Packers’ defense again looks AWFUL, this time against Tampa Bay

[MU Avenue]

I have said it all season and remain of the opinion that the Green Bay Packers' defense is really, really weak. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are absolutely picking apart the Packers' defense, having just narrowed the score to 21-19 on a touchdown pass and failed two-point conversion (dropped pass).

The Packers' offense is having an off day, I know, but the Green Bay defense is having a typical lousy day. I remain especially concerned about cornerback Tramon Williams (No. 38). I know he plays hard and has had his moments, but overall he sure gives up a lot of catches and yards and seems, well, really beatable.

Go Pack!

[classof70]

GOOD!

[mu89]

I'd be excited to see this Packer Offense vs. the 49er defense. Hopefully that matchup can happen in the postseason.

[HoopsMalone]

Packer's defense should be a concern, but in fairness to them they are always playing offenses who are going for big scoring games rather than a control the clock and punt type game plans. 

[MU Avenue]

Second to Marquette University and its basketball team, the Green Bay Packers win most of my cheerleading.

Thus, I say with all the rah-rah I can muster that the Packers' defense needs to go back to the basics. The coaches must trot out those same tackling drills that many of us attempted in high school to remind Packers defenders, especially cornerbacks and safeties, how tackles are made.

The game with Tampa Bay ended as most here would have wanted, but only because of a few late breaks.

Stop talking "undefeated season." Brings bad luck.

Undefeated? Shhhhh.

[GGGG]

Thus, I say with all the rah-rah I can muster that the Packers' defense needs to go back to the basics. The coaches must trot out those same tackling drills that many of us attempted in high school to remind Packers defenders, especially cornerbacks and safeties, how tackles are made.

Not at this point of the season and especially not this week.

[Goose]

The D seems to always create the turnover when needed and bails itself out. Way too many yards to give up to an average offense at best today. To land the undeafeted season the defense needs to improve a great deal.

Also, I am curious on why Rodgers would throw on the last two plays we had the ball. It seems to me other than him getting two more completions for no yards it accomplished nothing.

[NavinRJohnson]

Seems like they played a very vanilla scheme again yesterday, content to give up yards, after throwing everything they had at Minnesota last week and looking dominant. They are tough to figure. It has been obvious all year that they don't really seem to care care about giving up yards. Statistically, they are an average defense, but I do still suspect they will tighten up the D down the stretch, just as they will mix in the run a little more (tough to do when your passing game is unstoppable).

[MUMac]

I still think Capers is concerned about the loss of Collins.  Peprah is not a FS.  Burnette is still young and also has a cast on his hand.  Add to that Shields has had a bit of a Sophomore slump and Woodson has lost a step or three.  I think Capers had hoped to move Woodson to more of a Safety position, but he does not have the CB's to employ that.

I heard a comment from Raji last week.  He said they have two rush techniques.  Forgive me, as I do not recall the names exactly.  I believe they were contain and jet.  Contain is a controlled rush, maintain your lanes, look for the run and pocket movement.  The latter is an all out rush to the QB.  He said he has not been allowed to use jet at all this year.  Part of the reason why the line is not penetrating. 

It seems Capers, outside of the Minnesota game, has been very conservative all season.  I guess when you score in the 30's most games, you can get away with that.  It still, though, is concerning to me.

[lab_warrior]

Packers fans complaining about their team right now is like listening to the Koch brothers worrying where their next billion will come from. 

[wadesworld]

Packers fans complaining about their team right now is like listening to the Koch brothers worrying where their next billion will come from. 

Agreed.  16 straight wins.  I'm not all that concerned.  Regardless of how well or poorly this defense is playing, we're the best team in the NFL (which doesn't necessarily mean we'll go 19-0 or even win the Super Bowl).

[Blackhat]

We need to blitz to get a rush which will open up holes in the D.   Hopefully Capers gets this figured out.  I've already gone on my TT diatribe over the decline in our D from last year.

[MUFC9295]

Packer's defense should be a concern, but in fairness to them they are always playing offenses who are going for big scoring games rather than a control the clock and punt type game plans. 

This is really it.  Game plan for opposition:  Air it out.  If the other team goes into a game knowing it will be a shootout, the conservative running game goes back burner.  Ever since Aaron torched the Saints, our D has had to play honest versus a run and chase receivers.  We miss Nick at safety, but if we had the "Jenkins factor" added back to the line, opposing QBs wouldn't be throwing as well or as much.

[augoman]

Packers fans complaining about their team right now is like listening to the Koch brothers worrying where their next billion will come from. 

really?

[MUMac]

This is really it.  Game plan for opposition:  Air it out.  If the other team goes into a game knowing it will be a shootout, the conservative running game goes back burner.  Ever since Aaron torched the Saints, our D has had to play honest versus a run and chase receivers.  We miss Nick at safety, but if we had the "Jenkins factor" added back to the line, opposing QBs wouldn't be throwing as well or as much.

Don't know that I agree.  I think Capers is more concerned about the back side of the D, than the line.  The line has been held back, to a degree, by Capers.  Jenkins would have heldped, but the loss of Collins is a MUCH larger factor.  He was the QB of the defense, the glue and the guy who bailed others out of trouble.

[martyconlonontherun]

Zombo and Neal are finally getting healthy and should help our pass rush. I'm not too worried about the defense because they were slow getting started last year and we still have a lot of young guys trying out new positions.

Also, the Packers have consistently been in the lead going into the fourth quarter, so teams are going to be throwing the ball and the d is content giving up a few yards as long as it takes up the clock.

[MUMac]

Zombo and Neal are finally getting healthy and should help our pass rush. I'm not too worried about the defense because they were slow getting started last year and we still have a lot of young guys trying out new positions.

Also, the Packers have consistently been in the lead going into the fourth quarter, so teams are going to be throwing the ball and the d is content giving up a few yards as long as it takes up the clock.

I am concerned about the D, solely due to the loss of Collins.  Everything else is noise, but he was the glue, the QB on the field.  He is the guy they miss in both the run and pass game.

[MUFC9295]

Don't know that I agree.  I think Capers is more concerned about the back side of the D, than the line.  The line has been held back, to a degree, by Capers.  Jenkins would have heldped, but the loss of Collins is a MUCH larger factor.  He was the QB of the defense, the glue and the guy who bailed others out of trouble.

Collins is big.  Given.  But when GB is up by 14 after the first quarter, you might see a run each set of downs.  Yes, we need to shore up the secondary and the "help" the safeties are to provide.  But shutting down receivers is tough and with a weaker pass rush than last year the arms that are on our schedule can really pick apart anyone.  We need to be preventing the pass, not having to always be defending it.

Tomorrow may be a "shut down Johnson and let the rest try as they may" scheme.