The Defense - Again, the Defense :(

[MadScientist]

The defense seems to be decent at shutting down one aspect of an offense. Last night they stuffed the run because, Ponder. Previous weeks they were focused on stopping the pass. The problem when the other team has a balanced attack (Sea, Chi) the defense looks bad. Those are games where they need to get a lead to force the other team into a pass centric game. It worked in Chicago, not so much in Seattle.

Either the personnel, or the scheme are deficient for a top defense.

[pbmax]

Is it just me, or do Hawk and Lattimore play deeper than most inside LB's? It seems they are always 5-6 yards behind the LOS. Maybe that accounts for the "running back push" you mentioned.

Yes, its part of the pass alignment, if you see them back there 6 yards deep, they are playing pass first.

[pbmax]

Ponder is such a pariah these days. I'm anxious to see Teddy too but not under those circumstances. That OL was miserable and Ponder's best throws were dropped.

How was their O line against non-Falcon defenses? Because my impression of them was that they weren't terrible. Prior to the game, anyway.

[pbmax]

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing but it seems Dom just doesn't like to show blitz in general. He'd rather blitz unexpectedly than drop into coverage unexpectedly. Maybe he doesn't think our guys are fast enough to hustle into a passing lane from the line. Maybe he thinks they aren't explosive enough to do damage without a head of steam. Maybe its to compensate for how slow developing the coverage can be in a zone blitz. Dunno.

They do play some bail coverage out of a pressure look, but I don't think that was the plan with Ponder or Bridgewater.

Last night they did bring two ILBs up to the A gap to threaten blitz and he usually sent just one, but there were occasions both went in a zone blitz.

[3irty1]

How was their O line against non-Falcon defenses? Because my impression of them was that they weren't terrible. Prior to the game, anyway.

I can't imagine coming off a whooping like that and then having Detroit's DL to look forward to.

[wist43]

Capers actually contested the LOS, and didn't give up the middle of the field much... he needs to do that every game - but of course we know he won't.

If he actually gameplanned to control the LOS and middle of the field like he did against the Vikings, I think we could have a good enough defense to contend. As I've said all along, I think we have the players to be good enough... it all comes down to dunderdummy.

This Vikings game is an example of the kind of defense we could have - but again, will we see it again?? Probably not - I chalk it up to a one-time gameplan, and next week we could be right back to complete disaster.

Until dunderdummy proves otherwise - he simply can't be trusted.

[gbgary]

good showing against a crippled team.

[Bretsky]

Rather than give Dom a backhanded compliment and then proceed to shred him wist....why cant you just simply give him credit for how he called the Vikings game ..

truth be told

he called a very nice game

[wist43]

Rather than give Dom a backhanded compliment and then proceed to shred him wist....why cant you just simply give him credit for how he called the Vikings game ..

truth be told

he called a very nice game

Really??

That would be like saying a wife beater aint a bad guy cause he brought flowers home last night...

You guys like being abused - then think it impolite if someone doesn't agree.

[sharpe1027]

Really??

That would be like saying a wife beater aint a bad guy cause he brought flowers home last night...

You guys like being abused - then think it impolite if someone doesn't agree.

No, it would be like saying giving flowers is a good thing.

[Carolina_Packer]

Is it just me, or do Hawk and Lattimore play deeper than most inside LB's? It seems they are always 5-6 yards behind the LOS. Maybe that accounts for the "running back push" you mentioned.

I am not the x's and o's guy like many here, but I'm gonna guess they play off the LOS so much so they don't give up the middle of the field in the passing game. They were flying to the ball much better last night, and were a lot cleaner than previous weeks.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I am not the x's and o's guy like many here, but I'm gonna guess they play off the LOS so much so they don't give up the middle of the field in the passing game. They were flying to the ball much better last night, and were a lot cleaner than previous weeks.

You're probably right. That's similar to what pbmax was saying. The trouble is they seem to be in that position 90% of the time, whether it's Hawk and Lattimore or Hawk and the nickle back. I rewatched the game yesterday and there was a 3rd and 4 play for the Bears. Hawk and House (I think) were 6 yards deep. Ponder gave the ball to Asiata who was 6 yards deep. Asiata beat Hawk to the line of scrimmage (along with a lead blocker)! Hawk made a good tackle but Asiata was already two yards beyond the LOS and his momentum carried him three yards more for a first down. Hawk had no chance.

It's just frustrating to watch.

[3irty1]

Really??

That would be like saying a wife beater aint a bad guy cause he brought flowers home last night...

You guys like being abused - then think it impolite if someone doesn't agree.

Haha, I don't agree but that's a great analogy.

[Carolina_Packer]

http://theadvocate.com/sports/saints...are-proof-that

Good read from the link above. I've gotten into reading about how to stop the run from the nickel, since the nickel is accounting for more and more snaps league-wide. Nice shout out to Fritz Shurmur in the article (or Fitz if you notice the typo). This article has a New Orleans slant, but still talks about the trend league-wide. I have a question. Is the difference between Nickel and Dime always the third safety in place of a linebacker? The article mentioned Big Nickel where the safety replaces a linebacker so you not only have coverage but run support. Do the Packers ever do Nickel where they take Hawk out and substitute another safety? Richardson might be good for that role if that was the case. People here have long disparaged Hawk's coverage ability, so who would you rather have on the field when you are betting on pass, but still wanting to stop the run?

[ThunderDan]

http://theadvocate.com/sports/saints...are-proof-that

Good read from the link above. I've gotten into reading about how to stop the run from the nickel, since the nickel is accounting for more and more snaps league-wide. Nice shout out to Fritz Shurmur in the article (or Fitz if you notice the typo). This article has a New Orleans slant, but still talks about the trend league-wide. I have a question. Is the difference between Nickel and Dime always the third safety in place of a linebacker? The article mentioned Big Nickel where the safety replaces a linebacker so you not only have coverage but run support. Do the Packers ever do Nickel where they take Hawk out and substitute another safety? Richardson might be good for that role if that was the case. People here have long disparaged Hawk's coverage ability, so who would you rather have on the field when you are betting on pass, but still wanting to stop the run?

I think the Packers go more with the Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Hyde rotation. Hyde seems to be more CB than S to me.