Why absence of Bucs WR Mike Evans could hinder Packers defense in long run
In Week 3 on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers play at Tampa Bay in a rematch of the 2020 NFC Championship Game. Buccaneers No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans will miss the game while serving a one-game suspension for fighting in Week 2 against the Saints.
While Evans' absence bodes well for Green Bay in Week 3, it may do more harm than good in the long run.
The primary concern for the Packers' defense following a Week 1 loss to Minnesota was an inability to cover elite receiver Justin Jefferson. The third-year receiver torched the Packers for nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson found himself wide open on several occasions, most notably on a crossing route that resulted in his second touchdown of the game.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry had to answer for Jefferson picking apart his zone scheme after the game. Many wondered why Barry did not allow 2020 All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander to line up in man coverage across from Jefferson.
Barry entertained the idea for the future, saying, "We’re in a luxury in that we have a secondary that they can play zone, they can play man, whatever we deploy. We just decided going into that game, we felt really good about all three of them, not just one of them. That was our decision. We’ll learn from it. Maybe we’ll have a different plan next time we see them.”
If Barry is true to his word about changing up his scheme, a Week 3 matchup featuring another elite receiver in Evans would have provided an excellent opportunity to experiment.
In Week 2, the Packers' defense flashed potential, limiting the Bears to 48 yards passing. However, a victory over last year's 25th-ranked passing offense does not do much to instill confidence in the Packers' defensive scheme.
With elite receivers aplenty among NFC contenders, the Green Bay secondary will need as much testing in the regular season as it can get.
The Packers will not play another wide receiver graded in the top 10 by Pro Football Focus until Week 8, when they match up with Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills.
It will be much more difficult for the defense to experiment once the season is in full swing and a potentially heated NFC North division race is taking place.
Evans' absence will make a victory in Tampa Bay slightly more obtainable for the Packers, but the cost of missing a valuable opportunity to sharpen the defensive scheme may be far greater.
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