Five Packers to watch in home opener vs. Vikings in Week 2

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 16: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass during the first quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 16: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass during the first quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Green Bay Packers, Kenny Clark
GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Kenny Clark #97 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after sacking Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Kenny Clark

In order for Blake Martinez to make the plays he made last week against the Bears, Kenny Clark and the rest of the defensive line will have to eat up blockers and allow Martinez to roam free and get after the ball.

The Packers used a lot of three-man fronts against the Bears to take on the guards and center to let the linebackers get free. Clark is a big reason for that success. Dean Lowry and Montravius Adams will have to role to play as well. But it will start and end with Clark.

Clark is good enough to draw the attention of the center and a guard. If this happens, the Packers can occupy two of the other three linemen with Lowry and Adams, leaving only one other lineman to cover four other players in the front seven. That’s a win for the defense every time.

The Vikings can’t come away with another win with Cousins throwing the ball only 10 times. The Packers will have to shut down the run game and make him complete passes.

Cousins is not Mitch Trubisky. He has more experience and is more accurate. However, Cousins is prone to making mistakes and will give the defense a chance to make a pick. In order to do so, Clark and the rest of the line will have to shut down Cook and the run game.