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Speedy and dynamic Dolphins’ offense will challenge Packers’ fundamentals and discipline

Paul Bretl | 11/26/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Coming off of a dominant performance against an, albeit shorthanded 49ers team, the Packers’ defense faces a bigger challenge this week against the speedy Miami Dolphins offense, one that will test their fundamentals and discipline.

“I think you’re just trusting your eyes, your discipline, just reacting to what you see,” said Lukas Van Ness of the Miami offense. “I think there’s going to be a lot of eyewash, a lot of stuff going on very similar to what we played last week, so that definitely helps with those similar systems. But again, trusting your fundamentals and trusting your eyes.”

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Now 12 weeks into the 2024 season, this year has had two starkly contrasting halves for the Miami offense. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a scary concussion in Week 2 that landed him on injured reserve. Without Tagovailoa over that following month, Miami had one of the worst offenses in football.

However, since his return in Week 8, as was expected at the start of the year, this has been one of the more high-powered units in football. During that five game span, the Dolphins are averaging 29.0 points per game and are winners of three of their last four.

Individually, Tagovailoa is first in completion percentage, completing a whopping 77 percent of his passes along with being fifth in both yards and touchdowns.

“He does such a great job of throwing with anticipation,” said Matt LaFleur of Tagovailoa. “He’s as good as it gets in this league. So, you’ve got to make sure you try to disrupt the timing somehow, some way, whether it’s getting him off the spot, because he will make you pay. If there’s just a sliver of light in there, he trusts his wideouts to be in the right spot. He hits his back foot and that ball gets out of his hands.

“So, it’s a great challenge. It really affords his guys, because he’s a very accurate thrower, as well, so when the ball’s coming out as quick as it does with him and he puts it on the money, it gives those guys the opportunity to run after catch, and we all know the speed that these guys have – it’s unlike probably any team in the National Football League.”

Surrounding Tagovailoa is a litany of speed and playmaking options. Of course, featured at the receiver position are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle–both of whom averaged over 14 yards per catch in 2023 with a healthy Tagovailo. Then there is Jonnu Smith who is among the most productive tight ends in football this season, ranking fifth in receiving yards on the season.

Running back DeVon Achane brings a dynamic presence out of the backfield, both in the run game, where he’s averaged 6.0 yards per carry since Tagovailoa has returned, while also being among the league leaders in receiving yards at his position over the course of this season.

With that speed and playmaking comes big play potential, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll see the Dolphins routinely throwing the ball downfield. Miami’s offense has the ability to turn a screen, which they run a lot of, or a quick throw into space into a massive gain.

“They’re definitely the fastest group that we’ve seen so far on tape,” said Jeff Hafley of the Miami skill position players. “We’ve got to do it in a variety of different ways – different coverages, different ways to try to slow them down. I don’t want to get into anything too specific, but it’s something that not a lot of people have been able to do. Ultimately you’ve got to try to keep the ball in front of you. Hopefully some of the things that we’re going to do, some of the adjustments we’re going to make will allow for that to happen.”

Handling this dynamic group in straight forward one-on-one matchups can present obvious challenges. But the added wrinkle that makes defending this offense all the more difficult is all of the eye-candy pre-snap, through motions and misdirections.

For any defense, trying to decipher what is real and what is fluff can be a real challenge. All of that pre-snap movement can stress a defense horizontally, creating both running and passing lanes to be exploited. And when coupled with Miami’s speed, it only takes one false step for a play to turn into a homerun.

“Trying to get your eyes in one spot so that they can hit something somewhere else,” said Evan Williams. “They have so much speed that they’re able to do that pretty effectively to a lot of these defenses. But for us, it’s just simplifying everything and while all the motion is happening just making sure your eyes are in the right spot. So thinking ahead, anticipating what you’re going to get to next and just being ready to be on your toes, make those adjustments, and put your feet in the ground.”

The Packers, at the moment, are navigating some injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Jaire Alexander remains sidelined as he works through a knee injury, as does Edgerrin Cooper, who exited last Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury. Also added to the injury report was linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who was estimated as a non-participant in Monday’s practice, which was really just a walkthrough.

If McDuffie can’t go, the Packers will lean heavily on Eric Wilson when in their nickel alignment and likely Ty’Ron Hopper when they line up in their base defense. This Dolphins’ offense, in particular, can really stress the linebacker position with all of their pre-snap movement, along with Tagovailoa heavily targeting short and intermediate routes in the passing game.

“I thought in the snaps that he went in for last week, I thought he did a nice job,” LaFleur said of Hopper. “I think he’s shown progress, and that progress has been seen at practice. It always starts there and that gives us confidence to put him in the game. I thought just the way he went out there and competed, I thought it was at a high level.”

At cornerback this past Sunday without Alexander, Keisean Nixon continued to start on the boundary with Javon Bullard in the slot, while Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes alternated series opposite of Nixon.

With the linebacker and cornerback positions navigating injuries, there will be an added emphasis on the play of the Packers’ defensive front. When throwing from a clean pocket, Tagovailoa’s completion rate is 75 percent at 8.9 yards per attempt. However, when under duress, his completion rate plummets to 40 percent and only 5.3 yards per attempt.

But pressuring Tagovailoa won’t come easy. The Dolphins’ offensive line has the third-lowest pressure rate in football this season, and contributing to that success is how quickly Tagovailoa gets the ball out of his hands, with an average time to throw of 2.33 seconds–the quickest mark in the NFL.

“I’ve just noticed that he gets the ball out really, really quick,” said Van Ness of Tagovailoa. “So I think first and second down up front we’ve just gotta do what we can to try to impact those throws. We know they’re going to do a lot of different things, whether that’s screens or different looks, so just reacting fast, playing fast and doing what we can to help affect him.”

In order to have steady opportunities to generate pressure, the Packers’ defense has to eat its vegetables on early downs and slow the Miami run game. While the pass-catching options that the Dolphins have will garner plenty of attention, their 28.7 rush attempts per game are the eighth-most in football. As is the case with the other Shanahan-esque offenses, the foundation begins with the run game.

The trickle-down effect of not being able to contain Achane and Raheem Mostert on the ground will keep the Miami offense ahead of the sticks, where the entire playbook is then open to them at that point. And when you put together an off-balanced defense wary of both the run and the pass, all of the misdirection and motion Miami utilizes, along with the dynamic players on this offense, well, that’s a recipe for a long day.

Everything just described isn’t all that unlike what they just saw a few days ago against the San Francisco offense, with Miami head coach Mike McDaniel coming from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. But the biggest difference, obviously, is the quarterback position. Where the Packers could go a bit heavier and really emphasize taking away the run game against Brandon Allen, they won’t have the luxury of doing that on Thursday against Tagovailoa and the weapons around him.

