The Charles Woodson Factor in the Packers’ Run Defense

Charles Woodson PackersCharles Woodson will be back in action against the Vikings tonight, and are we glad to see him return. Charles adds an element that other teams have trouble preparing for. He’s good against both the pass AND the run.

Let’s face it, the man just seems to be everywhere, and his teammates feed off that playmaking ability.

Packer Defensive Backs in Run Support

Since Woodson’s exit in game seven, Morgan Burnett has stepped up his run support game and is leading the team in total tackles. While that’s a huge concern if the running backs are getting to the third level, it also can say something about a defensive back’s ability to make plays in run support. You can see below that Burnett isn’t just sticking people eight yards downfield. He’s getting involved at the point of attack and making a difference.

Green Bay Packers Morgan Burnett in Run Suppport from GreenBay Packer Nation on Vimeo.

The Unstoppable Charles Woodson

Woodson’s presence will double this impact, and that will be critical against the Vikings and Adrian Peterson. Here’s an example from the last time Charles was on the field. He bounces off people and somehow ends up in the face of the ball carrier.

Green Bay Packers Charles Woodson in Run Support from GreenBay Packer Nation on Vimeo.

Stopping Adrian Peterson More Critical Than Ever

There has never been a more important time to stop Adrian Peterson than the game tonight. He’s always the Vikings’ bread and butter and teams need to force the Vikings into the passing game. More to the point, cold weather games (like tonight’s game) mean that teams have more difficulty throwing the ball, if the Vikings can run the ball the Packers will be in some trouble. If they are forced to throw the ball, they have more problems than they want to deal with. And, we’re counting on Charles to play a major role in that.

The Charles Woodson Factor in the Packers’ Run Defense

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