Packers are outstanding on offense, but defense remains a serious worry

[NavinRJohnson]

This will be a season where the Packers score and give up a lot of points. That is not an ideal scenario.

Packers coaches and players agree their defense provides cause for concern: www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/129630488.html

Concern with they way they played the other night? Sure, somewhat. I did not see even a hint of the suggestion that they feel they are going to give up a lot of points. Again, hang onto this if it makes you feel better, but as a fan, I am not concerned about the Packer's D.

[GGGG]

Well, it is a cause for concern moving forward.  But the original post referenced last year when they were the #2 scoring defense in the league...and won the Super Bowl.  (And then Jay Bee and others tried to write that off statistically.)  The question of whether it was a trend, or simply that the Saints have a high powered offense, will be answered in time.

[Benny B]

Well, it is a cause for concern moving forward.  But the original post referenced last year when they were the #2 scoring defense in the league...and won the Super Bowl.  (And then Jay Bee and others tried to write that off statistically.)  The question of whether it was a trend, or simply that the Saints have a high powered offense, will be answered in time.

I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but as the thread progressed, it became obvious that some people's football I.Q. would be challenged by pee-wee football.  Extrapolating a prediction of a team's season based merely upon the outcome of the first game of the season is a tried and true fail.

Now, if you want to offer some specifics as to why the Green Bay defense is down (e.g. Matthews is playing out of position, the front three aren't getting any penetration, the linebackers aren't picking up the screen, Woodson has lost 0.5 seconds on his 40, Capers isn't reacting to different sets, etc.) something that at least offers a logical basis as to why - if left unchecked - it would contribute to a team's demise, you wouldn't necessarily be immune from counterpoint, but at least you're contributing to the debate.

However, to surmise after week 1 that a team's defense sucked and is reason for concern simply because the other team scored points is ridiculous... that is, unless you actually believe that SBXLVI is going to feature the Bears coming up short against the Bills, in which case, I will take that bet.

[GGGG]

I answered this earlier, but the Packer's defense is high risk/high reward.  Get to the quarterback...make him make mistakes...force a lot of turnovers.  The Saints have the same philosophy.  The Packers won because they caused a turnover and because they were better on short-yardage.  If you have a good quarterback, who doesn't make mistakes, this defense is difficult.

Remember one of the reasons the Packers won the SB was because of a butt-load of turnovers in the playoffs.  There were three INTs for touchdown in the entire playoffs last year - the Packers had all three of them.  They were +3 in the TO margin in the SB and still had to stop the Steelers on the final drive.  If this defense doesn't cause turnovers, it is not built to make another team grind it out.  I mean, they wouldn't run a 2-4-5 more than half the time if that were the case.

[MUMac]

Getting past the embarrassing "ViQueens" nonsense -- really, really lame -- and some peoples' abilities to find excuses, the fact remains: Green Bay's defense has issues that could prove problematic as the season progresses.

This will be a season where the Packers score and give up a lot of points. That is not an ideal scenario.

Packers coaches and players agree their defense provides cause for concern: www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/129630488.html

I agree, the defense is a concern at present.  I felt the same last season as well.  I don't think there is an appreciable difference in the defense from last season to this.  That said, the speed of New Orleans is not matched throughout the league.  That is where the defense had their biggest problems Thursday Night.  I do not expect the Packers to shut down teams, but I also don't expect them to give up 30+ either.  Brees and the speed NO has is the reason for the points & yards allowed.

Cause for concdern?  Yes.  But that does not mean it cannot be fixed.  A healthy Neal is VERY important.  He was the reason they allowed Jenkins to go via Free Agency.  Also, Shields is important.  Was that a Sophomore Slump or one bad game?  I am hoping the later.

[Dish]

I'm slightly intrigued to see the Pack/Panthers game this week. Not that the Panthers are going to pull the upset, but I want to get a better idea of what "that" was in Arizona yesterday. My expectation is that Newton will be humbled this week, but for whatever reason, this game catches my eye now as a fan.

[MUMac]

I'm slightly intrigued to see the Pack/Panthers game this week. Not that the Panthers are going to pull the upset, but I want to get a better idea of what "that" was in Arizona yesterday. My expectation is that Newton will be humbled this week, but for whatever reason, this game catches my eye now as a fan.

I don't know if Arizona was expecting the 2-14 team or if Newton makes them that much better.  He is the type of QB, though, that typically gives the Packers fits - especially on the road.  Strong, mobile, quick with a strong arm. 

At least the Packers have some film to study now. 

I agree, though, this game is intriguing.  Maybe not in week 12, but in week 2, definitely.

[Dish]

I really thought Newton was going to massively struggle (not that he still can't/won't). I watched a lot of Panthers/Cards (the other afternoon games were pretty boring) and was really caught off guard with Newton's play. I wasn't so much caught up in his final stat line (which was impressive), but his instincts and reads were really pretty good. He didn't run as much as I thought he would, and he had a fairly good touch on his deep ball. Not building a wing in Canton for him, but have to give him credit for an impressive start.

Just too bad for him his paycheck from the Panthers is lower than it was at Auburn.

[LON]

Newton messed up when Arizona made him make more than just a blitz hot read.

He still looks like a TE that has a very strong arm.

Why Arizona was blitzing him the whole game and going man to man on Steve Smith is beyond me.  I mean, double that guy and play zone and no way Newton passes for 250 yards, much less 400+.

/my hyperbolic arm-chair analysis
//I was also enjoying several beverages throughout the afternoon

[Mayor McCheese]

I really thought Newton was going to massively struggle (not that he still can't/won't). I watched a lot of Panthers/Cards (the other afternoon games were pretty boring) and was really caught off guard with Newton's play. I wasn't so much caught up in his final stat line (which was impressive), but his instincts and reads were really pretty good. He didn't run as much as I thought he would, and he had a fairly good touch on his deep ball. Not building a wing in Canton for him, but have to give him credit for an impressive start.

Just too bad for him his paycheck from the Panthers is lower than it was at Auburn.

On the plus side, he doesn't have to directly share it with his father, so thats good.