Zero2Cool
15 years ago
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/13670/packers-weakness-pass-defense 

Late in the 2009 regular season, the Steelers torched the Packers pass defense. Then everyone saw what happened to this unit in the playoffs against Arizona, which directly led to Green Bays elimination. What has changed since then? Not much.

Charles Woodson was simply awesome in 2009, but he isnt a young man and a slight regression should be expected from a career-type season. The Packers like to use Woodson in a variety of ways, which is extremely smart considering he is still the total physical package for any defensive back and can perform any duty asked of him. He is tremendous, but a slight regression shouldnt come as a surprise.

The only real change from last season is Al Harris, whose knee injury made him a nonfactor. But he is 35 years old and was a better fit in Green Bays old 4-3 scheme that demanded the corners play a lot of man-to-man coverage. He will be welcomed back, but it remains to be seen just how well the knee holds up and allows him to play.

Jarrett Bush allows far too many big plays, but Tramon Williams played pretty well in Harris absence last year. Williams is too risky with his decisions, but does show good ball skills. It isnt out of the question that he takes another step forward. He will have to. Pat Lee, a second-round pick in 2008, also could factor in, but he has had a very difficult time staying on the field and has shown little to get excited about thus far.

Although corner play is potentially problematic for the Packers, I do expect the safety production and range as a unit to be improved with Morgan Burnett added to the mix. Green Bay could also see a leap in production from its very young set of starting outside linebackers, leading to more pressure on the quarterback. That should help, but with the receivers in this division, poor corner play is going to be exposed sooner or later.

Surprisingly, the Packers really didnt do a thing this offseason to pump up their cornerback corps and I fear that it might cost them in the playoffs -- as it did last year. Luckily for Green Bay, it has an awful lot of firepower on offense. But will it be enough?


UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
15 years ago
I am going to disagree on the CB thing. We had a solid corps of corners before the year started. Every body in the NFL keeps 6 or so CBs going into the season. They do that because it is usually enough. We had 4 of our 6 get hurt for the season. That usually doesn't happen. They will all be back, Harris may be relegated to nickle for a while. Woodson, Williams and Harris are solid as any ones top 3 starting CBs in the league. Underwood, Lee and Bell to round out our 6 as solid backups. As solid as anybody backups out there.

Last year we had questionable depth at safety. Pepprah and Bigby get hurt and we had nobody capable of stepping in. That cost the Packers more games than missing 4 corners. If Bigby signs and Brunette steps up, we will have 4 solid safeties with Collins and Pepprah.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Rockmolder
15 years ago

The only real change from last season is Al Harris, whose knee injury made him a nonfactor. But he is 35 years old and was a better fit in Green Bays old 4-3 scheme that demanded the corners play a lot of man-to-man coverage. He will be welcomed back, but it remains to be seen just how well the knee holds up and allows him to play.

Jarrett Bush allows far too many big plays, but Tramon Williams played pretty well in Harris absence last year. Williams is too risky with his decisions, but does show good ball skills. It isnt out of the question that he takes another step forward. He will have to. Pat Lee, a second-round pick in 2008, also could factor in, but he has had a very difficult time staying on the field and has shown little to get excited about thus far.

Although corner play is potentially problematic for the Packers, I do expect the safety production and range as a unit to be improved with Morgan Burnett added to the mix. Green Bay could also see a leap in production from its very young set of starting outside linebackers, leading to more pressure on the quarterback. That should help, but with the receivers in this division, poor corner play is going to be exposed sooner or later.



So what he's really saying is that we're going to guess that no one will progress this year, Al Harris won't come back strong and that Burnett won't be an upgrade over Bigby.

That's a whole lot of negative assumptions in one article.
PackerTraxx
15 years ago

The only real change from last season is Al Harris, whose knee injury made him a nonfactor. But he is 35 years old and was a better fit in Green Bays old 4-3 scheme that demanded the corners play a lot of man-to-man coverage. He will be welcomed back, but it remains to be seen just how well the knee holds up and allows him to play.

Jarrett Bush allows far too many big plays, but Tramon Williams played pretty well in Harris absence last year. Williams is too risky with his decisions, but does show good ball skills. It isnt out of the question that he takes another step forward. He will have to. Pat Lee, a second-round pick in 2008, also could factor in, but he has had a very difficult time staying on the field and has shown little to get excited about thus far.

Although corner play is potentially problematic for the Packers, I do expect the safety production and range as a unit to be improved with Morgan Burnett added to the mix. Green Bay could also see a leap in production from its very young set of starting outside linebackers, leading to more pressure on the quarterback. That should help, but with the receivers in this division, poor corner play is going to be exposed sooner or later.

"Rockmolder" wrote:



So what he's really saying is that we're going to guess that no one will progress this year, Al Harris won't come back strong and that Burnett won't be an upgrade over Bigby.

That's a whole lot of negative assumptions in one article.



I think you got it-woe is us. Oh, wait, it's ESPN, never mind. :magnifyglass: :icon_smile:
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Greg C.
15 years ago
Yeah, the guy never acknowledged the fact that we had a lot of injuries in the secondary last year. He did mention Harris's injury, but he tried to turn that into a negative for this year rather than part of the reason for last year's struggles late in the season.

I have to agree that pass defense is the team's main weakness, though. This unit has a lot to prove, especially in big games and against top-flight QB's.

Interestingly, the one big lineup change--putting Raji at the nose and moving Pickett to DE--seems like a move that was made mainly to improve the run defense, by beefing up the line and protecting Brad Jones. I don't think Pickett will rush the passer quite as well as Jolly did.
blank
Zero2Cool
15 years ago
w/ Al Harris 6 - 4
w/o Al Harris 5 - 1
UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
15 years ago

w/ Al Harris 6 - 4
w/o Al Harris 5 - 1

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I don't think it is cause and effect. The O-line and the Safeties being down to third string probably had more to do with it than Harris.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
15 years ago

I am going to disagree on the CB thing.

"Dexter_Sinister" wrote:



really? i'm not. remember my thread a few months ago where everybody decided to show me how much of a homer they were? i'm still stickin' to my gut feeling.

I agree with Twinkiegorilla.

bozz_2006 wrote:


Zero2Cool
15 years ago

w/ Al Harris 6 - 4
w/o Al Harris 5 - 1

"Dexter_Sinister" wrote:



I don't think it is cause and effect. The O-line and the Safeties being down to third string probably had more to do with it than Harris.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I didn't say it was cause or effect. I was just posting the numbers in case anyone else was curious as myself. 🙂
UserPostedImage
Dulak
15 years ago

I am going to disagree on the CB thing. We had a solid corps of corners before the year started. Every body in the NFL keeps 6 or so CBs going into the season. They do that because it is usually enough. We had 4 of our 6 get hurt for the season. That usually doesn't happen. They will all be back, Harris may be relegated to nickle for a while. Woodson, Williams and Harris are solid as any ones top 3 starting CBs in the league. Underwood, Lee and Bell to round out our 6 as solid backups. As solid as anybody backups out there.

Last year we had questionable depth at safety. Pepprah and Bigby get hurt and we had nobody capable of stepping in. That cost the Packers more games than missing 4 corners. If Bigby signs and Brunette steps up, we will have 4 solid safeties with Collins and Pepprah.

"Dexter_Sinister" wrote:



Id love it if we had both bigby and burnette at safety; if had have woodson harris and tramon again; I see our pass coverage D being Top notch.
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