Expect to See Greater Emphasis on Interior Pass Rush in 2018

Most people who cover the Packers, in addition to national draft experts, generally agreed that the Packers' biggest area of need this offseason, behind only cornerback, was an edge rusher, be they a linebacker or hybrid lineman/linebacker similar to the position Julius Peppers played with the Packers for several years.

However, the Packers did not take an edge rusher until the seventh round of the draft and did not go after any veteran free agent edge rushers in free agency. A recent report by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette goes into this issue, and it's worth reading.

Here's the key quote from defensive coordinator Mike Pettine: "People talk about the exterior pass rush, but…