The Weak Link

[Radagast]

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. Thinking of the Packers as a chain, where in your opinion is the "weak" link?

My view at this point is that Martinez's partner at ILB may be GB's weak link. Preseason games do help to evaluate players, but if the decision on who will be the starter this season is just between Bolton. Summers, Sheldon or Crawford, then GB will be starting the best 2nd team ILB. IMO, none are 1st team quality LB's. Bolton may be leading this race, but at best he is still a 2nd team LB.

LaFleur and Gute may already realise this and are patiently looking for a 1st team quality LB to either become available or perhaps they are looking for a way to trade another team for one.

[RashanGary]

You can coach around it by having less 2 ILB lineups. But yeah, that’s probably the weak link if you’re dead set determined to force 2ILBs on the field.

[Radagast]

You can coach around it by having less 2 ILB lineups. But yeah, that’s probably the weak link if you’re dead set determined to force 2ILBs on the field.

Force? 7 in the box is a normal defensive set. Also teams will quickly take advantage of a team with a weakness at ILB.

I don't know who GB may have an eye on to hire or if Fackrell could play the inside position, but you can well believe that LaFleur is fully aware of it. Don't be surprised if a trade takes place.

[RashanGary]

Yeah, force. This is football. Teams have been adapting to their best personnel as long as I’ve been around. To your point tho, there probably are some size/run dominant teams that will be bad matchups.

[Radagast]

Yeah, force. This is football. Teams have been adapting to their best personnel as long as I’ve been around. To your point tho, there probably are some size/run dominant teams that will be bad matchups.

GB was counting on having both Martinez and Burks at ILB this season. With Burks down, the ILB "tryouts" have been ongoing. Bolton seems to be the best among the others but he's still at best a 2nd team LB. Practice is a fine thing as are preseason scrimmages, but in real regular season games are not far off and those teams will be playing for blood with their best personnel.

[texaspackerbacker]

I would suggest that Offensive Line is clearly the weak link.

Martinez is more than decent at ILB, and most of the time, he will be the only ILB on the field. Bolton and to a lesser extent Summers have looked pretty decent too. Combining that with use of 3 or 4 OLBs in most situations, and we will be fine there.

O Line, on the other hand, is a long standing sore spot. Bakhtiari and Linsley are decent, but beyond that, mediocre is the best way to describe the better ones. We can't block for that running game that some crave; We can't adequately protect the passer either, but fortunately, we have mobility at QB that makes decent pass blocking a lot less of a necessity.

It says a lot that about the overall quality of the team that we don't really have any more obvious weak links than these two.

[bobblehead]

The weak link on this team is definitely running back. the two decent ones can't stay healthy and there isn't much behind them.

[mraynrand]

Force? 7 in the box is a normal defensive set.

nickel is base

[Bretsky]

Perhaps the Head Coach ?

[RashanGary]

nickel is base

If one was pressed to come up with three words to explain adapting in this situation, this would be it. Adding on, we have:

Clark
Z
Lowry
Adams
Gary
Lancaster
And
Keke

That’s seven guys who can play DL. We also have Preston and Fackrell who should get some OLB snaps. So clearly a 3-3 alignment with one inside linebacker is a better nickel fit for us than 2-4. And back to nickel is base, teams only run 20% traditional base defense so our coaches might be retarded if they keep finding ways to amplify our weaknesses.

In summary, coaches adapt and adjust to the players they have. And in the case of the 2019 Packers I don’t think we’re gonna see much of that 2nd linebacker.

If we had two Probowl tight ends, we’d probably see more two tight end sets too, no matter who the coach was. If they don’t, again, they’re retarded. Adjust to what you have. Football 101

[texaspackerbacker]

3-3-5 or 2-4-5? How about we call it what it is - a 1-5-5 in passing situations?

Clark

P. Smith, Gary, Martinez, Z. Smith, Fackrell

Alexander, T. Williams (or Jackson), Amos, Savage, King (or Brown)

[RashanGary]

3-3-5 or 2-4-5? How about we call it what it is - a 1-5-5 in passing situations?

Clark

P. Smith, Gary, Martinez, Z. Smith, Fackrell

Alexander, T. Williams (or Jackson), Amos, Savage, King (or Brown)

Good chance we see that too. Lots of creative ways to get the best 11 on the field and rotate big guys.

[RashanGary]

3-3-5 or 2-4-5? How about we call it what it is - a 1-5-5 in passing situations?

Clark

P. Smith, Gary, Martinez, Z. Smith, Fackrell

Alexander, T. Williams (or Jackson), Amos, Savage, King (or Brown)

It’s still kinda 3-3. Z and Gary are gonna rush most of the time. Martinez is a good blitzer too and Fackrell and Preston can cover. So you never know who that 4th guy gonna be. The first three are kinda locked tho.

It’s a good group cuz if you do rush 5, all of them are capable of winning. It’s rare to have 5 of those guys on one team.

[pbmax]

The weak link on this team is definitely running back. the two decent ones can't stay healthy and there isn't much behind them.

I think I agree with this. As certain as Kevin King not dressing for 3 games, both these guys are not going to play each game.

[pbmax]

Perhaps the Head Coach ?

Let's save this panic for Wek 6 or beyond. We are going to need new content at some point.