To get back to the playoffs Colts Tyquan Lewis Jersey , the Green Bay Packers' defense needs to improve against the pass.

Adding three tall receivers to the offense for quarterback Aaron Rodgers can't hurt either.

The two-time NFL MVP got help in the passing game on the third day of the NFL draft after the Packers prioritized pass defense in the early rounds.

They took Louisville's Jaire Alexander in the first round and Iowa's Josh Jackson, who led the nation with eight interceptions last year, in the second.

"Their ball skills are exceptional," coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday. "I think they're a great fit to how we want to play defense."

Pass defense was a problem again for a team that finished 7-9 last season. The Packers didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The setback set up an offseason of change. Longtime executive Brian Gutekunst was promoted to general manager to succeed the retired Ted Thompson in January. McCarthy overhauled the coaching staff, including the hiring of Mike Pettine to replace Dom Capers as defensive coordinator.

Cornerback was the top priority. Besides drafting Alexander and Jackson, the Packers brought Tramon Williams back as a free agent to add another presence in the secondary.

"With the competition in the cornerback room, and the defensive back room, it's vastly improved," McCarthy said.

The focus shifted to offense for the late rounds on Saturday. The passing attack slipped to 25th in the league last season after Rodgers was limited to seven games because of a broken collarbone.

Gutekunst drafted three wideouts, starting with Missouri's J'Mon Moore in the fourth round. The 6-foot-3 senior had team highs of 65 catches and 1,082 yards last season.

Opportunities abound in the receiving group behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb after veteran Jordy Nelson was cut in the offseason.

Other highlights from the Packers' draft class:

CATCHING ON: Besides Moore, the Packers also took two 6-5 receivers in South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round and Notre Dame's Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth round. Valdes-Scantling offers an intriguing blend of size and speed after he ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine at 4.37 seconds. Brown played with Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer for two seasons at Notre Dame.

CREATING COMPETION: By taking three receivers, the Packers stockpiled prospects to fill depth at a skill position for a second straight year. The strategy worked at running back in 2017, when fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams and fifth-rounder Aaron Jones emerged as solid contributors.

"You hope the guys embrace it and are pros about it and try to get better http://www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com/authentic-markus-wheaton-jersey ," scout Matt Malaspina said. "The whole group gets better as each guy gets better."

THAT'S SPECIAL: There might be competition at punter, too, after the Packers drafted JK Scott from Alabama. Scott had just five punts returned as a senior, crediting the success to a renewed focus on hang time. Last year's punter, Justin Vogel, was seventh in the NFL in net punting average at 41.6 yards.

Green Bay also took a long snapper with the second of their three seventh-round picks in Mississippi State's Hunter Bradley.

LATE PICKS: The selection of offensive lineman Cole Madison from Washington State in the fifth round addressed another position of need. The 6-5 Madison played tackle in college. But the Packers like his versatility and plan to use him at guard. Green Bay has questions on the right side of the line.

Green Bay returned to defense with its two other seventh-round picks, selecting end James Looney from California and edge rusher Kendall Donnerson from Southeast Missouri State.

STILL NEED: Unless Looney or Donnerson prove to be late steals, the Packers will still need help in the pass rush. Clay Matthews turns 32 this year, while Nick Perry was limited to 12 games last season because of injuries. They could use more production out of third-year backup Kyler Fackrell. Vince Biegel should start the season healthy after missing the first seven games of his rookie season with a foot injury.

"The biggest gains that we've always made have been our returning players," McCarthy said.

BOSTON — The Milwaukee Bucks continue to battle history and the Celtics as they visit TD Garden for Game 5 of their opening-round playoff series with Boston on Tuesday night.

Despite winning both games in Milwaukee, the Bucks, looking for their first series victory since 2000, have never won a series after trailing 0-2, going 0-17 in such situations.

The Celtics Youth Jordan Akins Jersey , on the other hand, have never lost a series they led 2-0, winning all 35 times going into their current situations.

In league history, teams are 19-274 when trailing series 0-2, including the Portland Trail Blazers going out in four straight against the New Orleans Pelicans in the current first round.

But the Bucks, after a lineup change caused by the back injury to John Henson, guaranteed there will be another game at Bradley Center before the move to their new building next season.

They win Game 4 when Giannis Antetokounmpo tipped home the winning basket with 5.1 seconds left — after the Bucks squandered a 20-point lead with what amounted to their season on the line.

“At the end of the day in the playoffs, we know we have the best player on the floor,” Malcolm Brogdon, whose running hook shot was followed by Antetokounmpo, said after the win. “So we rely on him and he comes through.”

Antetokounmpo said, “It means a lot,” gutting out a critical victory that evened the series at two wins apiece. “I just want to say good job to everybody because everybody played hard. Whoever stepped on the floor played hard, played together. The most important thing is we trust one another.”

But now http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-martavis-bryant-jersey , what comes down to a best-of-three series shifts to Boston, where the Celtics have gone 29-14, including playoffs, at home, this season. The Bucks are 19-24 on the road, but they opened the season with a win at TD Garden.

Antetokounmpo left a Milwaukee restaurant after a delay in seating after Game 4 but can now turn his attention to the Celtics, who are without Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis. Marcus Smart, who has been out, has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game.

Jaylen Brown scored a career-high 34 points, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, in Boston’s Game 4 loss.

“He’s the only reason we were in the game in the first,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said. “And then in the second, he just continued and did a great job. Played with tremendous spirit Daniel Kilgore Jersey Dolphins , played with tremendous toughness and made shots. Kept us in it.”

“Jaylen was great,” teammate Al Horford said. “His energy on defense really translated to the offensive end. Hit some very tough shots and had a lot of timely plays. That’s encouraging to see.”

The Celtics called an isolation play for Marcus Morris after the final timeout but the shot didn’t go.

“It’s a shot that Mook makes 10 out of 10 times,” Brown said. “It just didn’t go in tonight. So, Game 5.”

Horford said, “We’re battling. We’re playing hard, but it’s not good enough just to play hard. This is why the playoffs are so challenging. But I think it’s good for our group. I think we’re learning. We’re looking forward to being able to go back home.”

Horford had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Boston’s 113-107 overtime win in Game 1, and Brown scored 30 in a 120-106 victory in Game 2.

Antetokounmpo had 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in Game 1 and 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Game 2. He is averaging 27.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists through four games.

Brown leads the Celtics in scoring at 23.8 points per game.
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