Packers should keep Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator in 2019

Whether the Green Bay Packers make coaching changes or not this offseason, Mike Pettine should remain the defensive coordinator in 2019.

In a season full of disappointment for the Packers, Mike Pettine deserves a ton of credit for his work on the defensive side of the ball.

Just last year the Packers had the 23rd-ranked pass defense. The unit finished the year with 37 sacks, good for 17th in the NFL.

After 12 weeks this season under Pettine, the Packers are ninth in passing defense and have almost matched last season’s sack total already with 36, good for third-most in the NFL.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has added talent on this side of the football, especially in the secondary, but considering the amount of injuries the Packers have dealt with this season, Pettine’s unit is exceeding expectations.

Green Bay has been without starting linebacker Jake Ryan for the entire season, free agent signing Muhammad Wilkerson for most of it, and has also had to deal with injuries to starters Kevin King, Mike Daniels and Jaire Alexander throughout the season.

And despite the Packers doing very little at edge rusher in the offseason, the Packers’ pass rush has improved. That’s on Pettine.

The defense remains a work in progress. It has been the team’s biggest issue for a number of years, but that is slowly changing.

Green Bay has young talent to build around on defense.

Kenny Clark is quickly becoming a star along the defensive line. Jaire Alexander has the potential to become an elite cornerback after an impressive rookie year. Blake Martinez is a key player at linebacker.

The Packers will have a lot of questions at edge rusher and safety in the offseason, but they have talent to build around at key positions.

Gutekunst deserves credit for adding Alexander in the draft; the rookie cornerback has already had a big impact on the secondary.

But Pettine has put it all together, and despite dealing with a number of key injuries all year long, he has been able to help the defense make significant improvements on recent years.

If the Packers decide to make a change at head coach, Pettine’s future will also become uncertain. But he should be given the opportunity to build on this year’s work.

With another offseason to add talent and for players to get more familiarity with Pettine’s scheme, Green Bay’s defense can become a strength in the coming years.

But they must ensure Pettine is still the defensive coordinator in 2019.