How Come the Packers Don’t Use More Man-to-Man Coverage?
Zone coverage is something that the Green Bay Packers have long supported in their fundamental defense. The worst part is that it’s not nearly the stronghold that was anticipated. It seems like receivers are welcome to saunter through the middle and up the seams as of late. They are now practically VIP lanes. Defenders are missing tackles left and right and appear disoriented.
In order to stop explosive plays, Green Bay’s defense has stuck to zone coverage like glue, adopting a “bend but don’t break” mentality. It’s been their go-to tactic to stop the opposition from making plays that would score runs. The defense is beginning to flex and eventually break, which is the issue. Against Green Bay’s defense last week, Baker Mayfield posted a perfect passer rating and sliced through the ostensibly strong zone. If that wasn’t enough, Bryce Young, who has had a difficult season, played with Joe Barry’s defense in the second half of Sunday’s game, recording career-best stats.
It feels like the Packers are blending in with their zone defense, but that defense is starting to fail because the coaching staff isn’t making adjustments.
Barry addressed this issue early in the season, revealing that certain attacking formations were lacking essential “checks.
” Barry noticed the problem after a Las Vegas Raiders game.
In one notable play, Barry Preston tasked Smith with covering Davante Adams, underscoring the urgency for the Packers to address these coverage holes.
After the game, Barry said it wasn’t so easy to change coverage.
“I wish it was that easy.
We called a coverage that needed a drop from Preston, and he happened to be a boundary dropper, and they just happened to put Tae in the boundary slot.
Sometimes there’s a mechanism or a control or something built in to get out of that.
Considering the staff we were in charge of and the staff they were in charge of.
Green Bay’s coverage issues in Las Vegas are not a one-time problem.
I had recurring headaches throughout the season.
Let’s take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game as an example.
Despite Mayfield turning things around, the Packers stuck to their zone coverage strategy.
Defenders were constantly out of position and linebackers had to cover fast receivers.
Therefore, the secondary primarily had to deal with running backs and tight ends.
Devondre Campbell allowed the most yards in zone coverage to a Packers linebacker since 2006.
