Packers' secondary gets mixed results without top two corners

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GREEN BAY – The Packers' secondary had been playing without No. 2 cornerback Kevin King for a month, but Sunday the group had an additional challenge.


It was also without No. 1 corner Jaire Alexander, leaving the young trio of Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson and Ka'dar Hollman matched with starting safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage to hold down the fort against the Jaguars, and particularly speedy receiver DJ Chark.


The results were a bit mixed, according to Head Coach Matt LaFleur. While the Jaguars' passing game never found much traction, a credit to the coverage, LaFleur felt the run support from the corners was a bit lacking, especially in the first half.


"They were asked to play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and I thought they held their own," LaFleur said, which was born out in the statistics as Chark's 56 receiving yards led the Jaguars, and a 21-yard reception was the longest play. Wet and windy conditions combined with a rookie QB making his second start certainly helped the shorthanded secondary, but the work was still solid.


"That's certainly encouraging, and it gives you more confidence in their ability to go out there."


The run game was a different story, though. LaFleur explained that Jacksonville's receivers were getting out front to block the safeties, and the corners weren't filling the alleys in time to slow down running back James Robinson.


"Our corners weren't always in position to make the tackle," LaFleur said. "We were too far off and it led to some big runs. There's a lot of room for improvement in those situations."