Green Bay Packers pass-rush concerns loom large as they head into the new season. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s job will be to come up with the best game plan and strategy to fix these problems. Things have changed, at least, that first wave of free agency has come and gone. General manager Brian Gutekunst has yet to add to veteran pass-rushing depth. Gutekunst emphasized the need for effective quarterback pressure, stating, "We've got to be able to get after the quarterback with four," before the opening of free agency. Since taking control of the Packers’ personnel department in 2018, Gutekunst has made a point of loading up on defensive players early in the draft. He’s used seven of his nine first-set picks to improve the team’s defense.
The Packers faced challenges last season, with veteran Kenny Clark experiencing one of his least impactful years on the interior line. Lukas Van Ness, the 13th overall selection in 2023, failed to become a consistent pass-rush threat. The new regime has already made largely impactful trades in the areas of key coaching changes. They fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich and made Demarcus Covington his replacement. Covington is expected to be the defensive run game coordinator. An old colleague from New England, who used to hire young lawyers of Covington’s ilk, expressed faith in Covington’s talents. They announced, “If there’s talent, he’ll spot it."
Their blitz rate of 18.2% is the second-lowest in the league per NFL Next Gen Stats. Unlike other perennial contenders, like the Eagles, they found it impossible to repeat their success. The Eagles found success generating quarterback pressure while not over-committing to blitzing. The strategy was successful, including in the Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes. The Packers offensive line was not great against pressure, finishing 22nd in the league in pressure percentage. This number includes instances that the QB was sacked, hit, and pressured.
Matt LaFleur, the new head coach of the Packers, gave us glimpses into his plans for the defense. He wants to first prioritize the four-man rush, while introducing a deeper coverage concept. He pointed out, they used a lot of simulated blitzes and pressures instead.
"I envisioned rushing four and playing three deep, four under a heck of a lot more. And we ended up doing a lot of simulated blitzes and different pressures and playing a bunch of Cover 2," said LaFleur.
The Packers are increasingly meeting this challenge. They’re moving past directive and more into diligent search mode—involved in pre-draft visits with a number of intriguing defensive front prospects. Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart and Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. are two of the defensive linemen who received an invitation. Each of these possible additions would reinforce a promising defensive core as the team heads into next season.
The changes to coaching staff and potential new draft picks reflect an ongoing effort by Gutekunst and LaFleur to address Green Bay's pass-rush concerns. With a focus on improving consistency and effectiveness in pressuring the quarterback, the Packers are set on finding solutions that align with their strategic vision.
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