Usually we do positives in this spot, today we’re going to do some Packers problems at the bye week/halfway point. This Packers team is great at a lot of things and can challenge anyone but it also has some definite weaknesses that we’ll address.

Pash Rush

The most obvious problem with this Packers team is the lack of pass rush. They started the season with four (4!) first-round picks, a high-priced free agent on a third contract, and a few other guys on the defensive line. Reports from training camp raved about how dominant the d-line was. Every other iteration of this defense has a great 4-man pass rush. Not the Packers this season.

Among those players, Rahsan Gary leads with 20 pressures through nine games. Six of those came in one game and he had 66 total pressures in 2023. Next, is Kenny Clark with 16 – Clark talked all offseason about how he would be unlocked this year in the new scheme, he also had 66 in what some termed a down year in 2023. Devontee Wyatt and Karl Brooks both have 12 (48 and 30 last year, respectively) and no one else has more than 10. Several players have had ten pressures in a game this season. It’s embarrassing.

We don’t know exactly what the problem is. The edge rushers have the same coach as last season and on passing downs at least they are in the same type of 9-technique one-gap rushing the passer. No one is getting past their guy.

Gutekunst tried to find a new edge at the deadline, supposedly, an unloaded Preston Smith’s contract on the Steelers. And despite the lack of success getting pressure with the d-line, the team is still top 12 in total pressures thanks to Jeff Hafley’s blitz scheme.

The answer could come in one of several ways. Rashan Gary could wake up. Lukas Van ness could take a step and start rushing with a plan once he’s playing more. Or maybe the d-line will continue to be bad and we won’t see an improvement until next year. Let’s hope it’s one of the former things.

Interceptions

Last year Jordan Love’s romp through the league over the second half of the season was not accompanied by the same types of bad interceptions that plagued him in his final year of college. This year the romp has been more of a stroll and the interceptions are back in full force.

Sure there are plenty of excuses, the Packers have played from behind more this year, Packers receivers are dropping passes at an insane rate and keeping them behind the sticks, Love has a high percentage of TWPs turn into picks, etc. Let’s talk about how each of these things can be changed.

You could argue that a few of these interceptions are because the team has fallen behind and Love is trying to bring them back – but more often, the picks are the reason they are behind. And playing from behind is a big reason why the team is so often behind the sticks – they’re forced to abandon the run and then one missed pass kills a drive.

You could also bring up the turnover-worth-play thing and it’s fine as an argument  – though I think the Will Levis type insane pick sixes that Love has thrown aren’t really a matter of bad luck. It’s bad play! If you don’t put the ball where the defense can take it, you don’t have this problem.

I would almost be inclined to hope that the gameplan includes only scheduled runs and easy Jared Goff type passes in the first half. Scheme everything open for YAC opportunities until Love proves he can operate the full offense for a whole game without some dip$*** plays. Hell, run the Malik Willis offense in the first half. I doubt you’re going to fall behind – the times that they’ve fallen behind the season are when they turn the ball over trying to force something early.    

Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in Utah. You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.

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