3. What new wrinkles will Mike Pettine show off in his defense?
Under Dom Capers, the Packers’ defense became far too stale and predictable. Opposing offenses knew what to expect and were able to exploit it at will. Mike Pettine was brought in during the offseason with the expectation he can change that and return the defense back toward the dominant unit they were during the Packers last Super Bowl run.
Pettine is known for being able to dial up pressure without necessarily having a stud pass-rusher. That will be key for Green Bay, as they lack a playmaker who can get to the quarterback consistently. Sure, Clay Matthews and Nick Perry have proven they can do that at different times throughout their career, but they are always battling injuries.
Rightfully so, Pettine’s defense was extremely vanilla throughout the preseason, as he didn’t want to show very much. What sort of schemes and blitzes he dials up in Week 1 will be the true storyline to watch. Let’s see how he generates pressure against the Bears on opening weekend.