Packers defense has to start dictating terms to opponents

The Packers' defensive problems go well beyond Preston Smith covering Davante Adams.

Today's edition of The Leap is brought to you by Underdog Fantasy, an industry leader in daily and season-long fantasy contests.

Subscribers of The Leap can join Underdog Fantasy here with our special signup link to double your initial deposit up to $100. It's a great way to play fantasy sports with real fans while also supporting the work we do here.

---

Forget about Preston Smith in coverage against Davante Adams.

Sure, it wasn’t great. A 265-pound edge rusher lining up over a three-time All-Pro wideout doesn’t typically go well for the defense. It also didn’t help that Smith was totally fooled by Adams’ release, taking himself out of the play completely.

However, the final numbers from the embarrassing Monday night for the Green Bay Packers defense weren’t bad at all: 17 points allowed, 279 total yards given up, good for 4.4 yards per play with an interception. Adams finished with four catches for 45 yards and no touchdowns. That’s good work!

Still, the defense’s process has not been airtight. Until Packers DC Joe Barry starts dictating terms more directly to opponents, this unit will be stuck as a middling group.

After the Detroit Lions loss, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur insisted the team would have to be willing to change up the way they play defense to adjust to their opponents, especially those that wanted to run the football. So against a Las Vegas Raiders team with no vertical passing game whatsoever, surely Green Bay would not be so worried about giving up explosive plays, they’d let Jimmy Garoppolo and Davante Adams nickel and dime them.

Well …