Shoring up the Defense

On March 15, 2018, the Washington Redskins signed Brown signed a three-year, $24 million contract that includes $10 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.50 million.^[10][46] Head coach Jay Gruden retained Brown, Foster, Kerrigan, and Smith as the starting linebackers in 2018. On December 30, 2018, Brown recorded a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) as the Redskins lost 24–0 against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.^[47] He finished the 2018 NFL season with 96 combined tackles (69 solo), one sack, and one pass deflection in 16 games and 12 starts.^[17] Brown received an overall grade of 89.2 from Pro Football Focus in 2018. His grade was the third best grade among all qualified linebackers during the season.^[48]

On March 13, 2019, Brown was released by the Redskins.^[49]

Philadelphia Eagles[edit]

On May 3, 2019, Brown signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.^[50] He was released on October 14, 2019, after starting the first six games of the season for them.^[51]

Arizona Cardinals[edit]

On November 1, 2019, Brown was signed by the Arizona Cardinals, but was released five days later.

They brought in three DLs for tryouts in the last few days. Think they've moved on from Mo, but think you're on their wavelength for the DL.

I was wondering about Mo Wilkerson myself, but Gutekunst brought in Carl Davis, David Parry and Justin Ellis for tryouts yesterday. Take your pick:

Carl Davis, was a third-round pick of Ravens in 2015.  Measures 6-5 and weighs 320. Played in 34 career games, including 12 starts for the Ravens in 2015-16. 

Parry, a fifth-round pick of the Colts in 2015.  Measures 6-2 and weighs 317. He has five sacks and 83 tackles in 36 career games.

Ellis, a fourth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2014. Measures 6-2 and weighs 335 pounds. He has 119 tackles in 66 career games.

RochNyFan posted:

As the Packers enter the bye week, it has become clear the defense is not as effective as we believed in the early part of the season.  Yes, the team is still 8-2, but this bend-but-don't-break style, even in MLF's words, is not sustainable.   

While yes, stats can be for weinies, these are rather notable for the Packers on defense:

The Packers are 9th in the NFL in passes defended.

They are 5th in the NFL in team INT's.

They are 3rd in the NFL at +8 in takeaways.     

They are 6th in the NFL in red zone TD defense percentage.  In short, this means when offenses get into their red zone, the Packers are one of the best teams at not giving up a TD. Lot's of FG's or INT's in the EZ. 

They are averaging 20.5 ppg which places them in the top 15 in scoring defense.

Leroy Butler points out when it comes to Super Bowl aspirations for teams who make the SB, it really comes down to 2 stats: 

Takeaways (they are 3rd) and scoring (they are 15th, spent most of the season at 10-12th).     

And I agree with #36. I don't really give a shit about total yards, run defense vs pass, etc. It comes down to are you taking the ball away and are they giving the offense a shot to win? At 20 points per game, with a top 6 offense averaging 26 points a game, that translates to a lot of wins. Which fits why they are 8-2      

Defense is frustrating to watch but the results are there. Whether it's sustainable is the big question for which there really isn't an answer. Team lost to Wentz because of a massive offensive failure in the red zone and not any defensive shortcomings. 

I think we also have to realize what today's  NFL looks like. Unless you are a defense who gets to feast on bad team after bad team (see Pat's see 49ers), the idea that a defense can look like the '85 Bears or the '00 Ravens game in and out is just not reality anymore.

Rules have changed dramatically and are heavily skewed to the QB and the offense. You can barely touch QB's nowadays. Damn near every player who can touch a football on offense is now considered a defenseless player, can't touch them either. Rules are in place (thank you Fantasy Football) to ensure teams score and score a lot.

Yes, the Packers need an upgrade at ILB. No argument here. But we just played a team in the Panthers who arguably have the best coverage ILB in football in Luke Kuechly. And yet, they have a worse rushing defense then the Packers.  The 9ers played a real offense in the SeaHags last night and didn't look nearly as dominant. Same with the Pats who lost to an excellent Ravens team.

None of these teams in the NFC are without their warts. The Packers may not be great on defense, but they do a whole lot that's good on defense.              

To me I am actually good with defense and I think they are a huge reason this team has been off to a good start.  They are much more aggressive than in years past and I like where they are going.  My one big complaint is that they can't cover the Tight End.  They have to get that figured out.

Two things bug me the most when watching this D over the last 5 weeks.

There seem to be fewer and fewer 3-and-outs and 3rd down stops.  So really one thing:  they aren't getting off the field.

That gets you gassed late in games.  Playoff teams that can run the ball AND have enough proficiency passing, will take advantage.  All the top division teams in the NFC have both of those on offense.

Are we even having this discussion if Alexander catches the ball and ends the game comfortably?

I've said this many times.