“You’ll see them throw the ball downfield and hit some big plays,” added Hafley, “but then you’ll see a lot of catch-and-run, where in rhythm he’s throwing the ball, whether it’s play-action or he’s just getting the ball out quick in quick game. He does a really good job with it. He’s accurate. Like I said, he really throws the ball in rhythm well, and then he has those guys, when they catch it, you’d better be on them or you’d better take great angles.

“They probably throw as many screens as we’ve seen on film, and a variety of different ones. And it’s not just the receivers. It’s the backs, too. So they’ve done a really good job creating some mismatches, getting the ball in space and letting their guys kind of catch and run. So they do a really good job with that.”

On a short week, will Packers lean more heavily on Wilson and Brooks at RB?

Paul Bretl | 11/26/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers leaned heavily on Josh Jacobs in Sunday’s win over the 49ers with him carrying the ball 26 times. Now, with a quick turnaround and a Thursday night matchup with Miami, Green Bay may have to rely more on Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks this week in an effort to be mindful of Jacobs’ workload.

“Luckily for us, we do have confidence in those other two backs,” said Matt LaFleur after Sunday’s win. “I thought Emanuel Wilson ran really good. Brooks has given us some good carries as well. So yeah, we may have to lean on those guys a little bit more next game in a couple days here. But that’s one guy that I don’t worry about is Josh Jacobs. That guy is an animal. He is a dog and a dog competitor. He definitely relishes those opportunities.”

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Since Wilson arrived in Green Bay last summer as an undrafted rookie, he’s showcased his burst and ability with the ball in his hands. Despite only getting maybe a handful of carries each week, more often than not, Wilson generates a chunk run on the play.

Through 12 weeks this season and 66 carries, Wilson is averaging 4.7 yards per rush–which ranks 14th among all running backs–totaling 19 missed tackles forced, along with 12 rushes of at least 10 yards. Wilson’s ability to make defenders miss and routinely generate positive plays begins with his acceleration and being able to start and stop on a dime.

“He’s got really, really good feet and acceleration,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “And when I say that, like his cutting ability, he can stop and start at full speed, and I think what happens with that, is when defenders are, whether they’re coming at him or he’s got to read a block, is when they’re ready to change direction as he’s changing direction, he’s already by them. So I think that’s a facet of his skill set that kind of has allowed him to have those explosive runs.”

Wilson has also steadily improved in pass protection and in the passing game in general, helping him earn more playing time, but filling that do-it-all role for the Packers at running back has been Brooks.

Snap count-wise, Brooks has often been the second running back on the depth chart in recent weeks, handling a variety of responsibilities. The Packers have gotten him some touches, both as a ball carrier and in the passing game, and moved him around the formation, lining up in-line, as a fullback, and even out wide.

However, the part of Brooks’ game where he continues to stand out is in pass protection, especially with picking up blitzers, and it’s that ability that has played a pivotal factor in his role increasing as the year has gone on. While PFF’s grading system isn’t the be-all-end-all, Brooks ranks second among all running backs in pass-blocking grade this season.

“He’s had really good training when he was down in Miami,” said Sirmans of Brooks ability in pass protection. “So I think that part of it has been good. He came in already with a general knowledge of how our protection works.

“I think the No. 1 thing that a guy has to have is just that tenacity that this man, this guy is not getting to the quarterback. Even if his technique and fundamentals break down. But that’s rule No. 1. If you got that mindset that’s going to go a long way in picking up protection.”

Coming to Green Bay on Thursday will be the Dolphins, who against the run, are allowing 4.3 yards per rush this season, ranking 16th in that category, and are 24th in ESPN’s run-stop rate metric.

Ultimately the matchup and game flow will dictate the run-pass mix that the Packers strike in a given game. But as we saw this past Sunday, the run game can be a catalyst for the rest of the offense, opening up the playbook when in those manageable down and distances to keep defenses off-balanced, along with playing a key factor in Green Bay’s third down and red zone success.

“That opens up just a lot of things that we can get to,” said Tucker Kraft of Jacobs and the run game. “We can get to play pass, and we got shots off the runs that we have. So just opens the playbook up even more. And we don’t even have to get to those plays. We just still rely on our backs.”

All of that said, Jacobs is, of course, going to be a factor in this game. The question at hand, however, is what his workload will look like–will it be a game with closer to 15 carries or will the Packers lean on him again?

For Jacobs, he’s doing everything he can in these few days to put himself as close to 100 percent as possible so that if his number is called often, he’s ready to go, and that preparation started immediately following Green Bay’s win over San Francisco.

“Recovery, man,” said Jacobs about playing on a short week. “That’s the thing that I had to learn, I feel like my second, third year in the league is how to take care of my body and how to go about things like that. I mean I’m about to be in here for like another hour and a half before I actually even go home, just trying to get my body right and trying to be as close to 100 (percent) as possible come Thursday.”

Two pivotal plays from Xavier McKinney helps turn tide for Packers vs 49ers

Paul Bretl | 11/25/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The game ended as an easy 38-10 victory for the Packers over the 49ers. However, in the process of getting to that point were two crucial plays by Xavier McKinney on back-to-back possessions to begin the second half when the Niners were still in striking distance.

Following a late first-half touchdown, San Francisco cut the Packers lead to 17-7, and the 49ers started with the ball in the second half. Led by Christian McCaffrey and the run game, the 49ers were again driving on that opening third-quarter possession, making their way down to the Green Bay 39-yard, where, at a minimum, they were on the cusp of field goal range and making it a one-score game.

Facing a 3rd-and-8 from the Packers’ 45, Niners’ quarterback Brandon Allen would scramble to his left but be pushed out of bounds by McKinney to force a 4th-and-2 at the aforementioned 39-yard line.

With Christian McCaffrey lined up in the slot, he would run a quick out route a few yards beyond the first down marker. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who was lined up closely to McCaffrey’s left, would run and in-breaking route, with the two players crossing within a yard of each other. But McKinney was all over it. The second McCaffrey put his foot in the ground to begin his cut, McKinney navigated around Jennings and undercut McCaffrey’s route for the pass breakup.

“That’s what I came here to do,” said Xavier McKinney at his locker. “That’s why I was brought in, to be able to make big-time plays when we really need it, so credit to a great call with Haf. Credit to everybody doing they job and that’s just going out there and me being able to make a play. That’s really it.”

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Then on the second 49ers’ possession of the half, following a Packers’ punt, San Francisco was again driving into Green Bay territory. Again trying to lean on the run game, the 49ers gave the ball to McCaffrey on first and second downs, but TJ Slaton was there to limit him to rushes of two yards and no gain.

