Quay Walker Continues to Get Better but Still Needs to Learn
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker has clearly taken a step forward in his second NFL season. The former first-round pick out of Georgia has improved his game in many areas and through four games, leads the team in tackles by a large margin. But Walker showed again on Thursday night that he still needs to stop doing some careless things that hurt the team.
Against the Lions, Walker was making plays all over the field. He made 19 total tackles, more than double the next highest player. He had 10 solo tackles which included one tackle for loss.
Through the first four games, Walker has 47 tackles, 18 more than his closest teammate. Walker has excelled in pass coverage and has used his speed to make tackles all over the field.
In the Packers Week 1 win over the Bears, Walker intercepted a Justin Fields pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
Last season, Walker struggled to read plays. While he was able to cover a lot of ground, he was often out of position because he was slow to react. It cost the Packers, especially against the run when Walker’s reactions left large gaps in contain.
Despite the rookie mistakes, Walker showed plenty of promise. The biggest issue Walker had a season ago was taking foolish penalties after the whistle that led to him being ejected from two games.
The first incident took place against the Buffalo Bills when Walker shoved a player on the Bills practice squad who wasn’t dressed for the game after the whistle. Walker was ejected from the game which the Packers eventually lost.
The second incident took place in the season finale against the Lions. The Packers knew if they won the game, they’d get into the playoffs. If they lost, their season would be over.
In this game, Walker was ejected for shoving a trainer who had come onto the field to tend to an injured Lions player. Again, Walker was ejected and again, the Packers lost.
Walker took both ejections hard. He apologized to his teammates and the coaching staff and vowed to work on his temper. He reported to training camp this summer determined to keep his aggression on the field in an appropriate way.
Through the first three games of this season, there were no similar issues. But then, against the Lions, he made another foolish play that was costly to the team.
The Packers were trailing 27-3 at the half but had clawed their way back into the game and trailed 27-17 with 8:10 left in the fourth quarter. The Lions drove to the Green Bay 12 where the Packers defense stiffened and forced a field goal attempt from 30 yards out. The kick was good, but the Packers appeared to keep it a two-possession game, trailing by 13 points with enough time left to possibly complete the comeback.
But after the play, the officials huddled and called an obvious penalty on Walker. The former Georgia star had lined up behind the line of scrimmage and jumped over the long snapper. That resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The Lions took the points off the board and continued their drive. They scored a touchdown to make the score 34-17 and make it a three-possession game with six minutes left. Essentially, the touchdown meant game over.
In his post-game press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur defended Walker, saying that fans and the media were being a little too hard on the young linebacker.
“You have to be within one yard of the line of scrimmage. You cannot get a running start and do that,” LaFleur said after the game. “It was bad. It was a bad deal. I'm not going to sit here and blame Quay. Obviously, we need to do a better job educating our players on what the rules are. Again, that's on me.”
Clearly, the coaching staff needs to explain the rules to the players although the players also need to learn the rule book before they get on the field. This was an unnecessary mistake that was potentially costly to the Packers.
But to blame this defeat on Walker is beyond absurd. Walker’s penalty was just one of many poor plays made by the Packers on Thursday night. The defense could have stopped the Lions on 4th-and-1 at the end of the drive and kept it a 10-point game with six minutes remaining.
The Packers also were quite simply outplayed, outcoached, and dominated physically. Walker’s mistake was not related to his two ejections of a year ago other than the fact that it was an avoidable mistake that hurt the team.
Walker has clearly taken a big step forward in his second year and can continue to improve as he gains more experience. These foolish and costly moments must be addressed and will be. Meanwhile, the Packers as a team and as a coaching staff have plenty of other things they need to address before they face the Raiders a week from Monday.
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You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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Comments (84)
TxFred
September 30, 2023 at 11:18 am
Agree the team is full of rookies & 2nd year players. Most have no clue on fundamentals. Assistants need to coach & develop. If, not you see crap play like this all year. You are paid to train, coach & develop. Get it done. This young & talented teams needs to learn, and grow in the league. You are doing no one any favors send this ill equipped players out there every week. NOT one bit of improvement individually or as a team.
