Quay Walker

[Sixtolezcano]

There has been much discussion with Quay Walker’s performance this year (not to mention his entire NFL career). Here are some opinions made by NFL sites.

Lombardi Ave

After two games, Walker ranks 86th among 110 linebackers in Pro Football Focus' defense grades. The former first-round pick has made a disappointing start to the season.

Per PFF, Walker has already missed four tackles while allowing eight completions on 11 targets for 76 yards and a passer rating of 91.5.

PACKER WIRE

Bottom 5 defense

1. LB Quay Walker: 40.1
2. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 43.7
3. DE Rashan Gary: 45.5
4. DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.2
5. DL Kenny Clark: 48.6

Walker missed two tackles, gave up four catches in coverage and was poor against the run overall

 

A-Z SPORTS (Wendell Ferreira

When Quay Walker was the first of two first-round picks for the Green Bay Packers in 2022, much of the discussion was around positional value. After all, even if Walker ended up being a good player, it would be hard to justify a first-round pick on a player whose position is one of the least valuable in today's NFL.

You can think whatever you want about this topic, because based on how bad Walker has played to start the season, the positional value discussion doesn't even matter. Over the first two weeks of his third season in the league, Walker has been more of what he had been, and it's getting hard to justify a starting spot.

Andy Herman, who covers the Packers for Pack A Day Podcast and Packer Report, grades every player on every play. Based on his evaluation, Walker is the worst of the four Packers off-ball linebackers with a significant number of defensive snaps, behind Eric Wilson, Isaiah McDuffie, and rookie Edgerrin Cooper. By PFF, Walker is slightly ahead of McDuffie, but still behind Wilson and Cooper by a large amount.

Lack of improvement

When Walker was drafted, he was mostly perceived as a developmental player. It was another one of these Packers' projects, getting a physical outlier to develop them within the structure of the franchise.

However, Quay Walker is in his third season in the NFL, the second to last of his rookie deal, and it's hard to see any improvements. His 48.3 PFF grade is the worst of his NFL career so far. Also the worst of his career are his coverage grade (52.3) and by a significant margin his tackling grade (37.1).

Some fans on social media suggested Quay Walker could move to edge rusher, but his pass rush grade (56.4) is also his worst in the league.

On Sunday, Walker dropped an easy interception who would've ended the game.

"Quay is sick about it," head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday about the play. "There's no doubt about it. He's beating himself up pretty good about it."

Through two weeks, Quay Walker missed 18.2% of the tackles he tried, an awful number compared to the 6.6 rate he had in 2023.

 

A big issue for Quay Walker has been his role within the defense. Throughout his career, he has been better as an instinctive player. When he has to think too much, problems start.

Without De'Vondre Campbell, there was an expectation that the Packers would add another middle linebacker. But that didn't happen. Green Bay selected Edgerrin Cooper in the second and Ty'Ron Hopper in the third, and they are mostly weak-side linebackers just like Walker.

The inexistence of a real middle linebacker on the roster forced the Packers to use Walker there, a role that includes the green dot to receive defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's calls and passing them to his teammates.

Perhaps, putting Walker again in the position that fits what he does well is a last possible try to take something out of him. Maybe it won't be enough, but the situation as it stands is just putting the entire defense in an unfavorable position.

[CheezWizHed]

Note: When copy/pasting from an external site (especially this much of it), post the original link and make it clear what is your words vs the copy paste.  Italics or indentations normally make it clear.  

I mentioned this before but I see slow progression of Walker in his three years:

Year 1: Played with his hair on fire, but out of control often.

Year 2: Under control more, but still out of position often, wrong lanes, blocked very easily.

Year 3: (small sample of 2 games), he is in position more often, but still struggles to finish the plays.  

Yes, they are small gains, but gains none the less. He isn't going to be Ray Lewis, but I do think he is a starter in the NFL.  

