Can Packers CB Eric Stokes Overcome His Sophomore Slump?
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers CB Eric Stokes’ second NFL season didn’t exactly go as planned. The former first round pick out of Georgia struggled on the field and couldn’t match his strong rookie performance. Then, Stokes suffered season-ending knee and ankle injuries that forced him to miss the final eight games of the season.
The Packers will need Stokes to get back on track in 2023 and return to the level of play he showed throughout his rookie season. That kind of performance would help make the Packers pass defense an even stronger unit in 2023.
Stokes has the raw athletic ability to be a good cover corner in the NFL. He was timed at 4.31 in the 40-yard dash at the combine in 2021. That means he has the speed to stick with almost any receiver in the league.
He also showed a positive attitude in his rookie year. In training camp, both quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams picked on Stokes as often as possible. The first-year player realized that the two veteran All Pros were trying to test him and make him as good as he could be.
When Kevin King and Jaire Alexander got injured early in the season, Stokes was thrust into a starting role. He ended up starting 14 games and played well. His speed allowed him to correct some of the mistakes he made early in pass patterns. He could recover and break up passes.
Stokes put up some impressive statistics in his first season. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks completed just 49.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Stokes and had a quarterback rating of just 71.3. He broke up 14 passes and made one interception and 55 total tackles.
The Packers were hoping Stokes would build on his strong rookie performance but he took a major step back in 2022. The Packers were excited about their starting trio of cornerbacks with Alexander and Rasul Douglas joining Stokes. But the secondary struggled early in the season as defensive coordinator Joe Barry played a soft zone defense that did not play to the strength of his roster. All members of the secondary, including Stokes, struggled in the first half of the season to know when to pass receivers off to a teammate as they passed from one zone to another. The large cushions given by the defense also allowed offenses to convert too many third-and-long situations.
Stokes struggled along with the rest of the secondary. He was beaten at a much higher rate than he was during his rookie campaign. In the nine games he played before he got injured, opposing quarterbacks completed an astounding 80 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Stokes and had a quarterback rating of 123.5, a rating 52.2 points higher than last season. Stokes made 26 tackles and was not credited with any passes broken up.
Barry remained confident Stokes would return to form shortly before his season was cut short by injury. “Eric is still learning the NFL game,” Barry told reporters in October. “He’s still getting better and better every single day. He’s got unbelievable talent, unbelievable skills. Eric Stokes is going to be an elite player in this league for a long time. You can’t forget he’s a second-year pro.”
The Packers are hoping Stokes returns to the lineup in 2023 and can return to his rookie form. If he does, the trio of Alexander, Stokes and Douglas could give the team a trio of strong corners.
The team still must determine how to play these three corners. Who should play on the perimeter and who should cover slot receivers is a big question. Stokes was more effective on the perimeter as a rookie and Douglas lacks the speed to cover slot receivers. The Packers have also used Keisean Nixon (who is an unrestricted free agent as of now) and safety Darnell Savage in the slot. The draft and/or free agency may further alter the equation.
Another factor may be the departure of defensive backs coach Jerry Gray who is now coaching in Atlanta. The Packers have yet to name Gray’s replacement and how that coach approaches pass coverage will also be a factor in Stokes’ play in 2023 and beyond.
Getting Stokes back to or beyond his rookie form would help the Packers pass defense and resuscitate Stokes’ career. 2023 will be a pivotal season for Stokes as we find out if his rookie season was a fluke or if his struggles in 2022 were just a detour from a fine career.
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Comments (70)
MooPack
February 02, 2023 at 12:20 pm
"But the secondary struggled early in the season as defensive coordinator Joe Barry played a soft zone defense that did not play to the strength of his roster."
In the immortal words of Bill Engvall - "Here's Your Sign"
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Yes
Bitternotsour
February 02, 2023 at 01:30 pm
succinct, and correct
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 04:27 pm
Best they select a guy with a higher pick and a guy later on. They have no depth and Stokes will be out indefinitely. He was a liability in coverage during the 2022 campaign. They will not move up for Porter,Jr.
