How will Packers handle Josh Jacobs’ workload in preparation for playoffs?

Paul Bretl | 12/19/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Running back Josh Jacobs has shouldered a heavy workload for the Packers’ offense this season. But now, as the regular season begins to wind down and with the playoffs on the horizon, does Green Bay need to be more mindful of Jacobs’ touches in these remaining weeks?

“I think that’s all the time,” said Matt LaFleur when asked about being aware of Jacobs’ workload. “I think we got to be mindful of his workload 100% and he’s, he does a great job communicating with us in terms of where he’s at, and he’s been pretty healthy. So and certainly the production speaks for itself. I mean, he’s, he’s an animal out there.”

Through now 14 games, Jacobs has carried the ball 265 times this season–the third-highest mark among running backs. If we add in his 31 receptions, Jacobs has touched the ball nearly 300 times this season and has been on the field for 589 snaps.

This heavy involvement in the offense isn’t anything new for Jacobs. During his All-Pro 2022 season was Las Vegas, Jacobs was on the field for over 800 offensive snaps and carried the ball 340 times that year, on his way to rushing for 1,653 yards.

Although the path that Jacobs is currently on with Green Bay may not be uncharted territory, he is on pace for this 2024 season to be the second most carries he’s had over his six year playing career. So with three games to go, how is Jacobs holding up?

“I feel great,” said Jacobs at his locker on Thursday. “I feel great. I don’t have no bruises, no nothing right now. I feel great. Just as long as I feel good, I feel like we can do whatever we can do. If I was battling with something right now, then I would probably say be precautious but I feel great.”

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Jacobs’ certainly has the ability to make defenders miss. He’s going to enter Week 16 with the second-most missed tackles forced among running backs in 2024, according to PFF. But as an often in between the tackle runner, there’s a level of physicality that Jacobs brings as well, and with that can come a lot of hits.

Taking those hits as a running back is just an entry-level requirement that comes with the job description. However, with Jacobs’ running style, he can mitigate the impact of those hits, thus reducing the constant pounding that can come with carrying the ball as often as he has.

“I don’t think defenders really hit me that hard,” added Jacobs. “I kind of pick and choose, too. One thing about playing this long, you kind of know angles and things like that so even if I do get tackled, it’s not like I’m getting smacked on the tackle. I’m falling a certain type of way, I’m taking angles where I might use their force against them and really help myself. So, for me, I’ve been pretty clean, man. I can’t complain.”

The other part of that equation for the Packers’ offense when it comes to being mindful of the wear-and-tear being put on Jacobs are the play-calls and the execution from the offensive line, so he has more running lanes and space to operate within, rather than being hit quickly.

“Very few times do I feel like when we give him the ball, he doesn’t make the first guy miss,” said Matt LaFleur. “And so hopefully we’ll continue to draw up some better things for him, because he’s, he’s handled a lot of tough yards where he’s getting hit in the hole or a yard downfield and still getting positive yardage out of the plays.”

The preparation for Jacobs to make sure that he is physically at his best on Sundays starts the week prior, with his recovery following the previous week’s game, along with what he eats throughout the week and his workout regimen.

Also, an important factor in that equation is the daily communication with the coaching staff, specifically how Jacobs is feeling that day and what his workload in practice is going to look like to ensure he’s being put in the best position to perform on gamedays.

“If I let him, he’d take every rep in practice,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “That’s the type of mindset that he has. But you’ve just got to be smart with him. We do walk-throughs, also, so that’s an opportunity for him to get his reps and go through the sequence of a play.

“It’s more of me making sure that I can maximize him enough during the week to where he’s getting something out of it so that way when Sunday or Monday comes around, he’s at his full energetic level.”

Since the bye week, Jacobs and the run game has often been the catalyst for the Packers’ offense. That ability to produce steadily on the ground keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations. Operating from those short down-and-distance situations then opens up the entire playbook for the offense, and as a result, spreads the defense out.

“It’s been very huge for us,” said Jordan Love about Jacobs and the run game. “I think, we always talk about starting the game off fast, and any time you can just hand the ball to a guy and run the ball down the field, I definitely think it sets kind of the tempo of the game.

“The defense has got to figure out how they’re going to make adjustments. Are they going to try to load the box to stop the run going forward? There’s a lot of things that come out with it. I think it’s also a mentality. It gives everybody from the o-line to the running backs, everybody just confidence when you can come out and start the game just pounding the ball in the run game.”

At 10-4, the Packers are positioned well when it comes to making the playoffs. And with NFC North title just about mathmatically out of reach, they are also pretty locked into being the NFC’s sixth-seed in the playoffs.

However, while all that is true, none of what was just mentioned is set in stone either. Green Bay still hasn’t clinched a playoff spot–although they’ll have the opportunity to do so on Monday against New Orleans–and moving up to the NFC’s fifth-seed is still in play at this point.

So until any or all of that changes and the Packers are locked into a playoff spot, it’s going to be business as usual, with the focus on getting better each day and continuing to win on Sundays–which means, Jacobs, for the time being, is likely going to remain a key part of that equation.

 “I worry about trying to be our best in the moment and get better and better and better and, I mean, there’s nothing’s a lock for us,” added LaFleur. “So you’ve got to go and win games. Now, having said that, when we get to that point, if we get to that point, then I think that’s a conversation.”

Jordan Love, Packers’ offense heating up down the stretch once again

Paul Bretl | 12/19/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After an inconsistent first half of the season, the Packers offense has scored at least 30 points in each of its last four games and the play of Jordan Love out of the bye week has been a big part of that success.

“I think he’s done a great job of being really on the detail of his fundamentals and mechanics, and I think you’re seeing a translation over to game day and I think he’s playing at a really high level right now,” said Matt LaFleur recently.  

Since Week 11, the Packers first game out of the bye week, Love is completing 68.7% of his passes, which is the eighth-best mark during that span. He also leads the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 9.9 and has thrown eighth touchdowns to just one interception.

Compared to the first nine games of the season leading up to the bye week, Love was completing only 62.5% of his attempts at a modest 7.7 yards per attempt with 17 touchdowns to 10 interceptions–the second-most in football at that time.

“I just think Jordan, the more he plays, the better he gets,” LaFleur said. “And I think his mechanics have improved. I think he’s really focused on that over the last few weeks, and I think he’s playing better. It’s funny how that works. So he’s doing a great job of moving in the pocket when things are there. It’s, I mean, it’s almost been automatic for him.

“So we need that to continue for us to get to where we want to go. And, but I am happy with how he’s playing. I think he’s playing decisive, doing a good job, for the most part, getting the ball out of his hands. And, like I said, we need him to continue to do that.”

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So what has led to this stark turnaround for Love and therefore the rest of the Packers’ offense?

As always, there are numerous factors in play, but a big one is that Love is healthy. In Week 1 against Philadelphia, Love suffered a knee injury that still continued to linger on and off the practice field even after he had returned. Then in the Packers’ win over Jacksonville, Love would exit that game with a groin injury.

The impact of playing through injuries has multiple effects. For one, as we’ve heard quarterbacks coach Tom Clements reference previously, successfully playing the quarterback position often starts with the player’s base–their feet and legs. That’s where both the ability to drive the ball and a quarterback’s mechanics begins, and in theory, with Love’s lower-half not at 100 percent, that could have contributed to some of the uncharacteristic throws we had seen from him early in the year.

“I think anytime you’re dealing with anything, especially seeing the things that he’s done in the past, he definitely needs your legs to do those things,” said Christian Watson of Love. “I’ve definitely seen him feeling a lot more like himself for a few weeks now. But it’s definitely big. Honestly, I’m just going to keep on running my route until I hear a whistle or I see the ball thrown somewhere else, because I know that he’s going to try to make a play regardless.”

