Dominant play vs. Browns shows Packers not paying lip service to defensive rebuild
We've heard this song and dance about making philosophical changes to the defense before. With revamped personnel and a new mindset, the Packers may have done it.
Good morning!
The Green Bay Packers stifled the Cleveland Browns in their preseason debut thanks to Jeff Hafley’s new-look defense. Jordan Love threw a dime for a touchdown, the rookie safeties sparkled, and some potential backup offensive linemen gave their notice as potential rotation players if necessary.
Today's edition of The Leap looks at the Packers’ 23-10 win and why this year will actually be different on defense.
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What did you see on Saturday to suggest this year will be the year the Packers defense finally changes?
Peter Bukowski: There was a renewed spirit and vigor permeating that side of the ball. Sure, Hafley’s system unleashes Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, and other young players who might otherwise be limited in schemes with more nuanced requirements of its trench players. But whether it’s Eric Stokes coming up to set a hard edge in the run game, Javon Bullard cutting down a receiver on first contact, or the waves and waves of pass rush, there’s a distinct mindset change in the way Green Bay’s defense approaches the game.
Call it vibes, call it verve, just don’t call these defensive linemen late for third down because they are out there to hunt quarterbacks. It’s hard to imagine many groups in the NFL who can match Van Ness, Karl Brooks, Coby Wooden, and Kingsley Enagbare as a second line. The Packers are playing hockey out there, and that was what the San Francisco 49ers could do at their Robert Saleh apex.
Van Ness finished the game with a sack and three tackles for loss but slipped off another sack. He looks more decisive able to attack rather than read and react, freeing up his incredible natural gifts to take over.
Wyatt’s contributions won’t show up in the traditional stat sheet but he added a handful of pressures that turned into plays for others. He’s still not finishing his quality pass rush reps often enough, but he’s a penetrating defensive tackle who wants to get upfield and muck things up. That’s exactly what this defense wants him to want to do. He may never be the kind of run stuffer that would make him a complete player, but even if he’s a one-trick pony, in this defense, it’s the right trick to have.
Where do all these safeties play?
PB: Yes. Also, imagine asking this question a few months ago. In one offseason, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst turned the biggest hole on the roster into a strength with the signing of Xavier McKinney and a draft class with three safeties, at least two of whom look ready to contribute tomorrow if necessary.
Last week, head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about Javon Bullard as the starter opposite McKinney. LaFleur insisted that Bullard hadn’t wrapped anything up and there would still be a rotation. Bullard took the first reps with the 1s in every subsequent practice and was out there again Saturday afternoon.
Bullard’s starting, the only question is where exactly.
It’s worth wondering if Keisean Nixon taking some reps at outside cornerback has to do with the Packers’ desire for Bullard to be the full-time nickel, a position he played with aplomb at Georgia before transitioning to a true safety spot for Kirby Smart. Right now, we can’t rule out the best 11 defenders including Bullard and surprise rookie Evan Williams.
A reach based on the consensus boards, Williams started making plays right away in spring ball and carried that over into camp. He sees the game exceptionally well, reads quarterbacks, and understands coverage concepts intuitively. On one tackle, he appeared to know the quarterback would throw to the back on a slant-flat concept even before the quarterback did, so he broke to the ball and made a sure tackle.
Where are the Packers still searching for answers after the first preseason game?
PB: Linebacker. Neither Edgerrin Cooper nor Ty’Ron Hopper played against the Browns. Cooper has been MIA in camp dealing with a groin injury. Earlier this week, camp breakout star Grant DuBose spoke about how significantly his injury in camp set him back a year ago. Look at the difference in his game this year; he was the engine of the passing game on Saturday, snagging five passes for 66 yards including a toe-tap sideline grab in the two-minute drill to set up a field-goal attempt.
For rookies, few things hurt their development more than missing time in training camp. It doesn’t matter that Cooper didn’t play in a meaningless exhibition game, but it does matter they haven’t seen him in camp for an extended time.
If he’s going to win the nickel linebacker job or Hopper is to wrestle the base linebacker job from Eric Wilson, they have to be healthy enough to be out there. There aren’t backups pushing for meaningful reps, though Green Bay could use some depth behind those rookies. To unseat Isaiah McDuffie or Quay Walker, Cooper can’t be watching from the sidelines in a baseball cap.
And while I loved to see Michael Pratt springing down the sideline to get a block for Emanuel Wilson, the Packers have to decide quick, fast, and in a hurry if either he or Sean Clifford can be the QB2 on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Veterans like Ryan Tannehill are potentially available right now. If Green Bay is going to bring one of them in, the team has to do it with enough time to get him up to speed for the regular season when his presence potentially matters.
It was a cute story last year to roll with two rookies in the quarterback room. Not bringing in a veteran felt like a hedge on Love. If he stinks or gets hurt, you stink anyway and can go draft Drake Maye. There's no reason to potentially mess up the vibes of a young team, throwing your first-year starter off his axis (though if he can’t handle a Tannehill, he’s probably not the dude). This year, they’ll need a steady hand on the wheel if Love misses more than a game or two in a row. If a quarterback who can do that is on the roster, it’s hard to make the case he’s proven it. If he’s not, Green Bay has to act fast.