Mighty Green Bay Packers 2023 Defensive Backfield... Pre-Draft

Here's a list of the top Safeties in 2023 per Dane Brugler

(Guess not. No copy/paste on the paid articles)

More on the S2 cognition test and how it relates to Safety and CB play

"Top-tier quarterbacks have the highest average scores, followed closely by safeties. That makes sense considering safeties are known as the “quarterback of the defense” and must keep an eye on multiple moving opponents.

“The average human being can keep track of about three and a half objects at a time,” Alley said. “The average safety in the NFL, it’s closer to six.”

The positions with the third-highest scores: linebacker and cornerback.

The traditional thinking about cornerback was that it was all about physical skills — being fast and mimicking the movements of a wide receiver. As it turns out, the ability to make rapid decisions and to control impulses are paramount. One of the S2 tests looks at impulse control. Ally said low scores predict substandard play as well as holding and pass-interference penalties.

“If you’re impulsive, you fall prey to that double move,” Ally said. “You make a step in the wrong direction. And second, they just can’t control that impulse to grab a jersey when (the receiver) gets by them.

You saw that call in the Super Bowl ? We could argue all day long whether that was (a penalty) or not. But you saw him start to get burned and he just couldn’t control that impulse to grab the jersey. That’s very typical of someone with low impulse control.”

I'd argue the defensive backfield is pretty weak overall.

Jaire is Jaire. He's small, but holds his own, regardless. After him, it's all question marks.

Stokes is a faster, less agile Kevin King. If/when he comes back he's a guy who can cover the widest receiver, but not built for the slot. And he was struggling a lot before his injury last year. Hopefully it was just a "sophomore slump".

Douglas is pretty good in press, but he doesn't have the quicks for zone or the speed for off, and not built for the slot, either. There's a reason he bounced around and he regressed to the mean somewhat last year. Getting some run at safety may be a decent idea, but if Stokes isn't back and well early, that'll be tough.

Nixon is a nice special teamer, and was a revelation as a returner, but didn't earn many snaps on defense until there were basically no other options so far in his four years in the league for two teams, so counting on him to be a good starter inside is probably a bit Polyanna.

The rest are chum. Shemar Jean-Charles is a poor-man's Nixon without the return skills, as are the rest.

Safety is even worse.

If they can Pettine Savage, he's a decent player. He'll never be Coq au vin but Barry showed he can make chicken shit out of chicken salad.

The best of the rest is probably Rudy Ford, and he's not good. Yeah, those interceptions were exciting, but he struggled a lot otherwise, which is part of the reason those throws kept going his way. Gaines, Leavitt and Carpenter are more special teams guys than guys you want playing defensive snaps.

They could really use two safeties and someone who can play slot. With the proliferation of "big slots" it probably can't be a cocaine smurf, either. I would actually not be surprised if they take a corner before a safety.

Ooooh, I like "cocaine smurf"! 

Witherspoon, CB from Illinois has been compared to Jaire. He may make it to pick 15. Gonzalez is most likely off the board by #15. Safeties Brian Branch and Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson should both be on the board when the Packers pick at 15. Do we grab a DB, in Round 1 or do we get some offense there? I'd love to see Gute's board.

Draft a CB at 15? Everyone should be fired.

Supposedly no S worth RD1 this year.

https://wisportsheroics.com/gr...safety-vernon-scott/

" Darnell Savage weathered some real rough patches last season but was in peak form by year's end. He returned a Kirk Cousin interception for a 75-yard touchdown in a dominant 41-17 win over Minnesota on New Year's Day and led the Packers' defense with 11 tackles and two passes defensed against Detroit in the regular-season finale."

Savage's nine interceptions are tied with Jaire Alexander for the most in Green Bay's secondary over the past four seasons."

Tariq Carpenter interview yesterday - says he is being moved to LB instead of Safety for 2023

https://packerswire.usatoday.c...cker-to-start-2023/?

