Green Bay Packers: 3 Early Round Defensive Line Prospects
By Kenny Jilek
The Green Bay Packers had a tough time stopping the run last season. Getting to the root of the problem and drafting a big body in the trenches could help solve those problems.
The inability of the Green Bay Packers’ defense to stop the run last year was caused by a multitude of reasons. One was their personnel and scheming. Mike Pettine consistently put extra defensive backs on the field and dared opposing teams to run the ball, which the 49ers gladly did in the playoffs to the tune of 285 yards on 42 carries.
The play of the linebackers that were in also left something to be desired. Too many tackles were made well past the line of scrimmage and there wasn’t enough speed or ability to shed blocks at that position.
At the end of the day, though, the root of the problem is in the trenches at the line of scrimmage. When the defensive line is constantly getting blown off the line and washed out of plays, it puts a lot of pressure on the second level to make open-field tackles, and that leads to big plays.
Kenny Clark is playing at a high level and is a great anchor for this defensive line. If they can get another stud next to him early in the draft and develop Kingsley Keke, this could be a complete transformation of the position, similar to how the safety position got a makeover last season.