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

[MU Avenue]

The Green Bay Packers look loaded and powerful on offense, but they still have a porous defense that looks like it will give up a lot of points this season.

Like last season, opposing teams will be able to score fairly easily on Green Bay. New Orleans was not playing that well Thursday night, for example, but was still able to put plenty of points on the board.

I know the Packers had a fine, fine game offensively, but the defense, while OK, was hardly a force.

[brewcity77]

Superbar?

[MUMac]

Superbar?

Not when it comes to the Packers!

[WI inferiority Complexes]

NT

[wadesworld]

The Green Bay Packers look loaded and powerful on offense, but they still have a porous defense that looks like it will give up a lot of points this season.

Like last season, opposing teams will be able to score fairly easily on Green Bay. New Orleans was not playing that well Thursday night, for example, but was still able to put plenty of points on the board.

I know the Packers had a fine, fine game offensively, but the defense, while OK, was hardly a force.

The defense looked pretty bad tonight, yes.  But the Saints are one of the favorites to come out of the NFC this year, and won the Super Bowl 2 years ago.  Drew Brees is still a top 5 quarterback in the NFL, and the Saints offense is very, very good.

Just like last year, teams will score fairly easily though?  I guess if ranking 2nd in opponent's points per game in the regular season last year is them scoring "fairly easily" on our defense, then you are right.

[MuMark]

You mean the GB defense that was number 2 in the league in points allowed last year?

Brillant observation as usual.....

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total/sort/totalPointsPerGame/position/defense

The Green Bay Packers look loaded and powerful on offense, but they still have a porous defense that looks like it will give up a lot of points this season.

Like last season, opposing teams will be able to score fairly easily on Green Bay. New Orleans was not playing that well Thursday night, for example, but was still able to put plenty of points on the board.

I know the Packers had a fine, fine game offensively, but the defense, while OK, was hardly a force.

[wadesworld]

You mean the GB defense that was number 2 in the league in points allowed last year?

Brillant observation as usual.....

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total/sort/totalPointsPerGame/position/defense

Beat ya 

[Jay Bee]

Just like last year, teams will score fairly easily though?  I guess if ranking 2nd in opponent's points per game in the regular season last year is them scoring "fairly easily" on our defense, then you are right.

Then again, right... in only 6 games did the opposition score less than that 'wonderful' opp ppg average... and what games were those?  Well, 4-game winner Buffalo had backup Trent Edwards in, kudos to Green Bey.  So impressive.

Dallas, a 6-game winner, had Kitna in at QB.  Hats off, bro.

Detroit, another 6-game winner, had Drew Stanton, another backup, in...

They did hold Minnesota under the average in one game when GB's hero FaRVe was absolutely broken down and spent.  Another 6-game winner.

But.. hey, there were two teams that made the playoffs who GB held to the season average or less.. New York Jets, who are prone to such a game.. but, good job.  And Chicago on the last game of the regular season, when Chicago wasn't trying, not to mention the Bears were the lowest scoring playoff team not named Seattle by a large margin.

In other words, Grean Bay blows big time.  Bring it on, the NFC North is ours!  SKOL VIKINGS!

[shiloh26]

The Green Bay Packers look loaded and powerful on offense, but they still have a porous defense that looks like it will give up a lot of points this season.

Like last season, opposing teams will be able to score fairly easily on Green Bay. New Orleans was not playing that well Thursday night, for example, but was still able to put plenty of points on the board.

I know the Packers had a fine, fine game offensively, but the defense, while OK, was hardly a force.

No excuses for the Packers defense, but... really?  They weren't playing that well?  What are you basing that on?  I mean, sure, the Packers really didn't put a ton of pressure on him and were making mistakes, but it takes a good offense to exploit the mistakes the Packers were making.  I simply don't buy what you are selling here.  It takes relatively poor defense AND an efficient offense to put up 34 points, and the Saints have been one of the better offenses in the NFL for the past 4-5 years. 

[MU Avenue]

Let's set aside the smart-alecky, meaningless responses from a few posters here and misleading statistics from last season and, instead, just watch the Green Bay Packers this season. I think we will see a team that regularly puts up a lot of points but that gives up a lot of points, too.

