Look out! The Green Bay Packers training camp is just a week away. So, let’s continue with the training camp primers that we started last week. If you missed last week’s primer that discussed the offense, then simply click here! Now onto the defense.
It seems like every off-season there is some optimism about the Packers defense, only for us to be let down. This off-season is no different. That optimism comes from the hiring of Green Bay’s new defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley.
Coach Hafley seems to be the antithesis to Joe Barry. Barry had the defense playing a safe, not-gonna-let-you-beat-me-deep mentality. There’s a problem with this. The defense can’t get off the field. With Barry out, and Hafley in, we are hearing about how the defense will be much more aggressive.
That remains to be seen. Now, let’s get to the position breakdowns:
Training Camp Defensive Linemen
Let’s start with the big guys up front. Something to keep in mind as we do these position breakdowns is the change in defensive structure. Under Barry, the Packers ran a 3-4 mostly nickel defense. With the change to Hafley, the Packers will change to a 4-3 style defense that will normally be in the nickel. I guess you could call it a 4-2-5 style defense instead. Because of this change, the labels on some of the players will change.
Remember, these are just labels to help with our analysis and categorization. The Packers can and will play anyone of these players in any position they deem necessary. For example, a nickel corner is considered a cornerback but can be interchangeable for safeties. Now back to the big guys.
Having analyzed the data since 2017, I have found that the Packers have kept an average of 5.71 defensive linemen on their initial roster. So normally, there will be six of these guys to make the roster. Now, how does scheme change effect? I’m not entirely sure but I’m gonna guess it won’t be much.
Here are the Packers who are currently on the roster as defensive linemen (note: some of these players can also be considered edge rushers): Deslin Alexandre, Karl Brooks, Spence Waege, Kenny Clark, James Ester, Jonathan Ford, T.J. Slaton, Colby Wooden, and Devonte Wyatt. This gives the Packers nine current defensive linemen. If six of these guys are going to make the roster, then who will they be?
Who makes it?
Let’s first mention the obvious ones. Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Karl Brooks are locks. This leaves three openings. I think the last three will be Jonathan Ford, T.J. Slaton, and Colby Wooden. Ford and Slaton make it because of their ability to provide depth on the interior and Colby Wooden will make it because he has interior/edge versatility similar to Karl Brooks.
Watch for Devonte Wyatt to take a huge leap this season especially with the change in the defense.
Edge Rushers
Because of the change in defense, the edge position can be considered an extension of the defensive line. In the past, these guys, as edge rushers, would have been considered outside linebackers. But in this defense, they will mostly be defensive ends. To help eliminate confusion, we will just called them edge rushers.
So, if we stick with the averages of how many edge defenders make the initial roster, then we learn that an average of 4.71 make the team. I’m actually going to guess that they keep the low end of that metric and keep four simply because of the versatility of the players on the interior defensive line and the off-ball linebackers.
The Packers edge rusher group is currently made up of Brenton Cox Jr., Arron Mosby, Kenneth Odumegwu, Preston Smith, Keshawn Banks, Kingsley Enagbare, Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness.
Thankfully, Kingsley Enagbare didn’t tear his ACL at the end of last season and has been a full participant in OTAs. Because of this, I believe he will make the initial roster along with Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness. That gives the Packers the four they will probably go with at edge. That being said, watch out for Brenton Cox Jr. and Kenneth Odumegwu to look great in training camp and make it difficult for Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur.
In training camp, watch for how the Packers utilize Lukas Van Ness. His versatility on the line could prove interesting.
Off-Ball Linebackers
In a typical 3-4 style defense, there are only two off-ball linebackers, but with the change to a 4-3, the Packers natural base will require three off-ball linebackers. However, as mentioned earlier, the Packers will mostly play a nickel style defense which still has just two off-ball linebackers.
So, it is very likely that the Packers keep more off-ball linebackers than they have in the past. Since 2017, Green Bay has averaged 4.29 off-ball linebackers on the initial roster. I’m going to assume they will keep at least one extra for their base defense. So, let’s say Green Bay keeps five of them.
Edgerrin Cooper, Ralen Goforth, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffie, Quay Walker, Kristian Welch, Eric Wilson, and Christian Young are the linebackers currently on the team. This group has to be close to the most athletic group of off-ball linebackers in the NFL. Let’s attempt to narrow it down to five.
The first four won’t be difficult: Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper, and Isaiah McDuffie. The battle for the fifth spot will definitely be a fight to the finish though. As of right now, I have to give the lead to Eric Wilson because of his ability on special teams, but don’t be surprised if an undrafted guy like Ralen Goforth makes it instead.
Training Camp Cornerbacks
Finally, it’s time for the defensive backs. I’m going to separate the cornerbacks from the safeties in this article. So, let’s talk about the cornerbacks. Since 2017, the Packers have kept an average of 5.71 corners on their roster. However, in 2022, Green Bay kept five corners while in 2023, they kept only four. So, let’s assume they keep five heading into 2024. What will this group look like?
At this time, Green Bay has nine corners on their 90-man roster. It is made up of Jaire Alexander, Corey Ballentine, Zyon Gilbert, Gemon Green, Kalen King, Keisean Nixon, Robert Rochell, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine. This group is quite versatile and if the Packers believe one of these corners could play well at slot corner and safety, they could very well go with six corners and only four safeties. But, we will keep it to five.
The obvious ones are Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine. This leaves just two spots remaining. Other than the offensive line, this corner group is probably the most intriguing. You might have noticed I left off Eric Stokes. Even though LaFleur has been talking positively on Stokes this off-season, if he hasn’t shown much improvement, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers trade him for a sixth or seventh round pick or even a player swap.
Who makes the corner group?
I’m going to guess Kalen King makes the roster too. If he would have been able to come out in the draft a year prior, he would have been a first round pick. I truly believe the Packers got a steal with him. That leaves just one cornerback left between Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine. I think it is entirely possible that this could come down to special teams and could be determined by the safety group.
So, the five corners will be Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Kalen King, and, as of right now, I will say Eric Stokes.
Safeties
Onto the safety group, which has to be the youngest positional group on roster – even younger than the wide receivers. The oldest safety on the team is all-pro safety Xavier McKinny who is 25. Because the Packers like interchangeability with their slot corners and their safeties, Green Bay will likely keep five safeties. This is supported by their recent trend of keeping an average of 4.71 safeties on the initial roster.
It will be very fun to watch this group after the offseason revamp of the safety room. The Packers signed big time free agent Xavier McKinney during free agency and then went and drafted three more with Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, and Evan Williams.
Because of the value placed on draft picks, I believe all three of the draft picks will make the team. This leaves just one position available for one of these players: Zayne Anderson (he does exist), Tyler Coyle, Anthony Johnson Jr., and Benny Sapp III. Once again, special teams could play a role in who makes it.
My prediction: the Packers go with Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo, Evan Williams, and Anthony Johnson Jr., who could start next to McKinney.
Training Camp for the Defense Should Be Different.
Training camp for the defense should look quite a bit different. The Packers haven’t had this style of defense since 2008. Hafley also speaks of playing aggressive and it sounds like a lot of the players love that mentality. So, the question I have is this: how will this effect how the defense practices? Will we be able to see a change?
I think we will. Training camp practices should be a lot of fun to watch because of this change in mentality on the defensive side of the ball! However, don’t expect the defense to start out fast. It will take some time. That being said:
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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