Now in a 3rd-and-8 situation from the Packers’ 45 yard line, the 49ers had to pass. Allen dropped back and threw over the middle to Deebo Samuel. The Pass was a bit behind and went through Samuel’s hands and to McKinney who was the defender over the top, positioned perfectly as he always is.

McKinney would then return the interception 48 yards to the 49ers’ 26-yard line. Three plays later, the Packers’ offense would score a touchdown, giving them a 24-7 lead and the 49ers were never a threat from that point on.

“They were dropping a lot of passes, so I kinda played for the tip,” McKinney said of the interception. “I saw what was in front of me, but I kinda figured that that one probably was gonna get straight through the hands because it seemed like to be a thing pretty much the whole game, so I just played for the tip and luckily it bounced right to me and I was in the right spot and I was able to make the play.”

In the grand scheme of what ended up being blowout victory, these two plays could be forgotten about, to some degree. But they were pivotal moments in the second half that propelled the Packers to their big win. All it takes is some combination of a field goal or touchdown on either or both possessions and this game takes on a completely different dynamic.

These types of game-altering plays, of course, aren’t new for McKinney. He’s been doing it since he arrived in Green Bay. That interception is now McKinney’s seventh of the season, which is tied for the most in football. According to Pro Football Focus, McKinney is surrendering just one reception every 35.4 snaps, one of the highest-marks in football. Quarterbacks are only throwing his direction once every 23.6 snaps–again, one of the highest rates this season.

“It’s pretty special,” Evan Williams said of McKinney. “The ball finds him and that’s not a surprise or by chance at all. It’s just him putting himself in those situations and being in the right spot at the right time so if anything happens where it’s not a catch, he’s going to be in the right place to make a play. And he certainly makes the most of his opportunities, to say the least.”

McKinney is a force multiplier. His impact goes beyond just the stat sheet. His versatility provides Jeff Hafley flexibility as he puts together the gameplan, mixing and matching what role he asks McKinney to fill depending on the opponent, not to mention that he enhances Hafley’s ability to disguise coverages. Where McKinney is lined up pre-snap doesn’t mean that’s where he’s going to be when the quarterback hits the top of his drop.

In addition to that, as the numbers above illustrate, the field shrinks for offenses with McKinney out there because of the attention he garners and quarterbacks not wanting to throw his direction. All of this has a positive trickle-down effect to the rest of the defense, helping to put the other members of the secondary in advantageous situations.

The results and big plays that we see on Sundays from McKinney begins early, very early, in the week with his preparation. There is a relentlessness to McKinney and his work ethic. A prime example of this came right after the team’s win in Jacksonville. As the players and coaches are on the buses to be taken to the airport, McKinney sends defensive backs coach Ryan Downard, who was on a separate bus, asking if he has the Jared Goff tape yet–the Packers’ next opponent–so McKinney could dive in.

This is just one anecdote, but it’s not a one-off either. This is who McKinney is, and it’s a key part of what makes him so special.

“You send it to him,” said Hafley, using the third-down gameplan as an example, “and then this morning he comes in before anybody else and he wants to sit down and meet and he wants me to go over it with him. And then he goes over it with RD (Ryan Downard) and the DBs, and he does it in the walk-through and he does it on the field, because he wants to get it right, right away, and he gets angry when he doesn’t, because that’s what the great ones do.

“And he holds himself to such ahigh standard where he doesn’t want to make mistakes, and it shows. That’s what your really good players, every play matters, just like it does to us. So that’s the biggest kind of look-in I can give you to what he’s like. He’s always wanting to be on top of his stuff. The details, the execution, the competitor. That’s who he is, and that’s why he’s a really good player.”

To land McKinney in free agency, the Packers gave him a four-year, $67 million deal. The nearly $17 million per year that McKinney is earning makes him the fourth-highest-paid safety in football–a deal that looks like a bargain, given his impact both on and off the field.

Without those two crucial plays from McKinney on Sunday, perhaps the Packers still win–they were up 10 points after all, so we can’t confidently say the outcome would have changed. But what it is safe to say is that the Packers aren’t 8-3 if they don’t have McKinney.

“Any (time) that you can take the ball away and get yards after it, it’s a big deal,” said Keisean Nixon. “X is — seven picks now? I think that was a big-ass free-agent signing, but it’s kudos to him and his preparation. I see him come in the building every day and do the same thing.”

Josh Jacobs and run game cures Packers’ situational woes vs. 49ers

Paul Bretl | 11/24/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Leading the way for the Packers ‘offense in Week 12 was Josh Jacobs and the running game, who, for at least a week anyway, helped solve Green Bay’s red zone and third-down woes.

From the jump, the gameplan was to get Jacobs heavily involved. The San Francisco defensive front was without game-wrecking defensive end Nick Bosa, along with not having defensive tackle Kevin Givens, who was inactive, as well as Javon Hargrave who is on injured reserve. In the first half alone, Jacobs would carry the ball 17 times.

“It was pretty impressive,” said Matt LaFleur of Jacobs’ performance. “I think early on that got us going. We thought we could hit them with some of the downhill stuff. Obviously they’re missing a key part to that defense, two starters actually, so, but I thought we did what we had to do.”

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In total, Jacobs would carry the ball 26 times for 106 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Emanuel Wilson would rush for another 41 yards on nine carries. When it was all said and done, the Packers rushed for 169 yards as a team.

According to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, Jacobs would force 11 missed tackles in this game, which has been his calling card all season long. Coming into Week 12, Jacobs has been one of the most difficult ball carriers to bring down, ranking fifth in average yards after contact and seventh in missed tackles force.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” said Jacobs of his performance. “I don’t really feel any type of way about it. I just try to go in there and put my stamp on the game, and I felt like I was able to do that today. So, man, it just feels good when you get a convincing win like that.”

That ability to make defenders miss is a credit to his physical running style, but also his superb vision and feel for a game that has slowed down for him over the years, making it often look like Jacobs is a step ahead of the defenders that are trying to chase him down.

“The game just slows down for them and then now they can process what’s going on,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans about Jacobs’ vision. “And sometimes they can manipulate and that’s what he can also do, he can manipulate blocks understanding that if I’m going to manipulate it this way, it should open up something over here then that’s where I’ll take it.”

This success in the run game would play a key factor in the Packers’ ability to move the chains on third downs and to find the end zone when in the red zone–two areas that have given them fits this season. The Packers came into Sunday’s game ranked 22nd in third-down success rate and 27th inside the red zone.

