Paul Bretl | 8/7/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers’ rookie linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper has gotten the opportunity to play with the starters as of late, and he’s been able to showcase some of his ability to impact the game in a few different ways–although, there is still room for improvement.
Hopper’s recent emergence began on Family Night, where he made a play at the line of scrimmage near the goal line to keep the running back out of the end zone. Then in coverage during a different period, he made for a difficult throw as the trail defender down the seam, shrinking the window that Jordan Love had available to fit the ball into.
“It felt good make a play in front of the fans and hopefully I can do that more often,” said Hopper at his locker on Wednesday.
Over the last two days, Hopper has handled various roles and responsibilities within the defense. With Edgerrin Cooper still sidelined, Hopper has taken his reps with the starters, as the first linebacker in for Eric Wilson when the defense is lined up in its 4-3 base look. With the second unit, Hopper as been the middle linebacker, and one of the two nickel linebackers, along with Wilson.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ve seen Hopper make plays in the run game, with a few stops near the line of scrimmage. He’s also had a pair of pass breakups in coverage, and has been utilized as a blitzer, able to generate some pressure on the quarterback as well. Matt LaFleur would call Hopper’s performance during Tuesday’s practice his best up to this point.
“It’s been pretty good,” said Hopper about his opportunity to play with the ones. “Playing with guys like that in front of you that done did it for a long time it enables you to play faster. So it’s been pretty good.”
During Hopper’s final three seasons at Missouri, he recorded 200 total tackles and was asked to get after the quarterback, creating 49 pressures over the last two years. In coverage during his career, he held pass-catchers to under 10.0 yards per reception with six pass breakups and one interception.
After drafting Hopper in the third-round this past April, GM Brian Gutekunst described what Hopper added to this Packers’ defense, specifically that he’s “physical,” has “stopping power,” and his range, with the Packers timing him in the 4.5s during the pre-draft process. All of those abilities that Hopper possesses have been on display the last few days.
“It’s been great,” said Hopper about taking on different roles. “Adding different things to my game and just trying to get better on special teams and things like that. Everything’s been pretty good.”
Helping Hopper get acclimated to the NFL level is Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme. Not only is what Hopper is being asked to do now similar to what he was tasked with at Missouri, but the fast and physical play-style fits his game as well, where those aforementioned attributes of his can be shown-off.
“It’s definitely very similar with a lot of the coverages and run fits and things like that,” said Hopper. “Yeah, I love his system. It allows you to play fast and things like that.”
One area where Hopper will have to continue to improve is with his conditioning, specifically with the added workload he’s seen as of late, and the need for that is only going to increase with the team’s first preseason game on the horizon, and Hopper likely to see significant playing time.
“I thought he responded well,” said LaFleur about Hopper’s play on Tuesday. “I think just going back and challenging him a little bit, after the Family Night, I thought he started strong and then as he got more snaps, he started to fade a little bit and got tired. But the reality is for him and, like many guys, especially young guys, we’re getting ready to play a preseason game here in a couple of days, you’re going to get a ton of snaps, not only on defense, but on (special) teams as well.
“You’d better be able to, it’s a little bit of a gut check to make sure you can stay present and make sure you’re still playing with good fundamentals, technique, the right assignments. Yesterday (Tuesday) I thought was probably one of his best days. I thought he responded really well.”
So beyond hitting the treadmill, how does one go about improving their conditioning?
“Getting to the ball,” said Hopper. “Get to the ball. Just finishing at the ball, whether it’s a deep ball and you in man coverage and you on the whole opposite side, just always finishing to the ball. So I feel like that’s the best way to get conditioned.”
Of course, the caveat during this time of the year is that things can change, but through a few weeks of training camp, it does look like Hopper is the fifth linebacker on the depth chart prior to these last couple of practices.
Consistently we’ve seen Quay Walker as the middle linebacker with Isaiah McDuffie and Wilson to his right and left when in base. Cooper has then been rotated in for Wilson typically during the second or third series–a role that Hopper is now filling. The second unit’s nickel linebacker duo has been Wilson and Cooper.
Realistically, or at least early on, Hopper’s biggest impact will come on special teams, where he’ll have the opportunity to be a part of multiple phases. But regardless, an opportunity to see more snaps with the starters has presented itself, and Hopper has made the most of the opportunity, showing why Gutekunst drafted him in the third round.
The next step is to carry that momentum into the first preseason game against the Browns.
“Fast, physical, and just make some plays,” said Hopper on what he wants to show. “Just always be around the ball”