Those injuries also restricted Love’s mobility as well. And while, no, we didn’t see Love getting outside of the pocket and picking up 10-yard runs all that often prior to the bye, although certainly valuable, that element isn’t what I’m referring to when it comes to his improved play over the last month-plus.

While navigating those injuries, the gameplan was altered. We saw fewer snaps under center and less play-action from the Packers’ offense–two core elements of the Matt LaFleur offense. Love’s ability to navigate the pocket to avoid pressure, buy time, and open up throwing lanes was hampered as well. The result of this can be more pressures, or sacks, that put the offense behind the sticks and, overall, less time because once the pressure hits, the ball has to come out.

That incredible play against Detroit where Love avoided the free rusher and then stepped up into the pocket to find Christian Watson on a crossing route probably isn’t happening back in October.

“I can’t say enough about Jordan’s ability to avoid the negative play and making those drastic moves in the pocket and getting the ball out for positive plays,” said LaFleur. “I don’t think people understand–I think it’s overlooked. Just the value of what he’s able to do in getting the ball out of his hands and not taking sacks.”

And even for a player of Love’s caliber, time on the practice field still matters. There were a lot of practices through the first half of the season where he was either sidelined or limited in what he could do because of injuries.

“I think a lot of it is just going back to practice,” LaFleur said. “I think it’s hard to be your best when you’re in-and-out of practice or you’re not feeling your best. Obviously he was limited by lower-body injuries and you’re talking about a thrower, and I don’t care what sport you’re playing, anybody who uses their legs to generate power, and you have an injury in that area, they’re going to be affected by it.”

Along with Love’s health improving, so has his decision-making. As Love began to heat up during the stretch last season, Clements would note that the real turning point for him in the 2023 season came when he was consistently deciphering when to take the available checkdown and when to push the ball downfield for the big play.

Obviously, it’s not the throws themselves on checkdowns that showcase growth, but it’s the process of getting to that decision, from understanding the situation at hand, reading the defense correctly, going through your progressions, and knowing where the outlet option is if things break down or aren’t open.

However, just because there may be more of a willingness to take what’s available doesn’t mean that Love isn’t going for the big play either. That’s a big part of who he is as a quarterback–he trusts his arm, and he trusts his receivers to make the play. Over this same five-game span, Love ranks eighth in passing yards on throws of 20-plus yards and is ninth in attempt percentage per dropback.

“It just comes down to understanding what the defense is trying to do,” said Love about his decision-making. “Seeing the coverage and obviously post snap recognizing if they’re bluffing or doing any disguise. After that, it just turns into finding completions. Obviously we want to push the ball downfield and exploit whatever coverage they might be in, but if we don’t have a great play, just understanding where I need to go and finding those checkdowns for sure.”

In what is the ultimate team game, the play around Love has been more consistent as well. Fewer pre-snap penalties have helped keep the offense out of those dreaded long down-and-distance situations, while a heavy-dose of Josh Jacobs and the run game has often kept the offense ahead of the sticks, not to mention that a strong run game can do wonders when it comes to opening up opportunities for the passing game.

With all that said, as good as Love and the offense has looked over the last month, there is still room for growth and the most recent game against Seattle is a prime example of that. Although the offense got off to a fast start and again hit the 30-point mark, there was a four-possession lull in the second half that included two punts, a fumble, and a turnover on downs, all of which occurred in only 15 total plays.

The ultimate goal right now is to be peaking at the right time, which is when the playoffs arrive. I don’t think anyone would say that the Packers’ offense has reached that point yet, as evidenced above. This is a group that is still chasing that elusive consistency and full four-quarter performance. However, with Love operating at a high level, they are on the right track and trending in the right direction.

“I feel really good,” said Love after the Seattle game about where the offense is at. “I think we’re in a really good spot. I think we got to do the same thing we’ve talked about all season, just take it one game at a time and finish this season off. And you know, be where we want to be for playoffs.

“But I like where we’re at, and we’ve just got to keep figuring out ways to get better, to keep, keep pushing each other and find ways to get these wins to end the season off. But I like where we’re at.”

Packers attention not on playoff-clinching scenario vs Saints but on finding consistency

Paul Bretl | 12/18/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — This week against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night football, the Packers have the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth, however, that specifically isn’t what Matt LaFleur is focused on at this time.

“I’m not even worried about playoffs,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “Not worried about it. I’m worried about us continuing to get better, staying in the moment, focusing on what’s right in front of us, and it’s by attacking our practices the right way and just building our habits. It’s all about how we improve throughout this process, and whatever happens, happens.”

Instead of intently focusing on the playoff picture, the Packers are chasing consistency, something that has often eluded them this season when it comes to putting together a complete 60-minute performance. If the Packers can master the mundane day-to-day details from the meeting rooms to the practice field and the overall weekly preparation and then carry that onto the field on Sundays, the playoff component will take care of itself.

“To me it’s about staying true to your process and trying to get better each and every day and making sure you’re on your details because I do think the details separate good from great and capitalizing on opportunities,” LaFleur said.

“We’ve got that mentality that you’re trying to win every game and you can only do it one game at a time so just focusing on that process and trying to do the best you can each and every day on the practice field, in the meeting rooms. I think that gives you a chance to go out there and play your best ball on Sundays.”

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After a fast start this past Sunday against Seattle, the Packers’ offense hit a lull in the second half. Following a field goal on their second possessions, the Green Bay offense would go punt, fumble, punt, and turnover on downs. It goes without saying, but not every drive is going to result in points, but what particularly stung about those empty possessions was how short they were.

Before that first punt, the Packers run just three plays. The fumble occurred on the second play and was followed by a three-and-out, and then the turnover on downs was a seven-play drive that included one first down. In the blink of an eye, the Packers went from moving the ball up-and-down the field with ease to not being able to do so at all, with the run game getting bottled up and just an overall lack of execution.

“We’ve got to execute better,” said LaFleur of the offense’s second half performance. “Certainly there’s times where we as coaches have to put our guys in better position, but yeah, that’s why both teams get paid because they’re going to make adjustments and we’ve just got to make sure we stay a step ahead of them.

“I do think there were some times where we were running the ball pretty effectively in the second half. It just was too inconsistent, and we knew it at halftime that they were probably going to start amping up their level of pressure and we saw some more Cover zero in the second half and we didn’t necessarily make them pay when we did see those situations.”

This is only a game sample size described above, but that contest in Seattle was also a bit of a microcosm of what we’ve seen from the Packers’ offense since the bye week.

Seemingly each week, and at times, at different moments within each game, we see different units of phases of the game for the Packers pick up the slack as other elements may be sputtering. In Chicago, it was the special teams unit that saved the day. Against San Francisco and Miami, it was Josh Jacobs and the run game that the Packers leaned on.

A week later versus Detroit, with the defense struggling to get stops, the Green Bay passing game in the second half shouldered the workload, and in this most recent game, after a fast start by the offense, it was the pass rush and defense that kept the Seahawks at bay in the second half.

This ability to win in a variety of ways could prove to be quite valuable come the playoffs. Against the NFL’s top teams, those opponents are going to do everything they can to take away what Green Bay does well and will throw new looks at them. You’re going to get punched in the mouth come the postseason and adversity is going to hit. The successful teams in January are often the ones that can make adjustments and overcome all of that the quickest.

Four straight empty possessions, like we saw in Seattle, that include a turnover and 15 total plays against teams such as Detroit or Philadelphia could turn a close game into a multi-score deficit or erase a lead that had been established. It’s stretches such as that one that will send a team home in the playoffs.

“It’s something that we’re gonna have to clean up just having that consistency through four quarters and being able to put together a four quarter battle,” Jordan Love said following the win in Seattle. “But we always talk about, you know, these games somehow it always comes down to the last couple minutes. Teams find a way to put up points and do different things.

