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Is Pack in too deep?

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Associated Press

The Packers’ deep passing game has resulted in several long completions, such as this 74-yard scoring strike to James Jones in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. But the strategy also has left quarterback Aaron Rodgers open to the defensive rush.

GREEN BAY — If it seems like the Green Bay Packers have gotten away from the precision short-passing game that made their offense nearly unstoppable two seasons ago, that's because they have.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is throwing deep more frequently than he did last year, and far more than Brett Favre did in 2007. And while Rodgers is making big plays, he's taking far too many hits—a league-worst 37 sacks.

So why are the Packers throwing deep if they can't protect their quarterback?

The answer provides some insight into the strategic showdown NFL coaches and players engage in every week: Rodgers says the Packers take what opposing defenses give them, and defenses are leaving those downfield routes open.

"They're taking away the slant game," Rodgers said. "You've got to throw the ball down the field. You throw the ball down the field, you've got to hold it a little longer. The protection's got to hold up, and you've got to sit in there. That's kind of the give and take you've got to deal with."

According to STATS LLC, Rodgers has attempted 45 passes that traveled 21 yards or more through the air in the first eight games of this season. Rodgers threw only 65 such passes the entire 2008 season, and Favre had only 52 attempts two years ago, as the Packers leaned heavily on a short passing game that allowed receivers to run for yards after the catch.

It worked, but opposing defenses have adjusted.

Rodgers says opposing defensive backs now are playing closer to the line of scrimmage with inside leverage, shading the receiver toward the middle of the field. When executed properly, that makes it tough for an offense to complete a short slant pattern.

Rodgers said the strategy was particularly evident against two NFC North opponents, Chicago and Minnesota, who made significant strategic changes to take away the Packers' short passes. Of its 37 sacks, 23 came in four games against teams that know Green Bay best: NFC North opponents.

"We've got to adjust, and the defenses adjust," Rodgers said. "They're smart. Your common opponents, they don't play you the same way two years in a row, two games in a row. So we've seen a lot more inside leverage. Which, if you're going to press and play inside leverage to take away our quick slant game, you've got to take shots down the field."

Given how many times he's been sacked this year, Rodgers' numbers are stellar: 63.1 percent completions for 2,255 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. But the sacks are putting an otherwise-productive offense into difficult down-and-distance situations.

With the line struggling, the Packers are keeping more players in to block on passing plays—taking away underneath options and making the short passing game even tougher to execute.

Solutions?

"I think to start, you've got to be able to run the ball efficiently," Rodgers said. "You get that eight-man box and take shots when they're there, and you can protect it, that's when you get those checkdowns to underneath guys. The tough thing is, if you've got to keep seven and eight in for protection, there's not going to be any checkdowns."

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Rodgers' low interception total shows that he's making the right reads within the offense.

"If Aaron had 12 interceptions and 37 sacks, you'd be thinking, 'My God, he must be forcing the ball down to somebody deep, throwing the ball into triple coverage,"' Philbin said. "We don't have a lot of those plays on film."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy, meanwhile, says the Packers are taking advantage of Rodgers' ability to throw the ball downfield. And while Rodgers could do a better job of tossing it away in certain situations—a criticism he acknowledges—McCarthy says the sacks can be traced back to inconsistency and injuries that have forced him to juggle the starting offensive line.

"We need to manage that," McCarthy said. "That's the biggest challenge we have as an offense. That's the truth."

In eight games, the Packers have started three different left tackles, two left guards, two centers and two right tackles. Rookie T.J. Lang, who has started two games at left tackle, could become the Packers' third starting right tackle in Sunday's home game against Dallas.

If the Packers can somehow solve their protection problems, the offense could be set for a breakthrough. If not, Rodgers is in for a long year.

"I'm confident, if we eventually find the right rhythm, the right group up front, guys that are healthy," Rodgers said. "And it's a necessity. I don't know how long I can hold up, 16 games, taking 4, 4.7 sacks per game. That's a lot of pounding."