The Lass Word: Quay Walker Brings Championship Mentality
Packers' top pick saves his best for last.
By KenLass
It is December 4, 2021. Alabama is playing Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Crimson Tide has the ball on a crucial drive. Heisman trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young hands off to Bama’s bruising running back Brian Robinson. The play is to the right side. The Tide’s offensive line has it blocked beautifully. The tight end has pushed Georgia’s outside linebacker way out wide. The right tackle has the defensive end pinched inside. There is a hole the size of a freeway in Robinson’s path.
But as the ball carrier crosses the line of scrimmage, a white jersey comes soaring out of nowhere and smashes Robinson to the ground for no gain. The announcers marvel at the play. As a stunned Robinson gets up, he discovers the freight train that hit him was number seven, Quay Walker. A replay shows Walker had lined up on the opposite side of the play and shouldn’t have been a factor. But he diagnosed the call immediately, and exploded across the formation to nail the runner in his tracks.
One month later, January 1, 2022, Georgia is playing Michigan in the national semifinals. Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy drops back to pass. Quay Walker is in coverage on the tight end Erick All, who runs a short out to the right. Finding no one to throw to, McCarthy rolls to his right, finds the flat to be wide open, tucks the ball and begins to sprint downfield. All, seeing McCarthy is running to his side, squares his body to block Walker to the outside. It looks like it’s going to be a big play. Despite being at a size disadvantage, Walker easily discards the blocker, and rockets into McCarthy with a shoulder-first, textbook tackle, holding the play to a minimal gain. Again, the announcers ooh and ah at Walker’s explosion and technique.
Nine days later, on January 10, Walker leads his team with eight tackles in a rematch with Alabama to win the national title.
It is one thing to pile up stats and have big games during the regular season. It is quite another to do it when there’s a championship on the line. The Green Bay Packers’ first round draft pick has shown the ability to play his best football in the biggest games. That is something the Pack has struggled to do in recent seasons. There were many reasons to pick the Cordele, Georgia native. “His range and speed and explosiveness as a tackler was something we just couldn’t pass up” said General Manager Brian Gutekunst, but no doubt he and the Packer scouts were equally impressed by the former Bulldog’s excellence when it mattered most.
You won’t be bowled over by Walker’s season totals from last year. He was just third on the team in tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 25 quarterback pressures. Those are nice numbers, but not dominant. Indeed, he was not even the first or second player from his team to be drafted in that first round. But after a head turning week at the NFL combine, Walker shot up the draft boards. Scouts began to look more closely at his performance against the best competition. In the championship game against an Alabama team many thought was unbeatable, Walker was not only all over the field in amassing his team high eight tackles, he also had six quarterback pressures. He was able to do something no other college defender could do, rattle the unflappable Bryce Young.
When Walker, whose full first name is Jaquavian, Quay for short, reported for OTAs, he was not given a spot on the first unit. Returning third year veteran Krys Barnes resumed his role as starting ILB next to all pro De’Vondre Campbell. However, after a few practices, the rookie was being inserted into the first team line up. It will be interesting to note, once training camp begins, who is out there with the number ones. Barnes will compete hard to keep his job, but it’s difficult to imagine defensive coordinator Joe Barry keeping his first round pick off the field for very long.
It’s an intriguing contrast between Walker and second round pick Christian Watson. Walker was just one of a large cast of good players on a team at the highest level of college football. Watson is the opposite. He was a huge fish in the small pond of second tier football at North Dakota State. Which one will adjust more quickly to the NFL? Matt LaFleur is convinced Walker, along with his Georgia teammate Devonte Wyatt, will benefit from having played in big games at the top level. “They’ve played on the biggest stages” LaFleur says. “I don’t think it’ll ever be too big for them.”
Walker was a business major at Georgia, and he made it clear to the media he will be all business on the field. “I’m the guy you want on your defense” he said, being careful to note he was not bragging. “I’m big and fast, but at the same time, I’m trying to become smarter.”
Smart enough to save his best play for the biggest games. The Packers will be counting on that next January.
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (31)
NickPerry
July 08, 2022 at 07:07 am
I'm one of those homers who can talk myself into the positive on just about anything when it comes to the Packers. I mean there are limits, such as the Kevin King pick as opposed to drafting TJ Watt. Or how about the Justin Harrell pick? UGH! But when Gute drafted Walker I was like most Packers fans...Huh? Wait, what? But after thinking about it, after rewatching that final drive by the 49ers for the game-winning FG, I understood perfectly why Gute drafted Walker AND Wyatt.
Walker is a different kind of dude. Yes, he's big and fast but the thing I like most about Walker is when he hits a ball carrier the ball carrier goes down...Immediately. I also think when Gute selected Walker he saw Walker as the Packers version of Micah Parsons. Maybe he won't be the force Parsons is off the edges, but I CAN'T WAIT to watch Walker creep up and shoot a gap. Teams like the Vikings with weak interior O-Lines are going to be in trouble handling someone like Walker, ESPECIALLY when the Packers have Davante Wyatt and Kenny Clark lined up together with Gary and Smith on the edges.
