The Green Bay Packers’ defense is going to be under the microscope this season. After 2022 offseason predictions that they would be a top-ten defense, they ended up as one of the worst in the NFL. The fact of the matter is that defensive coordinator Joe Barry is coaching for his job this season. There must be significant improvement on that side of the ball. There simply is too much talent on the defense for it to be as bad as it was.
The good news for Packers fans (and Barry) is that the talent on the Packers’ defense is not something that is a concoction of biased fans. National writers have taken notice of the numerous solid players that make up Green Bay’s defense. In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Alex Ballentine named Rasul Douglas as one of the best kept secrets in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Rasul Douglas Is Getting the Recognition He Deserves
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According to Ballentine:
“Jaire Alexander is a two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection. Eric Stokes was a first-round pick in 2021.
“Both cast a bit of a shadow on Rasul Douglas, but neither take away from his importance to the defense.
“Douglas has been a revelation since the Packers signed him in 2021 free agency. After a rough start to his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers, Douglas has become a reliable starter in Green Bay.
“He has combined for nine interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. In 2021, he allowed a 44.5 passer rating on 64 targets. In 2022, he saw 84 targets and surrendered a passer rating of 88.5 which was still lower than any other full-time cornerback not named Alexander on the roster.
“Eric Stokes suffered a season-ending ankle injury nine games into the season and while he’s expected to be back in time for the season opener, it’s still nice that the Packers can rely on Douglas to keep the secondary going.”
The numbers Ballentine mentions above speak for themselves. Douglas has done everything that the Packers have asked him to do during his time with the team. When Alexander was hurt in 2021 and Stokes hurt last year, it was Douglas who stepped up and carried the slack left by their absences.
Last year, the Packers’ pass defense was its lone bright spot. While Alexander was a MAJOR part of why that was, Douglas made it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find their second or third options after Jaire locked up the first one.
If he can continue this trend in 2023, the Packers passing defense will remain one of the NFL’s best.
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