Category: Latest Packers News

Vikings rule out RB Dalvin Cook, RB Alexander Mattison questionable vs. Packers

The Vikings could be without their top two running backs on Monday night against the Packers.

The Minnesota Vikings will be without their Pro Bowl running back on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers, and they might not have his top backup available, either.

The Vikings ruled out Dalvin Cook (chest) for Monday night’s NFC North showdown with the Packers, who can clinch the division title with a win. Alexander Mattison, Cook’s top backup, is questionable with an ankle injury.

If Cook and Mattison can’t go, third-string running back Mike Boone would take over as the lead back.

Cook, a first-time Pro Bowler in 2019, ran for a season-high 154 yards and ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run in the first meeting against the Packers. Cook and Mattison combined for 179 rushing yards on 24 carries in Week 2.

Over the Vikings’ first 14 games, Cook produced 1,654 yards and 13 total touchdowns for the run-heavy, screen-heavy Minnesota offense. Mattison is averaging 4.6 yards per carry over 100 carries.

The Vikings rank third in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns and fourth in rushing yards this season.

Boone, an undrafted free agent from Cincinnati, rushed 13 times for 56 yards and two scores as the Vikings routed the Los Angeles Chargers last week. Minnesota also has former Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah.

[lawrence-related id=36967,36934]

Packers vs. Vikings: 5 things to watch and a prediction

Five things to watch and a prediction for Monday night’s showdown between the Packers and Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Green Bay Packers can clinch the NFC North title and secure a top-3 seed in the NFC playoffs by beating the Minnesota Vikings in primetime on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, a venue where the Packers have never won.

Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Monday night:

1. Rushers in the spotlight

This matchup will feature four of the NFL’s most productive pass-rushers, with Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith matched up against Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. Who will be the most disruptive duo on Monday night? The Packers kept Kirk Cousins under consistent pressure in the first meeting, especially early, while Hunter and Griffen both got going once the Packers built a lead. Cousins has been terrific this season, but he’s prone to mistakes and inefficiency when pressured. This is a great opportunity for the two Smiths to take over another game. On offense, David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga have a big challenge awaiting them. Hunter and Griffen are tough to block in the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium.

2. Winning the rushing battle

The Vikings are 9-1 when they rush for more yards than their opponent and 1-3 when their opponent wins the rushing battle this season. Everything the Vikings do on offense is based around the run, and that probably won’t change even if running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison don’t play on Monday night. They block well and stay committed to the run as a foundation of the scheme. Mike Zimmer’s defense has only allowed three opponents to rush for more than 125 yards this season, although the Packers accomplished the feat in Week 2. The Seahawks ran for 218 yards and scored 37 points against the Vikings. The Lions and Chargers managed 132 total rushing yards and scored just 17 total points the last two weeks. Can the Packers contain the Vikings on the ground and get Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams going on Monday night?

3. Will Kenny keep killing it?

In the first meeting, Kenny Clark dominated rookie center Garrett Bradbury. The two will face off again on Monday night. Bradbury has improved, especially in pass protection, but Clark has overcome a midseason injury and is once again dominating. He’s controlling games up front, allowing the defense to play lighter against the run, and he’s getting – and winning – far more one-on-one battles as a rusher. Mike Pettine has found ways to get Clark freed up, using Za’Darius Smith as a rover to eliminate opportunities for teams to double-team the Packers’ nose tackle. Clark needs to be a game-changer on Monday night.

4. Heart of the defense

Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks is having an All-Pro season. He runs well, diagnoses quickly and is rarely out of position, and he’s arguably the best cover linebacker in football. His matchup against Aaron Jones could help decide the game. In the first meeting, Jones found cutback lanes and gashed the Vikings for chunk gains. Expect Kendricks and the Vikings front to put up a better fight this time around. Also, will the Packers prioritize getting the football to the running backs in the passing game? Jones and Jamaal Williams were effective as receivers in Week 2.

