Packers pass rush must capitalize on opportunities to pressure Saints’ QB Derek Carr

Going up against a the New Orleans Saints offense in Week 3, the Green Bay Packers pass rush is going to have the opportunity to get after quarterback Derek Carr.

Through two games, the Packers have been one of the best at pressuring the quarterback this season. According to PFF, Green Bay’s 61 total pressures are tied for the most in the NFL. For some context, the league average through two games is just 36.56 pressures.

Conversely, the New Orleans offensive line has struggled in pass protection. Carr has already been sacked eight times. By PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric, the Saints offensive line ranks 26th. In ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric, the Saints rank 28th.

Of the pressures that the Saints have surrendered this season, nearly 60 percent of them have come from either left tackle Trevor Penning or center Erik McCoy. To combat the inconsistency upfront, Carr and the Saints offense have utilized the quick passing game, to a degree. Carr currently ranks 10th in fastest average time to throw.

However, before the Packers can have the opportunity to really rush the quarterback, they’ll have to eat their vegetables on early downs by slowing the New Orleans run game, thus putting the Saints into obvious passing situations.

Green Bay is coming off a game against Atlanta where their run defense was ‘shredded,’ as Matt LaFleur put it, by rookie running back Bijan Robinson and a really sound game plan by the Falcons offense. The Saints don’t have the same fire power in the run game that the Falcons do, and are averaging only 3.4 yards per rush this season, which ranks 24th in the NFL. New Orleans will also be without Alvin Kamara who is still suspended and Jamaal Williams, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

With that said, the Saints do like to run between the tackles, whether that be with their running backs or Taysom Hill on a quarterback draw from shotgun, and have found some success doing so. When the Packers are in their nickel package – which they play in quite often – and have just two interior defenders on the field, they could be susceptible against up the middles runs when in that look.

Chris Olave’s presence in the slot is going to force Green Bay to play with five defensive backs for much of the game, which will have to result in changes elsewhere if they want more than just two interior defenders on the field during those plays. Over the summer, in order to get five defensive backs and five players along the defensive front on the field together – three interior linemen and two edge rushers – we saw the Packers go with Quay Walker as the lone inside linebacker.

Pressuring the quarterback is the name of the game. When a quarterback is under duress, the entire defense benefits, especially the secondary, as the pressure could lead to turnover opportunities and it’s also less time in coverage for the defensive backs. For what it’s worth, Carr’s 14 interceptions in 2022 were the fourth-most in football. Through two games this season, he has thrown a pair of interceptions.

Slowing the Saints run game will play a key role in giving the Packers the chance to get after Carr, but this is also a New Orleans offense that likes to throw the ball as well, averaging 35 pass attempts per game and push the ball downfield with Carr ranking first in pass attempts of at least 20 yards.

There are going to be chances for the Green Bay pass rush to make some noise, they’ll just have to be sure to capitalize on those opportunities. If you can control the line of scrimmage, you can often control the game.