Defense Attempts To Find Identity With Missing Pieces

Bearing in mind the defense was without five starters from last year's team and had to start three rookies, they performed admirably against Peyton Manning and the Colts.

Considering the Packers had several starting players on defense sitting out of Thursday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts, they played pretty well.

It stands to reason that once the starting 11 gets some time to practice together as one cohesive unit, they'll gel a little bit more and play even better than their performance last night against the defending AFC champion Colts.

But is there enough time left for them to do so before the regular season begins in a little over two weeks when the Packers travel to Eagles on Sunday Sept. 12 for the season opener?

"Defensively we haven’t played the game with everybody on the field yet so the continuity is probably not where we’d like it to be right now," said head coach Mike McCarthy following last night's game. "And that’s something that we’re probably going to have to establish in our practice structure leading up to the Philadelphia game."

Players from each defensive position–the defensive line, linebackers and secondary–were sidelined withheld from action last evening.

Five starters from last year's end-of-the-season defensive lineup didn't play due to injury concerns including defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, linebackers Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby.

"The injuries have kind of kept us from getting the continuity that you would like," said McCarthy. "It’s a challenge that you face at some point almost every season so I think that’s where we stand defensively right now."

With several of those same players missing the first two preseason games this year, the Packers defense has struggled despite being ranked the No. 2 overall defense in the NFL last season.

Through two snaps against the Colts, it appeared as if the Packers may struggle again. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Joseph Addai ripped off 49 yards off left tackle. After play No. 2, the Packers found themselves behind 7-0 when Peyton Manning found Pierre Garcon in the endzone for an 18-yard touchdown.

After that point, the defense buckled down and prevented the big play.

"I think it's always important to come back after a slow start," said defensive lineman B.J. Raji. "I felt like we had some issues on the front seven as far as gap control was on the first drive. The first play ... we had some miscommunication. We got rid of that and we played a lot better."

Take away Addai's run, and the Packers held the Colts to 10 yards rushing on 8 carries in the first half of the game. Those numbers expand to 32 yards on 19 carries over the course of the entire game.

And the defense got better as the game went on. The Colts a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Manning to Reggie Wayne, but were outscored 52-7 the rest of the way.

With so many players sitting out, the Packers have had to rely on a lot of rookies throughout the course of the exhibition season. One of those players, second-round draft choice Mike Neal made the first start of his professional career on Thursday in place of Jenkins and played well.

The Packers played in their nickel defensive package pretty much the entire game, and Neal found himself in a two-man rotation with Raji and Ryan Pickett for the first half of the game.

"Mike played great," said Raji. "For a rookie coming in and starting and starting his third game of his career, I think he did a good job. He has a bright future."

Playing in place of Bigby at one of the safety positions opposite Nick Collins, as he has all of training camp, was rookie Morgan Burnett who was able to get an interception off Manning and deflect two others.

And according to the rookie, the experience of playing against Manning will serve him and the rest of the defense well, as they prepare for the regular season.

"He's a great quarterback," said Burnett. "And then sometimes he takes a long time to snap the ball, sometimes he comes and snaps it quick on you. Basically it's trying to play a game with each other, really."

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Comments (10)

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sammer's picture

August 27, 2010 at 08:44 am

I know it's a bit early to say, but it looks like TT hit a home run with each of his first 3 picks of the 2010 draft. And filled the top 3 positions of need, too.

Getting another elite pass rusher would have been nice, but can you imagine where the d-line would be right now without Mike Neal? Or safety without Burnett?

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lebowski's picture

August 27, 2010 at 09:14 am

Exactly, and next year it can be running back, cornerback, and pass rusher. Not necessarily in that order.

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dgtalmn's picture

August 27, 2010 at 09:13 am

I believe with Manning going against our defense, that will give the coaching staff some great film to review. Such a great QB, he did nail some great passes. But as stated many 2nd and 3rd stringers out there playing on defense, maybe made it a little easier for him. Our offense was clicking, though ball security still seems to be an issue. Zombo seems to be a great pickup, I could easily see him and CMIII making a great pair of OLB and keeping the pressure on.

Still was knocked out by the score! But that is how the NFL wants it. BTW, sick of the BF chatter from the ESPN team. But I guess we'll have to get use to it. NFL = National Favre League.

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JimR_inDC's picture

August 27, 2010 at 09:24 am

Hmmm. Who is the Favre you refer to?

Go Pack Go!!!

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PackersRS's picture

August 27, 2010 at 10:50 am

I think it's like Alex said. When Capers dials it, we can win. Unless we have all the starters, expecting our 11 guys to win against the O just on 1-on-1 matchups, it's not gonna happen.

But we can flat out dominate when Capers does his thang.

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LACheez's picture

August 27, 2010 at 11:33 am

Gruden never shuts up about Favre. So irritating...

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Wiscokid's picture

August 27, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Or Bob Sanders. How many times did you hear him ranting on about Bob Sanders?

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Anderson's picture

August 27, 2010 at 03:43 pm

Bob Sanders was laying some serious wood on our players last night. Of course the announcers are going to talk about it.

My only hope is that Morgan Burnett can make those type of hits when he gets more comfortable in the league.

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jeremy's picture

August 28, 2010 at 09:37 am

Those hits look cool on TV, but what they mostly accomplish is keeping Bob Sanders on the PUP and IR for half the season. I'd rather have Burrnett emulate Darren Sharper or Ed Reed.

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fish's picture

August 28, 2010 at 02:54 pm

It sounds like Burnett watched Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu alot. Combine them with some Charles Woodson and he should be a great player.

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