Green Bay Packers: 3 Concerns Entering Training Camp

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SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 19: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes for an 11-yard touchdown during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Packers 37-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

The Run Defense

As good and as fun as the 2019 season was for the Green Bay Packers, one of the lasting images that many fans are going to have from that season is the San Francisco 49ers running all over this defense. And while that was by far their worst performance, the Packers’ run defense was an issue for much of the year.

The 120.1 yards per game that the defense would give up was ranked 23rd in the NFL, and during this past offseason, no major additions were made to bolster the interior defensive line. So naturally, it’s fair to wonder how Green Bay is going to be any better at stopping the run this season.

Related Story. Packers Run-D Must Be Ready for Tough Slate of RBs in 2020. light

Well, the hope is internal development and a bounce-back season from Dean Lowry. One player in particular who many have earmarked to make that Year 2 leap is Kingsley Keke, who saw limited playing time in 2019, but as a known pass-rusher from Texas A&M, he surprised many coaches with how well he performed against the run.

Additionally, Mike Pettine mentioned Rashan Gary receiving more snaps inside, and the addition of Christian Kirksey and the return of Raven Greene will hopefully provide the middle of this defense with a boost as well. There is also Tyler Lancaster along with newcomers Gerald Willis and Treyvon Hester, who will be competing for snaps inside this season.

If the Packers have any hope of getting over that Super Bowl hump, their run defense has to improve, but as of now, I’m not sure that it has.

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