The Packers Defense

[RingoCStarrQB]

The D deserves their own thread.

Ranked 3rd overall so far. Tremendous achievement.

Great legacy LB jersey numbers: Fred Carr, Jim Carter, AJ Hawk, John Anderson, Wayne Simmons, Clay Matthews.

[TheSkeptic]

They do, so when do they get Z and Jaire back? So shutouts can become routine.

[Scott4Pack]

They have over-achieved, for sure. The duct tape holding it all together has been superb!

lol.

[Pugger]

Our D is really playing well despite all the injuries but let's hope the last 2 are not the coup de gras and things start to go downhill until Alexander and Z return...

[YoHoChecko]

By Football Outsiders' metrics, we have been the 6th best D in the league over the past 4 weeks

For a while the advanced metrics and eye test lagged behind the standard points scored and yards allowed (mostly because we were limiting possessions per game and controlling the clock)...

but it's catching up now. Hopefully we can keep it moving as Z makes his way back toward the lineup in place of Mercilus and if Gary isn't hampered by the injury and especially if/when Jaire returns. When you look down the stretch and see the Lions and Bears late-season games, you have to wonder if a full strength Packers D won't be looking for shutout #2 soon.

Also, in regards to the Rams game in 2 weeks, our D suits them so well, where our weakness (run D) is matched with their weakness (run O). Could really build some impressive season-long statistics if the back half of the year looks more like the past 3-4 weeks than the first 5-7 weeks on defense.

[Acrobat]

Best tackling Defense we've had in a long time. X's and O's aside, this is the biggest difference maker that meets the simple eye test. How many times has a potential 3rd and 4 actually become a 3rd and 8 because we actually brought the ball carrier down when we were supposed to?

[RingoCStarrQB]

With 4 games left in the regular season the Packers D is now ranked 7th in points allowed. And about 4th in yardage allowed.

Definitely top tier .............. great achievement so far.

GO PACK GO!

[RingoCStarrQB]

Something's happenin' here......What it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man named Douglas over there....
Go Packers

[Scott4Pack]

VERY soft edges on our defense at this point. Giving good teams (yeah, I'll include Cleveland in that) a soft edge to run against and a soft defense to throw against is usually more than enough to lose.

What will they change to have this D challenge the offenses more? We shouldn't try to count on the O to score 30+ every game.

[Drj820]

VERY soft edges on our defense at this point. Giving good teams (yeah, I'll include Cleveland in that) a soft edge to run against and a soft defense to throw against is usually more than enough to lose.

What will they change to have this D challenge the offenses more? We shouldn't try to count on the O to score 30+ every game.

Agreed. The biggest difference between the past few weeks, and the dominance we saw through November imo is

1) Kenny was amazing for a stretch, now he had covid plus looked like a player coming back from covid. The DL drops off sharply after him.

2) no depth left whatsoever at Olb. As you said, the edges are getting destroyed. Also, I believe the play of Gary has sharply declined. He seems to be going all out to get a sack and not reading plays well. He takes himself out of plays where the QB is passing, and allows the QB to scramble where he one was, and he isn’t setting the edge well at all on run plays.

If Kenny can get right (i believe he can) and Gary can have some self control and football intelligence (tbd) the D can get right again.

[Scott4Pack]

Somebody on the media said that he thought the Pack's strategy was do allow virtually everything and also allow Mayfield to self-destruct. Maybe it looked that way. But that just can't be right. Surely, you don't go into a game thinking that you'll give Chubb 200 yards and get by with a win because the QB will play poorly.

Just think. If I had thought the Pack would give Chubb 200+ yards, I'd also think for sure that the Browns totally controlled the game. Our offense actually did it's fair share of controlling the ball too, minus needing one or two more first downs. But they did make our D look very bad. That isn't by mistake. Their OLine is very athletic. Chubb is a rock. Their WRs/TE are good enough. Give the Browns credit for playing well. We still should've done better.

[Pugger]

VERY soft edges on our defense at this point. Giving good teams (yeah, I'll include Cleveland in that) a soft edge to run against and a soft defense to throw against is usually more than enough to lose.

What will they change to have this D challenge the offenses more? We shouldn't try to count on the O to score 30+ every game.

Agreed. The biggest difference between the past few weeks, and the dominance we saw through November imo is

1) Kenny was amazing for a stretch, now he had covid plus looked like a player coming back from covid. The DL drops off sharply after him.

2) no depth left whatsoever at Olb. As you said, the edges are getting destroyed. Also, I believe the play of Gary has sharply declined. He seems to be going all out to get a sack and not reading plays well. He takes himself out of plays where the QB is passing, and allows the QB to scramble where he one was, and he isn’t setting the edge well at all on run plays.