5. Packers CBs vs. Vikings WRs

The matchup of the game: Jaire Alexander and Kevin King vs. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Both the Vikings receivers have terrorized the Packers in recent years, although Alexander and King finally put up a legitimate fight back in Week 2. Ideally, the Packers would stop the run and force Kirk Cousins to win the game with his arm. Can the cornerbacks prevent big plays and help the Packers get off the field on big third downs? Alexander has played at a high level all season but is lacking that one special game. Maybe he’ll produce it Monday night against Thielen and Diggs, one of the game’s best receiver tandems.

Prediction: Vikings 28, Packers 20 (11-3)

The Vikings aren’t going to have Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, creating a real possibility for the Packers to win their first game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The worry here is that the Packers offense will struggle to move the football in a tough environment and the defense will allow too many explosive plays to beat a talented team on the road.

Packers rookie Rashan Gary ‘getting better at the right time’

Can Packers rookie Rashan Gary follow in the footsteps of Kenny Clark’s rookie season?

Late in 2016, then-rookie defensive lineman Kenny Clark started coming on as a playmaker for the Green Bay Packers defense. He wasn’t yet a dominant player down-to-down, but he flashed the occasional disruptive ability that eventually helped turn him into one of the NFL’s best interior linemen.

First-round pick Rashan Gary could be following a similar path during his rookie season.

Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said Gary, who had one sack in his first 13 games, is trending in the right direction after playing his best game of the year during Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears. The Packers’ top pick tallied his second sack of the season late in the first half when he blew past the Bears right tackle and chased down Mitchell Trubisky.

“He did some good things. I was glad to see he got some production as well,” Pettine said Friday. “I just know he’s been working real hard with coach (Mike) Smith, a lot of things outside of his normal drill work, his get-off, his stance, his pad level, just little technical things that he’s trying to clean up and trying to find the right combination for himself.”

Slowly, Gary is positioning himself to be an important player for the Packers defense down the stretch, especially if he keeps gradually improving.

“He’s getting better at the right time,” Pettine said.

Clark did the same as a 21-year-old rookie in 2016. Mostly quiet for the first three months of the year, Clark produced four quarterback hits over the final six regular-season games before breaking out with two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss during the Packers’ playoff win over the New York Giants in the NFC Wildcard Round.

Barring injury, Gary isn’t going to be anything close to a full-time player, but Pettine knows how important he is to the defense’s rotation at outside linebacker, especially considering how often top rusher Za’Darius Smith is used at different spots across the defensive front.

Gary or Kyler Fackrell often come on the field in obvious passing downs.

“It’s good to see him get the production, and he’s a big part of that rotation. Preston (Smith) and Z, we don’t want to put the whole game on them. To have guys like Kyler and Rashan, to have that four-man rotation,” Pettine said.

Gary played 18 snaps against the Bears, tallying three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.

The Packers are approaching the final stretch of the 2019 season with a chance to clinch the NFC North and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. This time of year, teams don’t get better from the outside. They improve from within. And few young players look more capable of taking a step and producing in a meaningful way than Gary, who – despite a slow start – keeps progressing in his development as an edge rusher.

The rookie rusher might not take over games down the stretch, but just a few more flashes – like the flashes Clark provided during the playoff run in 2016 – could make a big difference for the Packers defense as the postseason nears.

Raven Greene returning from IR remains option for Packers

The Packers could get back DB Raven Greene at some point in the near future.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur left the door open for versatile defensive back Raven Greene to be the team’s second player to return from injured reserve.

“It is certainly an option, and I know he’s working hard every day. I think he’s moving around pretty well,” LaFleur said Friday.

The Packers already used a designation on rookie tight end Jace Sternberger.

Greene, a second-year defensive back, injured his ankle early in the second half in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. He left the game on a cart and hasn’t been on the field since.

LaFleur said Greene continues to rehab the injury and hasn’t yet returned to practice.

The Packers used Greene, who added weight during the offseason, in the box as a subpackage linebacker during the first two weeks. Ibraheim Campbell has since returned the PUP list and assumed the role.

