Cory's Corner: The Packers Are Stocked At ILB
Campbell and Barnes are the dynamic, athletic linebackers we have all hoped for.
The Packers have been roaming throughout the inside linebacker wilderness ever since 2013.
De'Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes brought them out of it on Sunday.
Those two players were flying to the ball and were one of the main reasons the Packers had a chance in Kansas City. The Chiefs beat the Packers 13-7, but that defense has no reason to hang their heads.
Kenny Clark and 2021 first round rookie Eric Stokes were lost due to injury before halftime and that unit never wavered. Those two combined for five tackles on third or fourth down, including an incredible stop by Barnes on the goal line late in the second quarter to prevent a touchdown.
Those two helped Jordan Love, who was making his first regular season start, outplay Patrick Mahomes — who has looked pedestrian this year by forcing the home run ball and racking up 10 picks. That's a lot to say, given that Love didn't play overly impressive.
Obviously, there isn’t a lot of positivity coming out of a loss, but that defense kept them in a game that the special teams gave away.
The fact that Barnes is making the defensive calls as an undrafted free agent is amazing. And after five lackluster seasons in Atlanta and Arizona, Campbell looks like an All-Pro. He is arguably one of the best linebackers in the game.
"They're a high-qualitry offense that's able to get you on any play," Banes said, who notched a game-high nine tackles. "So, for us to be able to come out here today and hold a great offense to 13 points ... we put it out there today what our standard is."
You have to feel confident about this team. They have overcome so much, gotten past so many obstacles and keep fighting. The Packers had a real chance of winning that game on Sunday, when virtually nobody gave them any chance at all.
And the reason the Packers were even hanging around is because of what those two linebackers did. The Chiefs only ran for 77 yards with a three-yard average. And remember, most of that work came without Clark who is not only one of the better defensive lineman in the league, but he does a tremendous job of eating up blockers.
This is why Joe Barry was hired as the defensive coordinator. For too long, the Packers have lacked dynamic playmakers at inside linebacker and now they have two. He has infused energy and life into a position that Green Bay never really cared about.
The Packers defense has always been thought of as an afterthought since Super Bowl XLV. But with general manager Brian Gutekunst believing in guys like Campbell and Barnes and Barry putting their trust in them, those thoughts are quickly changing.
I have no idea if Aaron Rodgers is playing vs. Seattle and we don’t know if Green Bay’s special teams is actually going to be special on any given week.
But what we do know is that this defense is here. For all the people that have wanted a tough, hard-nosed defense that could fly to the ball, consider this your early Christmas gift.
No matter how the other two units fare, the defense will keep the Packers in games. And that’s mainly because of Campbell and Barnes.
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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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Comments (59)
NickPerry
November 09, 2021 at 06:36 am
Watching the Packers Defense Sunday gave me a TON of hope this Defense is actually the reason the Packers are in the SB this year. No Alexander, Z Smith, Stokes, and Kenny Clark...NO PROBLEM.
The Packers Defense held the Chiefs to 237 yards on 63 plays. That's a 3.8 YPP (Yards per play) average. Are you kidding me? That's still Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, and a BUNCH of other really fast dudes. Struggling or not, for the Packers to hold ANYONE to 3.8 YPP while missing those 4 players in unbelievable. Barnes and Campbell deserve a lot of credit but that was a TEAM defensive performance.
Just get HEALTHY boys...This IS the Packers year!
NitschkeFromTheGrave
November 09, 2021 at 06:41 am
Kudos to Joe Berry for the progress of the Defense and to Gute for pulling the trigger and going after the much needed talent he brought in.
There is still a glaring issue JB needs to get his head around:
Late game drives with wide open passes up the middle netting the opponent's 60, 70, 80 yards. It happened again this week which burned valuable time off the clock. Had we shut it down we would have had another shot at another score. Now go to the AZ game the week before, That amazing interception, in the end zone? It started on the 20 yard line with less than 2 minutes left. and again wide open passes right up the gut.
