The Packers Are Blitzing More And Sacking Less

We need more analysis, all Brandon does is post mass links

In all seriousness, though…someone needs to step up on the opposite side of Matthews, doesn’t matter whether it is the DE or OLB. This has been mentioned often here and it’s frustrating that noone on that side can beat a single team with any regularity.

I think this scheme has a bit to do with the injuries we have sustained at CB, and to a lesser extent Collins. No choice but to play a bit more conservative (in reference to the lack of man coverage with a safety up top, not blitzing) when you have Jarrett Bush in there.

This bye week should help us with getting some guys healthy, as Shields/Tramon should be back to full health. Not too sure on the timeline for Zombo (although I think he’s back soon) and Neal.

But what Capers has been doing has obviously worked so far, so let’s not change it until we have to. I hope it lasts, because if we can get Neal back and healthy for the playoffswe could have the lock-down defense we need to go all the way again.

the max protect schemes that teams are using a lot against the Packers. Check it out.

It does hurt that we have only one really effective pass rusher. While I hear that Walden is supposed to be a better pass-rusher than Zombo, other than one great game against Chicago last year, Walden hasn’t done much. Zombo seemed to be more consistent: getting a sack here and there and putting on consistent pressure.

but this mini-thread about max protect being the was to beat the Packer D has me confused. In particular, the “how are we ever to defend against the likes of Brady or Brees?”

My admittedly vague impression is that a large part of the success of folks like Brady and Brees (and Rivers and Rodgers) is their facility with four and five wide sets. These are, I thought, sort of the opposite of max-protect blocking schemes.

Also, I’d like to remind everyone, with absolutely no desire to encourage cockiness, that the most fundamental evaluation criterion for a defense is not sacks or percent blitzes or pass defenses by the ROLB, or even pick-6s; but did they allow the opponent to score fewer points than the Packers?

1) Matthews is getting home even when he’s facing just one blocker. Blockers are pretty consistently getting him across his shoulders and slowing him down. Seems that there’s a technique problem there. (Though, to be honest, I’m not entirely clear when those cross throat blocks are holding and when they’re not.)

2) There’s a counter-scheme for every scheme, even max protect. One option I’d like to see the Packers try is play 3 DL. Now I’m going to suggest something that may get me flamed, but I AM aware that Green is known as a run stuffer, not blocker. Anywho, I’d like to see Big Howard Green in there on the left side (from the O’s perspective) G/T gap—as he IS a run stuffer, we know he can control a gap, so get him to take that double team. Then, put Wynn (or even Hawk) over the RG/C gap, and Raji a little wide on the T (Yes, I know Raji is a NT this isn’t supposed to be an every-down play).. That should occupy the whole line, leaving just TEs and RBs. The D can bring the heat from either side. I know it’s not perfect, but I’d like so see our DL occupying more of the opponent’s OL.