“So you know, you’ve got to be able to keep that foot on the gas and keep making those big time plays that we were making the first half. But we definitely got to do better of just playing a complete four quarter game.”

As LaFleur said coming out of the Detroit game, oftentimes, those close matchups are decided by just a few plays. However, you never know when those pivotal plays are going to emerge during the course of a game. While the Lions won on a last-second field goal two weeks ago, earlier in the game, they converted two fourth-downs into touchdowns, and the Green Bay offense found itself in an early 10-0 hole, sparked by offensive line struggles and a fumble.

Those are just a few examples of plays throughout the game that ended up carrying quite a bit of weight in determining the outcome. Ultimately, it’s consistency, down in and down out and from series to series, that will help tilt those pivotal moments in the Packers’ favor.

“I think the details what separates a lot of these games, especially late in the season,” LaFleur said. “When you’re playing good football teams are separated by a couple of plays, and you never know when those plays are going to show up. So you better make sure that you maximize those opportunities. You’re on all your little details in order for you to be on top when that clock hits zero.”

Now, having said all of that, there’s a lot of good from this Packers’ team as well. While the offense was plagued by self-inflicted mistakes throughout the first half of the season, which only exacerbated the inconsistencies of that unit, those errors have been significantly reduced over the last month-plus. That, coupled with a healthy Jordan Love, has been the catalyst behind an offense that has eclipsed the 30-point mark in four straight games.

On the defensive side of the ball, the pass rush is picking up steam after a lackluster start to the season, and the defensive front as a whole is playing some of its best football. We’re also continuing to see the emergence of Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, while the cornerback position–with help–has navigated not having Jaire Alexander on the field.

“We’ve, we’ve found a way to win a lot of games,” said LaFleur after the Detroit game. “So I don’t want to discredit that, but I think when you’re playing against one of the premier teams in the league, you better be your best. So we just got to be better in those situations.”

During his bye week press conference, GM Brian Gutekunst discussed the importance of peaking at the right time, which is when the playoffs arrive. We saw the value of that just a season ago, where on paper, the Packers were 9-8 and the NFC’s seventh seed, but on the field, they were operating as one of the better teams in football.

I don’t think anyone would say that this Packers team is peaking right now. As discussed, there are still things that have to get cleaned up. Yet even with that being the case, the offense is still averaging 32.3 points per game over the last month, illustrating the potential that is out there for this team. But unlocking it and reaching their ceiling is going to take more consistency, and for that to happen on Sundays, it starts with executing the day-to-day details at a high level.

“We’ll see,” said LaFleur after the Seattle game when asked how close this team was to reaching its potential. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. That’s just the mindset that we’ve always had here. I still think there’s a lot to improve upon – myself included.”

Beyond the stat sheet, Romeo Doubs’ production for Packers often comes at crucial moments of games

Paul Bretl | 12/17/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After missing two games with a concussion, Romeo Doubs picked up where he left off in his return against Seattle, which is coming through for this Packers’ offense in critical moments throughout the game.

“Huge,” said Christian Watson of Doubs’ return. “He’s a big playmaker for us consistently making plays for us. Definitely huge to get him back. Just another weapon in the arsenal.”

Doubs would go on to catch 3-of-5 targets in Sunday night’s win, totaling 40 yards with two touchdowns. However, going beyond the stat sheet, when and where that production happened only added to Doubs’ impact in this game.

The Green Bay offense would finish the game only 2-for-4 in the red zone, but Doubs’ first reception came on the Packers second possession and in that part of the field. With the Packers facing a 2nd-and-8 from the Seattle 13 yard line, on an over the middle pass into a tight window, Jordan Love connected with Doubs, who then uncharacteristically ran through defenders and muscled his way into the end zone.

“That was awesome,” said Jordan Love of the touchdown. “That was something that I really haven’t seen out of Rome, just running guys over and carrying them, putting the team on his back. But I think it just shows how much he loves it and is willing to fight for those extra yards and just fight to get that touchdown. So that was a great play by him.”

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Doubs’ final reception then came late in the fourth quarter. With 4:59 left in the game and the Seahawks hanging around and trailing by 10 points, Love again found Doubs, this time on a deep post resulting in a spectacular catch–which Doubs’ strong hands on display–as he hauled in the 22-yard touchdown, effectively putting the game away.

“How about that catch? That second touchdown catch that was a big time play,” said Matt LaFleur after the game. “I love how Rome works and he’s been pretty consistent for us when given opportunities and he comes through. So it was cool to have him back out there.”

These two plays are only two examples of what has become many over the last few seasons of Doubs coming through at critical moments in the game, whether that be in the red zone, on third downs, or in end of game situations.

On the season, Doubs has played a key role in helping the Packers offense stay on the field by moving the chains. Of his 37 total receptions, 27 have gone for a first down, according to PFF. Despite missing the last 2.5 games with a concussion, he still leads the team in first down receptions.

On third downs specifically, Doubs has caught 11-of-16 passes (68.8%), with 10 of those catches picking up a first down, and he is averaging a hefty 18.3 yards per reception.

Down in the red zone, Doubs is an efficient target as well, catching 7-of-10 passes, with three touchdowns, and five first downs.

“The dude is dog, man,” said Josh Jacobs after Sunday’s win. “His hands, the way he goes about it. It’s just crazy. That’s the only thing I can say. I called him spiderman earlier in the week because I feel like when the ball is anywhere in his vicinity he’s snagging it, catching it. That play at the end, I wasn’t surprised that he made it.”

Then there are those crucial late-game situations where Doubs has oftentimes come through. In addition to the touchdown against Seattle, he had two receptions on the Packers’ final drive against Houston that picked up first downs and eventually led to the game-winning field goal by Brandon McManus.

In Week 2 against the Colts, with Malik Willis at quarterback and Green Bay hardly throwing the football, Doubs had a 39 yard reception in the fourth quarter that led to a field goal and another fourth quarter catch of 15 yards that put the Packers in field goal range.

In the second halves of games this season, Doubs has caught 15-of-25 passes at 13.4 yards per catch, has picked up 10 first downs, and has two scores.

“I think Rome, it all starts with the work he puts in,” said Matt LaFleur on Tuesday. “That catch he made on fourth down, outstanding. I think I told the team – it’s not a secret why this happens. The guy spends more time on the JUGs machine than anybody I’ve ever been around. He’s got unbelievable hands. I think he’s done a great job with his releases, knowing what to do, playing decisively. He’s playing really good football right now.”

One of the most difficult aspects for opposing defenses when it comes to defending this Packers offense is the number of options that they have in the passing game and that in just about any situation, the ball could go to any player in any part of the field.

However, as the numbers above and our eyes show, oftentimes in those must-have-it moments, Love is looking for Doubs. That starts with his ability as a route runner and to not only win his one-on-one matchups but to do so quickly and then to be a reliable target, hauling those passes in.

“It’s his work ethic,” said Love about Doubs. “I mean the guy’s in there catching off the JUGS all day long. He works on his hands. It’s something that doesn’t just happen by accident. He’s out there making all these crazy catches and making it look easy. It’s the work he puts in throughout the week and in the offseason and then it shows on the field.

“He definitely has a very good set of hands and like you said makes some of the hard catches look relatively easy. I think it’s just his work ethic.”

Up against an aggressive, man coverage and blitz-heavy defense a week ago in Detroit, Doubs’ presence and ability to win at all levels of the field was missed. But in this most recent game against Seattle, who features another aggressive, press-man-centric secondary, Doubs’ return played a vital role in the Packers being able to come away with that win.

“Rome, he’s such a problem if you get him one-on-one with DBs,” said Adam Stenavich. “He’s an excellent route runner. He can win in the quick game. He can win over the middle. He can win on the long ball. So, he’s a really versatile wide receiver.

