7 Days Until Training Camp: A Missed-Tackles Surprise

With seven days until the first practice of Packers training camp, our countdown rolls on with a surprising look at missed tackles.

The Packers couldn't stop the Eagles in 2022. (Photo by Eric Hartline/USA Today Sports Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. – When the Green Bay Packers allowed 363 rushing yards in an embarrassing loss at the Philadelphia Eagles last season, they missed an appalling 22 tackles by the coaches’ count.

That game became the lasting impression of Green Bay’s ability, or inability, to handle one of the most important skills in the sport. However, if you thought the Packers were among the worst-tackling teams in the NFL last season, you’d be wrong.

Actually, and surprisingly, you’d be very wrong.

By the count of Pro Football Focus, the Packers missed 121 tackles last season. That works out to about seven per game. Building upon that will be a key when the Packers open training camp in seven days.

By PFF’s missed-tackle count, the Packers were the 11th-best tackling team in the NFL and were only two misses outside the Top 10. Even a decent game against the Eagles would have had them approaching the Top 5.

Teaching tackling is tricky. For better or worse, the days of live tackling in training camp are over. Tackling is an absolutely critical part of the game. There’s no doubt about that. So is the health of running back Aaron Jones.

It’s the risk vs. the reward. The reward for live tackling on the practice field is, presumably, better tackling on the game field. The risk is an important player sustaining a significant and easily preventable injury on the practice field.

“You don’t tackle live at any point during the year other than the games that you play,” Barry said a few days after the Philadelphia game, “so we try to create those scenarios as best we can, try to create drills that are as realistic [as possible], but you can’t create anything realistic to tackling Jalen Hurts until you’ve got to go tackle him.”

By position groups and based on 50 percent playing time, Preston Smith had the fifth-highest missed-tackle rate among edge defenders and Darnell Savage had the fourth-highest rate among safeties, according to PFF.

“We’ve got to do a better job in tackling and playing a physical brand of football,” defensive backs coach Ryan Downard said of Savage. “That’s not only at the point of contact, that’s also taking on blocks.”

On the other hand, De’Vondre Campbell was No. 1 among linebackers in 2021; he missed only one during the final five games of 2022 upon returning from a knee injury. Jonathan Owens was No. 21 in 2022 among safeties; the man he might replace, Adrian Amos, was 18th.

“Actually, tackling was my least favorite thing to do,” Owens, who had a breakout 2022 season with the Texans, said during OTAs. “I used to play offense but, honestly, going into the NFL, that was my biggest focus point with myself was I want to be considered one of the best tacklers in the NFL and I want that to be my niche. Obviously, ball skills will be a thing, where I didn’t have any interceptions last year, but they can’t say I didn’t come and tackle.”

While the Packers likely won’t do live tackling during training camp, it’s taught in some form or fashion every day on the practice field, whether it’s wrapping up a rolling doughnut-shaped pad or making sure everyone is taking the proper angle. Pursuit is important, too, so there’s another defender in position if one defender misses.

While the techniques are important, perhaps nothing is more important than the desire to play with physicality and run to the football.

“It’s just a focus, man. It’s a want-to,” Owens said. “Just come in and have great technique. You practice. You watch a lot of film. You watch a lot of guys who come in and make great tackles and just try to see what they do good, see what they didn’t do too well, angles. It’s a lot that goes into it, but film study really helps. You see guys that make great tackles. You see what they did well.”

NFL Missed Tackles in 2022

Here is a team-by-team count of missed tackles from Pro Football Focus.

Houston Texans: 185

Jacksonville Jaguars: 162

Buffalo Bills: 155

Las Vegas Raiders: 155

Los Angeles Chargers: 148

Atlanta Falcons: 146

Chicago Bears: 146

New York Jets: 146

Denver Broncos: 145

Carolina Panthers: 143

Seattle Seahawks: 141

New Orleans Saints: 140

Kansas City Chiefs: 139

Cleveland Browns: 138

Baltimore Ravens: 135

Miami Dolphins: 135

Arizona Cardinals: 133

Philadelphia Eagles: 132

Tennessee Titans: 131

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 128

Detroit Lions: 127

Green Bay Packers: 121

Indianapolis Colts: 119

New York Giants: 119

Pittsburgh Steelers: 109

Dallas Cowboys: 108

Minnesota Vikings: 108

Washington Commanders: 105

Los Angeles Rams: 101

New England Patriots: 96

Cincinnati Bengals: 95

San Francisco 49ers: 90

Countdown to Packers Training Camp

Here is our preview of the #Packers outside linebackers with training camp a week away.
- Opening depth chart
- Strength
- Weakness
- Star
- Big questions
And much morehttps://t.co/Wmgoa45PHz

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) July 19, 2023

8 days until training camp: Third-down pressure

9 days until training camp: One-score games

10 days until training camp: 10 most important Packers

11 days until training camp: 11 drops too many

12 days until training camp: What history says about replacing No. 12

13 days until training camp: Replacing Mason Crosby

14 days until training camp: Previewing the 14 opponents

15 days until training camp: Aaron Jones, touchdown machine

16 days until training camp: Two months until Week 1 at Bears

17 days until training camp: 17 is the unmagical number

18 days until training camp: LaFleur’s magic touches?

19 days until training camp: 19 1,000-yard challenges

20 days until training camp: 20 reasons for optimism

21 days until training camp: 21 Packers rookie tight ends

22 days until training camp: Fourth of July fireworks

23 days until training camp: No. 23, Jaire Alexander

24 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 24 in red zone

25 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 25 in tackling

26 days until training camp: The key to the defense is No. 26

27 days until training camp: 27 sources of inspiration

28 days until training camp: At least they’re consistent

29 days: Keisean Nixon’s surprise stardom

30 days until training camp: 30th in key defensive stat

31 days until training camp: A killer No. 31 ranking

32 days until training camp: 32nd-ranked receivers

33 days until training camp: No. 33, Aaron Jones, is a great player

34 days until training camp: Plus-34 in turnovers