Over the first two games of the season, Greene played 68 snaps on defense and another 18 on special teams. He was on the field for 77 percent of snaps during the Packers’ win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1.

Greene might be the only logical option to be the team’s second player to return from injured reserve. Lane Taylor, the starter at left guard to open the season, had surgery to repair a biceps injury.

Packers at Vikings: TV schedule, streaming, how to watch

How to watch, stream and listen to the Packers’ Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019.

The Green Bay Packers (11-3) cross state lines in Week 16 to battle the Minnesota Vikings (10-4) in a pivotal game on Monday Night Football. With a win, the Packers strengthen their chances of securing a top playoff seed and first-round bye.

Green Bay has fared well against the Vikings with Aaron Rodgers as starting quarterback, racking up a 13-8-1 record. However, the Packers have yet to win a game at the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium (0-3) and it’s no given they’ll break that streak on Monday.

The Vikings will enter this matchup in the top 10 of several statistical categories including points forced (5th), points allowed (6th), rushing yards gained (4th), and rushing yards allowed (8th). Even with star running back Dalvin Cook unlikely to play, Minnesota has plenty of other playmakers to get the ball to. As it stands right now, Minnesota is the favorite to win. Green Bay will need a complete performance on both sides of the ball to secure the win.

The Packers are looking to sweep the regular-season series with the Vikings for the first time since 2014 and the sixth time since 2002 (2011, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2004). 

Green Bay will stay on the road in Week 17 for the regular season finale at the Detroit Lions (3-10-1). The Lions placed starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, ensuring the Packers won’t have to face him for a second time this season.

ESPN will broadcast the game. Joe Tessitore (play-by-play) will be joined by Booger McFarland (analyst) in the booth with Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.

The game can be heard over Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM) and the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 50 stations in five states. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Larry McCarren (analyst) will call the action with John Kuhn providing coverage from the sidelines. The matchup will also be aired over Westwood One Sports and the WTMJ feed of Sirius Satellite Radio.

Here’s the information you need to know to watch Monday night’s game:

What: Green Bay Packers (11-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-4)
When: Monday, Dec. 23 at 7:15 p.m. CST
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Referee: Bill Vinovich
TV Channels: ESPN, WLUK-TV FOX11 in Green Bay and WISN-TV CBS58 in Milwaukee
Radio: Packers Radio Network, Sirius Satellite Radio (WTMJ feed), Westwood One Sports
Live Streams: fuboTV (try it free), the NFL app (offers free streams for viewers in the local market), Packers mobile app and on packers.com (via iPhones and iPads using the Safari browser, available to in-market fans only)
Televised Areas: Nationwide

After stabilizing against young QBs, Packers defense needs statement game vs. Vikings

The Packers defense has a chance for a statement game on Monday night against Kirk Cousins and the Vikings.

The Green Bay Packers stabilized on defense over the last three games, holding Daniel Jones’ New York Giants, Dwayne Haskins’ Washington Redskins and Mitchell Trubisky’s Chicago Bears to just 41 total points in the three Green Bay victories.

Now, the Packers defense needs to produce a statement game on Monday night against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings.

Mike Pettine’s group ranks ninth in the NFL in points allowed per game. They’ve held seven opponents under 20 points and rank among the NFL’s best at generating turnovers and holding teams out of the end zone inside the red zone.

However, save for an impressive Week 2 performance against Cousins and the Vikings, the Packers have mostly beaten up on bad offenses with young quarterbacks and struggled against most teams with experienced passers.

Getting to the Super Bowl is going to require the Packers to beat at least one of the great passers heading to the NFC playoffs, possibly even on the road. Doing it now won’t mean they’ll do it again, but it sure would create some confidence in a young group that has been up and down for much of the year.

Facing Cousins and the Vikings’ fifth-ranked scoring defense at U.S. Bank Stadium will provide another litmus test for the Packers defense, even if Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook doesn’t play.

