Packers Need Kyler Fackrell to Develop Quickly as a Pass Rusher

The Packers need pass rush help and unless they are going to rely on a rookie, Kyler Fackrell will need to provide it. 

Can Kyler Fackrell be the 3rd pass rusher the Packers need?

Can Kyler Fackrell be the 3rd pass rusher the Packers need?

The Green Bay Packers still have many needs to be addressed, but one need that could be lessened is the one at pass rusher, where the internal development of guys like Kyler Fackrell could be key.

Obviously, the Packers were able to retain Nick Perry, which gives them two solid starters in Perry and Clay Matthews. But we all know that two solid pass rushers isn’t enough to get through the season, especially if Matthews ends up playing snaps at outside linebacker.

That means the onus for depth on the edge is going to come from the development of guys like Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott or through rookies acquired through the NFL draft or rookie free agency.

\While the Packers definitely need help at the position and truthfully, no team can ever have enough pass rushers, if Fackrell can turn into a reliable player, who can apply pressure with consistency, Green Bay will be in business.

Of course, the Packers will be looking for more guys in the draft, but remember, Fackrell was picked in the third round in 2016, which means Green Bay is counting on him to be a good player. You don’t draft a guy that high unless you believe he can be a starter of key rotational player.

In 13 games as a rookie, Fackrell acquitted himself well. He notched eight tackles, had two sacks, forced one fumble and had one pass defensed. At 6-5, 244 pounds, he may still struggle to set the edge, but in terms of pass-rush skills, he flashed potential.

Two of Green Bay’s core philosophies throughout the years have been draft and develop players and taking the best player available, and it’s important for the Packers to trust in their best-player-available draft strategy.

The worst thing they can do is reach for need and thanks to Fackrell, even if the Packers don’t land a high-end pass rusher in the draft, there will be at least one edge rusher on the team that has room to grow and possesses long-term upside, but is also ready to play more snaps right away.

Now, the Packers just have to hope their evaluation of Fackrell was correct, because if not, they could be perilously thin at edge rusher when the season opens.  

 

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Chris is a sports journalist from Montana and has been blogging about the Packers since 2011. Chris has been a staff writer for CheeseheadTV since 2017 and looks forward to the day when Aaron Rodgers wins his second Super Bowl. Follow him @thepackersguru

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Comments (28)

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Lphill's picture

March 23, 2017 at 01:19 pm

He had impressive stats from College , he came back strong after an injury and had s solid senior season, probably needs about 10 more pounds and he may be able to set the edge better , I like him , he was a third round pick so he has potential maybe he is the guy to step up this year.

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Kevin Ven's picture

March 23, 2017 at 01:24 pm

If Matthews pushes to inside linebacker, then we need him. If he is outside LB he is rushing the passer.

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zoellner25's picture

March 23, 2017 at 01:24 pm

True. Next.

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TarynsEyes's picture

March 23, 2017 at 01:52 pm

I have no doubt about Fackrell. ..been saying so since before he was drafted by the Packers as had hoped and argued to do so.

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Handsback's picture

March 23, 2017 at 02:00 pm

He needs to improve his techniques and strength. I thought he was OK and flashed potential. Maybe between Elliott and Frack-man they can get 8 sacks between them. That would be solid.

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Ryan Graham's picture

March 23, 2017 at 04:06 pm

If the Packers draft an outside backer, particularly TJ Watt, and can find someone to fill the void of the elephant position effectively, that would open up all kinds of options. I understand TJ doesn't have a whole lot of experience at linebacker at all that may just work to his advantage. This guy is a genuine athlete all the way through that can play literally any position on the field, except maybe QB and kicker...I saw this first hand in high school. Throw that concern out the window.
The fact that he hasn't been playing backer for too long would mean he doesn't have many bad habits to correct. Not only that he is the ideal student of the game.

I'm just going to use Reggie Gilbert as a placeholder for my thought. The defense would have these options:

DL Clark Daniels Gilbert Guion and now RJF
ILB Ryan Martinez Watt Matthews Thomas
OLB Perry Matthews Watt Fackrell Elliott Thomas Gilbert

Some serious versatility with some fuzzy looks potentially

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UmpireMark's picture

March 23, 2017 at 04:19 pm

I think Guion is history now.

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UmpireMark's picture

March 23, 2017 at 02:47 pm

In year two, Fackerell will continue to be a package player dependent upon schemes and down/distance situations, as he continues to develop.

What the Packers really need in 2017 is for CMIII to stop dancing with tackles and return to a force on the edge, again. That, by itself, opens up options with Fackerell, Perry, Watt (God willing) and Elliott.

