Shoring up the Defense

I don't think it's about "who is next to Martinez" because this D has become much more about the hybrid LB/S Pettine has been using all season.  The D took a dive after they lost Raven Greene who was playing very well in that role, and then has recently started to improve again because Sullivan has been playing so well in that same spot.  Of course also Kenny is back but the pass defense has been better behind him too.  Employing that hybrid backer puts the spotlight on Martinez as the only true ILB.  He'll have fewer responsibilities in coverage but it also puts more emphasis on his position when the offense is able to isolate him.  He is serviceable and reliable in run support but can be taken advantage of by a good OC.  You'd really like to see someone more athletic there but we can win with him if the rest of the D keeps improving the way it has.

They'll be without Cook but it will be interesting to see how MIN tries to attack the middle of the field, aka Blake.

Don't enjoy watching the defense hemorrhage yards, but they've been carrying the offense and are playing well enough to win. Offense needs to do its part or the playoff run will be extremely brief.

DH13 posted:

I don't think it's about "who is next to Martinez" because this D has become much more about the hybrid LB/S Pettine has been using all season.  The D took a dive after they lost Raven Greene who was playing very well in that role, and then has recently started to improve again because Sullivan has been playing so well in that same spot.  Of course also Kenny is back but the pass defense has been better behind him too.  Employing that hybrid backer puts the spotlight on Martinez as the only true ILB.  He'll have fewer responsibilities in coverage but it also puts more emphasis on his position when the offense is able to isolate him.  He is serviceable and reliable in run support but can be taken advantage of by a good OC.  You'd really like to see someone more athletic there but we can win with him if the rest of the D keeps improving the way it has.

They'll be without Cook but it will be interesting to see how MIN tries to attack the middle of the field, aka Blake.

I fully expect them to go with the 1 ILB look again.  I was curious if they were moving Z around in the middle of the line to get that push right up the gut and actually give Blark some cover.

Oh they're fully invested in the 1LB because Sullivan has been good enough to pull if off.  They de-activated BJ whatshisname vs CHI because of this.

If they had Raven Greene it might be the 0 ILB look.

Here's our boy Fackrell playing some ILB last week on a 3rd and 10.     Very interesting. 

https://i.imgur.com/xFbLwqE.gifv

...and Sullivan is legit.   This kid plays like he belongs and looks like a future starter. 

That is interesting.  Not too sure if he could ever be a pass rushing threat from inside but he seems to have decent athleticism.  Now we need to see if he can cover.

You must be talking about Fackrell.  Sullivan is more of a DB so he can cover.

I think they actually played some of that noLB vs CHI in WK01 IIRC.  Maybe ded can opine.  Thought I remembered seeing some cuts on twitter about Pettine trotting "8DB's" out there.

This play is awesome.  Bunch of the youngsters making it happen.   4th down stop in the 2nd quarter.

• Burks takes away his initial look over the middle.
• Gary with pressure makes him come off it sooner than he wanted to.
• Sullivan with picture perfect technique on a broken play.

https://i.imgur.com/Cw1dfk7.gifv

heyward posted:

Martinez leads the league in tackles and yet wasn't even named as an alternate to the Pro Bowl. With few exceptions, most people see him for what he is - the definition of average.

One man's Pro Bowl Snubs

"Preston Smith, OLB, Green Bay Packers — Seven of the NFL's top eight sack leaders made the Pro Bowl. The lone exclusion: Smith, who's been a vital offseason free-agent pick-up for the Packers. For an 11-win team (so far), the Packers' two Pro Bowl picks seems a bit low.

Blake Martinez, ILB, Green Bay Packers — When your main competition for a Pro Bowl roster spot are future Hall of Famers Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers and Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks, it's going to be tough to crack that lineup. Martinez is a tackling machine for coordinator Mike Pettine's defense, and the current NFL leader in tackles."

BrainDed posted:

This play is awesome.  Bunch of the youngsters making it happen.   4th down stop in the 2nd quarter.

• Burks takes away his initial look over the middle.
• Gary with pressure makes him come off it sooner than he wanted to.
• Sullivan with picture perfect technique on a broken play.

https://i.imgur.com/Cw1dfk7.gifv

And if the FOX announcers had their way it would have been overturned and we would all be hearing about how poor the defense was on that play.

