By Pete Dougherty
The videotape is out there for everyone in the NFL to see.
In the last three games, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Atlanta rushed for an average of 190 yards each against a beleaguered and short-handed Green Bay Packers defense.
No doubt Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren will watch those three straight Packers losses and plan on pounding that soft spot mercilessly this Sunday until the Packers do something to change his mind.
Atlanta drove home those Packers shortcomings with six straight runs that wrapped up its 27-24 win at Lambeau Field this past Sunday. Falcons halfback Michael Turner first put the winning points on the board by carrying three straight times for 19 yards and a touchdown with 3:35 to play, then picked up the game-clinching first down with three straight runs in the final 1:55.
The Packers still were a little shell-shocked the day after that losing that battle of power and will.
I look at the defense as the thermostat in a football game, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. They need to keep the game in order, and it starts with stopping the run, and were not doing a very good job of it. (The players) know it, and we take the realistic approach. Were going to coach them hard and grade the film, just like we always have, and we need to get it fixed.
However, juicing up their run defense got measurably harder last week with the loss of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins for the season because of a pectoral injury. Jenkins might have been the Packers best defensive lineman the first 3 games as a stout right end on running downs and the teams best inside rusher on passing downs.
Thats the most recent of several personnel losses that have turned the Packers defensive line from a strength last season to a liability so far this year. Not only have the Packers not stopped the run of late, they also havent put appreciable pressure on the quarterback and have failed to get a sack the last 10 quarters.
The problems started in the offseason, when General Manager Ted Thompson, who was flush with defensive tackles, decided not to invest heavily in free-agent Corey Williams because of concerns hed get complacent with a big contract. So he put the franchise tag on Williams and traded him to Cleveland for a second-round draft pick.
In March, last years first-round draft pick, Justin Harrell, hurt his back early in offseason workouts, was unable to practice all offseason and remains on the physically unable to perform list for at least one more week.
Then in August, Daniel Muir, who was one of the surprises in training camp last year as an undrafted rookie, bombed out after missing most of the offseason because of a pectoral injury of his own.
So for now, the Packers are down to three pure defensive tackles Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole and no longer have the strong rotation that last year kept them fresh for the full 60 minutes at that key position.
The coaching staff has zeroed in on a breakdown in fundamentals staying disciplined in gap control as the reason for the shoddy run defense. But theres also a question of whether they have the personnel to perform to winning standards. Last year, the Packers finished No. 14 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and No. 11 in yards allowed per carry. This year, theyre Nos. 28 and 30, respectively, after five games.
The problems weve had, I dont think its somebody wasnt good enough, said Robert Nunn, the Packers defensive tackles coach. Weve got to fix it with what we have. You hate to lose good football players, but weve got to take the ones were playing with and make em better, and weve not gotten that done yet.
In the coming weeks, the Packers will look for improved health to help. Starting safety Atari Bigby has missed the last three games because of a hamstring injury and should be back soon, though he still might be a week away. Also, linebacker A.J. Hawk has a strained groin that kept him from practicing all last week, and though he played against Atlanta was noticeably less than full strength.
The Packers also could get Harrell back as soon as next week, though the quality of his play when he returns remains a major question after his non-descript rookie season and layoff since then. Starting next week, the Packers have a three-week window to get him on the practice field, and once he starts practicing, theyll have as many as three weeks to activate him or put him on injured reserve.
The team appears convinced Harrell will be ready to play soon, and considering the problems on the defensive line might look to get him on the field in the next couple of weeks.
Hes got an opportunity there just as fast as we can get him ready, Nunn said. I wouldnt hesitate right now, if hes there hell be in the mix. I think hell be a guy that goes in there, whatever his condition will allow, helping us against the run, and then hell be a guy in the rush group. I certainly wouldnt think you could get him 30, 40 snaps in the first game, but hell be a factor.
The Packers run-stopping woes are magnified by their lack of a pass rush. Left end Aaron Kampman, who had 27 sacks in 2006 and 07 combined, has 3 sacks this season and has been shut out the past 2 games. Pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has been slowed by a knee injury since training camp, has been invisible all season and has no sacks in five games.
The Falcons running backs regularly chip-blocked Kampman and occasionally Gbaja-Biamila as well. But the Packers got no help from their inside rush, whether it be Jolly or defensive end Mike Montgomery, who moves inside on passing downs. And they didnt get home with any blitzes the last two games.
(Blockers) are going to find those two guys (Kampman and Gbaja-Biamila), said Carl Hairston, the Packers defensive ends coach. When that happens you have to hope somebody will break loose in the middle.
The Packers also are turning to rookie Jeremy Thompson for help along the defensive line, especially because Montgomerys status this week is uncertain after he sprained his ankle in the second half against Atlanta.
However, Thompson, a fourth-round draft pick, was a non-factor against the Falcons in his first game action this season he played about 20 snaps and had no tackles. If the defense is to make many gains as the season goes on, Thompson is among the players who will have to make tremendous strides.
Kind of tentative, feeling his way through it, McCarthy said in describing Thompsons performance. So it's a good experience for him, but tryouts are over. I understand that, but he needs to be more aggressive with his opportunities.
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