A familiarity with Mike Pettine’s defense from their time together in Cleveland has allowed Green Bay Packers linebacker Christian Kirksey to enjoy a seamless transition to his new team’s defensive scheme.
Kirksey, who joined the Packers on a two-year deal in free agency, played for Pettine – then the head coach of the Browns – during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, his first two in the NFL.
It didn’t take long for Kirksey to start reconnecting the dots within the scheme.
“As soon as I opened the playbook, I was so familiar with it,” Kirksey said during a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday.
Kirksey said there have been some minor tweaks here and there, mostly in the terminology, but much of Pettine’s scheme remains similar or at least familiar, allowing the former Browns linebacker to get up to speed quickly in Green Bay.
“For the most part, I’m getting it,” Kirksey said. “I hit the ground running.”
Kirksey hasn’t met with coaches or teammates in person thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but his two years of experience with Pettine provided the background necessary to re-digest the scheme in a hurry during a virtual offseason.
Also, the presence of Pettine gave the Packers a big advantage in signing Kirksey, who was released by the Browns after missing 23 games the last two seasons.
“When I went on my visit to Green Bay, I felt right at home because I already had a relationship with him,” Kirksey said.
Kirksey confirmed his pectoral muscle is healed and said he’s now motivated to prove to himself and the rest of the NFL that he’s still “one of the best linebackers in the league.”
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Kirksey produced 286 total tackles – second in the NFL only to Seattle’s Bobby Wagner. He added 17 tackles for losses, eight pass breakups, six sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
Kirksey said he’ll bring a “versatile” linebacker to the Packers defense who is capable of making plays against the run and pass.
Last month, Pettine said Kirksey already had a “head start” on learning the defense. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he was “super impressed” with how Kirksey was picking up everything during virtual meetings.
The seventh-year veteran will replace Blake Martinez, who departed in free agency, as the team’s top inside linebacker. The Packers need Kirksey to get up to speed and truly hit the ground running. Given their history, and the difficulties of this offseason, it’s possible Kirksey and Pettine were the perfect match.
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