This Could Be the Packers Deepest Defensive Line in a Long Time
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers defensive line has been a weakness on this team for far too long. The line has not excelled at stopping the run and has not provided consistent pass rush by the interior linemen since the team’s last Super Bowl win back in 2010.
But this preseason, there is hope that the Packers may have a deeper and more talented defensive line than they’ve had in recent years. There is young talent on this roster that while still unproven at the NFL level, is providing the team with optimism for the near future.
Kenny Clark remains the best player on the defensive line, and he is the only returning starter. Clark is entering his eighth NFL season but will only turn 28 this October. The two-time Pro Bowler recorded four sacks in each of the last two seasons.
While Clark is capable of dominance, he needs to be a bit more consistent. When he’s on his game, he’s capable of putting pressure on the quarterback and penetrating the offensive line to disrupt running plays.
Hopefully, the upgrade of talent around him can keep him fresh and help him make more plays. He is also likely to play more on the outside as opposed to playing nose tackle which should give him more opportunities to rush the passer.
The two new projected starters next to Clark are second-year man Devonte Wyatt and T.J. Slaton. Wyatt was a first-round pick a year ago. The Georgia alum didn’t play much until late in the season when he showed flashes of the ability that led GM Brian Gutekunst to select him late in the first round. He made 1.5 sacks and was credited with three quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Wyatt took a while to get comfortable on defense but seemed to find himself late in the season after Dean Lowry was injured and unable to play. Now Wyatt has a chance to start and show that he can live up to his draft position.
After a solid start in training camp, Wyatt has cooled off a bit in the last week or so. The Packers need him to prove he can be a consistent starter this season.
Slaton will take over as the team’s nose tackle. He is a big, run stuffing lineman who stands 6’4” and weighs 330 pounds. He started two games last season and had two tackles for loss and broke up two passes.
The Packers coaching staff is hopeful that Slaton will improve the team’s play at the line of scrimmage by using his large frame to occupy blockers and free up linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker to make tackles.
Two 2023 draft picks have exceeded expectations in training camp and thus far in the preseason and that is the big source of optimism that this unit may finally have adequate depth.
Fourth round pick Colby Wooden out of Auburn and sixth round pick Karl Brooks out of Bowling Green have both picked up the defense quickly and made some plays both in camp and during preseason games.
Both players are expected to be part of the defensive line rotation even if they don’t start immediately. Both players are also capable of putting some pressure on the passer according to scouting reports. Both may also contribute on special teams if they can impress Rich Bisaccia.
If the Packers keep a sixth defensive lineman on the roster, last year’s seventh round pick, Jonathan Ford is considered the favorite. Ford didn’t play at all as a rookie but may be able to provide depth at stopping the run and help on special teams if he makes the roster.
This young, hungry, talent gives the Packers more hope along the defensive line than they’ve had in quite some time. Of course, it’s one thing to play well in training camp or preseason and another to excel against starting players once the games count.
But the addition of Wooden and Brooks plus the elevation of young players like Wyatt and Slaton to play alongside Clark gives the Packers reasons for optimism that the 2023 defensive line could be the best unit the team has had in a while with the potential to get even better as the young players mature.
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Comments (61)
Starrbrite
August 24, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Excellent—and this is without the mention of Gary and Van Ness, whom in my opinion are essentially pass rushing lineman.
Go Packers!!!
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 08:17 am
Those are our 2 biggest OLB at #277 & 272. Insane RAS of 9.95 and 9.39.
I look forward to seeing lots of 'meet at the QB!'
mnbadger
August 24, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Agree with you Gil, that "the 2023 defensive line could be the best unit the team has had in a while" but that won't take much.
I'm hoping they'll move from bottom third of the league to top third of the league. 10th to 14th best would be a huge improvement from where we've been recently.
It's nice to have multiple, talented, young players at virtually every position.
GPG!
LambeauPlain
August 24, 2023 at 12:56 pm
I have been impressed with Slayton. He plays hard all the time. And he wears #93 too!
