THREAD:

Taking a simplified look at the RUN DEFENSE for the new scheme Joe Barry will likely bring to Green Bay

The entire scheme hinges on the alignment of the three interior D-linemen. Everything builds from that. It’s known as an “eagle” front.

You have one nose tackle and then two more interior linemen, who line up directly across from the OTs in what’s known as a 4i-tech position.

Kenny Clark can play any of these roles. Kingsley Keke will play as one of the 4i-tech DTs.

That leaves one more spot which could be filled by either Lowry or Lancaster but neither are perfect fits.

Green Bay may look to add to this position in the draft.

Due to the 4i-techs lining up over the OTs, the edge rushers line up very wide, usually outside the tight ends.

This is good for setting the edge on outside runs, but it suits faster, more agile rushers over bigger stronger guys (especially on passing plays).

The Packers don’t really have those lean, agile edge defenders.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Rashan Gary. He’s so athletic that he should be fine anywhere.

But it makes the decision to return Preston Smith an interesting one.

The alignment of the three interior D-linemen forces the O-line to double team them very often.

It also makes it more difficult for O-linemen to get onto the second level.

This often leaves linebackers unblocked and free to make tackles.

This means off-ball linebacker is a relatively “easy” position in this scheme, and therefore less important.

This is good news for the Packers who historically don’t value the position.

The LBs still need to read the flow of the play, and tackle well.

But since they won’t be blocked as often, they require less size, in-turn, affording more speed, which allows for faster gap assignment shifts mid-play.

Releasing Kirksey makes sense, as he is... not that ^

Due to the 5 men lined up on the line of scrimmage, you’re usually left with a light box consisting of two linebackers when playing base, or one linebacker when playing nickel.

The Rams played in nickel/dime on 80% of their snaps last year.

Here’s them lined up in base:

Here’s the front seven in effect.

• Nose tackle commands double team.
• Play side edge defender contains outside.
• 4i-tech (Donald) holds the B gap.
• LT can’t reach over to #90 in time, #90 forces stop.
• Linebackers (#59 and #41) are unblocked.

As for DBs, no team played more two-high safety than the Rams last year.

Due to the light box, these safeties have to compensate by playing closer to the line of scrimmage, like deep linebackers.

Good news for the Packers is that Adrian Amos is perfectly suited for this role.

You may also see safeties rotating down towards the line as soon as the ball is snapped, filling in the weak side, as the edge rusher drops into coverage.

You can see the safety #24 will crash down to fill that C gap as #58 drops out.

Cornerback is, of course, the least relevant position for run defense.

However they will often be the last line of defense because of the safeties playing nearer the LOS, and so they’ll need to tackle reliably.

It’s important to remember that this isn’t the only way the Rams lined up last season.

They loved getting creative and changing up their defensive fronts.

For example, here they’ve subbed out one of the three D-linemen, instead playing nickel with two linebackers.

That’s all I’ve got! Thank you so much if you cared to read all that. Hope you have a better understanding now.

I might explain the pass defense eventually but honestly my head will explode trying to figure out the nuances of all the different coverages the Rams used last year.