Don't call it a blueprint (yet), but New Orleans Saints showed how to give...

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

3 years ago

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?

Continue Reading @ ESPN

ESPN wrote:

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.

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your PACKERSHOME forum account or Register a new forum account

beast
Select Member

3 years ago

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.

warhawk
Senior Member

3 years ago

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

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.

"The train is leaving the station."

beast
Select Member

3 years ago

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...

Mucky Tundra
Honored Member

3 years ago

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.

“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”

"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers

Important Information:

The PACKERSHOME uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More Details Close

Fan Shout

packerfanoutwest (3h) : too funny

packerfanoutwest (3h) : Lions QB Jared Goff was the offensive MVP

packerfanoutwest (3h) : for the Pro Bowl, which is flag football

Zero2Cool (5h) : Rather, the murder WAS covered up to prevent ...

Zero2Cool (5h) : JFK murder was a cover-up to prevent war with Cuba/Russia.

Martha Careful (1-Feb) : I have always admired the pluck of the man

Zero2Cool (1-Feb) : I remember thinking he was going to be something good.

Mucky Tundra (1-Feb) : The Dualing Banjo!

Zero2Cool (31-Jan) : Jets have named Chris Banjo as their special teams coordinator, Former Packers player

Zero2Cool (31-Jan) : Jaguars have hired Anthony Campanile as their DC. We lose coach

Zero2Cool (30-Jan) : QB coach Sean Mannion

Zero2Cool (30-Jan) : DL Coach DeMarcus Covington

dfosterf (30-Jan) : from ft Belvoir, Quantico and points south. Somber reminder of this tragedy at Reagan Nat Airport

dfosterf (30-Jan) : So eerily quiet here in Alexandria. I live in the flight path of commercial craft coming from the south and west, plus the military craft

dfosterf (30-Jan) : So eeri

Mucky Tundra (30-Jan) : Now that's a thought, maybe they're looking at the college ranks? Maybe not head coaches but DC/assistant DCs with league experience?

beast (30-Jan) : College Coaches wouldn't want that publicly, as it would hurt recruiting and they might not get the job.

beast (30-Jan) : I thought they were supposed to publicly announce them, at least the NFL ones. Hafley was from college, so I believe different rules.

Mucky Tundra (30-Jan) : Who knows who they're interviewing? I mean, nobody knew about Hafley and then out of nowhere he was hired

beast (30-Jan) : I wonder what's taking so long with hiring a DL coach, 2 of the 3 known to interview have already been hired elsewhere.

Zero2Cool (27-Jan) : Packers coach Matt LaFleur hires Luke Getsy as senior assistant, extends Rich Bisaccia's deal

Zero2Cool (27-Jan) : Chiefs again huh? I guess another Super Bowl I'll be finding something else to do.

Mucky Tundra (27-Jan) : Chiefs Eagles...again...sigh

dfosterf (27-Jan) : Happy Birthday Dave!

Mucky Tundra (27-Jan) : happy birthday dhazer

TheKanataThrilla (26-Jan) : Exactly buck...Washington came up with the ball. It is just a shitty coincidence one week later

buckeyepackfan (26-Jan) : I forgot, they corrected the call a week later. Lol btw HAPPY BIRTHDAY dhazer!

buckeyepackfan (26-Jan) : That brings up the question, why wasn't Nixon down by contact? I think that was the point Kanata was making.

buckeyepackfan (26-Jan) : Turnovers rule, win the turnover battle, win the game.

packerfanoutwest (26-Jan) : well, he was

TheKanataThrilla (26-Jan) : Eagles down by contact on the fumble....fuck you NFL

Mucky Tundra (26-Jan) : I think this games over

beast (26-Jan) : Eagles sure get a lot of fumbles on kickoffs

Mucky Tundra (26-Jan) : This game looks too big for Washington

packerfanoutwest (26-Jan) : that being said, The Ravens are the Browns

packerfanoutwest (26-Jan) : Browns, Dolphins have longest AFC Championship droughts

packerfanoutwest (26-Jan) : As of today, Cowboys have longest NFC Championship drought,

beast (26-Jan) : Someone pointed out, with Raiders hiring Carroll, the division games between Carroll and Jim Harbaugh are back on (who can whine more games)

beast (26-Jan) : I'm confused, Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer? When Todd Monken, Joe Brady, Kellen Moore, Kliff Kingsbury and Zac Robinson are availab

Zero2Cool (25-Jan) : Any reason I'm catching a shot here about my intelligence?

Martha Careful (25-Jan) : thank you Mucky for sticking up for me

Martha Careful (25-Jan) : some of those people are smarter than you zero. However Pete Carroll is not

Mucky Tundra (24-Jan) : Rude!

beast (24-Jan) : Martha? 😋

Zero2Cool (24-Jan) : Raiders hired someone from the elderly home.

dfosterf (24-Jan) : I'm going with a combination of the two.

beast (24-Jan) : Either the Cowboys have no idea what they're doing, or they're targeting their former OC, currently the Eagles OC

Zero2Cool (23-Jan) : Fake news. Cowboys say no

Zero2Cool (23-Jan) : Mystery candidate in the Cowboys head coaching search believed to be Packers ST Coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

beast (23-Jan) : Also why do both NYC teams have absolutely horrible OL for over a decade?

Please sign in to use Fan Shout

2024 Packers Schedule

Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM

Eagles

29 - 34

Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM

COLTS

16 - 10

Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM

Titans

30 - 14

Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM

VIKINGS

29 - 31

Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM

Rams

24 - 19

Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM

CARDINALS

34 - 13

Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM

TEXANS

24 - 22

Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM

Jaguars

30 - 27

Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM

LIONS

14 - 24

Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM

Bears

20 - 19

Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM

49ERS

38 - 10

Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM

DOLPHINS

30 - 17

Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM

Lions

31 - 34

Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM

Seahawks

30 - 13

Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM

SAINTS

34 - 0

Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM

Vikings

25 - 27

Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM

BEARS

22 - 24

Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM

Eagles

10 - 22