Qoojo
September 30, 2023 at 11:21 am
Yea, it was frustrating as it ruined any chance of comeback. At least it was an effort mistake.
MLF is correct on that this was an education mistake on the coaching staff if Walker did not know the rules. I am curious if the starters used on ST got any rules education on ST rules. I imagine starters would be more focused on their main role.
Every game I see Walker's effort. I have no problems with him. He will learn.
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 11:49 am
"At least it was an effort mistake."
This rule has been in place for years, no reason to not know it. Effort is great, as long as it comes within the rules, otherwise the effort applause is misplaced and the result intolerable.
PeteK
September 30, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Certainly didn't copy it because no one does it anymore.
Coach Cleve Steamer
September 30, 2023 at 12:37 pm
It should be, “At least he’s not thinking too hard.”
BAMABADGER
September 30, 2023 at 11:43 am
We need 10 more Quay Walker's on this defense. If all the defenders gave the same effort on the field every play like him, the Packers win the game.
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 11:50 am
What would be worse, the penalties or ejections?
Coldworld
September 30, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Lack of effort or passion
BAMABADGER
September 30, 2023 at 08:55 pm
Both are correctable through good coaching. Unfortunately, good coaching is an issue.
murf7777
October 01, 2023 at 08:46 am
Why should you have to coach not to run and jump over the line to block a FG? It’s been like that for years and the players should know without continuous yearly explanation. Can you imagine the time to explain every rule in the book? There are more important things to coach.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 09:33 am
A good coach doesn’t leave things to chance. Every player is different. To get the best out of them they need to be handled differently.
Coaches set the tone. If I want my ILB somewhere he’s not or running through not around, then it’s my job to take the film and drum it in. Equally, it’s my Job to emphasize what they can’t do. Some players will need a lot of emphasizing some none. That’s not to say that any coach can anticipate everything, but part if it is that instilling a mindset that is to follow specific instructions on role and to stay within them.
That said, this isn’t the job of a DC, it’s the job of the LB coach. The problem here is it’s not just Walker who is in questionable places it’s just that he makes himself more visible than most, partly through snap volume and partly effort.
Walker isn’t the reason this D isn’t working, he may be one part of the problem in some ways if he’s not doing what’s expected and causing issues as a result. A coaches job, by definition is to fix that, but when it’s widespread, the coach is the problem and its impact is magnified greatly.
That’s the problem with this coaching staff. Too many issues in too many levels across phases as well as games and seasons. Like it or not, that’s emblematic of failed coaching.
murf7777
October 01, 2023 at 11:22 am
Ok, Coach Coldworld, I’m sure you know exactly what an NFL coaches job are. ….I’m also sure all coaches go thru every rule in the NFL book, at least a couple times a year, because there’s nothing else that could be more important ~~~
I would think a Coach should expect them to read the rules. Taking time going over rules, especially one on one will take time away from that Coach from teaching schemes, fundamentals and practicing the play book. Yes, at times during the game a good coach would take his unit and tell them to do something a certain way and remind them of the consequences if they don’t.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Right before the ill-fated onside kick in 2014 at Seattle, the coach looked Brandon Bostick in the eye and said "Do not try to field the kick". There are limits to what a coach can do. The leaders on the field, the vets, need to remind everyone, but you're still going to have stuff happen, because it's the nature of the game.
These are flesh and blood humans, by nature young and given to error. They are not machines. There are people here who forget that.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 01:09 pm
Coach or leader in any field, don’t assume your people know things. Ensure that they do or don’t complain if they don’t.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2023 at 01:33 pm
Well, this is fantasy land, IMO. Any endeavor that involves humans is going to involve human error. When you're dealing with young men, there are going to be errors. When you're involved in a fast-paced, physical endeavor where things change quickly, there are going to be errors.
