Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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As special as it'll be playing against his childhood team, it also will be the first time Keke will be in the same place at the same time as his family in a while due to the travel restrictions the league mandated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With his focus firmly on football, Keke has made a considerable jump in Year 2. In only five games, the former fifth-round pick already has surpassed his rookie totals from a year ago with 12 tackles and two sacks on 163 defensive snaps.
After playing sparingly on defense a year ago, Keke has demonstrated three-down versatility, whether it's starting in the base defense alongside veterans Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry or rotating in as the lone defensive tackle in the third-down rush defense.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine praises Keke for putting the offseason advice of position coach Jerry Montgomery to use and staying in the hip pocket of Clark, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle who signed an extension with Green Bay in August.
"Overall, I just think he's stepped it up in all areas," Pettine said. "I think it's just a natural step for a guy from being a rookie to being second-year. And he's made a big leap and it's a credit to him because obviously in 2020 it was not an ideal time, without the structure of our offseason and being here."