IMO Waker is the starting ILB along with Campbell in week one. I think he gets his first sack of his career against that weak ass interior line of the Vikings along with a few pressures. But he also helps the Packers become a much better run defense. He doesn't miss when he goes to tackle you, and you go down when he hits you. It's going to be a FUN season folks...Can't wait!
dobber
July 08, 2022 at 09:09 am
"IMO Waker is the starting ILB along with Campbell in week one."
If he isn't, it's because one of the two of them is hurt. Krys Barnes is a decent tackler, but Walker is in a different category of athlete---and player.
murf7777
July 08, 2022 at 10:00 am
NP….I think we have to keep in mind it might take the Uber athletic Walker sometime to understand the defense to play to his potential. He even stated during OTA’s that he lost some of his confidence and is trying to get it back. I like it that he isn’t afraid to be honest with everyone, that alone shows something.
I’ll wait till we get thru pre-season games to see if he plays like a deer in headlights or with sharp acuity recognizing plays right away. I suspect it will be somewhere in the middle and he might take sometime to reach the starting position. Barnes, even thou isn’t near the athlete knows the defense like the back of his hand and might just be the better starting at the beginning of the year while Walker learns to have confidence in his instincts.
10ve 💚
July 08, 2022 at 11:04 am
Darn it Murf! You make too much sense!
I sincerely hope that you are wrong 😊
Starrbrite
July 08, 2022 at 06:29 pm
NickP—that’s possibly the most enjoyable comment(s) I’ve read—-Gracias!!
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 10:50 pm
I take some time off, get a lobotomy and prepare for WWIII, When (i) come back the circle game of spinning tops and speculators is still on the first selection of the 8 track. Walker was over-drafted at #22, but I will not complain too much because the guy they should have secured, Watson was salvaged with a scramble into the 2nd and a Louisiana flim-flam played on the newbie from the land of ship-wrecked sailors. I loved the Bulldog defense over the past four years and the creme de la creme was the surprise fall of Wyatt to the Pack. Similar to Clay Matthews is the Walker pick. The other inside guys for the Bulldogs will not stand up to NFL linemen as per the Selection of Gary over Devin Bush. I am a big supporter of Barnes and he will be in the 4-3/ 4-4 packages that most Fans will not notice. Barry has the 4-2/4-3 ingredients to play real NFL Defense, forget Dom and what's his name?
Midsommer Night's Dream is an acquisition of another SB with THIS Crew. Watson should be featured from Day One as a Starter. Watkins will be the # 3 and Cobb bringing in the clutch catch as long as his reps are controlled and he Is Not counted on as a BLOCKER. I have a vision of FIVE wide sets and a complete
Revival of Rodgers. Will Savage assume his First Rd standing? Will he learn the Pro Game and pick the ball?
No Worries.
Packers0808
July 08, 2022 at 07:21 am
If these words turn to action Mr Walker sounds like real hard hitter, smart and a steal.
ReaganRulz
July 08, 2022 at 07:40 am
Great article and totally agree. The cherry on top is that the Georgia defense was dominate for the last couple of non-COVID seasons that Walker was there. Against TOP competition. Can’t wait to see what Walker (and Wyatt) can do!!
mrtundra
July 08, 2022 at 08:00 am
I hope Walker, Campbell and Barnes can stop guys at the LOS, or further back, instead of letting them get 6-7 yards before contact. That would be a welcome sight. GO PACK, GO!!!
Cheesey51
July 08, 2022 at 08:43 am
LOD: Legion Of Doom: Campbell & Walker along with our secondary and defense front.
I cannot wait to see the collision course generated by the defense this 2022 season.
Lphill
July 08, 2022 at 08:47 am
maybe now with the new additions on the Defense Clark won't be doubled as much and he will make more of an impact , I don't think losing Z Smith will hurt much because the interior rush will make up for the lack of depth at OLB.
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 11:10 pm
What was the Z factor in '21 ? As far as I'm concerned he took snaps from Gary and did not make the plays to move this group into the land of SB press conferences. Get ready for some NEW looks for this squad in 2022.
dobber
July 08, 2022 at 09:12 am
Packers must see something they really like in how UGA runs and coaches their defense (aside from wins). Walker wasn't the high-profile ILB on that defense, but the Packers apparently like his length and his ceiling. Add Wyatt and that's three 1st round defenders in two drafts. For those who are unhappy with Walker at 22, if you swap him and Wyatt (at 28), most are OK with that.
Leatherhead
July 08, 2022 at 11:04 am
Well, the early returns on Stokes are good. If Wyatt and/or Walker have a similar impact....combined !!......then we've strengthened the defense quite a bit.
In addition to the three first round defenders, in the last year we added and then resigned Douglas and Campbell. And this year we added Reed. So that's SIX pretty solid defenders that have been added to the roster in just a little over a year.
