The Green Bay Packers defense is overwhelming a depleted offensive line in training camp, forcing Matt LaFleur to warn defenders to stay away from franchise quarterback Jordan Love.
Much of the chatter about the Green Bay Packers this offseason has revolved around the status of Micah Parsons, who suffered an ACL injury late last season and is not expected to return until October at the earliest.
The Packers gave up two first-round picks and Kenny Clark to bring in the star pass-rusher, and it's safe to say the team's five-game losing streak at the end of last season had to do with not having their best player available.
With Parsons out to start the season, Green Bay will need to see improvement from Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave, and Barry Sorrell. Those players appear to be off to a strong start in training camp, and head coach Matt LaFleur just sounded the alarm about Green Bay's biggest issue.
When speaking to reporters on Monday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made sure to spell out the rules to his defense before the team's first padded practice. He wants to make sure his defenders "veer off" before getting too close to quarterback Jordan Love.
“Had too many guys in the QB’s lap," LaFleur said. "That was stressed this morning. Just veer off. There will be a time and place for that — the first preseason game.”
The offensive line is going a poor job of keeping the pocket clean for Love, something that was an issue last season amid the quarterback's injuries. The offensive line had even more questions added this offseason when Rasheed Walker left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency and Elgton Jenkins signed with the Cleveland Browns.
Even without Parsons, the defensive line is overwhelming the Packers’ offensive line. That's a worry that should cause LaFleur and Green Bay some concern.
As LaFleur noted, opposing defenses won't be so kind to the quarterback when the preseason begins. And while Green Bay can sit Love during the preseason, he'll be under fire when the regular season starts in September.
Backup quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor, Kyle McCord, and Kyron Drones will be live targets in the preseason, and the offensive line must do a better job protecting them in August than they've done to start camp.
