Opposing QBs, beware: Packers 'backers headed your way

[Packnic]

Opposing QBs, beware: Packers 'backers headed your way

By Kevin Seifert
ESPN.com

Updated: June 29, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Nick Barnett tried suppressing a smile as he listened to the question.


"We've got some things in our pocket," he said, a slight grin remaining on his face.

A similar query came his way a few minutes later. Do you think your team will be more aggressive on defense this season? "We're working on some things," said Barnett, who is entering his sixth season as the Green Bay Packers' middle linebacker. "I don't want to give too much away on the packages we've been working on, but I'm really excited."

While most public attention has centered on the Packers' quarterback transition, the team quietly is tweaking its pass rush to level out an uneven performance in 2007. Although their pass defense ranked 12th among NFL teams last season, the Packers exhibited a notable drop off during the final months.

They went without a sack in four of their final five games, a stretch that coincided with a knee injury that limited pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Observers who watch the team closely have said the Packers -- they run a traditional man-to-man pass defense, requiring the defensive line to account for much of the pass rush -- did not make adjust properly to account for Gbaja-Biamila's injury.

With its linebackers and defensive backs spending most of their time in coverage, Green Bay was left with one healthy pass-rusher -- defensive end Aaron Kampman -- to disrupt quarterbacks. Kampman finished with 12½ sacks, while since-departed defensive tackle Corey Williams contributed seven, but the Packers' final sack numbers were as lopsided as they come.

Almost 90 percent of their 36 sacks came from defensive linemen; Barnett accounted for 3½ and fellow linebacker AJ Hawk had one.


A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett plan to take more meetings during quarterback blitzes in 2008.

Based on Barnett's smile and an active blitz package during minicamp earlier in June, it's fair to say those proportions will change in 2008.


Rather than representing a philosophical shift, coach Mike McCarthy said the new looks reflect the natural progression of a scheme that has now been in place for three years.


"You're seeing players that are now very comfortable in the base concepts of that defense," McCarthy said, "and the pressure packages have expanded more in how we're using different personnel as opposed to how many different types of pressures we're coming from. The most important thing is to put pressure on the quarterback. Whether it comes with four-man, five-man, six-man rushes or pressures, it's irrelevant. The bottom line is to get it done."

A commitment to pressure not only requires appropriate personnel, but also patience from the coaching staff. The Packers' cornerback duo of Charles Woodson and Al Harris is among the best in the league. But even Woodson and Harris can be beaten if an offense deals effectively with the blitz.

It was certainly a point of emphasis during the Packers' minicamp, which featured blitzes from all areas of the field. Of course, a blitz in an NFL minicamp could mean anything.



The team could be practicing in order to improve those particular calls. Or, it could be experimenting with different combinations of personnel and schemes, with the intention of implementing less than half of what it tries in minicamp. And in the Packers' case, coaches could simply have been giving their young quarterbacks a variety of different looks.

Listening to McCarthy, however, it seemed clear he is serious and committed to elevating Green Bay's defensive pressure, no matter the short-term consequences.


"If you pressure and you get burnt," he said, "you still have to continue to pressure if you need to."


That attitude will bring a smile not only to the face of Barnett, but also to Hawk and the rest of the Packers' deep linebacker corps. Blitzes are to linebackers what deep passes are to receivers: Although they are high-risk, blitzes are fun and can change a game in one play.

"Any linebacker will tell you he wants to blitz and he wants to make big plays," Hawk said. "We've always been aggressive, just in different ways. ... With all the guys we have on our defense, it's going to be fun to see what the coaches come up with.

"We feel we can be a dominating defense at all times and be consistent with it," Hawk added. "That's the biggest thing. Just coming off these offseason workouts and everything, I feel we've taken some steps to get there."


Kevin Seifert covers the NFL for ESPN.com

Source.


makes me excited.

 

[vegOmatic]

It's easy to be cocky in the off season. I hope we walk the walk.

 

[Since69]

So long as they blitz effectively. Most of the blitzes I saw last year were just Nick or Hawk crashing into the line and getting stuck there.

We had a great safety blitz when Leroy was still around. I think Bigby could be just as effective.

 

[warhawk]

So long as they blitz effectively. Most of the blitzes I saw last year were just Nick or Hawk crashing into the line and getting stuck there.

