A couple of changes in personnel have happened with the Green Bay Packers without much fanfare, but could it be a sign of a growing trend?
As both the Green Bay Press-Gazette and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel point out today, the Packers have started to play linebacker Brandon Chillar in the nickel defense ever since A.J. Hawk became injured.
Did you notice that Hawk played only a handful of snaps in the win over the Indianapolis Colts?
Hawk may be returning to full strength, but there are signs pointing towards Chillar staying on the field as the team's nickel linebacker.
When head coach Mike McCarthy was asked whether Hawk would be returning to his former role in the nickel packages, McCarthy was somewhat evasive.
“It’s just the ability to utilize your personnel,” McCarthy is quoted as saying in the Press-Gazette. “Brandon has played well with his opportunity. It’s no different on offense. Sometimes I put things in conceptually in a certain personnel group, not as much for (facing a particular) defense but the ability to keep utilizing everybody. I think we have to have the same approach on defense.”
It's possible that this could be a sign that the Packers aren't happy with Hawk's production on the field. Ever since coming to Green Bay as a number five overall pick in the NFL draft, Hawk has been solid but not spectacular. There had been hopes that Hawk could be a Pro Bowl regular, but he's yet to fulfill that wish.
What's most perplexing is that Hawk shows a penchant for being a ball magnet in practices but not in games. He intercepts passes with the best of them during training camp, but it hasn't translated over into the regular season. Thus, the move to keep Chillar on the field.
A similar storyline is happening on the offensive side of the ball with the fullbacks.
Ever since Korey Hall was injured in week two and missed the next three games, he's seen less and less time on the field. In the most recent game against the Colts, John Kuhn played more than double the amount of offensive snaps as Hall.
It could in part be due to Hall's injury, but there's reason to think the Packers are making a shift in personnel groupings.
"I don't know (what the coaches have in mind)," Hall told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I think they're kind of doing the same thing: He rotates in with the jumbo package, so I'm still playing the regular and eagle (package). That's kind of the way it's going to be."
It will be interesting to see what the Packers do in similar situations in regards to Al Harris and Atari Bigby who are now returning to the team.
Tramon Williams has played superbly in place of Harris and has three interceptions on the season. The Packers might place Harris in the nickel role and say they are easing Harris back onto the field.
But they might also play to the players' strengths. Harris will definitely be the better player in bump and run, but Williams seems to excel in zone coverage when he has more room.
Likewise, it will be tough to keep Bigby off the field if he returns to form after his injury. But it will also be hard to keep Aaron Rouse on the bench after he was named the NFC's defensive player of the week for his performance against the Colts. Rouse has shown a penchant for making turnovers in his limited opportunities.
Maybe the headline for this article is a little too critical. Maybe it should read, "Are injuries a reason for making change?" The Packers don't seems to be making excuses, but they also aren't tipping their hat in the direction they appear to be heading either.
But who can blame them? They're just trying to keep the Titans and every other team in the NFL on their toes.
Photo credit: Mark Hoffman for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel