Packers try to extract more out of Quay Walker with new defensive coaching staff
Look at the San Francisco 49ers with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, or at the New York Jets with CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams. Defenses like the one the Green Bay Packers will run under Jeff Hafley give more value to off-ball linebackers than the average of NFL schemes. That fits well to what was, […]
Look at the San Francisco 49ers with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, or at the New York Jets with CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams. Defenses like the one the Green Bay Packers will run under Jeff Hafley give more value to off-ball linebackers than the average of NFL schemes. That fits well to what was, two years ago, a highly questionable decision to use a first-round pick to select Quay Walker, at that time the 49th overall prospect (and third linebacker) on the consensus big board.
So far, Walker's performance has confirmed the consensus' priors, and not the Packers' decision. But the expectation is that the new coaching staff and the new scheme might highlight what the third-year player does well.
"Quay's a talented player," defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. "As we build this thing, we're going to make sure he's in position to make a lot of plays. So whatever we feel as we piece it together where that is, that's where we'll put him."
What he does well
The Packers drafted Quay Walker so high in the draft exactly because of how athletic he is. As a tackler, he is reliable — and showed significant improvement from year 1 to year 2. In 2022, he had a 63.8 PFF grade, missing 10.1% of his tackles. The grade went up to 82.8 in 2023, and the missed tackle rate went down to 6.6%.
The run defense in general improved, with an important participation to avoid big gains — he had 36 stops last season.
His sideline-to-sideline speed is evident, and this is why the Packers trust him to start the season as the main linebacker on the team.
The pass rush versatility is also something to work around. He's had four sacks in his NFL career, and last season alone he generated 15 pressures, even though he aligned only 43 times closer to the line of scrimmage.
What he doesn't do well
Why is Walker's tackling grade so much better than his overall run defense grade? That happens mostly because Walker is a good reactionary player, but he has had serious issues identifying plays.
Ideally, the Packers would put him in position to play free, without thinking too much after the snap. That would lessen the burden and maximize his athletic ability. At the same time, it's a difficult balance since second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper has similar characteristics. Unless the coaching staff finds a way to instruct both players on every play, Walker will most likely be expected to have a more advanced level of understanding of the opposing offense as a veteran presence.
Another concerning area is the coverage ability. And that's what truly separates elite linebackers, like Fred Warner, from the pack. Without that, it's easier for offensive coordinators to find matchups and exploit the middle of the field. Last year, Walker had a below average 52.6 PFF grade, allowing a 109.8 passer rating when targeted.
Improvement expectation
This is a pivotal year for Quay Walker. At the end of the season, the Packers have to exercise his fifth-year option or not, and the ability to get integrated into the new system will be a strong consideration in that regard.
This guy is very dialed in," said Packers linebackers coach and running game coordinator Anthony Campanile. "I'm very excited for him, and I think he's trying to do things the right way. He's a really, really talented guy. He really is like a great guy to be around – got the right attitude, is driven and wants to be great. So he's really trying to be very, very detailed in the meeting room, on the field."
At the same time, the Packers know it won't be an easy transition after two years in a completely different style of defense.
"It'll be a learning curve for sure, because there are some new things they're going to ask him to do," general manager Brian Gutekunst mentioned. "But I do think he has the ability to make plays within the box and outside, and rush the passer. He can kind of do it all."
Two years later, it's still hard to understand why the Packers used a first-round pick on Quay Walker. In 2024, his job is to make sure the doubters are wrong.
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