Green Bay Shouldn't Panic: How the Packers Can Jump-Start Their Offense

The Green Bay Packers have been here before. After stumbling out of the gate versus the Seahawks, squeaking by the Jets and laying an egg against the Lions, familiar questions are being raised. Going 1-2 to start a third straight season comes with expected criticism to throw around, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Shortly after their Week 3 loss, Aaron Rodgers alluded to teams' tendencies of copycatting previous defensive tactics that limit chances for the Pack of making big pass plays.

"We have to do a better job of adjusting some of our offense if a team is going to play us two-high and go back to some of the ways they did in 2011," Rodgers stated, as reported by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Head coach Mike McCarthy saw their struggles differently. Per Silverstein, McCarthy wants more focus on the Jimmys and Joes, not the X's and O's.

"I'm not really up here to talk about scheme," McCarthy said at his Monday news conference. "One thing I always talk to our players about all the time is scheme is not a crutch. The fundamentals and the things we do from an execution standpoint were not good enough, clearly, on offense."

What isn't different from the past is just how sluggish this team, and specifically the offensive line, have performed to date. Similar to 2012, when the Pack also traveled to Seattle (and basically helped end the NFL referee lockout, as reported by ABC News), the Packers run game hasn't made enough of an impact to help them in the front end of their schedule. In '12, the Green and Gold had 235 rushing yards after three games. They've only managed to gain a single yard more than that total so far this year.

If Green Bay is to bounce back, the offense cannot be a liability, period. Here's what the Packers should address in order to get back on the right track.

Be Less Stubborn and More Adaptive in Philosophy on Offense

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McCarthy is a great coach and good play-caller, but he's either saving too much of the playbook for later opponents or simply growing stale. His well-known desire to shape the Pack into a more balanced, physical-style running team can't be his own crutch as the team's conductor. Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star has a point when it comes to the way many powerful offenses operate:

"Modern Football 101 is you pass to get the lead and run to protect it. McCarthy has it backward."

Formations, Formations, Formations...

Green Bay can't be the same movie you've seen on TV too many times to name. Sending out multiple personnel packages early and often could be a remedy. One grouping that has worked in the past is the "01" package, a set the Packers used with some success against San Francisco last year, as detailed by B/R AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz.

The lack of variety can surely be attributed to running a no-huddle offense almost exclusively. Based on ESPN Stats & Information statistics (via ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky), Rodgers' gang has been in the "Zebra" package (a 1 TE, 1 RB, 3 WR set Green Bay mostly uses for uptempo play) for 78.4 percent of their snaps.

Playing fast and tiring a defense can pay dividends. As arguably the best QB in pro ball, Rodgers has the confidence and trust of McCarthy to steer the car in the right direction. Yet by pulling back on the reins a bit and confusing defenses rather than failing at wearing them out, the Packers offense may gain back its rhythm easier.

Less Eddie Burgers, More Corn on the Cobb

Eddie Lacy is a talented young rusher who, when healthy, brings the physical element McCarthy craves. However, without the offense generating more explosive plays and touchdowns, the Packers waste his potentially greatest ability—salting games away.

Big running backs are an exposed, winded defense's worst nightmare in the latter stages of a game. They're also a target of motivation in the opening acts.

The Lions made a statement when defensive tackle Nick Fairley stripped Lacy for an eventual fumble return touchdown and followed that up with a safety-forcing tackle all in the first half of their clash in the Motor City. NFL defenses are taking advantage of Green Bay playing into their strengths; the Pack are getting packed in when they attempt to push the bully.

MIKE ROEMER — AP

The solution for Green Bay is simple—use your own strengths. Funny thing is, they have a great one in Swiss army knife Randall Cobb. Though his main task is that of slot receiver, Pro-Football-Reference.com shows he averaged an impressive 19.5 yards per rushing attempt in 2013.

Whether it be motioning into an empty backfield for a handoff or slicing outside on a jet sweep out of a bunch formation, Cobb is exactly the guy McCarthy needs to unleash, a Percy Harvin-esque jack-of-all-trades who strikes fear in any opposing D. 

Say Those Five Letters for Me Again, Aaron...

None of the goals Green Bay set out to accomplish this year are in jeopardy...yet. Therefore, Rodgers' advice for Packers fans to "R-E-L-A-X" on his weekly ESPN Radio Milwaukee show (via Demovsky) was sound. 

Another thing to consider is that the level of competition Mr. Discount Double Check and Co. have seen will balance out at some point in their schedule. Up to Thursday night's Giants-Washington game, the Packers had battled the NFL's top three defenses against the run in their first three games, according to ESPN Stats & Info (via Demovsky). 

In each of the last three seasons, the Pack have started 1-2, including a topsy-turvy 2013 season in which after a rocky start, Green Bay still went on to win the NFC North. The Packers aren't in uncharted territory, and as long as the offensive coaching staff takes heed to areas of concern highlighted in a recent Team Stream Now video on Green Bay's problems, they can still contend for their division and beyond.