With Slayton at Nose, Kenny at DE, Gary and/or Smith/Enagbare coming at you, I can see Hercules joining in at the other DE...can't you?
Wyatt has indeed cooled off. He needs to heat up. Brooks and Wooden are going to get his snaps in the rotation if he doesn't.
BradHTX
August 24, 2023 at 02:07 pm
“I have been impressed with Slayton.”
I assume you mean T.J. Slaton, as he’s mentioned in the article. It’s confusing also having Chris Slayton on the roster.
LambeauPlain
August 24, 2023 at 03:54 pm
My bad. #93 TJ Slaton.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 08:20 am
We have lots of this; 3 Fords, 2 Wilsons, not sure who our partridge in a pear tree is, lol.
HawkPacker
August 24, 2023 at 05:13 pm
I confuse them all the time.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 08:20 am
Hopefully our opponents do, too.
packer132
August 24, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Packers have concentrated on the offensive line in the last few drafts prior to 2023. Unfortunately, when you win 13 games for three straight seasons, you draft at the bottom of every round. The O line should be solid, assuming Bakh can stay healthy for most of the year. As noted above, Gary and Van Ness will help the pass rush. Green Bay has acquired some good young talent in the last 3 drafts, and hopefully we will see some results in a few weeks.
greengold
August 24, 2023 at 01:05 pm
This IS the deepest Defensive Line the Packers have had in a long time. 100%.
HawkPacker
August 24, 2023 at 05:15 pm
And the two rooks are so much better than I thought they would be this early. Should be a fun year watching them develop.
splitpea1
August 24, 2023 at 01:17 pm
I would hope that Ford makes the roster--that would truly make the DL deep in all areas. Expect to see Van Ness occasionally rotated in there as well. The big question is whether or not this unit is physical and stout enough to hold their own against the run--there will be a good test of that coming up fairly early against the Falcons.
T7Steve
August 24, 2023 at 02:00 pm
Even if all they do is eat up blockers for Clark and the linebackers, it will have to get better.
I hope they keep Ford too. It's a better idea.
crayzpackfan
August 24, 2023 at 01:27 pm
As long as our DC plays soft coverage, especially on medium yardage 3rd downs, our beasts up front will get into the backfield a half second too late 90% of the time. This front seven looks so talented I just hope JB doesn't ruin the whole thing.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 02:15 pm
How do you account for the fact that we had one of the best pass defenses in the league last year?
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 24, 2023 at 02:29 pm
Because teams didn't have to pass? They could just run all over us?
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 05:46 pm
If you spent two minutes thinking that through, you’d ask yourself then why we were 17th in scoring, if teams could just run over us?
crayzpackfan
August 24, 2023 at 02:34 pm
LH
Not here to argue. Just stating the near consensus that JB plays soft coverage a lot. Nothing more and nothing less. If I am wrong about that, I'm willing to be schooled. What was GB's 3rd down defense ranked? I don't know, but seems relevant to my main point.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 05:55 pm
3rd in total 3rd down conversions
8th in percentage.
The priority is pass defense. It’s more important than stuffing the run.
Yeah, we play soft coverage so people don’t get behind us for big plays. That’s why we have one of the top pass defenses.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 11:58 am
LH,
statistics are all well and good, but the addage that there are statistics, statisticians, and damn liars exists for a reason. Stat lines don't reveal situational football, and there were situations we got beat. It is those situations we'd like to improve.
Disrupting the backfield is a GREAT way to do that, and of course we hope to see lots of that. A much easier schedule is arguably even more helpful, but we'll still face some opponents who can escape pressure and fire off some good passes.
No Adrian Amos and a questionable safety room is predictable. There's certainly room for improvement, including with sticking with the players we've got.
jannesbjornson
August 24, 2023 at 03:04 pm
Best to play it Heavy. More sets with 4 DLs with the their hand in the dirt. Cover the gaps since their ILBs are not pluggers, but chase LBs. They have the bodies; the defensive design is questionable.
