Adrian Amos was very productive during his first season with the Green Bay Packers. The 26-year old safety out of Penn State recorded 68 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
Amos will now return to Green Bay with big expectations for the 2020 season. With more experience in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s system, Amos thinks that the whole defense will thrive.
“In the second year of learning something, you are not just trying to get it in and learn the playbook. Now, you are trying to perfect the playbook. I feel like as a defense we should be clicking a lot faster just off of knowledge about what we have to do,” Amos said.
While Amos isn’t preparing for the season with a completely new team like he was last year, the offseason still brought some change. Most notably, the departure of linebacker Blake Martinez and the addition of new secondary coach Jerry Gray.
Amos said that adapting without Martinez will be a “little adjustment.”
“He was the one that was bringing in the plays every time. But we have a lot of players back, Amos said. “I think we can make up for it with our communication and us getting together. We can start to hear a different voice in the huddle every play.”
Amos also told reporters that he is “already learning a lot from Gray.”
“He has been in the league for a while,” Amos said. “He has played in the league and has a lot of experience and success. In the meetings that we have, you see his stance and viewpoint on playing the secondary. I just feel like he has a lot of knowledge. He has a lot to give to this young secondary.”
Darnell Savage – who plays the other safety position for the Packers – is one of those young players. Many have predicted the former Maryland star to break out in 2020. During his rookie season, Savage tallied 55 total tackles and two interceptions and was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Amos believes his teammate will improve on an impressive first year in the NFL.
“He is a very smart football player. He picked up on everything really fast,” Amos said. “Coming into year two, we have the same secondary so he knows where I am gonna be, who the corners are, and things like that. I feel like he can make a big jump in that way.”
Previously, Tramon Williams would have been the guy to mentor young players like Savage. But, at this point, it doesn’t look like Green Bay will re-sign Williams, so the leadership role may now fall on Amos’ shoulders.
“All I can do is be myself. I can’t change up how I am,” Amos said. “Tramon led by example. He had a lot of knowledge. He was always somebody that you could count on and I learned a lot from him last year. Just as far as taking care of your body and how to deal with certain things on and off the field. I want to be that leader in that way.”