Believe it or not, the Green Bay Packers’ defense ranks 12th in the NFL on third downs. Their opponents have converted just 39.5% of their third down attempts, good for 12th in the NFL, and the Packers rank near the top of the league on third-and-long.
So why are Packers fans — and head coach Matt LaFleur — so frustrated with the defense?
Perhaps it is the fact that certain schemes have appeared to be responsible for the conversions that do occur. It’s one thing when a cornerback is pressing and challenging a receiver only to see that player break a tackle and pick up the first down; that’s an individual problem that’s disappointing, to be sure, but not a schematic one.