The Green Bay Packers have just three sacks through two games, but they should be able to ratchet up their pass rush when they face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton is a pocket passer. San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick and Washington’s Robert Griffin III, the week one and two opponents, run that read-option crap. In the first two games, the Packers limited their blitzes and tried to keep the quarterback in front of them in order to contain the run.
This week, the usual blitz-happy Dom Capers’ style should return.
“[Dalton’s style] allows us to be pass rushers a little bit more,” said linebacker Clay Matthews.
“We can’t ever get too crazy out there and lose our distribution in regards to our rush lanes, but it brings a smile to my face.”
The potential issue with the Packers blitzing on Sunday is their secondary. It’s depleted. No Morgan Burnett, no Casey Hayward and probably no Jarrett Bush. What’s more, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green is a big target at 6-4 and he piled up 97 catches, 1,350 yards and 11 TDs in 2012.
When the Packers blitz, one or more of remaining guys is going to be in man coverage. The obvious issue with that is safety Jerron McMillian, who hasn’t been able to cover anyone this year.
That could mean you’ll see more of undrafted rookie Chris Banjo at safety or, if Dalton can get some completions against the blitz, the Packers will be forced to back out of it.