However, against the 49ers, excluding the Packers final possession where they were trying to run out the clock, they converted 50 percent of their third down attempts. For some context, the Chiefs with a conversion rate of 51.8 percent is the best mark in football this season.

The impact of the run game on these figures is that moving the ball on the ground often keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations. In short down-and-distance situations, the entire playbook is open for the offense, which can create opportunities for the passing game, and the defense is on its heels, having to defend the entire field while being prepared for both the run and the pass.

“That’s something that we’re going to have to lean on in this final stretch of the season is our run game,” said Jordan Love after the game, “and I think the O-line has been doing a great job and they will continue to do that. Obviously, it all starts up front. We always talk about it, if you can get the run game going, it’ll make life easier in the pass game. It’ll help you set more things up, too. I think that’s going to be a big piece for us to lean on in the second half of the season.”

In the red zone, meanwhile, after converting on fewer than 50 percent of their previous red zone trips coming into this game, the Packers were a perfect 5-for-5 against the 49ers. Penalties in this part of the field have played a pivotal role in the red zone blues that Green Bay had experienced up to this point, and even in this game, they had another one.

Moving the ball in the red zone via the passing game can already be an innately more difficult task, given that it is a condensed part of the field and there is less space to operate in–you can’t stretch a defense vertically from the five yard line. So when an offense is being penalized and put into those dreaded ‘get back on track’ situations where they are forced to throw the ball, the level of difficulty is turned up a few notches.

But as LaFleur has mentioned previously, success in the red area can often start with the running game, for many of the reasons already mentioned, mainly putting the offense in favorable down and distances. So not coincidentally, in a game where Jacobs was featured heavily and found success, the Packers were able to find the end zone five times, which Jacobs being the ball carrier for three of those scores.

“I think it all started with the run game,” said Love of the team’s red zone success. “I think we were making some big plays in the run game. The o-line was doing a great job giving Josh some lanes, and then just handing the ball to 8. Three touchdowns on the ground for him, big night for him. I think it all started up front. Obviously Tuck had that screen. It was great execution there. Like I said before, it just comes down to executing the plays and finding ways to get in the end zone.”

The passing game for Green Bay had its moments, but it was also a bit of a disjointed performance as well, with some drops and off-target throws apart of the equation. But as was the case a week ago in Chicago, Jacobs helped provide the offense with some stability–an element to lean on throughout the game.

For a game anyway, the situational football issues that have plagued the Packers for much of the season weren’t even on their radar this Sunday. The challenge, however, is replicating that success so that the performance we saw against San Francisco becomes more of the norm rather than the outlier.

Certainly, each week isn’t going to look the same, and with an offense that features as much talent as the Packers do, they have plenty of players to get the ball to and different ways they can exploit an opponent. With that said, the blueprint for success in those key situations was on display, and it often starts with Jacobs, and can lead to so much more.

Can Packers’ situational football get back on track vs 49ers’ defense?

Paul Bretl | 11/24/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Situationally this season, specifically on third downs and in the red zone, the Packers’ offense has struggled. But could a matchup against the San Francisco defense help Green Bay get back on track situationally?

On the year, the Packers’ rank 22nd in third-down success rate and 27th inside the red zone. For an offense that, overall, moved the ball well against Chicago last week, with five red zone visits in just six possessions while averaging 8.5 yards per play, it was their performance in these key situations that played a big factor in the game being as close as it was.

“I think it’s tough,” said Jordan Love of the offense’s red zone performance. “I think it’s a lot of just looking at what we’ve been doing, what defenses have been doing to try to stop us and just trying to find better plays, find out what we can do better, what I can do better to get us in that end zone and get over the kinda lulls we’re having in the red zone right now.”

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Despite being able to move the ball and generate chunk plays, the Packers were just 1-for-5 on third downs versus the Bears. In the red zone, they were 3-for-5, which certainly isn’t awful, but what really hurt them was that on their two red zone “misses,” they didn’t just not score a touchdown, but they didn’t leave with points.

While this game and performance is the most recent example of these third down and red zone woes, it’s a problem that has impacted this Green Bay offense really all season–as the numbers illustrate.

A lot of the issues experienced by the Packers begin with self-inflicted errors. Whether it be a penalty–which have been prevalent with Green Bay penalized 19 times in the red area this season–a dropped pass, an off-target throw, or whatever it may be, the Packers are putting themselves in long down-and-distance situations far too often.

“It has, and it’s been kind of as the year has gone on it’s been different problems,” said Adam Stenavich of the team’s third down struggles. “At first we had a lot of penalties. And then we had a lot of drops. And now we’ve just got to make sure we keep focusing on being productive and just honing in on simple plays and making sure we can play fast and go execute.”

The trickle-down effect of this is that the offense is then in a predictable passing situation, giving the defense the advantage because they aren’t necessarily worried about the run game anymore. The pass rush can then pin its ears back and when needing to convert a third-and-long, there are only so many routes that can be run in that situation.

In the red zone specifically, as Matt LaFleur has discussed in the past, having a strong run game to lean on is a very important element, but when behind the sticks, that ability is at the very least restricted, if not completely taken away.

Without question, the Packers have to clean up these errors. But when discussing something that has been a season-long issue, which in this case is the third down and red zone offense, it’s never just one thing. The execution has to improve as well.

“That was one of the weirdest games,” said Stenavich of the Bears’ game. “And a lot of the third downs were in the red zone, too. So it was just strange. We had the ball for, I think we had six real possessions and we had one punt, and the rest of them we were in the red zone.

“We did a great job moving the ball, so yeah, it’s one of those things, you can see how explosive we are, you can see how productive we can be, but we’ve really got to focus on finishing, whether it’s the third downs or in the red zone, finishing with touchdowns or at field goals at least. We’ve just got to be better in those situations for sure.”

As LaFleur noted on Monday following the Bears’ game, Chicago often played Cover-2 down in the red zone, to which LaFleur pointed out that if you can’t run the ball in those situations, it’s going to be “very difficult” for the offense. An example he gave was on the run play to Jayden Reed, where a missed block blew that play up in the backfield.

Another head-scratching part of that sequence was that Christian Watson, who put the Packers in the red zone on that drive with a 48-yard completion, wasn’t on the field during that red zone possession. Instead, the Packers opted to go with Bo Melton and Malik Heath, which not only means one of your best players isn’t on the field in a critical situation, but that’s a pretty obvious tip of the hand that a run play is coming.

“We had a linemen downfield so we went backwards,” LaFleur said on Monday. “Called the play to Jayden Reed, missed a block at the point of attack and went backwards again. Then, we threw the pick. That was a bad sequence, but I thought all-in-all we know and recognize where we’re having most of our struggles and most of our struggles right now on offense are coming in the red area.

