Head coach Matt LaFleur gave an eye-opening quote about his defense ahead of the Green Bay Packers’ joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. LaFleur and the Packers are preparing for their first preseason game against the Bengals on Friday night.
It’s a big test for the young Packers’ offense. The Packers’ young pass catchers will need all the reps they can get before the regular season starts. However, LaFleur seemed to be worried about the state of the defense on Wednesday–and one key injury on the Bengals won’t help the Packers’ cause.
Matt LaFleur wants another QB to test the Green Bay Packers Defense
According to Matt Schneidman with The Athletic, LaFleur said he wished Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could practice against the Packers. LaFleur thinks that would help the Packers’ coaching staff gauge where the secondary is.
Matt LaFleur on Packers CBs facing the Bengals WRs: “I wish Joe Burrow was gonna be out there throwing them the ball to get a really good indication of where we are.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 9, 2023
Burrow sustained a calf strain during a non-contact drill. He is expected to miss several weeks.
The Packers don’t know how to gauge Jordan Love yet
It’s an interesting quote from LaFleur, given the Packers’ first-team defense has been going up against Burrow’s draft-class colleague, Love, for the past few weeks. The defense has been crushing Love and the first-team offense during competitive periods in training camp.
LaFleur is clearly stating he doesn’t know where Love and the team are right now. That makes sense. General manager Brian Gutekunst said the same thing last week.
In Love’s defense, it’s hard for any coaching staff to adequately gauge where a team is before they play an opponent. Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, would offer the Packers’ defense a much better test than Love. LaFleur knows Love isn’t at Burrow’s level.
Love will have a chance to show he belongs in the same class as Burrow, but he won’t get that opportunity during training camp.
Dive into the latest on the Green Bay Packers as Coach Matt LaFleur shares insights on the defense. Curious about more updates? Explore our Green Bay Packers Rumors for all the buzz!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Green Bay's coach last year?
The Green Bay Packers' coach last year was Matt LaFleur, who led the team from 2019 to 2022. He played a crucial role in shaping the team's success during that time.
What injury happened to Joe Burrow?
Joe Burrow suffered a calf strain during training camp, causing concern for the Cincinnati Bengals. The star quarterback was carted off the field after experiencing a non-contact injury, grasping his lower leg before being taken out of the practice session.