“He’s becoming a total wideout for us and doing a good job.”

On paper, Doubs’ overall production isn’t going to leap off the page. He’s caught 37 passes this season, he has 523 receiving yards at 14.1 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. But when many of those receptions occur illustrates his true impact on this offense, as we saw in Seattle.

Carrington Valentine comes up with crucial interception as Packers’ CBs hold their own vs Seattle’s WRs

Paul Bretl | 12/16/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Up against a Seattle passing game that features two of the most productive wide receivers in football, the Packers’ shorthanded cornerback position helped take away big plays and kept points off the board, which included an interception from Carrington Valentine at a pivotal moment.

“That was huge because they were driving the field,” Kenny Clark said of Valentine’s interception. “They were trying to get momentum back and we were up. I think once CV got that pick, that kind of took it out of them a little bit.”

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With Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard sidelined for this game due to injuries, Keisean Nixon would move to the slot, while Eric Stokes and Valentine started on the boundary.

One of the plays of the game would come from Carrington Valentine, who came away with a red zone interception. With 3:11 left in the second quarter and the Packers up 17-3, the Seahawks were at the Green Bay 12 yard line with an opportunity to cut the deficit to just one score and then begin with the ball at the start of the third quarter.

On 2nd-and-9 from the aforementioned 12 yard line, Geno Smith looked for Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the left sideline but Valentine was in position to break the pass up and it looked like he even had a chance at an interception.

But on the next play, Valentine would capitalize when the ball came his way again. With pressure up the middle from Karl Brooks and Eric Wilson, Smith had to get rid of the ball quickly and floated it to the back left corner of the end zone. Valentine, who was covering the underneath route, recognized where the ball was going, rerouted himself towards the back pylon, and made the play on the football.

This interception by Valentine was one of many plays dialed up by Jeff Hafley in this game that came with late rotations in the secondary to help disguise what the coverage was, causing some confusion for the quarterback. Oftentimes, where the defensive backs were located when the quarterback took the snap versus when he hit the top of his drop were quite different. At the NFL level, all it takes is a split-second of indecisiveness for a pass play to be ineffective.

“It was super big,” said McKinney of the interception. “I think we needed it. I think that was another one of those things where the disguise game played a big role into that. He thought we were in one high and we weren’t. He really threw right into – the first one that he dropped, that’s the one where he didn’t think we were in a two-high defense. He thought we were in one high and threw it. But I think it helped us a lot, the momentum obviously shifted when we got that. It was a big play for us.”

Obviously, given where Seattle was on the field, this was as well-time of an interception as a player can have, but the pick also provided the Packers’ cornerback room with some on-ball production–an area this group has struggled in this season. Entering Sunday night’s game, of the 12 interceptions by the defense, seven belong to Xavier McKinney. Green Bay also ranked 30th in pass deflections.

Overall, Valentine was targeted four times in this game, allowing three completions but for only 32 yards or 10.7 yards per catch with a forced incompletion.

“It means a lot,” said Valentine of the interception. “A testimony to a lot of hard work that I’ve put in, the guys put in. It’s not just about me. That play doesn’t happen without a lot of things that come with it.”

Along with Valentine, Stokes and Nixon played crucial roles in limiting the dynamic duo that is Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. According to PFF’s metrics, Stokes allowed two receptions on five targets for only 10 yards, while Nixon held pass-catchers to just 6.5 yards per completion.

Smith-Njigba, who is nearing the 1,000-yard mark this season, and Metcalf, one of the best downfield targets in football, were both efficient against the Green Bay defense, catching 13 of their 15 total targets. However, they were also limited, averaging under 8.5 yards per catch.

“He played a hell of a game,” said McKinney of Valentine. “We got some special guys on this defense from top to bottom. I’m never surprised when our guys go out there and play like how he did today. He prepares the right way. He’s focused. He’s locked in. He’s got a really good skill set. I thought he played a good game today.”

Providing the Packers’ cornerbacks with help was the Green Bay pass rush, specifically the defensive front’s ability to generate consistent pressure.

Smith was under pressure on 39.1% of his dropbacks in this game. Sam Howell, once he took over, was under duress on 53.3% of his dropbacks as well. Combined, the two quarterbacks were pressured on 17 of their 38 total dropbacks. For some context, that total pressure rate of 44.7% would be the second-highest mark for any one quarterback over the course of the 2024 NFL season.

Those pressures turned into seven sacks by six different Packers’ defenders, along with 12 quarterback hits by nine different defenders. The trickle-down effect of that pressure, particularly when it’s frequently coming from the four-man rush, is it takes some of the burden off of the secondary, disrupting the timing and rhythm of the play, potentially leading to mistakes and less time in coverage for the defensive backs.

“Obviously we’re always trying to get pressure on the quarterback, that’s the No. 1 way to disrupt anything on offense,” said Matt LaFleur after the game. “But our D-line came to play and they did a hell of a job and just got constant pressure.”

The Packers’ defense also benefitted greatly from having Edgerrin Cooper back at linebacker and patrolling the middle of the field. His speed and athleticism allows him to close passing windows quickly and assist on tackles to limit yards after the catch opportunities.

“It meant a lot to have him back,” said McKinney of Cooper. “It adds to a lot to our team, it adds a lot to our defense and it adds a lot to the linebackers room in general. I think the linebackers room, we got a pretty good room and guys who can do a lot of things in coverage and the rush game. It helps us be able to open our playbook up a little bit and do some things schematically that can frustrate the offense.”

As is going to be the case when down two starters at the cornerback position, it’s going to take a group effort to limit the opposing offense.

Not surprisingly, this has been a very different cornerback unit when Alexander is available versus when he’s not. However, since before the draft, Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur, and the coaching staff have continued to express their confidence in the depth of the cornerback group, even while question marks–at least from the outside perspective–remain.

But on Sunday night in Seattle, the trio of Valentine, Stokes, and Nixon rewarded that confidence by showcasing why the organization has continued to be bullish about this position group.

“It means a lot,” McKinney said of the win. “We just played a good opponent on the road in a hard atmosphere to play inside. We came out here and we looked pretty damn good. I think we’re still growing. We played a good game but I think we could still play a lot better. As we keep going on and keep building with each other, building that connection within each other, it’s gonna keep growing and we’re gonna keep getting better.”

Packers pass rush and return of LB Edgerrin Cooper pick up offense, keep Seahawks at bay

Paul Bretl | 12/15/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — With the Packers’ offense sputtering for much of the second half, the pass rush, along with the return of Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, helped keep the Seattle offense at bay, allowing Green Bay to eventually put this game away.

“Obviously we’re always trying to get pressure on the quarterback, that’s the No. 1 way to disrupt anything on offense,” said Matt LaFleur after the game. “But our D-line came to play and they did a hell of a job and just got constant pressure.”

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It was a red-hot start for the Packers’ offense, who led by Josh Jacobs and the run game, scored a touchdown on their first two possessions of the game and did so with relative ease. In fact, they would end up scoring on all four of their first-half possessions and on five of their first six possessions of the game–three of which were field goals.

However, while early on the Packers’ offense was very much in control and the game maintained that feeling for much of the contest, the Packers struggles in the red zone, where they converted just 2-of-4 visits into touchdowns, and a largely quiet third and fourth quarter, kept the game within reach for Seattle.

While the running lanes for Jacobs were massive in the first half, they were non-existent in quarters three and four. This then put the Packers in more frequent long down-and-distance situations against what has been an aggressive, press-man-heavy secondary that has been one of the more stingy pass defenses this season.

“I don’t think they did anything crazy or anything that we might have not been expecting,” said Jordan Love of the Seattle defense. “I think we came out and just weren’t making the same plays that we were making in the first half. That was probably the most disappointing part of the game for us, is just the second half. We didn’t feel like we got back in that rhythm and that groove and were able to continue to just move the ball. I think more than anything we were just hurting ourselves in some of those situations.”

