Can a Talented Edge Unit Carry the Front Seven?
This roster is loaded with edge rushers. Will it be enough to shore up the defense to start the season?
By MaggieLoney
The Packers find themselves in a unique position with roster cutdowns taking place tomorrow by 3 p.m. CST. They have too much talent at the edge position, so much so that a talented football player is going to likely be left off the 53-man roster on Saturday. Back in June, I wrote an article about how the edge unit would help strengthen the defensive line, given the way players like Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary can play multiple positions. In that article, I made the case for keeping five outside linebackers on the active roster to start the 2020 season.
Now, with the injuries to the inside linebackers group and the defensive line...could the Packers keep as many as six edge rushers on the initial 53?
This probably sounds wild, but hear me out. This edge unit is as loaded a group as we’ve seen, with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith both coming off career seasons and Gary putting on an exceptional performance at training camp. But we already knew those three spots were locked in.
Behind the starting three, the Packers invested a draft selection in Jonathan Garvin out of Miami. Both he and former Baltimore Ravens third-round pick Tim Williams have impressed all camp. Additionally, second-year player Randy Ramsey and undrafted rookie Tipa Galeai have also been given their fair share of praise during camp.
“This is as deep an outside linebackers room as I've been a part of in a long time. It’s a great problem to have,” said defensive coordinator Mike Pettine earlier in the offseason.
“All those guys are solid players,” Pettine said again of the group just a little over a week ago. “That’s a spot where there’s some real good competition.”
It’s also one of the only positions on the roster not hampered by injuries to start the season, which is where that sixth edge rusher comes into play. Along the defensive line, Montravius Adams has a toe injury that makes him a candidate for injured reserve. Behind Adams, Treyvon Hester is also battling injuries that have kept him out of practice. That leaves only Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster, and undrafted rookie Willington Previlon as the healthy defensive linemen on the roster.
Well, enter Za’Darius Smith and Gary, two players Pettine said could line up anywhere along the defensive line to generate pressure, whether that’s over center or off the edge.
Next, the Packers are dealing with injuries at the inside linebacker position. Promising fifth-round draft pick Kamal Martin looked like he had a shot at starting opposite veteran Christian Kirksey before his unexpected knee surgery, making him another candidate for injured reserve to start the season.
Beyond Kirksey, who has an injury history of his own, is third-year player Oren Burks who’s been relatively healthy this training camp, and Ty Summers who’s never played a single snap for the defense and only played on special teams during the 2019 season. Behind Burks and Summers is Curtis Bolton who remains on the physically unable to perform list, and Krys Barnes, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA. Even hybrid safety/inside linebacker Raven Greene is still battling injuries and might not be able to start the season.
That leaves a lot of unproven talent at the inside linebacker position, and even less depth. Well, here comes Preston Smith who, in his NFL career, has five interceptions to his name, including one interception last season off a deflected pass Week 2 against the Vikings when he dropped into coverage alongside former inside linebacker Blake Martinez.
Now, by no means am I saying Preston should be the team’s second inside linebacker, but I’m saying the versatility in the edge unit provides Pettine with options given how limited he’ll be along the defensive line and in the middle of the defense to start the year.
Galeai, while slightly undersized to rush off the edge, measures in at 6-5, 229lbs. He also played linebacker for one season at Utah State where he had 64 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 2 interceptions, even returning one interception for a touchdown. While we have no evidence that he’s even taken a single snap at inside linebacker during training camp, his length is an intriguing thought in the middle of the field.
The new injured reserve rules this season will certainly benefit the Packers, as a lot of players are banged up right now with what appear to be short-term injuries. Knowing they could theoretically come back from injured reserve in as little as three weeks will likely factor into the initial 53-man roster decisions. But until depth players at inside linebacker and along the defensive line are healthy, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see the Packers rely on one of its most loaded roster positions, the edge unit. Surely between the Super Smith Bros, Gary, Garvin, Williams, and Galeai, (I would also include Randy Ramsey here but he’s been dealing with an injury, too), the loaded outside linebackers core could help make up for some of the deficiencies elsewhere on the roster while players heal.
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Maggie Loney is a writer for Cheesehead TV and podcaster for Pack's What She Said. Find her on Bluesky at @MaggieJLoney.
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Comments (32)
Bure9620
September 04, 2020 at 06:24 am
Yeah I think they can be the backbone considering how talented the secondary is. We have one elite inside player in Clark who we will eat up double teams and then a bunch of JAGs on the DL, though I am interested to see Keke's development.
Pass rushers are like QBs now. You need them, and good ones. The Edge rushers will be able the carry this front. Although, if you think the run defense is suspect now.....we are a Kenny Clark injury away from not being able to stop the run as at all.........