Sullivan unblocked on a blitz and Savage undercuts the throw for what should have been a pick.

https://i.imgur.com/ryfIbKY.gifv

BrainDed posted:

This play is awesome.  Bunch of the youngsters making it happen.   4th down stop in the 2nd quarter.

• Burks takes away his initial look over the middle.
• Gary with pressure makes him come off it sooner than he wanted to.
• Sullivan with picture perfect technique on a broken play.

https://i.imgur.com/Cw1dfk7.gifv

Wow, that looked like perfect coverage in the middle of the field.

Thanks Brainded.

Henry posted:

BrainDed posted:

This play is awesome.  Bunch of the youngsters making it happen.   4th down stop in the 2nd quarter.

• Burks takes away his initial look over the middle.
• Gary with pressure makes him come off it sooner than he wanted to.
• Sullivan with picture perfect technique on a broken play.

https://i.imgur.com/Cw1dfk7.gifv

Wow, that looked like perfect coverage in the middle of the field.

Yeah for those down on Burks it does show he has some coverage skills. Maybe the mental thing isn't there yet.

He's also converting from SS to ILB.  I'm just glad he's finally showing up on the radar.

DH13 posted:

Oh they're fully invested in the 1LB because Sullivan has been good enough to pull if off.  

Guessing you mean 1 ILB. I was surprised at how much dime they played. Read somewhere that it was over 60 snaps against Chi !!! That's beyond a 3rd and long defense

More surprising was how good they were at stopping the run while in dime. They were in 2-3-6 and even 1-4-6 at times. Course when Kenny Clark and Zadarius are abusing OLmen it makes life easier on the back end. 

Packdog posted:

Yeah Burks got like 3 snaps on defense Sunday. Coaches must not trust him.

And that was with Blake out for a series. 

Packdog posted:

DH13 posted:

Oh they're fully invested in the 1LB because Sullivan has been good enough to pull if off.  

Guessing you mean 1 ILB. I was surprised at how much dime they played. Read somewhere that it was over 60 snaps against Chi !!! That's beyond a 3rd and long defense

More surprising was how good they were at stopping the run while in dime. They were in 2-3-6 and even 1-4-6 at times. Course when Kenny Clark and Zadarius are abusing OLmen it makes life easier on the back end. 

B1G, WRB, 1LB, etc.

GB D arrow pegged toward the up position vs. CHI.  MIN has a much better O so we'll see exactly where they are Monday night.

Merry Christmas y'all. 

Merry Christmas y'all. 

Yeah, only 31 yards & I know the Packers beat them twice but the Vikings are a better team. 

Boris posted:

Yeah, only 31 yards & I know the Packers beat them twice but the Vikings are a better team. 

That's what I keep hearing! 

Hungry5 posted:

Merry Christmas y'all. 

The TD pass to Diggs was not an "iffy" play, Alexander got beat off the LOS, made up ground & if he could have gotten his head turned had a great chance to break it up. The 3rd & 18 was "iffy". Corner (I think it was Sullivan) either didn't carry Diggs deep enough or Amos didn't come up quick enough. It was our only obvious F up all night on defense. 

If Alexander turns his head he makes that play.  I think he was still in recovery mode.  Rookie stuff, he'll get it ironed out.

The best was Diggs jawing at Jaire after he finally made a play. Jaire has been in his head for 2 games now. 

Viking fans calling him "George Alexander" gave me a chuckle. George Alexander pretty much shut down your #1 WR for 2 games. 

But the Vikings are still the better team. 

I guess they couldn't use that stupid idiot insult of finding him a girl's name. 

In the words of Mike Smith, "They were the better team... tonight."

"They are who we thought they were!" 

Viking players are much like their fans; adept at running their mouth and nothing to back it up.
Diggs, Barr, Gaymo....all peas in a pod.

Timmy! posted:

 Gaymo.....

Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

We'll have a gayyy olllldd tiiiiiime!

Hungry5 posted:

Merry Christmas y'all. 

Figured the defense would give up a bunch of yards but not a bunch of points after they went up 13. Look at those last 3 drives. 14 plays for 3 fuckin yards. 

Defensive deliciousness right there.

Good job D!

I guess for the D The North Was Not Enough.

Nothing is enough for The D.