Packers Focus on Pass Defense Should Pay Dividends

Mike McCarthy is a problem solve and this offseason, his mission has been to improve the pass defense. 

Over the years, head coach Mike McCarthy has fixed a lot of problems. But if he wants to Green Bay get back to the Super Bowl in 2017, he will need to make sure his plan to fix the Packers pass defense is foolproof.

Despite his tremendous success, McCarthy has always been the target of criticism and in many ways, he has deserved it. He gets conservative at times, he gets hard-headed and is sometimes, overly loyal.

However, when you look in depth at McCarthy, you have to say, when he identifies a true problem with his football team, he is usually able to fix it; or at the very least, make it better.

Over the past five seasons, there have been a number of clear examples of McCarthy stressing something in the offseason, only to see it pay off in the regular season, starting with the running game in 2013.

Following the 2012 season, in which the Packers again finished in the bottom third of NFL teams in rushing, McCarthy and the organization stressed improvement. Eddie Lacy was drafted that year and suddenly, Green Bay had a top-10 running game.

It would be easy to credit Lacy with the turnaround, but there was more to it. With McCarthy’s direction, the ground game was a priority and it became part of the team’s attitude and identity. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t last forever, but I’ll save that point for later.

What held back that 2013 team was a couple things. One was an injury that cost Aaron Rodgers seven games. The other was a pass defense that ranked 24th and couldn’t seem to ever get a stop when it mattered most.

So, in the offseason leading up to the 2014 season, the focus was on defense and sure enough, the focus paid off again. 

The defense went from being ranked 24th in points allowed and 25th in yards, to ranking 13th in points allowed and 15th in yards. The pass defense also ranked 10th and in part because of that, Green Bay was within a game of the Super Bowl.

But then, after improving the running game and the defense, Rodgers and the offense fell apart. Lacy became overweight and injury prone and without McCarthy calling the plays, the offensive output in 2015 was atrocious, ranking 23rd in yards per game, an unthinkable number with a two-time MVP under center.

But after re-assuming the play-calling duties and getting Jordy Nelson back from injury, Green Bay righted the ship on offense too, only to see its pass defense again fall flat on its face -- cue the past few months.

McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson know the pass defense needs to improve and they have done everything possible to make it better, even doing more pass drills during OTAs and minicamp.

Of course signing Davon House, drafting Kevin King and Josh Jones and getting better production from Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins is what will really do the trick. But the point is, if his track record is any indication, McCarthy will have the Packers playing better pass defense in 2017. 

The concern is, can MM prevent another major weakness from developing, long enough for it to matter.

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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru

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Comments (28)

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Spock's picture

June 25, 2017 at 07:45 am

I agree that MM does get what he emphasizes typically. "The concern is, can MM prevent another major weakness from developing, long enough for it to matter." That usually is governed by the health of the team (crosses fingers). I have a good feeling about the defense and the offense this year. I can't say I've felt that way for a while! Hopefully, I and the coaches feel good about the team after the pads go on. :)

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NickPerry's picture

June 25, 2017 at 07:58 am

Agreed Spock, I have a good feeling too. More so on the offensive side of the ball than the defense though. My biggest concern is the pass rush. The Packers had a good number of sacks last season but how many times did it "FEEL" like they couldn't get pressure, at least when it mattered most. Good things normally happen when McCarthy put's his focus on a specific are, hopefully that remains true this season.

I was looking back at the last several drafts the other day. The Packers have spent 10 of their 12 top draft picks the last 3 years on defense. Just Jason Spriggs and Ty Montgomery are the exceptions. With the number of resources spent on the defense the last 3 years the Packers should be able to field a top 15 defense, maybe better. If they can just manage to stay healthy...

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ChrisPeterson's picture

June 25, 2017 at 02:02 pm

Health will help a lot. I think that hindered both Randall and Rollins, who actually have very promising rookie seasons. There was a reason the Packers let Casey Hayward go. They didn't think they needed them cause they had three rookies they felt good about, including Gunter there. I think Gunter is still decent, he just needs to be the fifth CB, not guarding a team's No. 1. And I think Randall will excel in the slot. The way I look at it, is if either Randall or Rollins came turn things around this year, that will help. House I think will be solid, but not great and the real key is King. He may take some lumps early, but hopefully by the end of the year, he will be playing at a high level. I think the defense will be improved, but as some others have mentioned if the pass rush struggles that will hurt the secondary. Another thing I worry about is stopping the run, something that wasn't a strong point down the stretch. If those two areas can hold up, I think that along with the improvement of the secondary will at least help the defense be middle of the pack, like top 16. I think anything top 12 in yards or points is a huge success. And I don't think that's incredibly unrealistic. Clay Matthews needs to have a big year though, simple as that.

