Packers HC has strong takes on Bengals ahead of joint practice
Unless you're Sean Payton, the NFL world is all about respecting and lifting each other up. Even if it's not the most realistic or accurate sales pitch. That's exactly what Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did ahead of joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. The Bengals are clearly one of the […]
Unless you're Sean Payton, the NFL world is all about respecting and lifting each other up. Even if it's not the most realistic or accurate sales pitch.
That's exactly what Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did ahead of joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. The Bengals are clearly one of the NFL's top teams and they're not going away anytime soon with Joe Burrow calling the shots.
LaFleur knows how big of an opportunity this week represents – even if Burrow isn't participating.
"I think it's a great opportunity, like I said earlier, to go against one of the premier teams in the National Football League," LaFleur told reporters. "I think when you look at their roster, it's a pretty deep roster with a lot of great players. And I mean, they've performed at a really high level last couple of years. So, I've got a lot of respect for Zac and his coaching staff and what they've been able to accomplish. It's going to be a great test for our guys to see kind of where we're at against one of the better teams in this league."
The Bengals strengths on defense -which is pretty much all three levels of the unit- is going to represent a fierce challenge for a very talented, but very young Packers offense. Cincinnati is in good position to make some noise on Wednesday, but obviously, Green Bay is more than willing to respectfully accept the challenge.
Especially in the trenches, where a stout Bengals defensive line is going up against a Packers offensive line that holds a lot of potential. But, we all know potential is only a word that dissipates once kickoff happens.
"I mean, this is this is a really, really good front," said LaFleur. "Probably one of the better fronts in the league, I think they have a very distinct play style. They are going to go hard and they're going to go hard throughout the duration of the play – then the next play, then the next play, [and] then the next play. You can see their play style on tape, and just going against some of those guys over the years, whether it's [Trey] Hendrickson in New Orleans or [D.J.] Reader in Houston, that's just how these guys play. And I think it's gonna be really good for us."
But make no mistake: the Packers do have a strong matchup of their own and it comes in the form of their secondary. That's why the battle of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Keisean Nixon against Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd will be must-watch TV.
"It's great. I mean, this is one of the premier, if not the best receiving corps in the National Football League, right now," LaFleur said of the matchups. "They've got three dudes that can start on any roster. And, I wish Joe Burrow was going to be out there throwing them the ball to get a really good indication of where we are. But, you know, I think the strength of our team is we've got a lot of good weapons and resources in our back end. So it's gonna be a great challenge for our guys and I'm excited to see how they respond."
In other words: Wednesday should be a lot of fun and there should be plenty to chew on, afterward.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor says Joe Burrow’s recovery time remains the same
Burrow strained his right calf nearly two weeks ago.
Featured image via Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
