The Green Bay Packers are surrounded by myriad questions as they transition to Jordan Love as the starting quarterback.
Yet one of Green Bay’s largest uncertainties doesn’t involve that transition at all. In fact, it’s a reoccurring yearly question still without a comfortable answer: Can the Packers’ defense stop the run?
Green Bay’s defense under-performed on the whole last season, but in an unfortunate tradition, the run defense was particularly shoddy. The Packers lost two of their most-used defensive linemen from last season, with Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry departing in free agency. Without any major free-agent investments, the team will rely on young players to step up to improve the trenches and help Kenny Clark.
That creates a massive opportunity for third-year defensive lineman TJ Slaton. Based on the roster build and what we’ve seen in OTAs and minicamp, Slaton will be the primary nose tackle and run-stuffer. Can the former fifth-round pick take a step forward and fix Green Bay’s hauntingly-bad run defense?
It’s not hyperbole to say the run defense was bad again last season. Green Bay finished 28th in yards per rush (5.0) and was 31st by DVOA. Admittedly, the unit improved through the defense’s solid stretch in December, allowing 4.4 yards per rush for a mediocre 15th by DVOA.
Why can’t the defense succeed against the run? A lack of personnel is clearly an issue. Almost every year since Kenny Clark joined the league fans have expressed the need to get him some help. While Brian Gutekunst finally made a big investment in Devonte Wyatt last year, Wyatt barely saw the field until injuries pushed him into the lineup.
While Wyatt will have a bigger role in Year 2, the rest of the line is full of young players with limited NFL experience trying to replace a significant amount of crucial if unspectacular snaps. Coaching and philosophy will have to inspire these young players, like Slaton, to aggressively attack the role.
Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery said earlier this season that becoming a good run-stopper comes from the right mindset. And Montgomery sees Slaton starting to embody that mindset.
“You go back and watch TJ Slaton against the Minnesota Vikings here, and him pick up a 300 lb. center and put him five yards back down there on the goal line and then grab the running back by the back of the neck and yank him down. That’s a mindset, he can do that every single time, but he has to make that decision,” Montgomery said in May.
While Kenny Clark is one of the league’s best nose tackles, it’s clear Joe Barry would rather play him at end. Throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp, we saw Wyatt-Slaton-Clark as the preferred base lineup, and Slaton-Clark was a common sight on early downs.
The ability to move Clark around the line benefits the defense on the whole, putting him in more favorable matchups and offering more one-on-ones. But this only works if someone else can handle nose tackle duties.
None of Green Bay’s other linemen are really built to be true middle-of-the-line nose tackles. Wyatt is best at end, as are rookies Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden. Clark and Slaton are the only two really build for the role with any experience. While the team could sign a veteran for training camp, the fact they haven’t shows that they’re reading to provide a big opportunity for Slaton.
Slaton has shown some great flashes so far, but he hasn’t been a consistent force yet. He’ll need to show that he can consistently dominate his competition, block the run, and perform opportunities for his teammates to rush the passer. He may not be a player that lights up the stat sheet, but he can play a valuable role and be a core defender if he can take the next step.
Green Bay’s pass-rush was also an issue last season, especially after Rashan Gary was injured. As Gary recovers and 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness gets acclimated to the lineup, a better run defense will make their lives easier. It’s a lot to ask of the former fifth-rounder, but Slaton has a chance to become a cog in the defense.
Green Bay is betting on their home-grown players a lot this season as they figure out who their long-term answers are. There aren’t many better opportunities available for young players to show their stuff. As usual, Kenny Clark needs help on the line. Can Slaton answer the call?
