Packers HC Matt LaFleur Calls Out Defense After Loss to Steelers

Packers HC Matt LaFleur Calls Out Defense After Loss to Steelers New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will have a few things to clean up over the next week after the team's 28-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of 64,164 fans at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers took a 7-6 lead into halftime, but the Packers struggled in the fourth quarter, giving up two touchdown passes to Drew Allar. Green Bay lost the total yards battle 385-160 to the Steelers. Pittsburgh averaged six yards per play. Rookie quarterback Drew Allar went 10 of 13 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns. One highlight throw to rookie receiver Kaden Wetjen in the third quarter went for 74 yards, setting up a three-yard Allar touchdown run two plays later. During his postgame news conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he was pleased with his team overall despite the lopsided preseason loss, but noted the defense needed to create turnovers and stop explosive plays. "Obviously, a lot of things that we need to clean up moving forward," LaFleur said. "But I was pleased with the effort. We just got to execute a little bit better and find ways to take the ball away and not give up as many explosive plays as we did." LaFleur noted that there wasn't much game planning for the first preseason game. The Packers ran a base defense on Thursday night. Still, LaFleur was upset with Wetjen's reception. "So (we) got to take a look at it and see where the breakdowns were," LaFleur said. “ “See what concepts are running against us, and you know, there was the one that was most disappointing is the 75-yarder.  "When we're man coverage, and the guy covering, I think, was Wetjen, falls down on the ground--and then he just outran us." The Packers secondary was an issue of concern this offseason. The depth of the secondary continues to be a concern based on the results Thursday night. Green Bay will play their next preseason game on the road against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 21. It's obvious that the Packers will focus on trying to improve their secondary before playing the Broncos.