Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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“It’s not as if our standards and expectations are going to change, but we have to be mindful of what we’re asking our guys to do,” LaFleur said. “With a receiver like Davante, I don’t think there’s a route he cannot run.”
On the defensive side, shoring up leaky run defense is a top priority with Dallas and Ezekiel Elliott next up. The Packers survived breakdowns against the run in the Minnesota and Denver games largely due to the defense generating turnovers.
But against Philadelphia, the inability to contain the run proved costly when the Eagles did not turn the ball over and gave themselves several third-and-short conversions in putting together drives.
“We saw some guys getting out of their gaps and that is the first thing that’ll get you beat in terms of trying to stop the run,” LaFleur said. “If you’re not playing your gap or the right assignment, it makes it a lot easier on the offense. So we have to do a better job being disciplined, staying in our gaps. We always talk about it on both sides of the ball, it takes all 11. It really does.”
The defense could be on the verge of getting inside linebacker Oren Burks back, as the second-year pro returned to practice on Monday, albeit in an unpadded workout. A starter when training camp began, Burks went down with a chest injury in the early moments of the preseason opener on Aug. 8 and has been out nearly two months.
A 2018 third-round draft pick who dealt with a preseason injury as a rookie as well, Burks played sparingly on defense last year. His return could definitely help the defense up front, but expecting him to step in and save the run defense after an extended rehab isn’t realistic.
“There will definitely be a lot of catching up to do,” LaFleur said regarding Burks. “He’s been locked in and engaged, been in all the meetings. It’s about going out there now and getting those practice reps.”