Green Bay Packers: 3 X-Factors on Defense in 2020
By Paul Bretl
Last week we took a look at X-Factors on offense, now it’s time to take a look at 3 potential X-Factors for the Green Bay Packers on the defensive side of the ball.
The lasting image for many Green Bay Packers fans when it comes to the 2019 seasons is going to be watching them get run off the field – literally – by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. That game the run defense had their worst performance of the season – along with many others – but truthfully, it was also an issue for much of the season.
However, what can be overshadowed by that one game is that this defense did take a huge step forward last season and secured several wins along the way.
Overall Green Bay would give up the ninth fewest points per game, they finished with the fourth-best turnover differential, including 17 interceptions along with seven fumble recoveries, and their pass- defense was ranked top-10 by DVOA. Not to mention that they were very good in the red zone as well.
Sure, they gave up some big plays, and opposing offenses were able to move the ball at times, but they kept points off the board. And in the end, that’s really all that matters.
Now as we look ahead to the upcoming season, the Green Bay Packers bring back pretty much the same personnel led by Za’Darius Smith and Kenny Clark and have a few young players – Jaire Alexander and Darnell Savage – looking to make some big jumps. This of course bodes well for another strong and hopefully even better season ahead.
But which players can really help kick this defense up a notch? While everyone may have a slightly different definition of what an X-Factor might be, to me it’s someone who should see a fair amount of playing time, but we don’t necessarily know what to expect from them.
If they underwhelm, it could hold the defense back. However, if they are able to become impact players, they will take this defense to a new level.
So with that in mind, these three players, in particular, are my potential X-Factors on defense for the 2020 season.