When the Green Bay Packers line up to face the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon, Russell Wilson is expected to be back under center for the visitors.  He will be the fifth consecutive  highly mobile quarterback the Green and Gold will have had to play against. 

Fortunately, the Joe Barry defensive brain trust has been able to devise game plans that have kept these running rascals under control.   In week six Justin Fields ran six times for a mostly inconsequential 43 yards.  They did not enjoy as much success containing Taylor Heinecke in week seven, yielding 95 yards on the ground to the former Old Dominion quarterback.  But that total includes a 38 yard scamper that distorts the total a bit.  Green Bay was able to squeeze him in the red zone, stopping Washington four times. 

Week eight brought the versatile Kyler Murray into the crosshairs.  The Packers had him bottled up for three quarters, sacked him twice and picked him off twice, holding him to 21 yards rushing.  Murray did get it going in the final quarter, but Rasul Douglas’ dramatic interception preserved the win.  Then last week former MVP Patrick Mahomes was the opponent.  The defense played its best game of the season, smothering him for minus two yards rushing with one sack.  They rattled Mahomes to the point he was uncomfortable and inaccurate all day.    

It’s no secret as to how to stop a running quarterback.  The key is to be able to bring a strong rush up the middle with only your down linemen.  That enables you to keep your edge rushers on the outside of the pocket, hemming the signal caller inside, giving him no choice but to retreat straight back.  Ultimately, he will have to try to break to the outside, which is when your edges should come off their blocks and make the sack, or at the least, force a throwaway.   

Easy to say.  Much harder to do.  It takes inside linemen playing really well to pull this off.  Kenny Clark is the perfect example.  His strength and athleticism enable him to push the center or guard straight back, or swim past him.  So offenses will double team him regularly.  That means somebody else has to step up and win in the trench.  This is where the improved play of Dean Lowry and Kingsley Keke has been so critical.  With Clark eating up blockers, Lowry and Keke have been winning their match-ups and pressuring up the gut.  Preston Smith and Rashan Gary have, for the most part, stayed patient and have not overrun the play.  That leaves the signal caller with nowhere to go but back.  Good things seldom happen for a quarterback when he retreats backward.   

Meanwhile the inside backers are free to roam the middle or the sidelines to clean up any desperation throws to backs or receivers.  De’Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes have been revelations at finding the ball and delivering tough, aggressive hits.  Occasionally, the Packers will send one of them up the gut to rush the passer as well, making things all the more complex for the protection. 

Clark was hurt in the Kansas City game, while Keke was inactive.   Their absences would figure to have been a huge blow to this defensive strategy.  But lo and behold, against KC, TJ Slaton, Tyler Lancaster, and even Jack Heflin seemed to pretty much hold their own given the opportunity.  That’s a credit to the defensive coaches getting these guys ready to play. 

The secondary has had to deal with receivers like Allen Robinson, Terry McLaurin, Deandre Hopkins and Tyreek Hill.  And they’ve had to do it without their best corner in Jaire Alexander.  It hasn’t been perfect, but for the most part, it’s been good enough.  But the only way they have a chance is if the pass rush continues to be successful.  

It’s not all about pass rush of course.  The Packers also have to hold up against the run.  Again, this is an area where Campbell and Barnes have really stepped up.  Safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are having underrated seasons in run support as well.   

We should know later this week if either Clark or Keke can answer the bell against the Seahawks.  Green Bay will need as many healthy defensive linemen as they can find against Russell Wilson, who has made running out of the pocket an art form.   

Watching the Packers defense coordinating and executing smoothly has been like watching a symphony.  A kind of brutal symphony.  Here’s hoping they have an encore performance on Sunday.   

THREE AND OUT 

•  Put me down as a “no” on signing Odell Beckham Junior.  Not because he could be a locker room problem, or because he’s not still a talented receiver.  I’m against it because he’s an injury waiting to happen.  He missed nine games last season, and two more this year before being cut.  I suppose if he comes in at the minimum the Packers don’t have much to lose, but it’s hard to believe some other team more desperate won’t offer him more money. 

•  Aaron Rodgers is expected to be cleared to play against Seattle on Sunday, but should he?  Rodgers would figure to be a bit out of shape and somewhat weak after a few weeks of inactivity from a bout with Covid.  Not to mention not practicing all week.  Is a recuperating Rodgers still a better option than a healthy Jordan Love? 

•  Oddly, Mason Crosby’s biggest problems attempting field goals this year have been on kicks ranging from 30 to 39 yards out.  He is a perfect four of four when he is within 29 yards.  He is three out of five from 40 to 49 yards out, and two of three from beyond 50.  But due to either blocks or misses, he is just four of seven from 30 to 39 away.  Whether it’s snaps, holds or kicks, they’ve got to find the answers quickly.  The miscues cost the Packers dearly in the Kansas City loss.