Green Bay Packers: Shake Up at LB gives Defense a Boost

The Green Bay Packers made some changes at the linebacker position a few weeks ago, and it’s a move that has paid off.

Whether it be former GM Ted Thompson or current GM Brian Gutekunst, it’s fairly clear that neither believes in spending big free-agent money or an early-round draft pick at the linebacker position. So entering the season, there was understandably some questions surrounding the depth of the linebacker position for the Green Bay Packers, and for much of the year, we saw a unit that struggled.

Christian Kirksey missed time with an injury from Weeks 4 through 9, and when he was on the field, he was unable to regain that form from past seasons. Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes flashed, but each missed time as well — Martin with a knee injury and Barnes on the reserve/COVID list — and as rookies, they still took their lumps.

Against both opposing running and passing games, the defense was being gashed over the middle, which doesn’t completely fall on the linebacker play, but struggling in that area certainly doesn’t help either. However, as a whole, the Green Bay Packers’ defense began to trend upward after their Week 8 matchup with Minnesota, and that was kicked up a few more notches in recent weeks against Carolina. And it just so happens that in Week 15, when facing the Panthers, we also saw a shake up at the linebacker position.

Prior to the Carolina game, and not including Week 3 against New Orleans when Kirksey left with an injury, he played in 100 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps in six out of seven games. But as I mentioned, we weren’t seeing the same Christian Kirksey from years past. Although he had high tackle numbers, they weren’t impact tackles. He had just one pressure, no tackles for loss, and 11 stops in his first eight games.

This led to a change that made Barnes the Mike linebacker and the signal-caller while Kirksey became the Will — or weakside — linebacker. And it’s a move that’s paid off for both players, and the Green Bay defense has benefited greatly.

"“Krys Barnes has done an outstanding job of kind of taking the Mike [middle linebacker] position,” LaFleur said via ESPN. “I think it’s freed up Christian to play that Will [weakside] linebacker, and I think he’s benefited from it in terms of he’s made a lot of plays for us — a lot of big plays. We’re going to need that to continue. Kamal has done a great job in there, too, when he’s in there at the Will linebacker.”"

Barnes is an intelligent player, who is very aware of what is happening around him, and he’s provided the position with some quickness. All of these attributes have been on full display as we’ve seen him make plays in coverage, blow up a screen in the backfield, plug holes on the defensive front, force a goal-line fumble, and sniff out and stop a Robby Anderson end-around.

Over these last three games, Barnes has totaled 27 tackles, two of which have been for a loss, with a forced fumble, and 11 stops, which is a tackle that is considered a success for the defense, according to Pro Football Focus ($).

"“He’s got a really really good feel for the game,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday via Sports Illustrated. “He sees things very quickly. He can diagnose what the offense is trying to do, and there’s no hesitation in his play. He’s got great instincts, great awareness, and finds his way to the ball-carrier consistently. Does a great job communicating calls to the other 10 guys out on the field to help them get lined up. He can make the necessary adjustments in terms of some of the checks that we put on our guys. That is a position that’s not easy to play. There are a lot of little adjustments or checks that you have to make, and he’s fully capable of doing that and he’s proven that over the course of the season.”"

In the last two games, Kirksey has played less than 50 percent of the defensive snaps, but in a reduced role as the Will linebacker, he’s been much more effective. Kirksey has logged two tackles for loss over the last three games — more than he had all season — he has an interception, two sacks — once again, more than he’s had all season — and a pass breakup.

Martin has shared some of the Will linebacker responsibilities with Kirksey and continues to show that explosiveness and hard-hitting ability–although playing with a bit more control might lead to a few more tackles.

"“Krys Barnes has done an outstanding job of kind of taking the Mike [middle linebacker] position,” LaFleur said via ESPN. “I think it’s freed up Christian to play that Will [weakside] linebacker, and I think he’s benefited from it in terms of he’s made a lot of plays for us — a lot of big plays. We’re going to need that to continue. Kamal has done a great job in there, too, when he’s in there at the Will linebacker.”"

With all of that said, the play of the Green Bay Packers’ linebackers is not the only reason behind the defense’s recent surge. As a unit, the Green Bay defense is allowing only 15.3 points per game the last three weeks, doing so against two of the NFL’s better offenses, and they’ve held opponents to just three touchdowns on 12 red zone trips while also forcing several turnovers.

However, the play from their linebackers has certainly helped, and with the playoffs approaching, the Green Bay Packers will need it to continue (via ESPN).

"“All three of those guys who are getting the bulk of it have really picked up the play in that room, which has helped our defense as a whole. I think the communication has been better. I think guys are playing more aggressive, more physical, guys are running to the football. We’re stressing all those little things that I think become big things. And I think that’s where it all comes to the style of play — what you want to be, what your identity is by what you’re putting out there — and I definitely think the urgency, the effort, the intensity has definitely increased from the midpoint of the season to where we’re at now.”"