Cousins has been terrific for most of the 2019 season. He’s third in the NFL in completion percentage and fourth in passer rating and yards per attempt.

At home, Cousins is completing over 80 percent of his passes, with 10 touchdowns and one interception and a passer rating of 126.0. The Vikings are averaging 27.7 points per game and haven’t lost at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Like the offense, the Packers defense has flashed bursts of dominance this season. They have the pass rush and secondary players to compete with anyone, but the group has lacked game-to-game consistency, mostly due to lingering issues stopping the run and preventing big plays.

The Packers have improved slightly against the run over the last month and should be more confident in the secondary after making life difficult on three young quarterbacks. It’s time to apply those improvements to a skilled opponent with an experienced quarterback in a tough environment.

Monday night in Minnesota should be a terrific opportunity for the Packers to prove they are playoff-ready on defense.

Packers must take advantage of even more good injury luck

The Packers aren’t expected to face Dalvin Cook or Matthew Stafford over the final two games of 2019.

The Green Bay Packers continue to ride a wave of incredible injury luck.

Not only is Matt LaFleur’s team essentially fully healthy, with all 22 preferred starters available and no major injuries or potential absences to speak of, but the Packers keep running into teams lacking the same once-in-a-decade injury fortune.

This week, the Packers will likely miss out on facing Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, a Pro Bowler who is responsible for over 1,600 total yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019. He’s nursing a chest/shoulder injury and is expected to miss Monday night’s showdown at U.S. Bank Stadium. In the season finale, the Packers will avoid Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is already on injured reserve with a back injury.

LaFleur’s team is living a charmed life on the injury front. Teams are rarely this healthy into December. Now, the Packers have a chance to get to 13-3 by taking advantage of two more major injuries over the final two weeks.

Nearly every week this season, the Packers have been the healthier team. Even when Davante Adams went out for a month with a toe injury, the Packers rallied and won four straight games, including a visit to Kansas City to play the Chiefs, who were without MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Adams’ injury, which cost him only four games, has been the only major injury issue faced by the Packers in 2019.

According to Bob McGinn of The Athletic, the Packers have nine games missed by starters over the first 14 games, compared to 49 for Green Bay’s opponents.

Left guard Lane Taylor went down with a season-ending injury after Week 2, but rookie Elgton Jenkins has probably improved the play at the position. Rookie safety Darnell Savage missed two games. Running back Jamaal Williams and cornerback Kevin King each missed one. Defensive back Raven Greene has been on injured reserve since Week 2 but could be nearing a comeback. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga avoided a major knee injury and didn’t miss a game.

LaFleur and the Packers have given the players light days of work between games. Veterans have been afforded days off at practice. It’s been a working strategy, although luck is always involved.

No team is in a better position injury-wise at this point in the season. Now, the Packers can better position themselves in the NFC playoffs over the final two games.

The Vikings are certainly capable of winning without Cook, especially at home, but his absence robs Kirk Cousins’ run-first offense of a legitimate difference-making weapon. And it’s possible the Vikings will be without Cook’s top backup, rookie Alexander Mattison, who is battling an ankle injury.

The Lions have both Stafford and backup Jeff Driskell on injured reserve, leaving rookie David Blough as the expected starter at quarterback in Week 17. Detroit hasn’t won a single game with Blough under center. The Lions have several other important players on injured reserve, including receiver Marvin Jones, tight end T.J. Hockenson, linebacker Jarrad Davis and defensive lineman Mike Daniels.

Injuries are mostly a product of fortune. Football is a brutal game, and injuries happen. Now 14 games in, and the Packers are still incredibly healthy.

A 13-3 season and a first-round bye in the playoffs are both available if the healthy Packers can beat the Vikings without Cook and the Lions without Stafford.

Packers rookie OLB Greg Roberts, still on PUP list, begins practicing

The rookie OLB now has 21 days to be activated to the roster, waived or kept on the PUP list for the rest of the year.