ImaPayne
February 02, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Hate being negative. I had high hopes for guy who was supposedly fast and 6'3. Thought finally a guy who can cover and has size to compete. Way to go Packers.
Then I zeroed in on his play and thought, maybe the coaching (Barry) is messing with his mind and he is playing slower trying to fit in and learn a new system.
Later as I watched it seemed he was doing everything in his power to avoid contact. He would play way off receivers and come up and make tackles after the fact which isnt his job.
For me in the end I decided this guy just isnt very bright. After two years he hasnt improved a lick and is just running around out there. Not to mention teams saw this too and put their best receiver on him.
I rate him a bust IMO. Safety may be a better use of his skills. He has the size and speed.
Heyward
February 02, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Stokes isn't 6-3, but I do share your doubt about his potential. He looked kinda timid and stiff before getting hurt.
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 01:43 pm
I think my IQ just dropped about 10 points reading this.
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 02:50 pm
Did you watch any of Stokes' rookie season? This all may be true for 2022, but he did VERY well in 2021.
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 04:28 pm
Same coaches, what happened?
NickPerry
February 02, 2023 at 04:28 pm
Jesus Christ, don't you have some Vikings to be critical about on The Daily Norseman or SKOL.com.
You're NOT a Packers fan and it's been obvious since your first post years ago. Just stop. You clearly don't know a thing about the Packers players, coaches, or organization.
Coldworld
February 02, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Stokes is a guy built to press. Use him way off and his size is negated. Just the most inappropriate use of a player against type. So yes, but only if we lose Barry or Barry finds a clue. This was an obvious example of how poor coaches get less fro more, along with the S position.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 02:05 pm
Gray left- Common CW.
The scouting report said Grabby.
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 02:27 pm
Gray was allowed to leave. His contract ran out.
We bitch about safety play...some here are saying Stokes is regressing...so why do we all assume that Gray was good in his role with the Packers?
"The scouting report said Grabby."
**Yawn**
The scouting report on lots of higher-end college DBs says "grabby".
Oppy
February 04, 2023 at 06:35 am
You're right, of course, dobber.. but...
Stockholder is clearly referring to "THE" scouting report.
Not just any scouting report.
THE. SCOUTING. REPORT.
These draftnik twats kill me every offseason.
Coldworld
February 02, 2023 at 02:32 pm
Lest we forget:
Opposing quarterbacks targeted him 100 times over the course of his rookie season and Stokes held up well. He allowed only 51 completions at 11.9 yards per catch with an interception, nine pass breakups, and a PFF passer rating of 79.1.
Stokes actually had the lowest percentage of open targets allowed among ALL CBs in 2021 (24%)! His 13 credited forced incompletions and interceptions were tied for the most among rookie cornerbacks per PFF and he had the second-lowest passer rating among the rookie class as well.
That doesn’t evaporate in 8 months when you are in your early 20s and then healthy. Most revealing of all, in 2021 he allowing just seven receptions on 27 targets when playing in press. This year he was barely asked to play anything but off zone. The one game he wasn’t, he was very highly rated. Am I painting a picture Mr. Barry?
CheesedDeadHead
February 02, 2023 at 04:22 pm
I imagine when Stockholder read your post the little voice in his head was the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher - "whaw whaw wha wha whaw wha wha whaw"
Packers2020
February 03, 2023 at 09:24 am
Cold, what do you think about this?
If Barry gets a clue and plays more man up and press coverage and Stokes gets back to form, how about putting Rasul at Safety? He is very instinctive and we need help at Safety. It seems like Savage played better in the slot and since we have to keep him at least one more year, let's put him where he seems to at least play better. Also, sign Rudy Ford as depth and we can always draft a Safety in this years draft.
What do you think?
