Packers Defense - 2024

[salmar80]

Q and Hafley did a thing!

Looks to me that the D had the option of blitzing either Q or Nixon (dunno if there were more options like blitzing no one). Once the Vikes did their protection call, Q signaled to Nixon (not so subtly). Right after snap Q dropped to cover the short pass to the slot, and since their protection didn't adjust, their LG and RB were blocking just one guy inside. Nixon got a free shot and capitalized.

Helped that Darnold looked to his right on the play, can't say from this angle whether a quick pass to where Nixon vacated was available.

EDIT: Heck, there's even more to this one little play... THREE of the Vikes linemen were left blocking no one and went for double teams late.

We lined our DTs Brooks and Slaton up REAL wide, leaving just two linebackers in the middle. This was possible since there was no threat of a run due to Aaron Jones getting lined up so close to the LoS (I dunno why, it was 2nd and 8). We rushed just 3 plus Nixon from the slot, with Enagbare taking a step forward (which fooled no one) and then running with the TE to the flat. That route would likely have been open if Darnold had a split second more, since there was no CB in the picture at the end. Neither Cooper or Hopper really fooled their intentions despite being right at the LoS at the snap, both with hips already half-turned and weight on their front foot leaning back, looking ready to bolt at the snap, but Q sure looked like he COULD rush. Well done by Q, real well done. Cooper dropped to short middle, likely tasked with defending the potentially leaking Jones, or Darnold if he had evaded Nixon and woulda had a wide open running lane up the middle, but Gary's powerful rush eliminated Jones from the play and Nixon didn't whiff this time.

It was a great call for the situation, but it doesn't happen if Q doesn't signal the nickle back rush and doesn't sell his fake rush.

[APB]

This may ease some of the criticism aimed at our high dollar edge guys…but I doubt it.

[Pckfn23]

This may ease some of the criticism aimed at our high dollar edge guys…but I doubt it.

Gotta turn them loose!

[LombardiTime]

The link below features Gary rushing on 3rd downs vs. Minnesota.

If this is what Rashan is being coached to do, we have our next problem at DC. (I doubt he is and I think MLF is covering for him in public).



Oh, and Gary is hardly the lone underachiever so far this season along the defensive line.

[go pak go]

This may ease some of the criticism aimed at our high dollar edge guys…but I doubt it.

Yeah I don't buy that against MN. I could see it for Week 1 and Week 2. Not for the last two games though (and we saw the results in week 3...didn't see the results in week 4)

[Yoop]

The link below features Gary rushing on 3rd downs vs. Minnesota.

If this is what Rashan is being coached to do, we have our next problem at DC. (I doubt he is and I think MLF is covering for him in public).



Oh, and Gary is hardly the lone underachiever so far this season along the defensive line.

he just stands out the most, good example of it is he and 2 other DL over 2 OL, and did nothing on that TD drive the vikes got on the first series.

patty cake, patty cake O Line man, give me a block as fast as you can, and we can play patty cake patty cake all game long, that s what this garbage looks like.

[Drj820]

[Backthepack4ever]

That is really bad tape.... Even if it is to "set the edge". A few plays it's just one arm on him. he seems to be jumping a lot of at least looking like he's prancing.

I know he lost weight this off season but it also looks like it took the one thing he won with a lot... Power. His game isn't CM3 it's exploding through dudes

Sad. This was supposed to be the year of 12 or more sacks. Hope he can get it figured out.

Clark also. He had a better game last week but he used to be at the snot out of Bradbury. What happened to our big money makers?

[Yoop]

That is really bad tape.... Even if it is to "set the edge". A few plays it's just one arm on him. he seems to be jumping a lot of at least looking like he's prancing.

I know he lost weight this off season but it also looks like it took the one thing he won with a lot... Power. His game isn't CM3 it's exploding through dudes

Sad. This was supposed to be the year of 12 or more sacks. Hope he can get it figured out.

Clark also. He had a better game last week but he used to be at the snot out of Bradbury. What happened to our big money makers?

the goal it seems is to better defend against the run, often upon correction the attempts become exaggerated though, and other aspects like pass rush suffer, years back when we demanded Mathews better contain, it cost a step (split second) with his pass rush, there is a balance and we just haven't found it yet


thing is I don't think they shed and defend the run much better now either.

