GREEN BAY – There already was mutual respect between veterans Xavier McKinney and Zaire Franklin, but when the two started playing the same defense during the Green Bay Packers’ May and June practices, each saw how the other could elevate his game.
McKinney, a first-team All-Pro in 2024 and a second-team All-Pro in ’25, was relied upon to ensure the linebackers and defensive backs were on the same page because he was more experienced and quicker to diagnose plays than anyone on defense.
The 30-year-old Franklin started 82 games at middle linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts before being traded to the Packers. He has seen almost everything NFL offenses can throw at a defense and prides himself on being able to recognize what’s coming.
Now the two are together in new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defense, and they’re learning ways they can complement each other within the scheme.
“Once he came in, especially once we started doing things in OTAs (organized team activities), I could tell he was super engaged and super smart because he was calling things out,” McKinney said of Franklin. “And I’m like, that’s super helpful.
“Because whenever you have a signal caller that’s able to be plugged into the system and can call out plays and do this and that, that takes things off other guys’ plates. Usually, I have to do a lot of the communication things. Now, I have a guy, we’re able to mesh with each other and communicate with each other. It makes it a lot easier.”
Since signing with the Packers two years ago, McKinney had not played with an experienced play-caller in the middle of the defense. Quay Walker fit the weakside linebacker role better than the “Mike” (middle) but played there because Edgerrin Cooper was a perfect fit for the weakside.
The Packers had communication issues last year, especially late in games under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. How much of that was due to Walker’s inexperience and how much to Hafley being late with calls is hard to discern.
“At times, where we would get into some longer drives, near the end of drives, and just the call isn’t coming in as quickly,” safety Evan Williams said of occasions when the defense wasn’t on the same page. “I wouldn’t say that’s on ‘Mike’ as much as whoever’s in the box, sending down the calls.
“I can’t say it was like a very common occurrence or anything, but the more we can limit those times where we’re just frustrated trying to be on the same page and kind of just get the call out quicker [the better].”
Franklin considers himself a communicator, and it’s pretty evident on the field that he had plenty to say. During camp, Franklin hasn’t shied away from making sure everyone has the initial call from Gannon, a check he thinks needs to be called or a wrinkle he has identified.
When receiver Christian Watson went in motion and stopped behind the tight end on a play in practice Aug. 6, Franklin could be heard yelling to teammates to keep an eye on Watson.
“It’s a little tricky because sometimes the offense will show you something early to try to confuse you late,” Franklin said. “A lot of times they’ll hide somebody, put them real close to the formation and then motion somebody so you forget they’re there.
“But a great defense is a talkative defense. Hearing ‘X’ and Evan and ‘Bull’ [Javon Bullard] talking in the back end and me communicating stuff to the front end, me and ‘Coop’. It’s like the Navy SEALs. They are constantly communicating, whether it’s hand signals or verbal. I think we’re doing a good job working on that.”
As much as McKinney appreciates Franklin, the veteran linebacker said getting a chance to play with someone with McKinney’s intelligence has been eye-opening. The two of them not only communicate on the field as the play is happening but afterward on the sideline to see what the other was thinking.
“I think he’s probably one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” Franklin said. “I mean, just from ball-hawking, playmaking, communication, just understanding plays, he’s something special. Being able to play with him, just our communication and our relationship on the field … I told him I got his back. He said he’s got mine.
“For us, just running the show out there, it’s pretty cool. I can take a lot off his plate. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
The players still are learning Gannon’s system and a big question heading into the season will be how deep he can go in implementing some of the finer points. No first-year coordinator can install everything in his playbook and Gannon has the unusual task of having to add a multi-dimensional piece like Micah Parsons five or six games into the season.
How much Gannon can run early in the season and then add when Parsons is cleared to play will depend on how far along the defense gets during training camp.
“I feel like in every scheme, even when you play for a couple of years, there’s always something else you can learn,” Franklin said. “There’s always another element you can learn, another nugget to find. I think comfortability kind of continues to grow and grow over time.
“Obviously by Week 1, but hopefully by the midseason point, where we’re all comfortable, we all understand our roles and JG’s got a good understanding of all of his, we’re hitting our stride so we’re playing our best ball late in the season.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin making life easier for safety Xavier McKinney
Reporting by Tom Silverstein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Packers News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom Silverstein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
