The Green Bay Packers showcased moments of smart football in Monday night’s clash against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, their pass defense demonstrated an unsettling level of inconsistency during pivotal junctures of the game. While there were flashes of dominance, Green Bay’s lapses in pass coverage during critical situations demand a closer look.
The Packers’ defensive performance provided a revealing glimpse into Joe Barry’s strategic approach. At its zenith, the defense thrived when adopting an aggressive mindset, relentlessly pursuing the quarterback and disrupting the Raiders’ passing lanes. However, the nadirs of their performance often coincided with moments when they seemed hesitant, sticking rigidly to a predetermined script and opting for soft coverage schemes. The stark contrast between these two approaches painted a clear picture: Success depended on the willingness to take calculated risks and apply relentless pressure. However, their passive, predictable playcalling left the defense vulnerable to exploitation.
Barry employed an aggressive approach on third-and-medium in an early-game moment. In the clip below, Barry’s strategy allowed his defensive backs to press Vegas’ receivers, disrupting the timing of their routes and leaving the quarterback under duress. The result was a resounding success. The Packers’ defense orchestrated a timely sack, forcing fourth down and giving the ball back to Green Bay’s offense.
In the following clip, the Packers played a two-deep shell-coverage scheme while allowing their corners to press at the line of scrimmage. Once again, Green Bay’s pass rush was able to relentlessly pursue the quarterback. The result? Another sack on a third-and-medium situation, effectively forcing a punt.
These two sequences serve as a blueprint for Green Bay’s defense. However, as the game progressed, Barry moved away from this successful formula, reverting to the original script and opting for softer coverage. In the subsequent clip, Barry had cornerbacks playing 10 yards off coverage inside Green Bay’s 10-yard line. The result? Jakobi Meyers catches an easy slant for six.
If that’s the defensive call, the league might as well tally an automatic six points for the opponent.
We have seen Preston Smith line up in coverage against Justin Jefferson in the past. We believed that the Packers learned their lesson from that experience — except they didn’t, apparently. On Monday, Smith lined up in zone coverage against Davante Adams. Covering a premium wide receiver with a veteran pass rusher is a recipe for allowing a big play.
A successful football team thrives on adaptability, and part of that adaptability extends to defensive strategies. While continuity in coaching can be valuable, there comes a point where sticking to a particular scheme hinders progress. The NFL is an ever-evolving league where offenses continually innovate and adapt. Therefore, it’s essential for defenses to evolve as well.
Shifting the complete philosophy of a defense midway through a season is a challenging and often unsustainable task. It demands a significant adjustment period for players to adapt to new strategies, terminology, and roles. However, the Packers also cannot continue with the same approach on defense and expect different results when it’s evident that the current scheme is falling short of expectations. While drastic mid-season changes may not be the ideal solution, a strategic and phased approach to evolving the defensive philosophy is imperative.
If Green Bay’s defense continues to adhere to the same script that has characterized their play over the past couple of years, the season could potentially take a nosedive. Tough conversations and difficult decisions may become inevitable. As the adage goes, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The Packers are sailing perilously close to insanity, and if they don’t course-correct swiftly, they risk sinking their season prematurely.