I do believe he is better suited for a 4-3 OLB, but no idea why that article said Cooper wasn't an MLB.  I'd bet that once Cooper gets better acclimated, you will see him take the MLB with Walker moving out.  McDuffie then playing Wilson's role in base only. 

[MrTPlush]

My biggest problem with Quay is the fact he REALLY blows some assignments, plays, and tackles sometimes. He just really costs us big sometimes. Many players aren't great, but never make huge mistakes. I can't say that about Quay. 

[Fear The Chorizo]

I thought the switch to the 4-3 would lead to Quay being shifted to a Will LB position, which I think really suits his skillset...instead due to personnel limitations and lack of experience at that position, he's the primary MLB - which doesn't allow him to pick a lane and fly around - he's busy sifting through blocks and trying to make reads instead, making him passive at the point of attack all too often.

I really do hope once Cooper is more comfortable in the MLB role, we'll see Walker on the outside more where his skillset and athleticism can shine.

[HarryDoyle]

On 9/18/2024 at 1:51 PM, Sixtolezcano said:

There has been much discussion with Quay Walker’s performance this year (not to mention his entire NFL career). Here are some opinions made by NFL sites.

PFF

After two games, Walker ranks 86th among 110 linebackers in Pro Football Focus' defense grades. The former first-round pick has made a disappointing start to the season.

Per PFF, Walker has already missed four tackles while allowing eight completions on 11 targets for 76 yards and a passer rating of 91.5.

PACKER WIRE

Bottom 5 defense

1. LB Quay Walker: 40.1
2. DE Kingsley Enagbare: 43.7
3. DE Rashan Gary: 45.5
4. DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.2
5. DL Kenny Clark: 48.6

Walker missed two tackles, gave up four catches in coverage and was poor against the run overall

 

A-Z SPORTS (Wendell Ferreira

When Quay Walker was the first of two first-round picks for the Green Bay Packers in 2022, much of the discussion was around positional value. After all, even if Walker ended up being a good player, it would be hard to justify a first-round pick on a player whose position is one of the least valuable in today's NFL.

You can think whatever you want about this topic, because based on how bad Walker has played to start the season, the positional value discussion doesn't even matter. Over the first two weeks of his third season in the league, Walker has been more of what he had been, and it's getting hard to justify a starting spot.

Andy Herman, who covers the Packers for Pack A Day Podcast and Packer Report, grades every player on every play. Based on his evaluation, Walker is the worst of the four Packers off-ball linebackers with a significant number of defensive snaps, behind Eric Wilson, Isaiah McDuffie, and rookie Edgerrin Cooper. By PFF, Walker is slightly ahead of McDuffie, but still behind Wilson and Cooper by a large amount.

Lack of improvement

When Walker was drafted, he was mostly perceived as a developmental player. It was another one of these Packers' projects, getting a physical outlier to develop them within the structure of the franchise.

However, Quay Walker is in his third season in the NFL, the second to last of his rookie deal, and it's hard to see any improvements. His 48.3 PFF grade is the worst of his NFL career so far. Also the worst of his career are his coverage grade (52.3) and by a significant margin his tackling grade (37.1).

Some fans on social media suggested Quay Walker could move to edge rusher, but his pass rush grade (56.4) is also his worst in the league.

On Sunday, Walker dropped an easy interception who would've ended the game.

"Quay is sick about it," head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday about the play. "There's no doubt about it. He's beating himself up pretty good about it."

Through two weeks, Quay Walker missed 18.2% of the tackles he tried, an awful number compared to the 6.6 rate he had in 2023.

 

A big issue for Quay Walker has been his role within the defense. Throughout his career, he has been better as an instinctive player. When he has to think too much, problems start.

Without De'Vondre Campbell, there was an expectation that the Packers would add another middle linebacker. But that didn't happen. Green Bay selected Edgerrin Cooper in the second and Ty'Ron Hopper in the third, and they are mostly weak-side linebackers just like Walker.

The inexistence of a real middle linebacker on the roster forced the Packers to use Walker there, a role that includes the green dot to receive defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's calls and passing them to his teammates.

