Paul Bretl | 9/12/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The name of the game for offenses across the NFL is giving the quarterback time in the pocket. However, the need for that becomes magnified when relying on an inexperienced backup, which it looks like the Packers will have to do in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.
That task will not be an easy one either, against a Colts’ defensive front that comes with several players who can get after the quarterback at a high level.
“These guys do such a good job,” said Matt LaFleur of the Colts’ front. “They’re relentless. They do a really good job of working together. They’re very choreographed. They do a good job with their pick stunts.
“But they do a really good job of what I like to call creating carnage up front and picking guys off, and getting free hitters on the quarterback. And that shows up all over their tape. It showed up last year. It showed up versus Houston. So I would expect them to try to do the same thing to us.”
The Colts’ defensive front is coming off a 2023 season in which they recorded the fifth-most sacks in football. In their Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans, they sacked CJ Stroud four times and also recorded 10 quarterback hits. Leading the charge for the Colts is DeForest Buckner at defensive tackle, along with Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu at defensive end.
Buckner has continued to be a disruptive presence since entering the NFL, while Paye–who produced 8.5 sacks in 2023–and Latu were two of the more efficient pass rushers by win rate in Week 1.
“He’s been one of the premier interior players for many years now,” said LaFleur of Buckner. “He’s just a massive human. He does a great job inside. You can tell he’s a really intelligent football player as well. He’s a guy that I’ve got as much respect for (as) anybody in this game, just the way he handles himself, the way he performs on Sundays.”
However, the Colts’ success in getting after the quarterback goes beyond just those three. General manager Chris Ballard has invested heavily into that position group, building out a deep unit with a hockey-like rotation, with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley believing he has eight different players he can steadily rely upon each week.
Although Matt LaFleur hasn’t confirmed that Jordan Love won’t play, the thought is that Malik Willis will be under center for the Packers in Week 2. The need to give the quarterback time to go through his reads and make on-time and in-rhythm throws is always crucial to an offense’s success. But when the starting quarterback hasn’t even been on the team for three weeks and has only 67 career pass attempts, that time element becomes paramount if there’s going to be any chance of moving the ball through the air.
To help mitigate the Colts’ pass rush, tight end Tucker Kraft as an in-line blocker and chipper will play a key role in providing reinforcements. The Packers ability to move the ball on the ground will also play a key factor in taking away some of the bit from the pass rush.
Steady success in the run game can create short down-and-distance situations where the entire playbook opens up for the offense and forces the defense to defend the entire field. On the flip side, run game woes put the offense in predictable passing situations, allowing the pass rush to really tee-off.
While the Colts’ front was able to make some noise from a pass rush perspective against the Texans, they did give up over 200 rushing yards, including 159 to Joe Mixon at over 5.0 yards per carry.
Against a stout Eagles’ defensive front, for the most part, the Packers offensive line handled itself well in pass protection. According to PFF’s metrics, the offensive line surrendered only eight pressures in that game. The unit as a whole ranks 14th after one game in pass-blocking efficiency.
If the Packers front can hold its own again against the pass rush–which won’t be an easy task–as I wrote about recently, the opportunity for Willis and the passing game to move the ball through the air certainly exists against a Colts’ secondary loaded with question marks.
“They’re a very good front,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. “They do a great job penetrating. They’re pretty deep across the board and I think you can tell these guys work together and their pick stunts and everything really well. It’s impressive to watch them.
“They’re coached well and they do a good job again with their twists and picks to create seams and get sacks. They’re pretty productive, a really good group.”
Worth monitoring as the week continues is the status of Buckner and Paye for the Colts. Both players have missed the first two days of practice this week. Buckner is dealing with a back injury and Paye a hamstring injury.