![]() They drafted Georgia Tech’s Tariq Carpenter in the seventh round this year, but his frame (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) might force him to play more of an inside linebacker role.īehind the big three at cornerback, the Packers have Keisean Nixon, who can play the nickel but was primarily a special teams ace for new Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia with the Raiders. Vernon Scott, the Packers’ 2020 seventh-round pick, couldn’t get on the field when healthy last season and was stuck behind safety Henry Black, who the Packers didn’t even bring back for cheap as an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. Davis, a 2021 fifth-round pick of the Colts who was signed to the Packers’ active roster in December, has never played a defensive snap in the NFL. At safety, the Packers’ third option is Shawn Davis based on what we saw during offseason practices. While Green Bay boasts some of the best back-end starters in the league, its reserves leave plenty to be desired. ![]() Watt in percentage of pass-rush snaps resulting in a QB pressure: Previewing the Packers' inside and outside linebackers, led by a pair of All-Pro candidates in De'Vondre Campbell and Rashan Gary, who tied 2021 DPOY T.J. The importance of secondary depth is vital, especially if one of those five spots comes open due to injury or if defensive coordinator Joe Barry wants a sixth defensive back on the field (the Packers ranked seventh-most in the NFL last season with 248 defensive snaps played with six defensive backs, per TruMedia). Of the Packers’ 1,037 defensive snaps last season, 828 featured five or six defensive backs, according to TruMedia (79.8 percent). “There’s a lot of action at the nickel,” Gray said, “and everybody wants to be in the action.” While Douglas and Savage might be better suited to step down against the run than Alexander and Stokes, the latter pair might be better suited to cover quicker slot receivers or follow guys across the formation. He cross-trains the defensive backs so they’re ready to play a different position in the secondary in case of injury. Gray said Alexander, Stokes, Douglas or Savage could play in the slot. “These guys are really good on offense and you’ve got to be able to match those guys sometimes, some way.” “You can’t have too many corners in this league, I’m telling you,” defensive backs coach Jerry Gray said. So who plays the two outside cornerback spots and who’s in the slot? And how often will the Packers be able to keep all three cornerbacks on the field at the same time? Douglas just signed a three-year, $21 million deal after his breakout 2021 season, so he won’t spend much time on the bench either. Stokes is too promising as a 23-year-old to take off the field after the rookie season he had (just 48 completions allowed on 97 targets for a 49.5 completion rate while surrendering only 5.3 yards per target). Alexander will rarely leave the field if he’s healthy, if at all, given he’s a top three cornerback in the NFL and the highest-paid player at the position in league history. The Packers’ cornerback dilemma is a good problem to have. “They’ve been together for so long they can look at each other and they know what the other one’s thinking because they’ve been in that position hundreds of times together,” safeties coach Ryan Downard said. Amos hasn’t missed a game since signing with the Packers in 2019, and Savage has missed only three games since being drafted No. If nothing else, Amos and Savage have been available. Savage wasn’t as sturdy in 2021 - he ranked 86th with a missed tackle percentage of 13.7 percent - but the Packers were confident enough in his abilities as a starter to guarantee his fifth-year option in May as he enters his fourth season. Amos also tied for 280th among all defenders last season with a missed tackle percentage of 7.9 percent. I just tell him, ‘Just be the best,’ and we’re `both going to be the best and next thing you know, all three of us are going to be the best.”Īmos doesn’t light up the box score with interceptions and passes defensed - he’s tied for 32nd among defensive backs with six picks in the last three seasons and tied for 42nd with 25 passes defensed - but he largely avoids noticeable mistakes and is a sturdy tackler. “I know I’m the best in the league, but what would I be like telling (Stokes) not to be the best or Rasul not to be the best?” Alexander said.
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