Good analysis of the edge, but the pass rush is more than two guys on the outside. The interior two guys, for the most part, didn't do their parts as well as expected.

Kenny Clark had an off year. In part his role inside might have changed under the new defensive scheme, but he didn't dominate as in past years. Slaton had a few moments but not enough. Wyatt, Wooden and Brooks also had their moments but fewer than needed.

The Packers trail the Eagles, Lions and Vikings on both lines. The Packers upcoming draft needs to find a man mountain in the middle with a pass rush. Van Ness also needs to prove he was worth a first-round pick.

It’s on the record, before and after the season, that, at least publicly, the Packers like what they had in 3:4 in 4:3. At least to me, I think that’s extremely dubious based upon what we saw over the season. Clark was largely neutralized, as was Gary. Most of the rest were non factors threat wise. The bright spots were Wyatt, but he couldn’t stay healthy and was poor in the run game and Cox, who showed he ought to have had more snaps at the expense of players other than Smith earlier. The other player who stood out in a role left in FA without a current successor, Slaton.

The rush was all very similar in style and approach. It was largely ineffective against most credible teams. We fired the coach who was a surprising hold over, but I can’t get beyond the fact that we are light at DL and Gary and a bunch of Gary-lite clones as it stands, most of whom might be better in the old front as well.

If I am correct, then if we do not aggressively reshape personnel and the breath of capabilities in that room then the DL will hold us back for the foreseeable future. If I’m holding my breath for anything, it’s to see if Gute grasps that and tries to add speed and agility rush options and credible run capability inside. This D was very encouraging, this year, but without more disruption up front it’s asking a lot when we play really good offenses and the margins are small (and their defense stronger too). We can not be that toothless when it counts.

The O may have been the primary culprit, but better rush may have overcome that against the Eagles. We’ve already addressed the OL. If successful I think that offers significant dividends for both run and pass. We still need to add WR options, but I believe the fundamental step now needs to be illustrating a realization that we need to revise and revitalize our DL conceptually and reflect that through personnel moves and coaching approaches. That may include difficult choices.

Maybe the best article on the Packer edge rushing issue I have read! There is no obvious or practically feasible path to immediate improvement other than internally via LVN and Cox. A drafted DE is just adding another body to an already congested DE room. I do have high hopes for improvement from Cox, but I don't expect him to turn into Trey Hendrickson either.

So if improving the edge pass rush may be problematic, why not look at the up the middle pass rush? I know I have been a broken record about this, but the Packers got 2.5 sacks from 63% of their DT snaps (Clark, Slaton and Wooden) last year. Slaton's gone and Wooden should be. Replace them with a drafted DT that can penetrate. This draft is rich in defensive tackles - improve the pass rush with better DTs.

On a side note, the author opined that from the start of the season Hafley wanted his edge rushers to play more contain which slowed the pass rush somewhat. Perhaps that had something to do with facing QBs like Hurts, Richardson and Murray in three of the first five Packer games?

Hafley and his Read and React D is always charging, swarming to the ball, funneling the play to teammates with the same mindset.

His DE is so different from a 3-4 edge with Capers or Barry. All 4 men need to have pass rush ability and front line rush lane responsibility.

My hope is Team Gutey drafts the best DT or DE to fit their Read and React defense in round 1 or 2.

move LVN inside on some downs give Clark a rest , Cox will get more snaps this way he will be more productive.

I'm not a fan of the heavy rotation with these guys. Makes it hard to flow and find any sort of synchronization. I also wonder if LVN would do better if he were moved inside? Either he is dumb and lazy or he flat out isn't being coached since being there. Still just a bull rusher. I'd love to know who to blame for that cuz I think he has excellent potential and is very athletic.

