Acme Packing Company
We already covered in my last article why the final box score hides the defense’s performance. The run defense, in key situations, gave up too many big runs. Another less talked about issue in Week 9 was that Micah Parsons only generated one pressure.
In fact, the Packers defense only generated pressure on Bryce Young on 8 of 24 snaps, a respectable 33.3%, with only one sack. Parsons’s one pressure was the lowest he’s had this season. The Panthers made him a non-factor.
Most of the pressures came in the form of hurries, with only one quarterback hit. And Rashan Gary had three total pressures, which weren’t all that impactful.
The primary reason they were unable to generate any impactful pressures on Bryce Young was primarily due to the fact that the Panthers had Young getting rid of the ball quickly. His average time to throw on passes where he was kept clean was 2.18 seconds from snap to throw.
Parsons thrives on “quick pressures” this season. He’s generated 16 quick pressures (pressure generated in three seconds or less per NextGenStats) in 244 pass rush snaps. Against the Panthers, Parsons generated ZERO quick pressures.
This was due to two factors: 1) Parsons facing chips and double-team blocks, and 2) Young getting the ball out quickly to negate the pass rush.
On a 3-step drop from shotgun here, which is normally 5-step under center, the Panthers chip and then double-team Parsons on the right edge. The protection gives Young time and a clean pocket to rip the dig throw over the middle over the outstretched hand of Nate Hobbs.
On other plays, the Panthers either double-teamed blocked, chipped him or both.
The other way the Panthers could slow down Parsons and the Packers’ pass rush was with quick throws.
Here, Parsons is a pass rusher as an off-the-ball linebacker. The defense behind is playing quarters versus the Panthers all slants concept. It’s 3rd and 8. The play call is both a defined read for Young and a way to neutralize the rush in the red zone.
As soon as Young catches the snap, he takes a quick 1-step drop and throws to the inside slant from the left. Even rushing from the middle of the offensive line, Parsons is not able to generate pressure because of the quick throw.
The Panthers’ game plan was clear: Get the ball out of Bryce Young’s hands quickly and let his playmakers do the rest. Against that pass rush, it wasn’t a bad idea. If the defense had been able to stop the run, then they might have forced more high-leverage passing situations they could generate effective pressure on.
