Ultimately the 2013 campaign for the Packers was a disappointment. They won the division, they finished the season above .500 but overall, the season was unpleasant. Injuries to key players, such as Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, in addition to poor showings from other key players, B.J. Raji among them, made the season barely watchable. Finally, the defense as a unit simply did not work. One of the key problems was M.D. Jennings, whose basic lack of coverage skills plagued the entire defense, causing Morgan Burnett to have to attempt double duty; a responsibility outside the scope of any safety in the league. Have fun with Jennings this season, Chicago.
Fixing the Packers Defense starts at Safety
I don’t think it is too early to say that Green Bay’s secondary will be greatly improved for the 2014 season. M.D. Jennings is gone and has been replaced with Ha’Sean Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix, who has the speed, skills and overall intelligence to develop a great career in the Green Bay secondary. Micah Hyde was rumored earlier in the off-season to have been a possible choice next to Burnett, but with Clinton-Dix in the picture, he will remain the solid utility DB that he was during his rookie year. The big word that should be ringing right now is “depth”. The Packers have been able to use the draft to pick up some young talent that will bolster their roster in the secondary. The other word to keep in mind for Green Bay’s secondary is versatility. Micah Hyde will be able to contribute whether he is tasked with playing safety or corner. He’s a smart player who is reliable in coverage, but can still step up and drop a running back if the situation calls for it. The exact capabilities of these players will obviously be nailed down and further examined during training camp.
Linebacker additions
Moving away from the secondary; the Pack have a unique and exciting position with regard to defensive linemen and linebackers this year. It is unquestionable that Datone Jones and B.J. Raji did not live up to expectations last year. Raji has been given a one year deal that will no doubt, have lit a fire under him to up his production or find work elsewhere. The acquisition of Julius Peppers will enable the Packers to keep offenses guessing, as he is fast and smart enough to play any linebacker position, and strong enough to still manhandle running backs and offensive linemen when played on the line. Dissenting opinions argue Peppers is old, and overrated, and that he chooses which plays to give full effort, but time will be the judge of such accusations. His experience and knowledge of defensive positions will empower players around him, and his presence at linebacker or defensive end will create opportunities for other players to step up.
The Draft Adds
Looking back to the draft, there are two more defensive picks to watch going into training camp. Khyri Thornton, taken in the third round from Southern Miss is another player who could add to the versatility of this Packers defense. At 6’3 and a shade over 300 lbs, he is a large defensive end, but his experience playing defensive tackle could be another indicator that if Raji’s performance is subpar, there will be men waiting to step into his position. Finally, the acquisition of Carl Bradford from Arizona State adds some choice with regard to outside linebackers for the 2014 campaign. Bradford isn’t the largest linebacker out there, and some of his skills are raw, but his athleticism is undeniable. Again, I don’t see him taking anyone’s job right now, but his presence on the team will add to the depth that was missing last year.
Overall this season should be a good one for the Packers. Training camp will be exciting this year, as coach McCarthy and Dom Capers have new defensive strategies to work out, which could work in the favor of many of the young players on the roster. No matter what, the skill level on the defense has increased. If some key players can have more production this year and everyone stays healthy, Cheeseheads have a lot to be excited for on defense going in to the 2014 season. I eagerly look forward to re-evaluating the Packers defense closer to the start of the regular season.
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