This needs to get shut down.
relleum61
November 09, 2021 at 07:24 am
I like the way this defense is trending, but I still don't trust it in key moments. The defense could not stop AZ at the endo of the game, but allowed the Cards to march down the field setting up the miracle play. It had a chance to end the game on the other end of the field and gave up the third and long first down.
The defense had a chance to get off the field in the last 3 minutes of this game, but could not do so, thus no chance to see if Love could pull off the unexpected. Just cannot trust them yet.
Are we stocked at ILB? Campbell has had a nice season and Barnes has had one great game. I need to see more before I believe we are "stocked."
GregC
November 09, 2021 at 07:13 am
To say that Jordan Love outplayed Patrick Mahomes is a stretch. The best I could say is that they were about equally terrible. If Love had played even decently, this would've been a blowout win for the Packers against a Chiefs team that, for whatever reason, is a shell of its former self. The Chiefs' poor offensive play made the Packer defense look better than it really was, but it was still a darn good defensive performance.
Coldworld
November 09, 2021 at 07:52 am
They were about equal, but one is an experienced franchise QB playing at home with receivers he’s worked with consistently. The other was playing his first game in perhaps the most difficult venue in the NFL on a short week and without having played with any of his recognized targets in practice.
Add to that a game plan which resulted in regular, multiple and rapid pressures while we (wisely) went contain first against Mahommes. The result was a few more yards than Mahommes, the same number of TDs and an interception on a night when both could have ended with a couple.
Looking at this against what should reasonably have been expected on the night in the circumstances, to have the performances about equal should be seen as a mildly positive sign for Love. The packers head coach got trounced and the Packers ST coordinator needs to go. They together set up that loss.
mnbadger
November 09, 2021 at 11:36 am
Apologies to GregC, but I totally agree with Coldworld. Plus, if the organization could have put out overly positive praise of Love since bringing him on board, without hurting qb12's sensitive feelings, the Chiefs wouldn't have gone after him so hard. They would have had to play it a little more straight up, giving him a few more chances at decent throws. Great Defensive day, tough loss. GPG!
Irish_Cheesehead
November 09, 2021 at 09:08 am
If our O-line had played even halfway decently this would have been a win for the Packers. Go see how you do crossing the street with six cars 20 feet away coming at you at 80 mph. I’m betting on the cars.
marpag1
November 09, 2021 at 11:20 am
You're right, Greg. Both were about equally terrible. It's pretty silly to argue about, or even to care about, which one outplayed the other. They both stunk.
stockholder
November 09, 2021 at 07:16 am
Campbell. Campbell. Campbell. Campbell. Campbell. Campbell! The difference is Campbell!
Cheesey51
November 09, 2021 at 08:41 am
Please Gutey, do not go cheap,sign Campbell and figure out the cap later
packer132
November 09, 2021 at 08:53 am
Campbell is signed through the season, and Packers rarely do extensions during the year. After this year, Green Bay will need to resign many players including Campbell. What's important now is to get players healthy and win the next game.
CheesyTex
November 09, 2021 at 12:41 pm
If they cannot resign Campbell, it's goodbye to "The Packers are stocked at ILB".
Houndog
November 09, 2021 at 07:23 am
"He has infused energy and life into a position that Green Bay never really cared about".
'Never really cared about', no $hit, and I've been harping about it for years. But then I'm not quite ready to put Barry in the HOF just yet. Campbell was a real gift and a great find by Gutey, while Barnes seems to be shaking his (arguable) early season sophomore slump. They were great on Sunday.
What we also saw on Sunday was what a blitz can do, and I liked what Jerry Gray did against Arizona with blitzes mixed in at opportune times including the game winning pick. The middle of the field remains wide open way too often and that's a correction that must be made, soon, the big boys are coming to town and the schedule is loaded with contenders.
I love what I've been seeing, the best we've seen in years and improving weekly, with even the D-backs making good hits, tackles, and stops. This "D" is going to be a big part of any Superbowl run the Packers might make and there's no question they seem up to the task. Getting Z Smith and Alexander back would be a huge bonus.
