Green Bay Packers 10 Keys to success: #7 Rashan Gary

For the Green Bay Packers defense to take a step forward in 2019, they’ll need their 12th overall pick, Rashan Gary to perform up to his lofty draft status.

The Green Bay Packers love Rashan Gary and that’s been evident since the day they drafted him. GM Brian Gutekunst, head coach Matt LaFleur and OLB coach Mike Smith all could not stop raving about the 12th overall pick.

Gutekunst said Gary was someone they’ve had their eye on since he enrolled at Michigan, while LaFleur was giddy about the prospects of Gary in Mike Pettine’s defense. And Smith told the media he had Gary graded as the best EDGE rusher in the class. He went on to say he did a lap around the office when they were able to pick him.

However, Fans and segments of the draft media were less than thrilled about the Gary pick. Sure Gary has all the athleticism in the world, but that translated to less production than his athletic profile would dictate.

They pegged the Green Bay Packers to pick someone like Brian Burns or Montez Sweat. Gary was never someone who was seriously focused on from the Packers’ standpoint.

Since Gary has arrived in Green Bay, there have been signs to show why the Packers were so high on him. His size and athleticism jump off the page almost immediately and he has been able to make plays in camp.

In games, however, the production hasn’t been there. Gary has one tackle in three preseason games.

His film does look better than his production to this point, but that has not helped fans’ anxiety that Brian Burns already has two preseason games with two sacks.

The Green Bay Packers’ defense went over an extreme makeover this offseason and Gary was a big part of that process.

Of course, that comes with some expectations. Gary is likely to be a rotational player this season with the presence of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith and he won’t be asked to start right away, which will be good for his development.

At the same time, he will play a big role in the way Pettine wants to play on defense. There will be times that Za’Darius kicks inside, and Gary will come into the game on obvious passing downs. But don’t be mistaken, Gary will also play his fair share inside as well.

With all due respect to Kyler Fackrell, he really does not fit the way that Pettine wants to play on defense. He wants big players with long arms that can play all across the defensive line so he can disguise different ways to get after the quarterback.

If Gary is able and ready to play almost immediately, that gives Pettine three players that fit his scheme to the letter. Pettine is able to do so much more with his defensive line and pass-rushing unit if he can trust Gary to get on the field and produce at a high level.

Most rookies tend to take time. That’s something that is unlikely to be afforded to Gary because people, especially sports fans, tend to come to the conclusions they want to come to all along. Because of that, in a weird way, they want Gary to succeed, but they also want him to fail. It’s an odd predicament.

Regardless of what fans think, the Packers believe that Gary will succeed. That’s why they drafted him where they did. In addition, they believe he’ll be able to add a new dynamic to their defense.

It’s been a long time since the Packers have had three legitimate rushers able to get after the quarterback. The versatile chess piece types that both Smiths and Gary present are a problem for offenses that has to make Pettine smile at night.

If Gary is capable of living up to that, the Packers defense can become championship-caliber as soon as 2019.