Don't call it a blueprint (yet), but New Orleans Saints showed how to give...

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

2 years ago

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This wouldn’t be the first time someone thinks they have found the so-called blueprint to stop quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

In fact, what the New Orleans Saints did in Sunday's 38-3 rout -- one of the most shocking season openers in Packers history -- wasn’t all that different from the strategy used by opponents at times during coach Matt LaFleur’s highly successful first two seasons.

In LaFleur’s first season, 2019, the Los Angeles Chargers (a 5-11 team) surprisingly shut down Rodgers & Co. with a relatively simple plan: Don’t blitz.

To be sure, it takes a certain defensive talent to pull it off -- one that ideally can get pressure on Rodgers with four-man rushes and leave everyone else in coverage. The Packers' 26-7 record over the past two-plus seasons -- and Rodgers' MVP season last year -- are proof enough that they're hard to stop.

While what happened against the Saints looked troubling to the Packers, it’s worth wondering two things: Can teams that ordinarily rely on pressure packages ditch that when playing the Packers, and how many teams actually have the personnel to pull it off?

Continue Reading @ ESPN

ESPN wrote:

The common theme is taking away the deep stuff because Rodgers doesn't like taking what the defense gives him. This has been a gripe fans have had for years about Rodgers. It's also why people like Drew Brees and Tom Brady succeeded so well in their advanced age. They repeatedly took what the defense gave them and moved the chains.

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beast
Select Member

2 years ago

Yes the Packers offense forgot the system... the wide zone is created to take pressure off the QB (which LaFleur has stated a number of times).

What LaFleur normally doesn't mention is that this normally means making the RB the focal point though the run and short passes. The Packers did the exact opposite... and put all the pressure on the QB and the OL pass blocking even worse than Mike McCarthy did.

And this defensive skill talent is basically set up to pass rush with the lead ... not run defend from behind. As I said with LaFleur, I don't care whom the DC is, this team is not talent enough up front or at CB to be dominant and I have to give Clark and Lowry credit, at the end of last year they looked better than I thought they could (Lowry).

But the Packers are facing more wide zone offenses than ever before with 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, Bengals, Browns and Vikings... and Saints and Chiefs have offensive geniuses play callers.

But the Packers will go as their RBs go, as the RBs will take pressure off the QB and defense, giving them time to rest. Packers need to get that going.

Packers defensive will go as the opponent's OL goes and how much rest they get on the sidelines.

warhawk
Senior Member

2 years ago

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

The thing is it's not just about taking the deep stuff away. When teams can rush 4 guys successfully it allows all kinds of options for the other 7. They can bring up guys in press coverage with help over the top, double Adams, etc. Teams can throw the coverage playbook at the opposing offense.
It's not just the Matt LaFleur offense either. The Packers and Rodgers has always struggled against teams that can bring 4 consistently. The good news is not many teams can successfully send four DL all game long (Packers included) and the OL has to be up to the challenge as well (certainly better than they were Sunday).
Teams adjust and the Packers will too. Last year they got their asses handed to them by TB during the season then should have beaten them in the playoffs. It was one game and time to learn and move on.

"The train is leaving the station."

beast
Select Member

2 years ago

Also it pisses me off when I see defenders not even attempting to line up until 7 seconds because they know damn well Rodgers ain't snapping the ball until it's 5 or under...

If you quick snap that thing at times, you're much more likely to get defenders jump from vocal fake snaps that Rodgers loves.

I understand he wants to read the defense, but mixing it up keeps the defense off guard as well...

Mucky Tundra
Veteran Member

2 years ago

Is this anything that's really new? Haven't we seen this in the past? I think it would be more appropriate to see what the Saints did to defend against key concepts of MLFs offense while in the deep shell.

“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”

"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers

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Martha Careful (10-May) : 1. this is true of all our linemen. 2. His run block is fine. 3. If all OL played like he has, we would win SB.

beast (10-May) : Meyers pass blocking is really good, his run blocking is really not.

Zero2Cool (9-May) : Packers have claimed DE Spencer Waege off of waivers from the 49ers and waived DT Rodney Mathews.

Zero2Cool (9-May) : And the OL protections seem to be good.

