Exactly!
This game may be a good indicator of how good the 2023 Packers defense is going to be.
If they can force THIS running offense to pass, we've really got something going.

I expect to see some big runs (and RB receptions) tomorrow, but if we can also get some TFLs by being aggressive, we can begin to believe in this defense.

As Cory mentioned, Barry did call for blitzes, which was a departure from his norm. But what you mention about the stunts was even a more welcome departure from last year's Barry Ball. And I believe the stunts greatly disrupted the Bears OL and opened up lanes for the Edge guys.

I think Montgomery is having a blast coaching up probably his most talented and athletic DTs. And a young group! Kenny, the grizzled vet is only 27 years old!

Montgomery seems to be a very good coach (Pettine called him the best D assist. coach he had ever worked with...quite a compliment). Jerry is also run game coordinator so he prepares the battle plan to stop it with all 11. Maybe he is finally being allowed to be creative and aggressive. Hope so!

Montgomery has quite a DL squad to attack and wear down the Falcons OL. The continuous rotations of Kenny, Slaton, Wyatt, Reed, Wooden, RG, Preston, Enagbare, Hollins, LVN.

I agree, Greg. 10 men in rotation to use vs the 5 on the Falcons OL. Their infantry will gain some yards with those stud RBs. But force Ridder to do what Fields had to do...pass into the Packers' air defense system.

I think the players on D made it perfectly clear that they want to play aggressively, 100%. I don't see them dialing that down for ATL, nor for anybody.

They'll have to maintain their EDGE discipline, but, the Falcons strength is clearing the running game, which GB can neutralize in 2 ways. One, is to play that aggressive, disciplined, hard tackling style you speak of on D. All hats to the ball.

The other is to firmly establish our own rushing attack, pounding ATL's DL and LBs incessantly, while mixing in a good amount of play action to take advantages of mismatches, and keep the chains moving to score. Keep our own drives alive with smart, sound, punishing play. This will prove to be a great test of our own run blocking, and neutralizing Calais Campbell and Grady Jarrett, along with their EDGE players if we utilize Wilson, will help keep Robinson and Allgeier pinned to their own sidelines.

Another opportunity for the Packers to dominate their opponent. A fast start by our own O scoring TDs in Q1-while keeping their foot on the gas - will certainly help as well, forcing ATL into passing situations in a game of catch up.

The Packers need their Safeties to deliver Sunday. Big time. LBs and a white hot pass rush too. Bijon Robinson can hurt us as a receiver out of the backfield. Pressure, PDs and sure tackling.

Could not have said it better PEO! The big change is in the D-line and Edge groups. They finally have the talent and depth to keep fresh, high quality players charging at the offense. What a refreshing change from the "contain" philosophy they had previously. I just hope Barry doesn't revert.

This PEO!!! you hit it right on the head.

I again give the match up nod to the Pack on both lines vs the Falcons. Packers now have a DL (DTs and Edge) to play complimentary football with the solid OL.

I can only wonder what the OL could be if Myers was replaced by Tom with Yosh or Walker at RT. I watched the first quarter vs the Bears where MLF was attempting to establish the run. I could not believe how incompetent Myers was at it. In virtually every run play, either Myers missed his block or wrecked the play!

Just two examples. AJD's first run, a sweep left was sublimely blocked except for Myers being blown backward into the run lane so quickly he TRIPPED AJD who had a clear path for a first down. Another was the clever inside screen pass to Jonesy where Myers didn't block his man. His man pushed him into the screen lane, lunged at the pass, just missed it, but caused a trash pile. Still, Jordan tried to zip the ball to Jones. AJ couldn't see the ball because Myers was in his way, nearly on top of him due to his whiff! It was so well blocked downfield it would have been a TD.

Myers is OK in pass blocking. What I see in the run game is a guy who is timid and does not seek contact. It is like blocking with only 4 OL.

Exactly... One way to stop the run is build an early lead and make them have to throw the ball.

Enjoyed the aggressive line of attack by the D. Quite a departure from passive Barry Ball, designed to play with a lead...to last week designed to attack and provide complimentary help to create a lead.

One part of Barry Ball was still on display...some very poor tackling. They just are not good at it as a whole. I wish they were. Solid tackling is an important key to winning football. Watch the Eagles, who take great angles and when they arrive, run through the ball carrier while wrapping up. Going to need great tackling on Sunday...especially against Robinson who will make you look silly if you do not.

However....I could barely believe my eyes last week seeing "Savage tackling"! Darnell's best game in a long time!

Watching and rewatching the last game, it becomes relatively easy to sympathize with the two Gs. On run plays Myers is just an open door to their inside, typically being pushed aside. If you watch the early stuffs of Jones and then Dillon, it is painfully obvious that the Bears are coming inside the G on either side of Myers repeatedly. That’s causing the Gs to try to shade, which causes other issues.

This week, I think the Falcons IDL is going to be a much more challenging proposition, both because they will stunt and blitz and on basic matchups. Teams had figured out that the weakest point on our line late last year was the right C, and stuffed us there repeatedly. Chicago hadn’t forgotten and I doubt the Falcons with Gray have.

On the plus side, their DL does look vulnerable setting the edge. That thought is not something we can exploit fully unless we have speed at RB. This game appears set up to get Wilson his first snaps or to be a big day for Jones if he’s healthy.

I saw Jenks and JRJ blocking very well last Sunday, especially in the run. I think the duo has found their "form". Myers has not...in fact, during run blocking he has no form except to be a non factor in it...or a total liability.

I think you need to bear in mind the definition of a blitz. PFF for example, regards it as when a player not at a typical rushing position gets in the backfield (on a run or pass behind the line too). That is true even if an expected passer doesn’t blitz. So let’s say a OLB holds the edge and an ILB rushes instead. That’s a rush as defined.

Others see it as 5 or more in the backfield (an older view). Against a team that doesn’t seem able or inclined to defend, that’s also not that rare, especially if they are running or passing essentially laterally a lot and backfield presence counts wherever it occurs.

Finally, teams that stunt often do so to open a lane for another defender to come through. That could be a lineman looping or a player behind. That again is a blitz as defined by PFF if it’s an ILB, slot or S.

If you have a team with two elite rushers and the opponent is a vertical pass heavy team, then the blitz rate may be low, but it’s quite common these days to see scores like this one, which certainly wasn’t against a team with that kind of threat or intention.

GB has 3 additional true DL now, along with another in Ford on the PS. They’re young ,fast and aggressive. This isn’t even including Preston, Gary and VanNess. Johnson from Chicago was no joke, he trucked over Rudy Ford like he wasn’t even there… and people knock Rudy Ford, but the dude can tackle. Tackling used to be a huge issue for GB. I think that issue is resolved now. If Gary is not on a pitch count…expect a back up playing for the Falcons by second quarter. When I had seen Love responding to the pressure that the Eagles provided last year and still performed…I’m not concerned. The Eagles have arguably the best D line in the game next to probably SF. Dallas DL looked good, but I’ll wait for the inevitable implosion in Jerry world that happens every year. Patterson is strong, but he is not as fast as he was 5 yrs ago and still has issues with the dropsies which is why he has bounced around the NFL for so long.

He didn't last week... kid got his first sack running down the QB from behind.

As long as they meet at the QB!