“Again self-inflicted wounds whether it’s penalties or negative plays and then on third down we just have to do a better job. That’s the emphasis and we’re working hard at it. It’s just we haven’t gotten the results that we’d like right now.”

This is just one example, but the first failed red zone attempt by the Packers last week in Chicago seemed to perfectly encapsulate the issues they’ve often experienced this season. A penalty put them behind the sticks, a missed assignment led to a run play going for a loss, and then the drive ended with an interception.

Awaiting the Packers this week, however, is a 49ers’ defense that, overall, has still fared well against both the run and the pass, ranking top 10 in yards per attempt in each category, but is also a unit that ranks 25th in third down defense and 23rd in red zone defense.

Making matters more difficult for San Francisco is that they will be without Nick Bosa. According to ESPN, the 49ers’ team pressure rate with Bosa on the field is 33 percent compared to just 18 percent without him, which would rank as the lowest-mark in football.

“There’s some plays that you certainly would not want to do with him in the game,” LaFleur said of Bosa. “He’s just, he’s that type of player. He’s a game wrecker, and he can definitely impact the game.”

Obviously, who you’re going up against and how the opponent defends each play is going to impact the outcome, but for this Packers team, performing better on these critical downs starts with themselves from limiting the self-inflicted errors, to the execution and play-calls, and making sure your best players are on the field.

“I definitely think it’s something that fixable,” Love added. “You look last year, I think we were a lot better in the red zone. Whether that’s just the plays we’re drawing up, whether we were just finding better options versus what the defense was doing or just coming down to making those plays that we might not be making right now, but I’m concerned about it. I think it’s something that we will fix going forward, but it definitely hasn’t been up to the standard we’re trying to have it at.”

No Brock Purdy for 49ers but Christian McCaffrey is coming–can the Packers stop him?

Paul Bretl | 11/23/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The San Francisco 49ers will be without quarterback Brock Purdy on Sunday, but still in the backfield is the always-dangerous Christian McCaffrey in an unpredictable and diverse offensive scheme that the Packers need to be ready for.

Purdy would suffer a shoulder injury in the 49ers’ Week 11 matchup with Seattle. As the week progressed, it was looking less and less likely that Purdy would be able to play in this game. So starting for San Francisco will be Brandon Allen, a 2016 draft pick with a career completion rate of 57 percent on 263 attempts with 10 touchdowns to six interceptions. His last regular season pass attempt came during the 2022 season with Cincinnati.

“I know Brandon,” said Matt LaFleur on Friday. “I was with him in LA. He’s played, he’s been in the league now a long time. But I wouldn’t expect their offense to change a whole bunch.”

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In terms of the 49ers’ playbook, their offense is still going to be their offense–there just isn’t enough time in a few practices to make any sweeping changes–and the already heavily featured run game will likely take center stage on Sunday.

Everything begins with the ground game for the 49ers. Even with Purdy under center prior to this game, San Francisco averaged the seventh-most rush attempts per game this season. And despite being without McCaffrey for much of the year, San Francisco is still averaging 5.0 yards per rush as a team–the fourth-best mark in football–and included 2022 undrafted rookie Jordan Mason coming out of nowhere to produce over 700 rushing yards in only 10 games.

McCaffrey is coming off a 1,700-yard season in 2023 and has been back for two games now after dealing with an Achilles injury at the start of the season. He’s been featured heavily, carrying the ball 32 times compared to just three carries for Mason, but has struggled to get going, averaging a modest 3.7 yards per rush.

However, you won’t catch the Packers fooled by that small sample size. They know who they’re going up against.

“I think he’s one of the most dynamic backs in this league. He runs hard, he’s fast, he’s got great contact balance, he can stay in and protect, he’s great in the pass game, he’s awesome in the red zone. I think he’s a dynamic football player.”

There is the obvious big-play potential that McCaffrey brings to the offense when he has the ball in his hands with his speed and ability to make defenders miss. In 2023, McCaffrey would generate the most missed tackles in football among running backs, helping him also lead the league in rushes of 10 yards and 15 yards as well.

But in addition that clearly important element is McCaffrey’s versatility. McCaffrey cannot only be used in the passing game, but can handle a variety of route concepts as well. The 49ers will run him between the tackles and get him on the perimeter. Then you add in the pre-snap motion, misdirections, and eye candy that Kyle Shanahan will throw at opponents, and the already difficult challenge of trying to contain McCaffrey becomes much more daunting.

You put all of that together, and that can be a real horizontal stressor for a defense, helping to create space and running lanes that can be exploited, along with opportunities in the passing game.

“Just as a presence,” said LaFleur. “I mean, he’s the best back, probably in the game and just all the versatility that he can do. He’s just different than a lot of backs in terms of, they design a lot of routes for him. So I think he’s, he’s just so explosive too. So you’ve got to account for him.”

With players like George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, it’s not as if the passing game can be forgotten about if you’re the Packers, especially with Shanahan’s ability to find ways to get his playmakers the ball in space. But, to some degree, the passing game is going to be hindered–Allen isn’t Purdy, after all–and if Green Bay can contain McCaffrey and the run game, moving the ball for this offense should become a lot more difficult.

When a defense is able to contain the run game there’s a positive trickle-down effect to the rest of that unit. It puts the offense behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations. In these scenarios, the game is now in Allen’s hands, and it allows the Packers’ pass rush to pin its ears back while the secondary has the advantage from a coverage standpoint–there’s only so many routes an offense can run in long down-and-distance situations.

“I think that’s super important,” said Xavier McKinney of the time of possession battle. “Obviously when you’re able to have the ball longer than the opposing team, it works out well, better for you. And I think it’s super important for this team to kind of be able to get off the field as quick as you can and not just be out there creating these long drives and letting them have the ball for long periods of time, so I think that’s gonna be super important this game and I think that’s something we’ll emphasize.”

For much of the year, the Packers’ run defense has held its own. They entered last week’s game against Chicago, allowing 4.2 yards per attempt, which ranked as the eighth-lowest mark in football at that time. However, the Bears, who keep in mind, entered that contest with a limited passing game of their own, were able to control the game on the ground, oftentimes through designed quarterback runs that caught the Green Bay defense off-guard.

McCaffrey getting the ball on Sunday over and over again certainly shouldn’t come as a surprise for the Packers, but how Shanahan gets him the ball or how he deploys McCaffrey is where the added wrinkles could lie in an effort to help his shorthanded offense out.

