Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Brewers to Offer Sensory Bags to Guests with Special Needs

    June 30, 2022

    BREAKING: Bobby Portis Has Re-Signed with the Milwaukee Bucks

    June 30, 2022

    5 Brewers surprises this year to help Brewers stay on top of Central

    June 30, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Brewers to Offer Sensory Bags to Guests with Special Needs
    • BREAKING: Bobby Portis Has Re-Signed with the Milwaukee Bucks
    • 5 Brewers surprises this year to help Brewers stay on top of Central
    • Three Trades that Would Pair Kevin Durant with Giannis on the Bucks
    • Wisconsin Sports Heroics Athlete Spot Light – Former Badger Collin Wilder
    • UCLA and USC Plan to Join Big Ten Conference in 2024
    • Packers’ Entire Wide Receiving Corps Cap Hit Is Shocking
    • Alabama Radio Host Compares Bryce Young to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest VKontakte
    WI Sports Heroics
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
    • Sports
      • Packers
        • Green Bay Packers News
        • Green Bay Packers Rumors
      • Bucks
        • Milwaukee Bucks News
        • Milwaukee Bucks Rumors
      • Brewers
        • Milwaukee Brewers News
        • Milwaukee Brewers Rumors
      • Milkmen
        • Milwaukee Milkmen News
        • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
      • Badgers
        • Badgers Basketball
        • Badgers Football
      • Marquette
        • Marquette News
        • Marquette Rumors
      • Fantasy Sports
      • Outdoor Sports
    • Podcasts
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
      • Packers Podcast
      • Bucks Podcast
      • Brewers Podcast
      • Badgers Podcast
    • Local Reviews
    • Sponsors
    • Mark Mayfield Booking
    • Shop
    • Contact
    WI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Packers»Is It Time for the Packers to Move on from Mike Pettine?
    Packers

    Is It Time for the Packers to Move on from Mike Pettine?

    Robin AdamsBy Robin AdamsJanuary 25, 2021Updated:January 25, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    FILE - Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine addresses the media during a press conference in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, file photo. All four defensive coordinators who will be trying to shut down high-powered offenses in the NFL playoffs this weekend have been head coaches before, providing valuable experience in the conference championships. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File)
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Going into Sunday’s NFC Championship game, hopes were high for Packers’ fans.  Unfortunately, the Packers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for several reasons.  One of those reasons is the poor showing by the defense.  This is the same story as last season’s NFC Championship loss.  All season long, questions have swirled around the security of Mike Pettine’s job.  With this loss, those questions might have been answered.

    Mike Pettine’s Regular Season Performance

    Mike Pettine was hired by the Packers in 2018 to be the defensive coordinator.  It was not a good season, and the Packers finished 6-9-1.  Mike McCarthy was fired before the season ended in what some felt was a long overdue decision.

    Mike Pettine’s defense that year was far from stellar.  The Packers ranked 18th in yards allowed per game and 21st in points per game allowed.  The next year, under new coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers scoring defense improved.  They ranked ninth in points allowed per game, but were 18th in yards allowed per game.  Most notably, the run defense was awful as was evidence in the NFC Championship loss to San Francisco.

    This season, the overall defense improved while the scoring defense declined.  The Packers ranked ninth in yards allowed per game, but were 13th in points allowed per game.  However, there were several instances during the season in which Coach LaFleur seemed to call out the defensive game plan in his post game interviews.  He did it again on Sunday when asked about the coverage call right before half.

    On that play, Kevin King was burned for a long touchdown catch with seconds remaining in the half.  When asked about the decision to play man coverage in that decision, LaFleur said:

    LaFleur on the Packers' defense on Tampa's TD at the end of the first half: "It was man coverage — definitely not the right call for the situation." https://t.co/GBrpK9Id9o

    — Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 25, 2021

    A breakdown of the specific stats can be seen below.

    Mike Pettine’s Defense

    Year Yards per Game Rush Yards per Game Pass Yards per Game Points per Game
    2018 354.4 119.9 234.5 25.0
    2019 352.6 120.1 232.6 19.6
    2020 334.0 112.8 221.2 23.1

     

    Conclusions about Mike Pettine’s Defense

    As the table shows, Mike Pettine’s defense was, overall, much improved in 2020.  However, his scoring defense went up considerably.  To be fair, the scoring defense was much better in the second part of the season.  The Packers went over six weeks without giving up more than 20 points.

    However, the question regarding Pettine’s defense is this: is it good enough to win a Super Bowl?  So far, it has not been good enough to even get to the Super Bowl.

    In the 2019 NFC Championship, Pettine’s defense gave up 362 yards and 37 points.  On Sunday, it gave up 351 yards and 31 points.

    Simply put, Mike Pettine has been given two chances to show his defense can get the Packers to the Super Bowl.  Both times, his scheme has failed to contain his opponent’s offense.  Mike McCarthy was shown the door when it was clear the Packers could not win with him anymore.  Perhaps it is time for them to do the same with Mike Pettine.

    [pickup_prop id=”4401″]

    What Others Had to Say

    Twitter is an interesting place, but is useful for getting insights from very respected football minds.  On those is Tony Dungy.  After seeing the play right before half time, Dungy tweeted this:

    That may be the worst defensive design I’ve ever seen with 8 seconds and no timeouts left. Green Bay—I’m not sure how you play inside technique man to man and nit just play zone and protect the sideline and the end zone? Amazing.

    — Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 24, 2021

    For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content

    Follow me on Twitter at @theotherAdams14 and follow us @WiscoHeroics1for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!

    defense Kevin King Mike McCarthy Mike Pettine NFC Champioship nfl Packers
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Robin Adams

    Robin Adams is the co-owner of Wisconsin Sports Heroics. He has been with the site for over two years, working his way up as a Bucks beat writer to covering all of Wisconsin's teams.

    Related Posts

    Packers’ Entire Wide Receiving Corps Cap Hit Is Shocking

    June 30, 2022

    Alabama Radio Host Compares Bryce Young to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

    June 30, 2022
    Packers Bucs 2022-23

    7 NFL Predictions for the 2022-23 Season

    June 29, 2022

    Sleeper, Underappreciated, and Underrated Packer Players On The Roster

    June 29, 2022
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Editors Picks

    Brewers: The Ideal Playoff Roster

    September 20, 2021

    MVP Spotlight: Christian Yelich

    April 10, 2020
    Top Reviews
    Advertisement
    Demo
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy
    • Advertisement
    • Contact us
    © 2022 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.