The Packers have a potent offense and a porous defense. I expect that most Packers games this season will be high-scoring affairs for both teams.

That is my point, my only point.

[GGGG]

You were the one that brought up last year.  The Packers defense is highly dependent on pressure leading to turnovers.  The Saints did a very good job of keeping pressure off their quarterback, and only turned the ball over once.  And face it, Brees was very very good.  Yeah, I am a little worried especially if Williams is injured, but bringing up last year is bizarre.

[g0lden3agle]

Then again, right... in only 6 games did the opposition score less than that 'wonderful' opp ppg average... and what games were those?  Well, 4-game winner Buffalo had backup Trent Edwards in, kudos to Green Bey.  So impressive.

Dallas, a 6-game winner, had Kitna in at QB.  Hats off, bro.

Detroit, another 6-game winner, had Drew Stanton, another backup, in...

They did hold Minnesota under the average in one game when GB's hero FaRVe was absolutely broken down and spent.  Another 6-game winner.

But.. hey, there were two teams that made the playoffs who GB held to the season average or less.. New York Jets, who are prone to such a game.. but, good job.  And Chicago on the last game of the regular season, when Chicago wasn't trying, not to mention the Bears were the lowest scoring playoff team not named Seattle by a large margin.

In other words, Grean Bay blows big time.  Bring it on, the NFC North is ours!  SKOL VIKINGS!

Ya and I'm sure the other teams in the top of opp ppg average had schedules that were no harder than that.  If I didn't recognize you for the NFL troll you are I'd gather some stats on the final standings of all the opponents of the teams in the top 5 of opp ppg avg.

[BobWildLoyalist]

Aaron Rogers got hit by a car this morning. his career is over.

[Dish]

Having watched the game last night, as a non vested fan in either team, wouldn't be worried about the Green Bay defense. The Packers aren't going to face Brees 16 times this year, and the guy was outstanding last night. Pack D made plays when they needed to and it mattered most, give them credit. Special teams gave NO a TD last night as well, that wasn't on their defense. It's Week 1 as well on a national stage, I'd be shocked if the Pack has more than 2 more games of giving up 30 points.

[ringout]

Having watched the game last night, as a non vested fan in either team, wouldn't be worried about the Green Bay defense. The Packers aren't going to face Brees 16 times this year, and the guy was outstanding last night. Pack D made plays when they needed to and it mattered most, give them credit. Special teams gave NO a TD last night as well, that wasn't on their defense. It's Week 1 as well on a national stage, I'd be shocked if the Pack has more than 2 more games of giving up 30 points.

Saints also have a very good offensive line.  The Pack stopped the Saints very good offense when they had to.

[NersEllenson]

All I'd say is that was a hell of a football game - and as a fan you couldn't ask for a better game.  It had it all.  The league office had to be thrilled with the result.  What a showcase!

Green Bay looks even better, more potent than last year.  Their potential with Cobb in the mix, Finley - is downright scary.  Starks will eventually get 80% of all carries - and he's got some serious upside too.

Hard to believe they re-signed James Jones to relatively big $$$ given the depth they have, and knowing what they knew they had in Cobb.

[Benny B]

The NFL isn't college football... there are no points for style, no voters, no computers, no clamoring for one of two "playoff" spots.  How you perform doesn't matter.  What matters is what's on the scoreboard when it goes to triple-zero.

A win is a win and a loss is a loss.  Yogi Berra couldn't make it any simpler than that.

[Hards Alumni]

Having watched the game last night, as a non vested fan in either team, wouldn't be worried about the Green Bay defense. The Packers aren't going to face Brees 16 times this year, and the guy was outstanding last night. Pack D made plays when they needed to and it mattered most, give them credit. Special teams gave NO a TD last night as well, that wasn't on their defense. It's Week 1 as well on a national stage, I'd be shocked if the Pack has more than 2 more games of giving up 30 points.

I completely agree.

[wadesworld]

Green Bay looks even better, more potent than last year.  Their potential with Cobb in the mix, Finley - is downright scary.  Starks will eventually get 80% of all carries - and he's got some serious upside too.