“The motions, the misdirections, the things that they try to disguise in that offense,” said Javon Bullard of the 49ers. “They just make you dial in on alignments, like very critical, you bump too far against this team, they can take it 75 yards. Everything got to be critical…You gotta know where everybody at, man. You gotta know where everybody at all the time.”

How the 49ers utilize the run game will certainly differ compared to what the Bears did, but that Week 11 game is the blueprint for what San Francisco will want to replicate against the Green Bay offense. Success on the ground means shorter down-and-distance situations and manageable third downs, where Chicago was extremely effective. That can then result in long possessions that wear down the Packers’ defense while keeping Jordan Love and the offense on the sidelines.

The Packers know McCaffrey is coming, but can they stop him?

Without Edgerrin Cooper, spotlight on Packers’ LBs against 49ers’ offense

Paul Bretl | 11/22/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers are going to find themselves a bit shorthanded at the linebacker position on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, with rookie Edgerrin Cooper ruled out.

Cooper tweaked his hamstring during Wednesday’s practice and then was a non-participant on Thursday and Friday.

“I think there’s obviously concern going into next week, being a short week,” said LaFleur on Friday, “but I don’t think it’s going to be too long-term.”

Through the early portion of the season, there was an easing process for Cooper. For one, making the leap from college to the NFL is going to come with a learning curve for any rookie, but that learning curve can be elongated when there is missed time. Unfortunately, the current injury that Cooper is working through isn’t the first that he’s had to navigate.

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Cooper didn’t play in the preseason due to injury, and even though he was available on Sundays in the regular season, early on, he was frequently a limited participant in practice–again limiting the number of practice reps he got each week. Knowing the playbook is one thing, but being able to execute on your responsibilities during a game when everything is moving at light speed is a completely different task.

However, as Cooper got healthy and got more acclimated to the playbook and speed at the NFL level, his playing time continued to increase. Over the last five games, Cooper is averaging 40 snaps per game, which includes playing a season-high of 51 against Chicago.

“He had a little bit of a setback in training camp,” said GM Brian Gutekunst during the bye week, “which always for a young player is tough when you miss that much time on the field. But just like he was in college, when you put him on the field, he makes dynamic plays.

“He’s still working through some of the details and intricacies of our defense but, when he’s out there, you feel him. He certainly brings an element of speed on that field and he’s a natural playmaker.”

Cooper would run a 4.51-second 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process this past Spring–an incredibly fast time for a linebacker, and that’s helped him generate several splash plays. With that speed comes versatility and that provides Hafley quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to the game-plan he puts together and what he asks of Cooper, whether that be sending him as a blitzer or how he’s utilized in coverage.

With that skill set, there is also a positive trickle-down effect that it creates within the defense, with Cooper’s speed and ability to operate in space then impacting what is asked of other position groups, specifically the defensive backs, because he can cover a lot of ground.

“He provides a lot of speed for us, especially on the second level,” said Xavier McKinney following the Jacksonville game. “He can cover. He can rush. It allows us to do a whole lot more on the back end. Just mix in different calls and he’s been a great addition for us. Obviously, he’s still learning and going through bumps here and there, but that’s why guys like me, I’m here, and other leaders on this defense. That’s why we’re here to get him through that. But he’s been good overall.”

Without Cooper, Quay Walker will continue to be the Mike linebacker for this defense. Even if Cooper were healthy, my guess is that there wasn’t going to be any changes to Walker’s role, even after a sub-par performance against Chicago.

When the Packers’ are in their base defense, we will see Isaiah McDuffie as the Sam linebacker and Eric Wilson–who has made some big plays of his own–as the Will linebacker. I would anticipate that when in nickel and only two linebackers are on the field, we will see McDuffie next to Walker on more obvious running downs and Wilson out there during more pass-heavy situations.

“We feel like we’ve got a lot of guys that can go in there and pick up the slack,” said Matt LaFleur of the linebacker position on Thursday. “Never want to lose a guy like that. But you know, if he can’t go, then we’ll have other guys ready.”

Awaiting the Packers this week is an unpredictable and diverse San Francisco 49ers’ offense–a unit that can put a lot of stress on the linebacker position. This starts with the run game, where the 49ers, again, have been one of the most efficient teams in football, averaging 5.0 yards per carry as a team, even without Christian McCaffrey for much of the season.

With McCaffrey in the backfield, that big play ability and elusiveness he brings is coupled with extreme versatility, able to impact the passing game as well as run between the tackles and outside, all of which when added to together can stress the linebacker position horizontally, opening up running or passing lanes to exploit.

The San Francisco passing game, meanwhile, attacks the short to intermediate parts of the field heavily–right where the linebackers are often positioned. On just about any given play, the ball could go to whoever is on the field, but between the numbers is where tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel often operate and present matchup problems, especially when paired with all of the motion and misdirection that Kyle Shanahan utilizes.

“The motions, the misdirections, the things that they try to disguise in that offense,” said Javon Bullard of the 49ers offense. “They just make you dial in on alignments, like very critical, you bump too far against this team, they can take it 75 yards. Everything got to be critical.”

At 5-5 on the season, perhaps this hasn’t been the same juggernaut Niners team that the Packers have run into during past seasons, but as the numbers show, they can still very much hurt opposing defenses, even while navigating injuries of their own.

Containing this unit will take a complementary effort from the entire Green Bay defense, but given where the 49ers’ talent lies and how this offense operates, the spotlight may end up being on the Packers’ linebackers–a position group now without Cooper, who has been their top playmaking presence.

With Jaire Alexander sidelined, Carrington Valentine and Packers’ CB depth to be tested

Paul Bretl | 11/22/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — With Jaire Alexander’s timetable for returning unknown as he works through a PCL injury, the Packers will have to lean heavily on Carrington Valentine and their cornerback depth moving forward.

As a seventh-round pick in 2023, Valentine emerged as one of the Packers’ starting cornerbacks during his rookie season, playing over 800 defensive snaps while allowing a completion rate of 55 percent with five pass breakups.

“I would say just the time I’ve been out there, recognition,” said Valentine at his locker on Thursday when asked where his game has grown the most. “Things starting to slow down–things are really starting to slow down, especially like I said, out there on the perimeter, in the run-action at you and stuff like that. I feel like that’s probably the major thing.”

At the start of offseason programs and into training camp, Valentine was competing with Eric Stokes for that starting spot opposite of Alexander. Unfortunately, early on in camp, a hamstring injury would sideline Valentine for multiple weeks and that competition that was supposed to take place never really got off the ground.

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After playing just nine snaps in the Packers’ opener against Philadelphia, Valentine saw his playing time take a big jump in Week 2 against Indianapolis, but an ankle injury in this game would force him to miss the next two games while he remained on the Packers’ injury report through Week 7.

