Packer Perspective: Green Bay rolling the dice at cornerback despite Kevin King addition
Despite selecting Kevin King in the second round of last week’s draft, and bringing back Davon House in free agency, the Green Bay Packers continue to roll the dice at cornerback.
Ted Thompson’s “change” in philosophy has been met with praise from analysts and fans alike. Thompson took a slightly more aggressive approach to the open market, and his work this offseason went a way to removing the perception that he’s gun-shy in free agency.
While the Packers should be commended for adding a rookie class rich in talent, along with a productive free agency period headlined by the signature of Martellus Bennett, one area that feels shortchanged is the cornerback position.
Yes, Thompson used his first selection on Friday night to acquire Kevin King, and the rookie’s arrival could make a big difference to the secondary. He also signed veteran Davon House, who at least brings some experience and understanding of Dom Capers’ scheme. While the additions of King and House can be seen as positive, one glaring question remains.
Is that it?
Let’s put it bluntly: Green Bay’s pass defense was an embarrassment in 2016. Ranked No. 31 in the NFL, the Packers were routinely torched through the air, allowing 269 yards per game and a disappointing 32 touchdowns in 16 regular season games.
Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, a pairing that flashed promise as rookies a season prior, looked lost almost every time they stepped on to the field. Gone was Sam Shields’ presence in the secondary masking over his teammates’ deficiencies.
Must Read: The ups and downs of drafting Kevin King
LaDarius Gunter emerged as the Packers’ best cornerback down the stretch, and Dom Capers used him to match up one-on-one with Odell Beckham, Dez Bryant and Julio Jones throughout the postseason. Despite Gunter’s best efforts, Capers had no choice but to place his undrafted corner in situations even the league’s elite can struggle in, and he found life tough.
The results spoke for themselves. Atlanta showed the world just how broken the Packers’ secondary was when Julio Jones torched them with 180 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game. Seven of the Falcons’ nine possessions resulted in points, and six of those finished in touchdowns.
The Packers’ answer? Draft a rookie and sign a veteran who had been cut by the Jaguars.
King has the potential to quickly establish himself as the best cornerback on the team. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the height to go toe-to-toe with the Julio Jones and Dez Bryants of the world. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote a great piece on the Packers’ rookie class, and he had high praise for the second-rounder.
"“King isn’t one of these developing underclassmen, having started three years at Washington. He has terrific speed, remarkable ball skills and everything it takes to play the press-man system favored by defensive coordinator Dom Capers and cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt.”"
King’s arrival will put a smile on Capers’ face, but the Packers are only an injury away from staring at a bare cupboard once more.
What if King gets hurt, or takes some time to settle at the NFL level? This isn’t Madden, the transition from college to the pros isn’t always seamless.
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It’s clear Thompson and Mike McCarthy have faith in the Randall-Rollins duo to bounce back. The hope is at least one of the two produces a Davante Adams-style bounce-back campaign in 2017. Along with King’s addition and a veteran presence in House, all again will be rosy in Green Bay’s defensive backfield.
That’s the grand plan, but it’s a risky game to play. There’s little evidence to suggest either of the Packers’ top two selections of the 2015 NFL Draft will prove last year to be an anomaly.
In a rookie class loaded at cornerback, Thompson passed up on the opportunity to pair King with another talent available to him in the mid-rounds. The Packers declined the chance to add the likes of Cam Sutton and Cordrea Tankersley on Day 2, and it may come back to haunt them.
It’s hard to get too critical of Thompson’s selections in this class, but how about free agency?
Prince Amukamara earned a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chicago Bears. It may go down as the biggest bargain of the spring, and he would have been a great addition to Capers’ defense.
Thompson’s added aggression in free agency paired with a strong weekend of work in the draft should be applauded. He’s added playmakers on both sides of the ball, ensured the offense got stronger and addressed areas of need on defense. But he’s taken a risk at one key area.
No position needed more work than cornerback. And while King will be expected to help from Day 1, and House act as a solid No. 2, the Packers are gambling on the development of their young corners.
Randall and Rollins need to step up and provide depth. This pairing holds the key to the Packers’ defensive revival, and it’s for this reason Thompson is rolling the dice.
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