An Early Look At The Year in Review - Defense

[mraynrand]

I would say that Matthews is not a problem that needs fixing. My unqualified observation is that his play has not really declined. He's the best ILB we have with coverage considered and the best OLB we have with pursuit and contain considered.

I agree. What needs fixing is the personnel situation so that he can be moved to where he's most effective.

[mraynrand]

I like Ariens' moving Buchannon to ILB. That would give us pass coverage and move Clay back to what he does best. Just off the top of my head, what if we "Buchannoned" a guy like Hyde, Gunter or maybe even Burnett...or drafted somebody in the mold of Buchannon rather than the usual Jake Ryan-type?

I was thinking the same thing after Ryan got scorched the first time - put a safety in at ILB - AZ was getting the best of us matchup-wise.

That being said, I don't blame the defense for the loss at all. They gave up a respectable amount of points, that with a competent GB offense should have been enough to win on the road against a very good offense.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I was thinking the same thing after Ryan got scorched the first time - put a safety in at ILB - AZ was getting the best of us matchup-wise.

That being said, I don't blame the defense for the loss at all. They gave up a respectable amount of points, that with a competent GB offense should have been enough to win on the road against a very good offense.

Agreed. Nothing a defense can do against scoop-sixes and pick-sixes, fumbles and interceptions. I'm just spit-balling ideas to make our defense better, or even somewhat dominating.

[Carolina_Packer]

Don't know what happened to the ball hawking style of Hayward. I don't think he has even one interception. I agree that he's better than Hyde in the slot. D Jones seems to be wearing out a little. He seems more sudden as a pass rushing lineman than an OLB. I think they're trying to figure out what to do with Neal, Perry, and Peppers this off season. Maybe Jones fills a role. On defense, MLB is their top need, but their isn't usually a lot out there to draft.

I think the fact that in 2012 they had pretty established guys like Woodson, Williams, Shields, that Hayward could come in and play well in a complementary role vs. playing more snaps and being relied on more heavily. Plus, I wonder if all the hamstring issues he had sapped some of his quickness. He typically seems late in coverage.

[Carolina_Packer]

Maybe not fixing by Dom, but fixing by TT?

I wonder how the defense compares this year against last in terms of sacks and QB-hurries? That might be the one area I'd like to improve big time on this defense. We are at a disadvantage against elite QB's when we can't put pressure on them. Palmer had too much time last Sunday. When he was pressured, he made mistakes. This is an element we need to fix and Clay is our best pressure guy. Putting him at ILB and pass coverage is a waste IMO.

I like Ariens' moving Buchannon to ILB. That would give us pass coverage and move Clay back to what he does best. Just off the top of my head, what if we "Buchannoned" a guy like Hyde, Gunter or maybe even Burnett...or drafted somebody in the mold of Buchannon rather than the usual Jake Ryan-type?

A couple of years ago I was hoping TT would get Telvin Smith and turn him into that type of a player. The Jags got him for a steal in the 5th round. He's listed at 6'3 and 225 lbs. I recall some saying that Sean Richardson could play that same type of role as well.

[beveaux1]

Maybe not fixing by Dom, but fixing by TT?

I wonder how the defense compares this year against last in terms of sacks and QB-hurries? That might be the one area I'd like to improve big time on this defense. We are at a disadvantage against elite QB's when we can't put pressure on them. Palmer had too much time last Sunday. When he was pressured, he made mistakes. This is an element we need to fix and Clay is our best pressure guy. Putting him at ILB and pass coverage is a waste IMO.

I like Ariens' moving Buchannon to ILB. That would give us pass coverage and move Clay back to what he does best. Just off the top of my head, what if we "Buchannoned" a guy like Hyde, Gunter or maybe even Burnett...or drafted somebody in the mold of Buchannon rather than the usual Jake Ryan-type?

Last year we were tied for ninth with 41 sacks. This year we're tied for 7th with 40 sacks. I haven't been able to find anything on hurries because that's pretty subjective. If anyone else comes across this, let us know. Except for 3 games in a row starting with Denver, I've subjectively thought that we've gotten pretty good pressure on the QB.

As to the point about replacing Ryan with a Buchanon type. I think we're trying that with Joe Thomas. Unfortunately, he does seem to get run over pretty easily.

[mraynrand]

As to the point about replacing Ryan with a Buchanon type. I think we're trying that with Joe Thomas. Unfortunately, he does seem to get run over pretty easily.

Don't you think that's mostly because he is playing on his heels? I think he looks pretty lost out there and slow to react too often.

[mraynrand]

A couple of years ago I was hoping TT would get Telvin Smith and turn him into that type of a player. The Jags got him for a steal in the 5th round. He's listed at 6'3 and 225 lbs. I recall some saying that Sean Richardson could play that same type of role as well.

Yeah, that's why I wanted Shazier last year. Still, the guy is made out of porcelain.

[beveaux1]

Don't you think that's mostly because he is playing on his heels? I think he looks pretty lost out there and slow to react too often.

Probably a reason he wasn't drafted and struggled to make the team.

[pbmax]

Football Outsiders has Packers 9th in D, 7th versus Pass and 18th versus Run. Last year they were 16th/11th/24th. Its across the board improvement.

Pass rush, while they do not have numbers in the free section, seems to have improved slightly. Bigger difference in Run D.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef2014

[Maxie the Taxi]

A couple of years ago I was hoping TT would get Telvin Smith and turn him into that type of a player. The Jags got him for a steal in the 5th round. He's listed at 6'3 and 225 lbs. I recall some saying that Sean Richardson could play that same type of role as well.

Man, I was on that bandwagon too. Saw Smith play alot at FS. What I don't understand is TT's apparent lack of interest in a talent like that. Seemed like a tremendous value choice to me. Maybe they have physical criteria for ILB's like they have for CB's.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Maybe Capers has improved? Defense isn't the dumpster fire it was 3 short years ago.

[beveaux1]

Maybe Capers has improved? Defense isn't the dumpster fire it was 3 short years ago.

That or they have more horses on defense, the result of 2 straight defense heavy drafts.

[beveaux1]

You know, by and large we've responded to our critical shortcomings of speed on defense. We have guys that can run to the football and other than Peppers, they're pretty young.

[Bretsky]

DEAR WIST.....repent and be baptized............come out and give Dom Capers his kudos !!!