Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (11-15)
Aug 16, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji (90) looks on during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field. The Browns defeated the Packers 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers 9-6-1
Last Season’s Rankings: #25 Overall Defense (372.3 total yards per game allowed) #24 Passing Defense (247.3 passing yards per game allowed) #25 Rushing Defense (125 rushing yards per game allowed)
Last Season
Last season was a weird season for the Green Bay Packers offensively, but on defense it was same old, same old, minus the usual dominance. Due to injuries, the Packers defense was a little bit less potent than usual. Clay Matthews missed five games due to injury as the Packers defense ranked 24th and 25th in passing and rushing, respectively. Their 26.8 points allowed per game ranked 24th in the league in 2013. As I said not as dominant as the Packers would have liked. Regardless they were still able to make the playoffs, but just barely. 2014 should see improvement as the Packers defense didn’t lose, but rather gained talent.
Run Defense
Last season the Packers and their 25th-ranked rush defense which allowed 125.0 rushing yards per game last season allowed 14 rushing touchdowns to go along with their 30 passing touchdowns given up by their 24th-ranked passing defense which allowed 247.3 passing yards per game in 2013. With the addition of Peppers, the Packers should definitely see some improvement on the defensive end for sure. Although Peppers is from division rival Chicago Bears, he can still give the Packers some much needed help on the defensive line. How Peppers will benefit the Packers is by 1). giving them a reliable pass-rusher on the outside who can sack the quarterback and 2). a guy who can drop back in coverage and jump up and even intercept a pass or two. If you watch his tape and study his overall playing ability, you can see Peppers is definitely an athletic specimen. By going out and getting a defensive end like Peppers, the Packers are helping out their 25th-ranked rush defense which allowed 125.0 rushing yards per game last season. Although Peppers’ numbers declined from the 2012 to the 2013 season (11.5 sacks and 32 solo tackles in 2012, 7 sacks and 31 solo tackles in 2013), he is still a formidable force on this Packers defensive line that features B.J. “The Freezer” Raji and Datone Jones. As well, the Packers added some key defensive draft picks in DT Khyri Thornton from the University of Southern Mississippi and OLB Carl Bradford out of Arizona State University.
Like many college athletes, Thornton’s junior year was much more impressive than his senior season. However, over his career, Thornton has been relatively successful and productive as a DT for Southern Miss. Over his career, Thornton has amassed 6.5 sacks, 116 tackles and 29.5 tackles for loss. How Thornton has been able to be relatively successful is something that the Packers have admired. His motor is one of the best, seeing as that he can be speedy quick when chasing down defenders. With the 3-4 defense, Thornton perhaps may not get much playing time at first, but with some luck, he could be the next starting defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers.
In my estimation of Bradford, he should have gone way earlier than the fourth round. A simple look at his stats can help out even the most uneducated of fans. In his last two season as an Aztec, Bradford averaged 20.25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 70.5 tackles, 4 passes defended, 3 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles and even returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown during his junior season. Although I predicted the Pack to get an OLB in the first round, they surprised me and waited all the way till the fourth round to select underrated Carl Bradford out of ASU. He has the long locks and aggressive play which is very indicative of a Green Bay style linebacker considering A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews. Although sometimes that aggressive play can get him into trouble, Bradford knows how to play smart and can use his spirit and love for the game to his advantage. He has a big motor and can be quick off the snap. Look for Bradford to fit into the mix with ease.
As for the other parts of the Green Bay front seven, DE Mike Daniels (23 tackles, 6.5 sacks and four tackles for loss), DT B.J. Raji (17 tackles and three tackles for loss), DE Peppers joining LBs Clay Matthews (41 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and three forced fumbles), A.J. Hawk (118 tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and five passes defended), Brad Jones (84 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss), and Nick Perry (28 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles).
I think that 2013 was probably a fluke season for Green Bay considering all of the talent on their roster. With Matthews, Hawk and all of the rest of the players coming back healthy, I believe that 2014 should see massive improvement in the running game for Green Bay.
Pass Defense
In 2013 their passing defense ranked 24th in the league and allowed a touchdown in every single game, excluding week eight against the Vikings. In total the Pack allowed opposing QBs to complete 30 touchdown passes against their defense in 2013. Last season, the Packers as a unit were only able to intercept 11 passes last season as compared to 66 passes defended (ranked 26th and 22nd, respectively). Last season was unimpressive because of the free safety position (or lack thereof). But it’s all good up in the hood because the Packers selected the best free safety in the nation in Alabama’s Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix.
As one of the nation’s best rated free safeties, the Packers got a steal selecting him #21 overall. Originally out of Orlando, Florida, Hasean Clinton-Dix is one of Alabama’s top draft choices in 2014. At 6-1, 208 pounds, he has a very lanky build, but isn’t very strong. Instead, Clinton-Dix is faster and smarter than he is stronger and tougher. Where he is one of the NCAA’s best free safeties is in his ability to read and diagnose a play just from a simple formation change and adjust to those changes on the fly. He has great tackling ability and can help out the Packers with the running game. In his past two seasons as Free Safety of Alabama, Clinton-Dix intercepted opposing QBs 7 times. As well, at 6’1″ he is athletic but isn’t afraid to get physical with his receivers. For the Packers, they were extremely lucky that somebody else didn’t select Clinton-Dix before them. With this first-round pick, the Pack can utilize him right away at a Free Safety position that desperately needs a leader. Next year watch out for the high-flying Dix to make an impact early. As well the Packers did happen to select DB Demetri Goodson from Baylor University.
These draft picks combining along with Tramon Williams (83 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, 11 passes defended and three interceptions), Davon House (44 tackles and 10 passes defended), Micah Hyde (55 tackles, two tackles for loss and two passes defended), Morgan Burnett (96 tackles and six passes defended), and Sam Shields (61 tackles, 16 passes defended and four interceptions) should help Green Bay’s pass defense immensely. The key for the Packers is making sure that their CBs are going out and making plays. I believe that Clinton-Dix and Burnett can certainly make plays, it is just a matter of whether or not the corners can do their job. I believe that if they perform well, the Packers see massive improvement on the passing side of the ball.
In The End
What sets the Packers apart from the rest of these teams is that besides some guys on offense, they didn’t really lose any players due to free agency. The additions of Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix and Julius Peppers give this Packers’ squad some much needed help at the DE and FS positions. Clinton-Dix is about as close to a hard-hitting, shut-down free safety as you can get, while Peppers is a professional day in and day out. Many may question why I have the Packers at number 15 and the answer is simple. They have a great line backing corps and with Clinton-Dix, their secondary can finally get some stability and play-making ability.