NCF wrote: ↑30 Sep 2024 13:12
LombardiTime wrote: ↑29 Sep 2024 19:10
By any objective measure, the BEST defensive player on the Green Bay Packers through 4 games is Xavier McKinney.
I don't think it is any coincidence McKinney was NOT DRAFTED by nor COACHED BY the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2024 seasons.
We just have no clue how to draft, develop, scheme, coach up, whatever you want to call it, defensive players.
Gary, Wyatt, LVN, Clark, Walker, Stokes all first round picks, compared to Minnesota's group and we were outclassed. Again.
This is not just on Hafley or Dom or Barry at this point. The ORGANIZATION has failed and continues to fail.
I would say the second best player on the defense has been Javon Bullard.
I am not chalking this all up to bad luck, but there is some of that here. Similar to the ST woes, what is the solution? It's kind of like the Bears on offense. So what do we do?
I agree that Bullard has looked pretty good. I also have a probably irrational fear he will evolve into just another mediocre Packer defensive player and hope he sticks close to McKinney for guidance on how to play the game.
As for what to do, I believe the first thing is admitting there is a problem. After 14 straight seasons of mostly mediocre to poor defensive play under now 4 different DCs, there should be a thorough internal audit. And I definitely include the scouting department & GM.
There have been massive whiffs (Perry over Harrison Smith, Kevin King over TJ Watt) and several just underwhelming selections like Savage and, unfortunately it looks like Q Walker.
How many defensive players have exceeded their draft status since 2010? Kenny Clark? Maybe a couple of others, maybe?
Why have the defensive picks been so blah when a Zach Tom or Cory Linsley or an Aaron Jones become good players far exceeding their draft profiles?
I would also strongly consider going outside the organization for more defensive talent (Gilmore, Phillips, Murphy, Van Ginkel, Cashman, Bullard, Greenard, & more defenders in purple yesterday all played for other teams).
I like Clark, Gary, Jaire as they have all been good to very good players during parts of their Packer careers. But they are not great players and all too often are just there, yet they are being paid like they are great players.
One thought I’ve had is that the emphasis on RAS is likely to lead to the drafting of a Savage over a McKinney, but who knows.
In my view, Packer management been also been to willing to pay top dollar for less than top dollar performances on the defensive side of the ball.
Now, I could be wrong about all of this (and I foolishly predicted the 2022 D would be a top 10 unit on this board), and I sincerely hope I’ll look back at this post in a few months and laugh about it.
But after 4 weeks, Hafley’s D looks pretty much like the previous 13 versions and that is simply not good enough.
Would love to hear from others with thoughts about the never-ending defensive struggles