[LombardiTime]

Jaire out another game. That makes 2 out of 5 this season.

He missed 10 out of 17 last year.

Jaire appeared in 16 of 17 two years ago, but played in just 4 games out of 16 in 2021.

I don't think Jaire has ever been the same player since he got injured against Pittsburgh in 2021.

It would be nice if one of our high-priced defensive players came close to justifying their contract.

[lupedafiasco]

Jaire out another game. That makes 2 out of 5 this season.

He missed 10 out of 17 last year.

Jaire appeared in 16 of 17 two years ago, but played in just 4 games out of 16 in 2021.

I don't think Jaire has ever been the same player since he got injured against Pittsburgh in 2021.

It would be nice if one of our high-priced defensive players came close to justifying their contract.

Yup. At this point he is injury prone. As for his shoulder injury I think he lost his physicality to play the run and get into the flat for tackles but I still think he’s one of the top CBs in the league.

Does he get beat? Yes, but he’s also made a lot of plays as of late. He’s a playmaker and has the potential to be shutdown on occasion.

All that said you can’t pay for players that can’t be available. Bak killed us in that category for a few years.

[LombardiTime]

Focusing on the positive, Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams both look like NFL players and they look like NFL players right now, today. Valentine is not a bad CB either.

Also, McKinney is the best defensive back in GB since Charles Woodson and yes that includes Jaire. CB is the more important position, but McKinney's instincts are so good and we've lacked instincts on defense since forever. He improves the entire defense.

Conversely, today was a game in which the defensive line should have absolutely feasted with backup offensive lineman, GB in the lead for much of the game, no real Ram WR threats with Kupp and Nacua down, and an immobile QB. If Gary is not going to make plays in a game like today's, when will he? The same applies, to a lesser extent, to Clark, Preston Smith, and Van Ness.

I like that Hafley brought more blitzes that Barry would have.

[Crazylegs Starks]

I'm pretty convinced that if we still had Joe Barry calling the defense, every play would've been prevent with the Rams scoring with about 30 seconds left.

[NCF]

I'm pretty convinced that if we still had Joe Barry calling the defense, every play would've been prevent with the Rams scoring with about 30 seconds left.

Could not agree more.

[LombardiTime]

Currently sitting at 14th in points allowed per game (but behind the 3 other NFC North teams).

McKinney has been a Godsend and there was a lot to like from the rookies Cooper, Bullard, and especially Williams yesterday. Hope to see more of them going forward.

I think the experiment with Eric Wilson getting meaningful snaps at LB is, barring injury, over.

Karl Brooks made a couple of plays and Valentine seemed to have a decent game. Thought Wyatt was missed.

Enagbare's strip of Williams with the Rams driving on their opening possession of the second half was an under-the-radar big play. He is not the most talented guy. but as a #4 DE Kingsley is not bad.

Nixon and Stokes are who they are at this point and short of seeing less of the field there is not much use in discussing them.

As for Clark, Preston Smith, Gary, and Van Ness, I'd love it if some savvy member of the press or enterprising blogger did a deep dive as to what is going on with them as a group because their collective production or rather lack of production is just shocking.

Sadly, I don't know of anyone who covers/follows the Packers who is likely or able to do this.

[APB]

I'm pretty convinced that if we still had Joe Barry calling the defense, every play would've been prevent with the Rams scoring with about 30 seconds left.

Could not agree more.

Aye.

[Yoop]

Currently sitting at 14th in points allowed per game (but behind the 3 other NFC North teams).

McKinney has been a Godsend and there was a lot to like from the rookies Cooper, Bullard, and especially Williams yesterday. Hope to see more of them going forward.

I think the experiment with Eric Wilson getting meaningful snaps at LB is, barring injury, over.

Karl Brooks made a couple of plays and Valentine seemed to have a decent game. Thought Wyatt was missed.