Going into last night I thought the same thing.  I think Starks is definitely the better running back, definitely runs harder and has more explosiveness.  But in an offense that is a pass-first offense, I really did not mind the split carries between Grant and Starks at all.  I thought it worked well.  Grant is a bit more patient with his runs and relies on his blockers to get him where he is going, while Starks just runs and makes people miss/runs people over more.  Having both get carries will keep each other fresh not only over the course of one game, but also the course of a season.  It also creates kind of a change of pace, 2 different styles of running.  I think the platoon might last all year, and I don't mind it either.  I think that was 1 thing that helped Starks succeed in the playoffs last year...he had fresh legs from not playing all year and he was a surprise to other teams, not your every down back.

[NavinRJohnson]

Having watched the game last night, as a non vested fan in either team, wouldn't be worried about the Green Bay defense. The Packers aren't going to face Brees 16 times this year, and the guy was outstanding last night. Pack D made plays when they needed to and it mattered most, give them credit. Special teams gave NO a TD last night as well, that wasn't on their defense. It's Week 1 as well on a national stage, I'd be shocked if the Pack has more than 2 more games of giving up 30 points.

This is accurate. They aren't afraid to give up yards. They just don't often give up points. They led the league in Red Zone defense last year, and showed it again last night. They were also near the top of the league in take aways, and I think its safe to assume they will be there again this year.

Not sure what some people were expecting. There aren't a whole lot of offenses in the league like the one NO has (and fortunately, the Packers don't have to face themselves), but those of you who wish to cling to this as some glimmer of hope, go for it. I think its pretty clear that the only thing likely to stop the Packers this year is injuries (even though they couldn't do it last year).

[mugrad2006]

Then again, right... in only 6 games did the opposition score less than that 'wonderful' opp ppg average... and what games were those?  Well, 4-game winner Buffalo had backup Trent Edwards in, kudos to Green Bey.  So impressive.

Dallas, a 6-game winner, had Kitna in at QB.  Hats off, bro.

Detroit, another 6-game winner, had Drew Stanton, another backup, in...

They did hold Minnesota under the average in one game when GB's hero FaRVe was absolutely broken down and spent.  Another 6-game winner.

But.. hey, there were two teams that made the playoffs who GB held to the season average or less.. New York Jets, who are prone to such a game.. but, good job.  And Chicago on the last game of the regular season, when Chicago wasn't trying, not to mention the Bears were the lowest scoring playoff team not named Seattle by a large margin.

In other words, Grean Bay blows big time.  Bring it on, the NFC North is ours!  SKOL VIKINGS!

You're insufferable.  Wake me up when your team finally wins a championship. 

[ringout]

You're insufferable.  Wake me up when your team finally wins a championship. 

How many Super Bowls have the ViQueens lost again?

[shiloh26]

All I'd say is that was a hell of a football game - and as a fan you couldn't ask for a better game.  It had it all.  The league office had to be thrilled with the result.  What a showcase!

Green Bay looks even better, more potent than last year.  Their potential with Cobb in the mix, Finley - is downright scary.  Starks will eventually get 80% of all carries - and he's got some serious upside too.

Hard to believe they re-signed James Jones to relatively big $$$ given the depth they have, and knowing what they knew they had in Cobb.

Agreed.  I didn't like the Jones resigning from the start, in part because I was so high on Cobb when we drafted him.  Even in college he just seemed like he's the next DD:  Perfect slot receiver, and now we see that he has the best open field skills of any Packer in a while.  Loved the kickoff return, but I was actually more impressed by the juke and stiff arm on that long TD reception/run.  No one else on the team except Jennings could've done that.  

Also thought Starks looked better than Grant.  Grant wasn't very sharp on his cuts like he used to be and just looked a little slower.  That said, I'm thrilled to have him back in the lineup, and real me loves the split carries even if fantasy football team owner me wishes Starks would get more.  

[MUMac]

How many Super Bowls have the ViQueens lost again?

Don't they need to actually have the lead first?  4 Superbowls and never had the lead!  NEVER!  They were tied 0-0 at one point in each game, though.

[MU Avenue]

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