When considering how a team’s pass rushing unit can improve, we don’t often talk about coaching. The discussion around upgrading a position group usually centers around players added through the draft, free agency, or trade. This is understandable. The influence of coaching is often hard to discern. Thus, it is hard for fans to get excited about the addition of a new coach, simply because they are uncertain what impact that coach will have. Despite this ambiguity, however, I think Packers fans should be excited about what a recent addition to the defensive coaching staff can bring.
In February, the Packers hired Jason Rebrovich to replace OLB coach Mike Smith. Smith decided to leave in order to “pursue other opportunities,” quickly joining the division rival Minnesota Vikings.
Rebrovich brings extensive experience coaching multiple positions along the front at the NFL level. After coaching in college for over a decade, he joined the Bills as a quality control coach in 2013. He rose to assistant DL coach in 2014, before becoming the Bills OLB coach in 2015. In 2016 he took over defensive line coaching responsibilities for Buffalo. He moved back to assistant DL coach after joining the Jaguars, staying there from 2017 to 2018. He took over as Jacksonville’s DL coach in 2019 and 2020, and then took a year off before joining the Packers.
In the course of his journey through the NFL coaching ranks, Rebrovich came into contact with a variety of DL coaches. In his first three years in the NFL, he was able to learn under coaches Anthony Weaver, Pepper Johnson, and Karl Dunbar. Upon moving to Jacksonville, Rebrovich also came into contact with current Bengals DL coach Marion Hobby while helping to coach the dominant 2017 “Sacksonville” defense.
Rebrovich will presumably play an important part in coordinating Green Bay’s pass rush. So, how does all this history help the Packers?
Rebrovich’s Coaching Philosophy
Based on the play style of Rebrovich’s defensive line units, I believe that he is significantly influenced by the philosophy of DL coach Karl Dunbar, who Rebrovich coached under in Buffalo. Experienced and respected, Dunbar is currently coaching the Steelers defensive line. Besides his stop with the Bills in 2015, Dunbar has spent time with the Bears (2004), LSU (2005), the Jets (2012-2014), and Alabama (2016-2017). Notably, he spent a large portion of his career coaching the Vikings DL (2006-2011). During that time, the Vikings built an impressive run defense centered around their defensive line. In 2011, Dunbar’s coaching helped superstar pass rusher Jared Allen record a career-high 22 sacks.
Coaching philosophy is sometimes hard to gather from film alone. Luckily for us, Dunbar recorded a clinic during his time with the Vikings where he describes the principles that he teaches to his pass rush units.
Dunbar discusses numerous aspects of defensive line play, but he focused on several main topics. As seen in the video clip above, he coaches his DL to set up a “QB trap”. Linemen concentrate on crushing the pocket and containing the quarterback. They maintain disciplined rush lanes, working together to close off avenues of escape. His lines often employ stunts and twists in order to add confusion and make the rush more effective.
How the Dunbar/Rebrovich Philosophy Plays Out on the Field
These elements – an emphasis on containment rather than all out penetration, the use of power and rush lane discipline to collapse the pocket, and a high number of stunts and DL games on passing downs – showed up on tape regularly. Here’s a great example from the Dunbar-coached Bills DL in 2015.
After Rebrovich took over as DL coordinator in 2016, these elements remained. In this next compilation, you can see multiple stunts and several great examples of the Bills DL working together to keep contain on QBs.
Further film examination shows that this style of play was not confined to Rebrovich’s tenure with the Bills. The 2019 Jaguars DL showed a similar pass rushing style. Using the principles Rebrovich instilled, the 2019 unit recorded an impressive 47 sacks.
In 2020, Rebrovich and the rest of the Jaguars coaching staff had to deal with a significantly less talented roster. Still, his emphasis remained basically the same. The 2020 Jags DL regularly utilized stunts and operated as a unit to contain QBs.
How Does Rebrovich’s Approach Help the Packers?
In one of his recent press conferences as Green Bay’s new OLB coach, Jason Rebrovich discussed how he wants to see his pass rushers “play off each other,” working as a cohesive whole rather than playing as “a bunch of independent contractors.” At times in 2021, the Packers front failed to work together in this fashion. Instead of functioning as a unit, rushers would operate as individuals. As a result, the defense sometimes struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks, who were able to escape through holes left by freelancing pass rushers.
Under Rebrovich, this tendency will likely be rectified. In each of his stops, the defensive line has consistently shown that it can operate as a whole to contain quarterbacks. This approach could be highly useful when playing highly athletic QBs like Justin Fields or Josh Allen.
In addition, the Packers front will likely employ more frequent stunts and line games. In 2021, Green Bay’s defensive fronts did use stunts at times. However, these were often sloppy or mistimed, limiting their effectiveness. Rebrovich has consistently demonstrated the ability to incorporate well-executed DL games into his pass rush. The Packers already boast several studs on their defensive front, such as Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark. An improved stunt game will only increase the havoc that these players can wreak.
Other additions that the Packers have made along the front – such as the disruptive ability of Devonte Wyatt and the versatility of Jarran Reed – will improve the team’s ability to move the front and create chaos for the offense. Stunts can also raise the collective floor of a pass rush. Even if Jonathan Garvin or Kingsley Enagbare struggle as pure pass rushers, their power can allow them to be productive on stunts and twists.
Conclusion
Besides drafting Kingsley Enagbare, the Packers made few moves at outside linebacker this offseason. However, despite this lack of investment, the hiring of Jason Rebrovich could still lead to an improved performance from the unit. Like former mentor Karl Dunbar, Rebrovich appears to value the use of stunts and disciplined rush plans. These emphases will help the athletes along Green Bay’s front disrupt offenses and accumulate sacks. An already formidable pass rush should be even better under Rebrovich’s coaching.
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