wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago



The blitz is having a hard time getting through Packers' line 

Green Bay If on opening day the Philadelphia Eagles find a way to blitz the Green Bay Packers in a way they haven't yet seen, their defensive coordinator, Sean McDermott, will be in line for an official mad scientist label.

From the start of the off-season conditioning program through the first three exhibition games, the Packers' offense has seen almost every blitz, stunt, twist and zone drop known to mankind. Some of it was by design, some of it by virtue of playing a pair of preseason opponents who have thrown a good array of pressures at quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his offensive line.

Two weeks after facing a Cleveland team that blitzed like there was no tomorrow, the Packers faced an Indianapolis defense Thursday night that dialed up a number of clever pressures during the first half.

In both instances, Rodgers and the No. 1 offensive line appeared ready for every protection call, blitz pickup and hot throw. Unlike much of last season when the line couldn't be trusted to block and Rodgers couldn't be trusted to get rid of the ball, the two looked like they were actually functioning in unison.

"I hope so," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "We spent a lot of time - a lot of time - on that stuff. So, you hope it pays dividends. I think they have a good handle on how to handle that."

So far this preseason, Rodgers has not been sacked, he's been forced to run twice and he has been knocked down three times.

In the case of the Colts, it wasn't that the Packers faced a constant barrage of blitzes, it was the variety in which defensive coordinator Larry Coyer designed them. He dropped ends into coverage, sent linebackers from the inside and outside, brought safeties and stunted and twisted his defensive linemen.

The Packers' two touchdown drives in the second quarter best exemplified the job the line and Rodgers did handling the blitz.

On the first drive, the Colts brought six rushers on a third-and-3 play and, understanding the line wasn't going to be able to block everyone, Rodgers got the ball off quickly to wide receiver Donald Driver for a 6-yard gain.

Two plays later, the Colts rushed seven on second and 2, bringing linebacker Pat Angerer, safety Alvin Bethea and linebacker Clint Session along with their front four. Tight end Tom Crabtree picked up Bethea, center Scott Wells and guard Daryn Colledge picked up Session and Rodgers hit tight end Jermichael Finley for a 15-yard gain.

"I think we've shown him that he can trust us and I think his confidence in us is a lot higher this year," right guard Josh Sitton said. "I think he's a lot more confident in himself to know where he's going, know where the protection is going to be, know where the free guy is going to be, know where he's going with the ball.

"All that goes together. We're rolling right now. It's pretty good."

Two plays later, Rodgers faced a second and 8 at the 15 when the Colts again brought six, this time flooding the right side with a safety-linebacker blitz. Right tackle Mark Tauscher and running back Brandon Jackson teamed up to stymie Bethea, then turned outside and drove Session off course. Angerer eventually got free up the middle, but by the time he hit Rodgers the ball was in the air to a wide open Finley in the end zone.

"The touchdown to Jermichael, they brought the 'Will' (weak-side linebacker) and the free safety and Aaron knew it was coming and made a little adjustment," Philbin said. "We got the communication down. Now the pickup of the blitz wasn't as clean as we would have liked it to be, but those are things we've practiced a lot."

And come Sept. 12, they should be ready for a lot more.


UserPostedImage
RainX
14 years ago
It's amazing what having both your starting tackles back and healthy can do for an offensive line not to mention having some decent depth for once.
blank
earthquake
14 years ago
One thing i'm noticing that is different than last year, as the OLine looked pretty good in preseason then, is that when the #2s and #3s are in, they are looking a LOT better. I remember Flynn having virtually no time to throw last year, it was hard to watch. I think that says a lot about the depth.
blank
Packers_Finland
14 years ago
It's preseason. If someone says our O-Line is good, I'll believe it when I see it in the regular season.
This is a placeholder
gbguy20
14 years ago
yo remember last preseason
BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.
go.pack.go.
14 years ago
I think Colledge is playing a lot better mainly because of the pressure that Bulaga is putting on him. I like the competition, makes everybody play better.
UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
I remember last preseason. This line is very different, mostly in their depth. They are also different because of Tauscher and Barbie. If you just look at the surface and not at the players, it may seem similar, but it is night and day different if you look beyond that.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
tonyagnese
14 years ago
The line seems to be gelling nicely. Lang looks good at RT. Finley is gonna BE A BEAST!!!!! Indy couldn't stop him and I highly doubt 90% of the people he faces will be able to handle him!
blank
Fan Shout
packerfanoutwest (3h) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
Zero2Cool (11h) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Pretty sure they already have scouting reports on guys who aren't even starting for their college team. The future is now for me.
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : I tend to let Gute and Co. Worry about the future.
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Jaire and Evans Williams are both ACTIVE! Good news.
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : The badgers really need to change the whole offensive scheme. No draws no screens plus the quarterback is marginal
Cheesey (17-Nov) : If the Badgers had a decent QB, they would have won. The guy can't hit a wide open receiver
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : chop block
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : there was a very questionable job Block call that upon viewing replay was very borderline
beast (17-Nov) : How so? (I didn't watch)
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Badgers got hosed vs Oregon
packerfanoutwest (16-Nov) : damn,he hasn't played since week 2
Mucky Tundra (15-Nov) : poor guy can't catch a break
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
12h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

21-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

19-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

19-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

19-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

19-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.