Improving our Defense

[wist43]

There's no denying the Packers have made mistakes evaluating the outside linebacker position over the past few years. There's no moving on from either Matthews or Perry at this point of the season though.

There might be a slim chance Gutekunst will be able to acquire a decent edge rusher on a reasonable deal before the deadline.

Upgrading the position should be the top priority next offseason though.

Why bother adding any stop gap players on defense at this point??

We aren't going anywhere, and it's unlikely we keep most of the guys we have now.

Just roll with what we have, and look at rebuilding the position next year.

 

[pacmaniac]

And when the defense gives Rodgers 5 extra possessions, scoring some TDS on them he’d have more rings by now too.

That happened once. Well, the 5 extra possessions. Too bad the offense only mustered 2 field goals out of them.

 

[brandon2348]

Matthews play up until recently was tied closely to the secondary. In 10 he had his best statistical year and managed double digit sacks in his first two seasons. In 11 with the loss of Collins and we boasted one of the worst pass defenses in the league Matthews managed only 6 sacks, yet he scored a high number of pressures and knockdowns. Conclusion Matthews was an effective rusher albeit the safety play was so awful that it didn't matter. In 2012 the secondary improved somewhat and Matthews again produced 13 sacks, he had another good year in 14 with 11. Since then injuries bad secondary play and age have taken a toll. I for one believe that they're all using PEDs.

Now on one hand he has made impact plays in most of our games. 2 of them received horseshit penalties and prompted the league to throttle down its roughing the passer enforcement. However, I cant help but notice that right now Matthews is messing up things that have nothing to do with physical ability, that miss on Garcon was just baffling. If he pulls up on Trubisky he made a great play that forced an early throw and incompletion. I wonder if he isn't 1 foot out in retirement right now.

Yup, pretty much taking the $ and run. His stats are skewed last year with a big performance against the Browns. I'm sure he is frustrated with the rule changes but that doesn't change the fact he hasn't been able to consistently win 1 on 1 for years. You don't pay a guy 15 mill or 12 mill or elite $ to just show up here and there on some splash plays. He was a bit overrated to begin with as he constantly overpursues but people took that cause he could win 1 on 1. Well now he can't and still overpursues all over the field.

 

[FL-PACKERfan]

Wish we could move on from Perry after this year. 14M next year is way too much.

 

[brandon2348]

Wish we could move on from Perry after this year. 14M next year is way too much.

Perry is a different story as can't really get out of that deal right now. They could of with Clay. I still have hope Perry could be a positive if we had a stud on the other side like a Dee Ford.

 

[Arod2gjdd]

Should go after Patrick Peterson and move Tramon to safety opposite Haha

 

[wist43]

Should go after Patrick Peterson and move Tramon to safety opposite Haha

I want to get rid of Dix.

Not many guys on that defense I want to keep actually.

 

[Arod2gjdd]

Should the Packers trade for Patrick Peterson?

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1051499882652069888[/TWEET]

I want to get rid of Dix.

Not many guys on that defense I want to keep actually.

So we play Brice? K.

 

[brandon2348]

So we play Brice? K.

I don't really think it matters who they play until they can get a pass rush. Until then its gonna be a "mixed bag" with inconsistent results.

 

[Arod2gjdd]

I don't really think it matters who they play until they can get a pass rush. Until then its gonna be a "mixed bag" with inconsistent results.

Still need to play two safetys, and I am keeping Brice off the field at all costs

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Start selling off/buying out the likes of Matthews, Cobb, & whoever else.

Geez, that's not how it works at all. Like it or not the Cobb and Matthews will be on the Packers roster until the end of this season except another team is interested in trading for either of them.

Why bother adding any stop gap players on defense at this point??

In my opinion the Packers have a small chance of contending for the Super Bowl this season. Therefore I would be fine with spending a late round pick to acquire a player presenting an upgrade at either edge rusher or free safety.

Wish we could move on from Perry after this year. 14M next year is way too much.

The Packers could move on from Perry next offseason if they consider it to be a smart move as it would save $3.6 million of cap space by releasing him before the start of free agency.

Perry is a different story as can't really get out of that deal right now. They could of with Clay.

Matthews' salary is fully guaranteed for this season by now.

I want to get rid of Dix.

The Packers shouldn't offer Clinton-Dix elite money next offseason but it would be smart to re-sign him to a reasonable deal.

Still need to play two safetys, and I am keeping Brice off the field at all costs

Unfortunately the Packers don't have enough talent at safety to keep Brice off the field as Whitehead doesn't present an upgrade over him.

 

[ShuTang]

Rush 4 and get pressure and this defense would rock! We don't need anymore damn db's.

Clay isn't part of that equation in any way, shape or form. Not unless you wanna see more late hits and overpursing all over the field.

He is referred to as 'out of the play Clay' at my house.

 

[ShuTang]

What is going on with Breeland anyways?

 

[Deleted member 6794]

What is going on with Breeland anyways?

Breeland was out with a hamstring injury the past two games but practiced yesterday.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

I want to get rid of Dix.

Not many guys on that defense I want to keep actually.

I just do not understand this distaste with HHCD. Are fans only happy if the safety is as good as Earl Thomas? What do people expect from this guy?

 

[scotscheese]

it's gonna take draft picks,.

a whole lot of precious draft picks, it's gonna take plenty of draft picks
to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it right now

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Geez, that's not how it works at all. Like it or not the Cobb and Matthews will be on the Packers roster until the end of this season except another team is interested in trading for either of them.

Based on the way the Raiders and Cowboys front office has been acting lately, maybe the Packers should call them up and offer them Cobb or Matthews? It's obvious Gruden likes old guys so he might give something up for Matthews and the Cowboys just love collecting receivers.

 

[scotscheese]

I just do not understand this distaste with HHCD. Are fans only happy if the safety is as good as Earl Thomas? What do people expect from this guy?

my biggest problem with HHCD is his tackling, i forever see him diving at opposition players feet and they dodge or jump past him so easily, this should have been tackled(pun intended) by coaching staff by now

 

[Alex]

Based on the way the Raiders and Cowboys front office has been acting lately, maybe the Packers should call them up and offer them Cobb or Matthews? It's obvious Gruden likes old guys so he might give something up for Matthews and the Cowboys just love collecting receivers.

Get Jordy back for Cobb would be nice.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Get Jordy back for Cobb would be nice.

Just get rid of Cobb for the cap space and a third (he's not worth a third but Gruden would probably give it).

 

[wist43]

I just do not understand this distaste with HHCD. Are fans only happy if the safety is as good as Earl Thomas? What do people expect from this guy?

I expect him to take good angles, be a solid tackler, and a physical hitter.

He's none of those things.

He's not terrible... we can get by with him, but I'd like to have better in that spot.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Based on the way the Raiders and Cowboys front office has been acting lately, maybe the Packers should call them up and offer them Cobb or Matthews? It's obvious Gruden likes old guys so he might give something up for Matthews and the Cowboys just love collecting receivers.

I highly doubt any other team in the league is interested in trading for Cobb or Matthews.

He's not terrible... we can get by with him, but I'd like to have better in that spot.

It's unrealistic to demand having a better safety than Clinton-Dix.

 

[brandon2348]

It's unrealistic to demand having a better safety than Clinton-Dix.

I agree with this. While he misses a tackle and a coverage here and there he isn't the reason this defense is inconsistent. He is more them competent to hold his spot down with a respectable pass rush. This might be yet another situation where he leaves and goes to a team with more productive pieces around him in play and flourishes.