• Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
Total Packers - Green Bay Packers Blogs and News
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
Total Packers
No Result
View All Result

Job 1: Shoring up the Packers Defensive Backfield

Rob Born by Rob Born
February 15, 2018
in Uncategorized
3

For three years running, the Green Bay Packers have struggled trying to put an NFL-quality defensive backfield on the field. In both 2015 and 2017, they expended their top two draft choices in pursuit of the goal, but the results haven’t been satisfactory to date. The team’s pass defense, after being sixth in the league in 2015, went to 31st, and then bounced back a bit, to 21st in 2017.

How to explain such fluctuation? Injuries. Despite having up to 15 DBs (the current total) on the roster, the Packers have been unable to field healthy and quality players. The problem has been masked a bit, as the Packers have routinely sent out injured players rather than placing trust in their lower reserves. In many cases, the injured players performed poorly, making them look less capable than they actually are when healthy.

While injuries can’t be prevented, they can be minimized to some extent. As I’ve indicated, the Packers have been drafting corners and safeties who are too small and too frail. In 2017, they went one for two: Josh Jones has an NFL body, while Kevin King needs to bulk up. The same is true of the terrible choice of Quinten Rollins in 2015.

With this in mind, what should be the top priority in 2018?

Keep Morgan Burnett

Burnett, at age 29, is about to begin his ninth season. After playing every game in 2011 and 2012, he has since played in 13, 15, 11, 15, and 12 games last year. For many players that would be a spotty health record, but for Green Bay that’s makes him an iron man. He’s a solid 6’1” and 209 pounds.

Besides remaining relatively healthy, Morgan is the team’s best tackler – by a wide margin. When able to put in a full season, he recorded 123 tackles in 2012. In just 15 games in 2015, he had 130, leading all defensive backs in the league. He’s a textbook tackler, who goes low, wraps up, and is seldom fooled by a ball carrier’s moves.

He’s not at all flashy, and he can be faulted for failing to make big plays. Nine interceptions (three in the last five years), eight forced fumbles, and eight fumbles recovered is an embarrassing turnover record. Maybe new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine can help him improve on that in 2018.

Burnett is also the brains of the secondary – he’s the guy who wears the helmet with the headset. In a sea of youngsters and undrafted guys, I view Burnett as almost indispensable – at least until Josh Jones gets three years under his belt.

Morgan has played cornerback, slot back, and even linebacker when needed. For a team with such an injury record, this kind of versatility becomes a tremendous asset.

And yet I’m hearing a bunch of people claiming Burnett is expendable.

Burnett is finishing up a four-year deal averaging $6.2 million. Since he’s never been named to the Pro Bowl, he won’t draw a ton of interest in free agency. I would think a three-year contract at around $7 to $8 million per year would be reasonable, and affordable.

Micah Hyde’s performance in Buffalo last year should be a good lesson for Green Bay. Hyde was also stable, smart, and had a great record of staying healthy (one game missed in five years). Changing his role brought out his best qualities, and he became a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in his first year away from Green Bay. I figure the mistake of letting Hyde go cost the Packers one or two wins last year.

If I were Mike Pettine, I’d start out by building my defense around a stable, smart, dependable guy like Morgan Burnett.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: Green Bay PackersMorgan BurnettMorgan Burnett
Previous Post

Randall Cobb May Be Looking for a Job

Next Post

Packers’ Defensive Backs – the Cupboard’s Not Bare

Rams LB Clay Matthews

Notable Ex-Packers’ Whereabouts – Defense

January 2, 2020
Packers vs Jets 2018

Recapping Packers 2019 Off-Season Moves

July 9, 2019
Mike Daniels

Is Green Bay About to Become a Defensive Juggernaut?

May 1, 2019
Green Bay Packers in snow

[Updated] A Look Ahead at the 2019 Packers Schedule

April 17, 2019
Next Post
Josh Jones

Packers' Defensive Backs – the Cupboard’s Not Bare

Comments 3

  1. CZ Stevens says:
    4 years ago

    The Top Priority should be signing
    Morgan Burnett.

    Here is the REAL reason why this article is so important…

    Morgan Burnett…
    last 5 seasons
    66 games
    3 interceptions
    4.5 qb sacks

    Leroy Butler…
    final 5 full seasons (his final ended early due to injury),
    7 forced fumbles
    17 interceptions
    16.5 qb sacks

    • CZ Stevens says:
      4 years ago

      I will add…

      if we want to continue to have the high-ranking, feared defense like they did under Capers, re-signing players like Burnett is exactly what they should do…

      Mike Pettine, I recommend that… if you don’t mind joining Capers watching games on TV at home.