GB was a few -plays from tough loss at home and a few +plans from a rout.  Most of the - plays seemed mental more than physical.  They clean those kinds of plays up and they'll be in a better position.

It's not the first INT JA has dropped this year, along with King, Amos, etc.  If the D plays better overall, they won't need to depend on all those INT's being caught.

Results wise they are fine.....they need to get better.

michiganjoe posted:

Are we even having this discussion if Alexander catches the ball and ends the game comfortably?

He didn't, thus this discussion.

packerboi posted:

RochNyFan posted:

As the Packers enter the bye week, it has become clear the defense is not as effective as we believed in the early part of the season.  Yes, the team is still 8-2, but this bend-but-don't-break style, even in MLF's words, is not sustainable.   

While yes, stats can be for weinies, these are rather notable for the Packers on defense:

The Packers are 9th in the NFL in passes defended.

They are 5th in the NFL in team INT's.

They are 3rd in the NFL at +8 in takeaways.     

They are 6th in the NFL in red zone TD defense percentage.  In short, this means when offenses get into their red zone, the Packers are one of the best teams at not giving up a TD. Lot's of FG's or INT's in the EZ. 

They are averaging 20.5 ppg which places them in the top 15 in scoring defense.

Leroy Butler points out when it comes to Super Bowl aspirations for teams who make the SB, it really comes down to 2 stats: 

Takeaways (they are 3rd) and scoring (they are 15th, spent most of the season at 10-12th).     

And I agree with #36. I don't really give a shit about total yards, run defense vs pass, etc. It comes down to are you taking the ball away and are they giving the offense a shot to win? At 20 points per game, with a top 6 offense averaging 26 points a game, that translates to a lot of wins. Which fits why they are 8-2      

 

Leroy also said on Monday that the Packers are one and done with this defense, so take your pick.

Defenses look good when they can generate pressure in the pass rush without rushing more than 4 guys. 

For all the other stats, if Gute would have gone into this year with CM3 and Perry again instead of the two Smiths, we'd probably be about 5-5. 

Now that they have the edge rushers, to become a championship caliber defense, they have to generate pass rush to collapse the pocket from inside. Kenny Clark may be the difference between a deep playoff run and a one and done. The other NFC playoff QBs right now would be these 5:  Russell Wilson, Garapollo, Cousins, Wentz, and Brees. The nice thing about that group is that outside of Wilson, none of those guys are likely to beat you by running for a bunch of yards. That means you can get after them on the rush. Any of those guys will pick you apart if they have time. 

The Packers are also extraordinarily healthy so far. Teams like the Seahawks, 49ers are now seeing injuries pile up. Never underestimate that health matters. As has been said before, sometimes it’s not who you play. It’s when. 

we are always on skates with the defense, so, there is alot to fix up there, we give up 400+ yards on multiple occasions, so ya, we can improve for sure.  when we face a good/great qb, those opportunities for takeaways are much much smaller.

I like this team a ton. Love the new energy, family type feel, etc. However, I do think something has to be adjusted during the bye week or I don’t think the current model  will translate to wins in the post season. In 2010 it helped picking up Howard Green to assist stopping the run. In 2014 it was moving Clay inside that helped. If we can’t pick up someone off the street then we obviously need to look in-house for help. I read something about try to move Gary inside to help with the run, but who knows. I have confidence they can figure this out. 

In a side note, watching Clowney dominate last night pissed me off. Even though he is wildly inconsistent, players play.

As has been said before, sometimes it’s not who you play. It’s when. 

I thought they only played better teams as they got to December.  Teams like Washington and the Giants.

Did he mean win one playoff game but not 2? Because that doesn't make any sense. 

@YATittle - Your post about Zach Brown is shocking. WTF is wrong with this guy? Only cares about himself? Not the team?? He obviously can play but something not right upstairs.

I just brought up his history. Don't know anything about the guy.

“The phrase is short and rhymes pleasantly, and its literal meaning often applies: something is done once, and then done no more. Disposable products (e.g. tissues, contact lenses, diapers, dinnerware) might be referred to as one and done referring to their lifecycle and usage pattern.”

Sitting at 8-2, the Packers have a very high probability of at least one home playoff game. Ya, we all know about 2011, but I can’t see them being 1 and done if they are at home. And IIRC, I believe the Packers have one of the easiest strength of schedules among the top NFC seeds. 

The problem is that turnovers are a little more than half the time luck (Carolina QB fumbling handoff) and thus not sustainable in every game. I'm wondering if our corners being nicked up has resulted in Pettine not dialing up exotic blitzes in both run and pass downs? 

If only GB were 8-2, leading the division, healthy as fuck and headed into a well-deserved bye week prior to playing a top opponent.  

At least we have the #GBrefs to even the odds. 

packerboi posted:

And IIRC, I believe the Packers have one of the easiest strength of schedules among the top NFC seeds. 

