1) Introduction: Despite being named B1G Defensive Back of the Year following his senior year at Iowa, Hyde fell all the way to the fifth round in the draft. As a rookie, Hyde was expected to contribute primarily on special teams; few foresaw the rookie playing 448 snaps on defense, but that’s what happened. Now, as the team weighs its options with Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, guys like Hyde, Casey Hayward and Davon House may be forced into a larger role moving forward. Hyde certainly exceeded expectations for his rookie year.
2) Profile: Micah Hyde
- Age: 23
- Born: 12/31/1990 in Toledo, OH
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 197
- College: Iowa
- Rookie Year: 2013
- NFL Experience: 1 year
3) Expectations coming into the season: With the ability to return punts and kicks, Hyde was mentioned as a possible replacement for Randall Cobb, whose days as a primary return man were thought to be numbered. A versatile defender capable of playing the perimeter or the slot, some thought Hyde could find the field in some capacity during his first season. Still, expectations were limited for the fifth-round rookie. But when Hayward’s hamstring issue lingered, Hyde became the Packers’ best option covering the slot.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Everyone remembers at least one of each for Hyde. Of course, he had the punt-return touchdown in Minnesota. We remember that as highlight, although it was nearly a low-light, as Hyde stumbled as he approached the end zone. Hyde later told me he was “trying to be too cool” on the play. Nonetheless, the play was a turning point for the Packers in that game. On the flip side, Packers fans will remember Hyde’s dropped interception in the playoffs for a long, long time. Hyde’s best game as a rookie came Oct. 13 in Baltimore, in which he registered seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Hyde had big shoes to fill (in part) with Casey Hayward’s ongoing hamstring battle, which first flared up in training camp. Straight up as a football player, Hyde wasn’t Hayward. But for a rookie picked in the fifth round, Hyde performed admirably and, on defense, filled in for Hayward and Sam Shields–who missed two games–and on special teams, Hyde helped mask the midseason loss of Randall Cobb as the primary return man. All in all, Hyde was one of the team’s key contributors from Week 1 to season’s end.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Hyde only played 20 snaps against the 49ers after playing 48, 50 and 48 snaps in the three games prior. His dropped pick of Colin Kaepernick extended the game, which would end the Packers’ season while simultaneously extending San Francisco’s, and he allowed four completions on five targets for 72 yards. Overall, it wasn’t Hyde’s best day, but it wasn’t necessarily a train wreck. Just imagine what I’d be writing about Hyde’s playoff contributions if he had held onto that ball. Sports.
Season Report Card:
(A) Level of expectations met during the season
(B-) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(C-) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: B-
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Marques is a Journalism student, serving as the Sports Editor of UW-Green Bay\'s campus newspaper The Fourth Estate and a Packers writer at Jersey Al\'s AllGBP.com. Follow Marques on Twitter @MJEversoll.
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I like this guy – he’s a player. I see safety, and a darn good one, written all over this guy. We need House to step up his game at corner in order for this to happen.
Good review
I like this kid too. A lot was made of his 40 time. I saw a low time of 4.43 and 4.52, and 4.57 depending where you look. He can play football, period. He’s also a good tackler, something the Packers can always use more of.
He certainly didn’t play like he had 4.4 something speed. Looked to me that he was definitely mid 4.5’s. Yes, he’s a good football player and he’s a keeper, but best at safety. His speed is definitely suspect at CB, but fine at Safety and dime CB since Hayward will be the nickel CB.
Move him to safety and slide him to dime CB when they need another slot CB. AZ Cards did that w/ Matthiu, except at nickel instead of dime CB. A lot of teams do that w/ Safeties and the Packers were gonna w/ Woodson his last season in GB.
We agree on the safety and obviously the speed is something all the GM’s consider. What I find so amusing about this (not your comment, 40 times) is if you take a stopwatch, click the thing as fast as you can on and off, that’s the difference between a 4.40 and a 4.50 or 4.51. Just makes me wonder why a time for a guy running in spandex shorts is so important.
Many people believe that it’s simple, move him to safety to keep our talent on the field. I’m not sure he has the skills to play safety, but we will find out next year with Hayward back!
p.s. I have a feeling that we will never see Hyde line up at safety. I’m confident we’ll grab a safety early in the draft “where value meets need” and throw him into the fire.
p.p.s. I wonder how fine the team’s predraft rankings really are.
After the Packers drafted Hyde I watched his collage highlight video and thought another Jarrett Bush. By the first preseason game Hyde was already better and consistently improved the whole year. Sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.
If he makes it at safety, and I think that’s a realistic possibility, that will give us a total of ONE good safety. Unfortunately, if Burnett hasn’t figured it out by now, and has actually regressed, we have work to do. Need a veteran tude back there like Pollard. Puleeeze Teddy
Yeah it sure would be nice. I can’t think of another GM in the NFL that would go 50 games without replacing a All-Pro like Collins, especially when you look at the defensive team stats since 2011. I know his approach is draft and develop but his team has suffered because of it. Considering Burnett was hurt for over half of the season the last time the Packers fielded a top 10 defense, I wonder what it was that compelled him to make a offer like that to Burnett? Panic?
Burnett should be a SS and Hyde FS..unless we draft one high in this years draft