1) Introduction: When Davon House was selected by the Packers as the 131st pick (fourth round) in the 2011 NFL Draft, he was one of the lone defensive players drafted by Ted Thompson that year. After the monster season by Woodson, Williams, and Shields, he was looked at as more of a future cornerback prospect. The hopes were that he could oust the underwhelming Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood.
2) Profile:
Davon Thomas House
- Age: 23
- Born: 07/10/1989, in Palmdale, CA
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 195
- College: New Mexico State
- Rookie Year: 2011
- NFL Experience: 2 years
3) Expectations coming into the season: Coming into training camp, Davon House was in the heat of a battle for starting cornerback opposite Tramon Williams. His primary competition consisted of the infamous Jarrett Bush, the fallen Sam Shields, and the raw Casey Hayward. Throughout camp, House kept proving his worth and his ability in the starting role, but a shoulder injury shot that chance dead. While he would eventually be able to play with a harness, the injury would keep him out for the first six weeks of the season.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: The biggest highlight of Davon House’s season was actually not as a cornerback on defense; rather, it was his punt block against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8 (with only 10 men on the field, no less). Dezman Moses scooped it up for a touchdown, and it became the first blocked punt by the Packers since 2003, as well as the first one returned for a touchdown since 1990. House’s low-light of the year was when he started against the New York Giants, playing the bigger outside receivers with Hayward in the slot. Despite giving up only five receptions on 11 targets, they were for a combined 70 yards and two touchdowns.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Davon House started easing back into the lineup in Week 7 against St. Louis. His defensive snap percentage steadily increased to 100% against the Detroit Lions and 97% against the Giants, but started falling across the next few weeks as Sam Shields started returning to action. (Shields’ own improvement also forced the issue.) House performed adequately, allowing only 23 receptions on 45 targets with five passes defensed; however, he did allow four touchdowns in that span and an average 12.8 yards per catch. He played physically, but was overshadowed by Hayward and Shields. He missed the final few games of the season with a re-aggravation of his shoulder.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Davon House was inactive for both playoff games.
Season Report Card:
(C) Level of expectations met during the season
(C+) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(N/A) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: (INCOMPLETE)
——————Chad Toporski, a Wisconsin native and current Pittsburgh resident, is a writer for AllGreenBayPackers.com. You can follow Chad on twitter at @ChadToporski
Follow @ChadToporski——————
t. williams showed how wrecking a shoulder can wreck a player.
too bad.
i had high hopes for house.
Tramon had nerve damage, House doesn’t. Big difference. House will be be fine after rehab. His physical style is needed.
2013 is a big year for house. I think he could push tramon if his shoulder is solid again. i just hope he does not shy away from the physical style that made him one of the most impressive players in camp.
“House’s low-light of the year was when he started against the New York Giants, playing the bigger outside receivers with Hayward in the slot. Despite giving up only five receptions on 11 targets, they were for a combined 70 yards and two touchdowns”
Given how the Packers played against the Giants, he should’ve gotten a game ball for that performance.
Time for House to prove he is not just another injury-prone DB hopeful. Get on the field, stay on the field and demonstrate hyis capabilites.
He played thru the injury as soon as he was cleared to play! Don’t know what you expect of him or anyone else… Hell you said Manning was to aggressive and got to many penalties, but he never played on D! I can only assume you want Manning to play like Hawk, not aggressive and lacking physicality.
Now your critical of House for playing thru a shoulder injury w/ a harness as soon as he was cleared?
Are saying the same about Matthews too? He has a hamstring injury every year! Guess you should ask him to not be as aggressive so he doesn’t get injured, then you can critisize Matthews for being injury prone.