LaFleur on Packers' tackling: 'We need to see improvement'

[Cheesehead]

Five of the missed tackles were on one play – Kamara's 52-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the third quarter, which played out like a comedy of errors and helped the Saints running back approach 200 yards from scrimmage on the night.


Fellow running back Latavius Murray made a few guys miss, too, in a departure from what had been fairly solid tackling performances by the Packers' defense the first two weeks. Perhaps the combination of a letdown, which almost inevitably happens at different points in a long season, with Kamara as the primary opponent was the perfectly toxic mix.


"He's a great player but ultimately that doesn't matter," LaFleur said. "You've got to find a way to get that guy on the ground.


"We will continue to work on those fundamentals and we need to see improvement."


LaFleur stressed that the defense in general was not getting enough hats to the ball, leaving guys with one-on-ones in space that shifty players can exploit.


It didn't help that the Packers were dealing with some moving parts on defense, as inside linebacker Christian Kirksey (shoulder) and outside linebacker Rashan Gary (ankle) left the game with injuries.


Second-year pro Ty Summers filled in for Kirksey inside and was the defense's lead communicator, while newly converted Oren Burks and rookie seventh-round pick Jonathan Garvin took several of Gary's snaps outside.