Starting 5 - CB

[El Guapo]

Which five DBs do you think we will open the season with against the Lions? (assuming a nickel package)

 

[gopkrs]

Interesting. Maybe 6. Could you list all the choices?

 

[Pkrjones]

Which five DBs do you think we will open the season with against the Lions? (assuming a nickel package)

*Alexander
Nixon
Hobbs
McKinney
Williams

* Valentine if Jaire isn't with the team.

 

[OldSchool101]

Packers cautiously optimistic about start of Year 2 for CB Kalen King

Packers defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley said CB Kalen King is "looking really, really good" to start Year 2.

packerswire.usatoday.com

Yeah the above list sounds about right. @Pkrjones

Sounds like another position will have some good competition at depth. I’m really hoping King pops. I see him in that poor man’s Brian Branch area.
Concerns about
1. A dropoff from an All Conference level play to pedestrian performances 2. A poor Pro Day
3. Some play maturity concerns declaring too early dropped him.

IMO had he waited 1 more year and bounced back a little he’s a solid 4-6th Rounder. He’s one of that minority players that puzzled draft projections from late Day1 to Priority FA. His 4.55 40 time really scared everyone. Yet his short area quickness and football IQ is well above average.

 

[Pkrjones]

His 5.61 40 time really scared everyone. Yet his short area quickness and football IQ is well above average.

Just for future reference Kalen King ran 4.61 at his pro day, I know the above was a typo.

 

[El Guapo]

Interesting. Maybe 6. Could you list all the choices?

I wasn't sure if this was a challenge or request. Either way I'm game:

Cornerbacks
- Jaire (I think that he goes by only one name now, like Liberace or ALF)
- Keisean Nixon
- Carrington Valentine
- Nate Hobbs
- Kamal Hadden
- Micah Robinson
- Isaiah Dunn
- Tyron Herring
- Javon Bullard
- Kalen King

Safeties
- Xavier McKinney
- Evan Williams
- Zayne Anderson
- Kitan Oladapo
- Omar Brown
- Kaleb Hayes
- Johnathan Baldwin
- Kahzir Brown

 

[gopkrs]

OK then. I'll pick who I think the starting 5 will be:
McKinney
Williams (but I do think Anderson can play)
Hobbs
Jaire
Valentine (that was a tough one but I think we need another corner in there)
I wouldn't call it a really strong group but it does seem serviceable. Especially if a couple of those others step up when we need em.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

I wasn't sure if this was a challenge or request. Either way I'm game:

Cornerbacks
- Jaire (I think that he goes by only one name now, like Liberace or ALF)

As much of a diva as he is, I think Madonna is a better comp.

 

[El Guapo]

...but ALF was on target, because I heard that he likes to eat cats and is obsessed with styrofoam.

From a trusted web source:

Foam standard

The foam standard is what drove the Melmacian fiscal system. Foam is considered a precious substance on Melmac. On the other hand, gold, which is a precious substance on Earth was valueless on Melmac. ALF's great uncle Louie Louie is credited with starting the foam rush of '08.

alf.fandom.com

 

[El Guapo]

I'm going to go with roughly the same list as Pkrjones, except with Bullard in the slot over Nixon

Alexander - outside
Hobbs - outside
Bullard - slot
McKinney - safety
Williams - safety

While Nixon makes some splash plays, I've never been sold on him. I think that he's our dime.

 

[Pkrjones]

I'm going to go with roughly the same list as Pkrjones, except with Bullard in the slot over Nixon

Alexander - outside
Hobbs - outside
Bullard - slot
McKinney - safety
Williams - safety

While Nixon makes some splash plays, I've never been sold on him. I think that he's our dime.

I wasn't a fan of Nixon's extension last year, but the guy just keeps getting better with additional experience. His "splash plays" are game &/or momentum changers, which end up being huge.

 

[El Guapo]

I wasn't a fan of Nixon's extension last year, but the guy just keeps getting better with additional experience. His "splash plays" are game &/or momentum changers, which end up being huge.

Agreed. I just wonder if there is a better way to utilize him in critical moments while still getting game time for all of our young draft picks.

 

[tynimiller]

If you told me what five DBs I expect if we came out with that on snap one of defense I'm going:

Jaire and Valentine wide
Bullard, Williams and McKinney otherwise

I know we paid Hobbs, and he will for sure see time...but I think diversity of Bullard depending on package the offense deploys will provide Hafley with more creativity than if Hobbs was swapped with Bullard.

If you told me to rank our top 5 DBs but how good they are, assuming full health...it is the same five IMO and in this order:

Jaire
McKinney
Williams
Valentine
Bullard.....Hobbs nipping on heels atm

 

[gopkrs]

Not sure about Bullard yet. You have good reasoning though. But yeah, that's how I took it. Who will be tge starting 5

 

[OldSchool101]

Just for future reference Kalen King ran 4.61 at his pro day, I know the above was a typo.

