Take Micah Parsons out of any defense, and you will notice a seismic impact.
The Green Bay Packers are feeling it one week into training camp, just as they did at the back end of last season. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is finding ways to pressure the quarterback, but he's having to dig deep into his bag. Cornerback blitzes have become a regular sight at Ray Nitschke Field.
None of the Packers' edge-rushers have truly grabbed hold of the opportunity. They lack a consistent standout performer at the position, making the pass rush one of Green Bay's biggest concerns.
"The early returns during camp haven't been especially encouraging when it is starters vs. starters," Bill Huber of Packers On SI wrote on Monday. "It's a huge problem that could tank the season."
It's only training camp, but alarm bells are beginning to ring about the Packers' pass rush
Sure, Javon Hargrave isn't out there yet. Devonte Wyatt is working his way back from injury. They will help collapse the pocket from the inside. Parsons, too, will eventually return.
That will boost the pass rush, but the Packers desperately need another edge defender to rise to the occasion. Consistently.
The flashes are there. Van Ness increased his pressure rate last season despite battling injuries. He's been the Packers' best pass-rusher at camp. But he also went 0-for-3 in one-on-ones versus left tackle Jordan Morgan on Tuesday, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Those drills are hardly the be-all and end-all, but Van Ness isn't dominating.
Dennis-Sutton impressed when the pads went on, which offers encouragement, but he's a fourth-round rookie. It will take time.
Sorrell had his best practice on Tuesday, which included a pick-six. Brenton Cox Jr. has looked solid. Collin Oliver caught reporters' attention on Sunday by comfortably winning his matchup against backup tackle Dalton Cooper.
Again, though, these are just moments. As Huber wrote, the pass rush has mostly gone silent when it's starters versus starters. The rush isn't getting home often enough unless Gannon sends the cavalry.
How the Packers can generate pass rush until Micah Parsons returns
Gannon has a big challenge ahead of him. He's already pulling out the cornerback blitzes, and the Packers may need them more regularly than they'd ideally like.
Up front, it'll take a collective effort. Hargrave and Wyatt must lead the charge once they're fully healthy. Van Ness will need to become the de facto No. 1 edge-rusher until Parsons returns. One of Sorrell, Dennis-Sutton, Cox, or Oliver has to step up in each game.
And the hope is that everything will fall into place once Parsons returns. That he'll draw attention his way and create favorable matchups elsewhere. That's when we should see the best of the Packers' defense, making all of Gannon's disguised looks and blitzes even more effective.
Until then, the Packers' pass rush might have to settle for survival mode.
It's the problem Jeff Hafley ran into following Parsons' ACL tear last winter. When Parsons was healthy, Hafley rarely blitzed and wanted to keep everything in front of the defensive backs. Parsons could generate pressure on his own. That all changed once Hafley lost his all-world pass-rusher, forcing him to take more risks.
Gannon will need to do the same. There's still time for one of the edge defenders to emerge, but one week into training camp, the Packers are already feeling the Parsons-sized void.
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