Niners at 60% remaining opponents winning %

Seattle at 51% remaining opponents winning %

Packers at 44% remaining opponents winning %

Don't know about Saints or Vikings or (HaHa Cokeboys)

My pick 6 in the playoffs.  

High Probability -- Saints / Niners / Packers / Seahawks

In prime position -- Cowboys / Vikings

Dark Horses -- Eagles, Carolina, Rams

Any other team has to pretty much run the table -- Good luck with that. 

Fedya posted:

As has been said before, sometimes it’s not who you play. It’s when. 

I thought they only played better teams as they got to December.  Teams like Washington and the Giants.

I'll take beating out Dallas.  They have a little easier schedule, or not as difficult as Dallas.

Philly:  NE, Seattle, @Miami, Giants, @ 'skins, Cowboys, @Giants

Dallas:  @Detroit, @NE, Buffalo, @Bears, Rams, @Philly, Washington

Both play NE, but PHI has 'em at home.  Philly also hosts Dallas.

Dallas already beat Philly. Badly

In Dallas.

Philly isn't great, but neither is Dallas.  I see Philly's path to the division easier.

This defense is so hard for me to have a bead on.  I think it is because from play to play, there is such a high spread about the mean.  It is a big play defense - for good and for bad.  The defense has a lot of really good plays and a lot of really bad ones.

One of my main positives is overall health, especially Kevin King's.  I am shocked he is still playing.  I kind of don't get it.

I just hope rushing defense improves as well as pass defense in the short and intermediate parts of the middle of the field.

Of the latter, I have little confidence for this year and hope the Pack acquires a gem at ILB.

At this point, the personnel are what they are.  Gute did not make a move before the trade deadline, and Gute did not make a move for guys off the street (Ellis, Pennell) that may have helped with Run defense.  A couple of things for ABM that he can fix:

• Simplify or figure out coverage miscommunications mishaps.  Not sure why it is happening, but it is an issue that is correctable.
• Figure out how to play/work in I. Campbell to improve coverage.  He already got a lot of snaps in his first action back last week.
• Figure out solution for mesh/crossers that are the Achilles heel for the pass defense right now.
• Figure out rotation for DL that will keep Clark fresher.  He is a difference maker inside.  Adams and Lowry have to play better.  Lowry has not lived up to new contract.
• Missed tackles.  Throwing shoulders and diving for feet is poor fundamentals.

Clean up the tackling and somehow limit the explosive plays would be a nice start. Pettine and the players have made it clear they know it's not good enough so complacency shouldn't be a problem.

michiganjoe posted:

Clean up the tackling and somehow limit the explosive plays would be a nice start. Pettine and the players have made it clear they know it's not good enough so complacency shouldn't be a problem.

I wonder if the explosive plays is scheme-related.  Like maybe Pettine knows this scheme is likely to produce more good big plays, but so also some bad big plays and the cost of the bad ones is worth the reward of the good ones.  Maybe scheming to highly reduce big bad plays will reduce big good plays.

No..   The big plays last week were 

• MCM run where Lowry fell down, just slipped and fell right at the snap, at the point of attack leaving the tackle and guard free to get to the 2nd level. 
• Kevin King playing zone while everyone else played man and his guy runs free for a 30 yard gain. 

Re: tackling

Seattle D grabs the player & twists them to the ground. This works very well & it's how they're taught to tackle.

Why isn't our coaching staff teaching this? (Maybe they are??) AAMOF, why isn't every coaching staff teaching it!?

DH13 posted:

Two things bug me the most when watching this D over the last 5 weeks.

There seem to be fewer and fewer 3-and-outs and 3rd down stops.  So really one thing:  they aren't getting off the field.

That gets you gassed late in games.  Playoff teams that can run the ball AND have enough proficiency passing, will take advantage.  All the top division teams in the NFC have both of those on offense.

I would say this comes directly from poor rotation on DL.  Adams was supposedly the perfect rotation guy for Kenny Clark but he's fallen off a cliff.  You aren't going to fix ILB but bringing in DTs for workouts is the right thing to do.  Just being able to have hogs that can stiffen up the run defense will go a long ways.

One other thing.  What is with the turf at Lambeau?  It seems like guys are slipping all over the place even on perfect weather days.

I think we will see more improvement with Campbell back on the field and potentially if Greene comes off IR. Just like others have stated, scoring and turnovers are all that matters, everything else is fluff. Even with some bad looking stats, there are some really good stats we're seeing in critical areas:

• Our red zone D is tight, only allowing a TD 48% of the time which is good for 8th in the league. 
• 10th best in passer rating allowed (88.3 rating)
• 7th best in takeaways per game (1.6)
• 10th best in opponent time of possession (28:54), meaning we're getting off the field