GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This wouldn’t be the first time someone thinks they have found the so-called blueprint to stop quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

In fact, what the New Orleans Saints did in Sunday's 38-3 rout -- one of the most shocking season openers in Packers history -- wasn’t all that different from the strategy used by opponents at times during coach Matt LaFleur’s highly successful first two seasons.

In LaFleur’s first season, 2019, the Los Angeles Chargers (a 5-11 team) surprisingly shut down Rodgers & Co. with a relatively simple plan: Don’t blitz.

To be sure, it takes a certain defensive talent to pull it off -- one that ideally can get pressure on Rodgers with four-man rushes and leave everyone else in coverage. The Packers' 26-7 record over the past two-plus seasons -- and Rodgers' MVP season last year -- are proof enough that they're hard to stop.

While what happened against the Saints looked troubling to the Packers, it’s worth wondering two things: Can teams that ordinarily rely on pressure packages ditch that when playing the Packers, and how many teams actually have the personnel to pull it off?

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The common theme is taking away the deep stuff because Rodgers doesn't like taking what the defense gives him. This has been a gripe fans have had for years about Rodgers. It's also why people like Drew Brees and Tom Brady succeeded so well in their advanced age. They repeatedly took what the defense gave them and moved the chains.

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Yes the Packers offense forgot the system... the wide zone is created to take pressure off the QB (which LaFleur has stated a number of times).

What LaFleur normally doesn't mention is that this normally means making the RB the focal point though the run and short passes. The Packers did the exact opposite... and put all the pressure on the QB and the OL pass blocking even worse than Mike McCarthy did.

And this defensive skill talent is basically set up to pass rush with the lead ... not run defend from behind. As I said with LaFleur, I don't care whom the DC is, this team is not talent enough up front or at CB to be dominant and I have to give Clark and Lowry credit, at the end of last year they looked better than I thought they could (Lowry).

But the Packers are facing more wide zone offenses than ever before with 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, Bengals, Browns and Vikings... and Saints and Chiefs have offensive geniuses play callers.


But the Packers will go as their RBs go, as the RBs will take pressure off the QB and defense, giving them time to rest. Packers need to get that going.

Packers defensive will go as the opponent's OL goes and how much rest they get on the sidelines.

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The common theme is taking away the deep stuff because Rodgers doesn't like taking what the defense gives him. This has been a gripe fans have had for years about Rodgers. It's also why people like Drew Brees and Tom Brady succeeded so well in their advanced age. They repeatedly took what the defense gave them and moved the chains.

The thing is it's not just about taking the deep stuff away. When teams can rush 4 guys successfully it allows all kinds of options for the other 7. They can bring up guys in press coverage with help over the top, double Adams, etc. Teams can throw the coverage playbook at the opposing offense.
It's not just the Matt LaFleur offense either. The Packers and Rodgers has always struggled against teams that can bring 4 consistently. The good news is not many teams can successfully send four DL all game long (Packers included) and the OL has to be up to the challenge as well (certainly better than they were Sunday).
Teams adjust and the Packers will too. Last year they got their asses handed to them by TB during the season then should have beaten them in the playoffs. It was one game and time to learn and move on.

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Also it pisses me off when I see defenders not even attempting to line up until 7 seconds because they know damn well Rodgers ain't snapping the ball until it's 5 or under...

If you quick snap that thing at times, you're much more likely to get defenders jump from vocal fake snaps that Rodgers loves.

I understand he wants to read the defense, but mixing it up keeps the defense off guard as well...

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Is this anything that's really new? Haven't we seen this in the past? I think it would be more appropriate to see what the Saints did to defend against key concepts of MLFs offense while in the deep shell.

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