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Green Bay Packers: 3 Defensive coordinator candidates to replace Mike Pettine

By Joe Kipp

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips of the Los Angeles Rams walks on the field during pregame warm up for the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips of the Los Angeles Rams walks on the field during pregame warm up for the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Green Bay Packers may look to replace current defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Here are three potential candidates to look out for.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was non-committal on Wednesday about a potential return in 2020 for defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. After a dismal defensive display in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, in which Green Bay allowed nearly 300 rushing yards, it sounds like the Packers may look to replace Pettine sooner rather than later.

“We knew exactly what they were gonna try to do. For them to be able to do that was extremely disappointing,” LaFleur stated at his presser Wednesday.

LaFleur has a point, especially since 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo only threw eight passes the entire game. The Packers allowed former undrafted free agent running back Raheem Mostert to rack up 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries.

It’s not like San Fran’s performance on the ground was a shock, though. Green Bay’s run defense had been poor all season long, and the Niners clearly saw a game plan that would work if executed correctly. The Packers ranked 26th in yards per carry allowed (4.7) and 24th in rushing yards allowed per game (120.1) during the regular season.

“We’re still working through everything, just trying to evaluate everything,” LaFleur retorted after being asked about Pettine’s future with the team. Pettine, who’s been Green Bay’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, was retained in 2019 despite the firing of former head coach Mike McCarthy.

It’s entirely possible that LaFleur just wants to bring in his own guy on his own staff, but Pettine’s results over the past two seasons surely don’t help his chances of being retained. Either way, it’s pretty telling what LaFleur and the front office thinks of Pettine after Wednesday’s presser.

With all that said, considering LaFleur’s recent statements regarding Pettine’s future, here are three potential candidates to replace Pettine as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator in 2020.

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