Packers: Kenny Clark’s Return Will Give Pass Rush Needed Boost

It’s looking like Kenny Clark will be back in action this week, and he will provide the Green Bay Packers’ pass-rush with a much-needed boost.

Coming off their bye week, it appears that the Green Bay Packers’ defensive front is going to be getting a huge boost this week with the return of Kenny Clark. Clark hasn’t played since Week 1 when he left the game with a groin injury, but he has been a full participant at practice the past two days.

With Clark’s likely return this week, many will discuss his impact in the run game, which he will certainly have. However, even with The Smiths, it’s not a coincidence that the Packers’ have struggled to get after the quarterback as effectively as they did in 2019 during Clark’s absence over the last month.

In an article earlier this week, I discussed the stark contrast between the Packers’ pass rush numbers last season compared to this year. After finishing top-5 in the NFL in pressure rate in 2019, through four games this season, Green Bay’s pressure rate ranks just 25th.

During a Zoom call with reporters prior to the Packers’ matchup with Atlanta, OLB Coach Mike Smith had this to say about their ability to pressure the quarterback this season (via Packers News):

"“I don’t think we’re rushing where we need to rush right now. I still think we’ve got to look at the big picture. We’ve got to get better, but you also have to look on how the game flows and how it’s playing.”"

The good news is that in that Falcons game, we saw Za’Darius Smith have a monster performance with three sacks and seven total pressures. But on the flip side, Preston Smith’s numbers still remain well below what he was able to post in 2019.

With Clark back on the field, he will likely occupy many of the double-teams that Za’Darius has had to endure over the last few weeks. This, of course, will create more one-on-one matchups for The Smiths and Rashan Gary to hopefully exploit. Also, with Clark’s ability to collapse the pocket and make his way into the backfield from the nose tackle position, that is going to create some additional free runs at the quarterback for his teammates.

With that said, as we’ve seen over the years, Clark can do plenty of damage on his own as well. In 2019 he posted six sacks and 69 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus ($), along with ranking seventh among all interior defensive linemen in pass rush productivity, which measures the rate at which a player is able to pressure the quarterback with sacks being weighted more heavily.

Recently, Clark summed up what he’s trying to do as a pass-rusher for this Green Bay Packers’ defense, and a lot of what he does benefits those around him:

"“The offense is going to decide with whoever they want to double team. As far as all the stuff with pass rush and all that, when I’m in there, I’m trying to push the pocket and make it as short of an edge for those guys to have to turn a corner.I’m just trying to pressure the quarterback and get in where I fit in. If they do decide to double me and that’ll help Z, I’m all for it. Because Z is an amazing player.”"

This week as the Green Bay Packers head to Tamp Bay to take on the Buccaneers, pressuring Tom Brady and making him uncomfortable is going to be a major key for this defense. If he’s able to sit in a clean pocket for much of the game, slowing that Bucs’ offense isn’t going to be easy. But with Kenny Clark back in the mix, we should see a more effective Packers’ pass rush this Sunday.