Coldworld
August 24, 2023 at 04:13 pm
Seeing what they do with Ford will be key. First, is he on the roster and second is he going out for snaps promptly if teams are favoring the run? Clark, Ford, Slaton or a combination thereof should be a real obstacle between the tackles. Brooks too. We’ve not had that kind of potential in a long time. And yet nor have we had the depth of penetrative threat we have now.
We have the potential ability, can the coaches get it out in the field? I will be happier when I see us shut down Chicago. Fields and co have to run a lot to get things going and they have the horses to do it. With this talent, Barry doesn’t have much excuse if we don’t.
Taken together, with Jaire and Rasul on the perimeter, It’s all down to the middle. Hopefully we see Walker cover effectively and Nixon be good enough to shut down the quicker stuff aggressively while the rush prevents time to workout out safeties. Goodness knows what they will look like, even if they are both on this roster.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:06 pm
After watching Wyatt's snaps against the Patriots I'm hoping they'll be quick to pull him for Slaton in base if they're getting gouged in the run game. Or Wooden if it looks like he'll hold up against starting O linemen.
At this point if Wyatt doesn't win with speed he's not winning. His hand usage reminds me a lot of Slaton in his 1st year. I think the best way to use him right now is mainly on passing downs where his responsibility is simple. Feed him other snaps here and there during a game and see if he grows as the season progresses.
I'm very interested to see how the players usage and snaps shake out when the bright lights come on. Right now I'd guess Wooden plays mainly as a backup DE in base and a few snaps here and there subbing in for Clark in the 2 DL looks and Brooks is mainly the backup 3T.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 05:34 pm
This isn't the 1950s. 4-2-5 and 2-4-5 is the same thing these days and both are the prevalent defenses being played. Playing a short yardage defense on 1st and 10 is a good way to get scored on.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 05:59 pm
Imo, you are correct. Better to give up 5 yards per rush than 7 yards per pass.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:32 pm
Not exactly. Giving up 5 yards per rush is a good way to make sure your defense stays on the field and your top D linemen get worn out. Then you're liable to give up a lot more than 7 yards per pass. Most likely will give up a lot more than 7 yards per pass with 4 DTs in the game in any situation other than short yardage too.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 06:47 pm
So how did we win time of possession so often?
Coldworld
August 24, 2023 at 07:02 pm
Because we had an 0 that took 30 passes or runs of 5 yards or less to get down the field or 15 to punt too. Later we added a successful long bomb or two, but relatively few. That’s why Ds stacked the first 10 yards.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 07:34 pm
You should check your math.
Our average drive was about 6 plays.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 12:08 pm
LL, the difference between 2-4-5 and 4-2-5 is OLB vs D linemen. Our heaviest OLB is lighter than every D lineman we've got except for Wooden (273 vs Gary 277) and Moultrie who doesn't project to make the roster. Our next lightest lineman is Brooks at 296 with the rest over 300. That's a pretty significant difference.
It'll be interesting to see how they might implement the "versatility" concept with using more than 3 linemen, bringing LVN (272#) inside sometimes, and on the other side of the ball if they have an O lineman fill the Mercedes Lewis role, which is also something I'd like to see. Especially if that preserves the FB position.
dblbogey
August 24, 2023 at 01:29 pm
Some complain that they never gave Arod enough weapons. He usually had enough weapons, but he never had a dominant defensive line. Here's hoping they're as good as they sound. Wyatt needs to kick it up a notch, like Slaton seems to have done. I wasn't high on Van Ness but would love to be wrong about him.