Let's hope they keep it up.
Doofapotamus
November 09, 2021 at 08:23 am
I'm so excited to see what Z Smith and Gary coming off the edge looks like when Kenny Clark is pushing up the gut and we have Alexander back to roam the secondary while Stokes Douglas and King smother the outside. Man this defense could finally be something special.
Alberta_Packer
November 09, 2021 at 02:37 pm
Forming nicely into a premier defense - now set at DBs, CBs, ILBs, OLBs - assuming everyone is healthy and can re-sign Campbell. Just one piece left - a stud D-lineman to play with Clark.
Cubbygold
November 09, 2021 at 07:37 am
I think home field advantage means more this year than it has in the past. GB finally has a team that can play physical on both sides of the ball. That has rarely been the case over the past decade, and that's why playing in 0 degree weather hasn't really felt like an advantage to this team. Not anymore. I'd love to see the Rams or Cardinals come to Lambeau in the cold and get worked.
Coldworld
November 09, 2021 at 07:55 am
Barnes played very well if you exclude coverage, at which he was at best not awful. Campbell has been an all around player thus far this season without doubt.
Barnes had a good game. He’s also had pretty bad ones. As that game worked out, in my view it broke to his strengths in both game plan and what the situation called for as a result of what the Chiefs were doing.
I’m happy to have Barnes, but I’m not going to anoint him as a career solution, even behind a player like Campbell. That requires consistency and becoming better in pass coverage. As to loaded, kudos to Burks for one big play, but I think he had 4 D snaps and I’m certainly not ready to say that he, Summers it McDuffie are quality depth.
To me the performance of the DL and Campbell are the keys to our improvement, coupled with an upturn in slot DB play.
Cheesey51
November 09, 2021 at 08:45 am
I also think the LB coach had something to prove since leaving KC and it showed in the coaching of Barnes
Can we get McDuffie active on game day to play on ST coverage.
jannesbjornson
November 09, 2021 at 06:08 pm
Olivadotti coaches the inside guys. Smith runs the outside/edge people.
LambeauPlain
November 09, 2021 at 09:17 am
Barnes finally had a good game. Up until Sunday, he was struggling and a liability in some games. Until he strings together several good performances, I am not yet prepared to say the ILB position is stacked. It simply has been well stocked with Campbell.
Campbell has been outstanding and consistently good. He is backed up by Barnes Sunday performance, Burks, Summers, and McDuffie who rarely plays on D. Those 4 players average/below average.
I was surprised Jaylon Smith was cut. Why was he cut? Haven't heard an explanation.
Gee
November 09, 2021 at 11:03 am
Haven't heard much on Smith, but I believe I read in some circles it was combo of things. 1 He seemed lost in coverage, and 2 he didn't play special teams. So if he was liability in coverage, may be he wasn't picking up the playbook fast enough, and since no special team maybe the FO wanted that spot on the 53 more than Smith.
marpag1
November 09, 2021 at 05:02 pm
From what I saw of Jaylon Smith, it looked like he had forgotten everything that he ever knew about the game of football. I just kept watching him and asking myself, "What the hell is he doing??"
No one has picked him up yet. I seriously wonder if anyone will.
jannesbjornson
November 09, 2021 at 06:24 pm
He knee is shot, neural damage. It's not too complicated to figure out in a League where O lineman run 5.1, 5.2 forties.
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 07:43 am
One of the reasons why the Packers defense has been as good as it has been is because of the improved ILB play. Perhaps its the style of defense that they are playing, which gives the ILB's more ability to play downhill? Either way we should give credit to Joe Barry. He has the defense playing really well and he seems to have found a good way to use the players he has to the best of their abilities. Campbell is having his best season in his career. He was just Defensive player of the month. Which I think the last time a Packers defensive player had that was Clay Mathews? Barnes is proving to be a really good player after a good rookie season. He just had his best game of his young career. Coming up and making huge stops. The goal line stop was impressive.