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 03:13 pm
Yup, and the scouting report also said Sauce Gardner was grabby too, and look what a bust he was!
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 04:38 pm
Which scouting report? Something from pff or draft digest? His teammate, Tyson Campbell, has so far proven to be the better football player, bringing in 5 Picks along with 100 tackles. He was the guy with better Football skills when you review the 2020 Georgia Bulldogs. Tackled well in run support. First pick off the board in rd two. So it goes.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 06:51 pm
I don't do PFF.
I believe it was Walter Football.
They use to be very good. (Use to be)
Especially on which players tested positive
(At the combine. Rumors etc. )
You Are Correct about Tyson Campbell.
I watched tape on on both.
Thought Campbell was better.
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 07:03 pm
They are clowns half of the time at Walter. Campbell is the better player. Stokes cannot breakdown like Campbell
in short areas. See how he shows @ Summer Camp after the injuries. I don't believe he went under the knife?
Coldworld
February 02, 2023 at 07:38 pm
I know almost nothing about the nature of the injury and what came after. Surprisingly little info in a sphere where we are used to very little.
crayzpackfan
February 02, 2023 at 02:47 pm
CW- you're on point. our DC has no idea what his players strengths are. His teaching skills are 3rd grade level, his coaching, schematics, discipline, are second to every single coach out there. It's frustrating to be drafting so much on defense in round one and signing defensive FA's only to stunt their collective growth from a coach who routinely puts quarters into a parking meter while waiting for a piece of gum to fall out.
bjkdad44
February 03, 2023 at 06:09 am
Excellent observations
BAMABADGER
February 02, 2023 at 12:54 pm
“Eric is still learning the NFL game,” Barry told reporters in October. We wish we could say the same for Barry.
Playing soft and off the receiver may be a root cause of his injury. Barry has to go.
bjkdad44
February 03, 2023 at 06:14 am
Bingo!!!!!!’nn
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 12:59 pm
We will never know if we don’t give him a chance in 2023.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 02:18 pm
Sure - Just like King.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 01:07 pm
OK all you Gutty Lovers.
What did Gutey see in this guy.
I mean; I watched Herb Adderley and Willie Wood.
And Leroy Butler, and Charles Woodson.
It takes more than talent to play in the NFL.
But has Gutey figured that out?
Stokes is the classic example; PER taking
a less impacting and talented player. For idealism.
We had Sam Shields And Truman Williams
And they played at a higher level than stokes.
I just don’t see Ken Ellis, Al Harris,
Tim Lewis or Mark Lee.
And I can’t even compare him to
Willie Buchanon in his first two seasons.
You have to wonder if Alexander was a Fluke now.
So it’s a No from me. .
MooPack
February 02, 2023 at 01:12 pm
That’s ok Rodgers. After you’re traded you won’t have to worry about Gute any more.
greengold
February 02, 2023 at 01:50 pm
Style points awarded.
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 02:43 pm
There goes another 10 points...
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 02:44 pm
Now Stock, I hate to admit this. You have been taken behind the shed more than anyone I can recall. But, you survive and keep coming back. In a weird, demented way...I kinda, haveta appreciate that.
Now, I must steal a quote from a movie:
"Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here". 🙃
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 04:53 pm
He who laughs last, laughs best...
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 05:11 pm
There is truth in that jbj...
Coldworld
February 02, 2023 at 07:39 pm
Who laughs the most may be crazy.
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 09:55 pm
Sometimes Cold, there is a fine line between crazy and genius. Sometimes... :)
Keep up the good fight Cold!👍
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 02:44 pm
Eric Stokes 2021 season rookie stats (in 14 games started):
55 tackles
1 INT
14 PBUs - led 2021 Packers
49.5 completion pct. allowed when targeted(!)
