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3 Ways the Green Bay Packers Defense can Improve in 2020

By Paul Bretl

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 1: Safety Darnell Savage #27 of the Green Bay Packers has an Interception and leads the defense in a "team photo"against the New York Giants in the second half in the snow at MetLife Stadium on December 1, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 1: Safety Darnell Savage #27 of the Green Bay Packers has an Interception and leads the defense in a "team photo"against the New York Giants in the second half in the snow at MetLife Stadium on December 1, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 08: Kingsley Keke #96 of the Green Bay Packers fights off a block by Malcolm Pridgeon #68 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 08, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Improved run defense

This is going to be the most obvious area that has to improve. While the NFC Championship Game is still burned into our memories, the Packers struggled against the run for much of the season.

Overall the Packers would give up 120.1 rushing yards per game which ranked 23rd in the NFL. And really those numbers are skewed to the lower side after they had some nice performances in the final weeks. For much of the season they were ranked in the 25 to 28 range.

Most of the damage was done between the tackles and with no major additions made to the defensive front this offseason, someone already on the roster is going to have to step up and provide Kenny Clark some help. But the million-dollar question is, who?

Dean Lowry is fine but would be better suited as the third option. Montravius Adams just hasn’t panned out as the team had hoped, while Tyler Lancaster is limited. 2019 rookie Kingsley Keke flashed in the run game towards the end of last season but played limited snaps. Of this group, I am easily the most excited to see Keke this season but it still remains to be seen how much help he can actually provide.

If this doesn’t improve, teams are going to continue to just run right at Green Bay, tiring the defense, controlling the clock, and keeping Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines.

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