React and Attack: A Football Blog

          Hey everyone! My "Ride the Lightning" blitz-analysis series is back after a few weeks' hiatus. In the first article  in the series, I took a look at a blitz the Packers ran in their exhibition match against the Buffalo Bills. Since then, the Packers have had a bit of an up-and-down start to the regular season. After getting curb-stomped by the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, they were able to bounce back with a win against the Lions in Week 2. Green Bay extended their nascent winning streak in Week 3 with a thrilling last-second victory against the San Francisco 49ers.          An important key to the Packers' victory was their ability to get pressure on defense. The first few weeks were lackluster in this department, but against the 49ers Green Bay was finally able to get to the quarterback on a fairly regular basis, racking up 4 sacks and 11 QB hits . Although an excellent game from Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, and Ras...

            Well, that was rough.       What seemed like a favorable matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday quickly turned into a rout for the Green Bay Packers. Aside from a few decent punts and a field goal from Mason Crosby, the game was a disaster. The Packers defense allowed 38 points against a depleted Saints offense, and even when they managed to get a stop, the Packers offense failed to produce almost anything of value.     When I was able to get ahold of the All-22 tape from the game and began reviewing the defensive performance, I didn't expect to see many positives. Like many Packers fans, I was disgusted by the defense's inability to stop the Saints on the ground or in the air. There were several coverage breakdowns, and the defense failed to get consistent pressure on Jameis Winston. My early hopes for Joe Barry's iteration of the Packers defense were quickly fading.     However, when ...