Everyone’s Raving About the Packers’ Secondary, But What About Their Defensive Front?

Evan Siegle, packers.com

There’s no doubt, the talk of the Packers’ defense this season has been their secondary. Specifically, Xavier McKinney, an early Defensive Player of the Year candidate. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, McKinney has an interception in every game this season and now has six total takeaways after a fumble recovery against the Rams. He’s so good.

But here’s what the big issue is: the Packers’ defensive front. So far, it’s been… meh. They had one monster game against a weak Titans offense, racking up eight sacks, but they haven’t been able to replicate that since. Losing Devonte Wyatt during the Vikings game didn’t help. He still didn’t return against the Rams and is the team leader in sacks with just three. Preston Smith follows with 2.5 and we have a literal cornerback in Keisean Nixon in the third spot with two.

Surprisingly, you won’t find Rashan Gary atop that list. Gary, who’s been a rock for the Packers since he was drafted, hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 1 against the Eagles. He just logged his third game in four weeks without even recording a pressure. If you told me he didn’t play Sunday, I probably would’ve believed it.

             What’s going on here? Well, first, Gary just isn’t getting off the ball fast enough this season. And let’s be real, some blatant holding calls have been straight-up ignored by the refs. But no excuses, he needs to get off the ball quicker and perform better. The Packers aren’t paying him the big bucks for one sack in five games. 

             Another player who’s gone MIA this season is Kenny Clark. Clark, the Packers' longest-tenured player, signed a three-year extension this offseason but hasn’t registered a sack yet. His pressure rate is down to 9.1%, the second-worst of his career. It’s been a slow start for him since signing that extension. He did have a better game against the Rams with Devonte Wyatt out, and with Wyatt returning soon, it should help lighten Clark’s load. Hopefully, we’ll see more impact plays from him moving forward.

             The rest of the pass rush has been pretty average. Kingsley Enagbare made a key play on Sunday, forcing a fumble on Kyren Williams that Xavier McKinney recovered. Preston Smith saw fewer snaps than Lukas Van Ness, who also forced Matt Stafford to step up in the pocket, leading to a Karl Brooks sack. Brooks led the team in total pressures with four. Stats aren’t everything, but you expect more from this group a and especially from top guys like Gary and Clark. These are the guys paid to take over games, and we need to see that happen soon.

             

            We're through the first quarter of the NFL season, and the pass rush still has time to make up for its slow start. This group will have its hands full next Sunday with Kyler Murray, who runs around like a toddler that just swiped your iPhone.

                        

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