Love the Speed upgrade and the amount of hustle around the Football. The moves Glute made are looking Awesome through week 1. Hope the trend continues.

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https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/bears-packers-defense-film-mike-pettine 

The author points out that they approach and construction of the schemes may be leading edge in addressing the college style tackles which are making their way into the pro game. Highlights include:[list=1][*]Keep the base defense at home. The Packers were willing to give up size in the run box if it allowed them to keep speed out there to defend the pass, a strategy that’s backed by the numbers. In 2018, defenses matched 12 (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) personnel with base defense (four defensive backs) 61% of the time, and offenses produced a DVOA of 3.1%, according to Football Outsiders. When the defenses treated one of those tight ends like a receiver and matched with a nickel defense, their DVOA dropped to -5.3%. [*]Defend the run with a few bodies as possible...Now, the Packers were running a more traditional “Bear” front, but it created the same effect: With the interior running lanes clogged, Chicago’s running backs were funneled to the perimeter, where Green Bay’s athletic defensive backs could rally and take down the ball carrier for a minimal gain.[*]Get pressure with as few bodies as possible The concept of a creeper — also referred to as a “simulated pressure” depending which coach you’re talking to — is not too different from the one behind the zone blitz: You have the traditional “fire zone” pattern of a blitz, with second- and third-level defenders replacing traditional rushers in the pass rush, but instead of dropping only six to defend the pass, leaving a void in coverage, you don’t send the fifth rusher and keep seven in coverage.[/list]

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I completely agree. The first thing I noticed was that Green Bay was bigger, faster, and longer on defense. They were also more disciplined, which is kudos to the coaching staff. It was nice watching them set the edge and seeing the OLBs playing containment.

This is at least a 2 to 3-year plan by the front office to reemphasize the defense.

DL Dean Lowry - 2016 NFL Draft
DL Kenny Clark - 2016 NFL Draft
DL Montravius Adams - 2017 NFL Draft
OLB Preston Smith - 2019 Free Agency
ILB Blake Martinez - 2016 NFL Draft
OLB Za'darious Smith - 2019 Free Agency
CB Jaire Alexander - 2018 NFL Draft
CB Kevin King - 2017 NFL Draft
CB Tramon Williams - 2018 Free Agency
SS Darnell Savage - 2019 NFL Draft
FS Adrian Amos - 2019 Free Agency

With the exception of Kenny Clark, none of these guys were on the field in the 2016 NFC Championship against Atlanta, which I think exposed the lack of size and speed of the defense.

From a roster building standpoint, I love the combination of draft picks and free agent acquisitions. That's not entirely a knock against Ted Thompson. He deserves credit for drafting at least five of these guys (and Kenny Clark might be the best player of the bunch), but I do think that's where Brian Gutekunst's approach to the off-season has helped enhance the team's roster building.

Of course we are getting a bit excited over just one game, but I do feel encouraged and excited to watch the Packers play defense. I can't think of the last time I thought this.

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I’m also excited, but also nervous. The next game against the Queens will say a lot on just how good our D is.

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The discipline of the defense was mentioned in an earlier post. I completely agree. Seemed like everyone stayed true to their jobs, and when they didn’t, the speed of the defense made up for it.

Another area I was extremely impressed with was the way our DL watched the snap. Trubisky attempted to use the hard count numerous times and never drew us offsides. Nobody even flinched. That was extremely impressive to me, especially with that having been the first game of the year. I imagine that was emphasized in camp, and what better QB to practice that against than Rodgers?

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