Green Bay Packers: Safeties Best and Worst Case Scenarios

Returning Starters

Both Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage had solid seasons at the back end of Green Bay’s defense last season, and while neither of them are stars. However, Savage could develop into one, they seem to work well together, and that should only grow in year two of their partnership.

Adrian Amos

Adrian Amos made an immediate impact after being signed by the Packers in free agency last offseason, making an interception in the end zone, essentially sealing the game with just under two minutes to go. He continued to have a solid season as a significant upgrade from 2018 safeties Haha Clinton-Dix and Kentrell Brice. He had a career-high 84 total tackles, four for a loss, and tied his career-high with two interceptions. 

This year, Amos will hopefully become even more of a playmaker than he was in 2019. He’s done a great job not allowing big plays over his head and coming up to help in run support, but he can do even more. If he can come up with a few more interceptions or a few more tackles in the backfield, that would help this defense greatly. His starting spot is locked in, so really, his worst case would just be not making any big plays and being a mediocre starting safety.

Best Case Stats: 80 total tackles, 7 TFLs, 4 INTs, 12 PDs

Worst Case Scenario: 55 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 0 INTs, 5 PDs

Darnell Savage

The Green Bay Packers traded up to the 21st overall pick to take Savage in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they didn’t do that to have him sit on the bench. He was an immediate starter and was good in his first season. While Amos played up near the line of scrimmage with some consistency, Savage was often 15-20 yards deep on the snap. Despite this, he still was able to help in run support because of his blazing speed (4.36 40-yard dash). Just check out this clip of him flying down from 15 yards off the ball to make a play for only about a four-yard gain.

He also uses his speed in coverage. When he’s playing as the single high safety, he has to often cover a lot of ground to cut off deep routes, and he did that really well last year. He also played in the slot once in a while. This is a spot that offenses usually occupy with quick and speedy receivers, and Savage can run with any of them.

In coverage last year, he allowed only a 56.7 completion percentage and 71.1 passer rating. He also made two interceptions and recorded five passes defended. Like Amos, his starting job is pretty much locked, and he’ll just look to be even better in year two. He’s got the skills to be a Pro Bowler, maybe not this year quite yet, but you never know.

His worst possibility is taking a step back in year two, getting undisciplined, and letting guys score over the top or missing crucial tackles. Also, as a mostly deep safety, him making more tackles isn’t always ideal because that usually means the rest of the team let someone get through their first lines of defense.

Best Case Stats: 60 total tackles, 3 TFLs, 5 INTs, 8 PDs

Worst Case Stats: 45 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PDs