Kenny Clark is a bona fide stud. He’s a game-breaker capable of single-handedly taking over the trenches.
The problem is that for the last few years, the Packers have counted on his to single-handedly take over the trenches.
Look at who had the most snaps along the defensive line besides Kenny Clark:
- Dean Lowry is a role player who can set a solid edge and do little else
- Kingsley Keke showed promise, but was cut mid-season
- Tyler Lancaster was the epitome of “just a guy”
- TJ Slaton was a developmental rookie who played limited sub packages and special teams
The year before, it was the same guys except draft day disappointment Montravius Adams was in place of TJ Slaton.
In 2019, it was the same story. The same guys. The same lack of impact from the defensive line.
The Packers haven’t invested free agent dollars or premium draft capital on the defensive line in a long time. They instead focused on the secondary (to defend the pass) and edge rushers (to rush the passer).
That’s a fine way to prioritize a defense, but the last time the Packers won a Super Bowl, it came with some dominant defensive line play. There was a BJ Raji pick six in the NFC Championship against the Bears and a Super Bowl pick six that came of a Howard Green hit on Ben Roethlisberger. There was also a critical forced fumble aided by Ryan Pickett in the Super Bowl and consistent pressure from Cullen Jenkins throughout the playoff run.
Those guys were consistently making plays and disrupting offenses throughout the entire playoff run.
A case could be made that Kenny Clark has been playing at a higher level than any of those guys over the last couple of years, but he’s been doing it alone.
Things have changed this year.
The Packers invested a 1st round pick in Devonte Wyatt, a premium draft prospect with disruptive interior skills and contagious energy. Wyatt was a key member of a dominant Georgia defense and many draft outlets projected him to go in the top half of the 1st round.
In free agency, they brought in Jarran Reed, a former 2nd round pick who has been a starter his whole career, has playoff experience (including 3 sacks in his last 4 playoff games), and is still in his prime. At 6’3, 307, he has the frame to hold his ground against the run, but has also proven to be a capable pass rusher (as evidenced by his career-high 10.5 sacks in 2018).
The Packers can also improve from within, where TJ Slaton looks ready for a bigger role.
In the draft, the Packers may have also bought themselves some additional flexibility when they selected inside linebacker Quay Walker in the 1st round. Walker’s size and skills give him the ability to rush off the edge as well as play on the inside. While he probably doesn’t fit the mold of an every-down edge rusher, if he took some snaps there, it would give the Packers the ability to play Rashan Gary on the line when situations called for it. This would add complexity to their sub packages and give opposing offenses more looks to account for.
Last year, the Packers lacked this flexibility when the injury to Za’Darius Smith robbed them of edge depth.
The Packers also still have Dean Lowry, who isn’t a superstar, but is a capable role player who fits what the Packers want to do on defense. Throw in rookie Jonathan Ford as a developmental player who can take some rotational snaps, and the Packers look like they have their best defensive line in years.
Probably their best defensive line since they won the Super Bowl.
If they reach their potential, the result may just end up the same.
Read More: The Packers Defensive Line Looks Better Than It Has In A Decade