Paul Bretl | 12/28/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers are again going to be shorthanded in the secondary this week, the question is, how shorthanded will they be against a high-powered Minnesota passing game?
Javon Bullard is questionable after returning to practice this week and being a limited participant all three days. He has missed the last two games after exiting the Packers’ Week 14 matchup against Detroit with an ankle injury.
“He brings a physicality to the game, whether he’s playing nickel or safety, he’s good in the run game, he’s aggressive in the pass game,” Jeff Hafley said on Thursday. “I thought he was playing really good football and he’s one of our better players, so hopefully we’ll have a chance to get him back and get him going. But we’ve certainly missed him.”
While Bullard’s status is up in the air, we know that the Packers will be without Evan Williams as well as Jaire Alexander. Williams suffered a quad injury in practice last week with Matt LaFleur saying that they hope he can return by the playoffs. With Alexander, who is working through a PCL injury, his knee hasn’t responded as the team would have hoped.
Awaiting the Packers’ banged up secondary this week is a Vikings’ offense that ranks ninth in points per game this season. With Sam Darnold at quarterback, leading the way at receiver is, of course, Justin Jefferson, who’s totaled 1,387 receiving yards this season. But not to be forgotten about is Jordan Addison, who has 806 receiving yards of his own, and tight end TJ Hockenson.
“Obviously, they’ve got a ton of weapons – probably the best receiver in the game, one of the better tight ends in the game,” said Matt LaFleur. “And they’ve got multiple receivers – Addison’s great, as well, Aaron Jones. They’ve got a lot of weapons. I think they’ve done a really nice job.”
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One of the difficult elements that comes with defending the Vikings’ offense is that, individually, any of the receiving threats just mentioned can be a lot for opposing defenses to handle on their own. But when you have that talent and marry those passing concepts with the run game, it can really put a defense in a bind.
On the season, Aaron Jones has rushed for 1,046 yards–the 10th most in football–and he’s averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. Off of that run game success, the Vikings use a heavy dose of play-action, with the fifth-most pass attempts this season.
Darnold and the passing game have been lights out off play-action, with him completing 74% of his throws at 10.9 yards per attempt with 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
“They present a lot of problems with how they stress you in different ways defensively,” LaFleur added. “Their ability to run the ball and then come back with some play-action. Kevin’s a guy I’ve got a lot of respect for. You see each week, whenever we have a crossover game, you’re always looking at what they’re doing.”
Despite the injuries in the secondary for Green Bay, this is a unit that has been able to hold its own in recent weeks. Jeff Hafley mentioned that Keisean Nixon had one of his best performances of the season against New Orleans even though he had to move to the slot, which is not an easy task.
Rich Bisaccia discussed how Zayne Anderson, whether its special teams or defense, prepares like he’s going to start every single day. So the fact that he made a seamless transition to the starting role, even on short notice, doesn’t surprise him.
Carrington Valentine, meanwhile, like many of the Packers’ defenders, has become more confident in what he’s being asked to do within Hafley’s scheme, and that is resulting in fast and physical play on the field.
“I think the key is for us as coaches to not overcomplicate things,” said Jeff Hafley on the defensive depth. “So it’s like this ‘I get in the game and I have no idea what I’m’–no. We gotta make sure they can play fast, all these guys can play fast and that they’re ready to do it. And I think that’s a big part of it too.
“They work hard, they’re hungry, they get a long together and it’s not like the backups are just sitting there, no, they’re getting ready to play and we’re going to need that. We got a lot of football left but we’re going to need all those guys. We need to make them feel part of that too. I think that’s really important.”
But, as already highlighted, this week’s opponent brings a more difficult challenge than what the Packers have been up against in recent weeks. While the focus may be on the Packers’ secondary and how they match up with Jefferson, Addison, and Co., it’s going to take a complete defensive effort to contain the Vikings’ offense.
As already eluded to, with how well Vikings’ coach Kevin O’Connell pairs the run and passing games, containing Jones will be an important factor for the Packers. And to Green Bay’s credit, their run defense under Hafley may be one of the most improved aspects of this team, with the Packers currently ranking fifth in yards per rush allowed.
If the Packers can bottle up Jones consistently, that will put Darnold and the offense behind the sticks and in obvious passing situations. Coverage-wise, the defense has the upper hand in second and third-and-long situations, while the pass rush is able to pin its ears back to get after the quarterback.
Although pressuring Darnold won’t guarantee success, it’s much better than the alternative. From a clean pocket, he is completing 74% of his throws but that number dips to 53% when under duress. According to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings’ offensive line is allowing the fourth-highest pressure rate this season.
“It makes it hard with the ball distribution, whether it’s going to Jefferson or whether it’s going to Addison or whether it’s going to Jones, and now you have the tight end to worry about.” said Hafley.
“I think anytime in football you’ve got good wideouts and you have the element of the good tight end, kind of like we do, it’s a threat and you’ve got to be aware of it. Whether it’s in zone or man, who’s going to match up on him in man. There’s certain zones where you gotta get him (Hockenson) down, too.”
This complementary approach just described is already something the Packers’ defense is doing and it’s been a key factor in the aforementioned success that the secondary has had.
With Green Bay’s offense jumping out to quick leads along with the play of the run defense, it has forced the opponent to abandon their game plan fairly early on, and in turn, they become pass-heavy and one-dimensional.
The pass rush, which is picking up steam for the Packers, can then get after the quarterback, which often means less time in coverage for the defensive backs with the timing and rhythm of the play disrupted and potential mistakes coming their way.
“I think you gotta look at it, it’s not how the secondary’s done it, we’ve done it as a team and we’ve done it as a defense, and I think that’s the biggest thing that we’re stressing to these guys right now,” said Hafley. “When we’re defending the pass and Justin Jefferson and all these good wideouts and Sam Darnold, like it’s not just put it on the DBs, it’s what can we do as a defense to make sure that we’re playing well back there.
“We’re rushing well, we’re sending pressures, we’re running good games, we’re dropping into different zones, right? We’re taking a lot of pride in how we disguise things right now. The players are taking a lot of pride in that right now. So we’re doing it together and I think that’s the biggest key to it all right now.”
The Packers have already clinched a playoff spot, but whether they are fifth, sixth, or seventh seed in the NFC is still to be determined and the results of Sunday’s game could play an important factor in deciding where Green Bay ends up in that regard.
However, this game will also provide the Packers with a bit of a tune-up before the postseason arrives as they head to a hostile road environment and face one of the premiere teams in the NFC–something they’ll have to do on a few occasions in January if they hope to make a run. I imagine the hope in the coming weeks before the playoffs begin is that the Packers can get healthy in the secondary. But this week that won’t be the case and Green Bay will have to continue relying on their depth.
“I think a lot of these guys it just speaks I think to their football character,” LaFleur said of the team’s depth. “Being ready to go when you’re number’s called upon. I mean, we hit it all the time, you just gotta maximize your opportunities, especially if you’re not the lead dog. And I think if you are a starter, then you can never take it for granted because there’s always somebody that’s putting in the work, trying to take your job.”