The Green Bay Packers are getting healthy at the safety position, which could lead to some difficult decisions to be made in regard to playing time — especially between Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens — against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“That’s always a tough one,” said Matt LaFleur on Thursday. “Anytime you’ve got two players that you feel really good about, especially when someone is coming back from an injury. So that’s something we are working through right now. But bottom line we have confidence in both those guys going out there, executing and helping our defense.”
Darnell Savage is still technically on IR, but he has been a full participant in practice this week and will be available. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry also alluded to Ford trending in the right direction as well, having put together two good practices this week.
Without Savage and Ford recently, the Packers have relied on Owens and rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. to fill those starting roles. Owens, in particular, is coming off a very good performance against the Detroit Lions and since taking over as a starter in Week 8, he has been one of the more reliable tackling safeties and run defense contributors in football.
During that span of five games, Owens ranks 13th among all safeties in PFF’s tackling grade. His 15 run defense tackles are tied for the fourth-most, while his five run-stops are the fifth-most.
“I think it’s big,” said Barry about Owens’ play as of late. “Jonathan has been a stud since the whole time he’s been here. One of those guys embracing whatever his role is. When he truly was a starter in waiting, he did a great job on special teams for us. Every position that we’ve asked him to play or every role we’ve asked him to do he’s done it full speed. It’s pretty cool.”
What I think happens on Sunday – if everyone is healthy and available – is that Savage and Ford resume their roles as the Packers’ starting safeties, with Owens seeing some snaps when in dime. Dating back to last season, Ford has proven to be a willing and capable tackler and run defender but has provided more stability in coverage than Owens.
Now, what I would like to see happen is a bit of a rotation at the safety position. Savage and Ford can be the starters, but Johnson should be the Packers’ dime safety, allowing him to still get 7-to-10 snaps per game. I would like Owens worked in during obvious running or short-yardage situations, where his ability as a tackler and run defender can be leveraged. The in-game situations will dictate how many snaps each player sees rather than there being a set rotation, but it will allow all four players to remain involved and best utilize their strengths.
“Obviously, I’m in the game plan,” said Owens on Thursday. “So just going to continue to go with the coaching. The coaches are all going to put us in positions to be successful. We’re all going to be out there, everyone has a role, it just comes down to whatever my role is this week and maximizing it.”
This approach would be similar to what Green Bay is doing on the offensive line currently, with a rotation taking place there. Matt LaFleur, Luke Butkus, and Adam Stenavich have all raved about the added competition and elevated play at left tackle and right guard in recent weeks as a result of this–not to mention that it keeps everyone involved.
Of course, Barry already knows what the plan is for Sunday; he just wasn’t going to tell us on Thursday. Regardless of who is at safety for the Packers, that position group, in particular, is going to have a difficult matchup going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense. The Green Bay safeties have to be ready for off-script and adlibbed plays. While Mahomes is always willing and able to push the ball downfield, this is a Chiefs’ offense that utilizes a lot of short-area throws with big yards after the catch potential. Honing in on one of those elements could then leave the Packers’ defense susceptible in the other.
“It comes down to a lot of things,” said Barry when asked how they will determine who starts at safety. “It comes down to preparation, the week’s practice, the overall health of everybody.
“It’s been nice having Sav (Savage) back out there and Rudy back out there. Same thing I said: they had a really good Wednesday, and you keep your fingers crossed they feel good when they come in Thursday, and they did. Hopefully, they’ll have another great day Friday.”