It’s no secret that the Green Bay Packers defense has been a work in progress since the days of Bronco Nagurski. Since the departure of Nick Barnett midway through the 2010 season, the Packers have completely lacked competent linebacker play in the middle of their defense. Ted Thompson inexplicably made Jamari Lattimore the team’s primary middle linebacker in 2013, and only followed it up with the irreplaceable Jake Ryan.
Ryan, while a decent tackler, had about as much sideline-to-sideline athleticism as a 2,500-pound walrus that just housed down a Big Mac.