The Packers' run defense struggled to contain the Colts' inside runs

The Green Bay Packers won a tough home game against the Indianapolis Colts because their offense dominated the running game and a quarterback who hadn't started a game in two years. While the Packers did a good job on defense overall, the Colts' running game gained a lot of yards but left a lot of meat on the bones through turnovers and other mistakes. This suggests that the Packers still have some work to do, but they seem to be adjusting to a new system.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson threw three interceptions and the Colts receivers dropped three passes, including one on a coverage bust, and had a fumble they recovered. However, running back Jonathan Taylor had 12 carries for 103 yards, or 8.6 yards per carry.

The run defense had the same problems in this game as in previous seasons, but they mostly revolved around one player, whereas in this game there were several players on the sidelines who could have played better on those particular plays. Most of the criticism was directed at Quay Walker in particular, but many players were out of position, adding to his difficulties. Walker's biggest problem was tackling.

First game

Fortunately for the Packers, this pass was ultimately called back due to an illegal lineup penalty against the Colts, but the Colts caught the Packers outplaying the quarterback keeper on the zone read while the Packers were running a counter-bash concept in which the running back moves away from the block toward the perimeter rather than making a run inside the zone.

Typically, teams run a counter from the side of the two receivers and mark a bubble on that side, but the Colts run to the nickel because the Packers use the nickel on the field side run.

The Packers still have the lineup to beat that run, or at least limit the gain. With the edge forcing the give read, Keisean Nixon, who is lined up in the run fit since he is lined up inside the slot receiver, should stay inside since he sees the run, but he pops out of the fit to try to force the ball carrier inside.

He should push the edge and force the ball carrier to bounce laterally, giving the safety an opportunity to go downhill to clean up the play. Walker's problem here isn't alignment or fit, just missing the tackle.

Second game

This 20-yard gain is under defense control when Walker passes into the A-gap right center while shuffling and reading the moves of Jonathan Taylor.

In their run passes, the defensive line shifts to the left and changes the pass assignment for the front seven. In their 1-gap defense, Clark should be in the strong A-gap where he changes his alignment.

This would put Walker in the A gap left of center, with safety Evan Williams as the alley defender and Keisean Nixon as the force player on the edge. Walker was heavily criticized for this play, but Kenny Clark is the main reason this run is not defended well.

Taylor tries a three-man attack on the inside zone concept, reads the block of new 1-technique defensive tackle Kenny Clark and pushes his landmark out of the middle. Clark ends up being pushed one gap further than he should be, and ends up with him in Devonte Wyatt's gap. Walker is now in a bind as he tries to match Clark in the A-gap.

Williams fills the A gap on the right and Taylor cuts straight at Walker, but Walker is too sideways as he tries to get past the centre right and Taylor comes downhill quickly as Walker can't recover.

Third game

Later in the 3rd quarter, Kenny Clark and Karl Brooks dropped into the wrong gap and got reached, leaving second-level defenders guessing where to run, eerily reminiscent of the 2-gap assignment fits of the Barry era.

The Colts run right in the midzone and Clark and Brooks shift left before the snap. This puts Clark in the B gap and Walker in the A gap on the play side with Brooks pushing back to prevent a cut-back read from Taylor.

Taylor presses the A-gap, causing Clark to flash there briefly, long enough for Taylor to bounce off the lever. As Taylor presses, Walker drops back to the A-gap on the backside like he's learned, but Brooks is reached and Taylor jumps right to the perimeter.

It doesn't look good for Walker, but defensive tackles have to make sure these players stay clean and fill their gaps, because linebackers often have fallback fits in a light box, meaning they have secondary and tertiary gaps they're responsible for filling.

Fourth game

Here, the Colts line up in a wing formation and run counters against the Packers' 8-man box. The Colts pull the backside tackle and guard to lead the running back out of a pistol formation. The running game screens six defenders and Jonathan Taylor gains 17.

The Packers are lined up in an overfront to the tight end in front of cover-3. The double-team block on the front pushes Wyatt forward 5 yards. McDuffie is left alone to take one of the pullers, and Walker is unable to overlap with him due to Wyatt's double team. On the back, Kingsley Enagbare and Kenny Clark slow down the edge, and Enagbare is picked off by Clark and is unable to fill the inside gap along the line.

outlook

These plays show that more than one player wasn't doing their job well enough to limit these big gains. In my recap of Week 1, I explained that on these read-option plays, the defense likely wanted to force the read-option due to a run threat from the quarterback, and that's exactly what they did, but the Colts' multi-pronged option attack still outplayed them and put them in an unfavorable position.

As far as tackling goes, a lot can be improved with better tackling to limit the explosive potential of the play. Walker may have been good in action, but there were definitely plays at the second level.