<\/p>\n
FOXBORO — The hype surrounding the matchup between the Packers and Patriots is all about Aaron Rodgers versus Tom Brady.<\/p>\n
Except neither quarterback will face one another head-to-head on the field Sunday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s never been. Obviously, I\u2019m leading my offense, he\u2019s leading his offense, but my focus on my film study is on their defense and thinking about how their coaching staff is going to try to take away what we do best like they always do,\u201d the Packers quarterback said of the individual battle between himself and Tom Brady. \u201cThat\u2019s kind of where the focus is. Obviously, the me and Tom stuff is for media fodder, and it\u2019s to obviously get people to tune in.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Brady, the matchup won\u2019t be with Rodgers, but against Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and the Green Bay defense.<\/p>\n
Pettine\u2019s defense ought to look familiar to the Patriots coaches and Brady.<\/p>\n
The former Browns head coach spent nine seasons under old nemesis Rex Ryan, including five seasons as Ryan\u2019s defensive coordinator with the Jets (four seasons) and Bills (one season).<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely, absolutely. Same stuff, and I don\u2019t mean that negatively. I mean it as a credit to Rex and the system that he runs,\u201d said Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. \u201cMike Pettine is obviously a disciple, and they do a lot of similar things, and they have really the same philosophy of how to pressure [the quarterback].\u201d<\/p>\n
At the root of the Ryan and Pettine system is an aggressive pass rush that relies on a number of exotic blitz packages to disrupt opposing offenses.<\/p>\n
The Packers blitz on 37 percent of passing plays (fourth in NFL) and that has awakened a pass rush that ranks third in pressure percentage this season, according to Pro Football Focus.<\/p>\n
The Green Bay defense is terrific at generating free runs at the quarterback by exposing the pass protection rules for the offense with scheme.<\/p>\n
Below, we\u2019ll go over some of the fronts that the Packers defense will throw at the Patriots on Sunday, and what makes them so difficult to block.<\/p>\n
The mug front has become a common look around the NFL as the defense lines two players, usually linebackers, over the A-Gap in the middle of the defense.<\/p>\n
This front challenges the offense to either pick up one of the linebackers with a running back or slide the protection to get one of the guards in the way of the blitzer, and it also presents an immediate threat to the quarterback up the middle.<\/p>\n
The Packers defense often shows double A-Gap pressure, but one of the defenders will drop into coverage after the snap while they bring pressure from the perimeter.<\/p>\n
[arve url=”https:\/\/streamable.com\/s\/2346k\/ayjiuw” \/]<\/p>\n
On this first quarter sack of Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the Packers have six defenders on the line of scrimmage before the snap in a mug front. The Rams have center John Sullivan step to Martinez (#50) and running back Todd Gurley has a difficult dual-read on the play. If #35 Jermaine Whitehead blitzes then Gurley takes him, but if he doesn\u2019t, he has to come across to pick up the blitzing corner on the strong side of the formation. Whitehead drops into coverage, and the Packers bring corner Tramon Williams from the slot. Gurley sees the corner blitz and steps across Goff to pick it up. The Packers know the protection rules and have Martinez attack Sullivan\u2019s inside shoulder, using his momentum against him, and Martinez loops around the Rams center into the space vacated by Whitehead\u2019s dummy rush. The inside move fools Sullivan and Martinez brings down Goff for a ten-yard loss.<\/p>\n
There are other variations of pressure packages that Pettine will implement out of the mug front such as bringing both players through the A-Gap or a mug-stunt that cause problems for opposing offensive lines.<\/p>\n
\nShot 1 – One way to block up #Vikings<\/a> Double A Gap 'Mug' look up front, sliding protection. Have seen teams use this tactic in quick game pic.twitter.com\/eo8RKXEKHP<\/a><\/p>\n
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) October 20, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n