Safeties intercepting backup quarterbacks have been a common trend during the Green Bay Packers' training camp. Sure, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt aren't the type of player the Packers will frequently face in the regular season, but the secondary is already showing the potential to make special plays.
Young players have rotated in and out of the lineup. Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, and second-year player Anthony Johnson Jr. have had reps with the ones. And their mindset is exactly what the Packers would expect.
"I ain't gonna lie, I don't even like the word 'comfortable.' No disrespect, but I don't really like that word," Javon Bullard said. "Especially in this profession, because the second you get comfortable, somebody's got your job. And I don't even have a job yet."
That kind of approach gives head coach Matt LaFleur confidence to roll with the young guys.
"I didn't know he said that, but that fires me up," LaFleur said. "We want to make these guys comfortable being uncomfortable to get the most out of them. That just speaks to his level of maturity, and obviously where he's coming from at Georgia and the amount of competition he's had to face there. That means a lot."
Pillar of the unit
While the defense has rotated the second safety to find the best packages, veteran free agent addition Xavier McKinney is the obvious starter. Not only does he get all the reps, but he decides how he will play in each snap.
"Whenever we're on the field," Evan Williams said, "pre-snap we'll just communicate who's going down. If he wants to be high on this play based on personnel and situation and stuff."
"I'm glad Evan (Williams) is giving away our secrets," LaFleur later joked.
McKinney's ability to play everywhere gives them that flexibility, and it only gets more useful based on his capacity to read offenses and understand how the defense can operate on each play.
"My role and my job is to make sure that the rookies are prepared and no matter what rookie it is, making sure they know exactly what to do and how to do it and also doing it at a high level," McKinney stressed. "Obviously, I'm helping them along the way with any little bumps, any questions that they might have, and it's been pretty smooth throughout."
The Packers revamped basically the entire safety group, allowing Darnell Savage , Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford to walk in free agency. And it's showing early dividends, even with one of the three drafted safeties, Kitan Oladapo, still on the non-football injury list because of a knee issue.
Green Bay's approach to bet on rookies might be a risky one. But McKinney's level and leadership style protects them and elevates the ceiling. The first few practices have shown how impactful the results can be.
Related: Xavier McKinney gives the Packers flexibility to develop young safeties
Most Popular
Comments / 0