Rashan Gary is great, but the Packers need other first-rounders to step up
Green Bay Packers pass-rusher Rashan Gary has been great this season and that's somewhat of an understatement considering the context of this season.
His pressure rate of 33 percent leads the NFL, which is impressive in itself. It's even more impressive when you consider the fact that he's been on a "snap count" through four games as he makes his way fully back from an ACL injury he suffered last season.
Gary's ability to get after the quarterback has certainly been a highlight for Green Bay this season, but that's really all the Packers have to lean on right now.
The Packers defense is currently ranked 21st in yards given up per game (352.5), 20th in points per game (24) and 29th in rushing yards given up per game (155.3). They've surrendered 211 rushing yards twice, to the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions, and in terms of turnovers caused, they're among the worst in the league with four. Two of those turnovers came against the woeful Chicago Bears in Week 2.
Yes, Gary has been a bright spot, but he clearly can't do it all for the Packers – and that's been the problem in 2023. This is a defense that boasts eight first-round draft picks on it, remember. Sure, Eric Stokes is just coming back to action and Jaire Alexander missed last week with a back injury, but there's little-to-no excuse for players like Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker, Darnell Savage and rookie Lukas Van Ness to be underperforming their draft slots.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry has gotten a ton of heat and he deserves much of the criticism, but ultimately, this is a unit that general manager Brian Gutekunst has invested a ton of major draft capital into.
For the Packers to have a defense outside of the top 10, let alone one near the bottom of the league rankings is completely unacceptable.
Perhaps Gutekunst can evaluate defensive talent or Barry can't "coach 'em up," but several players on this defense have to step up sooner rather than later in order for the Packers to have a chance in 2023.
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