As far as lvn he’s still very young and we gotta hope our new d line coach can unlock him or he needs to add weight and move inside . As far as draft I hoping for grant or Harmon in first or Darius Alexander in second with a trade back also hoping for Landon Jackson at edge . Those moves would go a long way to improving our defense even more . Than grab a wr, cb , center , etc. later

Some other thoughts:
We faced a LOT of of running QBs last year, so containment was more important than usual.
We can also improve our pass rush by blitzing a LB while dropping a DE or DT. Cooper and Walker are potentially great for this (and I’d love to add Jihaad Campbell or Carson Schwesinger as a third option)

We had a chance to return every player from the #6 defense last year. We kept McDuffie, but let Stokes, Slaton, and Wilson walk. We replaced Stokes with Hobbs.

But that's not enough. Let's keep obsessing on the defense while the offense goes out and lays down in the playoffs. I saw a mock draft here yesterday where the only offensive help is a 2nd string TE on Day 3. No blockers, no answers for our WR situation.

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. If the focus is an overwhelming pass rush, or stuffing the run, or any of the other defensive memes we like, then the offense will continue to come up short. Since the season ended, the articles here have run at least 5-1 on what's wrong with the defense compared to how to help the offense.

I never expected a big signing for WR and edge. I don't think that was ever in the cards. I always saw Hardman as a choice. Of course I expect a WR with in the first three rounds.

There may be a chance at picking up a younger edge as free agent. I see a first round DL like the guy from Oregon. And a later round edge. I don't see Cox developing much more.

And rotation early in the season is fine, but as the season gets close to the playoffs, I want to see more of Gary.

We will have to see if Gute reads this comment and takes my advice. 😀

If we are looking at the eagels model, i think it demonstrates the imperative of a dominant DT rush up the middle... to help middling edge rushers. For Packers, would hope they draft a pass-rushing DT to help out Gary, LVN, Cox.

I have to assume (hope?) with how the draft is shaping up to be a strength in the middle of the DL, that this is what BG is thinking

The positive spin on 6 guys having 150+ snaps at edge is there's enough film for the coaching staff to analyze how each of these guys fits/doesn't fit into the new defensive scheme...AND gives the coaching staff material to coach up guys on how to improve their techniques, etc.

With a new scheme, it isn't immediately evident who would succeed within it. You have to give guys the opportunities and see who rises to the top. Always a good idea to spread reps around as it keeps players fresher (so no 4th quarter letdowns like we've seen in the past). Not sure, but it seems intuitive that fresher players might be less prone to injury (conjecture on my part) so may also have factored in. I don't ready anything too much into last year's usage as such.

Is there any edge rusher the Packers can draft at #23 who can make a difference as a rookie? It looks doubtful. I agree with others that adding a really good DT looks like the best path to increasing the pass rush. Although our DE group is not as dynamic as we would like it to be, I think it's pretty good, and it will produce more sacks if there is improvement in other parts of the defense.

Well, they just brought in Shemar Stewart on a pre draft visit. That should get some debate. Athletic superstar with 1.5 sacks a season in college. Pressures galore but couldn't convert them.

You have to keep your pass rushers fresh so I believe in a rotation but Gary needs to be on the field more. His snap count needs to be near the top of the top 7 players. Gary and LVN where not top passers in college. LVN left young and was drafted on his upside so maybe he becomes one but I don't see the speed there. Gary didn't put up huge sack numbers in college either. People said he was double teamed a lot but I don't buy it, every top player is double teamed in college.

Gary played a different role in college, as has been discussed at great length. Getting to the passer was not his primary task.

Can't have production if you aren't getting snaps. Unless it's a down and distance pass rusher that is a one trick pony whose one trick is awesome

I never did and still don't understand drafting Van Ess in first round not even being a college starter. Stretch in my mind he would develop into much more than he was rotational to be honest.

This is a good read. Very logically laid out. I see improvement from within:

- We have 4 edge rushers now. Better scheming and coaching, combined with LVN and Cox making jumps should have an impact.

- Interior jumps from Wyatt and Karl Brooks, combined with a high draft pick and a rebound year from Clark.