Green Bay Packers rookie outside linebacker Greg Roberts, who has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list all season, finally returned to practice on Thursday.

By practicing, Roberts – an undrafted rookie from Baylor – opened up a 21-day window for the Packers to activate him to the 53-man roster, waive him or keep him on the PUP list for the rest of the season.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Roberts was on the PUP list while recovering from offseason core surgery. His rookie contract includes $72,000 in guarantees, meaning the Packers saw him as a high-level undrafted free agent when they signed him in May.

Roberts (6-5, 258) played in 42 games at Baylor, tallying 15.5 tackles for losses, three sacks, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two field goal blocks. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick as a senior when he produced eight tackles for losses and two sacks (both of Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray).

The Packers don’t necessarily have a need at edge rusher, especially with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith locked in as starters and both Rashan Gary and Kyler Fackrell holding down the key backup roles. But if GM Brian Gutekunst likes Roberts as much as the money suggests, he’ll probably want to find a spot on the roster for him within the three-week window.

Week 16 film notes: Even without Dalvin Cook, Packers must stop Vikings’ rushing attack

Breaking down the film of the Vikings, the Packers’ opponent in Week 16 of the 2019 season.

Monday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings is another installment of “stoppable force meets movable object.”

Kirk Cousins can’t win on Monday Night Football – Cousins has zero wins in eight contests.

The Packers also can’t win at Minnesota’s new U.S. Bank Stadium. The glass architecture hasn’t been just a bird killer; it’s also served as a Packer killer, too.

One of those streaks has to end. So which one will?

After a disappointing 8-7-1 record in 2018, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer took over the offensive reins and hired Gary Kubiak to oversee the rebuilding of the run game. Zimmer received heavy criticism early in the season for his stubborn insistence on featuring running back Dalvin Cook over the likes of Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen in the passing game. At this point, though, Zimmer appears vindicated.

Like the Packers, the Vikings prefer to attack defenses with a zone rushing attack and utilize play action off of it. As a result, Kirk Cousins is playing some of his best football of his career. Combined with the sixth-ranked defense, the Vikings are once again a playoff-caliber football team.

In a sense, if there’s one thing the Vikings have that the Packers lack is a clear offensive identity. Zimmer’s mandate to run the ball has given his team a clear foundation and approach, perhaps the thing the Packers are still searching for as their offense ebbs and flows between dynamic and lethargic.

On Monday, the Packers will once again get to see if the “ugly” approach can  – like a cockroach at Chernobyl or a Travolta at a disco – keep their winning ways staying alive.

Either way, Monday will be a great test for this Packers team. They’ve exceeded expectations up to this point. Can they level up one more time? The NFC North is on the line.

