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Green Bay Packers: 2018 Season preview, predictions and more

By Joe Kipp

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 11: Mike Daniels #76 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after making a tackle during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on December 11, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 11: Mike Daniels #76 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after making a tackle during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field on December 11, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Defensive Preview

For the past few seasons, the Packers have had one of the most-susceptible defenses in the league. After parting ways with former defensive coordinator Dom Capers, a fresh new look from Mike Pettine should spice things up a bit. Not to mention the additions they made in the offseason.

Key additions

  • Muhammad Wilkerson has been reunited with his former (and now current) defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The two spent two seasons together with the New York Jets. Wilkerson figures to be a key contributor on the defensive line and should be hungry, as he was signed to a one-year ‘prove it’ deal.
  • A pair of rookie cornerbacks drafted in successive rounds – Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson – make for excellent depth at a position the Packers have struggled with in recent years. Both rookies nabbed an interception during the preseason.
  • The team also brought back a familiar face in Tramon Williams. Even at 35-years-old last season, Williams was playing some of the best football of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent his first nine seasons with the Packers.

Projected starters for Week 1

DL: Mike Daniels, Muhammad Wilkerson, Kenny Clark
OLB: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry
ILB: Blake Martinez
CB: Kevin King, Tramon Williams
Nickel CB: Jaire Alexander/Josh Jackson
S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Kentrell Brice

X-factors on defense

  • Blake Martinez is a clear leader in this category for several reasons. Not only is he slated to be one of the unquestioned leaders on defense (e.g. calling the plays), but he’s easily the best inside linebacker the Packers have had since AJ Hawk. Green Bay is also very thin at ILB, which makes Martinez’s presence even more important.
  • By mid-season, we could be talking about Josh Jackson as the best cornerback on the Packers roster. There’s already been talk about him earning the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he was also the highest-graded cornerback by Pro Football Focus (via Twitter) during the entire preseason.

Areas of concern

  • After a Pro Bowl season two years ago, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had his worst season as a pro in 2017. There were times on tape where he was clearly giving little to no effort after Rodgers went down for the year. Entering the last year of his contract, 2018 will be a make-or-break season for Clinton-Dix.
  • The outside linebacker position is one of the biggest questions on defense. Of course, Matthews and Perry make for a formidable duo, but each of them have been injury-riddled during the past few seasons, and the depth behind them is incredibly thin. Kyler Fackrell is average-at-best, and while Reggie Gilbert looked promising during the preseason, he has yet to prove it during meaningful games.
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