71.3 passer rating allowed when targeted
5.3 yards per target allowed
People are so quick to forget this guy had a REALLY good rookie year. He is full of potential to become a true LOCKDOWN CB. The trouble is that while (along with Alexander and Savage) he is suited to man, Barry plays predominant ZONE. The point is that this guy has flashed elite potential for a whole season. We should give him at least one season to redeem himself after a bad half-season. I think Stokes is being subject to recency bias.
Also, Alexander (the pro bowl and 2nd team all pro) is anything BUT a fluke. He is legitimately one of the league's best corners. Another year removed from his injury will help his tackling, hopefully, but he and Douglas have actually done well for the most part this year.
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 04:55 pm
Remember, Stokes dropped a few picks he had his hands on. He should contact Woodson for pointers.
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 05:12 pm
Good point, but that's all part of being a rookie.
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2023 at 05:38 pm
Not for Diggs. He has his brother to tutor him, that helps.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 05:40 pm
If he doesn't have a Juggs Machine in his back yard, he only has himself to blame. Work ethic is a thing. I don't know if Stokes has it or not, but if I were him I'd have someone throwing me balls every day for at least an hour at bare minimum.
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 06:21 pm
true
Packers0808
February 02, 2023 at 06:00 pm
Can you do better? Sure like to defame others.
Packers2020
February 03, 2023 at 09:31 am
IMO, PC500 you just stated something very important.
Gute picks players off of RAZ Score. He should be picking off of talent but also who fits the defensive scheme. If you have defensive coach that plays zone, wouldn't you want to have a CB that plays zone well? All our CB's play press man better. Maybe Rasul can play zone ok because of his insincts but overall they are all man CB's. Pettine played more zone as well.
The question is why has Gute picked more man CB's when his defensive coach likes to play zone?
packer132
February 02, 2023 at 07:16 pm
OMG: Another post that makes no sense, Every village has one.
AZ
February 03, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Forget about potential and raw skills, Stokes as a rookie showed amazing talent, taking on the opponents best WR pretty much every game and holding up to an extremely high level a majority of the time. I don’t disagree that his sophomore year was embarrassing before injury.
This was a Jeckell and Hyde type situation from year one to year two, and I have to believe horrible coaching didn’t help. Time will tell and hopefully it’s a full recovery from the injuries with his elite speed.
You probably said the same thing about Davante during his horrible sophomore slump, giving names like Sharpe, Freeman, Cobb, Driver, Jordy, etc. We don’t know if Stokes will bounce back to his initial trajectory but posts like this are very shortsighted and just so far off the mark. Like a really good CB, a really bad sports take typically has a short memory.
Oh yeah, and it’s easy to forget that we got C-Wood several weeks into free agency (CBs considered elite don’t last two days into free agency little less weeks) for far less than expected after his rookie deal ended with the Raiders, and the Eagles traded Al Harris to us (teams don’t trade star CBs for less than a first). But you’re right in your post that all of the guys you named were consistently great from their rookie year on.
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 01:11 pm
Yes, yes he can. If I can overcome my freshman-15, he can certainly overcome his sophomore campaign.
How bad does he want it is usually the most important question.
greengold
February 02, 2023 at 01:47 pm
Both MooPack, Coldworld & others here are like Domino's: They deliver.
Alberta_Packer
February 02, 2023 at 02:12 pm
If Barry can be overcome - then so can Stokes sophomore slump (misusage).
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 02:15 pm
Okay, this doesn't help the Packers, not entirely football related, doesn't change the performance of the D nor the outcome of the game.
What I do, is think of Halle Berry when there is an image or mention of Coach Barry during the telecast.
For some reason, I am more at peace and my outlook is much better. And I smile...I like to smile. I know, I know...like my momma always told me, "different stokes, for different folks".
Hey barkeep, please pass the nuts down here. And, I'll take another cold one. Thanks
✌️
bjkdad44
February 03, 2023 at 06:21 am
😂🤔🤣
T7Steve
February 02, 2023 at 02:28 pm
Like CW says above, Stokes isn't being put in a position to succeed. If he is coached and practiced correctly he wouldn't have to think out there (addressing the comment about brains above). It should all be reaction. They've done the same with Savage and to a lesser extent Alexander. You saw what happened to King.
