How Will Capers Pressure Favre?
By Aaron Nagler on Oct 28, 2009 with 41 Comments
We spoke about this piece from Tom Silverstein on the show last night. Jason Wilde had pretty much the same take I had – why would Capers be trumpeting his intentions? Is he trying to throw out a smoke screen? Is he being honest? (and, consequentially, insane?)
Look, I don’t hold any illusions that Capers is suddenly going to become Sean McDermott (oh, what might have been…) but he’s a fool if he thinks he can beat Favre by repeatedly sitting back in a Cover 2 shell as he did a great deal of the time in Minnesota, Atari Bigby or no. I agree that Bigby being in the lineup will make a world of difference, but Capers simply has to find a way to get quick pressure on Favre. No, he doesn’t have to bring the house on every play. But he has to keep Favre guessing, and so far the Packers’ defense has done a poor job of disguising its intentions. Look no further than Bigby’s approach below:
We’ve seen this play out repeatedly this season – the defense simply mis-times the adjustment, thereby tipping its hand. Notice how Bigby drops down as the corners come off their press technique, only to give Anderson plenty of time to make the protection adjustment necessary and to let him know that his receiver will have a clean release off the line.
One of Favre’s greatest strengths is his ability to milk the playclock down to the last final seconds. He’s been great at this for the last five years or so. And the truly masterful thing he does when it comes to manipulating the flow of the game is his use of not only cadence, but how he’ll milk the clock two or three plays in a row and then go to a quick or even silent count to catch the defense off guard. What Capers needs to do with his defense, especially on obvious passing downs, is not set until the last possible moment. Have Barnett or Collins watching the playclock just like Favre does and then set the defense with 5 or so seconds left.
Below is a perfect example of Favre taking the playclock down to near zero, enabling the offense to pickup every blitzer and giving him the time necessary to work the ball down field.
Now, some of this ability will be hindered by the fact that he’ll be on the road in a stadium braying for his blood, but that won’t effect his letting the playclock run down. It will stop him from making too many true audibles, especially if the Packers set at the last possible moment. We’ve seen defenses do this with Peyton Manning, with varying degrees of success.
It’s not enough to blitz Favre. The Packers proved a few weeks ago that they don’t have the horses to overpower anybody on the Vikings’ front. They’ve got to get a free rusher and they can’t tip their hand too early. Otherwise Favre will pick them apart. Again.
Filed Under: Brett Favre • Dom Capers
Aaron: This is why I keep coming here. Thanks for the continued great insight. The Bigby play from the Browns game really irked me at the time. I thought for sure he was bluffing because it was so poorly disguised. When he came and was immediately picked up, I knew that even the hapless Anderson would do something with it.
I’m sure that the all on coaching staff are regular visitors so Capers has already seen your post. He better have a lot of new looks up his sleeve for this game. He obviously was saving something from that uninspired play calling effort in the earlier game.
Great read, Aaron. Which defenses have traditionally given Brent the most trouble? Philly? Dallas? Any others? I remember some games where he threw more picks and he’d be sacked and fumbled the ball away. What did they do that made them so effective at disrupting Brent? Is simply the timing of the defensive pressure as described nicely in your article, or are there other factors that made Brent a walking disaster? Thanks for indulging my questions.
I guarantee; that second video you posted would be a sack at Lambeau. I agree with Capers’ general sentiment. His gameplan was effective. Had Martin actually followed it we would have won the game. If you keep the best RB in the game to around 60 yards that’s a success, period. Although Favre had a good day, take away those explosive plays due to blown coverage and again, we win this game. Let Favre get his completions, just keep it in front of you.
“Which defenses have traditionally given Brent the most trouble?” – Actually, Dungy’s Tampa 2 has been Brett’s worst enemy throughout his career. Lovie Smith perfected it, esp when it came to Favre. The problem is, it demands you get pressure using only 4 guys, which as we saw in MIN just isn’t going to happen. The Cover 2 shell is a great idea if you can get quick pressure up front without blitzing – the Packers can’t.
Well Nick, in the clip above Favre’s throw is on Collins’ side of the field. Martin has nothing to do with it. MIN’s ability to account for all the rushers, however, does.
Aaron, again, the difference will be the envornment. With crowd noise, that Viking Oline is a half a second later off the snap and that means we get to Favre quicker. Look at what happened at Pittsburgh. We know their Oline isn’t anything to write home about. I think it would be foolish for Capers to go back to the drawing board when the two biggest reasons for failing (crowd noise and injured safeties) are no longer a factor.