Zero2Cool (9-May) : I really don't know lol. I don't see him getting blown up.

Zero2Cool (9-May) : -3 buwahhhahaaha

Mucky Tundra (9-May) : 4th

Zero2Cool (9-May) : because he's 1st

Mucky Tundra (9-May) : Myers isn't even the 3rd best C on the roster atm

Martha Careful (9-May) : I am not sure I understand the Myers hate. He was consistently our third best lineman. RG and LT were worse.

beast (9-May) : Just saying I don't think moving Myers would help Myers.

beast (9-May) : Center is usually considered the easiest position physically if you can handle the snap stuff.

Mucky Tundra (8-May) : Bust it is then

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Context. Sounds like Myers won't be cross-trained. C or bust.

Mucky Tundra (8-May) : @BookOfEli_NFL Packers pass game coordinator, Jason Vrable said that Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks shared a placed in Florida while train

Mucky Tundra (8-May) : For now...

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Packers go about evaluating their "best five," OL coach Luke Butkus makes on thing clear: "Josh Myers is our center."

beast (8-May) : Though I'm a bit surprised letting go of CBs, I thought we needed more not less

beast (8-May) : It was confusing with two DB Anthony Johnson anyways

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Packers actually had Ray Lewis on the phone.

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Packers wanted to draft Ray Lewis. Ravens stole him.

Martha Careful (6-May) : Happy 93rd Birthday to the Greatest Baseball Player of All-Time...Willie Mays

Zero2Cool (6-May) : Walter Stanely's son

buckeyepackfan (6-May) : and released CB Anthony Johnson and DL Deandre Johnson and waived/injured WR Thyrick Pitts (thigh-rick).

buckeyepackfan (6-May) : The Green Bay Packers have signed WR Julian Hicks, OL Lecitus Smith (luh-SEET-us) and WR Dimitri Stanley

Zero2Cool (6-May) : Petty, but it's annoying me how the NFL is making the schedule release an event.

Mucky Tundra (4-May) : @mattschneidman Matt LaFleur on how he tore his pec: “Got in a fight with the bench press. I lost.”

Zero2Cool (3-May) : Jordan Love CAN sign an extension as of today. Might tak weeks/months though

TheKanataThrilla (3-May) : Packers decline 5th year option for Stokes

Mucky Tundra (3-May) : @ProFootballTalk Jaylen Warren: Steelers' special teams coach has discussed Justin Fields returning kicks.

Zero2Cool (2-May) : Season officially ending tonight for Bucks ... sad face

Zero2Cool (2-May) : Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as out for tonight's game.

dfosterf (2-May) : Surprisingly low initially is my guess cap wise, but gonna pay the piper after that

dfosterf (2-May) : The number on Love is going to be brutal.

Zero2Cool (2-May) : May 3rd. Extension day for Jordan Love. (soonest)

Zero2Cool (1-May) : USFL MVP QB Alex McGough moved to WR. So that's why no WR drafted!

earthquake (1-May) : Packers draft starters at safety ever few years. Collins, Clinton-Dix, Savage

beast (1-May) : Why can't the rookies be a day 1 starter? Especially when we grabbed 3 of them at the position

dfosterf (1-May) : Not going to be shocked if Gilmore goes to the Lions.

dfosterf (1-May) : I hear you dhazer, but my guess would be Gilmore Colts and Howard Vikings from what little has been reported.

Mucky Tundra (30-Apr) : S learn from McKinney who learns from Hafley who learns from the fans. Guaranteed Super Bowl

Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : could*

Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Safeties should learn from Xavier.

dhazer (29-Apr) : And what about grabbing a Gilmore or Howard at CB ? Those are all Free Agents left

dhazer (29-Apr) : out of curiosity do they try and sign Simmons or Hyde to let these young safeties learn from, they can't be day 1 starters.

Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : I miss having Sam Shields.

Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Not that he's making excuses, just pointing it out

Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : That's for dang sure. Make our erratic kicker have no excuse!

packerfanoutwest (28-Apr) : having a great long snapper is gold

Zero2Cool (28-Apr) : LaFleur looking like he had some weight. Coachin will do that lol

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