Green Bay Packers: 6 Big Questions for Defense Entering Training Camp

Will Kenny Clark see fewer snaps at nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers?

Under the Mike Pettine defense, Kenny Clark has taken a majority of his snaps as the Green Bay Packers nose tackle. Why might you ask? Well, he’s really been the only player equipped to do so.

Playing nose tackle in the NFL oftentimes isn’t going to lead to flashy stats. Instead, the job is centered around creating for others by eating up space and occupying multiple defenders. Yet, because Clark is just so good, he still left his mark on most games.

However, there is the opportunity for Clark to make an even greater impact — scary, I know — and that would be by seeing fewer snaps away from the nose and more at the 4-tech in Joe Barry’s defense. This will create more one-on-one matchups, which will likely lead to more big plays.

Through the three-day mini-camp, Packers.com analyst Larry McCarren noted that Clark saw significantly fewer snaps at the nose than he has in the past. Was this Green Bay just trying something different? Or is this a sign of things to come?

With the addition of TJ Slaton, who is a true nose tackle, he is a prime candidate to take those snaps. Also, with a new defense comes new opportunities, so perhaps Tyler Lancaster or Dean Lowry are seeing more snaps in that role. Either way, this is certainly something to keep our eyes on moving forward and could certainly lead to more splash plays from the interior–and that’s certainly a good thing.