For Valentine, who played in 25 games during his final two seasons at Kentucky along with over 1,500 defensive snaps, having to navigate injuries this season has put him in uncharted waters.

“This has definitely been something different for me,” said Valentine. “Never missed a snap playing football until I got into the NFL. So this definitely wasn’t normal. Wasn’t something that I liked, like I said, I don’t like being hurt, I don’t like missing practice. It’s definitely something different.”

As the season has evolved, the Packers’ secondary has been reshaped. After rookie Javon Bullard began the season at safety next to Xavier McKinney, he then transitioned to the slot cornerback role. This then allowed the Packers to get fellow rookie Evan Williams on the field, and with Keisean Nixon, he ended up moving to the boundary opposite of Alexander.

Then, up until recent weeks, Stokes was the next cornerback in line behind Alexander and Nixon, seeing playing time in dime situations or when Jeff Hafley wanted to get his skill set on the field for certain matchups or down and distances. This, however, left many wondering where Valentine was.

“It was the injuries,” said Hafley on Thursday. “It’s just him practicing and getting himself ready to play in a game and he’s done that now.”

Facing Detroit in Week 9, Valentine played 35 defensive snaps and Stokes 37 as the Packers had to reshuffle the secondary with both Alexander and Williams out. But then, this past Sunday in Chicago, Valentine played 64 snaps to Stokes’ four.

Valentine adds another physical presence to the secondary when on the field, more than happy to help out in the run game as evidenced by his eight tackles in Week 11. In coverage, he would allow three completions on four targets, but did force a pass breakup and held pass-catchers to a combined 30-yards.

“It’s been a while,” Valentine said of his play, “but it was a good to get back out there. Feel some things out, make some plays in the run game and stuff like that. It felt good and something to build off of.”

Hafley wasn’t going to specifically say that Valentine would be one of the starters while Alexander was out. Perhaps, he just doesn’t want to give up whatever competitive advantage may come with that. Or, as we’ve seen from Hafley throughout the season, playing time is going to be determined by what the matchup dictates and could ebb and flow week to week.

“I think he’s done a nice job,” Hafley said of Valentine, “but I do think there’s still competition in that room with him and Kei and Stokes. I think there’s competition and that’s what we want, so they push each other each day in practice and they’re all gonna play.

“I mean you’ve seen packages where in certain groupings, all three of them have been on the field and if Ja does play on Sunday, then all four of them are on the field. I mean and that’s — the more DBs in certain situations you can get on the field in some instances the better and if you don’t have those guys you gotta adjust.”

Right or wrong, the Packers have been bullish about their cornerback depth since the offseason, which of course, has dictated their decision-making at the position. It’s why, even though there were question marks around this unit prior to the draft, Green Bay didn’t make an addition at that position until the seventh round, even though they had the opportunity to do so earlier.

Since then, whether it be Matt LaFleur or Gutekunst, both have continued to voice their confidence in that group, even as recently as the bye week when Gutekunst spoke with local media members.

“I think a lot of the moves you saw today,” said Brian Gutekunst on the day of the trade deadline, “were reactions to injuries and things like that where you’re missing things. But yeah, no, I really like our group,” said Gutekunst referring to the entire team.

“Obviously we do a lot of work prior to the season to try to make sure that we’re a deep team that can sustain an entire season and if we have injuries that we don’t have to go outside of the building to fulfil that and I feel we’ve done that and I feel really good about our football team. I like our depth.”

On the year, the 6.6 yards per pass attempt allowed by the Green Bay defense ranks 16th in the NFL and 29th in pass deflections. In terms of explosive pass plays, the Packers have surrendered the eighth-most through 10 games and have the eighth-highest explosive pass play rate as well.

Naturally, when Jaire Alexander is on the field, this group performs much better. Alexander has surrendered a completion rate of just 56 percent this season with two interceptions, seven pass deflections, and a passer rating when targeted of just 79.9.

However, now, the cornerback depth that the Packers have been so bullish on will again be tested while Alexander remains out and includes going up against some high-powered passing games in the coming weeks, which features San Francisco, Miami, and Detroit. But Valentine remains confident and ready for the challenge ahead.

“I mean, I feel like it never left,” Valentine said of his confidence. “You have some injuries, like I said, it comes with the sport. Going out there and just feeling it out and everything else, getting comfortable and things, I feel like the confidence for me never left, no matter what the injury was.”

Josh Jacobs’ pass-catching prowess can be key factor for Packers’ offense vs 49ers

Paul Bretl | 11/21/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A former rushing leader and among the most productive ball carriers in football this season, Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs’ ability in the passing game could prove to be an important element for the offense against the San Francisco defense.

Jacobs’ resume as a ball carrier speaks for itself now six seasons into his NFL career. But when the Packers acquired the running back in free agency, they were also excited to bring in his ability as a pass-catcher, an at times, underutilized aspect of Jacobs’ game during his time with Las Vegas.

“There’s not a route, I would say, that he can’t run,” said passing game coordinator Jason Vrable during training camp. “I would say the most impressive thing above everything has been his hands. They’ve been exceptional. He’s a hands catcher for a running back and he has a big catch radius. He’s one of those guys who knows the route tree and can kinda do anything that we need him to do.”

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On the season, Jacobs has been a reliable target out of the backfield for Jordan Love, catching 23-of-27 targets and averaging 8.1 yards per reception with a touchdown. Against Chicago this past Sunday, Jacobs averaged over 14 yards per reception and was tied for first on the team in receptions and was second in yards.

Jacobs’ understanding of route concepts allows the Packers to get him involved in the passing game in a variety of ways–he doesn’t only have to get the ball dumped down to him out of the backfield. His soft hands make him a reliable target, and his ability in space makes him a really difficult matchup for the defense.

At a minimum, with Jacobs, there is the opportunity to move the chains on offense, but when in space, there also becomes the potential for an explosive play.

“I think with him, it’s also the fact that he has really soft hands and can adjust to the football,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “He’s hard to bring down, so now when he’s catching the ball in space, now defenders have to try to defend him in space, so it’s like handing him the ball with the defender five, six yards away from him and say, ‘go tackle that guy.’

“So he’s been really good out of the backfield. It’s one of the things that we talk about, catching the ball out of the backfield is an opportunity to keep the chains moving, which gives us more opportunities. So he’s been great for us from that standpoint.”

As a receiver specifically, Jacobs ranks 10th in average yards per catch among all running backs. As a ball carrier in general, he’s one of the most difficult players to bring down, ranking fifth in average yards after contact and seventh in missed tackles force. The end result is a back who is among the best at generating explosive plays.

