Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 3 vs. Saints
By Jesse Fry
4. Christian Kirksey
The Packers have had their struggles against the run, we know this. They now face a team that will look to exploit this with two players more than capable of taking over the game.
Kamara has a wider skill set and is the more dangerous player. It will be up to Christian Kirksey to minimize the damage.
Coming off a 12-tackle performance against the Lions, Kirksey is showing he can replace the production lost with the departure of Blake Martinez, now he must show he can be something Martinez wasn’t, a playmaker.
Sean Payton will do all that he can to get Kamara matched up against the Packers’ linebackers in the passing game. Mike Pettine will also do all that he can to ensure that doesn’t happen. But it will happen. It will then be up to Kirksey to make the plays Martinez couldn’t, especially in the passing game.
Martinez lacked speed as well as the coverage skills and that’s why the Packers were OK letting him walk. This is the type of game and reason why the Packers went after a player like Kirksey.
This game could be decided on a turnover and I have a feeling Kirksey will have a chance to be the one to cause it.