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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Zero2Cool (1h) : Fake news. Cowboys say no

Zero2Cool (2h) : Mystery candidate in the Cowboys head coaching search believed to be Packers ST Coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

beast (16h) : Also why do both NYC teams have absolutely horrible OL for over a decade?

beast (16h) : I wonder why the Jets always hire defensive coaches to be head coach

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : Still HC positions available out there. I wonder if Hafley pops up for one

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : Trent Baalke is out as the Jaguars GM.

dfosterf (22-Jan) : Jeff Hafley would have been a better choice, fortunately they don't know that. Someone will figure that out next off season

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : Aaron Glenn Planning To Take Jets HC Job

dfosterf (22-Jan) : Martha- C'est mon boulot! 😁

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : Thank you

wpr (22-Jan) : Z, glad you are feeling better.

wpr (22-Jan) : My son and D-I-L work for UM. It's a way to pick on them.

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : Thank you. I rarely get sick, and even more rarely sick to the point I can't work.

wpr (22-Jan) : Beast- back to yesterday, I CAN say OSU your have been Michigan IF the odds of making the playoffs were more urgent.

dfosterf (22-Jan) : Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better.

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : I've been near death ill last several days, finally feel less dead and site issues.

Zero2Cool (22-Jan) : It is a big deal. This host is having issues. It's frustrating.

Martha Careful (22-Jan) : just kidding...it was down

Martha Careful (22-Jan) : you were blocked yesterday, due to a a recalcitrant demeanor yesterday in the penalty box for a recalcitrant demeanor

dfosterf (22-Jan) : Was that site shutdown on your end or mine? No big deal, just curious

beast (21-Jan) : That way teams like Indiana and SMU don't make the conference championships by simply avoiding all the other good teams in their own confere

beast (21-Jan) : Also, with these "Super Conferences" instead of a single conference champion, have 4 teams make a Conference playoffs.

beast (21-Jan) : Also in college football, is a bye week a good or bad thing?

Martha Careful (21-Jan) : The tournament format was fine. Seeding could use some work.

beast (21-Jan) : You can't assume Ohio State would of won the Michigan game...

beast (21-Jan) : Rankings were 1) Oregon 2) Georgia 3) Texas 4) Penn State 5) Notre Dame 6) Ohio State, none of the rest mattered

wpr (21-Jan) : Texas, ND and OSU would have been fighting for the final 2 slots.

wpr (21-Jan) : Oregon and Georgia were locks. Without the luxury of extra playoff berths, Ohios St would have been more focused on Michigan game.

wpr (21-Jan) : Zero, no. If there were only 4 teams Ohio State would have been one of them. Boise St and ASU would not have been selected.

Zero2Cool (21-Jan) : So that was 7 vs 8, that means in BCS they never would made it?

Martha Careful (21-Jan) : A great game. Give ND credit for coming back, although I am please with the outcome.

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : FG to make it academic

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : and there's the dagger

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : ooooo 8 point game with 4 minutes to go!

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : ooooooooohhhhhh he missed!

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : Ooooo that completion makes things VERY interesting

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : Game not over yet

beast (21-Jan) : Oh yeah, Georgia starting quarterback season ending elbow injury

beast (21-Jan) : Sadly something happened to Georgia... they should be playing in this game against Ohio State

beast (21-Jan) : I thought Ohio State and Texas were both better than Notre Dame & Penn State

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : Notre Lame getting rolled

Martha Careful (21-Jan) : Ohio State just got punched in the gut. Lets see how they respond

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : Notre Lame vs the Luckeyes, bleh

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : Oh snap!!!

Zero2Cool (21-Jan) : Even Stevie Wonder can see that.

Zero2Cool (21-Jan) : Nah, you see Lions OC leaving to be HC of Bears is directly related to Packers.

Mucky Tundra (21-Jan) : ohhhhhhh Zero is in TROUBLE

packerfanoutwest (21-Jan) : Zero, per your orders, check Bearshome, not packershome

Zero2Cool (20-Jan) : Then he'll land with another team and flourish.

Zero2Cool (20-Jan) : Ben going to Bears. He'll be out in 3 years.

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