Last Word On Pro Football, Fred Thurston
As the bye week looms, the Green Bay Packers are questioning their initial thoughts of having a fourth week bye. When the schedule was released it was a topic of discussion. Why do we need a week four bye? It just may have come at the perfect time. With a handful of injuries to the defense, the Packers are looking forward to the chance to rest and recuperate. However, the front seven has been playing phenomenal. At the top of the league, the Packers are miles ahead of the other 31 teams when it comes to stopping the run. And they’ve only just begun.
Green Bay’s Elite Rush Defense
The Green Bay Packers defense achieved on Sunday what only one other defense in the NFL has achieved since the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger. After limiting the Detroit Lions to only 50 rush yards on 23 carries, Green Bay has only allowed a whopping 128 rushing yards through three games. Packers opponents have averaged a microscopic 1.8 yards per carry.
Only the 2006 Baltimore Ravens had a better average since the merger. Prior to that, it was the other team from Baltimore, the Baltimore Colts in 1957 who had a better rush defense.
In week one, the Green Bay Packers faced off against a, once believed, exciting new offense and held T.J. Yeldon to 39 yards on 21 carries. The team was without running back Chris Ivory, but was still held to a team total 48 yards rushing.
Week two brought a matchup against one of the all-time greats in Adrian Peterson. Green Bay once again shut the run game down. Even though Peterson left the game early, the Packers held the Minnesota Vikings to a stunning 30 yards total.
Green Bay continued their dominance against the Detroit Lions allowing only 50 total yards. Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah missed the game with an injury.
In the first three weeks, each of Green Bay’s opponents were without their starting backs for either the entire game or a small portion. An inconvenience for the opponent and an excuse for others. However, Green Bay throughout those same three games had over eight different rookies on the defensive side. At each level, defensive line, linebackers, and secondary there are multiple injuries. Not just injuries to young guys, but to the most experienced and veteran of each level.
Defensive Line
The defensive line is not only facing injuries but also suspensions and untimely retirements. General manager Ted Thompson was forced to rearrange his draft board with the unexpected retirement of veteran B.J. Raji. Thompson acquired a young rookie from UCLA in Kenny Clark.
Thompson also dipped into the cap and re-signed veteran tackle Letroy Guion to anchor the defense. During the week two match-up with the Minnesota Vikings, Guion went out with a knee injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
Along with the injuries and retirements, the Packers had to deal with the suspension of third year player Mike Pennell for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Luckily, or perhaps right on que, Ted Thompson shored up three defensive linemen in the draft with Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Brian Price (UDFA). All three have been thrusted into starting roles and have been key contributors to the success of this defense.
Mike Daniels, arguably the most important piece to this defense, has played exceptional as expected. He is the true anchor of this group and will lead them to greatness. When Guion gets healthy and Pennel returns from suspension (week four) expect this defense to maintain their elite level of play.
Linebackers
Heading into the 2016 season, the linebacker position was one of the main focuses. Not so much at outside linebacker with veterans Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers. Green Bay also moved Datone Jones from the defensive line to the “Elephant” position. Fifth year veteran Nick Perry has emerged as one of the best players on the defense this year. Rookie Kyler Fackrell has filled in with the absence of Clay Matthews and has shown flashes.
Inside linebacker was the position that the masses were screaming for during the 2016 NFL Draft. Entering the season, second year players Jake Ryan and Joe Thomas, led the group with the most experience. Thomas was the longshot when the season started and has proven to be a great asset to the position. Rookie Blake Martinez walked straight into Green Bay and assumed the leader role of that defense.
Secondary
What was once the most dominant position has now been dwindled down to code red. Starting corner Sam Shields, the elder man of the group, suffered his fifth recorded concussion and could potentially be done, and not just for the year. Morgan Burnett, the only other defensive back with more than four years of experience was also injured during the week two matchup against the Vikings.
With both of the veteran leaders out the secondary has had to rely solely on third year player Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, fourth year player Micah Hyde, and second year players Quinten Rollins, Damarious Randall, and Ladarius Gunter. Throw in a handful of undrafted free agents and the backfield is complete.
Conclusion
Let’s face it. The Green Bay Packers defense is chalked full of injuries, on every level. The secondary seems to be the only part of the defense, however, who seems to be feeling the pain. The front seven has played better than any other front seven since the 1933 Green Bay Packers. The return of Burnett will help reboot this secondary and the additions of Matthews, Guion, and Pennel should continue the dominance. They say defense wins championships. The Green Bay Packers are awfully close.
