The Green Bay Packers have an old problem to solve: run defense. But first, the coaching staff has to find out what exactly the problem is — or what they are. Over the last weeks, though, head coach Matt LaFleur and defensive coordinator Joe Barry have sent conflicting messages about what's wrong with the defensive unit.

For LaFleur, there is a schematic issue. The head coach believes his defense has the talent and the personnel to stop the bleeding, and tactic adjustments could allow an improvement in an area where the Packers have had problems for multiple seasons.

"It's more the philosophy of some of the things we're trying to get done, different ways, especially when you know teams are going to run the ball," LaFleur said. "I know we'd like to keep a shell on our defense, but there may be times we have to break that. I think a lot of it can be solved schematically, I really do. We've got enough players."

While the perception is that the Packers schematically prioritizes the pass defense, and LaFleur stressed the shells, the Packers are second in cover 3, behind just the Indianapolis Colts.

Defensive coordinator Joe Barry doesn't see a single point in which the Packers can adjust to solve everything. He points out different mistakes each time the defense gives up a big run.

"It's not one thing that you can pinpoint," Barry pointed out. "It's one thing on this play, it's another thing on this play, and then there's 30 runs that you play really well. So it's a number of things, but we gotta correct it. We will correct it. We're exploring everything right now. When we're in one of those games, we have to put our foot down and stop it."

The lack of consistency, though, is something LaFleur and Barry agree on. The coordinator talked about the plays where the defense performs well, and LaFleur stressed the variance in execution.

"I thought there were displays of some really good defense," LaFleur added. "And then there was some that you want to take the tape and chuck it at the wall."

In fact, the Packers are better on a down to down basis than the total numbers would seem to indicate. They are 24th in success rate and 29th in rush EPA. That means they can stop the run sometimes, but when they do give up positive plays for the offense, the defense tends to be gashed. And, let's admit it, 24th in success rate is not exactly a parameter of great production either.

Gladly for the Green Bay Packers, the next two challenges are relatively easy from the run defense perspective. The Las Vegas Raiders, whom the Packers play on Monday Night Football, are 31st in rush EPA — the only worse team is the New England Patriots. Then, after the bye week, the Packers play the Denver Broncos, who are 21st in rush EPA.

Both teams are worse than what the Packers have faced so far: Chicago Bears (5th), Atlanta Falcons (17th), New Orleans Saints (19th), and Detroit Lions (7th). The next two weeks will serve as the ultimate test for the Packers. If they can't stop the run against these bad run offenses, it's hard to imagine a turnaround during this season.

The issue is not new, and the Packers have had a recent history of prioritizing the pass defense. It makes sense theoretically, but a good unit can't completely neglect one area of the game — and Green Bay, as the 13th in dropback EPA and 18th in dropback success rate, isn't dominant enough in the area they prioritize to justify such an approach.

How can the Packers improve their run defense during the season?

Green Bay has been bad stopping the run, and it’s hard to get better during the season