Packers' Soft Run-Defense Becoming a Lingering Problem

I think the word is out: The Green Bay Packers are struggling to stop the run early in the season. Say what you want about quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but it's the Packers' run defense that has been the sole cause of their 2-3 start.

And you better believe that Seattle coach Mike Holmgren has noticed the Packers' recent three-game losing streak, a streak in which Green Bay has given up an average of 190 rushing yards. Seahawks RB Julius Jones has to be licking his chops.

The Packers' defense was believed to be a strong unit heading into the season, after finishing last season in the top half of almost every important statistical category. But it's been anything but a solid unit for Packers coach Mike McCarthy, as the Packers rank 26th in points and 30th in rush yards allowed in 2008.

“I look at the defense as the thermostat in a football game,” McCarthy said. “They need to keep the game in order, and it starts with stopping the run, and we’re not doing a very good job of it.

That thermostat has been ice cold thus far for Green Bay, and not in a Lambeau Field-January-playoff-game type way.

To be brutally honest, the Packers' run defense has been manhandled in four out of their five games. Maybe you've already forgotten, but Vikings RB Adrian Peterson ran for over 100 yards on opening night. In the past three games, Earnest Graham, Marion Barber, and Michael Turner have all went over 100 yards rushing.

Only the lowly Detroit Lions were unable to crack the century mark on the Packers' pourous run D. In comparison to last season, the Packers only gave up three 100 yard rushers all season.

So where do the problems start? You can blame the injuries, where DE Cullen Jenkins has been sidelined for the season, and DT Justin Harrell was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list prior to the season. DT Daniel Muir, who was a preseason standout, also went down before the season with an injury.

Saftey Atari Bigby is a run-attacking safety, but a hamstring injury has kept him out since Detroit. LB A.J. Hawk is slowed by a groin strain, CB Al Harris has been out with a spleen injury, and CB Charles Woodson is still playing with a broken toe.

You could also look at the Packers' personnel. I think a move that got over looked this offseason was the trade of DT Corey Williams. Williams was a underrated defensive tackle, and it's showing this season. He routinely took up two blockers, which freed up linebackers, and Williams was a solid pass rusher for his position.

General Manager Ted Thompson always preaches about having a solid defensive line rotation, but he may have traded the Packers' most-talented cog from last season.

Defensive schemes come into play as well, and McCarthy has noticed that the players aren't always performing fundamentally within the respective schemes. "If you want to look at it closely, look at the gap control," McCarthy said. "That's exactly what I am talking about. It's the details of the things that are involved in good run defense. It just wasn't very clean [vs. Atlanta]."

Defensive Coordinator Bob Sanders continues to take blame for the struggles but remains confident of a turnaround. "If we do what we're supposed to do, everybody stays in their gap, and attack where we're supposed to attack and maintain where we're supposed to contain, those type of things, I think we'll be fine," Sanders said. "Our guys are playing physical, but they have to hang in there and play together. It's not one position. We just have to maintain our gap integrity and everyone play to their utmost. I think we can get that done. There are no excuses."

Injuries and player movements happen in the NFL, but in order to start stopping the run, Packer defenders and coaches alike will have to get back to work.

"(The players) know it, and we take the realistic approach," McCarthy said. "We’re going to coach them hard and grade the film, just like we always have, and we need to get it fixed.”