RCPackerFan
September 04, 2020 at 07:43 am
I am really looking forward to seeing what our pass rush looks like this year. The Smiths I think we can expect a similar type of impact from.
But this year I truly believe we are going to see Gary taking a HUGE step. I think Gary is going to really surprise people. IF that does happen, our defense just got very scary up front for offenses.
I'm intrigued with Garvin. I think he could really develop especially having The Smiths and Gary as leaders to follow. I have heard really good things out of Williams and Tipa. It sounds like Ramsey has looked good too.
This is definitely a strong OLB room. This could be the strength of our defense. Though I think our secondary is right there as well.
stockholder
September 04, 2020 at 08:15 am
I believe the front seven can carry us to the playoffs. Then all bets are off. This defense was set up to rush. Not Tackle. And Not win In the trench. Let me repeat that. "NOT WIN In The Trench." { The 3-4-4 was never about stopping the run. } So now - The Rb has become important again. And that is the switch in the NFL. "Beat the pass rush!" The great teams of the past had the DTs. And many were given catchy names for their front 4. The MLB was the next name on everyone lips. I just can't believe how the packers can keep ignoring the past. It took Beef up front; to carve up a OL. Not splash players. These packers only want to rush the qb. Give me two Dominating DTs, and there won't be any holes. They'll win the trench! They'll win the Super Bowl. And they won't need seven on the line. Lowrey, KeKe, LanCaster, Hester, just don't make me jump for joy. Forget peace of mind. These are patches on a unit that has been built to pressure the QB. Hot and cold, Bend but don't break. These terms were never used with great defenses of the past. BG needed to do better. Ignoring the DL is his biggest mistake.
murf7777
September 04, 2020 at 11:00 am
I'd have to disagree; I believe in building the trenches, but the game has changed and I don't see it going back. Not just the Packers but most teams today play Nickle or dime defense the majority of the time. 3-4 and 4-3 were the traditional set-up, not anymore at least for not more the 35% of the time for most teams. Can you really afford 2 dominating DT (Donald and Clark) and field the remainder of your D?
The reality is you must be able to rush the passer vs stopping the run. Yes, you would like to do both at a very high level, but if given the choice you stop the passer in today's game, not yesteryear, but today.
People have been yearning for them to bring on Snacks or Dareus, but the reality is Snacks has stated his mind is there, but his body is basically broken down and has thrown out the retirement talk. Why do you think Lions released him? And Dareus numbers are sliding as his age is also catching up to him. Fortunately, the Packers are smarter then us fans.
As Pettine has stated, we need to do a better job at scheming the run D and have more discipline with our players to stop the run at average or better.
SF games were very very frustrating for us but the Packers should know best what they have and the reasons behind the breakdowns in those two particular games.
Lastly, Packers spent a lot of money bringing in the Smith brothers so the Packers played their cards and need to live with that decision and play better run D with who they have.
stockholder
September 04, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Can you really afford 2 dominating DT? Yes, Yes you can. The rest of your comment is true. And the Smiths will get them to the payoffs. This is where you must examine BGs DL moves. Peter must give to Paul here. The shaving must start. You can't overpay average players. Bringing up Donald. You must bring up suh. The Rams also had a good ILB. They left and fell. In fact the Lions have had a terrible time after Suh left. Next look at the chiefs. Pass defense is important. But It can't replace a championship DL. And thats the comparison, the need, and the reason BG made a mistake.
Coldworld
September 04, 2020 at 02:26 pm
Can’t afford 2 Clarks. No, I don’t think you can unless you had a player on a rookie contract.
murf7777
September 06, 2020 at 10:43 am
As you know, there is give and take when building a team with a strict salary cap. That said, I’d like nothing more then for the Packers to pick up an above average DL. Don’t see one out there in FA’s, so it would have to be a trade which I’m all in.
CoachDino
September 04, 2020 at 07:21 pm
Great points Murf. Don't fall off your chairs you'all but there are publications out there that have the Packers D-Line as one of the Best in Football.
Reason being just what Ms Maggie was pointing out. OLB's in a 3-4 are often considered part of the D-Line. So having Preston and Z to go along with and Elite KC is a formidable line.
There's a reason, that many of us didn't understand, that they drafted Gary, he can play a Hybrid D-Line OLB which very few players in the NFL have the tools to do. Can he pull it off? Remans to be seen. Keke "hopefully" an upgrade over Lancaster and Lowery just needs to play better.
Throw in all the players/points Ms Maggie made and the game plan becomes clear.
