Green Bay Packers’ Run Defense Has Been All Wrong

The Green Bay Packers entered their Week 9 bye at 5-3, one game behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North playoff race.  An offense fuelled by Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb has kept the Packers afloat and thriving, but Green Bay’s league-worst run defence could threaten to derail their season.

Dom Capers’ run defense has failed to hold a team under 100 yards rushing this season, and the Packers’ 153.5 rushing yards allowed per game is the league’s worst by almost ten yards.

Green Bay Packers 2014 Run Defense:

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How long can the Packers sustain their winning ways with this hole in their team?  Only one team in league history has been able to reach the playoffs while allowing 2,500 yards rushing in the same season, the 2006 Indianapolis Colts.  At their current pace, the Packers could approach that total.  That ’06 Colts team was led by Peyton Manning, and much like this edition of the Green Bay Packers, they were carried by QB play.

The Packers have shown signs of improvement recently, with a season-low 108 rushing yards allowed to the Carolina Panthers, but that could have been aided by a big lead early in the game.

The loss of B.J. Raji has had a bigger impact than many expected.  The Packers D-Line has lacked penetration game after game, allowing opposing rushers to hit the line of scrimmage with ease, and often go untouched until they have already gained 1-2 yards.

The blame does not rest solely on the line, however, as the linebacking corps has been gashed in the run game.  Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers have excelled against the pass, but struggled at times to contain outside runs.  A.J. Hawk has been his expected self, reliable yet wholly unspectacular, while the ILB spot next to him has become a weakness in the defense.

Brad Jones began the season next to Hawk, but was invisible.  He was soon replaced by Jamari Lattimore, who has since given way to Sam Barrington.  The inconsistency and lack of production at this position opens up the Packers to exposure on the ground, and severely limits Dom Capers in his ability to call a defensive game. 

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The injuries to Raji and Datone Jones could not have been forecast, nor could this level of disappointing play from the linebackers, but the Packers clearly have some work to do in stopping the run.  At 5-3 with 5 of their 8 remaining games at Lambeau Field, their playoff chances look healthy, but this defense may not be sustainable in December and January.

Green Bay does not have an ace up their sleeve on defense, so these changes will need to be done with improved defensive schemes and increased production from the players that are already on the field.  The most important area that the Packers will need to improve on is the single most fundamental skill in defensive football: tackling.

“We need to tackle the damn ball carrier and put him on the ground.” Mike McCarthy said bluntly after their loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL is a passing league, and this means that many defenses have been built to defend that.  The Packers are no different.  Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers are all making huge salaries to shut down opposing Quarterbacks.

The success of the run defense could be the barometer for the Packers success in 2014, though, as Green Bay will need to get the ball out of the hands of opposing running backs, and into the hands of Aaron Rodgers.