How does a Green Bay Packers defense with eight first-round picks on it improve in 2023? If you ask Kenny Clark, it starts with better tackling and holding up against the run.
When it was all said and done, the Packers’ defense in 2022 allowed 5.0 yards per rush, which ranked 28th in the NFL, and by Football Outsiders’ all-encompassing DVOA metric, Green Bay ranked 31st in run defense.
When an offense is able to find success running the ball on early downs, it keeps them ahead of the sticks, which then opens up the playbook, and for defenses, it becomes much more difficult to diagnose what’s coming next.