Zero2Cool
14 years ago
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In 2010, the Green Bay Packers will certainly strive to repeat their impressive defensive rankings from a year ago, namely finishing No. 2 overall in the NFL in yards allowed, and No. 1 against the run.

But the category the Packers have the keenest eye on, as all defenses do, is points allowed, and for Green Bay to improve on its solid No. 7 ranking in 2009 it has targeted one area in particular - red-zone defense.

"To me that's always got to be your No. 1 goal, if you can lead the league in scoring defense," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "In order to do that, when people get down in the red zone -- if they're going to get there -- you have to keep them kicking field goals rather than scoring touchdowns."

That's something the Packers admittedly struggled with last season. Opponents scored 28 touchdowns on 46 red-zone possessions (inside the 20) in 2009, a 60.9 percentage that ranked 13th in the NFC and 28th in the league.

On the plus side, the opponents' 46 red-zone possessions were the fourth fewest in the NFC and 10th fewest in the league. So offenses weren't getting down there a whole lot to begin with.

But when they did reach the red zone, they found the end zone far too often. And the Packers are targeting this defensive area because statistically it was a major barometer in the team's won-loss record.

In the 11 games Green Bay won last season, opponents scored TDs only 11 of 26 times in the red zone, or 42.3 percent. That number, over the course of 16 games, would have ranked fourth in the league in 2009.

But in the six games the Packers lost, including the playoff defeat in Arizona, offenses nearly doubled that rate to 22 TDs in 27 red-zone possessions, or 81.5 percent. The breakdown was as follows: Cincinnati 4-of-4, Minnesota (two games) 7-of-8, Tampa Bay 3-of-3, Pittsburgh 3-of-5, and Arizona 5-of-7.

Considering the Packers lost those four of those games by a touchdown or less, it's easy to see that a couple of red-zone stops to force field goals here and there could have translated to another victory or two.

"You go back and critique every area of your defense, and we just felt that we need to make improvement, and we can make improvement down there," Capers said. "It's like anything. You normally get what you emphasize, and we're going to put a lot of emphasis on it."

Capers said that emphasis is going to come with more red-zone periods during the OTAs over the next month, and more importantly during training camp, when the pads are on and the players and coaches can crank up the atmosphere and the competitiveness.

Come training camp, the defense will get a legitimate test from the Packers' offense, which ranked ninth in the league in red-zone offense last year (34 TDs in 62 possessions), though the offensive coaching staff isn't necessarily satisfied with that and will be looking to boost efficiency as well.

But back to the defense. The good thing for the Packers is their deficiencies on defense in the red-zone were relatively one-sided.

The Packers allowed only five rushing touchdowns in the regular season last year, fewest by Green Bay since the championship season of 1962 and a dramatic improvement from the 20 rushing TDs allowed in 2008 (which was the most in team annals since 1983). All five were on short runs, but in general opposing offenses didn't get into scoring territory and simply pound the ball on the ground toward the goal line with success.

But the pass defense does need to improve on its 23 TDs allowed in the red zone. The game changes inside the 20 because defenses have less territory to defend, but offenses will counter with formations, motions and shifts designed to take advantage of the slightest opening.

Offenses must rely more than ever on timing, which places a premium defensively on disrupting that timing. But if that disruption doesn't come right away, it's probably too late.

"You have to play differently down there," Capers said. "The field is shrunk, the ball is out much faster, things happen a lot quicker, and you can't have any hesitation. You have to respond very quickly down there."

The Packers plan to respond better in 2010. If they do, it would go a long way toward becoming the complete defense Capers envisions.

"It's an indication of what kind of defense you have in terms of accepting the challenge," he said. "If they're down in the red zone we're going to find a way to keep them out."


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zombieslayer
14 years ago
OK, they did say the problem in the red zone was against the pass, not the rush. This is my memory, but it seemed like we got soft once they got into the red zone. We should have been more aggressive when it came to blitzing, as in the red zone, you especially want to limit time for the opposing QB.

Also, I think we had some communication issues that guys like Ben R, Favre, and Warner were able to exploit. How did the Bengals go 4-4? I don't remember that game.
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2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
nerdmann
14 years ago
Note to Capers: One way to improve your "red zone stats" is to NOT have your offense turn the ball over TWICE in the first three plays from scrimmage. To the opposing offense, in their red zone. Against the highest scoring red zone in the league.
That's on the defense, right? How'd that game end anyway?
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dfosterf (4-May) : FYI civilian companies swipe the S2 designation from the military. S2 is the intelligence branch up to brigade level. G2 is division level.
dfosterf (4-May) : Google it. Make sure to tack NFL on it or you will get the military meaning
Zero2Cool (4-May) : S2?
beast (4-May) : Seems like the S2 has a love/hate relationship with professional scouts.
beast (4-May) : In theory, the S2 test how quickly a QBs brain can solve game like issues and how quickly they can do it.
dfosterf (4-May) : Are you gentlemen and at least one lady familiar with the S2 cognition
Zero2Cool (4-May) : Maybe there isn't an issue.
beast (4-May) : NFL really needs to fix their position labeling issue, but I don't think they care
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Packers did not activate the fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker, with the goal of signing him to a contract extension.
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packerfanoutwest (1-May) : from a head left turn?
packerfanoutwest (1-May) : someone drunk?
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Unlikely.
dfosterf (30-Apr) : How long until Jeff Sperbeck's family sues John Elway ?
Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : Packers are exercising the fifth-year option on DT Devonte Wyatt, locking in a guaranteed $12.9M for the 2026 season.
beast (30-Apr) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (30-Apr) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (30-Apr) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
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