walleye
15 years ago
By Pete Dougherty
The videotape is out there for everyone in the NFL to see.


In the last three games, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Atlanta rushed for an average of 190 yards each against a beleaguered and short-handed Green Bay Packers defense.

No doubt Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren will watch those three straight Packers losses and plan on pounding that soft spot mercilessly this Sunday until the Packers do something to change his mind.

Atlanta drove home those Packers shortcomings with six straight runs that wrapped up its 27-24 win at Lambeau Field this past Sunday. Falcons halfback Michael Turner first put the winning points on the board by carrying three straight times for 19 yards and a touchdown with 3:35 to play, then picked up the game-clinching first down with three straight runs in the final 1:55.

The Packers still were a little shell-shocked the day after that losing that battle of power and will.

I look at the defense as the thermostat in a football game, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. They need to keep the game in order, and it starts with stopping the run, and were not doing a very good job of it. (The players) know it, and we take the realistic approach. Were going to coach them hard and grade the film, just like we always have, and we need to get it fixed.

However, juicing up their run defense got measurably harder last week with the loss of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins for the season because of a pectoral injury. Jenkins might have been the Packers best defensive lineman the first 3 games as a stout right end on running downs and the teams best inside rusher on passing downs.

Thats the most recent of several personnel losses that have turned the Packers defensive line from a strength last season to a liability so far this year. Not only have the Packers not stopped the run of late, they also havent put appreciable pressure on the quarterback and have failed to get a sack the last 10 quarters.

The problems started in the offseason, when General Manager Ted Thompson, who was flush with defensive tackles, decided not to invest heavily in free-agent Corey Williams because of concerns hed get complacent with a big contract. So he put the franchise tag on Williams and traded him to Cleveland for a second-round draft pick.

In March, last years first-round draft pick, Justin Harrell, hurt his back early in offseason workouts, was unable to practice all offseason and remains on the physically unable to perform list for at least one more week.

Then in August, Daniel Muir, who was one of the surprises in training camp last year as an undrafted rookie, bombed out after missing most of the offseason because of a pectoral injury of his own.

So for now, the Packers are down to three pure defensive tackles Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole and no longer have the strong rotation that last year kept them fresh for the full 60 minutes at that key position.

The coaching staff has zeroed in on a breakdown in fundamentals staying disciplined in gap control as the reason for the shoddy run defense. But theres also a question of whether they have the personnel to perform to winning standards. Last year, the Packers finished No. 14 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and No. 11 in yards allowed per carry. This year, theyre Nos. 28 and 30, respectively, after five games.

The problems weve had, I dont think its somebody wasnt good enough, said Robert Nunn, the Packers defensive tackles coach. Weve got to fix it with what we have. You hate to lose good football players, but weve got to take the ones were playing with and make em better, and weve not gotten that done yet.

In the coming weeks, the Packers will look for improved health to help. Starting safety Atari Bigby has missed the last three games because of a hamstring injury and should be back soon, though he still might be a week away. Also, linebacker A.J. Hawk has a strained groin that kept him from practicing all last week, and though he played against Atlanta was noticeably less than full strength.

The Packers also could get Harrell back as soon as next week, though the quality of his play when he returns remains a major question after his non-descript rookie season and layoff since then. Starting next week, the Packers have a three-week window to get him on the practice field, and once he starts practicing, theyll have as many as three weeks to activate him or put him on injured reserve.

The team appears convinced Harrell will be ready to play soon, and considering the problems on the defensive line might look to get him on the field in the next couple of weeks.

Hes got an opportunity there just as fast as we can get him ready, Nunn said. I wouldnt hesitate right now, if hes there hell be in the mix. I think hell be a guy that goes in there, whatever his condition will allow, helping us against the run, and then hell be a guy in the rush group. I certainly wouldnt think you could get him 30, 40 snaps in the first game, but hell be a factor.

The Packers run-stopping woes are magnified by their lack of a pass rush. Left end Aaron Kampman, who had 27 sacks in 2006 and 07 combined, has 3 sacks this season and has been shut out the past 2 games. Pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has been slowed by a knee injury since training camp, has been invisible all season and has no sacks in five games.

The Falcons running backs regularly chip-blocked Kampman and occasionally Gbaja-Biamila as well. But the Packers got no help from their inside rush, whether it be Jolly or defensive end Mike Montgomery, who moves inside on passing downs. And they didnt get home with any blitzes the last two games.

(Blockers) are going to find those two guys (Kampman and Gbaja-Biamila), said Carl Hairston, the Packers defensive ends coach. When that happens you have to hope somebody will break loose in the middle.

