Too hyped too early? Packers' defense working on smoother starts

Cheesehead

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Mar 19, 2019
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Head Coach Matt LaFleur attributed the slow start against Detroit to mental errors and misalignments. Kirksey referred to those as "correctables," and the statistics show they weren't problems in the early moments of games last year.


The Packers allowed only one touchdown on an opening drive last season, in Week 12 at San Francisco, and that almost shouldn't have counted. An offensive turnover put the ball on the 2-yard line for an easy 49ers score.


Even including that bit of misfortune, overall the Packers allowed just 19 points on opening drives in 18 games, including playoffs (one TD, four FGs). So 14 points in two games stands out as an anomaly for defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's unit, which was integrating four new primary starters a year ago but just one, Kirksey, this season.


The challenge this week is they're facing their most potent opponent to date in the Saints, a team that hasn't found its groove on offense but one that can be hard to stop once it gets rolling.


Standing tall early on could go a long way Sunday night against Drew Brees & Co. If there's a game to live up to the "start fast" mantra on defense, this is it.


"We just can't allow big plays," outside linebacker Preston Smith said. "We've got to be more consistent with execution."
 
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