The Green Bay Packers first training camp practice begins on Wednesday. So after going through what to watch for at each position group on offense, it’s now time to take a closer look at the defense.
With an inexperienced quarterback and a group of young pass catchers, points are likely to be at a premium for the Green Bay Packers as will be the need to generate takeaways, which means a heavier reliance on the defensive unit than in past years when Aaron Rodgers was at the helm.
“I think you’ll see, our defense probably will have to carry us a little bit in the early season,” said Packers President Mark Murphy via Tom Silverstein.
The defense underperformed in 2022, and as always, there are a myriad of reasons why, from poor run defense to an inconsistent pass rush, to coverage breakdowns, and late adjustments by Joe Barry. Improvement in each of those areas led to better play in the final weeks of the regular season, but can this unit do that consistently over the course of an entire season? Until shown otherwise, it’s understandable if you’re skeptical.
If you’re looking for reasons for optimism, Rashan Gary will be returning, and the overall edge depth seems improved. Green Bay still has a pair of playmakers at cornerback, along with Kenny Clark up front, and a potentially dynamic linebacker duo.