Fewer snaps inside means more 1-on-1 chances for Packers Kenny Clark

For much of Kenny Clark’s career up until the 2021 season, he was the one lined up in the middle of this Green Bay Packers defensive front, in large part because he was the only one who could handle those responsibilities.

Oftentimes lining up as the nose tackle or even in the 3-tech alignment can come with double-teams to fight through, which of course, can then make filling the stat sheet all the more challenging–although Clark’s teammates certainly benefitted from this.

While Clark had his fair share of double-teams to contend with over the years, he still produced because, well, he’s Kenny Clark–one of the best interior defenders in the NFL.

But during the 2021 season, however, we saw more movement from Clark under the then new defensive coordinator Joe Barry. According to PFF ($$), Clark took 232 snaps lined up as the 5-tech, which comes outside by the offensive tackle.

This was the most snaps from this alignment — and by a decent margin — from Clark over his career. His previous high was 107 snaps in 2020. During his first five seasons combined, Clark had just 227 total snaps as the 5-tech.

He also had the fewest snaps of his career lined up in the A-gap — or by the center — with only 130. For added context, from 2017 through 2019, Clark averaged about 320 snaps per year from the A-gap during that span.

As opposed to lining up inside where double-teams can and often do occur, Clark gets more one-on-one opportunities when out on the edge. So it’s not a coincidence that with more snaps as the 5-tech, Clark had his most productive year in terms of getting after the quarterback with 64 pressures.

As I mentioned initially, early on in Clark’s career, it was out of necessity that he lined up inside as frequently as he did. However, in Barry’s defense, where movement up front is encouraged, along with the emergence in 2021 of Dean Lowry and the addition of TJ Slaton to take some of those nose tackle snaps, Clark had the freedom to move around more.

This trend should continue this season as the Packers’ interior defensive line rotation has gotten even deeper, so as opposed to years past, it may not only be Clark who opposing offensive line’s have to worry about.

In terms of pressures created, Lowry is coming off a career year. Slaton appears poised to make a Year 2 leap based on what we saw in training camp. Meanwhile, Jarran Reed is an upgrade over Tyler Lancaster and first-round pick Devonte Wyatt rounds out the rotation.

When the defensive front generates a consistent push, the entire defense will benefit. That’s fewer double-teams for Rashan Gary and Preston Smith to worry about. Linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker are kept clean to make plays, while the secondary will won’t have to cover as long when there is a push from upfront.

As good as Clark has been over his Packers’ career, with the added help around him this season, 2022 could end up as a career year for him from a production standpoint.