Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark Receiving Some Help

“Get Kenny Clark some help!” That is what many Green Bay Packers fans have been hoping for these last few offseasons.

However, for the most part, the interior defensive line position is not one that the Packers have invested in.

In 2019 they selected Kingsley Keke in the fifth round, this past draft they took TJ Slaton in Round 5 as well, and there has been little activity on the free agent market.

The end result has been Clark doing a lion’s share of the work inside—and as good as Clark is, he can’t do it all on his own.

While it was a rough start to the season for those not named Clark along the interior defensive line group, the last three games have been much better, with the Green Bay Packers defense getting contributions from several different players.

In Week 3 against San Francisco, Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster didn’t fill the stat sheet by any means with just one pressure and one stop — or a play that result on a “loss” per PFF ($$) — a piece, but they did get consistent push throughout the game. This was easily Lancaster’s best performance in some time.

It’s not a coincidence that Clark led the team in pressures with six that game. The 49ers would also average just 3.2 yards per rush.

The following week against Pittsburgh, it was Keke’s turn to get in on the action. He recorded one sack, a fumble that eventually resulted in a Packers touchdown, and two total pressures. He was also the highest-graded defensive player on this Packers team that week by PFF.

On the ground, the Steelers were held in check, averaging 4.0 yards per rush with Najee Harris’ longest run being 11 yards.

Then this past Sunday in Cincinnati, it was again Lowry who was making noise. Lowry led the team in pressures with four, one of which was a sack, and he also had two batted passes and logged a stop. As a team, the Bengals would average 4.3 yards per rush.

Even rookie TJ Slaton has found some success in his limited playing time.

With more reliable contributions from Lowry, Lancaster, and Keke, that, of course, is going to help the defense, but a positive trickle-down effect is that it frees up Joe Barry to move Clark around more frequently.

Under Mike Pettine, Clark spent most of his time at the nose tackle position—oftentimes because he was the only one that was effective there.

His job consisted of taking on double teams while occupying blockers and creating space for his teammates—not exactly a position where you’re going to see someone fill the stat sheet, although Clark still left his mark on many games because he’s just that good.

But by moving Clark to the 4-tech alignment it gives him more one-on-one opportunities, and that is never a bad thing. According to PFF ($$), Clark has 75 snaps lined up over an offensive tackle this season. In 2020, he had just 130 the entire year and in 2019 he had 85.

This season, Clark’s 16 pressures are the 12th most among all interior defensive linemen and his 14 run stops are tied for fourth. He also has the 11th highest overall grade.

In the grand scheme of an NFL season, it’s only been a few games, and by no means will this defensive front be elite or will those not named Clark ever dominate.

However, if the Green Bay Packers can get consistent play from either Lowry, Lancaster, Keke, Slaton, or any combination — and it doesn’t matter who — Clark will have the opportunity to make more plays and the overall defense will be improved.