Packers: The “Sky is the limit” for Darnell Savage
Second-year safety Darnell Savage has instilled confidence in his team and coach that he’s primed for a big leap for the Green Bay Packers.
When the Green Bay Packers traded up in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft to select Darnell Savage with the 21st overall pick, you knew they thought he could be something special.
He was a four-year starter at Maryland and played with a fearlessness Packers’ safeties lacked for some time. In college, he was a physical player who wasn’t afraid to make plays near the line of scrimmage and stick his nose on ball-handlers. He proved he could also hold his own in coverage. He had great range and took good angles to the football.
His physical attributes also stuck out. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash, adding some nice speed in the backend of the Packers’ secondary.
The Packers played it smart by pairing their rookie alongside a veteran in the secondary. Adrian Amos was signed in free agency last offseason and helped Savage learn the position at the NFL level.
In a conference call with reporters last week, Amos said he expects big things from Savage next season, “The playbook, knowing what to expect to the following season” said Amos. “Being around your team and your situation, coming into Year 2, we have the same secondary, he knows where I’m going to be, who the corners are. He can make a big jump in that way.”
Although defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is on thin ice in 2020, Savage will benefit from already knowing the playbook as Amos mentioned. He’ll be a lot more comfortable next season, as he should be able to allow his instincts to take over and think less.
He has a solid base to work off as well. Opposing quarterbacks were 17-for-30 when targeting Savage last season; good for a 56.7 percent completion percentage and a 71.1 quarterback rating. He also picked off two passes and should build on that number next year. Not bad for a rookie who played over 800 snaps in 2019.
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Savage’s play not only inspired confidence in his teammates, but in his coach as well. Pettine has nothing but good things to say about his second-year safety and thinks he can continue to grow, saying he thinks “the sky is the limit” for Savage.