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Handsback's picture

June 25, 2017 at 07:52 am

Yes Spock, I agree with you 100%. If/when MM fixes his current issues, the team will probably perform well enough for an extended playoff run until the next weakness occurs which is usually injury related.

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Since'61's picture

June 25, 2017 at 07:56 am

While I agree that the Packers are making a strong attempt to improve their pass defense with the additions of House, King and Jones, part of improving the pass defense includes improving the pass rush. I'm not sure if our pass rush will be more effective in 2017. With the exception of Mike Daniels our front 7 has numerous question marks going into 2017. Clark and Lowry are still young and relatively untested. They both have a way to go on their respective development curves. Francois should help the run defense but I don't know if he is much of a pass rusher. Guion, has never been much of a pass rusher and should be gone anyway. Ringo, haven't seen much from him. CM3 can still be effective but I don't think he concerns OCs like he once did. Perry is probably our best chance to generate a consistent pass rush but can he stay healthy for a full season and he has a tendency to disappear during plays and entire games that really matter. Eliot and Fackrell could emerge and if so they could make an impact but they're not scaring anyone yet. Martinez and Ryan are run game guys so not much of a factor there. Yes, we can blitz CBs and safeties at the appropriate spots in a game but that can't be our mainstay for the pass rush. As for coverage, House should be solid, King will improve as the season progresses, and we need to see if Randall and Rollins improve both their coverage and tackling in their respective 3rd seasons. Safety is our strongest position but Burnett, Dix and Jones can't be everywhere. Without an improved pass rush it's unlikely that we'll see a much better pass defense in 2017. With the exception of House our CB group still needs a lot of work. Let's see what the preseason brings. Thanks, Since '61

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Rossonero's picture

June 25, 2017 at 11:13 am

I must disagree, although you are correct about how a pass rush impacts the secondary. Here are my reasons why:

1) Packers had a top 10 finish in sacks with 40. I am confident that Dom Capers will find a way to leverage Kyler Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott. I also expect some creative safety and CB blitzes with more athleticism back there.

2) Datone Jones was not a loss.

3) We finished 31st in pass defense. The only way is up!

4) We simply lacked speed and health in the secondary. We won't have to play two deep safeties so much as we did last year, because we had no speed on the outside at CB. That alone will give Capers more freedom to be creative.

It was a rag tag group held together with duct tape and boogers. The talent simply was not there, but Kevin King, Josh Jones and Davon House will inject life back into it. Demarious Randall playing in the slot will be good for him.

As long as him and Rollins stay healthy, I don't think its unreasonable to think the secondary can be dramatically improved....the question is, will it come at the expense of something else? That's what we cannot afford.

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Since'61's picture

June 25, 2017 at 01:12 pm

Rossonero - thanks for the excellent feedback and you have made good points. The 40 sacks seem like an impressive stat but for me its when you get the sacks versus the number of sacks. For example, Perry had 10 sacks but he disappeared for most of our 4 game losing streak when a sack or two during those games may have changed the outcome especially against Atlanta (regular season) and Indy. I would rather have one or two sacks in the 4th quarter that prevent a comeback than 2-3 sacks in the first half especially when the opponent completes a 3rd and long against our secondary. My point being the pass rush needs to be consistent enough to make the QB concerned whenever he drops back. If he is allowed to be comfortable back there our secondary (or any secondary) will get beat. I agree 100% with your 2nd point, Datone Jones is no loss. Also agree with your 3rd point that the only way is up but hopefully further up than 28th or 29th. Your 4th point is also accurate although I'm not confident about how creative Capers is anymore. As for House, King and Jones, I also expect them to make a difference but for now that's just hope and speculation. Lastly, good pass defense begins with a consistently, good pass rush. Without the pass rush and with the current rules, it's only a matter of time before the secondary gets beat. Thanks, Since '61

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 25, 2017 at 03:28 pm

Rossonero: The number of sacks we had last year has exactly what to do with the upcoming season? The answer is very little. If I wrote that we should be fine this year since we had 45 sacks last season, led by Vonn Miller's 18, but we don't have Miller for this year, would that make any sense?

Datone is a modest loss. Peppers is a noticeable loss. I'll be content if one of biegrelliott is as good as Jones and another is as good as Peppers. The third of that trio really ought to be as good as Elliott was last year, since he was invisible. That's the no place to go but up argument.

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Rossonero's picture

June 25, 2017 at 05:03 pm

ThegreatReynoldo: I hear you. My point was most people complain about how bad the defense was, but in reality, Matthews and Perry had serious injuries that limited their effectiveness down the stretch. If they get healthy, then I'm not as worried.

Peppers had a nice year -- 7.5 sacks -- but you can replace that type of production. If it was 18 sacks, that's a different story, but its not the Packers' situation. Also, even if we kept Peppers, we can't assume that type of production would continue. The man is incredible, but Father Time is undefeated. Plus, he's pretty expensive too.

