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Through three games, the Green Bay Packers sit 24th in the NFL with just six sacks. For all of the talk of improvement with a new scheme under defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the early results are ugly: the Packers sit 21st in the league in defensive passing DVOA on defense and a brutal 27th on defense overall.
If it seems that the Packers aren’t generating enough pressure, you’re not wrong. Part of the issue is that when they do force third downs, they are too often the third-and-short variety, which limits what Pettine can call. Muhammad Wilkerson’s injury will surely hurt on the inside. On the edge, they got one awful game from Clay Matthews in week one, and afterward have seen Nick Perry practically vanish — and now he faces questions about his ability to play on Sunday.
With these injury issues starting to pop up, the challenge for Pettine to find ways to generate pressure with his scheme becomes even greater.
Packers’ defensive line ready to step up | Packers.com
With no Muhammad Wilkerson for the remainder of the season, Dean Lowry and Montravius Adams will be called upon for more meaningful snaps. In addition, the Packers worked out old friend Quinton Dial, who could be a viable candidate to pitch in a handful of snaps per game on early downs.
Packers' Mike Pettine facing decision on bringing pressure | Packersnews.com
It seems that Pettine has only called a handful of blitzes so far this season, which Tom Silverstein sees as a potential problem. However, Ben Fennell of The Athletic sees the issue being that the Packers aren’t forcing third-and-longs often enough, which is when those blitzes are most effective.
Packers not getting enough from $59 million man, Nick Perry | Packers Wire
Perry is one of the reasons for the Packers' struggles in getting to the quarterback. He has just one sack -- on fourth down to clinch the win over the Bears -- and has not been able to generate pressure consistently in one-on-one situations. Adding to the challenge is that he's currently in the concussion protocol.
The NFL roughing the passer rule might be enforced differently soon - SBNation.com
The competition committee -- with Packers president Mark Murphy as one of the key members -- is holding a call this week to address the roughing the passer rules and to consider adjusting the emphasis on what types of calls need to be focused on.
Zimmer: 'Possibility' Dalvin Cook plays Vikings-Rams - NFL.com
Cook missed last Sunday's loss to the Bills after being injured against the Packers, but with that time off he's a question mark for Thursday's game.
Ax-throwing bar deemed unsafe, has liquor license suspended for 1 day | MLive.com
Maybe -- JUST MAYBE -- it's not a great idea to give people copious amounts of alcohol and encourage them to throw dangerous objects by using the tagline "Who said don't mix alcohol with axe throwing?"