Green Bay Packers: Young Secondary Looks Poised For Big Year

In the current age of football that is filled with high scoring, electric offenses, defenses have to continually evolve their personnel and game plan to slow down these star-studded units. The Green Bay Packers have done just that by investing heavily in their secondary. Headlined by the young superstar of Jaire Alexander, the Packers’ defensive backs, though young, have the talent to be among the best in the NFL.

Last season, under Mike Pettine, the secondary showed flashes of just how good they could be but lacked the consistency needed to be a premier group in the league. Entering the 2021-2022 season under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry, he looks to be the change needed to elevate Alexander and Co. to another level.

In his press conference following Family Night, Barry commented on what he wants to see out of his talented young group.

"“My biggest thing, is that I want consistency, and that starts with me. Me with the staff, and me with the players”."

If Barry can help turn the flashes of aggressive, ball-hawking, dominant play we have seen in past years into the new normal for the Packers’ defense, they will be a scary sight for opposing offenses.

What gives this defense the potential to be so good is that there are playmakers everywhere.

The Green Bay Packers’ secondary is headed by the show-stopping corner, Jaire Alexander. The 24-year-old Alexander emerged as one of the best defensive backs in NFL during the 2020-2021 season. It got to the point where opposing quarterbacks rarely even targeted Ja Money.

Throughout the course of the season, Alexander was thrown at 80 times and allowed only 41 receptions for a whopping 375 yards. For comparison, Ravens cornerback, and perennial Pro-Bowler Marlon Humphrey gave up 651 yards on 65 completions against him.

This consistent stellar play earned Jaire not only some respect in the national media but also achieved the highest season grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF). Coming in with a remarkable grade of 90.5, Alexander ranked first amongst cornerbacks. He essentially turned one side of the field into “Jaire Island” where receivers were destined to have a rough go of it.

Jaire is not the only star in the secondary, however. The safety tandem of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage Jr. has the ability to be the best pairing in the entire NFL.

Amos will be entering his seventh season in the NFL and third in Green Bay. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has been as good as advertised. Coming from Chicago, Amos has always been one of the most consistent defensive backs in the league. Last year, similarly to Alexander, Amos was dominant. The 28-year-old was the second-highest rated safety by PFF with a grade of 89.9. The duo of Alexander and Amos was the best in the league last year, and will only continue to get better.

The talent in the secondary does not end there. Darnell Savage Jr. is one of the budding stars in the NFL. Combining the experienced Amos with Savage, the 2019 first-round pick, the Green Bay Packers have the pieces in place to be great.

Darnell Savage has in a way been a reflection of the  Green Bay defense as a whole over the past few seasons. He has shown on numerous occasions just how good he can be, but also had his fair share of lackluster performances on his journey to learning the NFL game. Entering his third season, Savage will have a prime opportunity to show just how talented he is. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry will put the young safety in a position to make plays, and he will do the rest.

The rest of the Green Bay Packers’ secondary is where the outlook begins to look a little hazy. With no clear answer as to who will start opposite Jaire Alexander, the Pack will look for big contributions from both Keving King and rookie Eric Stokes Jr.

While King has had more than his fair share of letdowns, and costly blown coverages, he is a competent second corner in the NFL. However, it is clear Brian Gutekunst and his staff do not trust  King in the long term, and Stokes, the 2021 first-round pick, will likely be given an opportunity to show his abilities. This position battle will be something to monitor throughout training camp and the pre-season. Regardless of who is ultimately named starter, the talent is there to add to this potentially great secondary.

Guys like Chandon Sullivan, Vernon Scott, Josh Jackson, and Will Redmond will also get a decent amount of playing time. These guys have a lot to prove and show that they too can contribute to this uber-talented secondary.

Going into this pressure-filled 2021-2022 campaign, all eyes will be on the Green Bay Packers. With a loaded roster and the talent to win a Super Bowl, Joe Barry’s defense has to play up to their potential. The secondary has the ability to be among the best in the NFL. Headlined by the best corner-safety duo in the league, Alexander and Amos will set the tone for what will be an elite unit.