The Packers also are turning to rookie Jeremy Thompson for help along the defensive line, especially because Montgomerys status this week is uncertain after he sprained his ankle in the second half against Atlanta.

However, Thompson, a fourth-round draft pick, was a non-factor against the Falcons in his first game action this season he played about 20 snaps and had no tackles. If the defense is to make many gains as the season goes on, Thompson is among the players who will have to make tremendous strides.

Kind of tentative, feeling his way through it, McCarthy said in describing Thompsons performance. So it's a good experience for him, but tryouts are over. I understand that, but he needs to be more aggressive with his opportunities.
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Here Fishy Fishy
chibiabo
15 years ago
:magnifyglass: Think it's time to start looking at the free market and bringing some bodies in for serious try-outs. A nice warm body would be a great help; one that has two good legs and arms and weighs about 350 lbs.
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gbpfan
15 years ago
i do agree we need someone to step up this week and grab the bull by the horns and show what a d-line we have,i know it may be a little weak but then you need to compensate guys need to step up and stay where their supposed to be and not try and help unless necessary
Cheesey
15 years ago
Well....as long as we have shown we can't stop the run, EVERYONE will just run it down our collective throats.
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Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (1h) : End of a Degu-era
dhazer (2h) : Steelers sign Patterson because of new kickoff rule interesting
Zero2Cool (5h) : Former #Packers TE Josiah Deguara is signing a 1-year deal with the Jaguars, per source.
Zero2Cool (6h) : They do not do it for "content sake".
dfosterf (16h) : For the record, I enjoy Beast and Mucky drafts
Zero2Cool (23h) : Haha
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : No time for talking! Back to work beast!
beast (27-Mar) : You saw only 4,201 of my mocks? 🥺 I think that means you missed more than half of them 😢
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Does anyone know what Lambeau field improvements got put on hold? My guess would be for the 2025 draft
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : It's like listen, you made 4,201 mocks, no shit.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Cuz during the draft "I had them mocked there!" as if it's amazing.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : They're fun to do once in awhile. It's people who think they are "content" that annoy me.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Against tbd
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Answer to your question is yes, it's a Thursday, will be the Chiefs aga
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Luckily for all concerned, I don't post them. I did one, but that was like 25 mocks ago
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : NFL 2024 gonna start Sept 5th isn't it???
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Ugh... kids these days!
dfosterf (27-Mar) : I'm gonna go do some more mock draft hell instead 🤪
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Did we do one of those prediction threads yet for 2024 season?
dfosterf (27-Mar) : In my city, they are playing the nimby game, in order to keep some railroad tracks vs. 2 professional sports teams and a concert venue.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : And/Or a city council, of which I haven't seen a good one in a very long time
dfosterf (27-Mar) : That sounds like a Mayor, not a city.
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers halt scheduled 80mil upgrade of stadium until lease agreement talks are restarted
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : City of Green Bay puts Packers' Lambeau Field lease talks on hold
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers 1 of 3 teams to vote no on new kickoff rule.
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Packers sign another Kicker
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Lengthy explanation at PFF if you click the link
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Kickoff rules officially changed.ngthy explan
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : lol
Cheesey (26-Mar) : 2009? No thanks! One open heart surgery is enough!
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Good for you!
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Yes. That's the one.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Is that "Lady Dugan" per chance?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Crystal?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Please refresh my memory
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Alan posts. Crystal back in my life. It's 2009 all over again! Lol
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : BAH GAWD! THAT'S CHEESEYS MUSIC!
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Gutekunst said early stages of Jordan Love contract being discussed.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Shouldn't be penalized cuz official screwed up
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Yeah, challenge until you are incorrect twice.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Fining them is the goal, per the people who made the rule anyway.
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still waiting on the kickoff rule changes. Did hear yesterday that the touchback proposal will now be the 30 yard line, not the 35
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Probably speed of game issues with your proposal
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Hopefully the refs don't get in the habit of throwing flags on this
beast (25-Mar) : I think when it comes to Challenges should get two strikes, so unlimited challenges as long as they keep winning them, but 2 wrong then done
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still subject to the fines etc
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Yes, I should have been more specific. Also, they are now saying it would be a 15 yard penalty. That makes more sense .
beast (25-Mar) : Simply fined in the week to follow
beast (25-Mar) : I agree with one NFL official, it'll probably be like some of the helmets hits, not really called by the refs on the field but simply fined
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Hip drop is not. Super confusing. Referees job is harder
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