But the Green Bay defense didn’t allow Seattle to cut the lead to fewer than 10 points with the pass rush and Cooper being the catalyst behind that performance.

The Packers’ four-man front has struggled to get home consistently this season. They entered Week 15 ranked 26th in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate metric and were 21st in pressure rate. Oftentimes, the pressure that the Packers did create were drummed up by Jeff Hafley.

That wasn’t the case against Seattle, however, where Green Bay did take advantage of a below-average offensive line unit. According to Pro Football Focus, Geno Smith was under pressure on 39.1% of his dropbacks in this game. Sam Howell, once he took over, was under duress on 53.3% of his dropbacks as well. Combined, the two quarterbacks were pressured on 17 of their 38 total dropbacks. For some context, that total pressure rate of 44.7% would be the second-highest mark for any one quarterback over the course of the 2024 NFL season.

Those pressures turned into seven sacks by six different Packers’ defenders, along with 12 quarterback hits by nine different defenders.

“Just winning our one-on-ones, got them in passing situations,” Kenny Clark said. “Stopped the run for the most part. They had probably one big run. We get them in drop back situations, we’re able to pin our ears back and rush.”

The trickle-down effect of that pressure, particularly when it’s frequently coming from the four-man rush, is it takes some of the burden off of the secondary–something that was very much needed for Green Bay, who was without Jaire Alexander and Javon Bullard and having to match up with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf.

While Smith-Njigba and Metcalf were efficient, catching 13 of their 15 total targets, they averaged under 8.5 yards per catch. The ability to generate pressure limits an offense’s ability to run longer developing routes, and it disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play, forcing the quarterback to get rid of the ball more quickly. All of which means less time in coverage for the defensive backs.

“I was telling them, he ain’t getting rid of the ball because they already getting back there so quick,” said Xavier McKinney of the defensive front. “It’s always good to see them collect those sacks and create that pressure on the quarterback.”

Helping the Packers’ pass rush out was the offense, giving the defense a quick multi-score lead to play with. This then limited Seattle’s ability to lean on the run game, with their backs carrying the ball a combined 14 times, thus putting the offense in more predictable and obvious passing situations, where the front could pin its ears back.

“We was just able to pretty much pin our ears back all day and offense pretty much did a good job putting them boys behind,” added Enagbare. “We got a couple three and outs early, so the offense was pretty much able to score early a lot, too, so kinda put em in a pass-first situation. So we just knew pretty much stop the run on first and second down, we already know what time it is third down.”

On those plays where the pass rush didn’t get home, Cooper–who did contribute to some of the pressures–was patrolling the middle of the field and was seemingly everywhere, providing the Packers with an added dynamic presence over the middle of the field, an area they’ve struggled to defend in recent games while Cooper was sidelined.

Cooper finished the game with two pressures as a blitzer, including a sack. He was credited with three stops, making plays in the run game near the line of scrimmage, and he surrendered only one catch on five targets in the passing game, along with an interception.

“He’s special, man,” said JJ Enagbare. “Definitely I feel like he’s a future Hall of Famer. From the stat line, you can see he can do everything, make tackles, make interceptions, get the sacks. There’s literally nothing he’s physically not able to do. The sky’s the limit for him. He’s gonna be a hell of a player one day — or continue to be a hell of a player.”

With 4.51-second speed, he brings added coverage ability to the linebacker position with all of the ground he can cover. 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, as Xavier McKinney highlighted after the Jacksonville game, because he can cover a lot of ground.

“It meant a lot to have him back,” said McKinney of Cooper. “It adds to a lot to our team, it adds a lot to our defense and it adds a lot to the linebackers room in general. I think the linebackers room, we got a pretty good room and guys who can do a lot of things in coverage and the rush game. It helps us be able to open our playbook up a little bit and do some things schematically that can frustrate the offense.”

On Sunday night in Seattle, it was the defense who took control of the game, specifically the pass rush, which at times has underwhelmed this season, and a rookie linebacker in his first game back from injury. This ability to win games in different ways, which we’ve seen often from the Packers this season, could prove quite valuable come the playoffs–when one phase or unit is limited, another area of this team is there to do the heavy lifting.

But before we get to that point, with three games left in the regular season, the Packers will continue to chase consistency–an element that has eluded them this season–so the performances that we saw from Cooper and the pass rush become closer to the norm for the defense and those lulls on offense don’t last quite as long.

“We’ll see,” said LaFleur when asked how close this team was to reaching its potential. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. That’s just the mindset that we’ve always had here. I still think there’s a lot to improve upon – myself included.”

Packers’ offensive line in need of bounce back in difficult road environment

Paul Bretl | 12/14/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a loud road environment against the Lions, it took the Packers’ offensive line time to settle in. Now awaiting them is another road game in Seattle, a stadium known for being one of the loudest venues in the NFL.

For much of the season, the Packers’ offensive line unit has performed quite well. The Green Bay run game will enter Week 15 averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, which is the seventh-best mark this season, while also ranking eighth in quarterback pressure rate.

A key factor in that overall success has been the continuity up front–an important element to successful offensive line play, where the sum of the parts are greater than any one individual performance.

“In the run game,” said Adam Stenavich when asked where that continuity shows up. “Things like that where guys can just play next to each other, it’s one thing when you’re just doing combination blocks and things like that when you’ve got a consistent person next to you making those calls, blocking those people.

“And in pass pro, we’re doing an excellent job in pass pro as well, for the most part. So I think just having those guys get reps next to each other, the communication, just all being on the same page, is something that people take for granted for sure.”

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However, particularly early on against Detroit, the offensive line was being pushed around by a Lions’ defensive front that was short-handed due to injuries. Josh Jacobs would average only 3.7 yards per carry, although in part, that was a product of the Lions’ loading up the box to stop him, while Jordan Love was under pressure at the 10th highest rate in Week 14.

Struggles in the run game put an offense behind the sticks and in disadvantageous long down-and-distance situations where the defense has the upper hand. Pressure, meanwhile, disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play and can lead to mistakes. But not coincidentally, as the offensive line play improved as the game went on, so did Green Bay’s performance on offense.

“I thought we started slow, especially in the pass game,” Stenavich said on Thursday. “There were a few instances where we leaky in our protections, they got to the quarterback a few times early.

“But I did think as the game went on we settled in and rallied and did a better job. But yeah, we definitely needed to start faster to just be more productive at the beginning of the game, which hurt us in the long run.”

In addition to the innate challenge that comes for an offensive line with facing a Lions’ defense that is one of the stingiest in football or a Seattle defensive front that features Leonard Williams and has been one of the best at pressuring the quarterback this season is the noise that’s part of the equation as well.

“We’re just gonna have to be very deliberate in our communication,” said Sean Rhyan on dealing with the noise. “Making sure that everyone knows what the call is, the adjustment is. We just gotta be very deliberate on communicating, especially on combos.”

Dubbing their fans the “12th man,” Seattle’s Century Link Field is arguably the loudest in football, which at one time included breaking a Guinness World Record for the loudest sports stadium back in 2013, during a Monday Night football game with New Orleans where the noise from the home crowd reached 137.6 decibels.

For the road team, this can make hearing the play call difficult in the huddle, and for the offensive line specifically, it hampers their ability to communicate protections pre-snap and can even make hearing the quarterback’s cadence difficult.

Struggles in this area could lead to pressures once the ball is snapped or pre-snap penalties, which the offensive line had issues with through the first half of the season, putting the offense behind the sticks and making them one-dimensional, and plays into the hands of the Seattle defense.

