In his first year donning green and gold, Quay Walker had highlights but also his fair share of growing pains. That’s all a part of the rookie experience. While he led all rookie linebackers in tackles and was second in rookie tackles overall, he was also ejected twice for reckless actions.
Entering his second year, he knows where he stands in the linebacker room. Walker and veteran De’Vondre Campbell are the starters, and they almost never leave the field. Walker was inconsistent as a rookie. However, he’s in a position to rectify that and put together a full season of consistent play. It’s all about the experience.
The Packers almost immediately trusted Walker in their defense. He started every game he was available and partnered with Campbell almost immediately. Green Bay typically does not play rookies in big roles, preferring the sit-and-wait approach. Walker was an exception, and he took his opportunity and ran with it.
Walker can go downhill and read offenses very well, he just needs to be more consistent. He can make plays as he does in the clip below, but great linebackers can read the play, scrape, and move more consistently. Walker had the speed and tools to be a great linebacker coming out of college, but a lot of reading and reacting is about what’s inside the helmet. After spending some time in the league, a player gets used to the speed of the game. That could be the case for Walker.
He’s shown his versatility in pass coverage. There is a reason the Packers picked Walker in the first round: He has the ability to play on every snap. He can keep up with running backs and tight ends. Campbell got a lot of these assignments last year, but with more familiarity in the system and increased trust from the coaches, Walker could get more of these looks.
Walker will also be more used to pass rushing next year. It’s something that Joe Barry and the rest of the Packers’ defensive staff experimented with at the end of the season. Walker’s burst, agility, and block-shedding ability are all great. It would make sense to have him be the linebacker who blitzes rather than Campbell.
Walker also can’t get ejected like he did last year. If he is going to impact the game, he has to be on the field. Walker said he’s learned from those encounters. The one in Buffalo and the one against the Detroit Lions were both strange instances where Walker had altercations with coaches or trainers. Not players, opposing staff members. Guys who were not wearing pads.
It’s baffling. You could blame this on his immaturity, or perhaps he was overwhelmed with his responsibilities as a rookie. Either way you spin it, it looks bad. (Seriously, though, twice?) Walker has vowed to behave better. Hopefully, with more time in the league and a better understanding of the way the game is played, he can move past these senseless acts.
Green Bay’s coaches obviously saw the infractions that got Walker ejected and have a plan in place to prevent them in the future. They want to keep him busy in between snaps and after the whistle blows. The added responsibility on his shoulders could be enough to persuade Walker not to put his hands on opposing teams’ staff members.
Everyone should get more comfortable with the system after playing a full year in it. It’s huge that Walker gets to have the same defensive coordinator he had when he was a rookie. Not all young defensive players get the luxury of continuity. He does not have a new scheme to adjust to or a new playbook to memorize. Walker can just focus on doing what he already knows how to do and elevating his play within a structure he’s already familiar with.
While the rollercoaster of a rookie year had its ups and downs, Quay Walker’s experience should bode well for his chances to improve next year. Experience outranks everything for Walker. Watch for him to reduce his inconsistency and create more highlight plays. If he keeps his head on straight, Walker will avoid the sophomore slump.