Enagbare's strip of Williams with the Rams driving on their opening possession of the second half was an under-the-radar big play. He is not the most talented guy. but as a #4 DE Kingsley is not bad.

Nixon and Stokes are who they are at this point and short of seeing less of the field there is not much use in discussing them.

As for Clark, Preston Smith, Gary, and Van Ness, I'd love it if some savvy member of the press or enterprising blogger did a deep dive as to what is going on with them as a group because their collective production or rather lack of production is just shocking.

Sadly, I don't know of anyone who covers/follows the Packers who is likely or able to do this.

contain first, second, rush the passer, at least thats how it appears, fine against a mobile QB, but why do that with Stafford, they don't even seem to attempt to shed blocks, we seldom see a punch and arm overs to get free, Gary gets held up and he's more concerned with getting a flag thrown then ripping himself loose.

second level I watch Walker, McDuffie etc. double filling strong side gaps while the RB cuts it back through the gaps they were responsible to fill, over and over, over or under pursuit is why we see so many missed tackles.

when a player is always worried about doing a thing wrong, makes it harder to do what's right, because there thinking versus just reacting, growing pains obviously, but thats a excuse we've used around here for so long because we typically are the youngest defense in the league, we've never had enough of our defenders hang around long enough to get past the learning stage, it's been a rotation of players a GM always hopes to improve upon, hardly helps when most of your top drafted players rarely play up to draft slotting.

rinse and repeat for over a decade, true some of the blame can be attributed to coaching, or with drafting poor fits for schemes used, some of that can't be helped, obviously BPA plays it's part.

rambling

[LombardiTime]

I like PFF ... when their grades match my eyes.

Can't say that I noticed Slaton all that much, but I agree completely with 2-5. Exciting to see Cooper and Williams emerge.

Top 5 defense

1. DL TJ Slaton: 89.3
2. S Xavier McKinney: 88.3
3. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 85.5
4. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 84.4
5. S Evan Williams: 81.9

[go pak go]

I like PFF ... when their grades match my eyes.

Can't say that I noticed Slaton all that much, but I agree completely with 2-5. Exciting to see Cooper and Williams emerge.

Top 5 defense

1. DL TJ Slaton: 89.3
2. S Xavier McKinney: 88.3
3. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 85.5
4. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 84.4
5. S Evan Williams: 81.9

Slaton was in the backfield a lot. Penetrated a lot of gaps in the passing game. Didn't make much noise in the running game. Unfortunately Slaton is a large man so if the edge doesn't have containment, Stafford can outrun big ole 93.

But I too with PFF thought Slaton had a good game.

[salmar80]

I like PFF ... when their grades match my eyes.

Can't say that I noticed Slaton all that much, but I agree completely with 2-5. Exciting to see Cooper and Williams emerge.

Top 5 defense

1. DL TJ Slaton: 89.3
2. S Xavier McKinney: 88.3
3. LB Edgerrin Cooper: 85.5
4. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 84.4
5. S Evan Williams: 81.9

Slaton was in the backfield a lot. Penetrated a lot of gaps in the passing game. Didn't make much noise in the running game. Unfortunately Slaton is a large man so if the edge doesn't have containment, Stafford can outrun big ole 93.

But I too with PFF thought Slaton had a good game.

My eyes also saw Slaton having a good game, plus he was on the field a LOT, including a long stretch when the Rams went no huddle. May benefit from Jonathan Ford ultimately seeing the field to relieve him for a bit as a pure nose.

With Clark, in past couple of games I've seen him often penetrate deep into the backfield, but that resulting in nothing positive for the Packers. Sometimes even opposite, as he has rushed so deep a new running gap has opened behind him and next DL. Would be interesting to know if opponents are taking an advantage of his aggressiveness there, or if he's just beating OL bad and it has it just been unlucky the plays have gone the other way.

Quay -bashing has been a trend, but I think he's been improving, a bit. Had some good ones on Sunday, and even better game week prior. It would be real risky to swap the comms helmet-wearer on the new and young D at this point. That said, McDuffie seems like a JAG versus the juice Cooper brings. But if we're aiming for a SB run, bringing guys in gradually may be a good strategy to avoid the rookie wall.