“For me, man, it’s just not giving up on a play,” said Jacobs. “It’s trying to go out there and give everything that I have and never feeling like I didn’t try. Me being a vet in this locker room, me trying to be the leader that I want to be, I hold myself to certain standards, to a certain level of accountability, and I wouldn’t be able to come in here and look these guys in the eye if I feel like I didn’t get everything that I had, and I feel like I couldn’t ask that out of them if I wasn’t showing it or giving it.”

Against an all-around stout 49ers’ defense that is coming to Lambeau Field on Sunday, Jacobs’ pass catching abilities may end up being a key factor for the Packers’ offense.

Although dealing with some injuries, this is a Niners’ defense that ranks ninth against the run in yards per rush, is sixth in yards per pass attempt surrendered, and features a defensive front with Nick Bosa, who, of note, did not practice on Wednesday with an oblique injury.

The run game, of course, can’t be forgotten about. Struggling to pick up yards in the ground game will put Green Bay behind the sticks and in obvious passing situations against the 49ers’ pass rush that ranks 11th in win rate and a stingy secondary. Becoming one-dimensional and pass-heavy isn’t a recipe for success.

But with that said, utilizing Jacobs in the passing game can act as a pseudo-run game if yards between the tackles are hard to come by as it is a way to get him the ball in space.

Similarly to what we saw this past Sunday in Chicago where Jacobs was heavily targeted, if the pass rush is closing in on Love or there isn’t anyone open downfield, he can provide an outlet option.

“He’s one of those guys that you want to have the ball in his hands,” said Love about Jacobs. “He does really good things when he has it, and I think it just comes down to – like I said before – what defenses are doing. Anytime we can get the ball in Josh’s hands with five yards between him and the next defender, good things are going to happen. So just trying to keep getting him the ball, but he makes you right when you get him the ball.”

If Jacobs is able to create in the passing game, there is the potential for a positive trickle-down effect to the rest of the offense. Defenders in the secondary could start to creep up, possibly opening up opportunities downfield, and in general, it’s more space that the 49ers’ defense will have to account for, which can help spread them out–although San Francisco does have the ultimate eraser in Fred Warner at linebacker.

“I think that the challenge is you just never know who’s going to get the ball,” said LaFleur of Jacobs’ impact in the run game. “And I think when you’re trying to push the ball down the field, and if they do a good job of getting depth in the coverage, and then the check downs are there, those check downs, especially when you’re checking it down to a guy like Josh, tend to go for more yards. So I think it adds a level of that, a dimension to our offense that you really have to account for.”

Against this 49ers defense, there is no magic wand a team can wave to find success. It’s going to take a complementary effort from both the run and passing games, but Jacobs’ impact in the passing game could provide the offense with something to lean on through the ebbs and flows of Sunday’s game.

Packers’ CB depth continues to be tested with Jaire Alexander working through injury

Paul Bretl | 11/21/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers cornerback depth will continue to be tested as Jaire Alexander navigates a knee injury that he’s been working through.

Late in the Packers’ matchup with Jacksonville, Alexander landed awkwardly, suffering the knee injury. The specific injury that he’s working through hasn’t been reported, but the Packers didn’t believe it was long-term. After missing the Detroit game and then having the bye week, Alexander attempted to play on a pinch count, however, he exited early with his knee not responding how he had hoped.

“That’s always a risk,” said Matt LaFleur of activating a player when unsure about an injury. “I knew that going into it. He was on a pitch count regardless, and those other guys were well aware that they were going to have to play. But we just felt like it was better to have him for a limited period. Now, we were hoping we could get through it and keep him on a pitch count and then pull him. It didn’t work out that way.”

With Alexander available versus not having him, there’s a very different feel to this Packers’ cornerback room. We all know the caliber of player that he is and so, of course, there’s a void when Alexander is sidelined. In seven games this season, Alexander is allowing a completion rate of 56 percent with two interceptions and three pass breakups.

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Beyond Alexander’s individual performances, his presence on the field can alter the gameplan, specifically what other defenders are asked to do. For example, with the confidence that the team has in Alexander to handle one-on-one matchups, that could free up Xavier McKinney with additional freedom to roam the field or provide help elsewhere.

“A lot better,” said McKinney of the Packers’ defense with Alexander. “Obviously, he adds a lot to our team, he adds a lot to our defense. But we understand he’s injured, so he’s going to do the things that he has to do to try to get back, and then the guys that are behind him are always going to have to be prepared.”

Without Alexander, however, the depth of this cornerback room, which the Packers still very much believe in, does seem to come into question. Keisean Nixon continues to start on the boundary as he has when Alexander is out there, but last week we saw a change with Carrington Valentine dominating the defensive snaps, while Eric Stokes was on the sidelines.

On the season, Valentine has allowed six completions on eight targets but has limited opponents to 11.2 yards per catch with a pass breakup. The Packers did seem to be encouraged by his play against Chicago, and continued to speak to the confidence they have in him, although up until recently, Valentine was stuck behind Stokes on the depth chart.

“I think he did a nice job,” said LaFleur of Valentine. “I thought there were a couple of instances where he was able to cracker plays and make some tackles. And so we’re excited about him, and I think he’s got a huge upside.”

With Nixon, it is a similar story–he’s giving up completions on 66 percent of his targets but has a few pass breakups and is holding pass-catchers to under 10 yards per reception. Overall, this is a Packers secondary that hasn’t given up many downfield plays this season, but with the cornerbacks surrendering relatively high completion rates, even at nine or 10 yards per catch, that’s enough to pick up a first down and keep the drive going for the opposing offense.

While I don’t believe that the cornerback position is a big red flag without Alexander, this does seem to become a position that is, at the very least, vulnerable.

“I’ve been saying this from the very jump,” added McKinney, “everybody has to be on their P’s and Q’s because you never know when you’re going to get called. I think our guys here have done a great job of making sure that they’re always ready, and I think it’s shown a lot about our unit as a secondary and a lot about our team.”

Alexander did not practice on Wednesday, and as he often does, LaFleur said they will see how he progresses through the week and make a decision about his availability for Sunday from there.

Awaiting the Packers this week is the high-powered and unpredictable San Francisco 49ers’ offense. Coming off of their performance in Chicago, the Green Bay defense has a lot to clean up and that task becomes all the more challenging if they are without Alexander.

“You’re talking about an elite player at his position,” LaFleur said of Alexander. “So it definitely is tough when, when he’s not out there, but that is for, that’s, that’s the case for a lot of teams in this league, missing players, and you’ve got to have the next guy step up, be ready to go, and can never let that standard slip.”