Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur only needed a couple weeks of virtual meetings to understand why Mike Pettine, his defensive coordinator, is so excited about the addition of veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey.
The Packers signed Kirksey, who played for Pettine for two years in Cleveland, to a two-year deal just before the coronavirus pandemic wrecked most of the NFL’s offseason.
LaFleur said he’s been “super impressed” with Kirksey during the team’s offseason meetings, which have all been conducted virtually.
“Really, really fortunate to get a guy, especially considering the circumstances of this offseason, to get a guy that’s been in this system in Christian Kirksey,” LaFleur said during a conference call last month. “I’ve been super impressed with him. You can tell he’s a pro. He knows what’s going on already, and we’ve only been meeting for a couple of weeks.”
Kirksey played 32 games in Pettine’s defense during his first two NFL seasons, providing a baseline of understanding in the scheme as he enters his first season in Green Bay. LaFleur and the Packers believe Kirksey’s prior experience in the defense will help him transition easier without the aid of a traditional offseason.
While other newcomers must learn an entirely new system during virtual meetings, providing significant mental hurdles, Kirksey at least has a prior history with the coach and the scheme and plenty of experience playing linebacker at the NFL level (73 games, 54 starts).
The Packers might not have to worry about Kirksey falling behind as training camp near, an important factor considering he’ll be the team’s top inside linebacker in 2020.
Pettine is counting on Kirksey to elevate the defense and provide an improvement over Blake Martinez, who departed in free agency. He sees Kirksey as a “really good player” with “great leadership ability,” making him well worth the risk after back-to-back seasons ruined by injury.
“He already has a head start on learning the system with him being drafted when I was in Cleveland,” Pettine said. “Certainly, it’s a risk when you look at it, but it was a risk we were more than willing to take. We’re excited about it.”
[lawrence-related id=45324,41438,41383,41168]
[vertical-gallery id=46874]