Packers Snap Counts Versus The Saints

The Packers did not elevate anyone from the Practice Squad for the game.  Vernon Scott was inactive probably due to injury.  The healthy inactives were Jean-Charles, Jack Heflin, Jake Hanson (which suggests that he is not the second choice at center should anything happen to Myers), and Isaiah McDuffie.  The only one that surprised me was Heflin.

The offensive line gave up 15 pressures on 36 pass attempts, a 42% rate, per Pro Football Focus.  That is not good.  Jenkins and Myers each gave up one pressure, meaning the other three linemen were responsible for the bulk of the remaining 13 pressures (minus whatever number should be credited to Aaron Rodgers).  The line did little to help the running backs.  The Packers and Saints each had 3 possessions in the first half but the Packers ran a mere 17 plays: 13 passes (76.5%) and just 4 rushes.  On the second possession with the score 10-0, Dillon had consecutive carries of six yards each for the Packers only rushing first down.  Aaron Jones rushed twice on the first possession with a long of one yard.  The Packers gained just 5 first downs (one by penalty) and did not convert on third down (0 – 3) in the first half. 

Rodgers was only sacked twice and hit 7 times.  While he was pressured more than one would like, the ball seemed slow to come out.  It may be that Rodgers held the ball too long, but it might also be that the Saints, particularly All-Pro MLB Demario Davis (4.49 forty time) and LB Kwon Alexander, have the personnel to cause trouble with teams relying on underneath routes and misdirection.

Deguara was injured (concussion) on the second play of the second half.  He played 5 snaps out of a possible 19.  That probably explains Dafney’s snap count total.  It is interesting that Jordan Love and three wide receivers, Amari Rodgers, Cobb, and Malik Taylor all played the same number of snaps (15).  

The Packers played 2.5 true defensive linemen per play but could not stop the Saints’ rushing attack.  New Orleans gained 140 yards in the first half alone on 25 rushes, good for a 5.6 yard average.  Even removing Winston’s three scrambles for 36, the Saints still gained 104 yards on 22 carries for a 4.72 yard average.  The Packers allowed consistent gains.  There were only two longish runs, one by Winston for 15 and another by Kamara for 14 yards.  It appears that the Packers largely went with the same rotation on the defensive line, though Keke received a higher percentage of snaps than he sometimes received last year.  Lowry remained the number two defensive lineman.  Lowry finished with 4 tackles (3 solo).  Slaton got a decent amount of snaps for a fifth-round rookie, and he finished with 2 solo tackles in 16 snaps.  PFF singled out Keke for praise on the defensive line.

The Packers managed zero sacks and just 3 QB hits, two by Gary and one by Preston Smith.  The outside linebackers gave up contain a few times, including Gary on a Winston scramble.  It seemed clear that the Packers only put Zadarius Smith on the field in obvious passing situations.  I thought Campbell was active while also being a little up and down at times, but he also seemed to fare well in coverage.  Per PFF, the Packers pressured Winston 10 times on 24 pass attempts, Winston usually had lots of time to throw the ball.  Winston averaged 3.14 seconds to release the ball.

Not surprisingly, the secondary did not hold up very well.  I thought Amos came up often to limit gains, something Clinton-Dix was very poor at.  Amos finished with a team high 9 tackles (7 solo).  Jaire Alexander was very good, as usual.  King allowed two touchdowns, and Sullivan allowed another (on a rub – but teams are going to try to do that).  Sullivan was also injured during the game.        

All statistics per nflgsis or Pro Football Focus in this interesting article.