Three reasons to be excited about the Packers in 2019
1. Improved pass rush
Statistics don’t always tell the full story. Last year’s season total of 44 sacks didn’t give a fair overview of the Packers’ pass rush. The defense needed to find upgrades this offseason, and they absolutely did. Enter Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, who joins a front seven featuring Kyler Fackrell, Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark. The Packers have the potential to have a dominant pass rush in 2019.
Getting interior pressure wasn’t the issue last year, but only 18 of the team’s sacks came from the edge rushers, and 10.5 of those belonged to Fackrell, who is still on the roster. The Packers made the right decision to move on from Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, who both underperformed last year. And with the additions made this offseason, there’s good reason to be excited about this defense.
If the Packers can consistently pressure quarterbacks, everything else will fall into place defensively. Green Bay already has a strong defensive line led by Daniels and Clark. They will be helped out by an improved pass rush.
GM Brian Gutekunst continued to build the secondary this offseason by signing Adrian Amos and drafting Darnell Savage Jr. and Ka’dar Hollman. But with a better pass rush, the entire secondary will benefit.
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The pass rush is the key to the Packers’ success on this side of the ball. And after a busy offseason, fans should be excited about the potential of the defense.