Earlier this week, we wrote about how the Green Bay Packers haven’t been able to cover the middle of the field over the last two games— in part because their linebackers are failing to gain depth in their zones in coverage. Now that people have been able to fully digest the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football, even more damning data is coming out.
According to NFL Pro, the league’s tracking data claims that 70 percent of Goff’s production against the Packers came against zone coverage. Not only that, but Goff actually completed 14 of 17 attempts for 152 yards (8.9 yards per attempt) on in-breaking routes, the same routes that travel over the middle of the field behind linebacker level. Per their charting, Goff now holds the league-leading amount of passing yards on in-breaking routes in the NFL this season.
To add insult to injury, the Packers’ pass rush wasn’t able to do much against Goff. Green Bay played Rashan Gary primarily at right end (over the left tackle) for just the second time this year — both of which came against Detroit. This time, Gary lined up head-to-head on backup left tackle Dan Skipper, who was in for the injured Taylor Decker this time around. According to NFL Pro, Skipper only allowed one pressure on 44 pass-blocking snaps. That one pressure was actually generated by former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, too, not Gary.
The Packers’ linebackers, who combined for five pressures in the game, actually matched Green Bay’s defensive linemen in the game — despite the linebackers only being sent on 19 plays compared to the Packers’ defensive linemen combining for 173 pass-rushing attempts on Thursday. Oof.
There are serious issues with Green Bay’s defense. Their pass rush can’t get home before teams throw balls behind their linebackers’ heads in zone coverage. When the linebackers do drop deep enough, Detroit and Minnesota have both found success throwing screens in their three combined wins against the Packers.
Admittedly, Goff and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are very good at throwing in-breaking routes out of condensed sets, but the fact that Green Bay’s last two opponents felt no need to even really test the Packers’ cornerbacks to move the ball through the air should raise significant red flags for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. At some point, we’re going to need to see the pass rush bail these linebackers out from time to time or teams will continue to spam this strategy against Green Bay’s defense.