We had a great safety blitz when Leroy was still around. I think Bigby could be just as effective.

My guess is the reason we may see four LB's on the field is because Poppinga is very good at pressure and Chilly can defend. I believe this feature will allow them to move Poppinga around and bring him with Jenkins and Kampman at times.

Probably not an exclusive look but one to make the offense defend and read how they react to it. It's also that much more for other teams to have to deal with on Tuesday and Wednesday in practice.

I would love to see them do this a couple of times and then rotate Poppinga over one and bring Barnett or Hawk instead at the last second. A good chance that opens up a clean shot.

I do not think McCarthy will allow them to rush four if it's not creating pressure for very long. Sanders is just going to have to wear his big boy shoes this year.

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

 

[Zombieslayer]

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

And that is my entire argument. People say that you get burned for TDs, but I'd rather get burned for a TD every once in awhile than the opposing QB sitting there picking his nose, then looking for an open receiver and eating up the game clock. Stuff like that wears down our D. We cannot do that.

To win the SB, whether you like it or not, you have to pressure the QB. There are 3 remaining outstanding QBs in the game that if you give them time, they will kill you. I guarantee you all three of those QBs will be in the Playoffs, and there's a good chance we'll see 2 of them ourselves.

The Giants won the SB by pressuring Brady into doing stupid stuff. They didn't give him time to think.

 

[Tiger]

So long as they blitz effectively. Most of the blitzes I saw last year were just Nick or Hawk crashing into the line and getting stuck there.

We had a great safety blitz when Leroy was still around. I think Bigby could be just as effective.

My guess is the reason we may see four LB's on the field is because Poppinga is very good at pressure and Chilly can defend. I believe this feature will allow them to move Poppinga around and bring him with Jenkins and Kampman at times.

Probably not an exclusive look but one to make the offense defend and read how they react to it. It's also that much more for other teams to have to deal with on Tuesday and Wednesday in practice.

I would love to see them do this a couple of times and then rotate Poppinga over one and bring Barnett or Hawk instead at the last second. A good chance that opens up a clean shot.

I do not think McCarthy will allow them to rush four if it's not creating pressure for very long. Sanders is just going to have to wear his big boy shoes this year.

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

I personally like the Bend/Dont Break Defence. I think MM likes it too, hes not really a huge Gambler.

 

[Timmons]

So long as they blitz effectively. Most of the blitzes I saw last year were just Nick or Hawk crashing into the line and getting stuck there.

We had a great safety blitz when Leroy was still around. I think Bigby could be just as effective.

Sinc69 is right. I have lots of memories last year of Hawk and Barnett getting gobbled up within the line or by the half backs. If our blitzing scheme should include anything it should include technique on shedding (or running over) blockers.

 

[NodakPaul]

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

And that is my entire argument. People say that you get burned for TDs, but I'd rather get burned for a TD every once in awhile than the opposing QB sitting there picking his nose, then looking for an open receiver and eating up the game clock. Stuff like that wears down our D. We cannot do that.

To win the SB, whether you like it or not, you have to pressure the QB. There are 3 remaining outstanding QBs in the game that if you give them time, they will kill you. I guarantee you all three of those QBs will be in the Playoffs, and there's a good chance we'll see 2 of them ourselves.

The Giants won the SB by pressuring Brady into doing stupid stuff. They didn't give him time to think.

Exactly. You want a good example of what can happen if you give a QB too much time in the pocket. Take the Vikings. With absolutely no pressure on opposing QBs, opposing QBs had all day. Eventually any QB will be able to find the open receiver.

Vikings were bend-don't break, but they tended to bend a LOT, largely in part to the inability to pressure the QB effectively. If the Packer Defense wants to remain in the top tier, then they will need to become more aggressive against the pass.

Just MHO. Hey, I would be 100% OK if the Pack continued to rely solely on their DL for pressure. :wink:

 

[Zombieslayer]

Exactly. You want a good example of what can happen if you give a QB too much time in the pocket. Take the Vikings. With absolutely no pressure on opposing QBs, opposing QBs had all day. Eventually any QB will be able to find the open receiver.

Vikings were bend-don't break, but they tended to bend a LOT, largely in part to the inability to pressure the QB effectively. If the Packer Defense wants to remain in the top tier, then they will need to become more aggressive against the pass.

