Packers: Kenny Clark one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark has become an absolute force to deal with for opposing offenses. In his short NFL career, he has already become one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league.

Kenny Clark was the Green Bay Packers‘ first-round pick back in the 2016 NFL Draft. Although former general manager Ted Thompson struggled when it came to drafting players his last few years in Green Bay, Clark was an absolute home run.

Just over halfway through his third year with the Packers and having just turned 23 this fall, Clark is yet to hit his prime years but has already become one of the elite defensive tackles in the NFL.

In what has been a disappointing season up to this point for the Packers, Kenny Clark has been fantastic and a huge contributor in the resurgence of the Green Bay defense.

What makes Clark so effective?

A former high school wrestler like Mike Daniels, Clark has a strong upper body and is very good with his hands which are two aspects that benefit him greatly on the interior line.

Although Clark is shorter than many NFL defensive tackles, his low center of gravity makes him very difficult for offensive linemen to block. In one-on-one situations Clark is very successful with the bull rush in getting into the backfield because of his brute strength and his ability to stay low.

Even when opposing offenses choose to double team Clark, he is still difficult to slow down. Due to how quickly he gets off of the ball and how well he hits the gap, Clark is able to fight through just about any double team and disrupt the play.

Perhaps Clark’s best attribute on the field is his high football IQ and his great instincts that allows him to diagnose plays quickly and put himself in the correct position to make a play on the ball.

Clark’s 2018 season

Once again Kenny Clark is having a great season for the Packers and every year that he has been in the league he has continued to improve.

With about two-thirds of the season complete, Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Kenny Clark ranked as one of the top defensive interior linemen in multiple categories. Amongst all qualifying candidates, Clark is ranked sixth overall in the PFF rankings.

At times the work of a defensive lineman can go unnoticed, but Clark has been able to make his impact on many games this season and has put up great numbers on the stat sheet. According to PFF, Clark has 32 total pressures, 24 quarterback hurries, three quarterback hits, five sacks and is fourth in the NFL with 44 total tackles.

Clark is truly one of the best in the league at getting into the backfield and disrupting plays, whether it’s pass or a run. Without a doubt Clark has been playing at an All-Pro level in 2018.

The Green Bay Packers and their fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming years with Kenny Clark on the defensive line. Given his young age, skill set, and work ethic, it is not unreasonable to assume that Clark will continue to improve. For opposing offenses, that’s downright scary.