Tag: Darnell Savage

Darnell Savage’s return to the Green Bay Packers secondary in recent weeks has helped provide some needed stability, specifically with the pre-snap communication component.

“He (Savage) does a hell of a job communicating with the back end,” said Matt LaFleur early in the season, “making sure everyone is on the same page.”

Following the Packers’ Week 15 loss to Tampa Bay, where Baker Mayfield picked apart the Green Bay pass defense, recording a perfect passer rating, the focus was around the pre-snap communication – or the lack thereof – on the defensive side of the ball.

“When you’re having basic communication problems,” said LaFleur after the Bucs’ game, “and you’re supposed to be in a certain coverage or certain rotation, and we’re not getting that communication, that’s what’s disappointing to me.

“The fact that it was poor communication. It always starts with us. It starts with myself, and it goes to all of our assistant coaches.”

However, over the last three games for the Packers’ defense, the communication seems to be much improved. Defenders are in a position to make plays on the ball. Blown assignments have been significantly reduced, and overall, this looks like a much more cohesive unit that is playing together.

That three-game stretch also coincides with Savage’s return from injury. Before the ball is even snapped, Savage’s role consists of communicating with the back end of the defense to ensure everyone is on the same page, coverage responsibilities are known, along with making checks, based on what look the offense is giving.

“I would say that’s one of his strengths,” said LaFleur. “His ability to communicate. I don’t care what sport you’re playing, if you don’t have everybody, especially in our game where there is 11 men on the field, you need 11 playing as one.

“If you don’t, it’s hard to play effective defense, or offense, or special teams, whatever it may be. Communication is a big part of it and he does a great job of it.”

Along with the communication element, Savage has been impactful during the play as well. According to PFF, Savage has been in on eight tackles, he’s allowed three receptions but held the pass catchers to just 16 total yards, and came away with a pick-six in Dallas.

For what it’s worth, Savage was also the Packers’ highest-graded defender in the wildcard game as well.

Of course, having said all of that, Savage’s return isn’t the lone factor for the improved play in the secondary. Jaire Alexander has been playing at a high level. We’ve also seen some schematic changes, which include more blitzing and the disguising of coverages–not to mention that when the pass rush is finding success, the entire defense benefits.

However, it’s also not a coincidence that the secondary has started to look more buttoned up at the same time Savage returned. His presence and what he provides before the ball is even snapped from a communication aspect, along with the leadership he brings, was a missing element.

“He’s really matured, as a football player and as a man,” said LaFleur. “His leadership has really shown through this year. I think he is one of the main leaders, especially in the DB room, but also on our football team. He’s had a great attitude all through the course of the offseason and into this year.”

The Green Bay Packers activated safety Darnell Savage from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s primetime showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Savage was designated for return on Nov. 20. He practiced with the team over the last two weeks, including three practices of full participation this week. The Packers listed him as questionable to play in Week 13 but Savage’s activation to the roster on Saturday strongly suggests he’ll make his return against the Chiefs.

Savage missed five games after aggravating a calf injury against the Denver Broncos on Oct 22.

During the first six weeks, Savage started every game and played 83 percent of the defense’s snaps. He is a preferred starter at safety along with Rudy Ford, who is also questionable to play but should return against the Chiefs.

Savage provides a veteran with elite speed to help the Packers pass defense combat Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday night. The backups at safety are Jonathan Owens and rookie Anthony Johnson Jr.

In 2023, Savage has 34 tackles and one tackle for loss. He has yet to defend or intercept a pass.

In related news, cornerback Eric Stokes was not activated and remains on injured reserve. He was listed as doubtful to play against the Chiefs. The Packers designated Stokes for return on Monday, so he still has two more weeks before the team has to make a decision on his roster status.

With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs next up on the schedule, the Green Bay Packers are hopeful that their secondary will get a little healthier this week with the return of starting safety Darnell Savage.

“Potentially,” said Matt LaFleur on Monday when asked about Savage being activated off IR. “That’s the goal. That’s the hope. But we were hopeful that he potentially was going to be back last week and he wasn’t. So we will take it in stride and go through the week and see where he’s at.”

During the Packers Week 6 matchup with Denver, Savage aggravated a calf injury that ultimately landed him on IR. He was designated to return and rejoined the Packers at practice last week, opening up a three-week window for him to be added back onto the 53-man roster.

After being benched for a portion of the 2022 season, we’ve seen a much-improved version of Savage in 2023, specifically with his aggressiveness and willingness to fly around the field to make plays, especially closer to the line of scrimmage and helping out in the run game.

Out of 88 eligible safeties this season, Savage ranks 28th in PFF’s run defense grade and 30th in run-stop rate. He’s also helped limit big plays on the back end, allowing just over 10 yards per catch when in coverage. However, missed tackles have still been an issue at times.

In addition to his play on the field this season, as the now veteran in the safety room, Savage has grown into a leadership role within the defensive backs room, and despite being on IR, remained fully engaged with his teammates over the last month.

”I think he has gone above and beyond,” said LaFleur of Savage’s involvement when on IR. “He’s really matured, as a football player and as a man. His leadership has really shown through this year. I think he is one of the main leaders, especially in the DB room, but also on our football team. He’s had a great attitude all through the course of the offseason and into this year. It would certainly be nice to get him back.”

Without Savage and with Rudy Ford having missed the last few games with an injury of his own, the Packers have had to rely on seventh-round rookie Anthony Johnson and Jonathan Owens at the safety position. Owens is coming off an impressive performance against Detroit, where he made several tackles near the line of scrimmage, while Johnson has adjusted relatively well to the full-time role, and there are very few who fly downhill quite like he does.

