Analyzing The Packer Defense With Three Games To Play

OK, I'm a fan with a little football background - played high school football, was great on my fraternity college team, and coached some high school football for over 10 years!  Oh yea, was the midget football director for 5 years!  So, I'm an expert, RIGHT!

But, my love of football and math & computer background makes me want to analyze EVERYTHING!  So, let's take a shot at the Packer 2014 defense!

After reading this article - Hawk, "One of The Greatest Football Warriors," Rogers Says, I have added a new twist to my evaluation!  Here we go!

First Hawk - Hawk played 8 snaps against the Falcons!  Without question, AJ Hawk has been the leader of the Packer defense the past few years, especially after Woodson went to the Raiders!  The Packer defense needs a new leader to step up!

Here is the present starting line-up!

LDE - Datone Jones
NT - Letroy Guion
RDE - Mike Daniels
LOLB - Clay Matthews
LILB - AJ Hawk
RILB - Sam Barrington
ROLB - Julius Peppers
LCB - Tramon Williams
RCB - Sam Shields
SS - Morgan Burnett
FS - Micah Hyde

Who is the LEADER?  I say, this may be an issue!  I do not see one, we are in a transition! Mike Daniels is trying.  Clay Matthews should be, but he is trying a new position!  D. Jones, Hyde, Barrington are first year starters.  Peppers & Guion are new to the team. Williams, Burnett, & Shields are not leaders.  So, I see a team without a REAL leader!

Playing a lot of people is great, but are we playing TOO MANY?

Here are the snap counts:
Defense (67 total plays) 

Defensive line 
Mike Daniels: 34 
Datone Jones: 32 
Letroy Guion: 28 
Josh Boyd: 23 
Mike Pennel: 3 

Linebackers 
Clay Matthews: 67 
Julius Peppers: 58 
Mike Neal: 46 
Sam Barrington: 44 
Brad Jones: 23 
Nick Perry: 22 
A.J. Hawk: 8 

Cornerbacks 
Tramon Williams: 67 
Sam Shields: 45 
Casey Hayward: 39 
Davon House: 22 

Safeties 
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: 67 
Morgan Burnett: 66 
Micah Hyde: 42 
Sean Richardson: 1 

Wow!  7 linebackers played in the 67 total snap!  5 D-line. And 7 D-backs!  A lot of people equals confusion - the PACKERS in the second half used time outs on defense - NOT GOOD.  Many time the alignment looks like a "Chinese Fire Drill"!  Look at the snap counts!  The real problem looks like linebacker!  With my eyes, I see NO INSIDE LINEBACKER consistency!  And too many substitutions!

At defensive line, I still see no one even close to ALL PRO caliber!  We NEED a stud!

D-backs look good , but young at safety, Hyde & Clinton-Dix.  In a year or two, this could be a strength!

So, why is the defense struggling, I have TWO main concerns!

1 - NO REAL LEADERSHIP
This may develop, Daniels is coming, who else will step up?

2 - PLAYING TOO MANY PEOPLE!
Subbing is good, depth is great, BUT, players need to have time on the field to get into the game and players need to work together & TRUST the guy next to them!