Packers’ Jekyll and Hyde defense must find consistency Against the Bears
Brett Hundley Jersey White , it was the first few drives. The next week, it was the final few for the Vikings. On a sloppy day in Washington, it was the
entire first half. Mike Pettine’s defense has given up 10-0 runs, 14-0 runs, and
14-3 runs at various points this season. Alex Smith and Co. hit up the Green Bay
Packers’ defense for 28 in the first half. Kirk Cousins hung 22 on Pettine’s
crew in just the fourth quarter. Even Mitch Trubisky got 10 straight to open the
season.On those drives, the Green Bay defense looked discombobulated and
undisciplined. Missed tackles and missed assignments marked long scoring drives
kept alive by key penalties and key conversions. What makes this even more
maddening for fans is the rest of the game, this unit looks ferocious.After that
10-play, 86-yard drive to open the Bears season, Chicago managed just 210 total
yards in 56 plays after that. That’s 3.75 yards per play and dominating defense.
But that’s against Mitch Trubisky, hardly a high bar right?Before the third
quarter drive that ended in fourth-quarter touchdown for the Vikings in Week 2,
Green Bay held Minnesota to 147 yards in 36 plays and just the lone touchdown.
That’s barely four yards per play. After that, they gave up 191 yards on 20
plays and three touchdowns plus the two-point conversion to tie. And against
Alex Smith in Week 3 the defense allowed 336 yards in 34 first-half plays,
giving up 28 points. In the second half, the Packers defense gave up just 50
yards on 21 plays, with 3 points coming off a short field following Randall
Cobb’s fumble. Defensively, the Packers have played two dominant second halves
and one dominant first half. Jay Gruden was protecting a lead and may not have
been as aggressive
Marwin Evans Jersey White , up double digits against the Packers, but if that’s true he’s a bad history student. We’ve seen what Rodgers can do. It’s
still up to the defense to make those plays and they did. It’s worth mentioning
that the Vikings’ offensive explosion correlates directly to the loss of Kevin
King with injury. Davon House got torched on the 75-yard touchdown to Stefon
Diggs and generally struggled against Washington with bad penalties and poor
technique. His injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Packers, who now
bring in Bashaud Breeland — one of the prized cornerback free agents this
offseason — to add stability to the cornerback room. Breeland would be an
upgrade over House in any circumstance, but getting him for cheap just when this
team needs depth could provide the ideal shot in the arm for Mike Pettine’s
group.But they have to do better on early downs and in the red zone. When the
Packers blitz, they’re highly effective, but they’re saving that mostly for
third-and-obvious passing situations. According to The Athletic’s Ben Fennell
the Packers have the second-most effective blitz package in football this
season, giving up a 31.2 quarterback rating with two picks, two sacks, and no
touchdowns. On the other hand, when teams are driving it and getting in scoring
position, they’re too often finding paydirt. This was a common problem for the
Packers last season under Dom Capers when they were the worst situational group
in the league. Quarterbacks inside the 30 are 16/20 with 4 TDs and 0 INTs for a
135.8 rating, second-worst in football. Part of that comes from a lack of
top-tier talent in their primes. Clay Matthews isn’t a field-tilter and Nick
Perry runs too hot and cold. While Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson could be
stars in the future, they’re not ready to put a defense on their back and there
are too many holes right now in communication and execution when defending the
goal line. Situational defense should improve as the defense works more in
unison, but they also need some of these young players to grow into playmakers.
Kevin King must stay healthy, with his impact on this defense so evident. There
may not be a way to hide the obvious deficiencies of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and
Kentrell Brice, but Pettine will have to find a way. This defense has flashed
brilliance and utter incompetence. If this defense can just replace the latter
with mere competence
http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-oren-burks-jersey , it should be good enough to give Aaron Rodgers and this offense plenty of
chances to score enough to win. Green Bay may be just fine at the position with
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, but the Alabama product could be had for a much
lower financial cost and still give the Packers an all-around threat."Oklahoma
safety Robert Barnes knows a little bit about NFL Draft prospect Josh Jacobs.
After all, he is the one lying on the ground in the picture above after being
violently punished by the Alabama running back on his way to the end zone in the
College Football Playoff. And if the Green Bay Packers really need an
upper-echelon running back as many media figures have suggested, then it is
imperative that they get to know Jacobs as well.The current hot topic among
Green Bay reporters is the price tag for the Packers to acquire Pro Bowler
Le’Veon Bell and if he would even accept their offer. Though not the only one to
ponder the possibility, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky proposed that Green Bay would have
to give the 27-year Bell a four-year, $60 million contract. While Bell has
avoided the wear-and-tear on his body over the past two seasons as a contract
holdout, how will his body hold up once he begins taking hits after over a year
away from the game? On top of that, a $15 million annual average for a running
back that would be signed into his age-31 season seems like a risk. And in a
time when the Packers are trying to improve their locker room, an
often-disgruntled player like Bell seems like a sketchy fit.Do the Packers need
a running back? My personal answer would be no, not really. If used correctly by
the new offensive regime, Aaron Jones may blossom into one of the NFC’s top
backs as a player that can also help in the passing game. Jamaal Williams
additionally offers third-down back promise as a capable pass blocker and
receiver. But if they really are to upgrade the position, the Packers should
avoid all the risks with Bell and zero in on Jacobs, oone of the draft’s top
playmakers.Jacobs is a do-it-all back who has taken on limited contact of his
own after sharing a three-headed college backfield with two other future NFL
players. Unlike those other backs, Jacobs was not a five-star prospect and flew
under the radar as a three-star player from Oklahoma. While he saw action his
first two years on campus, Jacobs made his name as a junior and carries that
underdog mentality and passion on to the field.Jacobs would be able to slide in
immediately as a contributor, if not catalyst
Vince Biegel Jersey White , in all facets of the game for Green Bay. He has played special teams as a punt coverage player while returning kicks. He
provides physicality as both a pass blocker and run blocker in space. He has
wide receiver-type skills downfield and on screen plays. He has the
cut-on-a-dime agility to pair with his never-quit physicality and vision as a
runner. The best part of Jacobs is that he shows these traits on just about
every play, not just the highlights as seen below.Recent history would suggest
that a first-round caliber running back can make a quick impact. Saquon Barkley
totaled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage last year with 15 touchdowns as a rookie
for the New York Giants. Leonard Fournette recorded 1,300 total yards and 10
touchdowns the year before, while Ezekiel Elliot almost contributed 2,000 yards
of his own as a first-year player in 2016 to go along with 16 scores. Like
Barkley and Elliott specifically, Jacobs’ value in the passing game is paramount
to his value.As a player personnel person told me last week, Jacobs is “an elite
talent” who will not be able to prove himself in all capacities at the NFL
Combine due to a groin injury. He has the potential to be the draft’s late riser
and his stock is difficult to predict as of now, but Jacobs certainly fits the
mold of an early-to-mid first-round prospect. For around $12 million less each
year than Bell, Jacobs would carry less of a financial burden. Though the draft
capital to select Jacobs is an investment in its own right, the ability to add a
21-year old with many of the same characteristics as Bell and a higher ceiling
over the long term is appealing.And while the first-round price might be steep
for the Packers considering their other pressing needs, the team’s mantra has
been to select the best player available. By the end of the process, that player
might be Jacobs and new Head Coach Matt LaFleur’s history of running back
success might mean an opportunity for Jacobs to come in and deliver for Green
Bay from day one.