I would argue we have not had this good of ILB play since the Super Bowl. Our best ILB play since Bishop.
dobber
November 09, 2021 at 08:21 am
Nicely put, RC.
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 09:21 am
Thanks Dobber.
I think the ILB play has been a major improvement which to me has been lacking the last however many years. And our defense keeps improving even without some key players. Our ILB play is a big reason for that.
Gee
November 09, 2021 at 11:06 am
So true about the improved play, been a while since I don't hold my breathe when the middle of the field is targeted by the opposition. I never understood their undervaluing of inside linebackers, in 3-4 defense.
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 11:14 am
I don't get the undervaluing the position either. I mean lets be honest they still kind of did undervalue it. They went into the season with a year 2 starting ILB that was an UDFA. And they picked up a veteran in June on a minimum contract. (best deal in the league this year). They didn't invest a lot into the position.
That being said they finally have the right players.
Guam
November 09, 2021 at 07:47 am
Given that this defense was short Zadarious Smith, Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Kenny Clark (for most of the game), their performance against KC was nothing less than outstanding! If the Packers can get some or most of their best defenders back, this team will have a better defense than it has had since the Charles Woodson led bunch more than a decade ago.
While I very much like what Campbell has brought to the defense and Barnes on occasion has brought, I would hesitate to say the Packers are loaded at ILB. The Packers are one injury away from Burks and/or Summers playing at ILB and that is not my idea of loaded. Much improved, yes, loaded, no!
dobber
November 09, 2021 at 08:24 am
"I would hesitate to say the Packers are loaded at ILB. "
Agreed. The only things that have changed in this unit are the subtractions of Kirksey and Martin, and the additions of Campbell and Barry. In general, this unit is playing more downhill and has been more willing to lay a hit on a ball-carrier. It's nice to hear those pads pop. There's a lot of wear and tear that comes from that kind of play, though, so hopefully they hold up.
NJ-RICK
November 09, 2021 at 07:50 am
Agreed they may better then last season, but they still have trouble covering Tight Ends.
NickPerry
November 09, 2021 at 08:42 am
I know this piece is about the defense and IMO it's a WELL DESERVED piece. The Defense SHOULD be talked about, especially when they get better and better each week despite missing several of their best pieces.
BUT... After listening to a TON of opinions regarding Rodgers my biggest hope no matter what when Rodgers does return is he stands in front of ALL his teammates, coaches, and ALL the other staff andverwh workers of the Green Bay Packers organization, is he APOLOGIZES.
IMO Rodgers needs to own this crap. Once again his arrogance is overwhelming. Going on the Pat McAfee show on Friday and saying what he said made him look even worse IMO. Just OWN this shit, just shut your mouth, and STOP trying to justify this.
Maybe I'm totally wrong here, but the Packers are 52 other players, plus practice squad and a coaching staff. I'm TIRED of hearing about Rodgers. I want to hear about this TEAM and a 7-2 record (should be 8-1).
EDIT...And once he does return RALLEY! Make this a point to come even closer and win a SB!!
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 09:19 am
What does he have to apologize for? All of his teammates knew he wasn't vaccinated. They all knew where he stood. He now needs to apologize because he tested positive? Because of the media blowing this up?
Oh is it because he lied? Who did he lie to? He never said vaccinated. He said immunized which numerous people said they wished they would have followed up asking what he meant by that. Did he mislead the media? Sure you could say that. Is he supposed to apologize to his teammates for misleading the media? No, he doesn't have to.
I know I will be blasted for this because anything that goes against pro vaccine is lit on fire. But Rodgers made his decision with the vaccine. He did what he thought he had to do. Just like Adams for example made the decision to get vaccinated. And guess what, he still tested positive. If Rodgers plays against the Seahawks both Adams and Rodgers will have missed the exact same amount of time. There will be no difference between the 2 after testing positive.
