If you were hoping for a big improvement from the Green Bay Packers’ pass defense — one that ranked 31st in the league in 2016 — you’re probably pretty disappointed today.
Despite the Packers coming away with a 24-9 win in their first preseason game, the weak link of last year’s defense didn’t look any different.
The good news is the defense created four turnovers. And if the secondary doesn’t hold up, that defense will be completely reliant on creating turnovers. I’ll tell you another Packers’ defense that was entirely reliant on turnovers — the 2011 unit. And we know how that year ended.
The Eagles’ quarterbacks combined to go 35-of-54 for 275 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on Thursday night. But let’s break that down a little further. Backup Matt McGloin was 28-of-42 for 205 yards. Starter Carson Wentz was a perfect 4-of-4 for 56 yards and a touchdown. He left the game with a 158.3 rating.
So who did the Packers trot out there?
The starters were Quinten Rollins and Kevin King on the outside, with Damarious Randall in the slot. We wouldn’t say any of the three had a banner night. Randall got injured, so we’ll give him an incomplete, but the other two guys didn’t look good at all.
Rollins has supposedly been playing better than any corner in camp. That didn’t show in the game. King is a rookie and he looked like one. He gave up the Eagles’ touchdown by first getting beat deep and then missing the tackle.
Interestingly, King had issues with the deep ball, but he was more than solid around the line of scrimmage, repeatedly making big stops at or behind the line.
As we noted last night, backup Josh Hawkins seemed like the only guy who could cover anyone. Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus handed my boy LaDarius Gunter the highest grade on the team for his performance — an 83.3.
Other than a forced fumble and recovery, we didn’t notice Gunter. And maybe that’s a good thing, because we certainly noticed Rollins and King.
We’re not going to panic, however.
Davon House, supposedly the team’s No. 1 cornerback, sat out with a hamstring injury. King will get better and maybe, it’s time to consider moving Gunter back up the depth chart.
Personally, I am not buying the hype on Rollins, especially after seeing him in game action. Looked pretty much like the same disappointment he was last season to me. I will reserve judgment on Randall. Hopefully, he isn’t Sam Shields in terms of concussions. It would be great if he were Sam Shields in terms of coverage.
15 Comments
I thought Pipkins had more plays and tighter coverage than Hawkins. Granted he was playing against the 2, and 3 guys but so was Hawkins. I think Pipkins deserves a longer look at the slot corner in the next game to see how he reacts. Pipkins may get the extra time with the injury to Randall. Overall the pass defense with the projected top four corners for this game did not look great.
Pony up $10M for Revis to get past the $6M offset. These guys aren’t ready. If Davon House is your best corner nobody is afraid.
I was gonna say the same thing, if House is the number 1 guy as a free agent signing…could be a long season. Hell, probably will be a long season from the secondary standpoint. Remember when Ron Wolf would use a single draft to draft a bunch of DBs for need with his first 3 picks and at least one of them would pan out? Too early for the new guys from this year but damn.
I was pro Davon House signing. But more for at least replacing Hyde, and then anything after that was a bonus.
What’s funny is last night i was thinking, if Davon House is your #1 corner, you’ve got big problems. Not that i ever thought this problem was solved by any means, but lets be real, Rollins looked….like Rollins and the great hopeful rookie corner, will remind everyone you can’t count on rookie players to take you to another level. Draft picks need time, as i’ve stated 100 times since the draft. King is no different, i don’t fault King that much, he needs time and experience.
The expectations put on King to be our #1 corner and savior was bs from the get go. You don’t put that load on a rookie draft pick’s shoulders, especially at corner in the NFL.
What happened to draft and then DEVELOP?
Someone let me know when this current clown show is over.
^this
I agree with you on House being signed to offset the loss of Hyde. But him being named the #1 CB so soon? Someone is seriously overestimating how deep the secondary actually is. Still early but man you can almost envision how the season is going to play out if something doesn’t change.
While re-watching the game tonight for the stuff I missed, on the hit that took Randall out, holy shit Randall never saw that WR coming. Randall must not have shit for peripheral vision. I don’t know how he could be in his 3rd year and has not learned to have his head on a swivel. That was brutal.
Yep, this defensive backfield is about where most of us expected them to be . . . at or near the same level as they were last year. Will they improve? By any normal means they should, but this group is either this poor, or TT (The Frugal GM) is clueless on CB’s and Whitt may just be VERY over-rated . . . So whatever is actually happening with and to these CB’s is NOT ideal at all. I liked Pipkins though, it did seem as if he was playing under control for the most part. Some of the safety work looked very good at times as well . . . But once again the CB’s continued to collectively shit the bed in grand style.
Defense any different? Yes, as a matter of fact, it’s gonna be worse thanks to the socially awkward white rat! Maybe he’ll share his thoughts relative to how his “fellas” looked last night. Oh wait, he made his annual edge of your seat comments last week. Now it’s all about anal with Ted till July ’18. Sure hope he sticks around for another few years. Him and the gap toothed douche bag should take a vacation to Guam!!
I hope TT learned his lesson drafting Rollins…next time go for a shooting guard rather than a point guard. Seems like half his draft picks are to convert them to another position than they played in college – TE to OL, DL to LB, WR to RB, point guard to CB, etc. Also he consistently drafts players a few rounds higher than they are projected…just stop trying to show everyone how clever you are on draft day because it’s not working.
shooting guard,lol…hilarious!
Well TT passed on TJ Watt and from what I have seen it is another huge mistake. Two sacks in his first preseason game. I think it is time for TT to retire. The draft BAP is total BS.
Against the 2nd and 3rd string waterboy though but still . I was one person hoping they’d take him but what do I know.
Lets let time tell us what TJ Watt is before crowning him King. He had a nice pre-season game, but one of his sacks he was unblocked.
The rushing offense looks the same too – not enough attempts and not enough results.
I understand that the passing offense needs game conditions for timing, but the same is true for rushing.
RUN THE DAMN BALL.