What does every top NFL defense have in common? Playmakers are the answer. What do I mean by “Playmakers”? In my opinion, a defensive playmaker is a player who elevates their play when your defense has a chance to get crucial stops in toward the end of the game. On the offensive side of the ball, the “playmaker” is almost always the quarterback, and for good reason. Quarterback is the most valuable position in sports for a reason. We saw Jordan Love make plenty of big plays for the Green Bay Packers last year.
On the defensive side of the ball, any position can be a playmaker, from defensive tackles like Aaron Donald to Safety like Antoine Windfield Jr. If you truly want to set yourself apart defensively, you need more than one playmaker. Just look at the top four defensive players from last season, according to PFF.
Top Four NFL Defenses
- New York Jets (1st Ranked Defense) (Total Takeaways – 27, Tied for 5th) (Total Sacks – 48, Tied for 7th)
- Quinnen Williams
- Sauce Gardner
- Jermaine Johnson
- Best Edge Defender in Coverage
- C.J Mosley and Quincy Williams
- 6th and 9th Ranked ILB in the NFL
- Baltimore Ravens (2nd Ranked Defense) (Total Takeaways – 31, Tied for First) (Total Sacks – 60, Best in the NFL)
- Kyle Hamilton
- 6th Ranked Safety in the NFL
- Jadeveon Clowney
- 18th ranked Edge player in the NFL
- Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen
- One of the top Linebacker duos in the NFL
- 222 Combine Total Tackles, Best Among the Top Four Defenses
- Geno Stone
- 2nd Most Interceptions in the NFL with 7
- Two Defensive Touchdowns
- San Francisco 49ers (3rd Ranked Defense) (Total Takeaways – 28, Tied for 4th) (Total Sacks – 48, Tied for 7th)
- Nick Bosa
- 3rd Ranked Edge Player in the NFL
- 2022 Defensive Player of the Year
- Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw
- 2nd and 23rd Ranked LB in the NFL
- They are considered the Best LB duo in the NFL
- Charvarius Ward
- 5th Ranked CB in the NFL
- 17 Pass Break-ups, Most in the NFL
- Miami Dolphins (4th Ranked Defense) (Total Takeaways – 27, Tied for 5th) (Total Sacks – 56, Tied for 3rd)
- Andrew Van Ginkel and Bradley Chubb
- 7th and 12th Ranked Edge Players in the NFL
- Jevon Holland
- 3rd Ranked Safety in the NFL
- Christian Wilkins
- Tied for 5th Most Sacks by DT
- Jalen Ramsey
- Has Been One of the Best Corners in the NFL for eight years
Who Can the Green Bay Packers Depend on?
I understand that scheme and culture might have something to do with some of these players individual and team success. However, the players still had to go out and make the plays. That brings me to my most significant point. Jeff Hafley might be the most intelligent and prepared coach in the NFL, but on Sundays, if his players can’t make a play, it doesn’t matter. When you look at the core of the Green Bay Packers Defense, who can you count on to make plays? Right now, the list seems short.
- Green Bay Packers (20th Ranked Defense) (Total Takeaways – 18, Tied for 6th worst in the NFL) (Total Sacks – 45, Tied for 16th)
- Rashan Gary
- 26th Ranked Edge Player
- Highest Paid Defensive Player
- Preston Smith
- 47th Ranked Edge Player
- Oldest Defensive Player
- Led the Packers in Sacks with 10
- Jaire Alexander
- 22nd Ranked CB
- Coming Off Injury Riddled and Tension with Coaching and Management
- Kenny Clark
- 32nd Ranked DT
- Career High in Sacks with 10
- Second Highest Career Missed Tackle Rate of 13.6%
- Xavier McKinney
- 4th Ranked Safety
- 4th Most Tackles Last Season
- Best Tackle Rate for Safeties. Only missed a tackle 5.7 percent of the time.
- 3rd Lowest NFL Passer Rating Allowed. (52.1)
- Notable Players who are no longer Packers
- Rasul Douglas
- Darnell Savage
- Rudy Ford
- De’Vondre Campbell
Will Xavier McKinney Be Enough?
The addition of Xavier McKinney is huge, but if the Packers want this defense to be one of the best in the League, they need to add more playmakers through the draft. It honestly doesn’t matter at which position. Don’t draft a project; draft a player ready to make an impact. In addition to adding a player or two through the draft, they need to get more out of their top defensive players. However, if multiple coaches can’t get the defense right, when do you point the fingers at the players? Hopefully, that is a question that never needs to be answered.
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