Everyone agrees that one of the Green Bay Packers’ weaknesses last season – and for much of the past seven years – was their defense. Their run defense and pass defense leave a lot to be desired. And if the team plans on making the most out of the remaining years of Aaron Rodgers’s prime and replicate their dream Super Bowl run in 2010, they need to bolster their defense at every position.
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And after the Packers’ offseason program had ended last June 15, there is optimism that Green Bay can finally show an improvement on that side of the ball.
Rookie draft
General Manager Ted Thompson placed so much emphasis on selecting defensive players in the 2017 rookie draft that he devoted the team’s first four draft picks on defense. The most notable players chosen were Kevin King and Josh Jones, with the hope that at least these two rookies can do wonders for the team.
Free agent signing
If team management decided to go defense first in the rookie draft, they went the other way in free agency. They added more offensive firepower to complement Rodgers. But the Packers did sign veteran cornerback Davon House for his second stint with the team.
Player development
The biggest hope the team has in improving the defense is in internal development. While the team’s defense cratered last season, two veterans stood out, namely, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Nick Perry. They are expected to contribute even more next season, along with 2015 first round draft pick Damarious Randall. Randall was a standout during his collegiate days, and it is time for him to become the defensive star the Packers has been searching for since 2010.
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Hi, my name is Judson Bergman, a retired pilot currently living in Racine, Wisconsin, and a long-time fan of the Green Bay Packers. If you want to read more discussions about the team, check this page out.