I just feel that Capers isnt going to let the cat out of the bag and tell us and the media what his intentions are going to be. I feel we will see a team that is hungary and wants to even the score. I just cant imagine capers sitting back and doing nothing. He has to have had a look at the steelers/vikings game and seen what they did to disrupt favre as much as they did. Bigby IMO will make the difference this time
Agree that noise will be a factor, just not to the extent you’re thinking. (I actually think the Packers offense will reap more benefit from the change in environment)
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Yes, Pittsburgh was able to get pressure on Favre – by having guys win one-on-one’s. Loadholt handled Kampman and McKinnie stoned Matthews. Yes, maybe Kampman getting in a three or four point stance will make a bit of a difference, but I still maintain they need to find a way to get a guy free.
You stop Adrian Peterson and force Brett to throw the ball. In a cover 2, he usually throws 2-3 up for grabs that you have to make into INTs. Kampman has to step up against Loadholt and Matthews needs to win his matchup with McKinnie using speed.
Woodson on blitzes would be nice, but I think they still drop 8 in the box to stop the run and pressure with 4 rushers, using Wood in coverage. It will look different with Bigby in there instead of some street FA.
Here we are again talking about the Icon of Wisconsin Brett Favre. I’ll be honest the 3-4 isn’t the Packers forte. I think you need a different scheme to capitalize on the great Kampman.
Definitely true (Aaron, not the toad). That is a sorry excuse for a pass rush by Kampman on that play. Him being down should be a big improvement. Fox had a great shot of him from last game coming out of the 4 point stance; his burst out of it is pretty impressive. And that’s part of my point again…these players are better than they were 4 weeks ago. They’re going to win some of these matchups now as they get more confidence and experience, especially at home. They will be more successful with the same gameplan based on their maturation in the defense.
It fact release the Great Kampman so the Vikings can show you how talented he is.
Aaron, something needs to be done about this guy. He stunts every discussion that he comments on. As I said in another comment, if he was bringing some insight to the table or had a semblance of football knowledge that’d be okay even if he was on the other side. But all he does is brings up completely pointless, irrelevant opinions to try to get a rise out of people. Enough is enough.
“…all he does is brings up completely pointless, irrelevant opinions to try to get a rise out of people” And it seems to be working.
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As long as it’s not offensive, I’m not censoring anyone.
I was commenting on a great player Kampman and pointed out the 3-4 isn’t suited for him. I believe my football knowledge is quite superior to most. Ask me why the tampa-2 causes problems for the Cabbage throwing boy.
Whether it’s working or not was not my point. It’s a question of intent. If he came here to discuss the game then I’d have no problem.
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I’m not riled up, just dissapointed that the comment section resembles JSonline more and more every single day. Not too many places have real Packer *football* discussion online anymore. And that’s too bad.
Don’t worry Nick – after the Packers beat down the Vikes on Sunday, I’m sure we’ll be returning to our regularly scheduled programming.
NickGBP – Let’s talk football. Ask me why the packers have trouble getting the screen play to work?
“Ask me why the packers have trouble getting the screen play to work?” – lol, you know, like the two successful TE screens they ran in the first quarter in MIN, or the successful screen to Grant at the end of the third quarter.
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Hilarious. MIN is the only team they have screened WELL against.
Great, I’d love to talk football Todd. Regarding the screen game, first of all, Grant isn’t exactly the best receiving RB in the league. Secondly, you’ve got inexperienced lineman that don’t have great lateral speed (since these are “zone blocking” guys) trying to set up the block. We have had more success recently though, and actually had some of our best screens this year against the Vikings. Who knows if we’ll be able to continue it, but it’ll be important if we want to keep Rodgers upright most of the game.
Aaron sez: “Don’t worry Nick – after the Packers beat down the Vikes on Sunday, I’m sure we’ll be returning to our regularly scheduled programming.
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I sure hope that Todd and the other Queens trolls go away after this Sunday. It really degrades your blog. Unfortunately, they are only trolling, and not really discussing the topics you bring up here in a meaningful way. Oh well.
NickGBP – It’s all about open space. The Green Bay Packers also need tight ends or full backs that can slide off and block down field. As for the Vikings this has always been one of their weak areas. I believe in grass the Packers could find some open field. If done on 2 down and 10. Please don’t try this on a 3 and long. Too easy.
I definitely agree that the Packer offense should benefit more than the defense from being away from the unfriendly noise of the Metrodome, particularly with an offensive line trying to get used to one another and trying to communicate effectively. Hopefully this should help them keep Rodgers standing and keep drives from stalling. We only lost by a touchdown, remember..
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I agree with the free-rusher theory as well, coming into the season I thought that would be more noticeable than it has been. As in, you would think that when you’re unable to generate pressure just bringing three or four guys, which is an area we have struggled with, that you would put more emphasis on disguising bigger blitzes so your opponents can’t adjust. I know Bigby being out hurt the way Capers but you’d hope that your defense wouldn’t fall apart with the loss of just one guy.