MooPack
October 01, 2023 at 01:24 pm
Bret Favre didn’t know what a nickel defense was. Coaches don’t have the luxury to assume.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ty-detmer-confirms-brett-favre-had-no...
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 05:25 pm
Better yet, when told, his response was WTF does that matter I believe.
CanPackFan
September 30, 2023 at 06:14 pm
Couldn't agree more Bam! He's is only 1 of 3 tough players on this team. We need far more tough players - not everybody with high athletic scores. I'll take Quay over many of the other cupcakes on this team!
And we can't expect this unprepared and disorganized coaching staff to help these young players. Barry is totally inadequate as a DC - and MLF is a soft, OC at best. This young talent - and us suffering fans - deserve a far better and tougher coaching staff than we have at present!
LLCHESTY
September 30, 2023 at 06:30 pm
Not sure where you're getting that. He routinely tries to run around blocks instead of running through them. 47 tackles, 2 TFLs does NOT a great LB make.
The jury is still out on if he's still slow in diagnosing the play of just not very physical. This guy blames Barry but I don't think it's on him. But this dancing around shit four yards from the LOS has got to stop. Wahle said it beat, he needs to quit being a catcher's mitt and start being a hammer.
https://twitter.com/NotSoHumbleHost/status/1707145255613616443?t=7p1q-mW...
BAMABADGER
September 30, 2023 at 09:01 pm
It’s hard to get any angle to meet runners at or behind the line of scrimmage when the bodies of Packer DL are falling like Southern Pines in a forest full of loggers. Quay ain’t the problem.
LLCHESTY
September 30, 2023 at 09:20 pm
That's BS. Look at the clips in that clip thread. He's 4 yards from LOS dancing this way and that while the RB crosses into positive territory. Watch the TD run where Dekker blocks while standing still when Walker should have had a head of steam and blasted him into the RB. He constantly runs around blocks instead of going through them. 47 tackles, 2 for loss says it all.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 09:42 am
Without knowing what Barry wants Walker doing—his role in the play/scheme as designed—it’s hard to be adamant. The answer is probably that it’s part player and part coaching.
However, when you have a high effort player as Walker is, then the problem should be super able with good coaching . That includes removing snaps if he isn’t learning/complying.
It is, however, suggestive that it’s not on him that he got the microphone head piece. If they are not happy with his ability to follow scheme or read then that is a crazy decision. For that reason I lean to the coaches being the main issue.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 10:16 am
I find it hard to believe they're coaching him to run around blocks but like Wahle said if you're condoning it you might as well be coaching it.
I'm certainly not blaming Walker for all his issues. There's obviously a disconnect there somewhere and since run defense was a problem before he got here it's pretty easy to see whose feet the issues should land on.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 01:15 pm
But isn’t this typical of many of the symptoms of poor coaching? Unless it’s really the player’s attitude then it’s on The coaches to fix it or be willing to sit him. To me that’s a great part of what segregates good coaching from bad. Yes, schemed and tactics are an issue too potentially: matchups do matter, but ultimately it’s getting more from more of your personnel.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 02:52 pm
Andy Herman on his grades podcast today, "sometimes it seems like the only gap Walker shoots through is the wrong one." Don't think that's on the coaches.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 05:16 pm
I listen to Herman, but he’s not always right by any means. He is the biggest believer that Myers is hard done by by us, for a start.
I’m not going to pretend that I know what Barry wants Walker doing and how well that aligns with what he is doing. I can only say that if you are right, then giving him the headset was flat out nuts. Generally guys who make that many tackles aren’t malingerers or shy of contact.
If he’s as off in his reads and reactions as you think, then why the hell is he calling the D and in all 3 downs. The way you read it doesn’t add up to me, but I admit, a lot doesn’t about what that front 7 is being asked to do or is doing in spite of that.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 07:12 pm
He is good in coverage, which seems almost backwards from most young ILBs in the NFL. And we all know how Barry(and LH) feel about covering the pass.
