The Green Bay Packers are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL, and are the favorite for many to come away with a Super Bowl 50 win. Aaron Rodgers is leading one of the most dynamic offenses in the league, but there is some concern about the defensive side of the football. Green Bay lost Tramon Williams this past offseason in free agency, and they have to figure out who will step up and fill the void that his departure has left.
One player that has gained a lot of intrigue from the fan base is rookie defensive back Damarious Randall. He was the Packers’ first-round draft pick this year, and is going to be asked to play the cornerback position. The major twist to this situation is the fact that Randall was a safety during his college career with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
What should the Packers and their fan base expect to see from Randall during the upcoming season?
At this point in time, there isn’t much question about what role Randall is going to fill. He appears to have the number two starting cornerback job won unless an injury happens. There are no other players on the roster that are capable of stepping up like Randall is, and Mike McCarthy is going to give his young defensive back all the confidence in the world.
Green Bay has always had success with developing young players, and this is one of the biggest and most crucial projects they have taken on in a long time. If he develops to his full potential, there is no question that he can become a star cornerback. On the other hand, if the Packers’ coaching staff doesn’t bring him along the right way, he could end up being a major bust.
There is no question that Randall possesses the athleticism to make the position switch, but his coaches have to bring him along and teach him the right way. He may have a bit of a rough rookie season, but the big picture is what needs to be looked at most in this situation.
That being said, expectations should be very high for the rookie defensive back. He has already shown the coaching staff some very good things in the early stages of training camp, and his athleticism and size are both very favorable for him. Assuming he continues progressing and learns the game during the preseason, he will be just fine.
Randall is going to end up being a big piece of the Green Bay defense for years to come, and will form a deadly young duo with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the secondary. It may have seemed like a weird pick at the time, but as he continues to grow the fans will begin realizing exactly why the Packers took him in the first round.