Film notes

  • Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks is such an important part of the Vikings’ defense. He’s instinctual and fast. He closes space on runs to the perimeter. Kendricks’ range versus Aaron Jones will be a cat-and-mouse game to watch.
  • Rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. is receiving more attention from Kirk Cousins. Though Kyle Rudolph is the veteran who’s the better blocker, Smith can stretch the field and serves as a useful red zone option.
  • The Vikings’ offensive approach is sound. They’re a dedicated zone run scheme, and they frequently use play-action off the run. Cousins plays well within the structure of the offense, though he’s still capable of making the type of silly mistakes that could make extending him in Minnesota harder than it needs to be.
  • To that point, Cousins has arguably had a better season than Aaron Rodgers, and one reason why is that he’s quick to throw the ball, getting it into his playmakers’ hands.
  • As aforementioned, Cousins can throw some head-scratchers. Against the Chargers, he tossed a ball right into the arms of a defensive lineman on a screen. He should have lived to see another play as the Chargers had a good read on the Vikings’ intentions. An opportunistic Packers’ defense should have its opportunities.
  • The Vikings have two good edge rushers, but the Packers’ biggest concern is Danielle Hunter. If he hasn’t taken the mantle as the teams’ best pass rusher, Hunter should have it now. He’s fast and powerful. He drove the Chargers’ right tackle into the face of Philip Rivers, causing a fumble, which was returned for a touchdown.
  • Cousins likes throwing those 10-yard stick routes on the hash. They’re quick reads, and given the Packers’ inability to cover the middle of the field, it’s safe to think the safety valves will be there.
  • Third-string running back Michael Boone could realistically carry the load for the Vikings on Monday with Dalvin Cook out and second-string running back Alexander Mattison’s status uncertain. Boone has good burst. He’s not as smooth through the hole as Cook, but, as third-string running backs go, you could do a lot worse. He’s shifty in traffic and plays with enough muscle to break arm tackles and run through corners.
  • Mike Zimmer’s defense plays assignment-sound football. Both Kendricks and fellow off-ball linebacker Anthony Barr react to their coverage assignments quickly. Kendricks covered up Austin Ekeler last weekend down the field, which is a testament to his coverage ability. Ekeler gave the Packers’ fits this season.
  • The Chargers found success when they could get a receiver covered by weakside linebacker Eric Wilson. Look for Matt LaFleur to try to create similar matchups when the Vikings go with three off-ball linebackers.
  • Something to keep an eye one: the Vikings are relying more upon second-year corner Mike Hughes and Trae Waynes. Xavier Rhodes is getting older and has struggled with injuries. The Vikings’ pass defense ranks 20th in the league. The secondary is probably why.

5 young players to watch for the Packers over final 2 games of 2019

These five young players could make a big impact as the Packers approach the postseason.

The Green Bay Packers have an opportunity to win the NFC North and clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with wins over the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions over the final two games.

Here are five young, under-the-radar players that could provide legitimate impact for the Packers to finish 2019:

WR Allen Lazard

More and more, Lazard is looking like the Packers’ best option behind Davante Adams at receiver. Among players with 30 or more targets, Lazard ranks ninth in the NFL in yards per target, an effective measure of receiver efficiency, and that’s not including several of the snaps in which Aaron Rodgers didn’t get him the ball on open deep shots. Can he become more consistent in a bigger role? Lazard produced 103 yards in a win over the Giants but had three other games under 20 receiving yards over the last month. At the very least, Lazard has proven to be a highly effective blocker in the run game.

TE Jace Sternberger

During each of the last two games, Sternberger got open downfield on vertical routes but didn’t see the ball. He looks due for a big play. The rookie has been a willing blocker, and teams are respecting the run when the Packers put multiple tight ends on the field. Sternberger, who is still looking for his first career catch, can run past linebackers and safeties with speed. It’s only a matter of time before Aaron Rodgers finds him for an explosive play.

OLB Rashan Gary

The comparisons between Gary in 2019 and Kenny Clark in 2016 are forming. As a young, 21-year-old rookie, Clark flashed potential and eventually gave the Packers impactful snaps during a deep playoff run. Now, Gary is starting to follow the same path. He notched his second sack of 2019 on Sunday against the Bears, and the Packers are certain he’s playing faster and more freely. Having another edge rusher capable of disrupting plays can only help a Packers defense that wants to use Za’Darius Smith in a variety of ways along the defensive front.

S Darnell Savage

He probably should have had a long interception return (possibly for a touchdown) against Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears last Sunday, but he dropped the pick on third down. Still, Savage looks back to his playmaking ways after a brief lull following an ankle injury. He’s flying around and using his speed to close space all over the field. The ceiling of the Packers defense will rise significantly if Savage keeps making plays from the safety spot.

DB Chandon Sullivan

Sullivan has locked in a role as the Packers’ No. 4 cornerback. The second-year defensive back is playing ahead of Josh Jackson and Tony Brown because he’s proven to be a more complete player. Mike Pettine trusts him to play in the slot, at safety, on the perimeter and even inside the box as a dime linebacker. He’s made plays covering downfield, blitzing and playing the run. The Packers like to play dime, with as many defensive backs on the field as possible. Sullivan’s versatility and aggressiveness help make it work.