Packers d, buy or sell?

[Froob]

If you guys dont think this is thread worthy you can merge but im curious as to what others think about the legitimacy of the packers defense. Theyve put up some solid numbers but I feel theyre like the 2008-12 Pats defense that will fail in the big moments, especially if they don't create turnovers. I think Gray and Blount should have field days running all over Clay and co. What say you?

 

[Oswlek]

OK pass defense, lousy run defense, gets put in favorable positions by the offense.

 

[TBR]

Well, Kaepernick threw for 227 yards against them at Lambeau, in the freezing cold last year in the playoffs

Brady can shred them. Especially with an up-tempo/no-huddle offense

 

[ausbacker]

I see the Packers as the 2009-2013 Patriots. Excellent QB with great players on O and a complimentary D that can be torched.

Against the Patriots, the Packers may be just as likely to force 4 turnovers as they are to have 40 put on them at home. Thus, the conundrum.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I was surprised to see options, I thought the question was rhetorical.

Actually all the defenses seem good until they play us, and then we find a way to be fairly effective (certainly above the mean).

 

[Joey007]

Well, they had the worst run D in the league for quite a while this year but has recently improved.

Matthews has lacked QB sacks this year but still gets pressure like he always would. Peppers isn't the old Peppers anymore but is still a very solid pass rusher who can make some plays. Inside linebacker is a weaker position for them. D-line on paper doesn't look very good, but players such as Letroy Guion have played better than expected and have been alright.

The Secondary is very solid in all around depth, but lacks anyone who can't be exploited aside from maybe Sam Shields at times. However, they, like our defenses the past few years, are good at making turnovers. Good but beatable.

Overall it's an alright defense. I'm not so sure it's championship caliber or anything though, reminds me a lot of our defense in 2012. I'd say we've faced much tougher defenses than theirs this year.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

They arn't bad vs the pass...but horrible vs the run...30th in NFL. Vereen, Blount and Gray should shine in this game. Like the Colts game, we can have 250 on the ground if we execute

 

[Sciz]

The talk all this week is and will continue to be Brady vs Rodgers, but I hope this is a Blount and Gray game. All the talk last offseason was about how the Packers wanted to get more athletic in the front 7, but all that DL did was get smaller and worse against the run. Peppers has been a playmaker and the announcers won't let you forget that Matthews is now playing both ILB and OLB, but none of that will matter if the Patriots are able to run the ball 40 times.

 

[KA-]

Don't think their D is that great, Pass and Run D both can be had. They can make some plays here and there, but it's nothing to write home about

 

[ausbacker]

The talk all this week is and will continue to be Brady vs Rodgers, but I hope this is a Blount and Gray game. All the talk last offseason was about how the Packers wanted to get more athletic in the front 7, but all that DL did was get smaller and worse against the run. Peppers has been a playmaker and the announcers won't let you forget that Matthews is now playing both ILB and OLB, but none of that will matter if the Patriots are able to run the ball 40 times.

As per usual @Sciz, we are in agreement. I would be reasonably pleased to see a game plan similar to the one the Patriots executed against the Colts.

A heavy dose of Blount, Gray and Vereen before hitting play-action passes would be most welcomed.

I think the Packers can be had but it will mean the Patriots have to play another super game. I'm not sure about everyone else but I've really enjoyed watching the team navigate the murderers' row portion of their schedule. They've risen to the challenge.

 

[Froob]

People who didn't want Blount will be eating their words Sunday. Being able to keep Blount and Gray fresh is going to be HUGE.

 

[Big-T]

They're 20th in yards allowed against the pass.
30th against the run.
16th in points allowed

So I'm selling, that isn't a particularly good defense and they can certainly be be targeted, especially against the run.

 

[Kontradiction]

They're basically a carbon copy of the 2010 Patriots. So no, I don't think they're legit on the defensive side of the ball. Don't turn the ball over and get a hat on that bulked up lesbian Clay Matthews and you shouldn't have a problem with them.

 

[Galeb]

Don't turn the ball over and get a hat on that bulked up lesbian Clay Matthews and you shouldn't have a problem with them.

What did Mathews do to deserve to be called a bulked up lesbian?

 

[Kontradiction]

What did Mathews do to deserve to be called a bulked up lesbian?

Nothing. I just think it's a funny way to describe a guy with long, blond hair that's jacked and plays football.

 

[Bonzo]

As it's the only game of theirs I've seen this season, I still can't get past that opening day debacle in Seattle. Packers had all freaking year to prepare for an offensive attack that looked more or less like it did in the Super Bowl, and they still came out looking utterly astonished. So, unless I see something different on Sunday, I've no confidence that this is a smart or well-coached (sorry Dom) defense.

 

[BradyFTW!]

My opinion is best summarized by the fact that I'm starting Blount in two fantasy leagues this week.

Green Bay's defense isn't bad, but they're right about Colts-level at stopping the run.

 

[RobAllan]

Matthews has lacked QB sacks this year but still gets pressure like he always would.

A GB fan on Reddit posted something I thought was interesting this week. He said the Packers are lining up Clay Matthews in a different spot this year because of how often he would overrun plays in the past (i.e. be 5 yards in the backfield on run plays.) They said by moving him it slows him down by a second or two and so while he doesn't get more sacks, he's overall a more effective player because he's still in position to make a play even against the run. So the feeling was even though he's got less sacks, he's actually playing better and more consistently now than in the past.

I think this is probably true (I don't follow them but he sounded like a knowledgeable fan). That said, I think they don't have the right mix on defense and can be exploited regularly by a patient team. Hopefully that will be us this weekend.

 

[nowayback]

They have played against 1 really good QB, Brees and the saints passed and ran all over them. 2nd best QB Cutler???? and they ran all over them. Against the scrub QB's in the other games they can load the box...Against Minn. they had 8 in the box and Bridgewater couldn't hit the open WR's. Their best wins...Eagles with 4 turnovers and the Sanchize and the dolphins. If Pats take game seriously, no way the Pack win

 

[ewg_gestalt]

If Pats take game seriously, no way the Pack win

I'm sure by Sunday BB will have the players convinced that the D is the second coming of the '86 Bears and that Rodgers will be inducted into Canton during halftime.