Former Packers offensive lineman sends brutally honest message to Rashan Gary

With only one sack in his past 11 games, Rashan Gary's start to the season is understandably concerning Green Bay Packers fans.

It would be easy to blame the new scheme or the double teams Gary faces, but his lack of production dates back to last season. Even when Gary is getting one-on-one matchups, he still isn't making the impact the Packers need from him. Based on the Packers' poor pass rush this season, they may need to continue adding to the group.

Through four weeks, Gary has one sack, which came in the season opener, while also registering the Packers' worst PFF pass-rush grade. Green Bay's defense can only reach its potential if its star players lead the way, including Gary.

Former Packers offensive lineman Mike Wahle gave a potential explanation for Gary's struggles.

Mike Wahle sends a message to Packers pass-rusher Rashan Gary after slow start to 2024

Wahle started 87 games for the Packers and knows a thing or two about going up against the league's best pass-rushers. As a guest on the Pack-A-Day Podcast, Wahle sent a brutally honest message to Gary.

"I'm a huge Rashan Gary fan. I wish I could sit down and talk to him," said Wahle. "As a person who has to pass block, he is doing people like me a favor with the way he gets off the football. Everything he does, you're doing me a favor."

That's not great to hear. According to Wahle, Gary's technique is playing into the hands of opposing offensive linemen. He added that Gary isn't getting off the ball fast enough, making life easier for linemen to block him.

"You want to tell him like, man, you're a bear. You've got these big fangs and claws. Just go and kill the bunny, man," said Wahle. "As long as you continue that high rush and don't have the speed to get around the corner, it's going to be easy for offensive tackles to play defense against you. It is what it is. You've got to change what you're doing."

The Packers' pass-rush problems certainly don't just fall on Gary. According to ESPN, Green Bay ranks last in the NFL for pass-rush win rate.

It's not just Gary. The entire pass rush is struggling to make an impact. That said, Gary is the Packers' best edge defender, a former first-round pick, and signed a massive four-year extension last season. This unit's success starts with him.

Of course, it falls on defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to get the best out of his players, but it's also up to Gary to improve. Hafley found ways to generate favorable one-on-one matchups last week against the Vikings, but Gary didn't make the play often enough. There's only so much the defensive coordinator can do.

Gary needs a bounce-back performance against an injury-hit Rams offensive line this week.

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