“It can be difficult,” said Rhyan about hearing Love in loud environments, “but the thing is being with Jordan as long as you catch something when the cadence starts, you have a pretty good idea of when we’re going to go. So as long we just catch one part, we’re going to be okay, but if we can’t catch any of it, then we’re going to have to be reactionary.”

Lining up across from the Packers’ offensive linemen will be the aforementioned Williams. On the season, Williams has recorded 40 pressures, seven sacks, and a pick-six against the New York Jets. Those 40 pressures rank 11th among all defensive tackles, with Williams also having the ninth-best run-blocking grade from PFF.

Seattle will move Williams up and down the defensive front and he’s a player that the Packers have to know where he’s always located. As a unit, the Seahawks have generated the 11th-highest pressure rate this season.

“He’s having a monster year,” said Matt LaFleur of Williams. “I mean, shoot, the Jets game, he overtook that game and he’s got that capability, so he’s a guy that you better understand who you’re going against and what he’s capable of doing and we’re gonna have to do a great job of playing with great fundamentals, pad level and making sure we have a plan for him on every play.”

However, if there is an area where the Seattle defense has been susceptible, it’s in the run game, surrendering 4.7 yards per carry this season–the eighth-highest mark in football. Couple that with this being a defense that’s good at getting after the quarterback and features an aggressive secondary that’s been among the best in yards per pass attempt allowed and in ball production, and that’s a recipe for a more Josh Jacobs-centric game–at least to start.

As Tucker Kraft has described before, when the Packers are able to lean on Jacobs and the run game, as they did against San Francisco and Miami, it opens up the entire playbook for the offense.

When an offense is operating from short down-and-distances, really any play can be called in those situations and the defense has to be prepared for that, which can spread them out and it takes away some of the bit from a potent pass rush or a press-heavy secondary, thus leading to opportunities in the passing game.

We saw this effect on display against Miami, who is another defense that has done well to prevent explosive passing plays this season. Through the first half, we saw Green Bay lean on the run game and those short to intermediate throws. Then as the Miami defense started to creep up to better defend those plays, Love connected with Christian Watson down the right sideline for an explosive play.

“They rely a lot on their guys that they have up front,” said Jacobs of the Seattle defense. “You know, their DBs are not really afraid to hit, come up and hit. So, I think that’s a testament to how they’re coached and how they’re being trained over there.

“They’re very ball aware that I’ve noticed just on film. So, for me, just trying to run with the same determination that I’ve been running with. Try to come out there and just put my stamp on the game.”

Depending on how the NFC West shakes out, along with the rest of the playoff seeding in the NFC, this might not be the only time that Green Bay travels to Seattle this season. The Seahawks are trying to fend off the Rams for the division title, so this will be another playoff-like atmosphere for the Packers to compete in.

Behind any success or failure in football, there are numerous factors that determine the outcome of a game or even a single play. But how the Packers’ offensive line handles the noise in Seattle and Leonard Williams will play an important role in determining what kind of success the offense as a whole has on Sunday night.

“The mindset is this is a playoff game,” said Xavier McKinney. “It’s like any other mindset, any other game, we’ve got to go in focused and ready to play. Obviously the atmosphere they provide is pretty crazy. I played there once before, I know how loud it can get and I know their fans are crazy, crazy loud in that way.

“They’ve got a really good team, so it’s going to be a challenge for us going in there for a road game, tough team, playoff opponent team, so that’s the mindset that we’re carrying into it.”

Opponents continuing to attack Packers’ pass defense over the middle

Paul Bretl | 12/13/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Over the last two games, the Packers middle of the field pass defense has been picked on by Miami and Detroit, a trend that could potentially continue against Seattle without proper adjustments made.

In Week 13, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa finished the game against Green Bay completing 37-of-46 passes for 365 yards with two touchdowns. Over the middle specifically, Tagovailoa attacked that part of the field, with 28 of his completions coming between the numbers, along with 300 of his passing yards.

This past week against the Lions, Jared Goff completed 32-of-41 passes overall for 283 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Between the numbers, he completed 23 passes for 214 of his yards with all three touchdowns coming in that part of the field, according to PFF.

“Just getting your depth,” said Isaiah McDuffie on defending the middle of the field. “Getting a good run-pass read and if you’re a hook player, be in the window for if there’s digs or anything coming that way. Just being there and doing your job. That’s the key to this thing.”

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Now, as always, there is context to this, with Tagovailoa putting up a lot of his numbers in the second half against Green Bay, who, at that point, was playing with a multi-score lead and trying not to give up a quick score.

However, Miami, as well as Detroit, both found success utilizing screens against the Packers’ defense. And when it came to the Lions’ game, a key part in the screen game’s success was when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson dialed several of them up, in situations where the Packers were sending pressure in an effort to get after Goff, leaving them out of position and at a numbers disadvantage.

If you look around the NFL, it’s not only the Packers who are struggling to defend screens. As Jeff Hafley described on Thursday, some of the most explosive plays on a weekly basis throughout the league are coming from screen plays, which means other offenses will likely look to incorporate them into their gameplans moving forward.

“They’re around the league a lot right now,” said Hafley of screens. “So we tried to get better at them going from Miami to Detroit. Was it good enough? No, so I’ll tell you it wasn’t good enough but I thought it was better than it was against Miami because some of those were worse, right?

“So then we looked at them again in the time that we had, and we tweaked some calls, and there’s some new things we’re going to try to do to continue to improve on them. When you get good players in space, you get those linemen out there so quickly, and it’s tough. To be honest with you, in that last game, there was a couple where Kenny was retracing, and he was right there, except he’s chasing a guy and all of a sudden Gibbs puts his foot in the ground, and we need more guys there. So t hat’s what we’re going to have to try to do. That’s definitely not easy, but we need to coach it better, and I think we have a better plan this week, and we need to execute it better.”

There is also the cat-and-mouse game that unfolds over the course of a football game, where the offense is trying to identify where the zones, or holes in a defense are going to be on a given play, and the defense is trying to disguise what they are doing from a coverage standpoint and where those zones might show up. More often than not, Goff and the Lions were able to find those soft spots in the Green Bay defense.

“It depends what zones we’re in,” Hafley said. “Are we in Cover-3 zone or are we in Cover-2 zone or are we in quarter-quarter-half or are we in quarters? I mean each zone we play there’s going to be certain voids. So if you are in three deep usually teams are going to try to get behind your hook players or they’re going to try to throw the ball in front of your corners or find the zone between your flat defender and your curl defender. If you’re in a Tampa 2 zone the void is usually that 5-yard are in front of the Mike where the Mike’s running the middle of the field.

“So when you mix up zones, you’re forcing them to try to find that area and usually when you do play zone defense, if you watch around the league or anywhere else, that 5 yards, usually there’s no one standing under there unless you drop eight. I think you’re seeing a lot of that and then a lot of balls thrown behind the line of scrimmage.”

Stressing the Packers’ middle of the field coverage defense is not having Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, with him being sidelined the last three games with a hamstring injury. Although still navigating the ups and downs that come with making the jump from college to the NFL, Cooper had seen his playing time steadily increase each week prior to the injury.

With 4.51-second speed, he brings added coverage ability to the linebacker position with all of the ground he can cover. 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, as Xavier McKinney highlighted after the Jacksonville game, because he can cover a lot of ground.

Cooper has returned to practice this week in a limited capacity the first two days, and is hopeful that he can be back on the field against Seattle.

“It means a lot,” said Cooper about being back at practice. “It’s been a long, long three weeks. I’m just ready to go out there and just play as hard as I can and make plays.”

Without Cooper, the Packers have leaned much more heavily on Isaiah McDuffie, who is more of a run defender at the linebacker position than a coverage defender. That role more so suits Eric Wilson, yet it’s been McDuffie who has seen the majority of the playing time next to Quay Walker and Tagovailoa and Goff have honed in on him.