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 24, 2023 at 02:31 pm
He for sure didn't have enough weapons last year and maybe the last few years. They just didn't do a good job of replacing Jennings, Jordy, Jones, Cobb (the younger version) with good talent, other than Davante Adams. Lazard was an okay guy; MVS was a one-trick pony. And other than Tonyan's one good year, they have sorely lacked in TE talent for years. And yes, the defense was always a weak link, other than 2010 and 2014.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 12:12 pm
I think patience is the word with LVN. It's not surprising if he doesn't take the league by storm as a rookie. If he develops on Gary's pace he'll be Luke Ness Monster in his third or fourth year. I'd like to see him add tools to his bullrush quicker than that, but apparently it's normal to take longer than a rookie year.
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 24, 2023 at 02:09 pm
I guess I am the skeptic. GB hasn't had a great line since the days of Ryan Pickett, BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins. They had 14.5 sacks out of that trio in 2010. Raji was a high draft pick, Pickett a highly paid free agent and Jenkins an undrafted guy. I will still never understand why they didn't try to keep Jenkins after the Super Bowl win. He went on to be effective for the NYG.
So for this crew, I'll believe it when I see it. Practice and preseason doesn't give me enough faith that we are really going to see a change and have a truly physical line again.
greengold
August 24, 2023 at 03:22 pm
That was the last good DL the Packers have had, and it should have been held together longer. Ted wouldn't pay Cullen Jenkins in 2011, and I knew immediately it was over. Jenkins was the glue that held it all together.
lou
August 24, 2023 at 05:04 pm
The word on Jenkins was that in a contract year he missed 5 games and came out of a couple others suspiciously per the players protecting himself and the word of course got up to Ted. If was so unfortunate that not only did they not have Jenkins but Rajii retired surprisingly at his peak, Bishop was injured and never the same then Collins had to retire. The defense lost 3 top players (and one good one), one at each level of the defense. Not many teams can have that happen and not have to rebuild.
HawkPacker
August 24, 2023 at 05:19 pm
Very informative post Lou!
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:34 pm
Ted should have been more impressed he missed 5 games and still had 7 sacks that year.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:21 pm
Jenkins was pretty productive for the Eagles for two years and the Giants for one and then tailed off quickly. He had 29 of 49 career sacks with the Packers in 7 years and 20 in 6 years after he left but 14.5 came in the 1st three years of his leaving.
I don't remember the contract he got with the Eagles or if was outlandish but it's clear TT didn't do enough to try and replace his production. He drafted no DTs in 2011 and Worthy in 2012 was a bust. Thankfully Daniels worked out but wasn't the pass rusher Jenkins was.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 12:16 pm
So they got rid of Jenkins 3 years too soon.
Ouch.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
August 24, 2023 at 02:19 pm
I admit it. I am a Wyatt supremacist.
T7Steve
August 24, 2023 at 02:38 pm
Make that a green and gold Wyatt supremacist and you'll escape the rope.
Nice accent, by the way. Usually Upers just say stuff like hoos for house, aboot for about and ya-hey.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:22 pm
Scepticist would be more apt at this time.
PackEyedOptimist
August 24, 2023 at 02:33 pm
It’s good to bring up Ford on special teams, as he played there a LOT in college. I thought he was pretty terrible as a DL in college and last year, but he seems to have turned a corner there.
Wyatt is an enigma, but if the DL is truly allowed to be aggressive (and drafting two agile guys in Wooden and Brooks makes that seem likely), this front seven should be fun to watch.
With Alexander, Valentine, and especially Douglas, we may see more interceptions than we’ve seen in a long time!
WestCoastPackerBacker
August 24, 2023 at 02:52 pm
I do miss the days when the GBP defense led the league in interceptions, or was at least somewhere in the top tier. Woodson, Harris, Tramon, Shields. We had some guys able to pick them off. But we've not been as adept for some time.
White92
August 24, 2023 at 02:44 pm
But wait, there is no Dean Lowrey or Tyler Lancaster
PeteK
August 24, 2023 at 04:04 pm
For a UDFA, Lancaster provided some solid snaps.
Coldworld
August 24, 2023 at 04:25 pm
He was hard to move, not a common theme for many of our recent DL.
