I actually sort of agree with this Cory. I would have thought the secondary was the best group but with no coach as of now and the lack of safeties on this roster I'll hold off on that thought until more is revealed. I like Walker, he got better and better with each passing game. Save the 2 boneheaded plays at the end of the year and he was really pretty good. Campbell also improved and if he get just closer to the 2021 version they'll be set... At ILB anyways.

BUT, the problem is still Joe Barry. Personally I think 2023 will be Barry's last season in GB. Because MLF decided to keep Barry, 2023 will probably be LaFleur's last season in GB too. Talk about the blind leading the blind.

When does Murphy HAVE to retire? It can't come soon enough for me.

I like how they finally tried to strengthen the ILB position. The signed Campbell to a lower priced deal and he turned in an impressive first year. This last year wasn't as good, with injuries and whatnot. But they did give him a big contract to keep him. And then they drafted Walker. Walker had a typically rookie year. A lot of ups and downs. But his future looks bright. I love how he attacks the ball when tackling. He forced 3 fumbles this year. I don't remember the last time we had an ILB that forced fumbles.

Moving forward with Walker having a year under his belt, he should only improve. The game should slow down for him. He should be playing faster. Towards the end of the year we saw them starting to move Walker around a bit more. They had him pass rushing and blitzing from the outside so he could use speed.

Clearly Walker has some maturing to do. After being ejected twice he will need to learn from it and grow. I believe he can and will.

After Campbell and Walker they have Krys Barnes, and Isaiah McDuffie. McDuffie clearly took a year 2 jump. When he made it onto the field he wasn't a weak point that the offense could attack. Barnes was injured and missed a lot of the season but he is a good player that they could find ways to use him with Campbell and Walker.

The ILB position is way improved from past years. I am excited for the future of this position!

As Nick says above I'd think the DBs were the best, but their depth got challenged last year with the injuries. They probably won't be able to bring back some of those free agents that helped out so well either.

I don't think Campbell regressed last year. I think he finally got some more help. I really thought Barns was good the year before and if he can stay healthy give us a great depth piece for different packages to show other teams.

Cory, I do not think that Packers has 2 best ILBs in the league, but they certainly are looking as above average pair. With strong DL, they can excel. Will they? That is the question. Many times in the past Packers were announcing for many different group positions that this or that group will excel, but we got nothing than disappointment. Sometimes there was injuries, sometimes, bad coaching, sometimes lack of effort or whatever else...

So, claiming any position group to be at least above average before preseason even started is little bit like astrological prediction from Debra Silverman...

Cory, this is one of your best pieces. I agree 100%.

ILB had been a thorn in the Packers side for decades. Even with AJ Hawk, whom I think many of us expected more from throughout the expanse of his career. Nick Barnett never moved the meter for me personally. Athletic? Sure. But, always late because he lacked instincts for consistently making plays at the point of attack. Hawk was more sure, but lacked the wheels, the speed to consistently make an impact.

Campbell was a godsend who delivered from early in his Packers tenure. Walker, athletic and instinctual to make plays all over the place.

None of us liked seeing his reactions emotionally take himself out of two contests by being disqualified.

Those are a young man’s mistakes.

Maybe the positive takeaway for all of us Packer fans regarding Walker’s miscues there was how noticeably disappointed he was in himself for failing to control his emotions, and reacting in a way that hurt his team.

I appreciated seeing that after his latest DQ, and have confidence this super talented player will learn from that. His next greatest hurdle will be recognizing the next trigger, and opposing teams will test him. Again & again. Those trigger points need to be recognized and acted upon differently, with cool, calm, positive and measured actions, instead of reactions.

That comes with maturity. I trust he’s learned. We’ll see.

What???

We have a 4 - FOUR! - Time MVP at QB with a first round talent laden stud backing him up and learning the ropes!

QB is by far the GB Packers best position group.

How dare you write a column here at CHTV about anything but QB.

Oh yeah, you did sneak in that last line...

Quay is a tremendous athlete and has made nice progress in playing his position. I'm hopeful his lack of impulse control is a maturity issue and not something more involved. Years ago I worked with young people with emotional/behavioral disorders and those kids acted out in ways that got them into trouble. Afterward, they were remorseful, but in the moment, they didn't have the coping skills to behave differently. I hope he's getting more than "be smart" as intervention, and that his behavior doesn't get him in trouble off the field.

Agree… but it should NOT be an article for another day!!!

Campbell is clearly better than average.

But Quay Walker is a different breed.
Athletic...check
Availability...check
Tackling....once some yardage has been gained...check
3 forced fumbles...NICE

Instincts and play recognition...not so much
PFF Score...51.9
Wonderlic score...9
Incredibility stupid moments (plural)....check
.
Quay Walker has 99 problems and all of them are between his ears.

We'll see what happens in year two.

You can't compare Campbell's passer rating to Gary's. Campbell is used in coverage all the time while Gary is almost never asked to play in space.

Walker can play any of the LB positions.
Future All-pro.

If Walker had Campbells instincts, yes...future All Pro....no doubt.

Walker may (could) learn to play with discipline, but instincts are a harder teach.

The elephant in the room isn't at ILB, it's at edge rusher.

For some unknown reason to me, the Packers thought an investment in Preston Smith was good strategy in a new contract a year ago.
Thankfully, they didn't give him heavy guaranteed money.
After giving him 14 million in 2022. Yes, that amount is correct.
They are due to pay him 10.6 million this season.
With 8.1 million of it due by March 19th.

What i'm trying to say is that his rate of pay far exceeds his production imo, but then again, this is the Packers way.

They could cut ties with Preston right now, and save 3.2 million.
But now.....with Gary on the mend and uncertain, they most likely have no choice but to keep Smith while plugging in Kingsley Enagbare until Gary comes back.
Gary will enjoy (he earned it) almost 11 million guaranteed in his 5th year option this season, no matter what.

In 4 seasons, the Packers have paid Smith 50 million over 4 years for 33.5 sacks, and 4 FF's.
You decide

Either way, i don't think our pass rush is going to scare anyone unless Wyatt can light things up and justify being a 1st round pick.
Again, we'll look for that 2nd year leap.

A lot of questions with Wyatt, Walker, Watson and Doubs next season.
The good games they did have, have to turn into consistent games.

With Doubs and Watson...a good 3 or 4 game stretch is wonderful, it shows flashes of potential.
But...there is still work to do before you can call yourself the #1 or #2 receiver.
This is why good teams, don't rely on a rookie draft class for passing success.
Most Championship teams like the Chiefs, will reboot, or add talent they lost.
Where the Packers, as far as receivers, were clearly in a rebuild....on the fly.

Just keepin it 💯