Packers’ versatility in secondary already on display

Cheesehead

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Mar 19, 2019
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Despite the Packers playing with a lighter box, Chicago mustered only 3.1 yards on 15 carries and didn’t have a rushing attempt of more than eight yards. All told, it was the fewest rushing yards Green Bay had allowed since conceding 43 yards to the New York Giants on Oct. 9, 2016.


“I feel like we played 11-man defense and that’s something we have to do every time no matter who it is we’re facing,” said Greene, who had six tackles and a breakup. “It’s a good feeling to be out there getting reps no matter what the capacity. I feel like everybody did a good job for the most part.”


Behind Alexander and Williams, the Packers platooned King (42 snaps) and second-year cornerback Tony Brown (27 snaps) in their nickel and occasionally turned to both in dime.


King was on a pitch count in his first in-game action of the season after a hamstring injury sidelined him during the preseason but still played 42 snaps, including all 17 plays during the Bears’ final two series.


On top of registering his first career sack, King had five tackles and nearly a second-quarter interception of Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The former second-round pick also came out of the game no worse for wear.


“Kevin is a really, really good player and a very good athlete,” Williams said. “Just to have him available, you don’t have many 6-3 cornerbacks in this league with the type of athletic ability and movement that he has. Kevin would be an asset to any team in this league.”


After funneling through 14 defensive backs in 2018, the Packers have ample reason to be well-preserved in their secondary.


Beyond the rotation in Chicago, Green Bay also has 2018 second-round pick Josh Jackson, rookie sixth-round pick Ka’dar Hollman and two veterans (Will Redmond and Chandon Sullivan) with NFL starts on their resume at the defense’s disposal. That’s not to mention Ibraheim Campbell (knee), who started the season on the physically unable to perform list.


The Packers’ defense is in for another stiff test this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite featuring one of the league’s top receiving duos in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, Minnesota threw the ball only 10 times in its 28-12 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.


Instead, the Vikings’ catalyst to victory was a run game that produced 172 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries.
 
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