What Happened to Kenny Clark Thursday Night?

Some Brandon Thorn video review on the Kenny Clark / Jason Kelce battle.

In short, Jason Kelce. 

In my Polluted Mindset piece, I wrote about Clark seeming to be a non-factor versus the Eagles. Well here's Brandon Thorn with an excellent look at some of the battles up front that Clark and Kelce engaged in. While Clark did cause some disruptions up front, Kelce got the best of Clark overall with his ability to minimize the damage by routing Clark away from where the ball was. In Thorn's opinion, this was a battle between the best nose tackle and the best center in the NFL. Fun stuff (thanks to TheGreatReynaldo for sending it my way) - take a look:

 

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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP

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5 points
 

Comments (22)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Leatherhead's picture

October 03, 2019 at 09:30 am

AT the end of the day, it always comes down to blocking and tackling and winning the battle with the guy in front of you.

8 points
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Handsback's picture

October 03, 2019 at 09:34 am

That's a great breakdown. Thanks for sharing Jersey Al!
In retrospect, it didn't help the Packer cause by not having one more down linemen to help fill the gaps. When the Eagles won the SB, they had the best Oline in the league. Maybe they still do.

6 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 03, 2019 at 11:51 pm

On these 8 plays shown in the clip, GB had 3 DL five times and went with 2 DL on the other three plays. The game as a whole was not unlike the ratio above: if anything, GB played with 5 bigs (3 DL, 2 OLBs) quite a bit more often than not. I previously posted the following numbers:

2.47 DL on average per play.
2.1 OLBs on average per play + OLBs played DL 3 plays.
4.57 out of 5 possible.

1.11 ILBs. Blake 62 plays, 7 for Goodson. Not counting hybrids.
5.67 out of 7 possible in base 3-4.

95% of the time GB had 5 or more DBs on the field. 5.33 DBs on the field on average.
Sure, sometimes one of those guys played hybrid ILB.

The DL got moved. Clark did not get doubled all the time. Kelce is really good, and got help sometimes, but went Mano-a-mano a lot. Strength on strength is hard to judge when the teams only play every few years. GB relies on Clark getting a lot of attention and Clark still being disruptive despite the attention. This is just one game, but to be worth Jarrett money, Clark has to be elite against the Bradburys of the world and still pretty good against guys like Kelce and Fredericks. If Dallas' OC can handle Clark or just get a stalemate, that doesn't bode well for GB.

The only personnel upgrade available probably is Adams being better than Keke and Lancaster, and Lancaster wasn't bad against Philly but he lacks juice. Burks might help when he returns, but probably won't help against Dallas, and he is largely unproven. Ibraheim Campbell might help when he can come off PUP after six games.

0 points
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Guam's picture

October 03, 2019 at 09:43 am

The problem is that Dallas also has an excellent center (former Wisconsin center T. Frederick) and Clark is likely in for another long game on Sunday. He needs his d-line mates to step up and help.

Anybody heard from ColdWorld? Haven't seen him comment lately and am wondering why.

5 points
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Razer's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:12 am

...He needs his d-line mates to step up and help...

Right on Guam. Therein lays the problem. After Clark, the depth and talent drops off fast. I have never been impressed with our drafting or acquiring of trench help on either side of the ball. If his teammates don't play over their heads on Sunday, Clark will be isolated and run ragged

2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:17 am

Montravious has been out of the rotation. We thought we were deep enough and good enough to release Daniels, but I think we could really use one more good defensive lineman right now. It's a long season and if Clark is going to play 90% of the snaps he's going to be dead by the end of it.

2 points
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Guam's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:26 am

Our local paper indicated that M. Adams will be back for Sunday which will help, but I agree we need one more good, veteran d-lineman. Lancaster and Brown seem to be JAGs and Keke is a rookie with a lot to learn. A quality veteran d-lineman could help.

I believe Wilkerson is available and he knows Pettine's system. Not sure Wilkerson distinguished himself during his short tenure with the Pack, but he is a plug and play possibility. Not sure who else might be available.

0 points
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Guam's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:27 am

Delete - double post.