Perhaps, putting Walker again in the position that fits what he does well is a last possible try to take something out of him. Maybe it won't be enough, but the situation as it stands is just putting the entire defense in an unfavorable position.

When Walker was drafted, he was mostly perceived as a developmental player. It was another one of these Packers' projects, getting a physical outlier to develop them within the structure of the franchise.

And there it is. Developmental player. Project. Euphemisms for "bust". 

[BrewerFan]

18 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Note: When copy/pasting from an external site (especially this much of it), post the original link and make it clear what is your words vs the copy paste.  Italics or indentations normally make it clear.  

I mentioned this before but I see slow progression of Walker in his three years:

Year 1: Played with his hair on fire, but out of control often.

Year 2: Under control more, but still out of position often, wrong lanes, blocked very easily.

Year 3: (small sample of 2 games), he is in position more often, but still struggles to finish the plays.  

Yes, they are small gains, but gains none the less. He isn't going to be Ray Lewis, but I do think he is a starter in the NFL.  

I do believe he is better suited for a 4-3 OLB, but no idea why that article said Cooper wasn't an MLB.  I'd bet that once Cooper gets better acclimated, you will see him take the MLB with Walker moving out.  McDuffie then playing Wilson's role in base only. 

https://atozsports.com/nfl/green-bay-packers-news/former-first-round-pick-has-been-a-huge-disappointment-for-the-packers-to-start-the-season/

 

This is the source. Walker hasn't been good this year, but the picking and choosing...particularly picking plays in which a PB center gets a free release to the 2nd level and Walker, who should be playing WLB in a one-gap is now being criticized for not playing 2 gaps and making the tackle is...just silly. 

Walker's also responsible for 3 turnovers this year(at the very least in part responsible). He was the LBer who carried the 4.3 De'Vonta Smith 30+ yards down the field vs Philly and forced the pick by being in perfect position. Did the same vs the Titans and then was the one pressuring Richardson on the other INT that game.

Comparing his snaps to Wilson's 7, is...silly.

Look at that list. Gary, Clark and then Van Ness(who I believe had a 72 grade last week, so those aren't PFF grades, but they're two weeks all the same).

 

Football is a pretty simple sport.

You're reliant on particular positions. WR is particularly reliant on QB. QB is reliant on OL and WR.

LB is as reliant on the DL as any position, so to the original point, using a play in which Ryan Kelly gets to the 2nd level, untouched because Kenny Clark jumps inside and is now responsible for TWO Gaps(in a one-gap scheme) is...just silly. Clark was responsible for the A Gap there. He gambled or...actually it looks like they were slanting and he just slanted the wrong way. In any event, you have to keep the LBers clean.

 

Walker CANNOT overrun plays and needs to play with more...focused aggression but this scattershot analysis citing PFF and then using other grades is silly.

 

When the DL does its job, Quay is a difference-maker. When the DL vacates their gaps...well, he's not. Look at the play at ~4:20. 

Similar play, DT does his job, Quay fires and it's a TFL.

Same a couple plays later with Jacobs, now of the Packers. DL does his job...

(Copyright on the video, Quay Walker 2023 highlghts).

 

While we're using PFF grades through 2 games.

Quay Walker-52.0 as a rookie, 60.0 yr 2, and BETTER than either Smith or Queen this year at 47.8(not that it's a sparkling number, but it's TWO games in). 
Roquan Smith-52.4 yr 2, 47.1 This year
Patrick Queen-29.7 as a rookie, 38.4 This year

(Then again, if you're looking at grades for a LB, you'd miss out on how impressive Payton Wilson has been this year in his PT).

Certainly better than A to Z Sports...

Not worth writing home about...but maybe a reminder of the uselessness of grading off 2 games just for starters, but if we're going to appeal to authority(and that "authority" being fans who never played Football...and well as PFF, not sure it supports Quay being quite as bad as some or portraying him.