Cory's Corner: The Perfect Safety Switch
The sixth-year pro has overcome many challenges. This is a challenge the Packers really need.
The Packers had a few warts this past season.
There were issues at wide receiver, tight end was very inconsistent and it took some time for the offensive line to get on track.
But there is one more. The safety position was anything but safe. There were issues in tackling, communication and coverage.
So the problem has been identified, but how do you solve it? The Packers could draft a safety and hope that he develops quickly and ultimately earns a large snap count by Thanksgiving. That’s a gamble for a team that has postseason goals.
The answer is already on the roster. Rasul Douglas has proven that he is a capable tackler and the best move would be for him to be the last line of defense.
“(Douglas) has such good eyes and instincts when he’s back there and seeing the whole field,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Anytime you move a guy inside, whether it’s the nickel or the safety, and you have both sides you really have to worry about, there’s a curve there that’s going to take some time to really understand. But his skill set as far as his eyes, his ability to go get the ball, his angles, his instincts and he’s a pretty good tackler, too, he could make that transition if that’s what we decided to do.”
And yes, I understand moving Douglas to safety would thin out the cornerbacks.
However, I think Keisean Nixon is on the doorstep for another big year. He opened up everyone’s eyes as a returner last year and I’m willing to bet that he’s going to do it again as a corner this year. Nixon is currently a free agent, but the Packers have been parched for a taste of his dynamic, play-making ability.
The Packers were very deep last year and now they have a chance to use that depth to their advantage. Douglas will see the field more and he will likely be a much better player because as a safety, he will get to use his array of athleticism.
There is also another reason to make this move. This is a cornerback heavy draft. There could be six corners taken in the first round compared to just one safety. And even if the Packers don’t take a corner in the first round, there will be plenty of talent in the second round as well.
The safety position needs help to solidify a defensive backfield that I thought was one of the best in football. Unfortunately, injuries marred Darnell Savage’s season, but even when he was healthy, he looked overmatched by allowing a pass completion percentage of 68 and a passer rating of 114 in 2022.
The safety position is an X-factor position. It’s the position that can stick the running back at the line of scrimmage on fourth down. It’s the position that can come up with a big sack on third down. It’s the position that isn’t afraid to be matched up with a tight end that has three inches on him.
Douglas is that guy. The Packers don’t need him to play like LeRoy Butler but at the very least they need a presence in the back end. Douglas is just that guy to set the tone for a defense that desperately needs an edge.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (27)
Johnblood27
March 07, 2023 at 06:37 am
You nailed it Corey.
Douglas and the GBP are best served by a switch to safety and a focus in the draft to supplement both CB and safety.
Minus Jerry Gray, the DB will have to please a new coach, I hope that brings out the best in them as individuals and that Barry's fecal schemes don't handicap them too much.
stockholder
March 07, 2023 at 06:55 am
Can Stokes not be the bust I think is First.
Thats the real Question.
I say Gutey can't draft players.
That Savage never was a 1st round pick.
And Now moving a CB to safety:
not only thins the position.
But puts us back to square one.
Can a new safety coach, stop a defensive split?
Because new faces put us
right back to "How Long will this Take."
And if Rodgers leaves, It will seem like Forever.
jurp
March 07, 2023 at 07:55 am
To translate:
"I think Stokes is a bust; if for some reason he's not, that would help. I say that Gutekunst cannot draft players and that Savage was never a first round pick. Now, moving a CB to S not only thins out the CB group..."
The rest is impossible to translate. "Back to square one"? "defensive split"? "How long with this take?" No idea - my Vogon isn't that idiomatic.
And then the perpetual longing for Rodgers...
Savage was graded a Day 1 or Day 2 prospect (most likely Day 2) but was also projected to be a "plus starter". Picking him at 21 was a bit of reach, perhaps, but he played well until last year and started well before he was projected to. He almost certainly would not have been on the board had the Packers waited until Round 2.
jurp
March 07, 2023 at 08:15 am
It has occurred to me that some posters may think that my use of the word 'idiomatic' is an insult to stockholder. It is not. Here is it's definition, according to Merriam-Webster:
Idiomatic
1. of, relating to, or conforming to idiom:
2. peculiar to a particular group, individual, or style
stockholder has his own style of writing, which is the idiom in which he writes. Hence, my use of 'idiomatic' refers simply to this style, which I find difficult to translate.
stockholder
March 07, 2023 at 08:42 am
There is No translation.
Opinions are why we write.
Your reply is always an argument.
Hope I made your day.
marpag1
March 07, 2023 at 11:56 am
HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE OUT OF TOUCH:
When other posters go to rather great lengths to make sure that you understand the meaning of a very common word like idiomatic, but apparently have no concern at all that you might not know what the hell "Vogon" means.... yeah, you're out of touch.
Never mind me. I'll just pour me another scotch...
jannesbjornson
March 07, 2023 at 08:15 am
They're still catching up to the whiffs on Jones and Jackson. CB is a draft need, two minimum. Savage is now the guy in the Spotlight. A one pick and another four have to pay dividends? I guess he's a slot CB. Stokes was the second best CB on that Georgia squad. Water under the bridge, pier foundation, and bedrock. Another year of whack-a-mole. Nixon seemed to know where to be as a dime guy. IF BPA is Porter,jr or Ringo @ 15, grab them.
The OTs will be gone by #12. Then get another pick in the lower 1st for Uzomah. With this group running the brain trust, the future calls for pain.
MooPack
March 07, 2023 at 07:00 am
In other news...
https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/packersdaily-its-decision-time-for-aaron-r...