Thanks yeah 4.61 is correct

SeverL scouting reports basically said he would be a developmental project. So I think we kinda knew we'd lose a year of production. Recent reports name him as one of the players they are seeing a spike from last season. He's playing faster and not thinking so much. We all know he's one of the last selections I last years draft, but partly its because he's a project year 1. He's as good as adding a Middle Rounds draft pick. Some mention of pushing him to Safety if CB doesn't pan out

 

[gopkrs]

OK then. I'll pick who I think the starting 5 will be:
McKinney
Williams (but I do think Anderson can play)
Hobbs
Jaire
Valentine (that was a tough one but I think we need another corner in there)
I wouldn't call it a really strong group but it does seem serviceable. Especially if a couple of those others step up when we need em.

Things change. I would like to see:
Hobbs and Valentine at the corners.
McKinney and Anderson at safties.
Williams at slot
Nixon and Bullard to be primary backups

 

[tynimiller]

Things change. I would like to see:
Hobbs and Valentine at the corners.
McKinney and Anderson at safties.
Williams at slot
Nixon and Bullard to be primary backups

Williams is not used in the slot much at all...and is not where he does his best work. He only played 65 snaps there last year out of his 533 or 12%. His typically alignment was Free Safety (66% of the time)...he actually lined up in the box as an extra box defender more (91) than he did slot.

Our experienced slots are Nixon and Bullard primarily...BUT it will be interesting to see if we see Micah Robinson or Johnathan Baldwin given time there as both exhibit the chops to do it IMO.

Baldwin LIVED in the slot with over 600 snaps there in 2024...while Micah didn't really do it much in college he could be asked to focus on it at this level...

 

[BR1]

hobbs nixon corners
nixon & williams at safeties
bull into the slot
valentine first backup at the corner
i like the growth of nixon as cornerback he have big plays potential but in my opinion is not a play to play consistent corner( i hope to be wrong because we need him to play well)

 

[Pkrjones]

I wouldn't mind seeing Simmons in the slot against good/great TE teams. Has the size & speed (6'-4", 4.39 40) to negate TE's up the seam or on slants/crossers. Is this the definition of slot CB, box Safety, or other??

Robinson is 5'-11" 185lbs, Baldwin is 6', 190lbs, Bullard is 5'-10", 198lbs.

 

[gopkrs]

Williams is not used in the slot much at all...and is not where he does his best work. He only played 65 snaps there last year out of his 533 or 12%. His typically alignment was Free Safety (66% of the time)...he actually lined up in the box as an extra box defender more (91) than he did slot.

Our experienced slots are Nixon and Bullard primarily...BUT it will be interesting to see if we see Micah Robinson or Johnathan Baldwin given time there as both exhibit the chops to do it IMO.

Baldwin LIVED in the slot with over 600 snaps there in 2024...while Micah didn't really do it much in college he could be asked to focus on it at this level...

Yes. I understand all that. I just put down what I would like to try. So I guess I went a little off topic

 

[gopkrs]

I wouldn't mind seeing Simmons in the slot against good/great TE teams. Has the size & speed (6'-4", 4.39 40) to negate TE's up the seam or on slants/crossers. Is this the definition of slot CB, box Safety, or other??

Robinson is 5'-11" 185lbs, Baldwin is 6', 190lbs, Bullard is 5'-10", 198lbs.

I don't know him. Good to hear we have someone else to look at. Is he a good tackler?

 

[El Guapo]

I'm going to go with roughly the same list as Pkrjones, except with Bullard in the slot over Nixon

Alexander - outside
Hobbs - outside
Bullard - slot
McKinney - safety
Williams - safety

While Nixon makes some splash plays, I've never been sold on him. I think that he's our dime.

My prediction now swaps out Jaire and inserts Nixon:

Nixon - outside
Hobbs - outside
Bullard - slot
McKinney - safety
Williams - safety

 

[El Guapo]

hobbs nixon corners
nixon & williams at safeties
bull into the slot
valentine first backup at the corner
i like the growth of nixon as cornerback he have big plays potential but in my opinion is not a play to play consistent corner( i hope to be wrong because we need him to play well)

I assume that you meant McKinley in the slot, unless you think Nixon is as talented as the all mighty Bugs Bunny:

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[Schultz]

Safeties- NcKinney and Williams. IMO this was a strength last year. No need to change.
Corners- Valentine and Nixon- continuity.
Nickel- Hobbs

 

[Heyjoe4]

My prediction now swaps out Jaire and inserts Nixon:

Nixon - outside
Hobbs - outside
Bullard - slot
McKinney - safety
Williams - safety

Unless something changes in TC and PS, this is the most likely lineup for DBs to start the season. The safety group, a complete liability two years ago, now headlines the DBs.

I hope Hobbs excels in a new environment. Bullard needs to live up to his selection, and slot is probably the best place for him.