- Better coverage in the backfield leading to more pressures and sack opportunity.

Never expected a big splash in FA. Hobbs is OK, and Banks too - though overpaid.
My hope though is that Packers can swap problems with the Steelers - trading CB Alexander for WR Pickens.

"Under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, it was clear from the jump that he wanted his edge rushers to play more of a contain role, making the path to the quarterback longer and less aggressive in many scenarios."

I don't think that's true at all, I think they were asked to penetrate much more than under Barry and Hafley expects the players outside of them to swarm to the ball. Seems to me the lack of sacks from the front was more from the DTs not getting home than the Edge rushers but I'd have to look at the year to year stats on that. What is true is they got a lot of sacks from players other than the front 4.

Gute paid Gary 4yrs -96 mil.
He knew what he'd have to pay Sweat.
So- He's going with what he's got.
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation.
Is his solution now.

Would he draft Green? -
IMO- he not only should.
He should trade up with Seattle to get him.

My perspective, worth about two cents. We have pass rushers. We have low first round pass rushers . We have low first round dt and MLB.
We used picks in the appropriate places, 13th, 15th, 16th, to draft defense.
The problem is simple, we picked the wrong guys.
Gary was rated second or early third. Walker and Wyatt looked good playing with very good players around then on champ ga team. They weren't the stars. Van Ness made no sense.
This is on Gutt. The people he could have taken who were on the board are stars on other teams.

Heard a rumor floating around that Travon Walker might be available. They need a DB upgrade. Hope Gutey picks up the phone. Maybe a 3rd and JA ? Walker had 10 sacks in each of the last 2 seasons.
At least worth a call. Compensation could be worked out. Maybe Doubs and a pick ?

90 is by far the biggest issue here. He was picked 13th overall and in 2 years has done squat. Don’t get me wrong; I like the kid. Appears to be a hard worker with great tools, but this is a bottom line business. Do they give the new D-line coach a chance to unlock him? If they pick an edge rusher early, how do they divvy up the snaps? It would be GREAT if SOMEBODY emerges, to the point where that guy HAS TO be on the field, and let the rest of the room fight for the leftover scraps. I mean snaps. No, I mean scraps. (I’m sure y’all get it.)

Well, it looks like Gute has his eyes on another athletic "freak" who tested really well but has zero to little college production and his tape looks like a high school skill set. I certainly hope that we don't choose this Shemar Stewart prospect, however he is a true Gutey Packer...HUGE RAS numbers (even though he tested 30 pounds lighter than he played at), did nothing in college, has poor fundamentals, can't tackle (and I mean he CANNOT tackle), and has one move (bull rush) and no plan to get to the QB. I loved the RGary pick when he came out and defended it with passion; I am not so sure anymore. The same was true about LVN. We should have a HOF defense in positions that matter, instead, because of these guys playing some type of 3d chess, they get to look "clever" and The Packers are just mediocre. With all that being said, on Draft Day, in GB, a trade will happen to move the Pack into a position to draft Stewart by mortgaging the future and picking another early round fizzle-fry, with the whole of Packer Nation left scratching our head, trying to defend the pick and hoping against hope that it turns out differently, which it won't. Just trade the 1st round pick for Trey H, at least we KNOW he can play.

I thought this was a really good article and of course the points about the Eagles were valid but they are just the latest. The Giants had the very same philosophy about the importance of the trenches and a very very good defensive line. I recall unlike the Eagles the Giants tended not to rotate as much and kicked one of their ends inside (JPP) on passing downs -perhaps something to think about with LVN who is a very powerful guy and the pocket push is often more disruptive than a sack. I do not get hung up on statitstics , they can prove or disprove any point you want to make but success or failure on 3rd and fourth down often predict the outcome of the game and that is what I am hoping to see next year. Should the GB defense have a year like the 2000 Ravens nobody will care they had only 35 sacks.