Packers Quarterly Review: Defense

We are four weeks into the NFL season and the Green Bay Packers are 2-2. They probably deserve to be 2-2 through four games.

They've played well in spurts, poorly in others.

The hope on their end is they'll be able to have more consistency as the season spills into October.

Here's a look at their defense through the first quarter of the year.

Defensive Line

This group has been the most disappointing, likely on the entire team.

This was the group making the most waves in the offseason. They were wrecking joint practice sessions and preseason games.

So far in the first four games of the season, they've looked nothing like that unit that dominated the summer.

Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark, the team's two best players, have one sack between them.

Clark does not have a TFL on the season.

Gary's production has been limited.

In fact, outside of an 8-sack barrage against the Titans, they've been relatively quiet through the other three games.

The other defensive ends have really struggled as well. Lukas Van Ness has not made the second-year leap many were hoping for yet.

The best player from this group has been third-year man Devonte Wyatt. He leads the team in sacks with three, but will likely miss some time with an injury he suffered against Minnesota.

The Packers think their talent is better than what the production has been through four games.

They'll have to prove it, because there's too much investment in this defensive line for it to play so poorly.

Grade: C

Linebackers

This might be the position group that best embodies what the defense has been through four weeks this season.

They've had some big-time highs, but some very inconsistent play.

Isaiah McDuffie dropped an easy interception last week, and who knows how the game would have gone if he makes that play on the first series of the game.

Quay Walker has been up and down for the duration of his career, and this year does not look to be any different through four weeks.

Edgerrin Cooper has played the last two weeks, but has a hip injury that is nagging him again. He has struggled with injuries in his brief NFL career.

Eric Wilson has been a staple on special teams, but also had a knack for making some big plays on defense. He was one of the best players on the field in the home opener against the Colts.

Overall, this group is going through an adjustment with a new scheme, but they'll need to be better as they get more comfortable in the defense.

Grade: C

Cornerbacks

The good news?

Jaire Alexander looks like himself. He has two interceptions on the season and had his first career pick-six against the Tennessee Titans.

The bad news?

Alexander is battling a groin injury, and he's struggled with injuries the last three years. If not for one of his secondary mates, Alexander would have an argument for the player playing the best football on the defense.

More on that in a minute.

Those around Alexander have been up and down. Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, and Corey Ballentine all had separate struggles in their loss to Minnesota last Sunday.

Nixon has had some bright spots on the season, but also had a lowlight, whiffing on a tackle of Jordan Addison that led to a touchdown.

Carrington Valentine may prove to be the best running mate for Alexander, but he's been dealing with an ankle injury, and may return to action this week. Overall this position has had more bad than good, but will need to be better against high-end teams as the season goes on.

Grade: B

Safeties

This is the easiest one of them all.

What a find Xavier McKinney has been. He's intercepted a pass in every game and become one of the team's locker room leaders.

McKinney's production early in the season prompted his defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley to call him, "the best safety in the league."

McKinney has been the brightest of bright spots early in the season.

Javon Bullard is getting more comfortable as the season goes along as well.

This group is so much better now than it was a season ago. There may not be a bigger upgrade to any position group across the NFL than the Packers' safety position.

Evan Williams has limited playing time on the season, but recovered an onsides kick and intercepted a hail mary in the team's 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Grade: A