These guys can all be All Pros if they get a pass rush that will make an opposing QB worried if he doesn't get rid of the ball within 3 ticks
CheesedDeadHead
February 02, 2023 at 02:29 pm
Sophomore slump?
How about egregious misuse by the worst DC on the planet (Donatell is gone)?
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 02:41 pm
" egregious misuse by the worst DC on the planet"
Is this a new award category at the ESPYs that I haven't heard about?
CheesedDeadHead
February 02, 2023 at 04:17 pm
Yes. And the award will be forever be know as the Joe Barry Trophy.
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 02:32 pm
"Who should play on the perimeter and who should cover slot receivers is a big question. "
Douglas needs to play on the perimeter or they need to look at him at S, but it seemed he really struggled in the slot this year. SJC can't get on the field at CB (another note for those who are convinced Gray is a loss), and they don't know whether they can afford Nixon (I think they'll bring him back). Depending on what the Packers do with Amos, they may be picking 3 DBs in this draft.
PackyCheese500
February 02, 2023 at 02:49 pm
I think we should first pick a starting SS, a later-round S/Nickel hybrid, and bring back Rudy Ford. We could also consider moving Douglas to S as well
dobber
February 02, 2023 at 02:58 pm
I bought an F-150 at Rudy Ford back in the day...
;)
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 03:40 pm
Nice pickup line Dobs... :D
Coldworld
February 02, 2023 at 07:46 pm
So Barry can make them useless by asking them to be a Woodson reborn just to get by in his scheme?
How many safeties can truly cover deep, play CB in certain zone fits and be a pseudo ILB against the run? He wants 2 to make his scheme work it seems to me.
crayzpackfan
February 02, 2023 at 02:59 pm
I truly believe our defense has some really fantastic pieces. However, with the Junior High level coaching they are getting, they will remain stagnant. Their upside will be marginally realized. It really is a bummer that Gute has brought in a few gamers only to have their wings clipped by an MLF buddy who couldn't sell the very last car on the lot.
DoubleJ
February 02, 2023 at 03:11 pm
Depends on if we still have Joe "I have no idea how to coach" Barry around or not.
croatpackfan
February 02, 2023 at 03:58 pm
Let us make a campaign here on CHTV, as there is some weak, but still evidence Mark Murphy - "we are not idiots" & "I'm not meddling with decisions made by responsible people in football organization part" - is informed what fans write on this page.
Campaign under the title "Fire JB".
Standing by his back, MLF showed he has no understanding what is the responsibility and job of HC. Prove is there - Meninga, than Drayton. Now is Barry. How many bad hires he will make?
I really hope Rich Bisaccia will return to Packers.
Rebecca
February 02, 2023 at 06:14 pm
Bisaccia should return as head coach.
Johnblood27
February 03, 2023 at 11:12 am
Good thought, ...where are the sandwiches and coffee?
pantz_bURp
February 02, 2023 at 10:05 pm
Okay, hitting the sack now. Just washed my Packer sheets and picked up the Packer comforter from the dry cleaners. Sorry, I won't be able to get to your Packer questions tonight.
If okay, just jot them down before you forget and I will try to answer, at least most of them in order tomorrow. (just depends on how many I have waiting in the queue)
Thank you for your understanding...
✌️🙏🤘
bjkdad44
February 03, 2023 at 06:12 am
@Coldworld
You are soooooooooooooo correct in your observations above
coolhand
February 03, 2023 at 10:24 am
Well of course Stokes' numbers dipped this season. He went from playing mostly press coverage last year to mostly 5 - 10 yards off this year, letting the receiver catch the ball and then make the tackle.
PatrickGB
February 03, 2023 at 03:30 pm
Maybe not having to go against Adams in practice dulled his competitiveness?