Something has to change when it comes to the Green Bay Packers run defense. Doing the same thing each week and expecting a different outcome is, well, insanity, as Albert Einstein said.
“We’re going to have to do something different,” said Matt LaFleur following the Packers’ loss to Detroit, “because it’s insane to do the same things over and over again and expect a different result.”
Buy Packers TicketsThe Lions dominated the ground game against the Packers on both sides of the ball, but specifically on offense, they rushed for over 200 yards against this Green Bay defense, controlling the line of scrimmage and, therefore, the game. Detroit is now the second team in just four games to rush for at least 200 yards, with Atlanta being the other.
Perhaps the most demoralizing aspect of the Lions’ ground game performance is that the Packers, and really everyone, knew that Detroit wanted to run the ball. That wasn’t a secret. The Lions entered Week 4 ranked seventh in rush attempts per game, relying very heavily on the run game on first downs in particular, and ended up running the ball 43 times against Green Bay.
“That is a good offensive line, and they have really good runners,” added LaFleur. “I think (Jahmyr) Gibbs and (David) Montgomery are two of the better backs, and it’s one of the best offensive lines. But it’s still inexcusable. You should be able to take one phase away. If you want to stop the run and commit to that, then make them throw it over your head.”
This inability to slow the opponent’s run game is not a new phenomenon either. Last season, Green Bay ranked 28th in yards per carry allowed and 31st by run defense DVOA. The problem extends well beyond that season as well.
On Friday, when speaking with the media, LaFleur clarified what he meant when saying that the team had to do something different.
“I think it’s more of the philosophy of some of the things we are trying to get done,” LaFleur said. “Different ways, especially when you know teams are going to run the ball. I know we like to keep a shell on our defense, but there may be times when we have to break that. Trust me, we are looking at everything.”
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry was brought to Green Bay by LaFleur to run a version of the Vic Fangio-style defense that uses a heavy dose of quarters coverage, with one of the core principles of this defense being the elimination of the downfield pass play. However, the flip side of that is moving the ball via the run game can be easier for offenses, especially when this defensive scheme is coupled with Barry’s passive approach.
As I already mentioned, the Lions want to run the ball. That became even more clear when they jumped out to a 24 to 3 lead over the Packers. But Green Bay still continued to utilize the same coverage scheme, for the most part. When LaFleur says there will be times they have to break that coverage shell they usually play with, it means bringing an extra safety down in those instances to help against the run.
“I don’t think any of us can be so rigid that you don’t adapt when things aren’t working,” said LaFleur. “You have to look to adapt. As a staff, we are open-minded enough to make those adjustments, and we are going to do whatever we need to do to put our guys in a better position.”
Every aspect of the Packers’ run defense has to be put under a microscope moving forward. From their defensive philosophy to how they make in-game adjustments to their personnel usage and what they are asking their players to do. Everything.
The negative trickle-down effect of not being able to slow the run game permeates through the rest of the defense to the passing game by putting the opposing offense in advantageous passing situations and impacts Green Bay’s own offense by keeping them off the field and potentially playing from behind.
Step one is recognizing the problem and making adjustments. However, these issues with the run defense aren’t new, either. Changes need to be made, but at the end of the day, the results on the football field need to happen and happen consistently.
“It’s all of us in it together. Myself, our defensive staff, just looking at, shoot, some of the opponents we’ve played and how they are trying to stop the run. So I think you’ve always got to look at different ways and potentially how we are using some of our players. So these next couple of days are going to give us a good opportunity to look at all of those things and make the necessary adjustments.”
