Rudy Ford becoming an asset for the Green Bay Packers
Former Auburn defensive back Rudy Ford might be one of the biggest surprises for the Green Bay Packers this year. In an article for Zone Coverage, writer Wendell Ferreira points out how much Ford, a sixth-year pro, has been an asset to the Packers in 2022 and could be used moving forward.
“When Adrian Amos left the New England Patriots game (Oct. 2) with a concussion, Ford played 76% of the defensive snaps and performed well as a downfield tackler. Against the New York Jets, Ford played four more defensive snaps and showed the Packers’ coaching staff he can be a good third-safety option, giving the team much-needed schematic flexibility.
After playing around 25% of three-safety looks last season, the Packers hadn’t played any in the first five weeks this year, betting they could play more with two off-ball linebackers by putting rookie first-rounder Quay Walker on the field alongside De’Vondre Campbell. However, Walker has gone through growing pains and hasn’t made the impact the Packers were looking for. So the three-safety looks appear to be back, and Ford’s performance against the Patriots left the coaches confident he could be the best option for that role.“
“I think he did an outstanding job,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur after after that recent game. “Playing with great effort first and foremost, but just doing his responsibility. Certainly, you felt his presence out there in terms of his physicality. I want to say he had seven tackles. I thought he did a really good job.”
Worth noting, Ford also has been solid on special teams this season.
As Ferreira noted, Ford — despite his limited snap counts for the season — has the third best Pro Football Focus grade on the team.
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“Ford’s growth allows the Packers to make multiple defensive changes and adaptations. The most obvious one is the aforementioned use of three-safety looks. Against the Jets, the Packers put Ford on the field alongside Savage as the deep-safety duo, with Adrian Amos playing in the box as a de facto linebacker. Green Bay put Quay Walker on the bench in this scenario.”
All told, Ford has 11 total tackles on the season. This already ranks third for him out of his six seasons. Last year, Ford registered a career-best 53 total tackles (39 solos) for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ford signed with the Packets on Aug. 31 — just two days after the Jaguars released him.
