The Packers’ defense has to get more turnovers to survive without Micah Parsons | NFL Live

The Packers’ defense has to get more turnovers to survive without Micah Parsons | NFL Live

Mina, how much of an impact do you think Micah's absence will have in this matchup against the Bears? >> Well, generally this is devastating from a pressure perspective and is going to have to cause Jeff Hafley to approach approach how they get pressure in different ways. But I would say for this matchup, while it is meaningful, I I think Chicago is going to go with the exact same game plan as last time, which is run the ball and extremely high clip, use a ton of play action. [music] And to that end, I I'm almost as worried about the absence of Evan Williams in this game. and the safety. I mean, there was a litany of injuries and I think he's going to be out for this one. Chicago's run game isn't just efficient. It's extremely explosive. They lead the NFL in 10 yard plus runs. Evan Williams is the Packers best run defender in terms of in the secondary. He is third league wide among safeties and run stuffs. Not having them there, when I think about this particular offense and how much they run the football and play action off of that, that's concerning to me. And obviously, Mike is concerning too. >> Yeah, the Williams with the backside fills. I remember last time that was the big thing is like you got to fill on the backside >> not only this game but moving forward the question is going to loom of okay what are they going to do Jeff Halfley and that defense to try to replicate because this defense is predicated on pressure this is who they are on the left side when they get pressure again Micah leads the NFL they're a top three defense when they don't get pressure they're a bottom five unit I mean bottom 10 unit this is a defense that is just built off that so you know I think the natural thing is like, well, let's pressure more, let's blitz more. I just [music] think that's dicey as well because they're not elite in the secondary. So, if you're taking more bodies to bring pressure or trying to get to the quarterback, you're exposing your back end a little bit more. The last thing I want to do is become more susceptible to explosives because that's another thing they do at a high level is not give them up. >> Yeah. I mean, it's hard because Edin Cooper, I think, is probably their best pass rusher right now in terms of bringing speed to >> But he's the guy you want in space as well. >> I know. Yeah. I I think they're Jeff Hafley is going to have to play the variance game a little bit. Roll the dice. not they're not going to become a heavy blitzing team, but he's going to have to be opportunistic on early downs. And then I I'll add this. They got to take away the football. Even against the Denver Broncos, they probably should have had two or three turnovers. Xavier McKini was the best ball hawking safety in the NFL last year >> that for this defense to survive without Michael Parsons, they've got to turn quarterback. >> I think if they they do that, okay, like zone pressures, not man pressures, and that's kind of who they are, zone pressures anyway. Zone pressures, take the ball away a little bit more, and then also buckle down in the red zone. That's where Halfley's going to have to just be elite is be so game plan specific to make sure that they're trying to play at least scoring wise still top 10 football. >> You know, sometimes when you see one side of the ball lose a key player, a star player like Micah Parsons, then it it puts more pressure on the other side. In this case, the the offense for the Packers. Do you trust that side to really take the reigns here and lead this team? >> If Watson's healthy, yes. >> Yeah. >> Zack Tom at right tackle and >> really fast. The Watson injury doesn't seem to be longterm with a chest injury. looked really bad at first. >> Enormous. Um, yes. Listen, Josh Jacobs has reemerged as one of the great backs in our league. We don't talk about him in that regard. We talked about a little bit yesterday, [music] but I think him and James Cook have the best vision in football this year. It's it it's sensational [music] watching those guys in the run game and the way that they are hitting their cuts. So, Jacobs is still there [music] and then Christian Watson and Jaden Reed will stay healthy. Reed is a touches guy. Watson's obviously their big play. I [music] still think the offense is plenty good. >> Totally. I I when all those injuries happened in this game and Parsons goes down, I was thinking, man, this is it. The Green Bay Packers. Then when I found out Watson's injury wasn't serious, I kind of rethought it and I remembered this is a top three, four offense in football. They were giving Denver the business before Watson went down offensively. They can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league. Obviously, we're concerned about the defense, but I have enough faith in this offense with Jordan Love and these skilled players to believe they can be competitive. Also with Lafleur at the helm like you know they're going to be capable of a lot with a win Saturday in Chicago. Green Bay's chances to win the NFC North by the way jumping to 81% according to ESPN analytics. >> [music]

I join Laura Rutledge and Dan Orlovsky on NFL Live to talk about Micah Parsons’ injury and how his absence will impact the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears matchup.
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