Paul Bretl | 12/26/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ pass rush has really begun to pick up steam in recent weeks, and leading the charge for the defensive front is the play of Rashan Gary.
Through the first half of the season, the Packers’ struggled to generate steady pressure on the quarterback with their four man front, and frequently, any pressures that were drummed up were created by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley through blitzes or simulated pressures.
In total sacks and ESPN’s pass rush win rate, the Packers ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in both categories coming out of their bye week. That inconsistent play doesn’t fall on the shoulders of only one player–it’s everyone. However, from a production standpoint, the results for Gary weren’t there during that initial stretch of the season.
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Over the Packers’ first nine games of the season, Gary generated 20 pressures, ranking 38th among all defensive ends in that category. When winning his pass rush reps, Gary was converting a high number of those opportunities into pressures, but the consistency wasn’t there as he ranked 76th among defensive ends in win rate. In terms of his overall pass rush efficiency, Gary ranked 79th, meaning the number of pressures and sacks being generated given the amount of snaps being played weren’t aligning.
However, since Week 11, Green Bay’s first game out of the bye week, the pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction for Gary. After creating 20 pressures in the first nine games of the season, he’s already generated 22 over the last six games, which is tied for the 11th-most during that span. In that same pass-rush win rate metric, Gary ranks 11th and he’s tied for 10th in pass rush productivity.
“He just looks more comfortable and I think a lot of guys do because he’s playing faster and he’s thinking less,” said Hafley about Gary’s play. “And I think Rebs (Jason Rebrovich) and V.O. (Vince Oghobaase) and Wendel (Davis) are doing a good job of getting him in those positions where he can succeed. I think we have a better grasp of who he is and what he can do well, and I think he has a comfort level right now in what he’s doing. And he has played better and he’s gotten a lot of pressure.”
In the Packers’ most recent game against the New Orleans Saints, there were back-to-back pass rush reps from Gary that illustrate just how well he’s playing. Rushing from the defense’s left side, Gary used his power to drive the offensive tackle back into the quarterback’s lap. Then, on the very next play, with the offensive tackle bracing for power, Gary used his speed to warp around the tackle and again disrupted the timing and flow of the offensive play.
Even more impressive is that Gary is producing at his current level while still being one of the more higher chipped defensive ends this year, according to PFF.
Behind any success or failure in football, there are always a number of contributing elements. As Hafley mentioned, the coaches are doing a better job of putting Gary in positions to find success.
In addition to that, the situation and game plan needs to be taken into account as well. Early on in the season there were several games where the Packers’ defense faced mobile quarterbacks, which required a more controlled pass rush approach, where the emphasis for the pass rush was on control and keeping the quarterback in the pocket, rather than pinning their ears back.
There is also something to be said for consistency at the pass rush position. Even if the production doesn’t show up on paper right away, consistently winning your reps will eventually lead to it–as Gary’s recent numbers showcase. And collectively, as a defensive unit, with each passing week, there is added comfort in the new Jeff Hafley defense, resulting in fast, physical, and confident play, not only from Gary but the defense as a whole.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” said Jeff Hafley of the defense. “I do. I think where we’re at right now is our guys understand what we’re doing and they’re playing really fast and they’re playing really hard and they’re starting to make a lot of plays. And you can see it. Whether I sit up in the booth, or whether I put on the tape, they’re playing fast and they’re physical and they’re playing hard.
“So what that tells me is, they know what they’re doing. So therefore I think we’re in a good spot. And I give the coaches credit and I give the players credit for getting to that point. Because you could feel it. Like, if you turn on Week 1 to now, it’s a totally different speed and confidence.”
Pressures and sacks are always going to be what garners the most attention when discussing defensive ends, but defending the run is obviously a very important element as well. During that same six-game stretch, Gary has the sixth-most run stops of any defensive end in football and ranks third in run-stop rate as well.
Collectively, the Packers run defense has improved drastically in Year 1 under Hafley, entering Week 17 ranked fifth in yards per rush allowed, and as of late, includes some very impressive performances against several dynamic ball carriers.
“I think he’s done an outstanding job,” said Matt LaFleur of Rashan Gary in the run game. “I think that’s one of the areas that I would tell you that is most improved, and I think it’s gotten better as the season’s progressed, just our ability to come off the ball, set edges, get multiple hats at the football. I think all the guys have been doing an outstanding job.”
There’s a high level of selflessness that comes with a defensive end being an impactful and willing run defender–run stops are not what gets that position paid or recognized regularly among their peers. That play-style and mentality from Gary then carries over to the pass rush, where beyond his own production, Gary’s presence and willingness to take on double teams or set picks helps others to produce.
“He’s playing the run game better too, and that’s the sign of an unselfish player,” added Hafley. “He’s using his hands, he’s setting edges, he’s getting off blocks, he’s running to the ball. I mean even in practice today, and I keep going back to that but it’s fresh on my mind, there’s great examples of him just doing great things in the run game and then he had a great pick today in practice, which again, you’re picking for somebody to come around and its unselfish then all of sudden you’re the one to pop free. So there’s complete buy in right now which is awesome to see. And it’s a credit to him.”
I certainly do not think that it’s a coincidence that as Gary’s production has begun to take off, the Packers’ pass rush unit as a whole has begun to flourish as well. In recent weeks, we’ve seen New Orleans’ quarterback Spencer Rattler be under pressure on 52.6% of his dropbacks–the third-highest rate in Week 16. The week prior, Seattle quarterbacks Sam Howell and Geno Smith each ranked top 10 in Week 15 pressure rate, while in Week 13, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa ranked sixth in dropbacks under pressure, and San Francisco’s Brandon Allen ranked 12th the week before.
“I do,” said Hafley when asked if the pass rush has found something as of late. “And it has to be. I think that we’ve created depth because we’re playing a lot of guys and I think towards the end of the game when teams have had to throw the ball we’re fresh and we look fast out there. And I think they’re getting better and if we’re gonna make a run at this thing we’re gonna have to be.”
The ceiling for this Packers’ defense is going to be determined by how effective and steady the Packers’ four man rush is. When a defensive front is able to get home regularly, every other position on the field benefits. Sacks lead to long down-and-distance situations, while pressure disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play, resulting in less time in coverage for the secondary and potential mistakes to capitalize on.
Accomplishing this on a consistent basis, particularly against the NFL’s best who the Packers will be up against in the playoffs, requires Gary to continue operating at a high level.