I’ve been thinking a lot about how this Packers defense is going to look in 2020, and all I can think about is the old Dom Capers psycho defense. Not a 3-4. Not a 4-3. But a crazy hybrid 1-5-5 kind of front that breeds chaos and confusion. Given the players at defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s disposal, a return to the psycho package could make sense this season. 

Part of the charm of the psycho defense is that opposing offenses never know where the pressure is coming from. Picture a defensive alignment that has Kenny Clark with his hand in the dirt, then Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin, and Christian Kirksey roaming the middle. While all six of those guys are capable of bringing the pressure at absolutely any time, opposing offensive lines won’t know who’s actually rushing and who’s dropping into coverage. 

We know Mike Pettine loves his stunts, and he’s said repeatedly this past offseason that both Za’Darius and Gary specifically give him the versatility to generate pressure in a variety of ways. Whether those two are lining up over center, blitzing through the B-gap, or off the edge with Preston dropping into coverage, there’s plenty to like about this stout front seven.

Then, when we take a look at the secondary, the best defensive backs still have their roles on the field and, while they’ll likely spend the bulk of these psycho snaps in coverage, it’s possible with Adrian Amos or Raven Greene playing closer to the box, one of them could come free for a safety blitz. 

Basically, a psycho package, while used sparingly, gives Pettine the opportunity to put his absolute best players on the field. In the secondary, that would likely be Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Amos, Darnell Savage, and Chandon Sullivan. 

And it’s versatile. There’s Pettine’s buzzword again. I included Jonathan Garvin initially. Mentioned Raven Greene. Added Chandon Sullivan. Sub in Dean Lowry or Kingsley Keke or Kamal Martin or Oren Burks. It works just the same. And that’s what makes it such an interesting package for Pettine to consider in specific situations. Especially with Pettine acknowledging himself that he’d like Za’Darius, Preston, and Clark to lighten their loads a little bit in 2020 to keep them fresh. 

While Pettine has emphasized that he wants his defense to be penetrating first and foremost (something we saw in 2019 as the team created more pressures off fewer blitzes), the psycho defense provides a certain allure with offensive linemen not having as much time to choose their blocking assignment. It’s likely someone, whether that’s Gary, Amos, or Clark, could slip through the cracks unblocked and make a play on the quarterback. 

This defense is growing, and it will only continue to get better in 2020. Kenny Clark is getting paid. Rashan Gary is about to take a massive second-year leap. Christian Kirksey is going to make an immediate impact in the middle of the defense. But perhaps the biggest standout here is still the incredible amount of talent Pettine has at his disposal. 

If we look back just a few years ago to a roster trying to generate pressure with an injured Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Kyler Fackrell, and Reggie Gilbert, it’s no wonder this 2019 squad feels so night and day. 

It’s safe to say this is one of the most talented defenses Pettine has been able to work with. Whoever is bringing the heat, whatever the stunt is, expect this defense, at least occasionally, to go a little psycho in 2020.