Is our defense really struggling?

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Oct 19, 2011 11:43 PM CDT

I keep hearing and reading left and right that the mighty Packers D has been struggling. Has it really?

Let's take a closer look: The Packers have allowed a ton of yards. Big deal. What matters in defense are points allowed and takeaways. Green Bay defense is tied for 7th in NFL (with the Lions) having allowed 19 ppg and is second in NFL in INTs and second in NFL in turnovers forced (INT and FF). If that's struggling, where do I sign?

Here's something else we have to consider: The Packers offense is a quick finisher! We can't really run the ball, and we don't even try it that hard. If you don't run the ball, you eat less time so defense has to work longer hours. Perhaps Jordy Nelson should think twice about taking one to the house for 90 yds=)?

The Packers offense are first in NFL in ppg scored but only 10th in offensive plays run. Rodgers is putting up record numbers with only 209 passing attempts, middle of the table in NFL almost at par with the likes of Bradford, Dalton, Curtis Painter and Cutler. If we don't wanna see our D on the field, we gotta ask Aaron to WASTE MORE TIME.

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Bend, but don't break.

Its a winning strategy. I believe Troy Aikman (yuck, I’m using him as a reference?! You know I am adamant about this one) said that we should change our offensive and defensive statistic. Who cares if you can move the ball between the twenties. That does not score points.

by Vikingsfan17 on Oct 20, 2011 12:58 AM CDT reply actions

LOL'd

I believe Troy Aikman (yuck, I’m using him as a reference?!

That dog just won't hunt.

by Bush League All Star on Oct 20, 2011 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions

They don't suck

When you have your defense on the field 2/3rds of the game because the offense already put up 30+ points on the other team – they are gonna give up yards.

by Obscurity on Oct 20, 2011 1:49 AM CDT reply actions

Yey! I'm happy to see all these posts defending reality...

instead of “omg our defense allows checkdowns for 30 mins in order to run out the clock cause our offense gives us huge leads so this must mean they suck” posts.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 20, 2011 3:33 AM CDT reply actions

I say someone makes a highlight reel of A.J. Hawk in coverage against shifty backs.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Oct 20, 2011 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

But agree.

by msc32887 on Oct 20, 2011 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Some Concern Is Justified

Certainly some concern is justified. The Rams came in with one of the league’s poorest offenses and have yielded the most sacks. They racked up 420 yards and Bradford had time to throw. More polished offenses will convert those yards into points. And checkdowns aren’t the reason for the big yardage – the Packer D is in the top two for yielding plays of 20-plus yards. That’s not checkdown offense.

Don’t be too high on the Packer offense, either. In the past two games, they’ve struggled at times. The offense started the Atlanta game by failing to score touchdowns on its first two trips inside the Falcon ten. Against the Rams, receiver drops and the inability to run the ball resulted in a scoreless Packer second half.

Now, I’m not Doctor Doom, but the defense needs to pick it up before the playoffs, and the offense needs to continue to improve and maintain focus. The Patriots of the past few years have featured the game’s best offense and a bottom-feeding defense and they haven’t even made it to a conference championship. The Packers are the class of the league this season, but there is room for improvement.

Nitschke never wore an earring!

by Packer Pete on Oct 20, 2011 6:53 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

The Rams came in with one of the worst offenses and only scored 3 points

Doesn’t anyone find it interesting that the Packers only scored 24 points? Nobody is making a fuss over that even though it was well below their season average. If the argument there is that 24 points is all the Packers would need to win, then I offer the rebuttal that the Packers only needed 4 points to win. The team won 24-3. Is winning by 3 touchdowns not enough for fans any more?

Man's only as good as the strength of his/her convictions

by TheGr8Henry on Oct 20, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

No but I think its the way it played out.

It was 24 -3 at half. The game was in hand after the first TD. Had the Rams scored more I think GB would have as well. The offense was sluggish in the second half for whatever reason, an anomaly this year, but there was no reason to turn it on. The weather was bad for high powered offenses and they had the game won after 30 mins if they just held up. No reason to play any other way except to run the clock and get out of there without injuries.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 20, 2011 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Well luckily in the NFL it isn't how you play to win the game it is that you win the game

Man's only as good as the strength of his/her convictions

by TheGr8Henry on Oct 20, 2011 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Unfortunately....

we fans have a full week to postulate otherwise….

