Cory's Corner: It's Time To Send Pressure

The Packers are blitzing 33.6 percent of the time, which has resulted in a hurry percentage of just 8.4 percent. 

What was the one thing that excited everyone about the Packers?

It was a defense that was going to be one of the most athletic units in the game. 

However, there’s one problem: Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry is too worried about giving up the big play that we haven’t had a chance to see that athleticism. 

Damn you soft zone!

According to ProFootballReference.com, the Packers have blitzed 40 times, which is good enough for 16th in the league. I get that Barry isn’t wired to gamble by going after the quarterback, but when you have a secondary with veteran corners and safeties, now is the time to take some risks. 

That has resulted in a hurry percentage of just 8.4 percent — 19th in the league. Contending NFC teams like the 49ers (12.5 percent), Eagles (12.3), Cowboys (10.7)  and Vikings (9.7) have valued how much it means to get to the opposing quarterback. 

“We do like to bring multiple people but, on the other end, too, when we do choose to rush four, the four guys we have rushing are pretty effective and pretty good,” said Barry leading up to the Week 3 game at Tampa Bay. “But by no means do I ever want to think that we’re not a pressure team because we can, we will, we like to do that.”

I like Green Bay’s four man rush when you include Preston Smith and Rashan Gary. When you can get to the pass rusher with just four guys, it puts so much more pressure on the opposing wide receivers to get open in much tighter windows. 

At the same time, causing confusion is what will cause turnovers and allow this defense to be even better. The worst thing you can do is allow a quarterback to sit back and find the open receivers. Third stringer Bailey Zappe proved that by standing in the pocket and going 10-for-15 for 99 yards and a touchdown last week for New England. 

Giants starter Daniel Jones is nursing an ankle injury and Tyrod Taylor is in concussion protocol. Davis Webb has been on the practice squad this season and has only played in seven NFL snaps since being drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has yet to throw an NFL pass. 

The Giants are one of the worst teams in the league at pass protection. There’s a reason why the top two quarterbacks are hurt and why New York’s quarterback situation is very dire, even though it is 3-1 for the first time in 11 years. 

The time is now. Unleash the wolves. Send exoctic blitzes off the edge and send blitzes up the middle. Just send pressure and make life uncomfortable.

The Giants don’t have a competent quarterback. They do have an elite running back, but Barry, don’t let Saquon Barkley make you think you cannot bring pressure. 

You have to bring pressure, just like Brits have to have their tea or fish and chips. This isn’t a question. It has to be done.

Trust this athletic defense to their job. They will be glad you did. 

 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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3 points
 

Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
NickPerry's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:01 am

"The Giants are one of the worst teams in the league at pass protection. There’s a reason why the top two quarterbacks are hurt and why New York’s quarterback situation is very dire"

I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard something like this. Whether it's the opposing team's bad O-Line, bad run defense or pass defense, or hurt WR corps, the Packers never seem to really take advantage. I hope they do this week.

According to Big Blue View on SB Nation, the Giants have basically 3 healthy WRs. Richie James, David Sills, and Darius Slayton. Not exact WRs who strike fear in the heart of CBs or DCs. Jones is playing but that ankle isn't 100%. On obvious passing downs send pressure. Even if Alexander doesn't play or Amos isn't cleared, SEND PRESSURE. I trust Rasul, Stokes and any other CB to hold down the fort.

This is a fast and athletic Defense. LET them go have some fun. DO NOT let the Giants hang around and get more and more confidence.

7 points
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HawkPacker's picture

October 08, 2022 at 08:48 am

I agree NP and the most important key to winning is to stop Barkley.

2 points
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stockholder's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:12 am

It's Too early to show the blitz packages. I get you want the defense to be spectacular! But we have new players. And if they're as physically talented as everyone believes. It takes Time. It's not a question of sending pressure with Barry. But blown assignments! Trench warfare! And leaning, on your money players to make plays. Like they say: You got to know when to hold them, and when to show them. Because the chess match is just beginning.

1 points
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murf7777's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:51 am

Stock….good comments. You don’t have to blitz a lot to play winning defense. It’s exciting, but isn’t always necessary to take the risk. IF the score is a close, game situational blitzing makes sense, but otherwise keep them for a surprise against other competition. No need to show all your cards this early in the year against inferior team. Against NE that is what they did, it wasn’t frequent, but situational. In fact, when Gary got his sack/fumble was during a blitz of 6 man line with 2 each of DL, ILB & OLB. They sent all 6 and it worked to perfection.

I suspect you will see a similar game plan like they did against the Bears. They used Quay to spy the QB and occasionally blitzed him when Quay thought the opportunity presented himself. He didn’t do a great job at blitzing, but with every learning experience there’s hope he gets better.

So, a good question is, do they need to blitz more or be better at creating pressure when they blitz?

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 08, 2022 at 08:34 am

A lot depends on just how hindered Jones is. If he’s less hurt than expected then he’s a Fields type proposition. He ran for nearly 90 yards and scored both rushing TDs against the Bears. That is not a guy who is worried about being flushed. He also created a built in double running threat with Barclay. In this scenario, we have to play to keep him in the pocket first. That curtails blitz options because you can’t ignore the middle threat or just all out rush from the sides.