Martinez and Ryan will be just fine inside, I believe.

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NickPerry's picture

March 23, 2017 at 02:52 pm

I like Frackrell and was excited when the Packers took this kid last year. The guy was made for the OLB position at 6'5", 245, and 33 1/4 inch arms. He's had a year in an NFL weight Room so he'll be much stronger and hopefully added a few pounds. He's 25 and married with a kid so I like the idea the guy probably isn't out getting in trouble. In other words he's had a year to eat, sleep, s*** football so I think he along with Clark are the 2 players who make the biggest 2nd year jumps and maybe the biggest jumps on the team.

This guy could be our Conner Barwin, just at a whole lot less money!

Edit... He also scored 32 on his Wonderlic Test so he's more than competent to pick up Capers Defense.

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4zone's picture

March 24, 2017 at 03:55 am

I think Lowery is a guy who will make a big jump this year. Like what he did last year and with Clark, Fackrell and Martinez, I think we got 4 long term solids on D last year.

Now if TT can land 4 like them or better this year, we could take another step up. But two of those probably need to be CBs.

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EdsLaces's picture

March 23, 2017 at 03:33 pm

Taryn be like O....M.....G....it's a Fackrell article!

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 23, 2017 at 03:34 pm

He needs to live in the weight room.

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MITM's picture

March 23, 2017 at 03:48 pm

If drafting him at 29 is what it would take to get Watt, then I would prefer Vince Biegel who I think will be around until round 4 .

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slit's picture

March 23, 2017 at 05:39 pm

Considering the current depth chart, why not both?

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pooch's picture

March 23, 2017 at 07:04 pm

Draft Watt end of article

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Spock's picture

March 23, 2017 at 07:37 pm

I like Fackrell and believe he will be more of a force this year after an off season in the weight room. Unlike most of the posters on this site, I don't believe that CM111 is "washed up" or "a waste of $$$". Having, ,myself, having to (still) go through PT for a shoulder injury and having had to deal with multiple back and knee injuries (8 knee surgeries plus back surgery, all my back and neck disks degenerated with advanced arthritis), I will NEVER throw a Packer player under the bus for electing to play with major injuries. That is COURAGE and to denigrate a player for not being "a difference maker" or "no longer worth their contract" while they are trying to contribute when injured is, IMHO, a petty thing to do. Is Clay still a top player? Maybe,maybe not, but one of the reasons he gets injured so much is he plays 100% (please stop with the 110% comments. Do the math, you can only give 100%. Not above that, it's not possible and that 110% comment drives me up the wall!) on every down. That is all you can ask from a player (or anyone In any aspect of life) and Clay does that down in and down out, which is why, I believe, he stresses his hamstrings, soft tissue, etc. I think a healthy Matthews and a health Perry will be an excellent start to the new year! If TT can draft even just ONE additional pass rusher plus either another pass rusher and/or a CB or two I think this defense will surprise a majority of the posters here! I never gave up on the Packers last year -even during their string of losses. I've seen this team during really bad years (the Forest Gregg, Bart Starr. Mike Sherman coaching years plus others). I've also been privileged to see Bart Starr at QB, The "Majik Man", Favre and now, IMHO, the best QB from a talent perspective that the Packers (or the NFL) have ever seen (Starr is still my favorite QB as he did more with less physical talent). This year (even w/o seeing the draft) is an incredibly exciting year to be watching the Green Bay Packers. If you aren't already excited about the coming season....check your pulse!!!! Go Pack Go!!!

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porupack's picture

March 24, 2017 at 02:04 am

You nailed all points 110 percent.
Just kidding. I also groan at the same, as I do when people use 'literally' when it aint.

Agree on how quick fans bail on a player, 'washed up' 'bust'. For me, not till they sign elsewhere.

Maybe add the sled to your PT, :)
Good luck with it...

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4zone's picture

March 24, 2017 at 04:04 am

I believe all Clay and our other edge guys and CBs need is a guy on the nose who can collapse the pocket. Set him next to Daniel's and then our edge guys are gonna eat QB's for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That will help our CB's greatly.

Clay is still good, he just needs more talent around him to take away some of those double teams.

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NickPerry's picture

March 24, 2017 at 05:49 am

"I believe all Clay and our other edge guys and CBs need is a guy on the nose who can collapse the pocket."

I think that would be a huge help. To many times QB's are able to just step up because we're not getting a consistent push inside. If Clark was able to start getting pressure up the middle with some regularity along with Daniels, Perry, Matthews, and any other OLB will benefit.

If the Packers are able to add a Watt, McKinley, or Harris for example the Packers can move Matthews around more again. Matthews at his best when he's moved around.

