Packers report card: Defense, specialists, coaching staff

Here is our midterm report card for the Packers defense, special teams and coaching staff.

Defensive Line

After dominating the 2019 season, Kenny Clark suffered a groin injury in the 2020 opener at Minnesota. It took him three months to round into form. Healthy in 2021, he’s returned to elite status.

Of the 70 interior defensive linemen with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, he was eighth in ProFootballFocus.com’s pass-rushing productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap. Of the 47 interior defensive linemen with at least 100 run-defending snaps, Clark was sixth in PFF’s run-stop percentage, a metric that essentially measures impact tackles.

Only Clark, Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward and Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons were in the top 10 in both metrics.

Dean Lowry, who many fans wanted to dump during the offseason to save some money against the cap, has had a quality season.

The key for the second half of the year will be third-year player Kingsley Keke, who had done almost nothing to start the season but had 1½ sacks against Washington. He’s the player who has the largest potential for growth.

It will be interesting to see if fifth-round rookie TJ Slaton will eventually take run-defending snaps from veteran Tyler Lancaster.

Grade: C+

Outside Linebackers

The Smith Bros. – Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith – were the driving forces behind the Packers’ surprise run to the 2019 NFC Championship Game. The Packers returned to the title game in 2020, even though Za’Darius Smith wasn’t quite as dominant and Preston Smith fell off the face of a cliff.

All offseason, the speculation was the Packers would release Preston Smith in a cost-cutting move. Good thing they didn’t. Za’Darius Smith practiced only once in training camp and played only a little in week one before going on injured reserve and having back surgery. His season might be over.

While the stats might not show it, Preston Smith has had a strong bounce-back season. He’s so good against the run.

The key, however, has been Rashan Gary. The 2019 first-round pick has become an every-down force. Of the 73 edge defenders with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, Gary was sixth in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity and pressures.

The Packers were in trouble against lowly Washington before his sack/strip to start the second half. He’s powerful and relentless, and he’s not just focused on sacks.

With Za’Darius Smith, Chauncey Rivers and Randy Ramsey on injured reserve, Jonathan Garvin has emerged as a key role player after barely playing as a seventh-round rookie last year. Position coach Mike Smith raves about his intelligence and toughness.

Obviously, this unit would be better if Za’Darius Smith returns but the recent addition of 31-year-old Whitney Mercilus will provide some critical insurance.

Grade: B-

Inside Linebackers

Through seven games, De’Vondre Campbell and Colts All-Pro Darius Leonard were the only players in the NFL with three-plus passes defensed, two-plus interceptions and two-plus forced fumbles. He had that stat line along with ranking fifth in the league with 67 tackles (15 more than Leonard).

To think he was unemployed until deep into June is amazing. He’s been the Packers’ best defensive player this season and the best inside linebacker in a decade.

Campbell is a big, physical tackler. It might go unnoticed but when Campbell hits the man with the ball, he generally drops him on the spot rather than allowing him to fall forward for another yard or two. Those hidden yards add up.

In coverage, he might not be the most fleet of foot but he’s got excellent instincts and length.

It’s been a revolving door of mediocrity next to him with Krys Barnes, Oren Burks and veteran addition Jaylon Smith. To get around it, the Packers often line up with three defensive linemen, two outside linebackers, one inside linebacker and five defensive backs.

Grade: B

Cornerbacks

An elite cover man, Jaire Alexander is one of the more irreplaceable players on the roster. When he suffered a shoulder injury on his fourth-down stick of 230-pound Steelers running back Najee Harris in week four, the entire season took a turn.

A string of top quarterbacks began on Thursday against Arizona and will continue with Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Seattle’s Russell Wilson (depending on his injured finger), Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and the Rams’ Matthew Stafford before the bye, then Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield and Cousins again during the final quarter of the season.

Can Green Bay’s defense survive without one of the top defenders in the NFL?

Kevin King missed time with a shoulder injury, too, though that’s hardly news. Injuries have been the theme of his career. The good news is first-round pick Eric Stokes was forced into a sink-or-swim role as the primary defender against the opponents’ top receiver and hasn’t sunk. There’s been more good than bad.

If Alexander returns and Stokes continues to grow, this defense could be dangerous in January.

Chandon Sullivan got off to a slow start in the slot but has picked up the pace. Veteran Rasul Douglas, who was grabbed off Arizona’s practice squad, has been a helpful addition.

Grade: C-

Safeties

One of the driving forces behind last year’s run to the NFC Championship Game was the play of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage during the second half of the season. They were superb down the stretch, eliminating big plays while creating big plays of their own. By season’s end, they had combined for six interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

In the first seven games of this season, they had one interception and six passes defensed. If they can kick their play into high gear again, it would be a huge development.

At this point, Savage – a first-round pick in 2019 – remains an enigma. There are enough splash plays that he looks like a potential star. But there is so much mediocre in his play. Maybe that’s just who he is – a decent starter but a disappointment in terms of draft status.

While Savage and No. 3 safety Henry Black have missed too many tackles, Amos is Mr. Reliable in that regard. He’s just so steady.

Grade: C

Specialists

At the end of training camp, general manager Brian Gutekunst acquired punter Corey Bojorquez and released JK Scott. From a punting standard, this was a home run of a transaction. Aside from one bad game against Cincinnati, Bojorquez has been tremendous.

One week, he had an 81-yard punt at Chicago. The next week, he deftly landed a pooch punt just inches from the goal line so it could be downed at the 3 against Washington. At risk of hyperbole, he’s probably the best punter in franchise history.

On the other hand, the field-goal unit has been in a bit of disarray. While Scott wasn’t a great punter, he was a tremendous holder. The change in the operation, along with some early protection issues, is a reason why Mason Crosby missed four field goals to start this season after missing just two the past two seasons combined.

On the block against Washington, the protection wasn’t great but Crosby’s kick barely got off the ground. The season could depend on getting the snap-hold-kick combination squared away.

Rookie Amari Rodgers already has two punt returns longer than Green Bay’s best from last year. Fellow rookie Kylin Hill had a 41-yard kickoff return vs. Detroit but otherwise hasn’t found any room.

Fourth-year long snapper Hunter Bradley was lucky to survive training camp but has been OK to start the season.

Grade: C

Coaching and Personnel

By the end of the Bears game in week six, the Packers had eight starters out with injuries. And yet they won that game, like they won almost every game during the first half of the season. So, while victories over Chicago and Washington lacked style points, the fact they won those games with so much firepower on the bench shouldn’t be swept aside simply because of the mediocre competition.

Credit for that belongs to LaFleur and his coaching staff – specifically position coaches Stenavich, Mike Smith and Jerry Gray (defensive backs), whose groups have been hit hardest.

Meanwhile, general manager Brian Gutekunst has continued to supplement the roster with veterans. Against Washington, Douglas, Mercilus and Jaylon Smith combined to play 99 snaps on defense. They weren’t even on the team at the start of October. The acquisitions of those three and Cobb are moves this team simply hasn’t made over the years.

If you want to know what “all in” means, this season is the definition. Entering the offseason, the Packers were more than $25 million over the salary cap. Gutekunst mostly kept the gang together for one more run by restructuring the contract of literally every veteran on the roster. Win or lose this year, they’ll pay the piper for that aggressive approach next year, when they’re a projected $46 million over the cap.

Grade: A

First-Half MVP on Defense: Campbell

First-Half Disappointment: Za’Darius Smith

Second-Half Key on Defense: Keke

Rookie of the Half-Year: Stokes

Coach of the Half-Year: Stenavich