Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 11 vs. Colts
By Jesse Fry
1. Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark has become a regular on this list and should be.
The biggest weakness on the defense is stopping the run. Clark is supposed to be the clog in the middle pushing back the linemen closing running lanes and freeing up the linebackers.
No player in the 3-4 defense is more important to the run defense than the nose tackle. Even with the amount of nickel and dime Mike Pettine likes to play, the stopping of the run starts with Clark. It isn’t fair to put all the struggles on Clark, but if the run defense is to improve, Clark is the first of many who will have to pick up their game.
The Colts drafted Jonathan Taylor in the second round of the 2020 draft to be the bell-cow. Although that has yet to come to fruition, Indy still has put together a good run game mixing in Taylor, Jordan Wilkins, and Nyheim Hines.
Clark and the defense will face a very good offensive line that boasts three first-round picks, Quenton Nelson, Anthony Castonzo, and Ryan Kelly. Clark will most likely find himself matched up against Nelson and Kelly for most of the game, so it will be imperative that he wins his matchup.
Clark will also need to be a force in pass rush. Philip Rivers is about as immobile as they come and will make mistakes when faced with pressure.
If Clark can be the duel threat we know he can be, the Packers defense should be able to keep Indy’s offense stuck in neutral and put the team on the path to victory.