Since'61
August 24, 2023 at 03:07 pm
Since 2010 the Packers DL has been mediocre on its best days. Dismally poor on their worst days. They have hurt the team in ways we haven't even been aware of over the years. Except for Clark and Julius Pepper, while he was here, no one has been able to hold the point against the run game.
As of today the Packers DL is in a similar situation with their receiving corps. Clark is the only veteran player. Everyone else is either in the second year, coming off part time play in their rookie season or they are rookies.
How well this visually all new DL will perform against legit NFL level OLs in anyones guess once the regular season starts. At least there is some talent there now as opposed to Lowry and Lancaster who were JAGs.
My preferred starting DL would be Clark, Slaton and Wyatt with Wooden, Brooks and Ford in the rotation. This is assuming that the Packers keep 6 on the 53, which I believe that they should. I'm not expecting a return to the DL 2010 level of play this season but going forward into '24 and '25 hopefully. Maybe even the Halcyon days of the Holmgren era DL down the road. Time will tell. Thanks, Since '61
crayzpackfan
August 24, 2023 at 03:54 pm
61
At some point this year or next year, I can see Brooks being subbed by Wyatt. I can also See LVN being part of the DE rotation.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 03:52 pm
We open against the best rushing team in the league. Temper your expectations
Coldworld
August 24, 2023 at 04:31 pm
Best rushing? Yes in the sense of best Rushing QB. They have a good stable of physical backs, but the trick is to contain them and Fields at the same time. That’s going to take some imagination from Gary (or some film watching—it’s been done before).
Their OL doesn’t scare me at all though, especially with their best player out, even with Lewis. Hold the center and then it’s up to the LBs to contain and wait for the inevitable long throw to Moore. Velus Jones hasn’t set the world on fire despite his speed. Other than that Fields has been trying short lateral like passes premised on the D being focused inside.
Leatherhead
August 24, 2023 at 05:42 pm
Best rushing as in the most rushing yards in the league, by a wide margin.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:41 pm
Doesn't matter when you're passing game is a complete shit show. The Eagles were 5th in rushing and had two WRs finish in the top 10 in explosive plays. If you remember they didn't need many explosive passes against the Packers because they curb stomped them in the running game.
I expect the Bears to still have problems with protection but their passing game will be much improved. ESB was their 3rd best WR last year and there's a good chance he doesn't make the roster this year.
Coldworld
August 24, 2023 at 07:06 pm
Pretty much sums it up, Fields of last year too.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 12:59 pm
LH,
tempered expectations? 40-0 it is then, with two missed extra points.
Lol
No seriously, winning this game is incredibly important to Chicago. They'll certainly be at their best, with plenty of time to plan and heal everybody up. All our optimism will get it's first dose of reality. Many have written that week 1 can't get here soon enough whereas I've said we need to milk this preseason for every ounce of preparation it's worth; that process isn't done. It does seem pretty evident that our whole roster has a great work ethic and attitude though!
GPG
stockholder
August 24, 2023 at 03:53 pm
I see a rotation on the DL.
These Rookies are changing the thinking.
And I'll be surprised; if Clark doesn't get the majority
of snaps at NT.
The timing of Van Ess moving to DE.
Suggest a split in time, with Brooks, and Van Ess.
And why expect; Clark to learn what comes natural?
And that might be true of these Rookies.
LLCHESTY
August 24, 2023 at 06:42 pm
I ran this through Google translate. Didn't help.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 25, 2023 at 01:00 pm
Think of it like a crossword puzzle, lol.
Ferrari-Driver
August 24, 2023 at 10:38 pm
In our Super Bowl victory year in 1996, we had the number one defense in the NFL with a defensive line made up of Reggie White, Sean Jones, Santana Dotson and Gilbert Brown. If we come out of the gate this year resembling anything close to those super stars when we rolled the Patriots almost three decades ago, I can't help but think the Packers will wind up as the Division Champs this year. Gil is getting my hopes up with his positive comments.