When Head Coach Matt LaFleur was asked about this past Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, he echoed what a lot of Packers fans have expressed. There was some good, but overall it just wasn’t good enough. 

“I know we’re capable. We’ve shown it. We’ve shown some flashes of some really good stuff. And again, it just keeps coming back to the consistency,” said LaFleur. 

“10 guys can do their job right, and if one guy doesn’t, the play can turn to not being a good play.” 

The Packers missed 19 tackles on defense, and while that’s an improvement from the Texans game (24 missed tackles), that’s still a staggering number. Sure, arguments can be made that the starting defense wasn’t on the field for most of the game, and that no other NFL team has Lamar Jackson on their roster, but 19 missed tackles won’t get the job done during the regular season, and LaFleur knows it. 

“By and large, I thought they were more physical as a team last night,” said LaFleur. “I thought there were a lot of missed tackles out there. It’s not good enough.”

Not good enough. The theme of the night. 

“I think we were 3-of-12 or something like that on third down. That’s not good enough.”

But, as even LaFleur himself noted, there’s still some good to go with the not-so-good. 

“I thought we did a nice job in the red zone,” LaFleur said of the first-string defense. “We stiffened up in the red zone and it makes a huge difference when you’re holding teams. Instead of giving up 14 points, it’s a six-point game.”

Starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga agreed. There was some good to go along with some not good enough. 

“For the first few series, I thought we moved the ball well, up and down the field,” said Bulaga.  

“I think we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit on a couple of drives moving ourselves back, a few execution problems that we’ll watch and clean up, but for the first overall time in a game situation against an opponent in that environment, I thought we did okay.”

Bulaga noted the offensive line’s play specifically, indicating that in quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ absence (back tightness), DeShone Kizer still had time to stand in a protected pocket and complete passes. 

“One thing we’re going to watch and feel, I think pretty good about, is that he had time to stand in there and make the throws he needed to make,” said Bulaga. 

Defensive standout and new Packer, Za’Darius Smith, returned to his former stadium and had plenty of observations in the process. 

“We’ve just got to harp on the little things,” said Smith, who’s already become a vocal leader in his short time in Green Bay. 

“I just talked to the defense and we’re actually going to go in after we get back and go watch the film. We’ve just gotta keep working. Watch the little things that we did wrong and correct our mistakes at practice.”

Undrafted rookie inside linebacker Curtis Bolton, who stood out on a struggling defense, shared similar thoughts on the team’s defensive performance. 

“First glance, I’m not too happy. I thought I played a little bit too aggressive when I didn’t need to and I thought I played too passive when I needed to be more aggressive,” Bolton said.  “Nothing to be excited over.”

While Bolton might not be too impressed with his own performance against the Ravens, there’s plenty for him to build off of as the preseason progresses, especially at an inside linebacker position that has no designated starter opposite Blake Martinez currently. Bolton had one interception off a tipped pass from second-year cornerback Tony Brown, and six combined tackles against Baltimore. 

Perhaps the two biggest standouts for the Packers at M&T Bank Stadium were wide receivers Allen Lazard and Darrius Shepherd, who both earned their fair share of praise from LaFleur. 

“They’ve done a great job,” he said at his press conference yesterday. “I think you see it by the number of reps they’re getting. Shep was starting at kick return and punt return. And Allen has just done everything we’ve asked him to do, not only on offense but on special teams as well.” 

Furthering that sentiment, he added, “I do think you have to reward guys for, not only really good play, but the effort that they show on a daily basis. It’s consistent with both those guys.”

When asked about his individual performance in Baltimore, Lazard took an even-keeled approach. Against the Ravens, Lazard had three receptions for 63 yards, with all three receptions moving the chains for Green Bay. For the offense as a whole, Lazard currently leads the team in yards per reception with a whopping 22.5 yard average. 

“It’s just kind of an everyday mindset,” he said. “I’ve always kind of stood by the motto of play the next play. Whether the last play was good or bad, just always stay positive and put forth your best effort.”

Shepherd felt similarly about his own performance, even after snagging the team’s lone touchdown against the Ravens. On the night, he had three receptions for 11 yards and one touchdown, with two first downs of his own. 

“I just wanted to do my job and be consistent throughout the night,” he said. “Go in each day and take advantage of my opportunities when they come. I just try and work my technique and hone my craft, and do what I do in the slot.” 

LaFleur has yet to determine the amount of playing time the quarterbacks will see in Winnipeg on Thursday night against the Raiders. The hope is that Rodgers will get the start, but there’s no word yet as to whether Kizer or Tim Boyle will get the second-team reps behind him.