Todd, don’t pretend to start talking football now. Your post about Kampman was disruptive to the overall conversation. Also, you have used the line “send kampman to the Vikings so we can show you how talented he is” over and over. It is getting old and redundant. Most of us have already expressed our desire to see Kampman in a 3-point stance more. We don’t need you to come in here and beat the dead horse.
VApackerfan – JUST when we had him talking football, you drag it back to Sillysville!
sorry Aaron, I was writing my post when the subject changed
VApackerfan – Sillysville here I come. This blog is all about beating a dead horse. The problem 3-4 “DOESN’T fit the Packers players. Enough said. Your linebackers are not even suited for it. It does help your SS, FS to make plays in running downs. It worked on number 28. I think number 28 runs better in the grass so I’m betting on a big game for him.
Regarding the blitz scheme against the Vikings…I definitely think Bigby makes a world of difference and that is the most game changing aspect of this game vs. the previous Vikings game. I have also noticed Kampman with his hand on the ground a little more as of lately. This is his comfort place, and Capers should gameplan blitzes around that. I think he could have some fun with Loadholt with that. As far as a free rusher, that man has to be Matthews. This will be his biggest game thus far.
Actually Todd, your last post was relevant, and as long as it stays like that people aren’t going to have a problem. You are right about the 3-4. I don’t think we have the right guys to run a true 3-4 defense. However, we are six games into the season, and some kinks have been worked out, while others need to be. What do you expect when you change to a whole new defensive scheme when all your previous players have played in a 4-3? You are going to have holes.
Back to pressuring Favre. The Vikings line is improving each week. I’m very pleased with how they man handling the Pits attack. That team is talented. That said the Vikings basically moved the ball at will. So if the Packers do anything, they should use their CB, FS, and SS on stunts. I believe the front line needs to be confused to get through these days.
There are a lot of tickets left for the game Sunday. Last night there was a story about this on the local news. Brokers are dropping their prices. Just FYI.
In order to maintain my sanity, I choose to believe that Capers is no dummy. He is merely laying out some spin for an eternally gullible press. No one will know his intentions untill the game is in progress. I’m trying to be optimistic here.
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Can we trade toad for the other guy? He was ok to converse with.
I think we’ve got the linebackers to play the 3-4…and the way Dom sets it up I don’t really think it’s as different as people make it out to be (compared to the 43). It allows us to be slightly more unpredictable and more of our talent out there. We saw last week that bump and run still worked effectively with the 3-4 so we’re able to keep some of the strengths from our old scheme as well. Considering we’re 8th in the league in defense (regardless of who we’ve played) I don’t know how you can say it’s a failure.
[...] as the game went on, of putting the Vikings in 3rd and long, only to fail on those downs. Hence, my post [...]
Too early to declare anything about the 3-4 Packers D. The DL is more productive than last year already. Jenkins is starting to look like Richard Seymour–which I predicted. Jolly has surprised, and Raji is just getting into a regular rotation but made his presence felt with penetration on short yardage stops. At LB Barnett is coming back from injury with a vengence. We’ve got a rising star with big play potential in Matthews. Packers lead the league or close to it, in turnovers. To say that a team with a top 10 ranking in scoring, yards allowed, and turnovers doesnt have the personnel is outright stupid on its face but given the lackluster competition faced so far it warrants a modicum of consideration.
[...] How to pressure Favre: Questions about how effective Caper’s defensive blizt scheme can be compared to the awful 1st…. farkItButton("Your headline goes here", "http://fansided.com/", [...]
I think that Kampman will get Brent at least a couple times, and that will make a big difference. Brent will have even less time to throw picks with Kampman on his tail all night.
Just another thought: I think you should take the idea from SI and never use Favre’s name again. If you have to refer to him, call him Brent. Deny him what he wants. Attention
If he ever starts trolling again, the same should go for Todd. However, I’ve noticed that hisblast few posts have been very relevant, and we should leave him alone as long as he talks football.
Having Atari Bigby back in the lineup will have huge impacts. Although, the base for the whole team in my opinion is the offensive line. An offensive line that plays well opens holes for the RB, let’s the quarterback complete passes and stay on his feet, and keeps the offense in the field and scoring points.
The defense didn’t cost us that game. Sure they could have played better. And with Bigby back, Barnett at 100%, Raji’s ankle being improved and Clay Mathews becoming a starter, they will.
What cost us that game was the Oline. That problem has been addressed.
How’s Antoine Winfield coming along?
I agree with your “stop Favre” analysis and understand why he is the physical focus on the field & emotional focus of fans & commentators but what about the highest ranked QB in the NFC? What does he need to do to give yellow & green the W here in week 8?
[...] couple of days ago, I looked at what Dom Capers needs to do to get pressure on Favre. What I didn’t touch on, but is something I think is probably as important, if not more so, [...]