We have no depth at DT and I don't believe CB either...
And Safeties are just making more mistakes this year...
The ILBers are young and inexperienced... they seemed to throw them all out there to see who could handle it best and the answer was none of them... okay, maybe that's over kill, but they looked mentally lost on how to keep up at times... Summers made mistakes but didn't look mentally lost.
Originally Posted by: beast
I'm not sure if I agree on DT-depth.... we definitely have DT depth - Lowry, Lancaster, Keke are decent pieces but miscast as DT-1. Neither is capable of getting consistent penetration or holding the trenches when asked to take on double teams. Alongside Kenny Clark that trio isn't bad (especially when lined up with Gary/Z or P Smith along the LOS), but we lack a true big run stuffer in the Ryan Picket / Grady Jackson mold. Not sure how likely it is with logistics/salary cap, but I'd do naked backflips on the street if we could land Leonard Williams (Giants tanking, maybe willing to settle for recouping the 3rd+5th they gave up).
The Safties... I'm just perplexed on. I can understand the missed tackles with lack of pre-season... but the bad angles is baffling. Darnell Savage looks like a freshman getting his first reps on the football field, which should not be the case. Amos is as advertised: keep things in front of him, not a playmaker. I am curious whether Will Redmond was the dime back tonight, or whether they subbed him in place of Savage in moments. Can't blame them if the latter (because Savage has been that subpar) but definitely worrying that Savage looks to have regressed on reads and angles.
Finally, I came away much more at ease with our ILB play after Kirksey's injury. Wishing him nothing but a quick return (and hopefully a very minor injury), but both Barnes and Summers looked more alive near the LOS than Kirksey. I don't hold out much hope for Oren Burks, but don't think the drop off form Kirksey to Summers/Barnes is much (and may even be a slight positive).
Overall though, this level of play by the D actually has me very encouraged. The issues - a behemoth DT, Safety play - can be addressed (although if they could get that DT off the street, they'd have done it by now). But to have a D that is making plays to create chances at turnovers and an Offense that can force opposing teams to pass and play to the strengths of this D, the Packers are quickly having me view them as a contender that is better than last year's team. Did not expect to be thinking that, so props to the team thus far.
The NFL: Where Greg Jennings Happens.