Back to basics

The Packers' defense won't have a lot of bells and whistles under new coordinator Jim Bates, but the number of glaring mistakes should drop significantly. Bates won't blitz a lot, won't use much zone coverage and won't overcommit against the run. Instead, he wants a swarming defense with an emphasis on speed at linebacker and safety.

He'll have his corners apply bump-and-run coverage, spread his ends wide to allow more pass-rush freedom and stack his linebackers to fill running lanes. Fundamentals took a hit during the team's 2004 transition to a blitz-oriented defense, but that won't happen under Bates.

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