Like several opponents before them, the Minnesota Vikings defense is likely to throw a variety of blitzes at the Green Bay Packers offense. This can and will cause some chaos, but for a Packers offense who has experienced a lot of blitz heavy schemes, especially as of late, there is some comfort that comes with being in those uncomfortable situations.
“We have rules and plays and plans to pick up all these blitzes,” said right guard Sean Rhyan prior to the Bucs game, “and it’s been nice that it’s all been back to back to back. It allows us to keep flowing, just tweak things here and there and knowing that if we pick those up there’s plays to be had. So there’s some comfortability in that uncomfortably that it provides.”
In each of the Packers previous six games, they’ve faced a defense that ranks in the top half of the NFL in blitz rate this season, according to Pro Football Reference, including four within the top eight. Below is a look at where each of those teams rank coming into Week 17 in terms of blitz rate and how often they blitzed the Packers:
8. Los Angeles Chargers – 60.5 percent
14. Detroit Lions – 42.4 percent
5. Kansas City Chiefs – 41 percent
2. New York Giants – 46.3 percent
3. Tampa Bay – 56.1 percent
12. Carolina – 46.7 percent
For some context around those blitz rates, currently the Giants rank second in the NFL in blitz rate for the overall season at 43.5 percent. So not only have the Packers faced some already blitz heavy teams, but the every one of these opponents have blitzed Green Bay at an above average rate compared to their season norms.
Despite the bombardment of blitzers, the Packers offensive line has held its own for the most part. Since Week 11, overall, Love has thrown from a clean pocket on 66.5 percent of his snaps, which ranks as the 12th-best rate out of 39 eligible quarterbacks during that span.
Against the blitz in this stretch of games, Love has been among the best at handling it. From Week 11 on, he has been blitzed on 49.3 percent of his dropbacks, leading the NFL. However, he’s completed 67.3 percent of those passes at 7.6 yards per attempt with four touchdowns to only one interception, ranking in the top 10 in each of those respective categories. Love has also had the most big-time throws as well, a metric from PFF where a pass is determined to have excellent accuracy, timing, and is downfield.
Success against the blitz starts pre-snap with the communication along the offensive line. As Josh Myers pointed out prior to the Detroit game, for the offensive line it’s being mindful of the personnel package the defense is in, the opponent’s alignment along the defensive front, and making sure the entire line is on the same page with blocking responsibilities.
For Love, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements has credited him for the pre-snap protection adjustments that he has made and also knowing where his quick outlet passes are if he comes under pressure at any point.
“The important thing is you have to know what the concept is,” said Clements about facing a blitz-heavy opponent. “As I said, know where your check down is because if they are able to get out, if they don’t have a protection responsibility, or throw it away if you need to.
”But you have to know where your guys are and know the certain routes, some guys are running deeper routes, some guys are running quicker routes where you can get it out to them fast. So you have to be aware of that at all times. Obviously, it’s the protection unit, the up front people, and the back are going to have to be in tune. Everyone has to be on the same page.”
Blitzes can cause added chaos and confusion for an offense, leading to incomplete passes, or worse, turnovers. But on the flip side, if the blitz is picked up and the quarterback has time, there is big play potential to be had as well with receivers often matched up one-on-one with little safety help for the cornerback over the top.
This week that trend of going up against blitz-heavy opponents will continue for the Packers. Under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Vikings blitz a league-high 49.1 percent of the time, and do a good job of disguising their coverages and where it is coming from.
In Week 8, the last time these two teams met, Love was 12-for-19 against the blitz for a modest 5.4 yards per attempt with a touchdown. However, since then, Love and the offense are much-improved. While this aggressive Vikings defense will present its challenges, the Green Bay offense is better equipped this time to counter, both from an execution and game planning standpoint.
“They’re not afraid,” said LaFleur of the Vikings’ defense prior to their Week 8 matchup. “Sometimes, it’s going to look like a punt rush, and you’ve got to have a plan for that and go out there and execute that plan, but it does present a lot of challenges. Those guys are fast; they’re physical.”