McCarthy wants better protection

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The Green Bay Packers return to the practice field today (Wednesday), as they start getting ready to host the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Packers’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy will try to improve an offensive line that has given up 21 sacks – two more than all of last season.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times and knocked down eight other times in last Sunday’s loss at Minnesota.

Napoleon Harris sacked Rodgers just 2.2 seconds after the ball was snapped. The Packers say they want the line to protect Rodgers for up to five seconds on a five-step drop.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin says right tackle Mark Tauscher continues to be a steady performer, but veteran left tackle Chad Clifton has lost some of his consistency. He struggled in the Viking game as gave up sacks, had a false-start penalty and had trouble in basic protection schemes.

Clifton has been on a limited practice schedule all season, due to sore knees and a bad hamstring.

Tags: wisconsin sports, packers, chicago