There were plenty of positive takeaways from the Green Bay Packers’ pre-season debut on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, but perhaps the most exciting: Lukas Van Ness’ stat line. In about one half of work, Van Ness compiled three solo tackles, all three for a loss, including a sack. Van Ness looked sharp and strong. The second-year man out of Iowa showcased all the traits the Packers hoped he would develop when they spent a first-round pick on him last year, and he appears to be evolving just according to plan.
Van Ness was engaged as both a pass rusher and a run stopper. He made plays rushing from the inside and outside and was critical in Green Bay’s effort to stifle Cleveland’s rushing attack.
The Browns were not playing many starters on either side of the ball, including their starting tackles, Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin. Without them, it was evident that Green Bay’s pass rushers were outclassing Cleveland’s linemen. Van Ness and third-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt gave the Browns’ offense fits all day.
First-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley didn’t dial up anything complicated. He kept it simple and didn’t throw any exotic packages at the Browns.
“I thought guys competed hard,” Matt LaFleur said. “It was not like an overly complicated game plan. Hafley had a very minimal call sheet, and that was by design. We just wanted to see our guys go out, compete, play fast, play physical, and run to the football.”
That’s exactly what Van Ness did.
Here is a collection of all Van Ness’ excellent plays from the weekend:
In the clip above, we see Van Ness use a variety of pass-rushing moves to get to the quarterback. In the run game, he holds his ground and uses his leverage to make plays on the ball carrier. Van Ness is also smart enough to play the read option well. All are great developments from the former first-round pick.
In the clip above, Van Ness goes on a stunt with Karl Brooks to bring pressure up the middle. He does his best Clay Matthews impression, swinging for Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley’s head. However, the pressure and contact knocked Huntley off balance and left Colby Wooden open to clean up the play.
Using Van Ness to rush in the middle is scary. It’s rare to find someone of his size (6’5”, 271 lbs.) who can move that fast and cause that much chaos. Hafley has the gift of Van Ness and his tenacity. The effectiveness of this stunt won’t go unnoticed.
The play above is incredibly difficult. It requires reading a mobile and shifty quarterback who has the option to hand the ball off. If Van Ness can’t keep contain here, the quarterback is breaking that off for a huge gain.
Van Ness can break down, be aggressive, and make a play on the ball. That play may seem simple. However, in lesser hands, it has the potential for disaster, and Van Ness did everything right to stifle an athletic quarterback.
The Packers let LVN come along slowly. Like they’ve done with defensive linemen, Green Bay didn’t play him immediately. Now the traits the Packers hoped would develop are manifesting on the football field.
In last year’s draft, Green Bay used the 13th-overall pick on Van Ness. Experts saw Van Ness as a developmental player who needed some time before becoming an effective NFL player.
After Saturday, that time appears to be now.
All stats and data via ESPN and Green Bay Packers unless otherwise noted