In the last two games alone, McDuffie has been targeted 23 times, surrendering 20 receptions for 209 yards with one pass breakup. While also shorthanded at cornerback, the Packers want to make sure that they aren’t giving up big plays over the top, having McKinney, or the safety position in general, provide additional help over the middle on those short to intermediate passing routes is something Hafley may have to explore. But with anything, there can be a downside to that, which in this instance is leaving Green Bay exposed on the back end against DK Metcalf, who has the most downfield targets in football this season.

“That’s something that we’ve looked at and I’ve talked to Haf about and we’ve had conversations about,” said McKinney about playing closer to the line of scrimmage. “I’m going to get more involved just trying to, obviously I know kinda what the deal is now, just got to find ways to put myself in these situations so I can get involved in these games or have effects in the games because I know that if I’m deep, there’s probably not much going to happen too much. So just getting more involved with the game, being in the low zones and just doing things to get going early.”

Awaiting the Packers’ defense this week is a Seattle offense that features a potent passing game, led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the aforementioned Metcalf at receiver. Quarterback Geno Smith is also one to attack the middle of the field, with 207 of his 466 pass attempts coming between the numbers, including 155 of those 27 attempts being within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.

From the slot, Smith-Njigba is heavily targeted over the middle of the field and Seattle also gets both of their running backs involved often in the passing game. Kenneth Walker–whose status for Sunday’s game is up in the air due to an injury–and Zach Charbonnet rank fourth and fifth on the team in targets with 83 between the two of them.

“They do a great job,” said Matt LaFleur of the Seattle running backs in the passing game. “They use ’em a lot in the screen game and I think both those backs are elite-level backs. They’re both starters in this league, no doubt about it, so we’re gonna have to do a great job in regards to not only the run game obviously but also the pass game.”

As we often hear, the NFL is a copycat league–if your opponent sees a weakness on film, they are going to put together a gameplan to continue attacking it. And right now, the Packers’ defense has to show that they can combat the screen game and defend the middle of the field. Otherwise offenses, particularly this Seattle one, are going to continue to hone in on those elements until Green Bay proves they can stop it.

With Kenny Clark leading the way, Packers’ run defense operating at high level

Paul Bretl | 12/12/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As we saw in last Thursday’s loss to Detroit, the Packers’ defense still has progress to make. But in recent weeks, and against some dynamic running backs, the Green Bay run defense has been playing at a high level.

“I think the fundamentals and technique, I think understanding the system and then I think the play style,” said Jeff Hafley on the play of the run defense. “I think we’re playing harder and harder each week and that’s how you play good defense. We talk about takeaways, we talk about effort, we talk about fundamentals and technique.”

Following a performance out of the bye week where the Packers’ defense struggled to contain Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, this group has rebounded in a big way over the last three games. In Week 12, the Packers held San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey to just 31 rushing yards at 2.8 yards per carry. The following game, Miami’s De’Von Achane averaged only 2.0 yards per rush, totaling 14 yards on the ground.

Helping the Packers’ defense out in those games was the Green Bay offense jumping out to fairly quick multi-score leads, which does hurt the opponent’s ability to rely on the run game. However, in this most recent game against Detroit, the Packers’ defense didn’t have the luxury of playing with a lead, yet they were still able to contain the dynamic duo that is David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

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Combined, Montgomery and Gibbs would rush for 94 yards, but it took 29 total carries to get there. Montgomery averaged a modest 3.6 yards per rush and Gibbs 2.9 yards, with each recording just one rush of 10-plus yards and neither reaching the 15 yard mark.

“Just execution,” said Isaiah McDuffie of the run defense. “Guys doing their job, you know, doing your 1/11th and that’s what it takes in the run game–being physical.”

Over those three games, that’s a grand total of 2.8 yards per carry surrendered by Green Bay and accomplished against some of the NFL’s best running backs.

Success for the run defense takes a collective effort from all 11 players, but it begins with the play of the interior defensive line and the ability of those players to generate a steady push up the middle, getting off blocks efficiently, and maintaining gap integrity.

“Our D-line’s doing such a good job of staying square, using their hands, getting off blocks,” said Hafley. “Guys aren’t just running up the field.

“The interior part of our D-line has done such a good job these last few games. They really have. They’re hard to block. They’re staying in their gaps. They’re tearing off of blocks.”

Leading that charge inside is TJ Slaton, who defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich said recently was the most improved defensive lineman on the team over the last six weeks, along with Kenny Clark, who as he often does, is hitting his stride in the latter portion of the season.

While the production from Clark through the first half of the season wasn’t necessarily at a level that is expected from a player of his caliber, it is important to note that Clark is one of the more heavily double-teamed interior defensive linemen in football. At one point this season, he was double-teamed on nearly 60 percent of his snaps, according to PFF.

But consistent disruption will eventually lead to disruption, and that is what we are really starting to see from Clark in recent weeks against the run. Over the last three games, Clark ranks sixth among all defensive linemen in PFF’s run-stop rate metric–generating a steady push up the middle and making plays on the ball carriers.

“I think Kenny’s playing some really good football right now,” Matt LaFleur said on Wednesday, “and that’s going to be pivotal for us moving forward. I mean, you need your best players to play their best in order for you to have the best chance of winning games. And I think that’s what we’re seeing from him.”

A key factor in Clark’s recent surge is that he’s healthy after dealing with a toe injury for much of the season–an injury he sustained in Week 1 against Philadelphia and has been fighting through since.

“Honestly, just getting healthy and continuing to stack more days,” said Clark of his play. “So, just got to keep doing that man, just keep building. Yeah, just keep on building.”

A strong run defense may begin with the defensive tackle position, but it also requires disciplined play from the defensive ends, specifically setting the edge in order to funnel the ball carrier back inside so he cannot get to the boundary.

The improved play at the linebacker position in recent weeks has been a critical factor as well, with that group filling gaps, fighting through blocks, and getting sideline-to-sideline to contain outside runs. The members of the secondary have also been rallying to the football, and overall, the tackling from this Packers’ defense has been very sound.

“It’s the same thing with those defensive ends,” Hafley added. “They’re setting edges, they’re forcing the ball back inside, they’re getting off blocks and then we’re tackling and we’re running to the ball and there’s multiple people to the ball and when you turn on our tape right now and when you freeze it, you see that. You see a lot of guys around the football. and then you’re not afraid.

“If I have an open-field tackle and i know eight other guys are coming, I’m gonna take my shot because I know if I miss, it’s gonna be bang, bang, bang, we got three or four other guys there and we’re starting to play faster.”

Although the Packers’ run defense may be playing its best football right now, this unit has improved significantly overall in the first year under Hafley. Green Bay will enter Week 15, allowing only 4.1 yards per carry–the seventh-best mark this season–and are seventh in run-stop rate, according to ESPN.

Winning at the line of scrimmage and slowing an opponent’s run game can often be a precursor to good defensive performance. Limiting the run game can put the offense behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations where the defense now has the advantage from a coverage standpoint in those long down-and-distances and the pass rush is then able to pin its ears back.

This week the Packers face a Seattle offense that features two of the game’s most productive receivers, but a run game averaging 4.1 yards per rush on the season–the ninth-lowest mark. The Seahawks’ offensive line unit ranks 28th in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric.

However, just last week against Arizona, we saw Zach Charbonnet rush for 134 yards at a whopping 6.1 yards per attempt. Lead back Kenneth Walker is also among the best at forcing missed tackles–ranking second in that category–while quarterback Geno Smith has the ability to extend plays.

“He’s a big back that can really roll and he can do, he’s a multi-dimensional guy,” LaFleur said of Charbonnet. “He’s another guy that we studied extensively and really liked coming out of the draft. He was given more of an opportunity last week, so I think he’s fully capable. They’ve got two elite backs.”