I loved Wahle comparing their run D to a $5.99 buffet. It's not great food(compared to a big pass) but it is all you can eat. Right now teams are feasting. Gives them the ability to call anything they want in their playbook.
jannesbjornson
October 01, 2023 at 10:49 am
Agreed, he is not a plugger, or a downhill guy. Doesn't know the positional requirements, essentially a big safety.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 05:18 pm
I’m not sure that isn’t the intention on a significant number of calls.
Oppy
October 01, 2023 at 12:13 pm
You think great run stuffing linebackers should be constantly running into offensive linemen and "fighting through them" instead of running around them?
When a LB constantly runs into offensive linemen, that's called "getting blocked" 8 times out of 10.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 02:55 pm
So you'd rather him constantly running around the lineman and leaving gaps open.
Walker has a 4 or 5 yard head of steam if he diagnoses the play correctly while the O lineman has one. Might want to dust off your physics book, ILBs take on lineman all the time. We've seen it done to the Packers for three straight weeks. There's a reason Andy Herman gave him the 3rd worst grade for the Packers starters against Detroit. He wasn't very good.
Oppy
October 01, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Let me give you some context on ILB's taking on OL:
Generally speaking, when an ILB takes on an OL, if it's intentional, it's schemed up in such a way that one LB takes on the block, so the other LB has a free lane to the ball carrier.
In 4-3 defenses, it is expected that the linemen keep the MLB clean so he can make tackles. In 3-4 fronts, it's typical that one of the ILBs engages the free OL... so the other ILB is clean and has free passage to the ball carrier.
(Side note.. this is the job AJ Hawk was tasked with, and it was seriously tiresome having to listen to Packers fans complain continually that he couldn't get off a block.. he was doing his job.)
Yes, you will see LB's fight through OL and make tackles from time to time, but you have no idea what you're talking about if you believe for a second that there's a d-co or LB coach in the league who's teaching their ILBs to actively engage Offensive linemen for any reason except to give a teammate a clean shot at a ball carrier. You are looking for straight shots to a ball carrier unimpeded.
LLCHESTY
October 02, 2023 at 09:38 am
I guess Mike Wahle has no idea what he's talking about then. Good to know, I'll stop listening to him and ask you when I have questions.
BAMABADGER
October 02, 2023 at 06:34 pm
Wahl was critiquing mainly Barry pitiful soft scheme and the wimp, lap dog play of the DL. He was not overly critical of ILB play other than the OLBs. He wants a line like Philly and so do I! Get away from the 3-4 , 2-what ever line scheme.
Oppy
October 03, 2023 at 07:18 pm
Ask Mike Wahle if his coaches ever expected him to get beat when blocking a linebacker. It's why pulling guards is a thing. You're trying to get the lopsided matchup of a big body on a smaller body.
It's the same reason you have zone blocking schemes. You double the big bodied lineman with the quick wham, then the OL rolls off and looks to engage a linebacker at the next level- because it's a mismatch that is infinitely favors the offensive lineman.
The only reason an ILB should be looking to actively engage an offensive lineman is to tie him up so another player can make the tackle. You try to keep the big guys hands off you and pursue the ball carrier.
murf7777
October 01, 2023 at 08:52 am
Come on thats one play, you don’t make that many tackles without being aggressive and having the ability to get off blocks or quickly around them. Do you expect a 235 lb man to run through a 310 lb one? Not very physical? You have to be physical to make tackles.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 10:19 am
Making tackles 8 yards from the line of scrimmage isn't the win some people here think it is.
Wahle has been pointing out Walker's reluctance to take on blockers since the 1st game.
murf7777
October 01, 2023 at 11:26 am
Certainly, we would like to see him be more instinctive and TFL’s, but he also makes a lot of great plays, most every game. Is that schematics or him not being aggressive enough?
jlc1
October 01, 2023 at 12:01 pm
But he does tackle. The few TFL may have to do with the DL getting pushed back and thus no opportunity for anybody to make a TFL. I would be interested in how many missed tackles he had vs. others on the team. A tackle 4 yards past LOS sure beats a missed tackle for an extra 8 yards.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2023 at 03:22 pm
We're criticizing a really good tackler for not making more tackles closer to the LOS. Craziness, IMO. These are people who see something like "5.8 yards downfield" and think that means every tackle is 5.8 yards downfield, and don't realize it's an average between a 3 yard run and a 7.5 yard run where he makes the tackle because nobody else has yet.
