Offense wins games, defense wins championships.
The timed honored formula has not deviated over the course of history and it is the blueprint for every major sport. Last year’s Packers won the Super Bowl based on the strength of their, D and their offense not turning over the ball.
This year has been a shoot-‘em-up, light-‘em-up display of fireworks and offensive pyrotechnics not seen before in Green Bay. The Packers don’t just beat teams; they overwhelm, exhaust and outscore teams. This is clearly the finest collection of offensive talent in Green Bay’s expansive history, and we’re only halfway through the season.
However, there is a “but” in there.
Yes, the Pack is offensively gifted. Yes, they can score almost at will. Yes, they will make a serious run at some all time NFL offensive records.
BUT…
If the defense does not soon begin to tighten up and carry their end of the equation there may be some long faces down the road. The defense, led by All World CB Charles Woodson knows they have to step it up and have been forthright in saying so publicly. Woodson himself hung the yoke of a target around the Pack’s collective neck when he said “Yeah, 16-0 is a possibility, so why not talk about it”.
Part of Woodson’s statement is the challenge laid out at his defensive teammate’s feet. The challenge of boys, we gotta get this thing kick started now.
When an offense is hitting at the rate the Packers are hitting it provides a security blanket for the D that knows they don’t have to win games for the team. That word “BUT” pops up again. BUT… if the offense goes cold or the dropsies strike or some team magically invents a game plan to cover 5 wide outs simultaneously or someone gets injured, then what? What is Plan B when the offense tanks?
Down the stretch last year the Packers rode the D, especially Clay Matthews III, B.J. Raji, a bull up front, and the picks of CB Tramon Williams all the way home. There is an eerie similarity this year to last year in that the D is showing signs of getting started. The good news is the Packers, as a team, haven’t needed the D to step up and win a game for them. Aaron Rodgers shows no signs of cooling off. The running game has been consistently good, and the WR’s along with TE Jermichael Finley have performed at a high level all year.
It is time for the defense to step it up, get it in gear, and match the play of the offense.
Against the Vikings last time rookie QB Christian Ponder had the benefit of surprise as there was not a lot teams could study on him. He does not have that luxury this week. Donovan McNabb has been banished to the bench and will stay there until he is released in the offseason. While McNabb is a pro’s pro and continues to mentor Ponder look for him to land in Indy or Miami or Seattle next year as he attempts to shake off the stink of the past 3 ignominious seasons.
With Ponder at the helm the kid torched the Packers defense with a deep ball on his first ever NFL toss, catching everyone in the backfield flat footed. Ponder also tossed a couple to Woodson to balance out the scoring throws he had in his rookie debut. The Packers will be extensively scrutinizing the film on the kid and this is as good a time as any to show they can make a difference.
Pride has a lot to do with it. No player wants to think he’s the weak link on team, and this D has a lot of pride. Some of the things the Pack will attempt to do is to get better play from their safeties, especially ball hawking 2nd year man Morgan Burnett. Burnett is a big hitter and helps stuff the run with the best of them. BUT… he also is highly susceptible to biting on a good play action fake and leaving little, if any, over the top coverage that has burnt the Packers CB’s recently. Burnett will be spending extra time to try to read the kid and timing his attacks better against Adrian Peterson, as formidable an opponent as the Packers will see all year.
As Matthews sees more and more double and triple teams the Packers are relying less on his ability to gets sacks as they are in him applying pressure. DC Dom Capers has gone to more of a pressure the QB and cover scheme than his exotic blitz packages and is adapting his D to how other teams are playing against them. Tramon Williams may finally be free from the nagging shoulder injury that has slowed him in recent weeks, and with DE Mike Neal looking to return things may finally turn the corner for the Packers defense.
Neal needed surgery in the preseason on a knee and his return has been delayed, BUT he was cleared to begin practicing this week. It is unrealistic at this point to expect to see him on the field, maybe even next week against Tampa Bay.
BUT – look for Neal to be ready to go by the Thanksgiving Day showdown with Detroit. Neal has tremendous strength and upside and will be considered an upgrade over Jarius Wynn and C.J. Wilson who have valiantly if not spectacularly manned the fort.
This week against the Vikings the Packers have a much better idea of what to expect from Ponder. If the defense is going to rise to Woodson’s challenge, it will be as good a time as any to do so. While Capers will blitz less, there will be pressure, and with pressure there will be tighter coverage. With that the Packers will do something they are truly good at by taking a few more balls in Ponder’s ongoing education. The real proof in the pudding will be in keeping Peterson to less than 100 yards and playing a more complete game. Rodgers and the offense will do what has become the norm BUT it is now up to the defense to match the effort. It is a work in progress, but this game in Lambeau against a hated division rival will be a start. Ponder won’t have the early success he had and finds it tougher sledding than his first bite at the apple when the coverages he sees will be much, much tighter.
Right now the Packers ranked 31st in total team defense, and Woodson has made it clear that’s just not good enough. Going public as he did is another way for the Packers for the Packers to challenge themselves. Will the defense be perfect? Not hardly.
BUT… it will be a better defensive performance.
GREEN BAY 31
Minnesota 13
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