicago and Detroit to take a third straight NFC North title. That might be considered a huge accomplishment given the injuries that ravaged both sides of the team, particularly to quarterback Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) and linebacker Clay Matthews (thumb).

Rodgers went down when the Packers were 5-2, and the team went 2-5-1 before he returned to help win the season finale against the Bears to claim the division. His absence was the defining factor to the Packers’ fortunes.

But just as concerning was the collapse of the defense at about the same time as Rodgers’ injury. The Packers started getting porous against the run. They went nearly the first three months of the year struggling to force turnovers before coming up with a bunch in December.

All of which has led to questions about whether defensive coordinator Dom Capers should go.

“Dom Capers is an outstanding football coach. No one will be evaluated today,” McCarthy said. Lynch on leash: A $50,000 fine to Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch has been put on hold as long as he continues to comply with league policy on media availability.

Lynch appealed the fine, but it was not overturned. Instead, the NFL put the fine on hold after Lynch committed to complying with league policy. If there are any further violations, the $50,000 fine will be collected and a minimum fine of $50,000 more will be assessed.

Lynch had declined all requests for interviews this season and had not spoken to the media until Friday. Coaching updates: Tennessee’s search for a coach has taken a turn to an old foe with the Titans interviewing Jim Caldwell, the former Colts coach and current Ravens’ offensive coordinator. Caldwell, 58, also has interviewed with Washington and the Detroit Lions. … The Browns reportedly have interviewed Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo about their head-coaching job. … New Tampa Bay head coach Lovie Smith hired former Cal and Bucs linebacker Hardy Nickerson as an assistant coach. … The Falcons say Mike Tice will become their offensive line coach.