Green Bay Packers v. Saints: 5 Big Questions in Week 1

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 27: Kingsley Keke #96 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by Za’Darius Smith #55 after a sack against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 27, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Can the Green Bay Packers get pressure against Saints OL?

As a whole, in 2020, we saw this Green Bay Packers defense fail to pressure the quarterback at the same rate that they did in 2019. In fact, according to PFF, the Packers generated only 251 pressures last season, compared to the 338 they forced in 2019.

The hope this season is that we continue to see Za’Darius Smith do Za’Darius Smith-type things while Preston Smith is hopefully able to bounce back. Rashan Gary is someone poised to see another jump in production as he enters Year 3, and I’m optimistic that this new Joe Barry defense will present Kenny Clark with more one-on-one opportunities than what he’s had in the past, which should create more quarterback pressures.

However, against New Orleans, they will be up against one of the better offensive line units that this league has to offer.

Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk form a tremendous tackle duo, while they have Erik McCoy at center and Cesar Ruiz and Andrus Peat at the guard positions. Last season, the Saints finished sixth in total rushing yards and fifth in ESPN’s pass-blocking win-rate metric. They also allowed the ninth fewest quarterback pressures and 11th fewest sacks.

Any sort of quick passing game established by the Saints with Kamara, or any pass-catcher for that matter, won’t help his Green Bay Packers pass rush either. It’s always important to pressure the quarterback, and it’s one of the keys to victory every week, but doing so against the potentially turnover-prone Winston could really tilt this matchup in the Packers’ favor.

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