At some point we have to see what we have with Lowry, Fackrell, Biegel and Elliott. I'm convinced Ted drafted Lowry and Fackrell in 2016 as he knew there was a good chance that Peppers and Jones would be let go.

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ThxJackVainisi's picture

June 25, 2017 at 02:26 pm

Since '61: "I'm not sure if our pass rush will be more effective in 2017." I'm not either and that's why I disagree with Chris' assertion in an otherwise well-written post: "McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson know the pass defense needs to improve and they have done everything possible to make it better…" McCarthy may be doing all he can but Thompson hasn't … yet. I'm still hopeful he'll sign one more veteran from another team: The best edge rusher available after roster cuts (or even trade a middle-late round pick to be sure he comes to Green Bay).

Rossonero, the Packers did finish in the top 10 in sacks but they would have finished 20th without sacks by Peppers and Datone Jones. Obviously their snaps would have gone to others who may have recorded some sacks, but the point again is last year's stats regarding pressure on QBs are moot at this point: Peppers was second and Jones was third in total pressures (Matthews was 5th). BTW, I understand why no tears were shed when Datone wasn't offered an extension - he never came close to living up to his draft status. But even with his flaws, last season was his best rushing the passer - he had twice as many knockdowns as anyone else on the team.

I hope to see Randall effectively pressure the QB from the slot and Josh Jones do the same from the ILB spot on occasion. I'd love to see Fackrell & Elliott outperform expectations - or have someone like Biegel, Gilbert, or Calvin surprise in a big way. But that's all hope, none of them have proven able to do any of that.

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ChrisPeterson's picture

June 25, 2017 at 11:35 pm

For me, I just have confidence in Kyler Fackrell. I think he is going to make a jump next season. I also think Elliot or Biegel will contribute in some way this season. The pass rush to me though, ultimately comes down to Matthews, Perry and Mike Daniels. If they all have big seasons and they should considering they are all among the highest paid defenders on the roster, the pass rush will be fine. If not some decisions may need to be made.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 25, 2017 at 07:58 am

The pass D will improve--how can't it?--but it really hurts having to move Randall inside.

It's the right move, but it leaves us paper thin outside, while Rollins drops to a near-meaningless backup slot guy.

Bottom line: Moving Randall inside is a huge indictment of the 2015 draft class. We spent our top 2 picks on corners without getting even one starter outside where help is needed.

That's awful.

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dobber's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:01 am

I'm just not as worried about Randall moving into the slot. The Packers need effective players, and the slot corner is essentially a starter when you play 75+% snaps with 5 or more DBs. When they drafted Rollins and Randall, they had Shields...I don't think anyone anticipated the need for outside CBs that the Packers have now.

If Randall turns out to be a decent slot CB, I don't know how that doesn't reflect well on the 2015 draft class. TBH, only Kennard Backman isn't still with the team, and of those left, only Ringo is a fringe roster player. Rollins will get to play plenty in 2017. There's a lot of room for 2015 to become a draft class that's a core piece on this roster...some might argue it already is.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:09 am

No offense, dobber, but no team in the league spends its top 2 picks on CB in hopes one might be "a decent slot CB."

That's a disaster.

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Since'61's picture

June 25, 2017 at 01:26 pm

Andrew - I agree that it doesn't look very good to get a hopefully decent slot CB out of our top 2 picks in the draft. However, the Packers always pick late in the draft and top players such as CBs are usually gone by the time we pick. Hopefully King and Jones will live up to their billings and where they were picked. I believe that both will help to improve our secondary. As for Randall and Rollins this is their make or break season as far as I'm concerned. If we don't see major improvement from both, regardless of the number of snaps they play, then you are correct, it will be a disaster. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for this season. Maybe the combination of their injuries and being thrust into pressure situations was too much for them last season. No excuses for them this season. We'll see. Thanks, Since '61

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 25, 2017 at 03:45 pm

I agree Dobber that getting a good slot CB out of a first round draft pick is just fine (assuming that happens). I don't like the rest of your argument. The most productive player from the 2015 draft so far is Ryan. I am excited about Monty, but looking at his production, well, it is okay for a 3rd rounder. I think Monty is going to explode, but he is averaging 477 yards from scrimmage per season so far. Pretty good, not Lacy levels. Arguably Ryan, Monty, and Rip are starters, and I suppose Randall was too, at least when he wasn't benched for ineffectiveness.

Just because a player is a starter or plays a lot does not mean the player is actually any good or is a successful draft pick, especially on a MM coached team. I shouted from the hilltops that Richard Rodgers was simply awful - ya know, defenses ignore him when he runs a pass route and salivate when he blocks - and people just labeled me as a RR-hater. This offense started to take off with Cook on the field. It would have taken off with just Kendricks, the $2M/yr FA. It will take off with Bennett.

