| Packers linebacker Nick Perry chases Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday night. Perry, the first-round pick out of USC, had to transition from college defensive end to outside linebacker. (US Presswire) |
Very little of what the Green Bay Packers defensive rookies did Monday night against the Seahawks showed up in the box score. But Packers coaches watching their young up-and-comers on tape no doubt were impressed with what they saw.
The Packers spent their first six draft picks last April on the defensive side of the ball. Four of those players -- OLB Nick Perry, DE Jerel Worthy, CB Casey Hayward and S Jerron McMillian -- have already earned starting spots or significant roles. Against the Seahawks on Monday, five (including undrafted OLB Dezman Moses) got substantial playing time, and three made high-impact plays that would’ve been considered game-changers had the Packers not been robbed of the win by officials on the final play.
Just looking at the box score the influence the first-year players stands out. The five rookies combined for just seven tackles, one sack and a couple of passes defensed. Not great numbers. But go beyond those numbers, and it’s clear the plays they did make were important ones. Rapid reports take a look at several of them.
Let’s start with Perry, the first-round pick out of Southern California who has had to transition from college defensive end to outside linebacker. Perry has been playing with a wrist injury, for which he wears a protective brace, and brings great power but limited quickness and not enough creativity to the pass rush.
Against Seattle, he had four tackles, including the only sack. On second-and-13 from the Seahawks’ 39, Perry was matched up on TE Anthony McCoy. Perry was persistent, pushing McCoy back, eventually getting around him and tracking down QB Russell Wilson for a loss of 19 yards to set up third-and-32. After another penalty and a meaningless run, the Seahawks punted and on the ensuing possession, the Packers got a field goal.
The rookie defensive backs were sterling. Hayward, one of two Green Bay second-round picks, recently leapfrogged veteran Jarrett Bush for the nickel CB position. A smart, intuitive ball-hawk from Vanderbilt, Hayward made a brilliant play in coverage early in the second quarter. On third-and-five with the game scoreless, Hayward was playing slot corner against WR Golden Tate. Giving Tate a cushion of about four yards with his hips facing outside, Hayward swiveled around when Tate cut inside on a slant, dove and knocked the ball out of the receiver’s hands just as he got to the first down line. The Seahawks punted.
Later, on a kickoff in the third quarter after the Packers had cut the Seahawks’ lead to 7-6, Hayward got down the field, maintained his coverage lane and was in good position. He was blocked practically from behind, but still dove forward to cleanly tackle the legs of Seattle returner Leon Washington.
Then, with about two minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Packers clinging to a 12-7 lead, Hayward made a crucial, textbook tackle. On third-and-6 from Green Bay’s 10-yard line, Wilson found Tate on a short pass up the middle. But Hayward was right there to immediate stop Tate for just a three-yard gain. On fourth-and-3, Wilson was incomplete to Tate and Seattle turned the ball over on downs.
Then there was McMillian, who could’ve been the defensive player of the game if not for another bogus call by the replacement referees in the fourth quarter. On the Seahawks’ first series after the Packers took a 12-7 lead, McMillian was covering TE Evan Moore along the right sideline. Moore tipped the pass that was slightly behind him, and McMillian made a fantastic reaction play, snaring the ball out of the air and keeping both feet in bounds. It should’ve given the Packers the ball back with fantastic field position, but the refs called a questionable roughing the passer penalty on OLB Erik Walden.
Long before that, McMillian made a play that silenced a lot of critics who said he wasn’t nearly as good in pass coverage as he was defending the run. Midway through the scoreless first quarter, on third-and-4 in Green Bay territory, CB Tramon Williams motioned McMillian to creep up to the line of scrimmage to matchup with WR Ben Obomanu in the slot. McMillian stayed in front of him until Obomanu’s break toward the sideline, then accelerated in front of him, dove and broke up the pass. The Seahawks were forced to punt.
The two other rookies who played Monday night didn’t have as much of an impact. Worthy, the second-rounder out of Michigan State, got some decent penetration but didn’t really disrupt anything. He didn’t register a tackle and was called for a defensive offside penalty in the second quarter, something he struggled with in preseason. He did show off the spirit he’s known for after the flag, getting in the face of LG Paul McQuistan and jawing with him.
Moses, who was signed as a rookie free agent and did nothing but impress coaches with effort and raw athleticism throughout the preseason, made one under-the-radar play. With about one minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Packers still holding on to a 12-7 lead, Moses sprinted down on punt coverage. He was in on the tackle of Washington with LB Rob Francois for a return of minus-one yard.
Fourth-round DL Mike Daniels (Iowa) did not play, and fifth-round LB Terrell Manning (North Carolina State) was inactive with a concussion.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.