The Packers have had some underperforming play at the inside linebacker spot for the last few years. Injuries have derailed seasons for Desmond Bishop, Nick Barnett, and Brad Jones. AJ Hawk is dependably in the lineup but his impact has been limited.
With Jones’ lingering quad injury, Jamari Lattimore could see his second start in a row. Should he remain the starter even after Jones comes back? The PFF numbers might suggest so.
In Week 2, Lattimore graded out at +2.4 in 59 snaps. He made three stops in the run game and added some pass rush with a couple QB hurries. Jones finished with a -5.8 in Week 1 with three missed tackles and while Hawk’s play did improve in Week 2, his overall grade through two games stands at -4.5. This is a small sample size, so we take a look at 2013 as well.
In 272 snaps last year Lattimore graded at +1.0 overall, collecting 16 stops in the run game and four pressures on only 10 pass rushes. Jones and Hawk played 594 and 1014 snaps, respectively, and combined for a -14.0 overall grade and each came up with 32 stops.
Lattimore has made more of an impact recently despite his limited number of reps. If he keeps it up can he force a shake-up in the Green Bay linebacking corps? Something to watch for over the next few weeks.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.