I agree with your last point. But it isn't about rallying. What do they have to ralley around? That he got covid? How about use the angst against him to show why he is the best QB in the league?
Since'61
November 09, 2021 at 09:25 am
Nick as usual your post is spot on! Rodgers does need to own his BS for this situation. In one of the rare moments in his career he has hurt the team and cost them the game against the Chiefs. He should apologize to the team for that.
His vaccination status is his business but he has handled this situation with very poor judgement. Assuming that he is healthy enough to play he should return and lead this team to an SB victory. Our defense is allowing a little less than 18 PPG since the Saints game. No more excuses about outscoring an opponent when our defense is playing this well and Rodgers is at QB. GPG! Thanks, Since '61
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 09:34 am
How did he cost them the game against the Chiefs?
He tested positive, just like Adams did the week before. There would have been very small chance he would have been able to play Sunday with a positive test.
This isn't the same as Lazard who was deemed a close contact. He tested positive.
Guam
November 09, 2021 at 10:18 am
I think a big part of the issue RC is he was not following the NFL/NFLPA guidelines for players who weren't vaccinated. He wasn't masking up at press conferences, he wasn't wearing a mask at the Halloween party, etc. etc. If you are going to choose to not vaccinate, then you need to follow the rules for unvaccinated players.
Rodgers interview with McAfee said it all - Rodgers wants to play by his rules, not everyone else's. That is arrogant and the opposite of team play and spirit. Rodgers should apologize to his teammates for not following the rules and contracting COVID19 which likely cost the Packers a victory against KC. Team, not individual.
RCPackerFan
November 09, 2021 at 11:04 am
I don't worry about the press conferences because up to this point a lot of unvaxxed players didn't follow that. Its not just a Rodgers thing.
Should Adams apologize for contracting covid? What if Adams was the one that gave Rodgers Covid. Should Adams apologize to the team?
Vaccinated and Unvaccinated players have caught covid. its no ones fault. it happens. Can we stop with the blame game?
croatpackfan
November 09, 2021 at 11:47 am
OK, if you do everything to avoid unfortunate event, what Davante did, as Alen Lazard, as AJ Dillon, then it is event you are not responsible for. But, if you lie to the teammates or act unproperly (like halloween party for example!) exposing himself to the virus that it is his responsibility.
What si more unacceptable is what he said after the question & answer "Are you vaccinated" & "Yeah, I'm immunized!" that he stated that he does not condemn those who have not been vaccinated and antivaxers & blah, blah, blah... what mislead reporters that he received vaccine. So, as we all knows how Aaron Rodgers have also talent to chose the word in public he purposly chose that stetement, to avoid any discussion on his status. So, he was lying, and he knew he is lying! - Question is pretty direct: "Are you vaccinated!" If he wants to be honest and to be treated as honest person, answer to that question should be: No, but I'm immunized!
Guam
November 09, 2021 at 03:47 pm
Sorry RC, but with Rodgers' offseason and now this, I'm afraid I have a very short fuse where QB1 is concerned. I just don't see a team player anymore. He wants it his way. This a team game, probably more so than any other sport.
greengold
November 09, 2021 at 09:44 am
Props, Nick.
The Packers should be 9-0. Aaron Rodgers did not show up at all in Game 1. How do you show up not ready to play? Paid like he is??? Shocking.
This fiasco killed us in Game 9 with his not being available, in a situation where GB likely comes out with an easy W.
Agree with you too about a need for more emphasis on this team, not one individual.
I'm at a loss, personally, as a fan of the Green Bay Packers. Team got hit with an enormous amount of bad PR. Again. I think Rodgers' statements and actions have been detrimental to the team. The hits keep coming, from him. Over and over. He's made this dream of getting to and winning a SB far more difficult as a result.
marpag1
November 09, 2021 at 11:17 am
LOL. One game, and it was a loss. Both Barnes and Campbell were liabilities against the pass, getting trashed for about 100 yards receiving between the two of them. As far as tackling is concerned, fine, Barnes may have had his best game ever. (How many good games has he had... in his entire career?) Yeah, he had a handful of very nice tackles. And he still wasn't a world beater by any stretch.