      Packers, look past the tattoos,

      look at the numbers,

      believe that Burnett is not superhuman,

      believe another with nearly as good nose for the ball could exist in the pool of thousands, and at the combine coming.

      Someone like Burnett, with enough coordination to run…and brains to stear that run toward a player, and better yet, the dam ball.

      “Big time players make big time plays in big time games.” Or is that not true.

      Butler, Woodson, Eric Reed, Ronnie Lott, Troy Palamalu, Brian Dawkins, Earl Thomas.
      Morgan Burnett. Ha Ha

      Yes, I agree.

      We can make a silk purse suddenly of this elder statesman, Morgan, and if Pettine fails, we fire him too, for not being a miracle worker.

      Great defensive players… players that separate good teams from great teams…players that help teams win championships…

      Like Burnett, were there not years on end where the difference makers such as Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor didnt play at all like the hall of famers they are? And they snapped out of that funk? Like Lacy did in Seattle?

      I truly believe, as a Packer fan, I should sit quietly and watch a Burnett at end of his career here be what Dix has failed to be as well… we pay Burnett a ton and teach this old safety to be someone else.

      Just ask Leroy Butler.

  2. CZ Stevens says:
    4 years ago

    Playing with heart isnt pretty, Ha Ha and Burnett.

    It takes all of your athletic ability and risking your health for the win.

    In that process, if you are doing it right, then when you spend your fat paychecks while the hardworking masses spend what they have, just to see you play,

    you and they and the rest of the country should also see pictures online of you during that 60 minutes of action …. that resemble this example of effort by Butler, who showed that his entire career.

    http://bloguin.com/noledout/wp-content/uploads/sites/152/2015/01/359229.jpg

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Total Packers - Green Bay Packers News and Rumors

Find It!

No Result
View All Result

Subscribe to Total Packers via Email

Recent Posts

  • Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022
  • 10 Reasons Why The Packers Have A High Chance Of Winning The Super Bowl
  • Green Bay Could Host the NFL Draft Soon
  • Packers 2022 Ominous Start
  • Bakhtiari Added to PUP
  • Packers Place 9 on PUP including Christian Watson and Sign TE Sal Cannella
  • Madden 23 Disses Packers Receiving Corps
  • Will Sammy Watkins Bring What the Packers Need?
  • Packers: Five Biggest Concerns Entering 2022 season
  • Early NFL 2022 Super Bowl futures value the Packers as contenders
  • PFF Ranks Packers Among 2022 Favorites
  • Meet the Members of the Green Bay Packers This Season

Recent Comments

  • PF4L on Green Bay Could Host the NFL Draft SoonDumb down the site, how....? . By referencing the sexuality of ot…
  • PF4L on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Tommi...just for giggles . How much do you hate Rodgers? . On a s…
  • Tom M on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Ferris my friend, your buddy PF4L was quick to judge 21 year old…
  • Ferris on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Actually starting to look like an NFL QB? No he's not. Everyone h…
  • Tom M on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022That’s right Ed. Give me Zac Wilson. He bangs cougars, not witche…
  • Ed on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Tommy : "Clearly the man’s got issues." ? . Clearly you can't rec…
  • Tom M on Green Bay Could Host the NFL Draft SoonIt seems PF4L can’t post without mentioning my name. I’m flattere…
  • Tom M on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Ferris, the sensitive one, so glad to hear from the spelling quee…
  • PF4L on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022"Tea time with Erin" 🙄 . Who else could come up with something li…
  • Ferris on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Tom if YOU'RE so intelligent why is it that YOU'RE incapable of u…
  • Tom M on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Look Kevin, I know it’s the offseason but your only capable of tw…
  • PF4L on Big Expectations and Opportunity For Allen Lazard in 2022Tom M 34 mins ago Hey Kevin! Have you heard of the new website? I…

Popular Tags

A.J. Hawk Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre Brian Gutekunst Bryan Bulaga Charles Woodson Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Clay Matthews Clay Matthews III Dallas Cowboys Davante Adams Detroit Lions Detroit Lions Eddie Lacy fans Featured free agents game analysis Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Greg Jennings injuries Jay Cutler Jermichael Finley Jordy Nelson Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Morgan Burnett New England Patriots New Orleans Saints NFL Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles Randall Cobb Sam Shields San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks T.J. Lang Ted Thompson Ted Thompson Tramon Williams Ty Montgomery
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Subscribe to Total Packers via Email

  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.