Packers film room: Relentless pass rush smothers Russell Wilson

The Green Bay Packers applied relentless pressure to Russell Wilson on Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, the defense totaled 34 pressures against Seattle, setting a new high for the season. The offense struggled in Aaron Rodgers’ return from COVID-19, but it didn’t matter as the Seahawks were shut out for the first time since the 2011 season.

This game was very similar to what the Packers went through in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs constantly blitzed Jordan Love in his first career start. As a result, Green Bay’s offense struggled to move the ball and put points on the board.

However, while the amount of pressure was similar, the Packers did not have to blitz Wilson to create it. Per PFF, Wilson was blitzed on only three of his 48 dropbacks. Therefore, Green Bay was able to rush four and disrupt the timing of Seattle’s offense.

Let’s take a look at the film to see how the Packers made life difficult for Wilson in his first game back.

Pressure up the middle

Interior pressure can completely dismantle opposing offenses. Green Bay’s Kenny Clark wasted no time making his presence felt, generating pressure on just the second play of the game. Wilson had no choice but to get rid of the ball.

Here is Clark again, except this time he is working as the 1-tech in an over front. Clark fires off the ball and uses a club-swim to disengage from the blocker. Wilson feels the pressure and is forced to step up in the pocket where he makes an arid throw that sails out of bounds.

Dean Lowry is having his best season since getting drafted by the Packers in 2016. 10 games into the year, he has already tied his career-high for sacks and is on pace to set a new career-high in pressures. In this play, Lowry uses a bull rush to walk the guard right into Wilson’s lap. Again, Wilson has to get rid of the ball sooner than he wants, and the pass is basically a throwaway.

Green Bay’s fifth-round pick is quietly putting together a solid season. TJ Slaton has shown flashes as a run stuffer and can also showcase upside as a pass rusher. Slaton looks like a player beyond his years on this play when he implements a club-swim that embarrasses the left guard. He is almost in Wilson’s face instantaneously, and it helps lead to an incompletion.

Pressure from the edge

Unfortunately, Whitney Mercilus won’t be back in 2021 because he was a great fit in the Packers’ defense. They were only asking him to play a handful of snaps, and Mercilus responded with maximum effort and solid productivity. Here, he overpowers Duane Brown with a beautiful bull rush. Mercilus has perfect hand placement on this play, and he is ultimately rewarded with a sack.

Kudos to Green Bay’s coverage on this play because the pressure isn’t there right away. However, after a few seconds, Wilson’s eyes drop to the pass rush as he feels the pocket collapsing around him. Rashan Gary transitions from speed to power on this long-arm rush to bring Wilson down.

Both Gary and Preston Smith get in on the action for this 3rd down. Smith does a nice job getting upfield, and when his initial move doesn’t work, he counters with a nice inside spin move that gets him a shot at Wilson. Meanwhile, Gary uses a stab-rip to gain leverage against the right tackle. He doesn’t create a great angle with the arc of his rush, which allows Wilson to escape the pocket. However, now Wilson is forced to play off-script, and the end result is a huge interception falling into the hands of Kevin King. Sometimes, pressure can be better than sacks.

One of the last plays is a pretty good synopsis of how this game went. The Packers run a stunt to create interior pressure, and it puts Wilson on the move yet again. Smith beats his man and never gives up on the play as he takes a great angle to wrap up Wilson for his third sack of the season.

List

Studs and duds from Packers' 17-0 win over Seahawks in Week 10