The inexperienced and currently shorthanded Green Bay Packers’ offense faces an aggressive New Orleans Saints defense this week that will challenge them at all three levels.
The Saints will arrive at Lambeau Field riding a historic streak that dates back to last season. New Orleans currently has a 10-game streak of holding their opponents to 20 points or less, which is a franchise record, according to Saints PR.
“Fast. Physical. Aggressive,” said Matt LaFleur about the Saints defense on Wednesday. “Very sound and want to challenge you on all three levels. Demario Davis is a game-wrecker. Cam Jordan. They got guys at all three levels. They’ve got complimentary pieces around that.”
You name it from a defensive stat standpoint, and the Saints probably rank well in that category. Heading into Week 3, they rank in the top 10 in total sacks, quarterback hits, and takeaways. New Orleans ranks 9th in ESPN’s run-stop win rate metric, they’ve allowed just one touchdown in seven red zone trips this season, and have the third-best third-down defense in football as well.
You get the idea.
This is a Saints defense that has talent all over the field and one that, from a play style and schematic standpoint, is very aggressive and going to challenge Green Bay on pretty much every play.
“I mean, they have a ton of players on that defense, and they challenge you,” added LaFleur. “I told our guys on the perimeter, they are going to grab and hold, and that’s what they do. But they play aggressive and you’ve got to be very fundamentally sound.
“Up front, you’ve got to do a great job of coming off the ball. Playing with great pad level because they are a physical bunch, and they play with extreme effort, and when you get effort plus scheme plus talent, you have one of the best defenses in the NFL.”
As I’ve harped on for much of the offseason and again wrote about recently, consistent success for the Packers offense as a unit begins with a sound run game to lean on–something that has alluded Green Bay through two games. The Packers’ inability to move the ball on the ground regularly has put the offense in predictable passing situations, allowing the defense to get into favorable matchups.
The use of motion and lining certain players up in the slot can help the Green Bay receivers get free releases against the New Orleans cornerbacks, but each of these pass catchers will need a game plan in regard to how they are going to handle the Saints’ aggressive play-style. We saw, especially early on last season, with Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, the challenges that physical cornerback play can present for young receivers. This past Sunday, the Falcons were also fairly physical with the Green Bay receivers as well.
Throughout training camp, the preseason, and in these first two games, Jordan Love has struck a very good balance of knowing when to push the ball downfield or fit it into a tight window and when to take what the defense is giving him. Executing that skill set is going to be vital to the offense’s success against New Orleans.
Not only do the Saints not give up big plays, but they don’t allow many completions on intermediate routes, either. According to PFF, the Saints are allowing a completion rate of just 33.3 percent – the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL – on passes of 10 or more yards. To a degree, the Packers are going to have to be comfortable plotting their way down the field rather than pushing it and picking up chunk yards as they’ve often done through two games.
The Packers’ versatility, allowing them to mix and match personnel, and LaFleur’s game plan will create challenges for the Saints’ defense as well. Green Bay has done an excellent job through two games, throwing a myriad of looks at the Bears and Falcons, helping to create mismatches, and getting pass catchers in space. With that said, the Saints’ defense will present a very good test in just about every aspect for this young offense.
“They’re a confident group and they’ve got talent and they play extremely hard and they play well together.”