NickPerry
March 07, 2023 at 07:04 am
I think moving Douglas to Safety is almost a given considering who the Packers have under contract RIGHT NOW. Amos is probably gone, Savage should have been, and Rudy Ford is a FA. Maybe the Packers try and find a a player in FA, or they wait and find the next Rasul Douglas or Campbell, after the initial rush to sign all the top players at their respective positions has passed. But the Safety position will look much different this season.
The CB position is REALLY deep in this years draft. The Packers could find one in the 2nd or 3rd round, a decent starter even as a rookie. The Safety position isn't nearly as deep and everybody who mocked Brian Branch the the Packer have slowed their row a bit after the combine.
I'm just starting to do my homework on this years draft. Even though Safety is a BIG need, I'd almost rather see some attention paid to the offense in the early rounds, ESPECIALLY if they trade AR12. IMO they HAVE to get a TE and another WR in this draft. Now if they traded Rodgers to the Jets for example for this years 1st, Elijah Moore for the slot, and then a conditional pick next year ( another 1st or a 2nd if Rodgers retires after one year). That would enable Bute to move up or down in the draft even more gaining more picks in the process...Sounds good to me.
MooPack
March 07, 2023 at 07:07 am
Trade to Jets coming. Reports are out. Talks underway.
Untylu1968
March 07, 2023 at 07:16 am
🤞🤞🤞
Untylu1968
March 07, 2023 at 07:22 am
A round 2&4 this year and a first rounder next year.
Racingdad
March 07, 2023 at 09:10 am
1st and4th this yr 2 nd next yr plus player/s🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
bjkdad44
March 07, 2023 at 09:01 am
🙏🏻🤞🏻🙏🏻
Hematite
March 07, 2023 at 10:56 am
👌
dobber
March 07, 2023 at 01:43 pm
"I think moving Douglas to Safety is almost a given considering who the Packers have under contract RIGHT NOW."
YUP! This is the vein people need to look at this **potential** (since they don't have any organized team work until MAY) player move. If the draft is as bereft of higher end FS talent as others around here are saying, it will be easier to be successful drafting CB, no?
Vet SS are fairly easy to find on the open market. True FS are gold.
T7Steve
March 07, 2023 at 07:19 am
Stokes and Savage will be fine. Douglass at safety is something I'd been asking to try since last season. They will all shine IF, they can play behind a consistent front. If the front can contain the run for the most part, and get pressure on the QB, the backfield can help where needed and not get exposed by lengthy play developments.
Is it assumed that Amos is history? His leadership will be missed. If I remember correctly, he had a private camp for all the DBs last off-season. I feel he was exposed by poor defensive coordination and play around him last season.
Coldworld
March 07, 2023 at 08:04 am
Amos is not currently a Packer. His contract automatically voided. So he’s currently history. If the league views the safety class as poorly as some experts, it’s likely guys like Amos see some demand. Whether we are in a position to compete or want to be is hard to know. It’s possible that they try to resign him.
bjkdad44
March 07, 2023 at 09:02 am
Exposed but defensive did coordination…. Mainl due to poor coaching?? You say?
T7Steve
March 07, 2023 at 10:27 am
I had problems with the coaching on all levels of the team. From starting out with Newman and Hansen on the right end of the O-line to playing 2 down lineman and the DBs 9 yards deep on D.
RCPackerFan
March 07, 2023 at 08:01 am
Safety is definitely a need. But there doesn't appear to be a lock number 1 safety in the draft class. There are good options don't get me wrong, but there doesn't appear to be the top echelon of safety's available. Currently CBS sports has 1 player ranked in the top 30. Brian Branch. And he didn't have a dominating combine. They currently have 2 ranked in the top 50. 4 in the top 100.
There are however a lot of options for CB's. Currently CBS sports has 5 guys ranked in the top 30. 6 in the top 50. 10 in the top 100.
Now maybe some of these CB's will project to S in the NFL. I have no idea how teams will view some players. But what this tells me is that CB is stronger then S in this draft. They could potentially be looking to either draft a CB to put at Safety. Or they draft a CB and look to move someone on their current team to S. I have mentioned this before, but Douglas could be the guy to move to S. There was talks about him possibly moving there before.
There is free agency options as well. Right now we don't know who will truly be available, but these are the top Safety's according to NFL dot com. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (ranked) #7, Jessie Bates #9, Jorday Poyer #21, Vonn Bell #48, Donovan Wilson #56, John Johnson #79, Julian Love #81, Taylor Rapp #86, Juan Thornhill #96.
It will be interesting to see how they plan to move forward at S.
Racingdad
March 07, 2023 at 09:17 am
I kinda lean toward Julian love because he’s only 24 and probably less expensive than the others as long as he can be a good deep safty or just move Douglas to that role and draft another cb as there are better corners this yr
jannesbjornson
March 07, 2023 at 10:45 am
Syd Brown fills the spot.
mrtundra
March 07, 2023 at 08:17 am
How much would it cost to keep Rudy Ford in GB? He has the speed and talent to play DB. I do not understand how some think we need a veteran to come in, at whatever expense, when we have/had a guy like Ford on the team, until the contracts were voided, which made him a FA? I also feel moving Rasul to Safety could open up a spot at CB for the Packers to fill. Devin Witherspoon, or Christian Gonzalez may be available at #15 for the Packers. Witherspoon has been compared to Jaire Alexander. I'd love to have a pair of shutdown CBs, once again, on this team.
Lphill
March 07, 2023 at 09:27 am
Doesn't matter who plays where under Joe Barry.
Hematite
March 07, 2023 at 11:07 am
👌
dobber
March 07, 2023 at 01:45 pm
Then just think of it as finding the best talent for the next guy.