3 Ways Kevin King Impacts Green Bay Packers 2017 Defense
By Bret Stuter
Improvement I: Defend Taller Wide Receivers
Rookie cornerback Kevin King stands 6-foot-3 inches tall. As such, he is the tallest cornerback on the Packers roster. But height means nothing if the player does not understand the fine line of defending on pass plays.
The days of the line of scrimmage jam-to-the-next-county and taking-off-receivers-head if they attempt a reception days are ancient history. Modern cornerbacks can no longer toss receivers to the ground at will. Now, the defensive back must use the position on the field as a defender aide, herding a receiver to the sidelines. The modern defensive back must be aware of the receiver, the quarterback, and the trajectory of the ball at all times.
Kevin King can do all that. Best of all, he does it at key moments in a game
Matchups Improve
The Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears, and the Minnesota Vikings twice per season. While the NFC North is stacked with talent, tight ends have emerged at the big bodied receivers in the passing game.
With King at 6-foot-3, defending a 6-foot-6 tight end is a far more favorable matchup than a 5-foot-10 cornerback. That height equalization will force quarterbacks to hesitate and look elsewhere, giving the team’s impressive pass rush more time to work on getting a quarterback sack.