Jaire Alexander addressed an issue that’s been on the mind of many Green Bay Packers fans this offseason–their defensive alignment. Many fans and pundits have criticized defense coordinator Joe Barry’s secondary coverage.
Many of the complaints concern the Packers’ tendency to have their corners play far off the ball, especially on third down. While that type of coverage is helpful in preventing big plays, the non-aggressive approach saw opponents’ offenses led long drives down the field last season.
With Barry facing the hot seat this season, it appears the Packers’ defense is ready to make some changes.
Jaire Alexander says the Green Bay Packers coverage is changing
According to Ryan Wood with USA Today, Alexander said first-year pass defense coordinator Greg Williams is coaching the Packers’ defense to play closer to the line of scrimmage this season:
“[Williams has] been helping me with my alignment, because sometimes I have a tendency to play a little farther off. So he’s just been trying to tighten my leverage down,” Alexander said.
Jaire Alexander says #Packers pass defense coordinator Greg Williams has been stressing for him to play closer to LOS: “He’s been helping me with my alignment, because sometimes I have a tendency to play a little farther off. So he’s just been trying to tighten my leverage down.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 31, 2023
Packers fans should be happy to hear Alexander will be playing closer to the line of scrimmage. That could mean the Packers’ defense will allow Alexander to have more one-on-one matchups with an opponent’s best wide receiver instead of reverting to zone coverage.
Of course, it is training camp season. It’s easy to install packages now with the belief the plan can be executed in the regular season. But the real test for the overhauled scheme won’t start until Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Barry will have to deal with the stress of a game without wanting to fall back to his default scheme.
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