Once Savage returns, as well as Ford, my guess is that both players will resume their roles as the starting safeties. However, the recent play of Owens and Johnson does not make that decision as easy as once thought. What I would like to see happen is for both Owens and Johnson to be given specific roles depending upon the situation. When Green Bay is in dime for those 7-to-10 snaps per game, give Johnson those snaps as the third safety. When it’s an obvious running or short-yardage situation, giving Owens some of those snaps would be a great use of his skill set. Now, whether or not that happens remains to be seen.

”That’s always something you’ve got to take into consideration, and know that’s a competitive situation,” said LaFleur when asked about working starters back into the mix. “Obviously, you’re going to try to put the people out there that are going to help you win and give you the best chance at winning. Although what’s been great about this whole deal is we’ve had to play some younger guys or guys that haven’t gotten as much opportunity, and they’ve done a really nice job. So that always makes it more of a challenge when you’re making those decisions.”

Regardless of who the safeties are for Green Bay this week, they are going to face a difficult challenge going up against Kansas City. At any point, defenses have to be ready for Patrick Mahomes to try to push the ball downfield, but this is a Chiefs offense that has been really good at picking up yards after the catch on short area throws.

As safeties coach Ryan Downard often mentions, trusting your eyes and reading your keys to help diagnose and then properly react to what is taking place is going to be crucial to preventing the big play, whether that be over the top or limiting yards after the catch opportunities.

The Green Bay Packers will be down a starter in the secondary for the foreseeable future. According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, safety Darnell Savage aggravated an existing calf injury on Sunday against the Denver Broncos and is expected to miss multiple weeks. It’s now possible the Packers will place him on injured reserve, which would require missing the minimum of four games.

The Packers face the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers over the next four.

Savage, who was questionable to play coming into the week, went down during a play in the second quarter in Denver. The veteran was originally injured during the Packers’ loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 9.

Savage started and played 30 snaps against the Broncos. Without him from the second quarter on, the Packers played Jonathan Owens on 32 snaps and rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. on four snaps next to starter Rudy Ford.

The only other safeties on the roster are Dallin Leavitt, a special teamer, and Zayne Anderson, who was acquired after final cuts but has yet to play in a game for the Packers.

Savage, a 2019 first-round pick, is playing the 2023 season on the final year of his current deal. His deal will void following the season, leaving behind $5.5 million on the cap as dead money in 2024.

As the most experienced player in the Packers’ safety room, Darnell Savage has been through plenty of highs and lows in his NFL career.

After hearing his name called in the first round of the 2019 draft, he was named to an All-Rookie team and had a promising trajectory as the next great safety in Green Bay. Over the next three seasons, however, Savage never took the next step. He actually regressed to the point where his performance led to getting benched halfway through last season.

The Packers couldn’t afford to cut Savage after picking up his fifth-year option. That decision was criticized for months as many hoped the team would trade him and find a replacement in the draft.

Green Bay did neither under the belief that Savage could turn it around. Through the first three games of 2023, he has.

On the heels of a season in which Savage was plagued by coverage breakdowns and missed tackles, he is currently playing sound pass defense and is on pace for a career-high in tackles.

In the season-opening win over the Bears, he was one of the most active players on the field, crashing downhill and stopping multiple plays for negative or minimal yardage. It was a level of confidence the Packers hadn’t seen from him in quite some time.

Savage has also shown growth as a leader.

During Sunday’s come-from-behind win against the Saints, he was even-keeled while tension grew on the sideline during the first half. When the offense’s first drive stalled after a disastrous trick play on fourth down, Savage decided to say something to his visibly frustrated head coach.

“After we tried that trick play that failed miserably, (Savage) was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, we got you,’” Matt LaFleur recalled postgame.

According to LaFleur, Savage delivered the same message at halftime when the Packers had dug themselves into a 17-point hole.

While the offense failed to get anything going late in the game, the defense kept them in it. Excluding the 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half, Savage and company surrendered only 10 points. They came away with timely stops, including when the offense scored on three straight possessions in the final quarter.

Green Bay finally took the lead with just under three minutes remaining but still needed one more stop from the defense. After a 28-yard completion down the sideline to wide receiver Chris Olave, New Orleans was nearly within striking distance. Two plays later, another 10-yard completion to Olave put them in field goal range.

All the defense could do at that point was make the attempt as long as possible. On 3rd and 8, quarterback Jameis Winston found receiver Michael Thomas in the flat where a first down may have lost the Packers the game. Savage had other ideas, coming down and wrapping up for only a two-yard gain. The potentially game-saving tackle forced the ensuing 46-yard field goal attempt that rookie Blake Grupe pushed wide right.

“I did assume that they were going to try to get the first down because the first down would have essentially not sealed the game — they still would’ve had to make the field goal — but it would’ve made it easier to win the game,” Savage said following the win. “They just ran a short out route, tackle it, and get off the field. The guys up front did a great job on the field-goal rush to force a miss wide right. Pack win.”

With veteran Adrian Amos now gone, Savage has had no choice but to step up his play and become more vocal. So far, he has done everything that has been asked of him and his defensive coordinator is taking notice.

“He’s really taken a step this year as far as a leadership role,” Joe Barry said Tuesday. “I love the playstyle he’s playing with right now. He’s flying around, he’s throwing his body around — I love it.”

Against all odds, it’s not too late for Savage to revive his career in Green Bay and live up to his first-round selection. He will need to play well for an entire season, but no one can deny he’s off to a promising start.