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dobber's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:15 pm

This is what I said: "There's a lot of room for 2015 to become a draft class that's a core piece on this roster...some might argue it already is." The statement says that there's "room"...there's several players there poised to be impactful on this team. Guys who are poised to play a lot of snaps in 2017. They're going to get their chances: Randall, Rollins, Monty, Ryan...if they play well, this will start to look like a good draft class.

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dobber's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:16 pm

I don't see anywhere where I said I 'hoped' he would be a decent slot corner. I'm not exactly sure why we're pissing on slot corners: they're important parts of every defense. If you can't defend the slot, you'll get bled out.

What I said was I wanted effective players....doesn't matter where you find them, just find them.

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Lphill's picture

June 25, 2017 at 08:04 am

Well last year might be an all time low for the pass defense due to a combination of injuries and depth , I think Eliot and Fackerell step up and a healthy Randall and the addition of House alone is an upgrade, if King and Jones can contribute then even better, Rollins is the question mark . Let's see how things develop but at least things are looking up.

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ejr450's picture

June 25, 2017 at 08:50 am

I think the sentiment that the Packers get what MM emphasizes is true. The next weakness developing concerns me - and injuries play a part - but I think coaching does too. The 2015 offense was affected by 87 going down, but that was the Tom Clements show while MM worked on the D.

I guess the best way to say it is that there's only so much MM to go around and the other coaches need to carry their own water when MM isn't over their shoulder. Be that the new RB coach, Joe Whitt, Dom, etc. We as fans speak highly of our staff, but none of our guys are getting looks for other jobs - OC, DC, HC etc. Maybe our staff isn't quite what we think it is.

That said, I'm optimistic about the new (old) look O and a rejuvenated D. Should be a fun year again.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 25, 2017 at 08:56 am

Good point. McCarthy constantly having to shift focus to areas of horrendous performance doesn't speak well of his choices for coaching assistants.

I hadn't thought of that. Very good point.

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Slim11's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:44 am

This is an excellent point and has been a concern of mine for a long time.

As another poster pointed out, MM is overly loyal to his players and staff. To wit, former OC Tom Clements. In 2015, I believed Clements to be a bigger liability than Capers. Clements was retained much longer than he should have been.

This season will be interesting while watching Edgar Bennett as the OC without Clements as part of the equation. Clements wasn't a very good OC in Buffalo and proved equally inept as an OC in Green Bay.

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Since'61's picture

June 25, 2017 at 01:37 pm

I don't know how much interest MMs assistants received from other teams but I also don't know if the Packers prevented their assistants from interviewing. They have done so in the past, specifically with assistants who were still under contract. Beyond that, Capers HC days are done, Bennett is not HC material IMO and neither is Moss. However in 2016, Ben McAdoo was hired from MMs staff to be head coach of the NY Giants, went 11-5 and made the playoffs in his first season so that says something positive about MM assistants, at least to me. The Giants have been and remain a well run organization and appear to know what they're doing. Thanks, Since '61

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ejr450's picture

June 25, 2017 at 03:29 pm

100% fair point on McAdoo- and I hold the Giants in high regard as well. I do recall when they blocked. Clements from interviewing a few years back. We don't know a whole lot about the inner workings and who can do what - but to me the point still remains. If Mike is focused on it, it gets better. Can the other guys hold down everything else long enough?

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ShanghaiKid's picture

June 25, 2017 at 09:26 pm

@ejr450 I mostly agree with what you've stated. Just leave Whitt out of that. He's an excellent coach, who honestly hasn't had much to work with. Look what he did with Shields and Tramon, 2 UDFA he helped mold into Pro Bowlers. Not his fault the cupboard was exposed as empty last season. He was holding the unit together with the equivalent of Gorilla Glue and Tape.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

June 25, 2017 at 03:25 pm

My humble opinion is "never count your chickens before they hatch". Basically, Since 61 is right on. I agree that the pass defense will improve. But without a pass rush, it places the pass defense at a great disadvantage. It's not only sacks we should want, it's quarterback hurries and pressures. Let's face it, a quarterback that feels the pressure will throw less accurately. A quarterback with time will likely find his mark. The only quarterback that disobeys this rule, in my opinion, is AR. But then he's exceptionally gifted and by being so, can extend plays.
Nevertheless, a good pass rush is the key to a good pass defense. The jury is still out on having an effective pass rush or if they'll sink like a bad souffle.

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

June 25, 2017 at 03:45 pm

There must be a Echo on my computer!!
LVT

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Packer_Fan's picture

June 25, 2017 at 04:44 pm

Injuries will determine if a position group has problems. That happened to both the CB's and RB's last year. Fortunately Montgomery and Ripowski stepped up. Not for the CB's. In my opinion, OLB is susceptible this year. Not enough depth.

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