And now, after this one game, everything is peaches and cream. Our ILBs are gods among men.
Typical for this little "corner" of the internet.
LOL.
NitschkeFromTheGrave
November 09, 2021 at 11:19 am
I also fell into the easy trap of not seeing the forest through the trees when it comes to Barnes play. I was quick to give him Props for the outstanding hitting this week he seemed to be a beast. Beneath that shine is a little different story though......
Then I wrote a comment about Barnes and @GreenGold (commenter here) fired these numbers at me: They opened my eyes.....
Krys Barnes. He’s given up 17 receptions on 20 Targets for 151 yds, 8.9 per, 114.8 Passer rating against. Teams are on pace to target Barnes half again as many times as last year. He’s got a gigantic bullseye on his back in coverage. 0 PD.
This is a huge liability trying to defend teams in crunch time or late in the 4th, Anybody remember AZ game? they never should have been allowed 80 yards in that final drive. And yes all they did was pass to wide open guys up the middle.
marpag1
November 09, 2021 at 11:23 am
Bingo.
4thand1
November 09, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Why do you have to throw facts into the equation ? LOL
jannesbjornson
November 09, 2021 at 06:22 pm
How did his pass defense "score/rating" from hugs r us look when he annihilated the RB at the goal line; de-cleated Williams to stop a first down and force a 3 out of KC innthe red zone. Give me a badass any day over a cover LB. A LB s # one priority is to bring the heat and stop the run. The big safeties like Black are part of the inside zone liability. If Barnes is put into a one-on-one the safeties have to be smart enough to move to the ball. Amos was late to play the 3rd and long to Hill and that settled the outcome @ Arrowhead.
Alberta_Packer
November 09, 2021 at 02:51 pm
To be fair Mahomes had a good amount of time to pass on most plays - as the D-line didn't provide much of a pass rush. Also the majority of ILBs - anywhere - have difficulty covering RBs and TEs. Its only a precious few (like Kendricks) who excel at coverage.
Roadrunner23
November 09, 2021 at 08:46 am
Hopefully Campbell hasn't priced himself out of GB in the off-season, he has finally found a home and a defense in which he can thrive.
ND
Since'61
November 09, 2021 at 09:07 am
Excellent point Nostradamus. Thanks, Since '61
dobber
November 09, 2021 at 09:43 am
You're right on the $$$ end, but the Packers have to be careful not to buy high, too. I don't know what he'll be looking for, or if he'll give the Packers some consideration on a contract, but the Packers might be better suited looking for the next Campbell.
Alberta_Packer
November 09, 2021 at 03:12 pm
If Blake Martinez could get a 3 X 10m/yr. contract - where is the starting offer for Campbell? Thinking 7-8m.
Since'61
November 09, 2021 at 09:06 am
Campbell has solidified the ILB position for the Packers defense this season. If Barnes remains healthy he can become a factor as well as he was against the Chiefs.
Our entire LB corps has played very well this season. Gary seems like he is in the backfield on every play. P.Smith has been solid at the other OLB post. Our OLB backups have been solid. Campbell has just owned the ILB position making plays everywhere. Against the Chiefs Barnes played like a guy who realized that he could lose his job while he was injured. Hopefully he will continue to play at a high level.
GPG! Thanks, Since '61
Fabio
November 10, 2021 at 05:20 am
Nice test of our D Sunday. The only thing that still does not convince me is that, despite all the effort made throughout the game, in the decisive game, 3rd and 10th, the D did not work and allowed the completion. (There is something in our Safety that does not completely convince me).