Now lets see if the Plan is viable and the players execute. Personally I dig it and think it's somewhat cutting edge. Now the Players need to execute their assignments, many of us fans and fly by media don't understand that Z had a terrible game against SF amongst other players. Z admitted as such. The easy solution, get a big body and get rid of the DC, is obviously not what Gute and LeFluer think.
Lphill
September 04, 2020 at 08:30 am
Would have been nice to have a pre season game to work this out instead of figuring it out in actual games.
Bearmeat
September 04, 2020 at 09:48 am
We wanted more excitement after Capers. Well, we got it. Rex Ryan's defensive system relies on schemed pressure and coverage, at the expense of stoutness at the POA. Well... now that the NFL has shifted away from the WCO and back towards running the ball with big personnel, that defensive system has its weaknesses exposed.
Pettine is going to have to find a way to execute with shitty ILBs and DTs in general, or he'll be gone. And Gute... he needed to invest in the front 7 other than OLB. He hasn't done so.
I hope they have a plan to use our large OLBs in run defense while still rushing the passer. Because otherwise, we just don't have enough NFL caliber personnel and I fully expect to be terrible against the run again this year. KC can't do it all.
Since'61
September 04, 2020 at 10:24 am
Good post Bearmeat. This is my concern as well. Stay safe and stay well. Thanks, Since ‘61
murf7777
September 04, 2020 at 11:39 am
I don't agree that the NFL has shifted back to running the ball with big personnel. Maybe there are a few teams doing that but that is hardly a trend. Being it is a copy cat league, maybe there are a couple more then normal I'd have to admit. But, until they change the rules back to make it harder to pass the ball, it will remain a passing league.
The rules changes I'm talking about that allow more passing is; Roughing the passer, hitting the QB anywhere on the head, regardless how hard and below the knees. In, 1978 the NFL changed that a DB cannot basically touch the receiver past 5 yards. The former was done to protect the QB from injuries, while the latter was to increase passing so that it increased offensive scoring.
In addition, in 1978 they changed offensive holding by offensive linemen by giving them permission to extend their arms and open their hands on pass plays and in the 80's chop blocking during a pass play was disallowed or penalized.
These and more rule changes has made the NFL a passing league, mainly to increase scoring which it has done by about 4 points since the mid 70's and by 2 points from the early 2000's. Here are some numbers to chew on. In 1977, Receiving yards avg per team (RE) 162 and rushing yards avg per team (RU) 144. In 2003, RE 213 and RU 118 and in 2019 RE 252 and RU 113.
If the game is changing back to rushing other then a few teams putting more emphasis into that scheme I don't see it with the numbers or any rule changes that would make it beneficial for teams to do that. Now, if you have a top 5 defense, you could afford to run the ball more and keep the score lower. I think every year you noticed some teams investing into the RB position when they have a franchised back but it is few and far between. Also, many of those teams find themselves burned by giving a RB a large contract after their initial one.
ShanghaiKid
September 04, 2020 at 12:04 pm
I disagree vehemently with: “Maybe there are a few teams doing that but that is hardly a trend.”
Go back and look at the playoff teams from last year. 7 of the 12 playoff teams ranked in the top 10 in total rushing yards. One of them almost, and perhaps should have won the SB.
Bearmeat
September 04, 2020 at 02:51 pm
Yep. The Shanahan ZBS took root with the Falcons in 16 and has spread across the league. Even the Seahawks, who should be trying to pass the ball all over the yard, aren't doing so.
The Chiefs are the exception. 3 out of the final 4 last year, and 6 out of the final 8, were better running teams than passing teams.
murf7777
September 04, 2020 at 09:26 pm
The facts show more passing vs rushing you can’t dispute that. Some of the rushing is from QB’s like jackson, mahommes, and Russell but yes, if you can be balanced with run and pass certainly you will be better, that still doesn’t defeat the debate over passing vs running. Balance is the key as it keeps the D off balance. But, first and foremost if you can’t stop the pass in the nfl you will get slaughtered. I’m stating if you have a choice of stopping the pass or the run you must put your money stopping the pass first.
ShanghaiKid
September 05, 2020 at 12:03 am
“First and foremost if you can’t stop the pass in the nfl you will get slaughtered.“
I mean the Niners threw the ball 8 times in a conference championship game and almost dropped a 40 burger so there’s that lol.
murf7777
September 05, 2020 at 06:59 am
That’s an anomaly!
CoachDino
September 04, 2020 at 07:33 pm
Once again I'm with you Murf, the league, in no way, has shifted back to Run first combatted with Big D-Linemen, just the opposite. Look no further than the last few drafts and the money the Stout run defenders in the League are getting paid. It's just the facts, not my opinion.
It's why I'm fond of LeFluers offense, it is trying to mesh the best of both worlds, Power run against smaller D-line while still being a Pass threat with the TE's,H-Back, FB etc...