PeteK
September 30, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Walker's tkl numbers are excellent, but he lacks in the all important tackles for loss dept. Last season he had a total of 6 which ranked low when compared to other ILBs.
HawkPacker
September 30, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Not sure if that is on him or the DL.
PeteK
September 30, 2023 at 04:51 pm
True, as I mentioned on another thread, D lineman give up too many blocking angles by shooting the gap.
HawkPacker
September 30, 2023 at 05:46 pm
You know, I really don't have the answer but get it fixed!!!
KKB
September 30, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Walker deserves thanks, not criticism. Beaten up, tired, etc - and giving everything he had to try to block the kick. MlF should have hugged the guy for trying. He is leading by example. We need more of that level effort and passion.
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Yes, he led his team out of a comeback possibility, regardless how low the chances.
Johnblood27
September 30, 2023 at 02:15 pm
Can you not be an azzhat just for a moment?
Your constant criticism of every little thing like it just tanked the entire franchise is just way too over the top.
Please find another team to be hyper critical of. You love football. Great. Take your schtick and apply it anywhere else, I am certain that your astounding level of knowledge will be greatly appreciated elsewhere.
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 02:30 pm
Can you just stop being an asshat and let people make their opinions?
Your constant bitching about every little thing another says is over the top. Find another team/site that allows you to decide what can/can't be said, you anti-freedom of speech pissant.
Simply put...back at you.
HawkPacker
September 30, 2023 at 06:28 pm
I do not remember him ever bitching about any of the other posters. Sorry but that is the truth.
Johnblood27
September 30, 2023 at 09:28 pm
I havent even been posting much this entire year.
But I am pretty sick of the Taryn whining. It is continuous and over the top. State some criticisms, sure, we all do. Please stop the constant bitching about every little thing and amplifying it to the point that it seems to mean that the franchise should be revoked.
Take this team in context.
There are issues, sure. There are positive flashes too. Let the kids grow and hold the coaches accountable... for now...
and oh, by the way, you telling me not to tell others what to think and say... how about YOU mix in a positive observation now and then. Your constant rain cloud over this blog just plain sucks... A LOT!!! Take your criticism like an adult and look in the mirror, see if there is truth in it and then act accordingly to just be a better person. I have absolutely no faith that you can do that.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2023 at 01:39 pm
"""But I am pretty sick of the __________ whining"""
I could put several names in that blank. I'm a fan. I'm not the GM, or HC, or President of the team. Sure, I've played, coached, and watched football for over 50 years, so I have opinions, but I'm not going to smear shit on my own team. Others here think that's a component of being a good fan. I disagree.
We're 2-2. It's freakin' September. A game against the Raiduhs. Winnable. Then a week off and a game against the Broncos, who gave up 70 last week and are currently getting pounded by the Bears. Then a home game against the Rams and Vikings. We could easily be 5-3 at the halfway point, and a better team than we are now.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 06:38 pm
I guess we should all just wait until you tell us it's time for a player or coaching change. Not sure how many years you need to see the same thing but I'm ready for something different. Green Bay is a blue collar town without a blue collar team.
stockholder
October 01, 2023 at 06:53 pm
Murphy will fire everyone before he retires.
Fix it now hasn't worked.
Johnblood27
October 01, 2023 at 06:57 pm
Murphy will not fart before he retires let alone fire anyone.
He wants to ride off into the sunset on a white unicorn under a spectacular rainbow.
murf7777
October 01, 2023 at 09:01 am
Yes, you have freedom of speech just as much as others that down vote you and ask you to stop with the hyper criticism and negativity. Actually, I thought you have been getting better with your posting and complimented you on it. I hope you can become a bit more positive with your perspectives vs finding something wrong.
CanPackFan
September 30, 2023 at 06:18 pm
At least he has heart! He's probably frustrated as he's playing stupid, containment schemes concocted by the great Joe Dingle Berry...
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 05:29 pm
What he did was only made illegal in 2017 ( college and NFL after a bad college injury) since he didn’t land on someone. I think a lot of fans didn’t know it either.
It’s still not acceptable, but I doubt he’s the only one who didn’t know among a lot of the chatterers out there. I had certainly forgotten.
The_Justicar
October 02, 2023 at 09:36 am
I saw the same exact penalty in the Florida UK game on Saturday. (Except it was on a punt block vs fg block team). Super rare penalty but it does happen.
HawkPacker
September 30, 2023 at 12:43 pm
I love Quay's heart as to how he plays the game. Give it a little time. With his effort, he makes those around him better. Hopefully, they can learn from him and if so, watch out!
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Don't confuse effort with reckless/stupid play.
Oppy
September 30, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Haven't seen that this season. Have you?
TarynsEyes
September 30, 2023 at 01:19 pm
More of one than the other. Do you know which?
HawkPacker
September 30, 2023 at 05:45 pm
I don't. Open your eyes!
splitpea1
September 30, 2023 at 12:47 pm
I think Walker is just the kind of player who plays with his hair on fire and we're just going to have to live with some of the things he does sometimes, at least early in his career. He made a lot of nice plays in the game, but the penalty stood out because of its unusual nature and the fact that it killed any chance of another miraculous comeback.
Special teams really sticks out as an undisciplined lot, between the poor judgment of Nixon and the league-leading 10 penalties.
There are a lot of players with some learning in store. Right now the Packers are a raw blob of talent in need of refining and more consistent/logical coaching. The rebuilding process isn't so easy, and there's plenty more to come with the offensive additions/subtractions in the future.
LLCHESTY
September 30, 2023 at 08:28 pm
He's certainly not playing LB like his hair is on fire. The next time he knocks a TE or O lineman on his butt will be the 1st time this year. Right now he's a Tarzan/Jane LB.
PackyCheese500
September 30, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Don't try to pin it all on Walker. He was the best player on the field on Thursday. If you want to blame someone, blame Myers, Newman, and the entire coaching staff
Johnblood27
September 30, 2023 at 02:20 pm
BINGO!!!
Playing the blame game with a young team is an exercise in elevated blood pressure.
Can we as fans of the YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE NFL back the F off with the hypercritical evaluations? Just for a while.... Can we focus on the effort needed for growth and improvement instead of focusing on the results that lead to SB Championships?
Save your criticisms for the coaching staff that should know better and should be helping these young talented football players to get better at their craft. THEY need to step their game up with a team like the 2023 version of the GBP. If the coaches did their jobs like they should be doing in this year of learning and growth we, the fans, should be seeing improvements week to week in individuals as well as team performance. To expect flawless performance from this group of players is just plain unrealistic and STOOPID!!!
canadapacker
September 30, 2023 at 05:08 pm
I agree that there is too much hand wringing and fire everybody mentality with this team after 4 games - and 2 wins. But I am disappointed that for the second consecutive year with much the same Oline - that we have not seen as much motion and cohesive play in the offense as we had previously. Now last year some of that was hidden later on in the year because of AR. But will that happen this year - I would say no as long as Lafleur is entrenched in his ways. He needs to get more modern and more creative. It is NOT as if Love is a rookie. He is cool and reserved in the pocket but the pressure is mounting as we saw last game as the O's early game success is waning. Our new receivers are fast and elusive - but they are still young and dont have all the creativity to get open against tight coverage and Love's accuracy on tight throws and anticipation with these guys is a work in progress. So it is imperative for Lafleur to stop with this standard no movement offense and get more creative and if that means juggling the Oline around - sobeit. But insanity is doing the same thing year after year. Love can move much better than AR - so use that and the speed of Wicks, Watson and others to confuse the other teams and provide protection for the Oline by getting the ball out more quickly.
canadapacker
September 30, 2023 at 01:30 pm
In my humble opinion Walker is an unpolished gem of this defense and is somewhat being miss - used. He has great speed and great tackling technique. I dont believe that he should be in the middle all the time. Besides the issues that we have with the Dline at times - we also have big issues controlling passes to the backs in the flat and QB's who run. This should be a strength of the D but when Walker is in the middle he gets caught moving inside when he he should be focusing on the wide side of the field. He would be great more as a spy against running QB's and handling the wide side of the field. While I like the stats as far as tackles go - I also remember AJ Hawk and Martinez leading the team in tackling all the while these tackles came after the other team had large gains. So I favour the stat - tackles for loss. But in any case I believe that he can be a real disrupter - if used properly.
Johnblood27
September 30, 2023 at 02:25 pm
You are describing a weak side LB in a 4-3 scheme.
Maybe if we had a defensive coordinator who had a freakin clue we could run a scheme that suits the talent on the roster.
Our GM has found talented players and they keep getting shoved into roles that may not suit them or into situations where the scheme called is a poor match-up with the opponent across the LoS.
The GBP deserve better.
Shit-can Barry after the Raiduh game and before the bye week if the defense doesn't show completely different looks in the Raiduh game. I dont mean showing decent results against an inferior opponent. I mean completely different looks that indicate that the d-coordinator understands the talent of the players he is placing out on the field.
The talent is there. Put them in positions to succeed.
TKWorldWide
September 30, 2023 at 03:44 pm
Not even sure base matters any more. 3 WR sets seem to have made nickel the new base. Heard an argument on the radio about GB’s use of two down linemen in the nickel. The disagreement was if Clark and Wyatt have their hands on the ground, and Smith and Gary are standing up outside of each of them, is that a 2 man front or a 4 man front? What is probably more important is, do Smith and Gary play the run effectively? (As well as the defense as a whole.) Are the problems due to alignment, scheme, or piss poor tackling? In the Lion game, Montgomery had (roughly) 95% of his rushing yards AFTER contact. That is horrendous.
CanPackFan
September 30, 2023 at 06:31 pm
Wow! What a novel thought - put players in a position to succeed? Hmm... Don't u wish Joe Dingle Berry could live in that world? But how can u take a guy that only believes in soft, containment defenses and expect him to set up schemes for aggressive players? I mean it's only been what, 3 years with this joker? Good hire, Matt! Continue to play tough Quay. But learn from your mistakes.
stockholder
September 30, 2023 at 02:55 pm
We got the best ILB since Ray Nitschke.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 06:41 pm
Campbell isn't that good. You're forgetting Brian Noble and Mike "Mad Dog" Douglas.
jannesbjornson
October 03, 2023 at 06:17 am
Blasphemy. This guy doesn't attack gaps, or displace blocking schemes, or knock RBs on their butts. No comparison.
cdoemel
September 30, 2023 at 08:23 pm
Seems like some are piling on 7
and putting his errors from last year on his shoulders this year. Everyone makes mistakes. His are honestly the least of the mistakes we should be focusing on. I’ll take all of his mistakes, any day, before I’ll take John Runyan going illegal motion again! Quay Wyatt’s penalties are penalties of football aggression. I like that. I can live with that.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2023 at 12:49 pm
That's what we do here, cdoemel. We show how astute we are by trashing our players and coaches for not being "good enough".
stockholder
October 01, 2023 at 04:13 pm
I'll stick to the Gm.
With Campbell out again.
And for anyone that doubts Walker.
Wasn't I the one that pointed to taking
a Lb in this last draft..
The kid from Clemson should have been picked.