If Jones is hobbled, then it’s a different equation. He’s not the best pocket passer and he’s got limited quality available even from a weak catching group. That should increase the opportunity to blitz. However, Barclay is their central point, so much if the attention should be on blitzing gaps in the run game.

Contain Barclay and all things open up. If our offense can be at least consistent and able to put up points, the equation becomes harder and harder for the giants. This is a game where we should expect a lot of blitzing from the Giants. Having speed will help us get players open in the mid ranges. We need to draw defenders away from sitting on Lazard. If we play all within 10 yards we will have issues protecting Rodgers and keeping our D off the field enough by limiting our own ability to run, which is a weak point for the Giants D, despite a good DL. Our O line needs to win in the trenches to give our RBs a chance.

From our perspective, the best help is a more stout use of DL personnel and we need a good game from our ILBs. More Slaton perhaps and less Lowry. Use Reed to spell Clark as the primary disruptive DL, with 3 DL and 2 focused on the run. I’d really like to see Heflin added for this game. I think he’d really help with his motor and mindset this week.

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murf7777's picture

October 08, 2022 at 09:13 am

I agree, I doubt we will see a lot of blitzing in this game. Focus on stopping Barkley and containing the edges and there’s a very good chance of a blow out, especially if we win the TO battle. We need to show we can win in the trenches. If we win the trenches, the turnovers will come. That has been missing in most of our games. We’re still winning, but it’s keeping us from winning pretty!

2 points
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Stalepeepseater's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:14 am

I would be happy if we could stop the run today.

Barkley is no joke!

6 points
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PeteK's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:49 am

If we can do that the Giants will crumble (leading rusher in the league). I have been replaying in slow mo some good runs against our D line to see what the problem might be. It seems to me that our lineman pick sides and get pushed back instead of holding their ground and creating a pile. Jones's ankle injury should help us, as he is a very capable runner.

2 points
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murf7777's picture

October 08, 2022 at 07:55 am

Pete, you’re right on….if you watched you will see that it wasn’t Barry’s scheme as the problem, they played mostly 3DL and loaded the box, it was the players not playing to their potential. NE won the LOS and its as simple as that. When NE went to 6 OL, Barry countered by playing 7 & 8 man front.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 08, 2022 at 08:46 am

Reed is just ok I’m the run game, but he’s good or bad, not much in between. He’s been like that for a few years now. Slaton is better than last year but still not as good against the run as his size suggests. Lowry has never been good and has been worse this year.

We could really do with a run game specialist to pair with Clark (who can do everything). We don’t have a big DT (Ford was unimpressive in preseason on a par with Rhyan). We do have Heflin whom we could elevate. If we ever do, this game seems the perfect moment to do so. I don’t think Wyatt is fully healthy and I’d leave him inactive to accommodate Heflin.

I would play Slaton more and start out with Clark, Slaton, Reed, but move Heflin in and use Reed to spell Clark as the disruptor early. Lowry can be used once they have to pass. This approach hopefully helps the ILBs as well as stiffening the front.

2 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

October 08, 2022 at 09:19 am

The blitz, the blitz, the blitz.

The problem is stopping the run, you know, that thing that everyone wants GB to do with Jones and Dillon. Well, the run subdues the blitz and if GB can't stop Barkley, and nearly getting Zappe-ed last week, GB might get Dimed by Danny who is nothing but a nickel or a penny most of the time. Which does fit the profile for GB.

There should be no issue for GB to win by double digits on Sunday, though I did bet them down to -3 on a teaser play. Previous play insecurity and first time in London compelled me to buy away some angst.

1 points
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murf7777's picture

October 08, 2022 at 09:39 am

Taryn, I also teased the Pack at -2 thou. I do like the under in this game. I suspect GB’s D comes to play this game and holds NYG to 13 or under points. The last 3 games, GB’s defense has held each team under 300 yards. They will probably get over 125 rushing yards, but not much thru the air. Turnover differential has been their Achilles heal so far this year. Time to win that battle and blow them out.

2 points
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PatrickGB's picture

October 08, 2022 at 10:24 am

I am not all that clear why blitzing a run heavy team would be a good idea. Maybe it’s good in third and long but it seems that the best blitz would only be a run blitz.

4 points
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Fubared's picture

October 08, 2022 at 12:51 pm

The packers blizt every down. This 3 4 defense is a joke. The pack rush 5 or more every play. Its to the point other teams have plays to reduce the effect. So secrets here.

-2 points
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marpag1's picture

October 08, 2022 at 01:09 pm

Ah, yes. The Blitz. The Eternal Solution to Everything. Just blitz like hell. Then blitz some more. Cuz that's what good DCs do.

Or not.

The author uses PFR to show that "the Packers have blitzed 40 times, which is good enough for 16th in the league." (They're actually tied for 15th, not 16th, but whatever). Apparently, this mid-ranking is because Joe Barry "isn't wired to gamble by going after the quarterback."

Oddly, the same PFR info also shows that the Packers have blitzed on 33.6 percent of drop backs, which is the 5th HIGHEST BLITZ PERCENTAGE of any team in the league.

Yeah, Joe Barry is such a scaredy cat, you know. If only he would have the balls to blitz.

2 points
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