Packers… Great Run, NOT a Great Team
Celebrate the Packers run. Beginning on with Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28th), they featured a dominant offense and a “fake-tough” defense. Green Bay went on an epic run, winning 6-straight to capture the NFC North title. Aaron Rodgers was spectacular, as were all of his receivers—Jordy, Davante, Randall, Jared…all of them. Even the defense did their part—pretending to be adequate.
The Packers displayed a 6-week finishing kick that was spectacular, and continued into the playoffs with a dominant Wild Card weekend win followed by one of the all-time classics in Dallas. This is not meant to take away from the run, but on Sunday in Atlanta, it all unraveled and exposed the Packers as a one dimensional franchise that must adapt or accept that they cannot be champions.
Against average NFL offenses, the Packers defense was okay. Against better offenses, Green Bay’s defense was overwhelmed.
In 7-games against the NFL’s top-15 scoring offenses, the Packers allowed an astounding 36.9 points per game. That’s ridiculous.
For comparison sake, the Packers’ offense in 11-games against the NFL’s top 15 scoring defenses, averaged 28.5 points per game. That would be rank Green Bay as the NFL’s 3rd best scoring offense.
For all of the discussion of the Packers defense being decimated by injury, the only consistent missing piece was Sam Shields. That was a significant loss, as the team’s best cover corner didn’t play after the opening day loss in Jacksonville. Significant talent issues exist at Linebacker—and Cornerback. The play from Safety’s and interior defensive line is solid or even good. The remainder of the defense is simply NOT good enough.
The answers are not easy. Personnel issues likely trump the issues with scheme, but it’s absolutely time for an attitude change on defense, and that means saying goodbye to Dom Capers. There are brilliant young defensive minds out there—it’s time to put your faith in one of them.
As for personnel, that’s a GM issue. Ted Thompson has not drafted well on that side of the ball. At the most, Thompson has two drafts remaining. The only offensive positions that need attention in the draft are Running Back and Offensive Line depth. Free Agency could help too—sorry, not available with current management.
Bottom line…half of the team needs a complete and total reboot (defense) and the other half needs a little tinkering.
The last two months were great—the next 8-months are critical.