The Green Bay Packers are at the quarter point of the 2023 season with a 2-2 record. That is likely about what many people expected them to be, with a few expectations already being surpassed.
If the Packers want to take some more steps in the right direction, there are clear and obvious needs for improvement. The slow starts are something that they have to avoid, as digging early holes isn’t a recipe for sustained success. They learned that the hard way, having a historic comeback in Week 3 over the New Orleans Saints before getting hammered by the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
Figuring things out on the ground, on offense and defense, is imperative as well. The Packers’ slow starts and inability to sustain drives can be attributed to their inability to run the ball. Defensively, they have been inconsistent stopping the run. In their two losses, Green Bay has surrendered 211 yards on the ground in both.
Another area of concern for the team is their nickleback. Keisean Nixon is a Pro Bowler but for his work as a return man on special teams. As a defensive back, he isn’t anywhere near as established.
Despite that, Green Bay has been relying on him to soak up nearly all of the snaps in the slot. The results have been mixed, at best. He has been the most susceptible cornerback to getting beat as teams aren’t actively targeting Rasul Douglas and Jaire Alexander on the perimeter.
With a need in their secondary, Matt Holden of Bleacher Report has suggested the Packers dip into free agency for help. One player he believes that would help Green Bay is veteran cornerback, Bryce Callahan.
“Keisean Nixon is an excellent special teamer, but Green Bay has been relying on him to cover the slot at the beginning stages of the season and he has struggled. According to Pro Football Reference, Nixon was targeted nine times in the team’s first two games and allowed eight completions for 62 yards and a touchdown while earning a subpar grade from Pro Football Focus.
Callahan could come in and take command of the position and would be an upgrade over Nixon. The former Charger is coming off a campaign where he had nine combined interceptions and passes defended while yielding a 64.8 completion percentage.”
The Packers’ biggest weakness defensively is up the middle. Their shakiest position is the safety spot, they struggle to defend the run and slot corner has been a weakness to this point.
While Callahan wouldn’t help fix all their needs, he would be a big help in the slot. Eric Stokes returning from the PUP List would certainly be a boost for the secondary, which could be why the Packers haven’t made a move to bring in another cornerback.
But, if he isn’t going to be able to get back on the field any time soon, a player such as Callahan would make a lot of sense as an addition to the defense.