0 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:34 am

If Wilkerson could play, he'd be on somebody's roster right now. I think he's probably finished in the NFL.

0 points
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Guam's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:54 am

Could well be right about Wilkerson OS, but there has to be somebody better than Lancaster and Brown available for rotational help.

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Gianich's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:55 am

Like Andre Rison and Grady Jackson???? Turns out they could still play and helped a ton when picked up mid-season off the street... Wilkerson is worth a look

-1 points
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shmelbs's picture

October 03, 2019 at 03:11 pm

I'm totally OK with having released Mike Daniels (also Clay Matthews, on a related topic). Look at Daniels' stats so far this season with the Lions. Also, Daniels was vocal but I get the sense he wasn't exactly a team leader. However, you're right that someone else needs to step up. It'll be interesting to watch what Pettine does with this situation. Where's Keke, by the way?

0 points
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ThxJackVainisi's picture

October 03, 2019 at 06:18 pm

"... never been impressed with our drafting ..."

You weren't impressed with the Sitton, Lang (not that long ago), Bulaga, Bakhtiari & Linsley picks?

0 points
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Swisch's picture

October 03, 2019 at 06:02 pm

I'm also hoping for a return of ColdWorld and his thoughtful comments.

0 points
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Lphill's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:03 am

nice analysis, I think the Packers D line has something to prove this week, maybe we see Z Smith inside with Gary outside, also nice pickup from the Ravens, 2017 3 rd round pick Tim Williams Alabama product should be happy playing with Z Smith again .

2 points
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Since'61's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:20 am

While Clark did not have a good night I think using the 2 TEs against the Smiths was very effective as well. Our defense spent 35+ minutes on the field only 4 days before and I think that was a factor. Also we need better play from our other DLs and our ILBs if we are going to stop the run. Pettine's defense is fast and good against the pass but he needs to come up with a better approach for stopping the run or our defense won't get off the field and Rodgers won't get on the field.

We need a good run stopping ILB besides Martinez. Also we probably need a run stopping DL even though we have a pretty good DL rotation. Maybe bring back Wilerson, we have enough cap space to make that move. I hope Gute is looking to bring some reinforcements for the run defense. Time will tell. Thanks, Since '61

3 points
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Cartwright's picture

October 03, 2019 at 10:48 am

I was chalking Clark's performance up on account of fatigue due to a lack of rest from a hard fought game but good technique can really stymie a rusher and get him off his game. Think Graham will take note? Nice vid.

0 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

October 03, 2019 at 11:07 am

Clark was up against one of, if not the top C in the NFL. There were several runs where the Eagles ran away from Clark. Kelce beat Clark on several others but not on all battles.

What was revealing in the video is how badly the other Packer D lineman got whipped by Kelce’s OL teammates.

2 points
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ILPackerBacker's picture

October 03, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Thank you for pointing out a really good piece

0 points
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ILPackerBacker's picture

October 03, 2019 at 01:57 pm

Great work...yet what JUMPS out at me is that Lowry sucks. He is manhandled on play after play. The eagles are certainly targeting him. Clark wins several downs. Lowry is washed out. Nobody could shut down the run with Lowry playing.

And what a coincidence!
In games where Clark dominates Lowry is still washed out.
Check out the WHAM block tweet. The TE literally knocks lowry to his knees

1 points
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flackcatcher's picture

October 03, 2019 at 07:05 pm

This is the first game where the Packer defensive line went up against a run first team. Not surprised that the front DL got washed out. When a DL does not see run technique maybe three times a year, and for the first time on a short week, this is to be expected. And lets not forget the defense was short handed in both the DL and hybrid positions which hurt this defense in third down/short yard plays. That said, I disagree with Al with Peterson out coaching Pettine. This was a two guys playing a long game with what players they had there. When the time came, Pettine shut down Peterson's short game giving the offense both field position and the ball twice to tie or win. The Packers have a depth problem, in right now they don't know who they can plug in and play. Young players, rebuilding teams just have to play them and find out, as this Packer team is doing. As it is, answers are coming, and we fans will have to live with the results as it is. (cap space sigh....)

0 points
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albert999's picture

October 03, 2019 at 09:29 pm

Great piece Al

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