Packers fans lamenting just one Super Bowl in the Aaron Rodgers era (hey, it's more than most teams) can generally point to a defense that's let down in previous seasons (and postseasons). Green Bay replaced longtime coordinator Dom Capers in the offseason. And now it needs to replace a key starter, too.
Inside linebacker Jake Ryan, a 2015 fourth-rounder, has been a staple of the defense the last two seasons, and was entering a contract year. But he tore his ACL in practice the other day and is done for the season. Green Bay will need somebody else to step up, probably rookie Oren Burks. They'll be scrambling to find a quality starter at a spot they thought they were set at.
They do, at least, have Blake Martinez (pictured), and he'll now need to do more. He was awfully productive a year ago, tying for the league lead in tackles (144). He averaged 9 tackles per game, one of the best rates in the league (table follows; to make it less unwieldy I cropped the list at 70-plus tackles and 6.0 per game).
TACKLES PER GAME, 2017 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | G | GS | Tot | Solo | Ast | Tck/G |
Zach Brown, Wash. | 13 | 13 | 127 | 84 | 43 | 9.8 |
Sean Lee, Dall. | 11 | 11 | 101 | 70 | 31 | 9.2 |
Blake Martinez, G.B. | 16 | 16 | 144 | 96 | 48 | 9.0 |
Preston Brown, Buff. | 16 | 16 | 144 | 84 | 60 | 9.0 |
Joe Schobert, Clev. | 16 | 16 | 142 | 85 | 57 | 8.9 |
Deion Jones, Atl. | 16 | 16 | 138 | 91 | 47 | 8.6 |
Christian Kirksey, Clev. | 16 | 16 | 138 | 86 | 52 | 8.6 |
Demario Davis, NYJ | 16 | 16 | 135 | 97 | 38 | 8.4 |
NaVorro Bowman, S.F.-Oak. | 15 | 15 | 126 | 80 | 46 | 8.4 |
Luke Kuechly, Car. | 15 | 15 | 125 | 74 | 51 | 8.3 |
Bobby Wagner, Sea. | 16 | 16 | 133 | 97 | 36 | 8.3 |
C.J. Mosley, Balt. | 16 | 16 | 132 | 96 | 36 | 8.3 |
Kwon Alexander, T.B. | 12 | 12 | 97 | 70 | 27 | 8.1 |
Lavonte David, T.B. | 13 | 13 | 101 | 76 | 25 | 7.8 |
Reshad Jones, Mia. | 16 | 16 | 122 | 94 | 28 | 7.6 |
Wesley Woodyard, Tenn. | 16 | 16 | 121 | 81 | 40 | 7.6 |
Ryan Shazier, Pitt. | 12 | 12 | 89 | 68 | 21 | 7.4 |
Danny Trevathan, Chi. | 12 | 12 | 89 | 60 | 29 | 7.4 |
Telvin Smith, Jac. | 14 | 14 | 102 | 76 | 26 | 7.3 |
Reuben Foster, S.F. | 10 | 10 | 72 | 59 | 13 | 7.2 |
K.J. Wright, Sea. | 15 | 15 | 108 | 71 | 37 | 7.2 |
Antonio Morrison, Ind. | 15 | 15 | 108 | 64 | 44 | 7.2 |
Kiko Alonso, Mia. | 16 | 16 | 115 | 79 | 36 | 7.2 |
Keanu Neal, Atl. | 16 | 16 | 113 | 81 | 32 | 7.1 |
Eric Kendricks, Minn. | 16 | 16 | 113 | 67 | 46 | 7.1 |
Anthony Hitchens, Dall. | 12 | 12 | 84 | 55 | 29 | 7.0 |
Nick Vigil, Cin. | 11 | 11 | 77 | 43 | 34 | 7.0 |
Jonathan Bostic, Ind. | 14 | 14 | 97 | 57 | 40 | 6.9 |
Tahir Whitehead, Det. | 16 | 16 | 110 | 78 | 32 | 6.9 |
Jarrad Davis, Det. | 14 | 14 | 96 | 65 | 31 | 6.9 |
Deone Bucannon, Ariz. | 12 | 12 | 81 | 58 | 23 | 6.8 |
Brandon Marshall, Den. | 16 | 16 | 106 | 75 | 31 | 6.6 |
Landon Collins, NYG | 15 | 15 | 99 | 74 | 25 | 6.6 |
Ramon Humber, Buff. | 13 | 9 | 83 | 56 | 27 | 6.4 |
Alec Ogletree, LAR | 15 | 15 | 95 | 63 | 32 | 6.3 |
Jordan Poyer, Buff. | 15 | 15 | 95 | 63 | 32 | 6.3 |
Kurt Coleman, Car. | 12 | 12 | 76 | 51 | 25 | 6.3 |
Earl Thomas, Sea. | 14 | 14 | 88 | 56 | 32 | 6.3 |
Darron Lee, NYJ | 15 | 15 | 94 | 67 | 27 | 6.3 |
Mark Barron, LAR | 14 | 14 | 85 | 72 | 13 | 6.1 |
Karlos Dansby Ariz. | 16 | 15 | 96 | 74 | 22 | 6.0 |
Jahleel Addae, LAC | 16 | 16 | 96 | 66 | 30 | 6.0 |
Lawrence Timmons, Mia. | 14 | 14 | 84 | 58 | 26 | 6.0 |
Vincent Rey, Cin. | 14 | 11 | 84 | 52 | 32 | 6.0 |
Martinez got a little bump in the IDP rankings this week. Ryan was removed, and Burks enters the rankings; he's the favorite for that other starting spot. He started the exhibition game the other night, leading the team with 6 total tackles. He's the guy to consider in IDP drafts.
--Andy Richardson