If the Packers are unable to carry the momentum that they’ve established against the run over the last several weeks into this game, pairing that element with the Seahawks’ potent passing game will prove difficult to stop.

“I give the guys a lot of credit because the last couple teams we played can really run the football,” Hafley said. “If we’re going to continue to improve and get better and win games, we’ve got to be able to stop the run.”

TE Luke Musgrave returns to practice, giving Packers’ offense a new element in late-season push

Paul Bretl | 12/12/2024

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tight end Luke Musgrave returned to the practice on Wednesday and has been desiganted to return from injured reserve, potentially providing the Packers’ offense with a boost during this stretch run of the season.

With this being Musgrave’s first practice back in a few months, he was listed as limited–going through warmups with the team but then working off to the side on individual drills for the remainder of practice.

“Really good,” said Musgrave about being back at practice. “Been watching practice and that’s always the hardest part, so it’s good just to put the pads back on and a helmet and get back out there and join the guys again.”

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Once a player is designated to return from IR, a 21-day window opens for that player to be activated back to the 53-man roster. After being activated, that player is then available on Sundays to play. The activation can take place at any time, whether it be Day 1 or Day 21; it’s all dependent upon the player’s health.

“Feeling good,” Musgrave said. “Still getting back into it, still working into the ankle, but body feels good. Been in the weight room a lot, so it’s been really good.”

Musgrave hasn’t played since the Packers’ Week 4 matchup against Minnesota. Musgrave would say that on one of the first plays of that game, his left ankle would get twisted up and then fallen on. However, despite the injury, Musgrave would go on to play 25 snaps in that game and catching three passes for 13 yards.

Musgrave would be on the injury report the following week but was active for the Packers’ Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, something that Matt LaFleur did not expect, given the injury. Musgrave would be in a reserve role that game and didn’t play any snaps. He was then placed on IR a few days later.

“I mean, pain’s never really been a huge limiting factor for me,” said Musgrave about playing through the Vikings’ game. “We spatted it and it was all right, so I just kinda kept on going. It felt odd, but I thought I was going to be fine.”

Musgrave would go on to say that he suffered a torn ligament and that his ankle was “really loose. Surgery was required and was completed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Throughout this time on injured reserve, Musgrave remained involved by going to meetings, watching film, and just being around the building, as he put it, not to mention the heavy-dose of rehab he’s been doing to get back to this point. However, while all of that was helpful and necessary, not being able to be on the practice field or on the field on Sundays wasn’t easy.

“I think the tough moment is always going back to practice,” Musgrave said. “Those first few weeks after surgery you’re just in the rehab room but once you go back out to practice and watch practice, that’s always tough because you really see what you’re missing out on.”

So how did Musgrave overcome those difficult times when all he could do was rehab and watch practice? Find little goals and focus on accomplishing them as quickly as possible.

“I think the best moments are when your body’s able to do what you know it can do. So I think like hitting a top speed, you’ve got to find little goals, so for me it was like hitting 20 miles an hour, that was a big goal for me. So just kinda those little goals, getting back and getting your body back.”

Musgrave’s return to the practice field on Wednesday was the “target date,” said LaFleur, adding that Musgrave has done a nice job with the rehab process. After missing so much time, Musgrave will be integrated back into practice and the team will see how quickly he can get back up to speed.

Without Musgrave, we’ve seen the continued emergence of Tucker Kraft, who along with his contributions in the passing game and as a blocker, has helped foster a more physical mindset and approach within the Packers’ offense. Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick have then primarily helped handle some of the blocking responsibilities that come at the tight end position.

“Been awesome, fun to watch this team,” said Musgrave of the tight end room. “Obviously you guys know, really powerful team, so excited to see what we’re gonna do and be a part of it.”

Prior to the injury, it was a slow start to the season for Musgrave. Through four games, he caught 5-of-7 passes for only 22 yards. But at 6-6, 253 pounds and with 4.6 speed, he brings a different element to the Packers’ offense. While Kraft offers big-play potential at the tight end position through his yards after the catch ability, Musgrave can stretch the field vertically and be a difficult matchup with his combination of size and speed.

The attention that Musgrave draws and the gravity he has can also help create opportunities for others within the offense through the spacing and matchups he orchestrates.

“It’s been awesome to see Luke,” said Jordan Love. “He was out there in pads and what not doing some individual stuff today. It was great to see him back here. Obviously, had a tough injury, didn’t know when he was going to be back, if it would be this week or not. It’s definitely nice to see him back out there.

“Hopefully we can get him back for the end of the season and for playoffs and what not, so it’s awesome to have a guy like that back out there.”

While individually, Musgrave and Kraft can offer a lot to this Packers’ offense, being on the field together is what could open up additional opportunities for this unit. Unfortunately, through nearly two NFL seasons together, that’s not something we’ve seen a lot of up to this point, particularly when both are at the height of their powers.

Early in 2023, when both Musgrave and Kraft were healthy, Kraft’s role on offense was fairly small. A kidney injury in Week 11 of that season to Musgrave would sideline him until Week 18, and it was during that span of games where we saw the emergence of Kraft. Then this season, the duo has only been on the field together for four games.

The Packers, under LaFleur, utilize 12 personnel–or two tight end sets–at a relatively high rate. In terms of their skill-sets, Kraft and Musgrave each bring a different element to the Packers’ offense. Musgrave with his elite speed at the position, can stretch the field as we saw last season, with 16 percent of his targets coming 20-plus yards downfield–the fifth-highest rate of any tight end. Kraft, meanwhile, is excellent after the catch with the ball in his hands, currently ranking fourth among all tight ends in total YAC this season.

However, while both can impact the passing game in different ways, the Packers believe that both are also more than capable blockers, and it’s those two elements when coupled together that can help unlock an offense’s full potential.

For LaFleur as the play-caller, having two tight ends who can impact both the running and passing games helps open up the playbook for him, allowing the Packers to get much more creative, particularly from 12 personnel, when both tight ends are on field.

“The more we have, the more options, the better we’re going to be,” Christian Watson said of Musgrave’s return. “So, excited for him to get back out there, whenever he does.”

Having one tight end, but especially two, who can make plays in the passing game and be a capable as a blocker further adds the unpredictability element to the offense. Pre-snap, defenses can’t decipher as easily whether a run or pass is coming simply based on where the tight ends are lined up. There are also the mismatches Kraft and Musgrave can create with their abilities to line up across the formation.

This then forces defenses to respect both the run and the pass on any given play, thus having to defend the entire field, which creates better spacing and more room for the offense to operate in.

When LaFleur took over as the head coach we often heard him use the phrase the ‘illusion of complexity,’ which versatile tight ends help enhance. The combination of Kraft and Musgrave allows the Packers to run a number of plays from just a few personnel packages and like-plays–or plays that begin similarly but end up being different–that build off each other throughout the game.

All of this creates mismatches for not only Kraft and Musgrave to exploit, but helps open up opportunities for others within the offense, and generally speaking, is an added stressor for opponents, keeping the defense guessing and off-balanced.

“It would be big time,” said Love of having both Kraft and Musgrave together. “I think the last time we had it was really during training camp, having both those guys out there. And it definitely changes the plays we call and some of the formations we have and personnel groupings. But to have both those guys out on the field, those are two really good tight ends.

“So I think it definitely changes the way we can call some plays and things like that. It’s been tough not having Luke out there so to get him back healthy and back out on the field would be big-time.”

With Musgrave back at practice and the 21-day window to be activated open, the presumption is that he will make his return in the next few weeks. But as far as a specific timeline for that, it’s just as soon as possible. At which point, Musgrave will be ready for whatever role the team needs him to fill.

“Whatever they want me to,” said Musgrave on what he can contribute. “Whatever they see fit. That’s the coaches’ job, so whatever they see me doing, I’m willing to do.”

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