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 20, 2011 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

The Packers offense is struggling?
Okay the Falcons stopped us for like 2 drives (one a fumble on the first play) but after that we ran up and down the field on them. In the Rams game, the goal was clearly to get up big and then run the clock so the game is over asap. Maybe the Badgers fans in here are expecting them tojust keep running up the score, but its unnecessary and leads to more injury risk and turnover risk.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 20, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

The Packers didn’t run the clock on the Rams in the second half. Nelson’s third down drop and Jennings’ tip to a pick killed two Packer drives right off the bat. They never had a drive to get into scoring position for even a long field goal.

Now, I think the Packers have a dominant offense, but I’m not of the mistaken belief that they will score 40 every game. They’ve run hot and cold against the Falcons and Rams. My point is that this lack of second half output against a lousy team like the Rams can be overcome quite easily. In the playoffs, dropped and tipped passes will bury the Packers, especially with a defense that can’t get off the field with consistency. Just being a realist.

Nitschke never wore an earring!

by Packer Pete on Oct 20, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the offensive struggle in the Rams game was just a fluke thing....

and they apparently took it very seriously this week by working on drops, etc. That was probably the biggest thing they needed to look at after the Ram game….not the defense.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 20, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

We are nowhere NEAR postseason play...

Too early to start panicking.

by mike_o on Oct 20, 2011 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Where were the explosive plays by the Rams?

I believe that the Rams had 3 plays of more than 20 yards. I think the big play problem has been getting bigger. The yards allowed don’t bother me, unless they are coming due to a large number of explosive plays. That is what will hurt a team in the long run.

by MikeDB on Oct 20, 2011 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions

New topic please

My horse is already dead.

by stratefaced on Oct 20, 2011 8:12 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs

I thought every post needed a response!

I was thinking of doing something the opposite of arodgb’s ‘APC Pick ’Em Thread’ to keep the pattern going :P

by mike_o on Oct 20, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

shhhhhh!

Let them think we stink. I know we don’t. We are in the top third in almost every important defensive stat. We routinely force FGs and turnovers in the red zone. ITs not a fluke that we have the largest gap between points scored and points allowed in the league!

That said, we can still get a lot better and we will…

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Oct 20, 2011 12:08 PM CDT reply actions

Aaron is the greatest QB - ever! But...

Takes more than offense to win championships. The D has to step up, and soon. If the ViQueens and Rams can stay in the game, what is going to happen later in the season? Yes, Clay and Charles are fantastic, but we’ve got to work on stopping the run. The league has tape now, and the teams are studying, and will see the weakness. i hope Dom Capers has some magic left.

by DrCheese on Oct 23, 2011 7:37 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, cuz you know 7-0 really sucks!

D has very little wrong w/ it that getting healthy and a bye can’t fix. Capers was very conservative in playcalling against Ponder. For what reason, I don’t know, but it was the same vs Freeman last year, and Newton this year. Just cuz the sack totals aren’t there doesn’t mean they aren’t getting good pressure. And while giving up rush yds seems like a problem, they are winning big every week, in a league dominated by the pass. Turnovers rule the games. Thats the best stat there is IMO. And we’re pretty freakin good at that!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 23, 2011 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Aye...

whats going to happen is guys are getting healthy. Look at everyone who was out or injured in this game.

Neal, Shields, Zombo, Burnett, Pickett. Thats half the starting defense.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Oct 23, 2011 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Getting healthy is a big part of it.

But I also think the bye will give Capers some time to adjust to things he’s been seeing so far this year. That along w/ the health of those players is alot of the reason I’m optimistic about the D in the 2nd half of the season. Capers will do the self scouting necessary to get things figured out. Remember all the teams had a full offseason to scout the Packers D from last year and find ways to beat it. Now its Capers turn to respond.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Oct 23, 2011 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Hope you are right!

But I saw our secondary make Shiancoe look like an all-Pro. An injured and porous Viking OL was suddenly revitalized. The D problems look deeper to me than a quick fix. I hope the healing of injuries will straighten it out, and that Capers will respond. But the D worries me.

by MikeDB on Oct 24, 2011 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions