Sunday Night may mark an Extended role for Kentrell Brice
Keeping six safeties and five cornerbacks on a roster that culminated in having 11 defensive backs on the final product seemed like a foreign concept at first given the other blaring position battles on the roster. The extra few safeties compensated for the three inside linebackers the Packers kept at the heart of their defense — an area that, before week one, was seen as the weakest aspect of the team. The stout performance against the Jaguars' on Sunday disproved that narrative.
Heading into a Sunday night affair against the antagonist to what would've been the Packers' fifth-straight division title in 2015 — the Vikings, a daunting task awaits this same defense.
In Jacksonville, the middle of the field was a major weak point that aided Blake Bortles in gashing the secondary for over 300 yards. A point of emphasis in Minnesota will likely be to utilize every asset available to prevent this from happening for the second week in a row, especially at the presumable arm of Sam Bradford or even Shaun Hill.
The Packers will enter this week two match-up at a disadvantage, however. With veteran cornerback Sam Shields at risk of missing the game due to the fourth reported concussion of his seven-year career, the Packers were initially down to four corners. After missing what would've been his first accrued game, rookie undrafted cornerback Josh Hawkins is still battling a hamstring injury that may cause him to miss this game alongside Shields. Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit has rapidly deteriorated in the span of a week.
Adding insult to injury is the fact that Quinten Rollins battled his own demons as the nickel corner against the Jaguars. Thus, leading to his benching for Ladarius Gunter, who wasn't much better in terms of productivity and would likely be more suited on the perimeter. The duo may just get some help in a secondary that needs it — desperately.
With Micah Hyde's duties to be fluctuating between reserve safety, starting safety and a cornerback manning down the tight end in the slot, he'll need to be on the field one way or another. Both Whitt and defensive coordinator Dom Capers can attest to that, considering both had high praise for Hyde in the coaching staff's Thursday press conferences.
Morgan Burnett's new role also requires him to step into the middle of the field as the nickel linebacker alongside Joe Thomas — or whichever other of the three linebackers plugged to the inside. Hyde won't be able to occupy that safety spot opposite Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on every snap, and with Chris Banjo still nursing a — you guessed it — injured hamstring, the undrafted Kentrell Brice may finally be able to show himself off.
Brice saw action on 18 special teams snaps in Jacksonville and only nine defensively, being one of the six safeties on the Packers' roster.
The shortest of the trio ahead of him at 5'11", Brice packs a punch athletically, gifted with second-level speed that safeties coach Darren Perry could only dream of. Whether or not he's ready for an advanced role in the Packers' secondary remains to be seen. But if one wanted to base speculation off of his training camp and preseason performance, Brice should be more than ready to embrace the call to action.
While not in the shadow of, but not exactly looming over Marwin Evans — the other under-developed safety on the roster, Brice's physical traits and instinctive tackling may be utilized in Minnesota. When the Packers kept 11 defensive backs, six safeties included, a situation like this may have been foreseen. A situation that would require a nose-dive into the practice field and depth chart, due to only three active cornerbacks occupying the roster.
A variable in this equation is the possibility of Brice learning the hybrid linebacker role, giving Burnett the privilege of remaining at his true safety gig.
It's a swap that would make sense, especially for a player who tallied 146 tackles in his final two seasons at Louisiana Tech coming to a Green Bay team whose kryptonite has apparently been proper tackling mechanics. Mental maturity and capacity with learning a flexible duty such as what Burnett has gradually worked himself into are required. Both of which, Brice may the proud possessor of.
Meanwhile, an experiment with wide receiver Herb Waters at cornerback may remain on the launch pad. A desperate display of how thin the Packers currently are at the respective position. But, hey, a receiver over six-feet tall with blazing speed? What could go wrong?
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (42)
Bearmeat
September 16, 2016 at 05:42 am
Seemingly adding a lot of "ifs" here. I'd personally rather see them stay with Randall covering Diggs inside, Q and Gunter outside, HHCD and Burnett back at safety.
The Vikings have exactly 1 weapon in the passing game: Diggs. And a questionable QB situation to get it to him.
I'm really not worried about being light in the secondary this weekend. Hopefully Shields is well by Detroit.
NickPerry
September 16, 2016 at 05:45 am
Draft and Develop, develop and draft, it's the Ted Thompson way. Keep and sign your young players you've drafted and reward them with a 2nd contract, especially when their play warranted it. Casey Hayward played well for the Packers last season ranking in the top 20, top 10 the year before in 2014, and 2nd in his rookie season of 2012.
I understand you can't keep EVERYBODY, but Hayward signed a contract for $15,300,000 over 3 years, $6,800,000 of the deal was guaranteed. After what was a disaster of a draft in 2012 you'd think Thompson would sign a player like Hayward, especially since he was so cheap. There's no way anyone can say Hayward wasn't worth that contract and Thompson really made no effort to sign him, at least any reports of a real effort to bring him back. Hayward may not have had the number of interceptions the Packers hoped for after grabbing 6 as a rookie, but nobody else did either. Not to mention he really improved as a tackler in his 4 years at Green Bay.
I love Randell and Rollins and some of the young DB's the Packers have on their roster, lots to be excited about. But Sam Shields hasn't played a full season in years if ever, and there's no promise the youngsters would pan out. No at the end of the day the Packers should have signed Hayward. The old saying of "A Team Can Never Have Enough Corner Backs" doesn't apply in Green Bay. Not with Ted's motto of replace em with an UDFA. I'm sure letting Hayward walk has a lot to do with signing our LT, a few Guards, a RB, and maybe Nick Perry and/or Datone Jones. But I sure would have loved to see Hayward in the secondary last week, something tells me the Jags wouldn't have passed for 320 yards.
THANK GOD the Packers still have Joe Whitt and nobody has scooped him up to be a DC somewhere. With Whitt I know these youngsters are in the best hands of any DB Coach in the NFL.
marpag1
September 16, 2016 at 06:39 am
I realize that the word "cheap" is a relative term, but I certainly don't think I would say that Hayward's 5.1M average annual salary is "so cheap." Using average annual salary as the benchmark, Hayward is the 33rd highest paid corner in the league. Seven out of 32 NFL teams do not have even ONE corner on their roster with a salary that high.
In Green Bay, Hayward would almost certainly be the third corner at best (assuming everyone is healthy). Aside from the fact that Shields and Randall are probably just better players overall, most scouts seem to feel that Hayward has limitations that confine him to the slot. I would agree with that.
IMO, 5.1M per year for a third/slot corner is definitely not "cheap."
Packer_Pete
September 16, 2016 at 07:09 am
couldn't agree more, it was the right move to let him go.
gr7070
September 16, 2016 at 07:23 am
I couldn't disagree more with the reply.
Hayward was a good to very good corner, typically ranked higher than shields. He was not behind any 2nd year corner on the roster. Even if he was the fact he was paid more doesn't matter; FA contacts vs. rookie contacts doesn't matter, apples:oranges.
At $5M it was a favorable contract at one of the very most important positions. The three 2nd year guys are promising, but still were far from guarantees.
We're going too miss him this week and throughout the season.
SpudRapids
September 16, 2016 at 10:51 am
Easy to say Hayward would be higher ranked than Shields... you completely ignore that Shields usually is left to cover the #1 wideouts by himself while Hayward is on a number 3 in the slot.
NickPerry
September 16, 2016 at 07:17 am
He is a slot CB, no doubt about it. But in "Today's NFL" that 3rd CB or Slot CB is almost as important. In Green Bay they play Nickel most of the time anyways so I'd venture to say its a highly important position in their defense.
I'd agree with you about Randell and Shields, they are better players, but Hayward is pretty damn good too, definitely worth the contract he received. Most thought the Packers overpaid for Shields at the time of his contract but with the Cap going up and up, he's only the 12th highest paid CB in the NFL. Next year Hayward will be the 37th highest paid CB and who knows after new contracts are given . All I'm saying is $15,300,000 for 3 years is a pretty decent contract for a Top 20 CB or Top 5 Slot CB.
Shields has missed 17 games in his career in Green Bay plus a playoff game. Randell, Rollins, and Gunter are all in their 2nd years so they don't have a ton of experience behind Sam as a whole. Lots of unknowns, lots of "If's". Like I mentioned above, Joe Whitt IMO is one of the best if not the best DB Coach in the NFL. He's the one coach who's made All-Pros out of the many UDFA's Thompson has signed.
gr7070
September 16, 2016 at 07:27 am
It's astonishing how so few Packers fans recognize how good a corner Hayward is. But they love on ordinary Hyde and the horrific Raji and the done Kuhn. It's idiotic.
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 07:54 am
Yeah, Raji was a disaster at CB... ;)
SpudRapids
September 16, 2016 at 10:52 am
Hayward was always banged up too
NickPerry
September 16, 2016 at 10:03 pm
He played 16 games in all but the one season when he missed much of the year. "He's always banged up", you kinda lost me there Spud. All players are banged up, can he get out there and play is the question and he did, 16 games in 2012, 2014, and 2015 plus playoffs....Just saying Spud...
PETER MAIZ
September 16, 2016 at 03:39 pm
I agree about Hayward, Nick. The downside to "draft and develop" is that you can draft the stellar, but they're not "fully developed" until year 2 or 3. So what do you do while they're rookies?
PETER MAIZ
September 16, 2016 at 03:40 pm
I agree about Hayward, Nick. The downside to "draft and develop" is that you can draft the stellar, but they're not "fully developed" until year 2 or 3. So what do you do while they're rookies?
Razer
September 16, 2016 at 07:27 am
Sorry Nick but Casey Hayward decline every year from his first year. Lot of blown coverage and missed assignments. Watching him turn the wrong way on a receiver or letting his man get the better angle made me cringe. Maybe his hamstring injury contributed to the decline but either way I think it was a good move to let him go. SD over paid.
Razer
September 16, 2016 at 07:28 am
To your last point - Yes - thank God we have Joe Whitt. He is the best coach we have.
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 07:55 am
Hayward's lack of physicality was problematic, too.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 16, 2016 at 07:33 am
I am going to let the Sitton debacle go (for the most part, hehehe). I am going to let over-payment of Bakh go too, for the most part (er, maybe not entirely!). I agreed with letting Hayward walk (though I thought he would get a better contract - apparently PFF thought he would too), but you should consider letting this go, Nick (for the most part!). Um, never mind, I guess I do not really have a point.
Having Hayward would be nice, but If there is any position group where we can feel confident of shaping up young, even UDFA-type prospects into real players, it is at CB because of Joe Whitt. I thought Hayward was limited to playing zone in the slot. In man and outside, he was so-so. I think most overrate Hyde. I have moved on from Hayward, and am looking to move on from Hyde next yea if Brice, Evans or Hawkins pans out, though at least Hyde is a good PR and is extremely versatile.
gr7070
September 16, 2016 at 08:34 am
I do appreciate the moving on mindset.
The Joe Whitt love is absurd! Similar to the Raji love. Actually that's unfair; Raji was awful, Whitt is probably good.
I have no problems giving him credit for being a good CB coach even though not one of us has any real clue.
I am certain, though, that our run of excellent DBs through Green Bay the last many years has almost everything to do with the fact that all these guys were highly skilled, talented players themselves. Devon House was good largely because of Devon House. I don't doubt Whitt helped, but Whitt looks great because he's been given a *ton* of talent over the years.
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 08:48 am
I tend to agree in the sense that almost no coach is going to take a piece of round roast and turn it into filet. It takes two to tango. The player has to have tools and the coach has to be able to help bring those out. That said, there's a track record of quality CB depth in GB over recent years and I think that says a lot about what Whitt is able to do with these guys.
SpudRapids
September 16, 2016 at 10:53 am
When is the last time Bahk gave up a sack?
RCPackerFan
September 16, 2016 at 11:17 am
453 pass block snaps ago... Currently the longest in the NFL.
SpudRapids
September 16, 2016 at 01:49 pm
Exactly
PETER MAIZ
September 16, 2016 at 03:45 pm
So do you suggest the Packers wait
10 games while they are panning out? After all, it's next man up if someone gets injured. To wit: Sunday's game.
Lphill
September 16, 2016 at 06:51 am
Besides Diggs can anyone name all the Vilings receivers ? Exactly my point
RCPackerFan
September 16, 2016 at 06:56 am
Charles Johnson, Laquon Treadwell, Jarious Wright, Patterson & Thielen who Nagler said looked really good in the last game.
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 07:24 am
BLASPHEMER!!!
RCPackerFan
September 16, 2016 at 07:36 am
Is the German WR on their PS? I know he got cut, but never heard if he was on their PS.
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 07:56 am
Yes. That was a bigger story on NFL.com than who they kept on their 53.
gr7070
September 16, 2016 at 02:04 pm
What's that German's name? Hans Janis?
dobber
September 16, 2016 at 02:27 pm
Yep. He was the bad guy in "Die Hard".
NickPerry
September 17, 2016 at 05:57 am
What Dobber said.... Treadwell didn't even play a snap but was active. I thought that was pretty strange.
RCPackerFan
September 16, 2016 at 06:52 am
I would like to see Capers find a way to use Brice a little more on defense. Especially this week where they may be without Shields. Whether its at the hybrid ILB/S spot or at pure Safety, Brice's speed and physical play stand out.
Brice has the ability to split out to help cover RB's and the strength to help cover TE's. Or if they decide to play him deep with Clinton-Dix, that would provide a lot of speed on our back end of our defense.
I would not be surprised to see Brice play a lot bigger of a role Sunday night.
staffordsneckfat
September 16, 2016 at 08:09 am
If Brice can be a player at that hybrid position this defense could be really good.
Thinking back to Broncos game last year when they couldn't cover a crossing pattern to save their life; the biggest hole in this pass defense is 5-10 yards off the ball in the middle of the field. Broncos receivers were just dragging across the field unimpeded. This is where Barrington used to be valuable because he was physical enough to chuck guys and disrupt their routes. If Bryce can learn to operate (read: cover) in tight quarters this defense is going to be hard to beat.
Easier said than done, but just maybe Brice has the athleticism to pull it off.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 16, 2016 at 08:27 am
I don't think Burnett in his hybrid role is the answer to covering the middle or a crossing pattern, either, Neckfat. I'm wondering if Brice or Evans can be the future there.
RCPackerFan
September 16, 2016 at 11:30 am
I like Burnett as an in the box type of safety. One that can blitz and whatnot. But he isn't very good in coverage.
I think Brice maybe better at covering players. I wouldn't mind them finding ways to use him more.
DrealynWilliams
September 16, 2016 at 06:25 pm
The only thing is, although Brice is athletic enough to play that role, we don't know if he can cover (either). I thought a knock on Brice was his slow change of direction?
I'm willing to give Burnett the benefit of the doubt for another week. I mean, it was Julius Thomas.
I am interested in seeing more of Brice though. I just don't know who he should replace and in what situation.
al bundy
September 16, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Kendal Who? I know I heard the name from somewhere but he probably just sits on the bench mostly.
I mean why would we dare try someone new? Unheard of. He may even be good but then we've had very good people rotting on the bench before because they werent Ted's higher draft picks.
SpudRapids
September 16, 2016 at 01:49 pm
Could you give me a specific example rather than a general indictment of Thompson?
NickPerry
September 17, 2016 at 05:59 am
No he can't, he's a Vikings fan.
PETER MAIZ
September 16, 2016 at 03:24 pm
Minnesota will rip through the middle of the field like Bortles did. And only three active cornerbacks for Sunday? Furthermore, the offense not fully functioning like a well-oiled machine? I see the unsinkable Bismark seconds before it hit the iceberg. But I really don't want this.
So, hopefully, the UFO aliens that stalk Rodgers show up for the game. And where is the guy with the long beard that Rodgers used to stroke to bring him luck? We'll need loads of offense to win this one.
marpag1
September 17, 2016 at 04:36 am
LOL. Are you saying that the Bismark hit an iceberg at some time? Interesting. Was that before or after it got blasted to bits by British cruisers and torpedo bombers?
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
September 17, 2016 at 08:41 pm
Packers Win !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!