PS. Jordan Love:
I've never been a fan of draft picks and I don't disagree with my thoughts. But now he is a Green Bay Packers and I have to do an evaluation on the player. On Sunday he fought for the whole race also due to a line that did not protect him very well and a coach who wanted to test him without helping him. The performance was nothing exceptional. OK. But then we have to be honest. We cannot claim to be the only team flying QHOF. So we have to be balanced and evaluate the guy to see if he can become an NFL Q or not. If we want to compare him to Favre or Rodgers, we are wrong at the start. I coach a soccer team of boys and the only thing I can say for sure is that the young "must be able to make mistakes"! The important thing is that you learn from mistakes, but above all that you form a fundamental solidity of character in this sport, be able to react from mistakes and not be influenced, in short ..... become a man! This is why I will never dump Love for a game like this.
Hope it can become our future Q in franchising.
About Rodgers I can only say one thing .... if we want to be honest he was wrong first, but also the management and the whole NFL because everyone knew that he was not vaccinated!
Greetings from Italy
GPG
Packers0808
November 09, 2021 at 11:14 am
I have been praising Campbell all summer and this just reinforces the hope he would continue to do so. The addition of Barnes is great! Now IF only the 3 parts of the puzzle can now come together, then watch out!
4thand1
November 09, 2021 at 11:42 am
ABOUT F-ING TIME! Now can we address the other elephant in the room SPECIAL TEAMS? Everyone in here has been asking for ILBer help for YEARS. Why does it take soooooo long to fix glaring problems?
4thand1
November 09, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Any updates on injuries, Clark, Stokes ?
Coldworld
November 09, 2021 at 06:07 pm
Just that neither are expected to be long term
flackcatcher
November 09, 2021 at 02:38 pm
The main difference is that this defense has matured. The young DL players have grown into their roles, allowing players like Clarke a degree of freedom that wasn't there before. The other major factor is for the first time Gutekunst was able to draft for want, rather than need for the defense. The DL has always been short on bodies, this is the first time that Green Bay has enough big guys for a full rotation in their defensive scheme. This is the scheme that Pettine wanted to run, but was always short in front 7 and had to save his big bodies in the DL. The other major factor has been Gute's FA pick ups (Campbell and yes, Barnes) along with getting another quality player (thank you, Houston) to go along with OLB Smith and Gray. Jon Barry has done wonders as an ILB coach. At this point he is DC in name only with the DC by committee taking over after the second game. Do not overlook how this veteran defensive coaching staff snapped back to Pettine's scheme after the first game. As I feared, Lafleur's arrogance in getting rid of Pettine so late in the hiring cycle could have been deadly. But this defensive coaching group has overcome and has the defense playing with a level of intensity not often seen in the NFL as a whole. Specially in the secondary, where this group has played well above their years in the NFL. A special word about Jon Barry. He put his ego away and let Gray become de-facto game DC because of his unfamiliarity with the defensive personnel. And his work with the ILB and their improvement within the scheme can not be understated. A heck of job so far by all concerned.
4thdown
November 09, 2021 at 05:30 pm
I read this site every day and really enjoy it. I also try to read the comments until it becomes to much. Just like every other Packer site there are Fans that comment every day. Thats great. Good for you. I just wish you would not flip flop around on your views of what needs to be done in Packerland. I see some of you that were roasting the DC at the start of the year of the year now singing his praise. Almost the same crew that was hammering Gary at the start and now are on to drilling Love. To some of you guys credit out there I do see Fans owning there pre judgement. Hey we all get it wrong but just as coach Dungy once said. " Think hard before you punch SEND." Thanks ! Go Pack!
Grandfathered
November 09, 2021 at 07:57 pm
Thanks for the article focusing on the improved ILB play. I disagree with two of your generalizations: (1) "The Packers had a real chance of winning that game on Sunday, when virtually nobody gave them any chance at all." I think Vegas had Packers as only 6 point underdogs. (2) "The Packers defense has always been thought of as an afterthought since Super Bowl XLV." No, they have tried and failed in draft busts at numerous defensive positions, mis-played players outside their college position, or otherwise awarded contracts to players who failed to live up. They also let some guys go they should have kept. The Packers have invested plenty in the defensive over the last 10 years without results.