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.

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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

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Fan Shout

Mucky Tundra (9h) : Oh I know about Jacobs, I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to mimic Zero lol

buckeyepackfan (9h) : Jacobs was just sat down, Watson re-injured that knee that kept him out 1 game earlier

buckeyepackfan (9h) : I needed .14 that's. .14 points for the whole 4th quarter to win and go to the SB. Lol

Mucky Tundra (10h) : Jacobs gonna be OK???

Zero2Cool (10h) : Watson gonna be OK???

packerfanoutwest (13h) : Inactives tonight for the Pack: Alexander- knee Bullard - ankle Williams - quad Walker -ankle Monk Heath

packerfanoutwest (13h) : No Jaire, but hopefully the front 7 destroys the line of scrimmage & forces Rattler into a few passes to McKinney.

packerfanoutwest (13h) : minny could be #1 seed and the Lions #5 seed

Zero2Cool (16h) : We'd have same Division and Conference records. Strength of schedule we edge them

Zero2Cool (16h) : I just checked. What tie breaker?

bboystyle (16h) : yes its possible but unlikely. If we do get the 5th, we face the NFCS winner

Zero2Cool (16h) : Ahh, ok.

bboystyle (16h) : yes due to tie breaker

Zero2Cool (16h) : I mean, unlikely, yes, but mathematically, 5th is possible by what I'm reading.

Zero2Cool (16h) : If Vikings lose out, Packers win out, Packers get 5th, right?

bboystyle (16h) : Minny isnt going to lose out so 5th seed is out of the equation. We are playing for the 6th or 7th seed which makes no difference

Mucky Tundra (17h) : beast, the ad revenue goes to the broadcast company but they gotta pay to air the game on their channel/network

beast (18h) : If we win tonight the game is still relative in terms of 5th, 6th or 7th seed... win and it's 5th or 6th, lose and it's 6th or 7th

beast (18h) : Mucky, I thought the ad revenue went to the broadcasting companies or the NFL, at least not directly

Zero2Cool (18h) : I think the revenue share is moot, isn't it? That's the CBA an Salary Cap handling that.

bboystyle (18h) : i mean game becomes irrelevant if we win tonight. Just a game where we are trying to play spoilers to Vikings chance at the #1 seed

Mucky Tundra (18h) : beast, I would guess ad revenue from more eyes watching tv

Zero2Cool (18h) : I would think it would hurt the home team because people would have to cancel last minute maybe? i dunno

beast (19h) : I agree that it's BS for fans planning on going to the game. But how does it bring in more money? I'm guessing indirectly?

packerfanoutwest (19h) : bs on flexing the game....they do it for the $$league$$, not the hometown fans

Zero2Cool (19h) : I see what you did there Mucky

Zero2Cool (19h) : dammit. 3:25pm

Zero2Cool (19h) : Packers Vikings flexed to 3:35pm

Mucky Tundra (20h) : Upon receiving the news about Luke Musgrave, I immediately fell to the ground

Mucky Tundra (20h) : Yeah baby!

Zero2Cool (20h) : LUKE MUSGRAVE PLAYING TONIGHT~!~~~~WOWHOAAOHAOAA yah

Zero2Cool (21h) : I wanna kill new QB's ... blitz the crap out of them.

beast (21h) : Barry seemed to get too conservative against new QBs, Hafley doesn't have that issue

Zero2Cool (22h) : However, we seem to struggle vs new QB's

Zero2Cool (22h) : Should be moot point, cuz Packers should win tonight.

packerfanoutwest (22h) : ok I stand corrected

Zero2Cool (22h) : Ok, yes, you are right. I see that now how they get 7th

Zero2Cool (22h) : 5th - Packers win out, Vikings lose out. Maybe?

beast (22h) : Saying no to the 6th lock.

beast (22h) : No, with the Commanders beating the Eagles, Packers could have a good chance of 6th or 7th unless the win out

Zero2Cool (22h) : I think if Packers win, they are locked 6th with chance for 5th.

beast (22h) : But it doesn't matter, as the Packers win surely win one of their remaining games

beast (22h) : This is not complex, just someone doesn't want to believe reality

beast (22h) : We already have told you... if Packers lose all their games (they won't, but if they did), and Buccaneers and Falcons win all theirs

Zero2Cool (22h) : I posted it in that Packers and 1 seed thread

Zero2Cool (23h) : I literally just said it.

packerfanoutwest (23h) : show us a scenario where Pack don't get in? bet you can't

Zero2Cool (23h) : Falcons, Buccaneers would need to win final two games.

Zero2Cool (23h) : Yes, if they win one of three, they are lock. If they lose out, they can be eliminated.

packerfanoutwest (23h) : as I just said,,gtheyh are in no matter what

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