Depth, sure tackling, Future.
jannesbjornson
October 03, 2023 at 06:28 am
Simpson doesn't have a tackle to date. Did he make the starting lineup? 4-2 schemes work best. This team needed OT in 2022 and 2023. The #22 should have been Watson and save the two selections in round two for Abe Lucas, Bellinger, Mc Bride or Pierce. The TE room was finally stocked after 10-15 years. This GM is clueless. Will Love survive the season free of a major injury? Another shit show along the O line, no depth. Rhyan was a three pick and not seeing the field over Newman? You draft a QB in the first round, but offer him no security. Archane is tearing up the League. They knew Dillon was maxed out last season.
LLCHESTY
September 30, 2023 at 08:25 pm
There's three possibilities to Walker constantly tackling RBs after they've gained 5 yards: he doesn't want to physically take on blockers, he is slow to diagnose plays so he's not playing at a speed that would let him take on bigger guys(the TD they had where Dekker blocked him was a great example, Dekker was basically standing still and Walker couldn't fight through him) or for some crazy reason they don't want the LBs attacking the LOS. Since the last one seems crazily unbelievable I'm guessing he is still having trouble diagnosing plays.
Coldworld
October 01, 2023 at 09:49 am
I don’t know if the last one is as unbelievable as you think. Walker could be being used as a sweeper behind lighter lines to a significant extent.
You start from a premise the system holds water. Yet you yourself have noted in multiple occasions that’s that not necessarily true based on player use or calls in other respects. It seems likely those issues also encompass Walker.
Walker is supposedly our coverage asset. It could be as much conflicting responsibilities stemming from poor scheme design causing hesitation by accident or design.
LLCHESTY
October 01, 2023 at 10:42 am
The way he's often shuffling his feet and going one way then changing direction does really point to hesitation being the issue. Somebody pointed out that when he's blitzing he has no problems taking on linemen so that's a big tell there. He needs to be at or close to full speed to take on guys that outweigh him by 60lbs and have a winning result.
As far as scheme I was happy to see them being a top 5 stunting team by the DL this preseason but I figured that could be just to see who was good at what and those numbers would tail off when the regular season started and they certainly gave. Allowing your 1st level players to be more aggressive while telling your 2nd level guys to be less so does seem like it would be in Barry's wheelhouse but it's so incongruous it's hard for me to accept a NFL level coach with any experience at all would attempt that.
If that's what LaFleur meant by schematic changes he needs to go the step or two further and make the coaching change. At the very least warm his seat with a consultant.
packerfanroy
September 30, 2023 at 11:34 pm
Last years penalties were lose your cool mistakes, the one in the Det game was more about not knowing the details of the rule. Not ok but much more understandable. I'm not sure what the rules are at the college level regarding what he did but I want to say (I'm not sure so I could be wrong) that this was a rule that was changed in the last few years. All that aside I'm excited to watch what Walker can bring to this team going forward.
JoePack1212
October 01, 2023 at 08:35 pm
Quay is a Player, a Young Player. At least he was trying. He got more Tackles than anyone else on Defense. He actually had to make Tackles after others missed. I wished the Coaches and the Offensive Line tried as hard as he did. We'd be 3-1 at this time. 10 Running Plays and now we're going to go strictly to Passing with a New Quarterback and Rookie Receivers. No Offensive Imagination when you have a Breakaway Threat with Jones and to less of a degree Wilson. No, let's run Jones including up the middle 5 Times and then we'll run Dillion for 5 Times. 27 Yards Rushing. O-Line NEEDS RUN BLOCKING TRAINING IN THE WORST WAY, Quarterback and Receivers never had much time to connect especially with the Refs not calling Holding on the Lion's Secondary except once. DEFENSIVE LINE NEEDS TRAINING ON HOW TO GET OFF BLOCKS, INCLUDE THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS AS WELL. LEFLUER, YOU NEED TO QUIT BEING EVERYBODY'S FRIEND AND BE THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING MILLIONS TO DO. Don't degrade the Players but be stern and forceful in what you want from them. Don't accept poor Play and Excuses anymore. If you don't like Barry's Scheme, make him run what you think will be better. You're the Head Coach, Act like it!!!!!