Since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach, the Green Bay Packers’ ability to stop the run has consistently been their Achilles’ heel. Despite their success in other aspects of the game, the Packers have often found themselves vulnerable when it comes to defending the ground attack. That lingering weakness has raised questions and concerns, particularly as the team prepares to face the Las Vegas Raiders.
With a matchup on Monday Night Football coming up against a lackluster rushing offense, it’s imperative that Joe Barry and his defense leave no room for excuses when it comes to containing the Raiders’ running game.
The Raiders have been averaging three yards per carry throughout the first month of the season, a statistic that places them dead last in rushing yards among all NFL teams.
Before Monday Night Football, PFF graded Vegas’ rushing attack at 63.0, 27th in the league. That assessment indicates their ongoing woes on the ground. Moreover, it’s worth noting that among their offensive linemen, only one player, Kolton Miller (76.7), has a run-block grade above 70.0. Even with Miller’s solid performance, he ranks just 25th among offensive linemen.
Vegas’ early-season struggles to establish a potent running game have presented an opportunity for Barry and Green Bay’s defense. But will Barry devise a game plan that capitalizes on this opportunity? Or will the Packers fall into the same patterns that have rendered their defense ineffective against the run in recent years?
In the Detroit Lions game, the Packers showcased a litany of mistakes on the defensive front, particularly in their run defense. From personnel decisions to schematic choices, Green Bay made it far too easy for the Lions to exploit their vulnerabilities in stopping the run. Whether it was failing to stack the box effectively, choosing the wrong personnel packages, or simply not executing basic gap assignments, the Packers left gaping holes in their defense that Detroit capitalized upon.
Joe Barry must demonstrate a heightened level of situational awareness in his defensive play-calling, especially in crucial moments near the goal line. A notable example was a critical situation deep inside their own territory where Barry’s defensive call featured only two inside defensive linemen within their own five-yard line.
That lapse in defensive alignment allowed the Lions an almost effortless path to the end zone. Such lapses in situational awareness can be detrimental. It’s imperative for Barry and Green Bay’s coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that they are better prepared to defend their goal line effectively in high-stakes situations.
In the clip below, the Lions were comfortably ahead by 10 points with less than 15 minutes remaining, their clear intention was to run the ball and chew up as much clock as possible. However, Green Bay’s defensive alignment in this critical moment raised eyebrows. With only two inside defensive linemen and the decision to have Rudy Ford backpedaling 20 yards away from the line of scrimmage, the Packers inexplicably adopted a defensive posture that made little sense. In this scenario, where time was a precious commodity for a trailing team, playing with a deep two-shell safety alignment seemed counterintuitive.
In this specific scenario, it’s perplexing to see the defensive backs positioned 5-10 yards away from the line of scrimmage, especially in an evident run situation. With the Lions lined up in 12-personnel on a critical third-and-one play, the expectation would naturally be for a strong push from the defense to halt the run. However, the defensive alignment, with defensive backs positioned so far back, created a wide-open lane for the Lions. Consequently, they managed to gain an effortless seven yards, easily securing the first down.
It’s not just on Joe Barry to devise improved game plans and schemes to bolster Green Bay’s run defense; the players must execute these strategies effectively on the field. While the Raiders have experienced struggles in their rushing attack this season, the presence of a bruising back like Josh Jacobs demands respect. Failing to contain him could spell a long and arduous night for the Packers. Moreover, it would raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of Barry’s defense if they cannot stop what has statistically been the weakest rushing attack in the league.