Just MHO. Hey, I would be 100% OK if the Pack continued to rely solely on their DL for pressure. :wink:

Well, considering you now have 3 good pass rushers on your DL, you shouldn't have this problem in '08.

That bend-don't break I'm not too crazy about because there are only 60 minutes in a game. An opposing O on a field who drives down continuously from their own 20 to your 20, then misses a field goal is still wearing down your D, and is still taking time off the clock, and is still keeping your O off the field.

Sometimes, you just have to take chances. Our blitzing last year kind of sucked. It would be like a LB would run at the OL, and just get stuck. That doesn't do much of anything either.

I'm hoping we work more on blitz packages and timings, make them actually work in '08.

Sure, we were the #6 D, but until you're #1, there's always room for improvement.

As for you guys, I'm thinking your D will improve and it won't be your D holding you back in '08.

 

[Greg C.]

As a fan, of course I'm in favor of my team playing more aggressively. But on the other hand, you can look at this as sort of a chicken-or-egg question. If you can blitz successfully, you blitz. And if you can't blitz successfully, you don't blitz. Last year the Packers did not blitz well at all. So they have a lot of work to do if they are going to make this approach work. Otherwise, we are going to see a repeat of the Bob Slowik year, where the blitz-heavy scheme failed in week 2 and they abandoned it immediately.

 

[cheesey]

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

And that is my entire argument. People say that you get burned for TDs, but I'd rather get burned for a TD every once in awhile than the opposing QB sitting there picking his nose, then looking for an open receiver and eating up the game clock.

Honestly........before i read your whole comment, i thought you were gonna say "picking his nose, then looking for an open receiver and eating it". :shock:
I was glad i was wrong....... :lol:

 

[pack_in_black]

Hmm. Guess which defense just moved to the top of PIB's board for both of his fantasy drafts? Am I a homer? Maybe. Will I be a champion? Hell yes.

 

[Zombieslayer]

Hmm. Guess which defense just moved to the top of PIB's board for both of his fantasy drafts? Am I a homer? Maybe. Will I be a champion? Hell yes.

Well, my friend, that is why I don't play fantasy.
My fantasy team (if I played):

QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson
WR: Donald Driver, Gregorious Jennings
D: Packers

Who knows? In '08, that could be a pretty good fantasy team.

 

[warhawk]

I would rather give up a TD now and then getting burned on a blitz than to watch a team go down the field and our guys getting picked apart with a QB standing back there completing something like eight out of ten.

I hate that. I think it drives McCarthy nuts too.

And that is my entire argument. People say that you get burned for TDs, but I'd rather get burned for a TD every once in awhile than the opposing QB sitting there picking his nose, then looking for an open receiver and eating up the game clock. Stuff like that wears down our D. We cannot do that.

To win the SB, whether you like it or not, you have to pressure the QB. There are 3 remaining outstanding QBs in the game that if you give them time, they will kill you. I guarantee you all three of those QBs will be in the Playoffs, and there's a good chance we'll see 2 of them ourselves.

The Giants won the SB by pressuring Brady into doing stupid stuff. They didn't give him time to think.

The New England Patriots would have gone undefeated and continued that way into this year if they hadn't run into a team that figured out how to get to Brady.

On the other hand Jacksonville sat back and let Brady eat their lunch all day long with a completely different look. The bottom line is an average QB will look like a Brady or Manning if you let them sit back there. I see no reason to do this. It wears the defense down and keeps your offense off the field and harder for them to get their own momentum going.

I don't see how Mike McCarthy is in favor of a conservative defense. His whole philosophy for success is keyed by dictating the tempo of the game. Every time we ran into a team that could move the ball and won time of possession our offense struggled.

I'm not that big on the "bend not break" defense. Like Zombie says, when you DO run up against a good QB you'll more than likely bend AND break.

Gimme the Giants DC. That's how it's supposed to be done.

 

[Timmons]

Which LB's would you favor to send in on a blitz?

 

[warhawk]

I like pressure from the middle. QB's hate pressure up the middle because it takes their throwing lanes away and put's them on the run.

Brett Favre was one of the best at avoiding pressure I have seen but his worst games came when they got to him from up the middle. He could step up in the pocket as well as anybody but when that got taken away with center pressure was the only time I would see him get flustered.

Also, when we pound the middle it takes away the help given on double teaming the ends. When our DE's get one on ones with the tackles good things happen.