Packer defense tightening up as the year goes on

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GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers have become one of the NFL’s 10 stingiest defenses in giving up points.

The Packers moved into ninth place this week in scoring defense, surrendering just under 21 points a game. Green Bay remains an average 14th in the yards it gives up per contest. But they’re tied for fifth in total sacks with 39, sixth in the opponents’ passer rating at 76-and-a-half, and seventh in interceptions with 16. The Green Bay offense is also in the NFL’s Top-Five in four categories – passer rating at 105-point-two, fewest interceptions with eight, third-down conversions at 43-percent, and red-zone scoring efficiency at 61-percent.

The Packers are 10-4, and will host Tennessee on Sunday. The Packers will start practicing today for that contest.

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As the Green Bay Packers start practicing for their Sunday home contest against Tennessee, both the coaches and the players are praising the team’s rookie class. The Packers drafted six defensive players in April, with the hopes of shedding the title of the NFL’s worst-defense from 2011. Now, Green Bay’s in the Top-10 in the NFL in scoring defense, giving up almost 21 points a game. And the rookies are getting plenty of the credit. 23-year-old Casey Hayward is tied for third in the league with six interceptions this season. Defensive end Jerel Worthy has two-and-a-half sacks – and the coaches like his energy. Defensive end Mike Daniels earned his stripes by recovering Matthew Stafford’s fumble and running it back for a touchdown 10 nights ago against Detroit at Lambeau Field. Among the linebackers, Dezman Moses has made a splash with a trio of sacks from the middle. Terrell Manning has not had much of a chance to produce, after getting a parasite at training camp which caused him to lose a lot of weight. He says he’s still putting his weight back on – and he believes it’s a matter of time before he’ll get his chance to shine. And safety Jerron McMillian has looked good in a backup role. 12th-year defensive end Ryan Pickett says he likes the fact that the rookies are accountable, and they work to fix their mistakes. He says they’ve earned their teammates’ respect. But quote, “We still make ‘em buy stuff.”

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