Coach Matt LaFleur tinkered with the idea of playing Carpenter at linebacker after taking him with the 228th overall pick last April. It appears the move is finally happening now, a year later.

Carpenter has the build and movement ability to be an effective nickel linebacker who comes on the field in passing downs.

Packers needed somebody more athletic to be a back up at ILB, sounds like Carpenter is gonna get a shot there

@Satori posted:

The positions with the third-highest scores: linebacker and cornerback.

The traditional thinking about cornerback was that it was all about physical skills — being fast and mimicking the movements of a wide receiver. As it turns out, the ability to make rapid decisions and to control impulses are paramount. One of the S2 tests looks at impulse control. Ally said low scores predict substandard play as well as holding and pass-interference penalties.

“If you’re impulsive, you fall prey to that double move,” Ally said. “You make a step in the wrong direction. And second, they just can’t control that impulse to grab a jersey when (the receiver) gets by them.

You saw that call in the Super Bowl ? We could argue all day long whether that was (a penalty) or not. But you saw him start to get burned and he just couldn’t control that impulse to grab the jersey. That’s very typical of someone with low impulse control.”

Makes complete sense to me. Tracking the receiver, the QB and the ball at the same time.

I would really like to see a sample of the S2... 

@Fandame posted:

I would really like to see a sample of the S2... 

Might be fun to try. It's a timed test, set up on a specially designed game controller. It allows them to measure your responses in milliseconds.

As far as the Packers drafting DBs, one guy who is intriguing is Jartavius Martin - he's played multiple spots in college and might be a decent fit at Safety/nickel corner in GB.

@Herschel posted:

I'd argue the defensive backfield is pretty weak overall.

I would actually not be surprised if they take a corner before a safety.

Guess Safety really sucked in this draft.

Wonder which way the Packers would've went if the choice was between Witherspoon and Van Ness?

Packers will be able to grab a vet Safety in FA and/or rumors (from Rasul) they may re-sign Amos. 

Gute says they are still in communication with Adrian Amos. He may be the best stop gap available to the team until they can find some talent in future years.

@Goalline posted:

Gute says they are still in communication with Adrian Amos.

Today is May 1st and any vets signed now don't count against the comp pick formula. GB is currently expected to net a 5th, 6th , 6th in 2024 draft for their FA losses.

Ourlads depth chart currently lists Tarvarius Moore at FS and Savage at SS which is interesting. Gute mentioned that some of the Savage struggles were related to him playing deep all the time and he wanted to be more engaged by playing SS

In addition to Amos, Budda Baker is looking to get out of AZ but he is too spendy for the 2023 Packers cap. GB would have to re-work that deal

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/

https://overthecap.com/player/budda-baker/5622

@Boris posted:

Guess Safety really sucked in this draft.

Wonder which way the Packers would've went if the choice was between Witherspoon and Van Ness?

This is where the trade back and Reed pick irk me. Aside from not liking Reed very much, Quan Martin and Keanu Benton went between the picks and both would have also filled needs.

@Satori posted:

Today is May 1st and any vets signed now don't count against the comp pick formula.

Did not know that. 

That is why you will never be the DSOBOTB

You didn’t know today was May 1st?

You must be retired.

@Herschel posted:

This is where the trade back and Reed pick irk me. Aside from not liking Reed very much, Quan Martin and Keanu Benton went between the picks and both would have also filled needs.

It'll be fun seeing which of the three turns out the best. 🙂

.
There's plenty of talent in this backfield, just curious to see how the puzzle all fits together on Sunday. Some mix/match too with all these versatile players

Boundary corner
Jaire, Stokes, Rasul

Slot corner - Star position
Jaire, Nixon, Savage - maybe  Stokes

Free Safety
Tarvarius Moore, Savage
Jaire would excel here

Strong Safety
Rudy Ford
Savage
Anthony Johnson Jr.
maybe Amos