It's why they drafted Dillon and Deguara. Scheme fits.
It's also why Gary is so highly coveted coming out of college. he has the tools to do it all on the Defense, More stout than 90% of Edge rushers yet faster than 90% of 4-3 DEs. Those tools are special and if you have a coach, like Pet that knows how to use them us packer fans will be loving it.
I said a great deal but in the end they have to execute/perform on the field. That's why they play the games..
Lets Go Pack!!!
Tundraboy
September 04, 2020 at 09:55 am
Where is Snacks or someone like him when you need him?
murf7777
September 04, 2020 at 11:42 am
It would be nice to find someone like him. As per my post above, Snacks has admitted, his mind wants to keep playing but his body is breaking down and he is considering retiring. I assume that is the main reason the Lions released him.
CoachDino
September 04, 2020 at 07:35 pm
Where all 32 teams in the League evaluated him....
PS - I was a snacks guy but IMHO I've seen the Light.
jeremyjjbrown
September 04, 2020 at 10:13 am
The Smiths and Gary can all play with their hands down so I see a place for a large OLB group. Especially given the steep drop off in talent on DL after Clark.
Since'61
September 04, 2020 at 10:22 am
The problem with using edge players on the DL or even ILB is that they cannot stand up to the pounding from NFL OLs over the course of a season. Yes, they can fill in for a game or two. Yes, they can rotate in for certain defensive alignments or for certain downs and distances.
Without solid DLs and true ILBs the defense will not stop the run consistently. OCs will adjust and attack the weaknesses in the defense as SF did against us in the NFCCG. We couldn’t even stop their 3rd string RB running behind their OL.
As of today the Packers look weak in the trenches. We have Kenny Clark on the DL and a bunch of ???? Kirksey at ILB and even he is a ? at this point given his injury history. On offense the right side of our OL is??? I don’t think we know who will be starting at RG or RT at this point.
This situation is not generating very much confidence for me as we head into week 1, especially with our defense facing Dalvin Cook.
At least we have Jordan Love who can play DL and RT, correct???
Thanks, Since ‘61
Bearmeat
September 04, 2020 at 03:17 pm
Excellent post. Let's not forget that Jordan Love can also play WR and ILB!
Since'61
September 04, 2020 at 06:48 pm
Cookie for Bearmeat!! Thanks, Since ‘61
CoachDino
September 04, 2020 at 07:46 pm
I may not agree with your view but I do see and respect your points and the value in them.
Couple things to think about.
There will be limited snaps where you require Z or gary to put their hand in the ground. At least that's what the history of this scheme, illustrated the last few years.
Gary, Preston and Z are big men, not your normal OLB. they are closer to 4-3 DE size.
SF is an Elite team, one of the top 3 in the League. They have been able to do to others what they did to the packers. That said, that is who the Packers will need to get through to make it to the SB (Most Likely).
The Packers players inability to recognize and diagnosis plays as well as execute had as much to do with the SF performances as anything. Z has said so himself.
TarynsEyes
September 04, 2020 at 10:28 am
As long as the opponent has a below average run game, we'll look like champions, until we play a team that will actually be the Champion.
ShanghaiKid
September 04, 2020 at 11:55 am
The problem isn’t rushing the passer, or defending the pass on the back end. The problem is the lack of ability or desire to stop the run. Keeping a few extra edge guys so Z and Gary can kick inside isn’t going to fix that. They rolled the dice on guys with injury history and little to no ability, they’re going to pay the piper for it.
dobber
September 04, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Every team is going to have places of thin depth or weak starters. You have to find a way use your strengths to cover up your weaknesses...the Packers are weak at ILB and at base DE. They have depth at CB, S, and OLB. They have to find a way to emphasize those strengths. People act as if teams DIDN'T try to run at the Packers last year...they did. It's one thing to try...its something different to succeed.
Coldworld
September 04, 2020 at 02:33 pm
Yes, and whatever our actual level of ability to stop the run was in that game we clearly undermined it by getting dragged out of position frequently. Simply out thought. Pettine is paid to fix that.
In terms of contributions, obviously Gary will be seen more, but I think we need more from KeKe. He reportedly added strength. It’s hard to tell much in camp at this position. Perhaps he has developed.
LayingTheLawe
September 04, 2020 at 02:29 pm
Last year's weakness on defense has seen little attention which is odd. Do they think they can just adjust the scheme and not get gashed down the middle? They might need to make a cutdown addition just to have enough bodies at least at the start of the season.
Coldworld
September 04, 2020 at 02:35 pm
As I read it, the Kirksey move was a direct response. It seems they see Gary as part of the answer ( directly or indirectly). We will see if they are right.