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NickPerry's picture

March 24, 2017 at 06:43 am

"I will NEVER throw a Packer player under the bus for electing to play with major injuries. That is COURAGE and to denigrate a player for not being "a difference maker" or "no longer worth their contract".

Matthews is being paid $15 million a season to basically sack the QB. McCarthy made that very clear before the start of last season when he moved him back to OLB and said "Matthews Passion is Sacking the QB". Playing through the shoulder injury DID take courage and no doubt hindered Matthews during the season, just like it did when he played with a huge club on his hand. But when a player takes up almost 9% of the salary cap and you've paid him $26.4 million dollars for the 2015 and 2016 season, you'd expect more than 11.5 sacks and 2.5 more in the playoffs. Paying a shade over $2 million per sack the last 2 seasons is not good use of you cap money. Being ranked in the 100's by PFF at you position isn't worth $26.4 million. Just saying...

Personally I love Matthews but I've never thought he was worth that contract. The contract was never Matthews fault, he just signed it. He does give his all every time he takes the field so I can't be mad at him about that. But the Packers play a 3-4 defense and the the 2 starting OLB should account for at least 20 to 25 sacks a season, especially at that kind of money. I could care less WHERE Matthews gets the sacks from, inside or outside. The last time Matthews was truly a difference maker was when he rushed the QB from EVERYWHERE. Playing "Where's Waldo" with Clay is the best way to utilize his talents. I'd also bet you $110.00 dollars Matthews would be back to double digit sacks in 2017 if the Packers decide to do just that.

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Spock's picture

March 23, 2017 at 08:17 pm

I know I got a little off topic with the Clay Mathews stuff. Just bothers me that their seems to be smh for a veteran player playing through injury (odd that Brett F. got cu does for that, when in my opinion, during his "iron man" starts he played several games with the thumb on his throwing hand hurt and cost the Packers some games they could have won, yet people are ready to string Clay up for trying his best to "live up" to his contract! Weird double standard. Just my opinion of course.) Sorry about that. Fackrell intrigues me. I think he will be a solid player this year. I'm also hoping that Lowry will get that "2nd year jump

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 24, 2017 at 06:45 pm

It is simple. we're not being petty. It is a business. If you no longer can perform your job, you are out.

Not many here denigrate CM3 based on effort. Closest I can recall is when he was on the sidelines for a series or whatever in the Seattle game.

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4thand1's picture

March 23, 2017 at 09:52 pm

Are the packers going to do with Fackrell what they did with Bishop? Get him on the dam field and get him real game time experience.

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

March 24, 2017 at 08:09 am

The way I see the current roster, is that is the product of too many years of success. Picking at the end of each round for 20 years has slowly degraded the overall team talent level. I think the management and staff have done a great job, but the team is constantly put into the "hope-this-one-is-a-diamond-in-the-rough" spot. As a long-time draftnik (over 40 years), I love "diamonds-in-the-rough," but our current roster seems to be lacking established difference-makers. I'm a huge Fackrell fan, but can he go from "a poor man's Ted Hendrikse" to another Clay Matthews or Mike Daniels? We'll see.

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JacFrost's picture

March 24, 2017 at 10:34 am

What else are you expecting at the end of the rounds. The diamonds are usually gone by pick 15. The other diamonds are the to free agents we have the money to acquire to make up for those late round picks and ted is nixing that option

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PackEyedOptimist's picture

March 24, 2017 at 10:59 am

Exactly my point; the diamonds are gone because the Packers have been successful. As far as free agency, the only team who has been more successful in free agency than the Packers, in my opinion, is New England. Convincing NFL millionaires to sign with a small-town, mid-western team vs. BOSTON (a day trip to NYC), makes any GB manager's job WAY more difficult. It's a little amazing that TT has managed to get players like Peppers, Bennett, etc.

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JacFrost's picture

March 24, 2017 at 10:28 am

The way I've always looked at it is if your on the field and your name ain't being called much​, that speaks volumns of your ability. If your on the bench non injury, that speaks volumns of your talent. I expect little from this guy, and probably will not be disappointed

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Woodman's picture

March 24, 2017 at 01:49 pm

This is my Mock Draft D1 OLB - TJ Watt..D2 CB - Chidobe Awuzie...D3 DT- Jaleel Johnson ...D4 OG - Isaac Asiata...D5 HB - Joe Williams...D5 S - Jadar Johnson..Adding Watt to Perry and Fackrell would give us flexibility to move Matthews around...adding Awuzie as a slot corner would be a huge upgrade over Hyde..adding Jaleel would give us another high energy hawkeye to pair with Daniels..adding Jadar would give us a explosive/Athletic DB

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