Green Bay Packers Defensive Philosophy Is A Case Of Fool’s Gold

The Green Bay Packers defense is one of the most confusing units to analyze in the league. Full of first-round picks and free-agent signings, there is no question that this defense has the pieces to be dominant. While they are not bad by any means, they also aren’t amongst the league’s best. This is due to the defensive philosophy. It works but it is also a case of fool’s gold.

Packers DC Joe Barry – Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Green Bay Packers Defensive Philosophy: The Good

The goal is to limit big plays which the unit does very well. In terms of defensive rankings, for the most part, the Packers are in the top half of the league. Currently, they are 11th in total defense, 9th in passing defense, and 10th in scoring defense. A fringe top-ten defense is good! It is even more impressive when we look at who they have had to start on defense.

Last week with Rudy Ford out, they started Jonathan Owens and a seventh-round rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. at safety. This week against the Steelers, Jaire Alexander was out so Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine were the starting cornerbacks and they played well. The issue with the good is it is completely covered up by the bad.

Green Bay Packers Defensive Philosophy: The Bad

The Packers ranked 23rd in rushing defense. They have been absolutely gashed on the ground this season. David Montgomery ran all over them in a Thursday night game. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren had wide running lanes to run through that would make Moses and the Israelites of the Old Testament jealous. This is partly due to the scheme.

Joe Barry is willing to give up six to seven-yard runs on a consistent basis and guard against the big play. All it takes is someone to make a play on first down once putting the team in an obvious passing situation. Then the defense can send the pass-rushers at the quarterback and keep everything in front of them. It works until it doesn’t.

Packers S Rudy Ford (20) and LB Preston Smith (91) – Philip G. Pavely/USA Today Sports Images

The Deep Flaws

The Green Bay Packers scheme has some deep flaws in it. When there is no big play to be given up, the defense is toothless. Let me explain. On Sunday, the Steelers have the ball in a goal-to-go situation on the four-yard line. There is no big play to be given up as Pittsburgh is knocking on the door. The Packers stick with their scheme, go out there with two-down linemen, and give up one of the easiest touchdowns to Harris. He goes in untouched. It is the Packers sticking with their scheme which is admirable but when it gives up easy touchdowns it frustrates the fans.

There was some drama between the Green Bay Packers media/fan base and head coach Matt LaFleur yesterday. The media asked LaFleur about the two-down lineman set up and he fired back that there are plenty of defensive linemen out there. The outside linebackers are considered linemen. Basically, his argument was this is our plan to stop the run. That is all well and good, but it isn’t working. If Harris bounced off a couple of tackles and fought for the goal line, fine. That is a great individual effort. When he can walk into the end zone like it is a day of non-contact practice, something has to change.

Late Game Issues

Another deep flaw in the Green Bay Packers defensive philosophy is the issues in the late game. It is all fine and dandy to give up long drives in the first quarter. Giving up four to six yards a play when the game is 0-0 is fine if that is the scheme the team is running. Where it runs into an issue is when it is in the late game and the defense needs a stop.

Let’s say the Packers are down by four points with three minutes left and the opponent has the ball on their own 25. Their opponent is happy to nickel and dime their way down the field. The team can no longer give up five-yard runs and keep everything in front of them. Aggressiveness needs to be there in that moment and this scheme doesn’t allow for that.

Packers DC Joe Barry – Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Fool’s Gold

It is for this reason that this defense is fool’s gold. At the end of the game, I always look back and see how many points the team gave up and think, was the defensive performance really that bad? It’s hard to argue that the 11th-ranked defense is the problem with this team as Jordan Love and the offense continue to figure things out.

However, this scheme works in a specific situation. If the opponent has the ball on the four-yard line, expect an easy touchdown. Three minutes left and the opponent has the ball? Expect the clock to bleed out leaving little time for the offense to respond. The defense doesn’t put the offense in bad positions, but it doesn’t put them in good positions either. Even a smidge of aggressiveness at times would make a world of difference.

How this unit performs in the back half of the season will determine whether a change will be made in the offseason. Joe Barry saved his job last season by having a great last four games. The team has a couple of huge tests coming up. The next three games are against the Chargers, Lions, and Chiefs who all boast great offenses. If the defense can contain those units, we will likely see more of the same. If not, a scheme change might be necessary.