If Kenny can get right (i believe he can) and Gary can have some self control and football intelligence (tbd) the D can get right again.

We also desperately need to get Jaire back and put Sullivan back on ST.

[Scott4Pack]

At what point do we finally think that Zedarius is not going to play this year? What real contribution might he make too?

I haven't given up hope for him. If he can only play in January, that might be just enough help for us. But I really doubt he will see the field before the playoffs. Beginning to think the same for Bahktiari too.

[German_Panzer]

At what point do we finally think that Zedarius is not going to play this year? What real contribution might he make too?

I haven't given up hope for him. If he can only play in January, that might be just enough help for us. But I really doubt he will see the field before the playoffs. Beginning to think the same for Bahktiari too.

Z won't be a factor, no matter what. Too long out. Give me an example where a guy came back after 5+ months and contributed within 1-2 games. I remember Raven Greene who was also a LB. Was out for months, came back right to Playoffs and though he was on game day roster they did not use him - too rusty.

Bak - the same. Too long out though it might be easier for an Oliner to get back to business. So I dunno this one.

Alexander - not the same. He's not out too long and he's seriously practising since some weeks. He could be a real contributor in the Playoffs.

[APB]

At what point do we finally think that Zedarius is not going to play this year? What real contribution might he make too?

I haven't given up hope for him. If he can only play in January, that might be just enough help for us. But I really doubt he will see the field before the playoffs. Beginning to think the same for Bahktiari too.

Z won't be a factor, no matter what. Too long out. Give me an example where a guy came back after 5+ months and contributed within 1-2 games. I remember Raven Greene who was also a LB. Was out for months, came back right to Playoffs and though he was on game day roster they did not use him - too rusty.

Bak - the same. Too long out though it might be easier for an Oliner to get back to business. So I dunno this one.

Alexander - not the same. He's not out too long and he's seriously practising since some weeks. He could be a real contributor in the Playoffs.

Week one of any given year on any given team roster.

[Acrobat]

At what point do we finally think that Zedarius is not going to play this year? What real contribution might he make too?

I haven't given up hope for him. If he can only play in January, that might be just enough help for us. But I really doubt he will see the field before the playoffs. Beginning to think the same for Bahktiari too.

Z won't be a factor, no matter what. Too long out. Give me an example where a guy came back after 5+ months and contributed within 1-2 games. I remember Raven Greene who was also a LB. Was out for months, came back right to Playoffs and though he was on game day roster they did not use him - too rusty.

Bak - the same. Too long out though it might be easier for an Oliner to get back to business. So I dunno this one.

Alexander - not the same. He's not out too long and he's seriously practising since some weeks. He could be a real contributor in the Playoffs.

I with you that Jaire will definitely make a difference since he's been practicing.

Hard to think either Z or Bak will be back at this point, BUT....if they both return, I think Bak will definitely help. Z, we could use on obvious passing downs and that's it. That way he's not overworked but I'm with you, probably not going to give us much if he plays.

[Drj820]

Not sure where the idea that Z wouldnt help comes from. Will he play at his previous all pro level? Almost certainly not.

However, all he has to do is come in for limited snaps to backup Preston or Gary and that alone will make a huge impact considering who we are playing as those guys backups currently.

If Z comes in on limited snaps and plays 50% of his usual self, then that is already a big improvement for the D compared to what we are trotting out there now.

That said, what a disappointing year it has been for Z. I mean hes given us nothing. Darn shame.

[Drj820]

Heard on radio (so unconfirmed with my own eyes) that we have the 31st best rush defense. That sounds like the Pettine days.

I think it will improve with a 100% Kenny, but geez that does not bode well for us against several teams we may see in the postseason.

[Acrobat]

Heard on radio (so unconfirmed with my own eyes) that we have the 31st best rush defense. That sounds like the Pettine days.

I think it will improve with a 100% Kenny, but geez that does not bode well for us against several teams we may see in the postseason.

We're 18th against the run.

[APB]

Heard on radio (so unconfirmed with my own eyes) that we have the 31st best rush defense. That sounds like the Pettine days.

I think it will improve with a 100% Kenny, but geez that does not bode well for us against several teams we may see in the postseason.

We're 18th against the run.

We are 18th in rush yards given up per game. However, teams tend to abandon the rush once they get behind a couple scores thus masking the actual deficiency of the defense.

On an average per rush basis, we are tied for dead last in rushing yards per attempt at 4.8 Y/A.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 21/opp.htm