Many in Green Bay were shocked that Jim Bates was passed over for then-unknown Mike McCarty for the head-coaching position in 2006. But what baffled Packer fans even more was Little Mac’s decision to promote the existing Defensive Ends Coach Bob Sanders to the coordinator position.
With no previous NFL experience as a coordinator, the task of training a new corps of young and inexperienced Ted Thompson draft picks would fall upon Bob. And while Bob had much success in Florida, working with an unending supply of talented Gators, he had much to learn about the level of talent at the professional level for NFL teams.
Because defensive units are more balanced in terms of talent in comparison to the collegiate level, the strategy the defense employs for each game is so critically important.
Last year’s strategies have been broken down, dissected, and studied by opposing teams in preparation for the next match, basically making them obsolete by season or week’s end.
Sanders' approach, however, has been to utilize the existing gameplan, week in and week out, to consistently rush four and drop seven into deep coverage, especially in deep post patterns. That leaves the underneath and middle of the field exposed to quarterback check downs on third or fourth receivers.
Most opponents have had terrific success in third-down situations against us because of this. Viewers sit and watch with growing frustration as the defense plays the same consistent strategy that even the fans know has little true chance of success. This year, the defense has nine sacks through Week Five and nine picks. Last year, it was 12 sacks with five interceptions.
The point is that this year, opposing quarterbacks have more time to throw downfield because the defensive line's pass rush is non-existent. Last year, with solid downfield coverage, the rush was able to collapse the pocket and sack such mobile quarterbacks as McNabb, Rivers, and Manning. The quality of our opponents compared to last year is not as good to warrant such a terrible performance on defense.
Little Mac has begun pointing the finger at the line as the only solvable problem on defense. He stated on Oct. 6, that “the way we're situated and organized on defense, it's very evident when something goes wrong, someone not being in their gaps almost like we took turns doing it, was guys trying to do too much.”
Why does the line feel like it has to “do too much?” Is it because they know if they can’t do it, they will be on the field for an eight minute, 65-yard drive? Clearly this is a wake-up call for adjusting the defensive strategy to reflect the current situation of the depleted front line, injured linebackers, and missing key secondary personnel.
3 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
I love your poll, and this was one of the best analyses I have read. I still think a healthy line could pull off this strategy, but the current defensive incarnation has exactly the hole you mentioned: check-downs. The only other thing I do not 100% agree with is your description of Rivers and Manning as "mobile" QBs, but it's not like they're Dan Marino-level statues back there, either. Easy pick of the day!
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JACK DART 9 months ago
Good article, I hope McCarthy reads it.
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Don Zak 9 months ago
Thanks for the Comments from both Jack and MJ.
It was apparent that the overwhelmed Seattle O line couldn't handle Sander's second quarter blitzing of Woodson! The word is out and they have responded!
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