I remember, back in the day, when we coveted a "hybrid type S/LB" and we kept trying Raven Greene and others, but they inevitably broke and we'd say "a bigger body". Well, here it is. He's 240. And at 6'4" , he has a reach radius that's a lot bigger than a six footer. I think that's his primary purpose on the defense......to replace that third safety when we go to the dime, which we play a lot on passing downs. Last year, that guy was Henry Black, and he had 262 snaps on defense...about 15 every game. Walker will also get some of Barnes' snaps, and Barnes was on the field a lot last year, about half the time....33 snaps or so. Replace half of those, too.
Whatever you call it, it's going to be Campbell and Walker plus four rushers and 5 DBs on 3rd and 7. Walker is going to play a lot, and if he makes some "splashy" plays, he'll be in the DROY conversation.
I really like this pick. It's like the people in charge said "which one player in this draft improves us the most?' IMO, Walker improves the defense for about 33 snaps every game. Maybe more.
dobber
July 08, 2022 at 11:17 am
"Walker improves the defense for about 33 snaps every game. Maybe more."
The fact that the Packers often resorted to the likes of Raven Greene, Will Redmond, and Henry Black on money downs--guys who aren't starting caliber players and don't bring much of note to the table--said a lot.
Leatherhead
July 08, 2022 at 03:44 pm
Josh Jones, Oren Burk.....you're right about the "money downs". We've replaced a weak link with a better one.
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 11:50 pm
Weak links, or just scrubs? Why were these guys taking pro snaps from people who could play the Game?
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 11:35 pm
These are Blue Chips, not Justin Harrell or Kyrie Thornton. These guys are the real deal. Turn them loose and Win the big game. Walker is going to Blitz a lot and control the hook zones. With this front and depth I see more four guys with their hands in the turf and control the GAPS. The question marks will be the safeties. This is not LeRoy Butler, Robinson and Mike Prior in the third tier. Savage has to show and Tariq Carpenter will turn heads. He is the real deal playing low to midland. Let's get the water hot.....
MITM
July 08, 2022 at 01:03 pm
About a week before the draft you started to hear Walkers name as LB1 in the draft. Some didnt expect him to get past New England. Never expected us to go ILB still
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Correct, Belichick blew his first round pick and his second round was questionable. He should get out of the picture and move on. Let Kraft absorb the downfall with his hookers....
jannesbjornson
July 08, 2022 at 11:58 pm
Kirby Smart out-recruited Saban and kept the Georgia dudes on their home turf. Wyatt is the prize from this draft. Let him loose like Sapp. He and Davis set the tone and controlled the opposition. The rest of that group flowed around them.
LambeauPlain
July 08, 2022 at 10:49 am
Wyatt, Watson, & Doubs were all draft crushes of mine and was pleased they made it to the Packers.
Walker was a bit of a surprise until I read just how he was the glue to that star studded Bulldog D. He can do it all, but didn't have to because of the host of playmakers around him. He just had to do the job he was asked to do...and he did it well with his range, great instincts and tackling.
Quay can rush the passer too, but was not asked to do it all than much, again thanks to the cast of characters he played with. But the higher horsepower D line, teamed with Campbell, Gary and Smith...Barry will a host of blitz packages he can employ and Walker will be pinning his ears back more than at Georgia.
This can be one of the very best LB corps in GB for a long, long time.
10ve 💚
July 08, 2022 at 11:07 am
"This can be one of the very best LB corps in GB for a long, long time."
I'm feeling giddy now 😁😁😁
Rarescope
July 08, 2022 at 11:27 am
Oh no, I'm getting flashbacks of offseason exuberance from 2020 and 2021 in regards to the offense. Please tell me it's different this year because it's the defense (I think it is ;)
mnbadger
July 08, 2022 at 12:23 pm
it's different this year because it's the defense! GPG!
jannesbjornson
July 09, 2022 at 12:06 am
This team still revolves around the MVP. The defense has to stop 3rd and long, period. Get the ball back to the WCO. Get points on the board, then tee off.....
marpag1
July 08, 2022 at 01:51 pm
He looks the part. And it definitely could happen. That's why I'll never criticize anyone for saying that Rolando MacClain is going to be a sure-fire all-pro at inside linebacker. Uh, wait... I mean Quay Walker.
LLCHESTY
July 09, 2022 at 12:25 am
Rolando McClain, another victim of the Pure Drank. He was more of a thumper than a run and hit LB like Walker.
LLCHESTY
July 08, 2022 at 05:34 pm
I don't think anybody but Alabama fans thought they were "unbeatable" in the championship game. Georgia got lucky with Bama's WR injuries but they didn't play well in the SEC championship game and looked a lot more focused in the title game.
jannesbjornson
July 09, 2022 at 12:22 am
Bennett picked up his mojo and made some big throws when it counted. He is a guy to watch in '22. Quarterbacks still win the Big Games....
Tundraboy
July 08, 2022 at 09:24 pm
Been a loooong time since I have been this excited about the defense going into the season. Can not wait !