Pressure, pressure and more pressure.
That’s the way to play defense in today’s NFL. You cannot sit back and allow quarterbacks to read the latest James Patterson novel while downing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. You have to make quarterbacks feel as uncomfortable as possible.
The Packers generated 149 pressures last year, which was 11th in the league last year. The Chiefs were second with 181 and the Eagles were fifth with 165. That’s the formula: create as many problems in the offensive backfield as you can.
“It’s about TFLs and sacks,” said Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. “We’re going to look to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we’re looking to penetrate and make something big happen.”
How can you not love this? The Packers are willing to roll the dice and do whatever it takes on defense. If that means getting into the backfield on an all-out blitz, so be it. If that means using the new athletic safeties to make the quarterback think twice, so be it.
And there is always a risk. That’s why the former Packers defensive coordinator would’ve rather walked up a snow hill backwards than put pressure on the opposing team. He was also the one that was so worried about the big play that he had his defensive backs play seven yards deep on third-and-4. Makes complete sense in the year — never. Even in a non-passing league that is the most mind-bending thing ever.
You can play the “What if” game all season long. But what percentage of those ifs actually come true? That’s why it makes more sense to just put the pressure on the quarterback and get in the backfield as quickly as possible. Know going in that there will be failure. That could come in the slick look of a 45-yard reverse or a 32-yard post touchdown that finds the receiver wide open.
But this philosophy doesn’t work as a solo act. It must be done in packs, or else it will fail.
“Anytime you’re trying to create things in the backfield, you’ve got to have the whole group swarm to make the play,” said Packers defensive line coach Brian Rebrovich. “Can’t just be one guy making the tackle. So, you’ve got to make sure when you are creating a new line of scrimmage, when you are working to get in the backfield, there’s other guys that are going to converge. You can’t just sit there and watch one guy try and work to make one play.”
The Packers have a few guys that can make defensive plays on their own, but team defense comes first and is always the best option.
So pressure plus roaming in packs equals a pretty solid defensive equation. Hafley isn’t just preaching a new defense, he’s preaching a new team philosophy. He needs this unit to trust each other and know that it won’t be nearly as good of a defense without the person next to them.
No matter how many pressures the Packers get next season, they already have a victory on defense simply because of the word trust.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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