https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/24/in-year-2-packers-finally-have-personnel-pieces-to-match-mike-pettines-multiple-ethos/

[On defense, after two offseasons of personnel acquisition and advancement to graduate-level coursework for Mike Pettine’s current pupils, the word will be “multiple.”
In just two seasons, the front office has stripped the Packers defense down to the studs and implemented a full-on renovation.
GM Brian Gutekunst demo’d a lineup consisting of Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jermaine Whitehead, Damarious Randall, Jake Ryan and Davon House and replaced it with a specific archetype on both the front and back end of the defense. That archetype, according to Pettine, is to achieve a specific schematic and personnel philosophy, a goal the team appears close to achieving.
“I like to appear multiple,” Pettine told the media back in June of 2018. “I know some people have said the system is complicated, but we like to appear multiple without putting that much stuff in.”
“I’ve always believed in having those versatile, hybrid-type players for two reasons: One, a guy who can play multiple positions can give you depth. So, if a guy gets an injury…you can move him around. When you add versatile guys, that adds depth. And another thing is from an identification standpoint on the other side of the ball that (the offensive players) don’t clearly see…When you can move guys around and trade jobs not just within games but week-to-week, because a big part of offensive is identifying who the rushers are and what positions they’re playing, so when you have guys like that, you can do a lot more with those players.”
With two full years to draft and sign talent, it’s quite clear just how this defense is being reshaped in Pettine’s image.
Up front, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith both can play multiple spots, especially the former who spent time in Baltimore shuffling down inside and lining up against interior offensive linemen on pass rushing downs.
“Preston has dropped more into coverage and can be more – I don’t want to use the word finesse – but Za’Darius is more of a power-type rusher and also has the flexibility (and) you can move him around,” Pettine told reporters this week.
While Kenny Clark was drafted before Pettine arrived, what he does well is very much in line with what the defense wants to do. Clark splits doubles teams regularly and can hold the point of attack with the best of them; however, Clark’s an excellent athlete for his size, which should only further his positional flexibility.
This year’s fifth-round pick, Texas A&M defensive lineman Kingsley Keke, played all over the line of scrimmage in college and brings that versatility to Green Bay.
The Packers’ top target in April’s draft, first-round pick Rashan Gary, embodies the “multiple” ethos. At 277 pounds, Gary’s first step and straight-line speed resembles someone weighing closer to 250 pounds. He can chase and close cut-back lanes on the back side, but he’s also big and strong enough to hold the point.
“It’s unbelievable,” Packers outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said about Gary Wednesday. “A guy that size and that speed and that athleticism, I’ve never seen it, and I’ve been in the league for 11 years.”
“You got a guy that’s got a get off and speed and you’re strong and you’re powerful, that’s a dangerous combination,” Smith said. “He just has to learn how to use those tools.”
In theory, the Packers have in their arsenal on the front a deep pool of players who are positional chameleons. Can they rush the passer? Yes. Can they hold the point against the run? Yes. Can they line up on the edge? Yes. Can they line up over a guard or center? Yes.
On the back end, it’s the same story. The Packers spent precious resources repairing the safety position, arguably the team’s worst position group last year.
Yet Gutekunst didn’t just take a blank-check approach towards fixing the safety group. Instead of bidding for Landon Collins or Tyrann Mathieu or Earl Thomas, Gutekunst invested in Adrian Amos, who often played second fiddle to Eddie Jackson in Chicago. In the draft, the Packers made Maryland’s Darnell Savage a priority, trading up and making Savage the first defensive back selected in the draft.
The link? Neither is just a free safety or strong safety. They can do both.
“If you had to say, Adrian would probably lean towards being a strong safety, and Darnell obviously leaning towards free safety,” Pettine stated. “But they’re interchangeable. … You want them to major in what they’re best at, but I think both of them can do it all.”
“That’s something that I’ve always liked in this system, that teams can’t identify. ‘Hey, when the strong (safety) is here, it means this. And when the free (safety) is here, it means that,” Pettine said.
Like Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and Gary, Amos and Savage won’t have easily definable roles. Quarterbacks setting the protection or reading the coverage might not get as many pre-snap reads. Adjustments, in theory, will be harder to come by for opposing offenses.
There’s a method to Pettine’s madness, it appears.
“What I like about the room is that it’s not all the same guy,” Pettine said. “I think in every position room, you need to have that variation in skillset so that way you can do some different things with different guys and move them around.”
Last year saw the additions of Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson and Oren Burks, but it was always going to take more than one offseason to get the personnel where it needs to be.
Or, in Pettine’s own words from last offseason: “You have your system, and you have an idea of what you want and make every effort to build the roster that way, but in the meantime, you can’t win with players you don’t have.”]

I think this article paints a picture that our expectations should be very positive. The arrow seems to be pointing up for the defense.

IMO the only thing that could possibly hold Rashan from being a dominating force would be injury (knock on wood).

Mike Smith knows what he's talking about. Gary is not only a rare athlete, he is a rare football player. People get too caught up in numbers. Wisconsin, which has a great offensive line couldn't block him. I think too many folks get/got caught up in numbers games.

Michigan had a Great defense, and Gary was a HUGE part of making that possible. Teams scheme to avoided him. Offensive lines, tight ends, and running backs were constantly schemed his way to provide chips, and to double and sometimes triple team him. QBs rolled aeay from him and many plays were either run away from him or linemen were given support by a tight end when offenses run in his direction.

Having said that, he is a rookie. He has things to learn. And even though the Packers plan to move this young talent all over the place. He will be another weapon in Mike Pettines much faster and athletic arsenal immediately.