Hey Tyler,
Been a Green Bay fan my whole life. Was wondering how you feel about the safety positions this year going into the season and their lack of addressing them. I almost feel as if I would like to see Rasul Douglas move to safety once Eric Stokes is healthy because I think he is our best option there. I have little to no faith in Savage. Jonathan Owens does interest me, but he’s more of a break glass in case of emergency-type than an everyday safety. Thanks for the insight and as always, GO PACK GO! — Drew from Illinois
Timing wasn’t on Green Bay’s side at safety. There were a heap of options available in free agency, and I’m still surprised Jordan Poyer couldn’t draw more interest on the open market. Obviously, GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t have disposable income while plotting his Aaron Rodgers exit strategy. It sounds like the Packers are confident in Darnell Savage starting at one safety spot. He’s a lightning rod, to be sure. But the 2019 first-rounder has logged 3,500+ snaps. After a midseason benching — following Green Bay’s Nov. 17 loss to Tennessee — the Packers seem to be rebooting their confidence in him. Safeties coach Ryan Downard said he liked Savage’s athleticism in the deep middle. For all of his tackling inconsistencies, he does have 4.36 speed. And he did have eight interceptions his first three seasons. After seeing the Packers cycle through so many pedestrian safeties a decade ago on the beat, I have a hard time completely giving up on someone with talent. One of Ted Thompson’s biggest mistakes was forcing Dom Capers to play fringe NFL safeties at various points — Jerron McMillian, M.D. Jennings, Sean Richardson — and then letting Micah Hyde walk to Buffalo. First-rounder Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was fine, but will most certainly go down for this gaffe in the NFC Championship Game.
The Packers don’t really have a choice after picking up Savage’s fifth-year option. He’ll be given every opportunity to be what they’ve always envisioned as the first defensive back selected in the ‘19 draft. Downard told the local media that Savage is at his best pulling the trigger. Trusting himself. Like he did in college. They’re not giving up hope — nor should they. One year ago, Downard said that Savage “has the ability to be an elite player in this league,” citing his ability to never make the same mistake twice. The coach’s tone hasn’t changed publicly. He wants Savage to do a better job of tackling and taking on blocks, but said this spring he’s proud of the way he clawed his way back after a benching that could’ve broken him.
If Savage gets back to his earlier form — and takes another step as a playmaker — this is a completely different Packers defense.
He may be the key to it all.
At the other safety spot, the competition is wide open. Rudy Ford may have an inside track but I’d keep an eye on Anthony Johnson Jr., the seventh-round pick out of Iowa State. His strength (tackling, violence) is needed. Film junkie Ben Fennell had high praise for the pick, saying immediately that Johnson could be a starter. He noted his willingness to take on linemen, sort through trash, and included this whopper of a tackle. Either way, the Packers know both safeties need to be interchangeable for Joe Barry’s defense to take off.