Packers Defensive Line Preview
To start off, here is a list of all Packers defensive linemen, ascending from number with specific position, and years of experience in parentheses.
#60 DE Demetris Anderson (Rookie)
#64 DE Mike Pennel (3)
#76 DE Mike Daniels (5)
#90 DE Tyler Kuder (Rookie)
#94 DE Dean Lowry (Rookie)
#96 DT Brian Price (Rookie)
#97 DT Kenny Clark (Rookie)
#98 DT Letroy Guion (9)
#99 DE Christian Ringo (1)
This is probably one of the most, if not the most, inexperienced groups of defensive linemen in the NFL. It was seen as a priority this offseason to fill some of the voids left by BJ Raji's retirement and Datone Jones moving to outside linebacker, and prior to that it was seen as a weakness on this Packers' team. This group is led by Mike Daniels, who is one of the more underrated defensive linemen in the NFL, and rookie first round pick Kenny Clark. If (knock on wood please, Packers fans) one of them were to go down, this group would be thinner than a piece of grass, especially for the first four games where Mike Pennel is suspended. Five of these players are rookies, three are undrafted, and first year man Christian Ringo might as well have spent last season on injured reserve, since he barely saw the field. Luckily for the Packers, they play a 3-4 defense, meaning only three of these guys have to start.
When I said Mike Daniels is one of the more underrated defensive linemen, I'm also saying he's the second most important defensive player to Clay Matthews. And by saying these things, of course he is going to start and play the majority of the snaps. He finished last season with 49 tackles, four sacks and his first career interception. With the Pennel suspension, it becomes pretty easy to figure out who else will start during the three down linemen packages. Rookie first round pick Kenny Clark should step in immediately and hopefully be a run stopper, and the veteran Letroy Guion will fill the other position. When Pennel returns, it will likely be a three man rotation for the two spots (or one spot a lot of the time) next to Mike Daniels.
But it's also tough to see who steps up after that. Dean Lowry is the name I'm looking at, mainly because he was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round, but there are no guarantees of success anywhere at any time. In spite of what I just said, he's almost a virtual lock for the roster unless he is downright horrible since he was drafted this season. After that, I'll give the nod to Ringo, since I don't think the Packers are quite ready to give up on him yet. And Mike Pennel will have a spot when he returns from suspension. So that gives the Packers six defensive linemen. Assuming the Packers have one of the three undrafted defensive linemen step in for Pennel the first four games, it would be a battle between Brian Price, Demetris Anderson and Tyler Kuder for the last spot. I've heard some good things about how Brian Price might be the next Mike Pennel for the Packers, and almost nothing about the other two guys. In that case, I'll be giving the nod to Price for the moment.
To sum up, here is a list of who I'd pick to be on the defensive line for the Packers this season: Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, Kenny Clark, (Mike Pennel), Christian Ringo, Dean Lowry and temporarily to possibly permanently Brian Price.
